The Project Gutenberg EBook of Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250, by Various This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250 Part I: Texts Author: Various Editor: Joseph Hall Release Date: August 24, 2008 [EBook #26413] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SELECTIONS--EARLY MIDDLE ENGLISH *** Produced by Louise Hope, David Starner and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net This e-text includes characters that will only display in UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding, including but not limited to: Ȝ, ȝ (yogh) ⁊ (Tironian ampersand) þ̵ (thorn with stroke—also see below) ę (e with tail, “e caudata”) ẏ (y with over-dot) All but the first three are rare, or occur only in notes. If any of these characters do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks in this paragraph appear as garbage, make sure your text browser’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8). You may also need to change your browser’s default font. The inverted semicolon ; is represented as an oversized semicolon ;. A half-width space—shown here in red— was used in some selections to separate a main word from its pre fix. It may not display accurately in all browsers. Note that because of font availability, “thorn with stroke” is shown as separate characters, þ or Þ with combining -. If your browser can display the single- character forms Ꝥ and ꝥ (hex A764 and A765), and you are comfortable editing html files, feel free to replace them globally. A few selections use additional, very unusual letters that will be explained as they appear. The Notes were published in a separate volume, in preparation at the time this e-text was produced (August 2008). For each selection, the paragraph describing the MSS. has been summarized from these Notes; additions or omissions shown by ellipses or brackets according to the usual rules for academic quotation. Errors are marked with mouse-hover popups. Further details about the format of this e-text and the original book, including handling of parallel texts, are at the end of the e-text. SELECTIONS FROM EARLY MIDDLE ENGLISH 1130-1250 EDITED WITH INTRODUCTIONS AND NOTES BY J O S E P H H A L L M.A., Hon. D.Litt., Durham University PA R T I : T E X T S O X F O R D AT T H E C L A R E N D O N P R E S S M CM XX OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS LONDON EDINBURGH GLASGOW NEW YORK TORONTO MELBOURNE CAPE TOWN BOMBAY HUMPHREY MILFORD PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY PREFACE Some of the texts in this book have already appeared in the Specimens of Early English edited by the Rev. Richard Morris. But Nos. i, ii, iv, vii, xiii and xv are new, the important shorter pieces, Nos. vi, viii, xvi, xviii, xxi and xxiii, are printed in full, and some, as Nos. viii and ix, are taken from additional or better manuscripts. The pieces are arranged tentatively in what appears to be the chronological order of their composition, but Nos. xix and xvii should have come before the Ancrene Wisse, and No. vii has been placed next to the Proverbs of Alfred, from which it appears to be derived. It is hoped that those who study the older book will find in the present one a useful supplement. The texts follow the manuscripts in all details. The syntax being comparatively simple, there is not much to be gained by modern punctuation, and that of the manuscripts has gained a fresh importance from theories which have been founded upon it. Where obvious mistakes have been corrected in the text, notice is always given in the footnotes. Additions are made within square brackets, and interlineations are printed between accents. My best thanks are due to the custodians of the libraries for the facilities which with uniform kindness they extended to me in the collation of the manuscripts. J. H. Woodstock, January, 1920. TABLE OF PIECES AND MANUSCRIPTS PAGE I. Worcester Fragments Worcester Cathedral Library, 174. 1 II. Saint Godric’s Hymns British Museum, Royal 5 F. vii. 5 III. The Peterborough Chronicle (a.d. 1132-1154) Bodleian, Laud Misc. 636. 5 IV. Charter of Henry the Second B. M., Harleian Charter iii B. 49. 11 iii v V. A Parable B. M., Cotton Vespasian A. xxii. 12 VI. The Proverbs of Alfred Jesus Coll. Oxford, Arch. E. 29. 18 VII. Memento Mori Same as No. VI. 29 VIII. Poema Morale Lambeth, 487. B. M., Egerton 613. Trinity Coll. Camb., B. 14. 52. 30, 31 IX. Ancrene Wisse A Corpus Christi Coll. Camb., 402. Caius Coll., 234. 54, 55 IX. Ancrene Wisse B Corpus MS., as before. B. M., Cotton Nero A. xiv, with passages from C inserted between asterisks. Variants upon MS. Nero from B. M., Cotton Titus D. xviii (without any indicating letter) and B. M., Cotton Cleopatra C. vi (= C). B indicates agreement of T and C as against N. 60, 61 X. In Diebus Dominicis Lambeth, 487. 76 XI. Hic Dicendum est de Propheta Same as for No. X. 79 XII. Sermons for Palm Sunday and Easter Day Trinity Coll. Camb., B. 14. 52. 82 XIII. Vices and Virtues B. M., Stowe 34. 88 XIV. Laȝamon B. M., Cotton Caligula A. ix. B. M., Cotton Otho C. xiii. 94, 95 XV. Orm Bodleian, Junius 1. 112 XVI. Sawles Warde Bodleian, 34 (to l. 339, p. 127). B. M., Royal 17 A. xxvii (from l. 339, p. 127 to end). 117 XVII. Saint Katherine B. M., Royal 17 A. xxvii. 128 XVIII. The Orison of our Lady B. M., Cotton Nero A. xiv. 132 XIX. Saint Juliana B. M., Royal 17 A. xxvii. Bodleian, 34. 138, 139 XX. The Owl and the Nightingale Jesus Coll. Oxford, Arch. E. 29. B. M., Cotton Caligula A. ix. 148, 149 XXI. The Bestiary B. M., Arundel 292. 176 XXII. Genesis and Exodus Corpus Christi Coll. Camb., 444. 197 XXIII. Kentish Sermons Bodleian, Laud Misc. 471. 214 CORRIGENDA The listed corrections have been made in the text and marked with mouse-hover popups like this. 1/17 [nu beoþ] 2/30 [fei]ȝe vi vii [S] 2. writen] [bec] Varnhagen. 3. englisc] englise MS. 7. [fif] V. 11. Ripum] Sipum MS. 13. Paulin] [Cwiche]lm Wright. 22. þis] þus V. 3. [þe]ne Buchholz. 11/1 þurh MS kurh 12/15 alisendnesse 14/58 filio 17/162 descendi 83/32 For viam pro read vestimenta prosternebant 85/79 secla 87/161 Omit words in brackets at beginning of line 150/16 þat 152/57 wit 154/104 bysemar 160/183 nyht 160/185 vych 160/191 quaþ 166/289 In footnote, Þule 167/289 In footnote, Þule 167/310 eue 168/336 Murehþe ilyche 168/339 holy 221/248 iheed for ihee[r]d I. WORCESTER FRAGMENTS “Worcester Cathedral Library, 174.... Its contents are ... (2) the scrap here marked A; (3) the pieces B and C with five more fragments of the same poem. A completes the page on which the glossary ends, and B is on the verso of the leaf. The leaves have been slightly shorn at one side and reduced at top and bottom, but probably to no great extent: the conjectural complement, which is here printed within square brackets, is for the most part fairly obvious, the more so as portions of the lost letters often remain. The whole MS. is in the same large square hand, but the pieces in verse, which are written continuously, like prose, are less carefully executed. The handwriting is of the second half of the twelfth century, perhaps about 1180 A.D. The Latin headings are not in the MS.” A. Sicut Oues absque Pastore anctus beda was iboren her on breotene mid us · ⁊ he wisliche [writen] awende þ̵ þeo englisc leoden þurh weren ilerde · ⁊ he þeo c[not]ten unwreih · þe questiuns hoteþ · þa derne diȝelnesse · þe de[or]wurþe is · ælfric abbod þe we alquin hoteþ · he was bocare · ⁊ þe [fif] bec wende · Genesis · Exodus · Vtronomius · Numerus · Leuiticus · þ[urh] þeos weren ilærde ure leoden · on englisc · þet weren þeos biscop[es þeo] bodeden cristendom wilfrid of Ripum · Johan of beoferlai · Cuþb[ert] of Dunholme · Oswald of wireceastre · Egwin of heoueshame · æl[dhelm] of malmesburi · Swiþþun · æþelwold · Aidan · Biern of wincæstre · [Pau]lin of rofecæstre · S. Dunston · ⁊ S. ælfeih of cantore · buri · þeos læ[rden] ure leodan on englisc · næs deorc heore liht · ac hit fæire glod · [nu is] þeo leore forleten · ⁊ þet folc is forloren · [nu beoþ] oþre leoden · þeo læ[reþ] ure folc · ⁊ feole of þen lorþeines losiæþ · ⁊ þ̵ folc forþ mid Nu sæiþ [ure] drihten þus · Sicut aquila prouocat pullos suos ad uolandum · ⁊ super eo[s uolitat ·] þis beoþ godes word to worlde asende · þ̵ we sceolen fæier feþ [festen to him] · B. Homo Putredo et Filius Hominis Vermis en earde · ⁊ alle þeo isceæftan · þe him to [s]cu[l]en · ⁊ mid muchele cre[fte · þe]ne mon he idihte · ⁊ him on ileide · lif ⁊ soule · 1 f. 63 r] 5 10 15 20 2 f. 63 v] [þon]ne Haufe. 7. hit [greoneþ ond woan]eþ B. 9. [⁊ li]came H. [hire li]came Singer. 11. [D]eaþ H., B. [thonne D]eath S. 13. wome MS. 19. [him ... skin] no gap in MS. 21. þe ban] perhaps he stan. 23. [at] B., [of] H. 27. In MS. the second half of this line is sorhliche to dæl... copied by mistake from the next line. 30. [fei]ge Zupitza, [bodi]ge S. 32. [col]deþ Z., [hear]deth S. 41. The last half of this line is due to l. 43. 5. [pa]newes Holthausen. 7. þe] e in darker ink. 10. [sibbe] no gap in MS. 18. semdest] scendest S. 20. [lo]kien S., [ma]kien H., [þe ma]kien B. 24. leofli[c] B. 43. [þonne] H. [Ec] B. 44. þarinne] [þon]ne S., [In]ne H., B. Softliche he heo isom[nede] · ac þær biþ sor idol · þ̵ bodeþ þ̵ bearn : þonne hit iboren biþ · hit [woan]eþ ⁊ mænet þeo weowe · ⁊ þene seoruhfule siþ · ⁊ þ̵ sori idol · þ̵ soule schal [⁊ li]came · sorliche idælen · forþon hit cumeþ weopinde · ⁊ woniende iwiteþ · [swo D]eaþ mid his pricke · pineþ þene licame · he walkeþ ⁊ wendeþ ⁊ woneþ [oftes]iþes · he sæiþ on his bedde · wo me þ̵ ic libbe · þ̵ æffre mine lif dawes · þus [lon]ge me ilesteþ · for heui is his greoning · ⁊ seorhful is his woaning · ⁊ al [biþ] his siþ · mid seorwe biwunden · him deaueþ þa æren : him dimmeþ [þa] iȝen · him scerpeþ þe neose · him scrinckeþ þa lippen · him scorteþ [þe] tunge · [him starkeþ his skin ·] him trukeþ his iwit · him teoreþ his miht · him coldeþ his [siden ·] liggeþ þe ban stille · þonne biþ þ̵ soule hus · seoruhliche bereaued · [at] also muchele wunne · þe þer inne wunede · þus biþ þæs bearnes · [bod]unge ifulled · þeo moder greoneþ · ⁊ þ̵ bearn woaneþ · So biþ þeo [bu]rdtid · mid ba`le´wen imenged · so biþ eft þe feorþsiþ · Mid seoruwen al bewunden · þonne þe licame ⁊ þe sowle · soriliche to[dæl]eþ : þonne biþ þ̵ wræcche lif · iended al mid sori siþ · þonne biþ þe [fei]ȝe · iflut to þen flore · he biþ eastward istreiht · he biþ sone stif · he [col]deþ also clei · hit is him ikunde · Mon hine met mid one ȝerde · ⁊ þa mol[de] seoþþen · ne mot he of þære molde · habben nammore · þonne þ̵ rihte imet · [rih]tliche tæcheþ · þonne liþ þe clei clot · colde on þen flore · ⁊ him sone from [fleoþ] · þeo he ær freome dude · nulleþ heo mid honden · his heafod riht wen[den] · heom þuncheþ þ̵ hore honden · swuþe beoþ ifuled · Gif heo hondleþ þe[ne d]eade · seoþþen his deaȝes beoþ igon · sone cumeþ þ̵ wrecche wif · þe [forh]oweþ þene earfeþ siþ · forbindeþ þæs dædan muþ · ⁊ his dimme eȝen · [þon]ne þet riche wif · forhoweþ þene earueþ siþ · for ufel is þeo wrecche lufe · [þari]nne þeo un blisse cumaþ · þonne besihþ þeo soule · sorliche to þen lich[ame ·] C. Confabulabor cum Amaritudine Animae Meae [ ] þu me · þeo hwule þet ic wunede inne þe · for þu were leas ⁊ lutiȝ · ⁊ u[n]riht lufedest · Godnesse ⁊ riht · æfre þu onscunedest · hwar is nu þe[o mo]dinesse · swo muchel þe þu lufedæst · hwar beoþ nu þeo pundes · þurh [pa]newes igædered · heo weren monifolde · bi markes itolde · hwar beoþ [nu] þeo Goldfæten · þeo þe Guldene · comen to þine honden · þin blisse is [nu] al agon · min seoruwe is fornon · hwar beoþ nu þine wæde · þe þ[u] wel lufedest · hwar beoþ [sibbe ·] þe seten sori ofer þe · beden swuþe ȝeorne · [þet] þe come bote · heom þuþte alto longe · þ̵ þu were on liue · for heo [we]ren grædie · to gripen þine æihte · nu heo hi dæleþ heom imong · [heo] doþ þe wiþ uten · ac nu heo beoþ fuse · to bringen þe ut of huse, b[rin]gen þe ut æt þire dure · of weolen þu ært bedæled · hwui noldest þ[u be]þenchen me · þeo hwile ic was innen þe · ac semdest me mid sunne · fo[rþon] ic seoruhful eam · weile þ̵ ic souhte · so seoruhfulne · buc · noldest þ[u lo]kien lufe · wiþ ilærede men · ȝiuen ham of þine Gode · þ̵ heo þe fo[re] beden · heo mihten mid salm songe · þine sunne acwenchen · Mid [ho]re messe · þine misdeden fore biddan · heo mihten offrian loc · leofli[che] for þe · 5 10 15 20 25 30 3 35 40 45 f. 64 r] 5 10 4 15 20 26. þæne Z., in MS. þære. 36. [weo]we H., [ece] we S. 38. nu ham] nu han MS. 43. þære] [kunde] S., H., B. S 3. Over onfo, onfong in later hand. 4. wið] w corr. out of þ. S 6. maidenes] id corr. out of rd. S f. 88 v] M·C·XXXII.Ð swuþe deor wurþe lac · licame cristes · þurh þæne þu were · alese[d] from helle wite · ⁊ mid his reade blode · þ̵ he ȝeat on rode · þo þu we[re] ifreoed to farene into heouene · ac þu fenge to þeowdome · þurh þæs de[ofles] lore · Bi þe hit is iseid · ⁊ soþ hit is on boken · Qui custodit diuitias ser[uus] est diuitiis þu were þeow · þines weolan · noldest þu nouht þær of d[ælen ·] for drihtenes willæn · ac æfre þu grædiliche · gæderedest þe more · lu[þer]liche eart þu forloren · from al þ̵ þu lufedest · ⁊ ic scal wræcche soule [· weo]we nu driæn · eart þu nu loþ ⁊ unwurþ · alle þine freonden · nu ham [þun]cheþ alto long · þ̵ þu ham neih list · ær þu beo ibrouht · þaer þu be[on] scalt · on deope sæþe · on durelease huse · þær wurmes wældeþ · al [þet þe] wurþest was · füweles quale holde · þe þu icwemdest ær · Mid alre [þære] swetnesse · þeo þu swuþe lufedest · þeo swetnesse is nu al agon · þ̵ b[ittere] þe biþ fornon · þ̵ bittere ilæsteþ æffre · þ̵ swete ne cumeþ þe [næffre ·] II. SAINT GODRIC’S HYMNS “Royal 5 F vii, British Museum ... apparently an inserted leaf. This leaf ... belongs to the beginning of the thirteenth century....” A ainte marie uirgine moder ihesu cristes nazarene onfo schild help þin godric · onfang bring heȝilich wið þe in godes riche · ainte marie xpistes bur maidenes clenhad moderes flur · dilie min sinne rix in min mod · bring me `to´ winne wið þe selfd God. B Crist and sainte marie swa on scamel me iledde þat ic on þis erðe ne silde wid mine bare fote i tredie · C ainte Nicholaes godes druð · tymbre us faire scone hus · At þi burth at þi bare. Sainte nicholaes, bring vs wel þare. III. THE PETERBOROUGH CHRONICLE “Laud Misc. 636, Bodleian Library (MS. E).... A new hand begins with 1132 and continues to the end in 1155 A.D.” The Anarchy is gear com henri king to þis land. þa com henri abbot ⁊ uureide þe muneces of burch to þe king forþi ð he uuolde underþeden ð mynstre to clunie. sua ð te king was wel neh be paht. ⁊ sende efter þe muneces. ⁊ þur`h´ godes milce ⁊ þur`h´ þe biscop of Seresberi ⁊ te biscop of lincol ⁊ te oþre ricemen þe þer wæron þa wiste þe king ð he feorde mid suicdom. Þa he nan mor ne mihte. þa uuolde he ð his nefe sculde ben abbot in burch. oc xpist it ne uuolde. Was it noht suithe lang þer efter þatte king sende efter him. ⁊ dide him gyuen up ð abbotrice of burch. ⁊ faren ut of lande. ⁊ te king iaf ð abbotrice an prior of S’ neod Martin was ge haten. he com on S’ petres messe dei mid micel wurscipe into the minstre. 25 30 35 40 45 5 f. 85 r] 5 10 5 10 6 20. þa wes treson a Emerson, in MS. þa westre sona. M·C·XXXV.O f. 89 r] M·C·XXX`VII´.Ð 41. Þa] no paragraph in MS. 46. After maked erasure of two letters. 56. After þumbes, ⁊ deleted. 81. þe ouer] þeouer MS. 97. After moste, alse erased. 99. strengthe corrected out of strengthre. n þis gære for se king henri ouer sæ æt te lammasse. ⁊ ð oþer dei þa he lai an slep in scip. þa þestrede þe dæi ouer al landes ⁊ uuard þe sunne suilc als it uuare thre niht ald mone. an sterres abuten him at middæi. Wur`þ´en men suiðe of uundred ⁊ of dred ⁊ sæden ð micel þing sculde cumen her efter. sua dide. for þat ilc gær warth þe king ded. ð oþer daei efter S’ Andreas massedæi · on normandi. Þa wes treson a þas landes. for æuricman sone ræuede oþer þe mihte. Þa namen his sune ⁊ his frend ⁊ brohten his lic to englelande ⁊ bebiriend in Redinge. Godman he wes ⁊ micel æie wes of him. durste nanman misdon wið oðer on his time. Pais he makede men ⁊ dær. Wua sua bare his byrthen gold ⁊ sylure. durste nan man sei to him naht bute god. Enmang þis was his nefe cumen to englelande Stephne de blais. ⁊ com to lundene. ⁊ te lundenisce folc him underfeng. ⁊ senden ęfter þe ærcebiscop Willelm curbuil. ⁊ halechede him to kinge on midewintre dæi. On þis kinges time wes al unfrið ⁊ yfel ⁊ ræflac. for agenes him risen sona þa ricemen þe wæron swikes. alre fyrst Balduin de Reduers ⁊ held Execestre agenes him. ⁊ te king it be sæt. ⁊ siððan Balduin acordede. Þa tocan þa oðre ⁊ helden her castles agenes him. ⁊ dauid king of scotland toc to uuerrien him · þa þohuuethere þat here sandes feorden betwyx heom. ⁊ hi to gædere comen ⁊ wurðe sæhte. þoþ it litel forstode. is gære for þe `king´ Stephne ofer sæ to normandi ⁊ ther wes under fangen for þi ð hi uuenden ð he sculde ben alsuic alse the eom wes. ⁊ for he hadde get his tresor. ac he to deld it ⁊ scatered sotlice. Micel hadde henri king gadered gold ⁊ syluer. ⁊ na god ne dide me for his saule thar of. Þa `þe´ king Stephne to englalande com þa macod he his gadering æt Oxeneford. ⁊ þar he nam þe biscop Roger of Sereberi ⁊ Alexander biscop of lincol ⁊ te canceler Roger hise neues. ⁊ dide ælle in prisun. til hi iafen up here castles. Þa the suikes under gæton ð he milde man was ⁊ softe ⁊ god. ⁊ na iustise ne dide. þa dide`n´ hi alle wunder. Hi hadden him manred maked ⁊ athes suoren. ac hi nan treuthe ne heolden. alle he wæron for sworen and here treothes for loren. for æuric riceman his castles makede ⁊ agænes him heolden. ⁊ fylden þe land ful of castles. Hi suencten suyðe þe uureccemen of þe land mid castel weorces. þa þe castles uuaren maked þa fylden hi mid deoules ⁊ yuelemen. Þa namen hi þa men þe hi wenden ð ani god hefde`n´. bathe be nihtes. ⁊ be dæies. carlmen ⁊ wimmen. ⁊ diden heom `in prisun´ efter gold ⁊ syluer. ⁊ pined heom; untellendlice pining. for ne uuæren næure nan martyrs swa pined alse hi wæron. Me henged up bi the fet ⁊ smoked heom · mid ful smoke. Me henged bi the þumbes other bi the hefed. ⁊ hengen bryniges on `her´ fet. Me dide cnotted strenges abuton here [f. 89 v] hæued. ⁊ uurythen to ð it gæde to þe `h´ærnes. Hi diden heom in quarterne þar nadres ⁊ snakes ⁊ pades wæron inne. ⁊ drapen heom swa. Sume hi diden in crucethus ð is in an cęste þat was scort ⁊ nareu. ⁊ un dep. ⁊ dide scærpe stanes þer inne. ⁊ þrengde þe man þær inne. ð him bræcon alle þe limes. In mani of þe castles wæron lof ⁊ grim. ð wæron rachenteges ð twa oþer thre men hadden onoh to bæron onne. þat was sua maced. ð is fæstned to an beom. ⁊ diden an scærp iren abuton þa mannes throte ⁊ his hals. ð he `ne´ myhte nowiderwardes. ne sitten ne lien ne slepen. oc bæron al ð iren. Mani þusen hi drapen mid hungær. J ne can ne i ne mai tellen alle þe wunder ne alle þe pines ð hi diden wreccemen on þis land. ⁊ ð lastede þa ·xix· wintre wile Stephne was king ⁊ æure it was uuerse ⁊ uuerse. Hi læiden gæildes o`n´ the tunes æure umwile ⁊ clepeden it tenserie. þa þe uureccemen ne hadden nan more to gyuen. þa ræueden hi ⁊ brendon alle the tunes. ð wel þu myhtes faren al a dæis fare sculdest thu neure finden man in tune sittende. ne land tiled. Þa was corn dære. ⁊ flec ⁊ cæse ⁊ butere. for nan ne wæs o þe land. Wrecce men sturuen of hungær. sume ieden on ælmes þe waren sum wile ricemen. sume flugen ut of lande. Wes næure gæt mare wre`c´ce hed on land. ne næure hethen men werse ne diden þan hi diden. For ouer sithon ne for baren `hi´ nouther circe ne cyrce iærd. oc namen al þe god ð þar inne was. ⁊ brenden sythen þe cyrce ⁊ alte gædere. Ne hi ne forbaren biscopes land ne abbotes ne preostes. ac ræueden munekes ⁊ clerekes. ⁊ æuricman other þe ouer myhte. Gif twa men oþer ·iii· coman ridend to an tun. al þe tunscipe flugæn for heom. wenden ð hi wæron ræueres. Þe biscopes ⁊ leredmen heom cursede æure. oc was heom naht þar of. for hi uueron al forcursæd ⁊ for suoren ⁊ for loren. War sæ me tilede. þe erthe ne bar nan corn. for þe land was al fordon. mid suilce dædes. ⁊ hi sæden openlice ð xpist slep. ⁊ his halechen. Suilc ⁊ mare þanne we cunnen sæin. we þolenden xix· wintre for ure sinnes. [f. 90 r] On al þis yuele time heold Martin abbot his abbotrice ·xx· wintre ⁊ half gær ⁊ viii· dæis. mid micel suinc. ⁊ fand þe munekes ⁊ te gestes al þat heom be houed ⁊ heold mycel carited in the hus. ⁊ þoþwethere wrohte on þe circe ⁊ sette þar to landes ⁊ rentes. ⁊ goded it suythe. ⁊ læt it refen ⁊ brohte heom into þe neuuæ mynstre on S’ Petres mæsse dæi mid micel wurtscipe. ð was · anno ab incarnatione domini · M·c·xl. a combustione loci ·xxiii· ⁊ he for `to´ Rome. ⁊ þær wæs wæl under fangen fram þe pape Eugenie. ⁊ be gæt thare priuilegies. an of alle þe landes of þabbotrice. ⁊ an oþer of þe landes þe lien to þe circewican. ⁊ gif he leng moste liuen alse he mint to don of þe horderwycan. And he be gæt in landes þat ricemen hefden mid strengthe. Of Willelm malduit þe heold Rogingham þæ castel. he wan Cotingham ⁊ Estun. ⁊ Of hugo of Walteuile he uuan hyrtlingberi · ⁊ Stanewig. ⁊ lx · sol. of Aldewingle `ælc gær´. And he makede manie munekes ⁊ plantede winiærd. ⁊ makede mani weorkes. ⁊ wende þe tun betere þan it ær waes. ⁊ waes god munec ⁊ god man. ⁊ forþi him luueden god ⁊ gode men. Nu we willen sægen sumdel wat belamp on Stephnes kinges time. On his time þe iudeus of Noruuic bohton an xpisten cild be foren estren ⁊ pineden him alle þe ilce pining ð ure drihten was pined. ⁊ on langfridæi him on rode hengen for ure drihtines luue. ⁊ sythen byrieden him. wenden ð it sculde ben for holen. oc ure dryhtin atywede ð he was hali martyr. ⁊ to munekes him namen. ⁊ bebyried him heglice in þe minstre. ⁊ he maket þur[h] ure drihtin wunderlice ⁊ manifældlice miracles. ⁊ hatte he S’ Willelm. 6 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 7 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 8 85 90 95 100 105 110 9 M·C·XXXVI`II´.O M·C·XL.O 135-45. MS. rubbed here. 172. MS. mutilated here. M·C·LIIII.O 203. MS. mutilated and defaced from this place onward. 204. byried in MS. n þis gær com dauid king of Scotland mid ormete færd to þis land. wolde winnan þis land. ⁊ him com togænes Willelm eorl of Albamar þe þe king adde beteht euorwic ⁊ to other æuez men mid fæumen ⁊ fuhten wid heom. ⁊ flemden þe king æt te Standard. ⁊ sloghen suithe micel of his genge. [f. 90 v] n þis gær wolde þe king Stephne tæcen Rodbert eorl of gloucestre þe kinges sune · Henries. ac he ne myhte for he wart it war. Þer efter in þe lengten þestrede þe sunne ⁊ te dæi. abuton non tid dæies. þa men eten. ð me lihtede candles to æten bi. ⁊ þat was ·xiii· kalend. April’. wæron men suythe of wundred. Þer efter fordfeorde Willelm ærcebiscop of cantwarberi. ⁊ te king makede Teodbald ærcebiscop þe was abbot in the bec. Þer efter wæx suythe micel uuerre be tuyx þe king ⁊ Randolf eorl of cæstre noht for þi ð he ne iaf him al ð he cuthe axen him. alse he dide alle othre. oc æfre þe mare he iaf heom. þe wærse hi wæron him. Þe eorl heold lincol agænes þe king. ⁊ be nam him al ð he ahte to hauen. ⁊ te king for þider ⁊ besætte him ⁊ his brother Willelm de R[om]are in þe castel. ⁊ te æorl stæl ut ⁊ ferde efter Rodbert eorl of gloucestre. ⁊ brohte him þider mid micel ferd. ⁊ fuhten suythe on Candel masse dæi agenes heore lauerd. ⁊ namen him for his men [h]im suyken ⁊ flugæn. ⁊ læd him to Bristowe ⁊ diden þar in prisun ⁊ [fe]teres. þa was al engleland styred mar þan ær wæs. ⁊ al yuel wæ[s i]n lande. Þer efter com þe kinges dohter henries þe hefde ben emperi[ce] i[n A]lamanie. ⁊ nu wæs cuntesse in Angou. ⁊ com to lundene ⁊ te lundenissce folc hire wolde tæcen. ⁊ scæ fleh ⁊ forles þar mic[el.] Þer efter þe biscop of Wincestre henri þe kinges brother Stephnes spac wid Rodbert eorl ⁊ wyd þemperice ⁊ suor heom athas ð he neure ma mid te king his brother wolde halden. ⁊ cursede alle þe men þe mid h[im] heoldon. ⁊ sæde heom ð he uuolde ííuen heom up Wincestre. ⁊ dide heom cumen þider. Þa hi þær inne wæren. þa com þe kinges cuen [mid al]hire strengthe. ⁊ besæt heom. ð þer wæs inne micel hungær. Þa hi ne leng ne muhten þolen þa stali hi ut ⁊ flugen. ⁊ hi wurthen war wid uten ⁊ folecheden heom. ⁊ namen Rodbert eorl of gloucestre. ⁊ ledden him to Rouecestre. ⁊ diden him þare in prisun. ⁊ te emperice fleh in to an minstre. [f. 91 r] Þa feorden þe wisemen betwyx þe kinges freond ⁊ te eorles freond ⁊ sahtlede sua ð me sculde leten ut þe king of prisun for þe eorl. ⁊ te eorl for þe king. ⁊ sua diden. Sithen þerefter sa`t´hleden þe king ⁊ Randolf eorl at Stanford. ⁊ athes suoren ⁊ treuthes fæston ð her nouþer sculde be suiken other. ⁊ it ne for stod naht. for þe king him sithen nam in hamtun. þurhc wicci ræd. ⁊ dide him in prisun. ⁊ ef sones he let him ut þurhc wærse red. to ð forewarde ð he suor on halidom ⁊ gysles fand. þat he alle his castles sculde íiuen up. Sume he iaf up ⁊ sume ne iaf he noht. ⁊ dide þanne wærse þanne he hær sculde. Þa was engleland suythe to deled. sume helden mid te king. ⁊ sume mid þemperice. for þa þe king was in prisun þa wenden þe eorles ⁊ te ricemen þat he neure mare sculde cumen ut. ⁊ sæh`t´leden wyd þemperice. ⁊ brohten hire into Oxenford. ⁊ iauen hire þe burch. Þa þe king was ute þa herde ð sægen. ⁊ toc his feord ⁊ besæt hire in þe tur. ⁊ me læt hire dun on niht of þe tur mid rapes. ⁊ stal ut. ⁊ scæ fleh ⁊ iæde on fote to Walingford. Þær efter scæ ferde ouer sæ. ⁊ hi of normandi wenden alle fra þe king. to þe eorl of Angæu. sume here þankes ⁊ sume here unþankes. for he be sæt heom til hi aiauen up here castles. ⁊ hi nan helpe ne hæfden of þe kinge. Þa ferde Eustace þe kinges sune to france ⁊ nam þe kinges suster of france to wife. wende to bigæton normandi þær þurh. oc he spedde litel. ⁊ be gode rihte for he was an yuel man. for ware se he [com he] dide mare yuel þanne god. he reuede þe landes ⁊ læide mic[ele gilde]s on. He brohte his wif to engle land. ⁊ dide hire in þe caste[l of Can]teberi. God wimman scæ wæs. oc scæ hedde litel blisse mid him. ⁊ xpist ne wolde ð he sculde lange rixan. ⁊ wærd ded ⁊ his moder beien. ⁊ te eorl of Angæu wærd ded. ⁊ his sune henri toc to þe rice. ⁊ te Cuen of france to dælde fra þe king. ⁊ scæ com to þe iunge eorl henri. ⁊ he toc hire to wiue. ⁊ al [f. 91 v] peitou mid hire. Þa ferde he mid micel færd into engle[la]nd. ⁊ wan castles. ⁊ te king ferde agenes him mid micel mare ferd. ⁊ þoþwæthere fuhtten hi noht. oc ferden þe ærcebiscop ⁊ te wise me`n´ betwux heom. ⁊ makede ð sahte ð te king sculde ben lauerd ⁊ king wile he liuede. ⁊ æfter his dæi ware henri king. ⁊ he held`e´ him for fader ⁊ he him for sune. ⁊ sib ⁊ sæhte sculde ben betwyx heom. ⁊ on al engleland. Þis ⁊ te othre foruuardes þet hi makeden. suoren to halden þe king ⁊ te eorl ⁊ te biscopes & te eorles ⁊ ricemen alle. Þa was þe eorl under fangen æt Wincestre ⁊ æt lundene mid micel wurtscipe. ⁊ alle diden him manred. ⁊ suoren þe pais to halden. ⁊ hit ward sone suythe god pais. sua ð neure was here. Þa was þe king strengere þanne he æuert her was. ⁊ te eorl ferde ouer sæ. ⁊ al folc him luuede for he dide god iustise ⁊ makede pais. n þis gær wærd þe king Stephne ded ⁊ bebyried þer his wif `⁊ his sune´ wæron bebyried æt fauresfeld. þæt minstre hi makeden. Þa þe king was ded. þa was þe eorl beionde sæ. ⁊ ne durste nan man don oþer bute god for þe micel eie of him. þa he to engleland com. þa was he underfangen mid micel wurtscipe. and to king bletcæd in lundene on þe sunnen dæi be foren midwinter dæi. ⁊ held þær micel curt. Þat ilce dæi þat Martin abbot of burch sculde þider faren. þa sæclede he ⁊ ward ded ·iiii· Ñ. iañ. ⁊ te munekes innen dæis cusen oþer of heom sælf. Willelm de Walteuile is gehaten. god clerc ⁊ god man. ⁊ wæl luued of þe kinge ⁊ of alle godemen. and o[n cyric]en byrieden þabbot hehlice ⁊ sone þe cosan abbot ferde ⁊ te muneces [mid him to] oxenforde to þe king [⁊ he] iaf him þat abbotrice. ⁊ he ferde him son[e to linc]ol ⁊ was þ[ær bletcæd to] abbot ær he ham come. ⁊ [sithen] was under fangen [mid mic]el [wurtscipe at] burch. mid [mice]l processiun. ⁊ sua he was alsua at Ramesæie. ⁊ at Torney. ⁊ at . . n ⁊ Spallding ⁊ at S. l. bares. ⁊ . . . ⁊ [he nu is] abbot. ⁊ fa[ire] haued begunnon. xp[ist] him un[ne gode endinge]. IV. CHARTER OF HENRY THE SECOND 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 10 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 11 185 190 195 200 205 210 H 1. MS kurh 4. Cantuarabirȝ] last letter ȝ or g; the one has been corrected out of the other: so too in deȝe, l. 6. 14. þingan] þimgan MS. 11. se] fe MS. 18. sum ... fend added on margin. Printed as shown in text, without leading space. 20. dierewurð] dierewurd MS. ⁊ aldren over an erasure. 21. þeínen over an erasure. 22. scewie] scepie MS. 28. wiðinne] hit hī MS. 29. ⁊ þer ... sandon added lengthwise on margin. [H] 35. of mihte added on margin. 36. halst] MS. alste. 37. awiðhst] the last six letters on margin. At beginning of following line hst eorðe belucst mid. 38. þan] MS. þ̵ = þat. 44. his] he MS. 48. sielfe] sielþe MS. 50. chereð] cheteð MS. [f. 56 v1] “Harleian Charter III B. 49, British Museum.... The document is in a French record hand, and the writer was evidently little versed in the insular script. He uses both þ and th, ƿ and w.” ’ [þ]urh godes ȝefu ænglelandes king gret ealle mine bissceopas ⁊ ealle mine eorlas ⁊ ealle mine scirereuan ⁊ ealle mine þeinas frencisce ⁊ englisce · on þan sciran þe teobalt ercebisceop ⁊ se hiret æt xpistes chyrchen on Cantuarabirȝ habbad land inne freondlice ⁊ ic keþe eow þ̵ ic hebbe heom geunnon þ̵ hi beon ælc þare lande wurþa þe hi eafdon en Edwardes kinges deȝe · ⁊ on Willelmes kinges mines furþur ealdefader · ⁊ on Henrices kinges mines ealdefader · ⁊ saca ⁊ Socne · on strande ⁊ on Streame. On wudan · ⁊ on feldan · tolles ⁊ theames · grithbriches · ⁊ hamsocne · ⁊ forstalles · ⁊ infangenesthiafes · ⁊ fleamene frimtha · ofer heore agene men · binnan Burgan ⁊ butan · swa ful ⁊ swa ford swa mine agene Wicneres hit sechan scolden · ⁊ ofer swa fele þeinas swa ich heom to leten habban. And ic nelle þ̵ eni man enig þing þer on theo · butan hi ⁊ heara wicneras · þe hi hit bitechan · willað · ne frencisce ne englisce · for þan þingan þe ich habbe criste þas gerichtan forgifan minre Saule to echere alisendnesse ⁊ ic nelle geþauian þ̵ enig man þis abrece bi minan fullen frenscipan. God geau gehealde. V. A PARABLE “Cotton Vespasian A 22, British Museum. It is composite; a second MS., 224 × 153 mm. in two columns, begins at f. 54 with the pieces printed in OEH i. 217-45. It is written in a small and crabbed hand unlike that of a professed scribe. The use of the contraction marks is unsystematic and the readings are sometimes uncertain.” Rex Suos Iudicans it ȝelamp þ̵ an rice king wes. strang ⁊ mihti. his `land´ gélest wide ⁊ side. his folc was `swiðe´ ærfeðtelle. his under þéoden ȝéwer on his cyne rice wuneden. Þa be fel hit swa þ̵ him a þance beféll · to under ȝeíte wá an alle his cyne rice him were frend oðer fend. hold oðer fá. ⁊ he nam him tó rede þ̵ heom wolde ȝearceon anæ grate laðienge. ⁊ þider ȝeclepíen all his underþéod. þ̵ hi bi éne féce to his curt `berie´ come sceolde ⁊ sette ænne déȝie. þ̵ hi alle be þe látst to þa deȝ`i´e. þer were. Ac þis ȝesceod he hadde isétt bi tweone frend ⁊ fend. þ̵ þan hi come mistlice to bérie. ȝef he frend wére. me hine sceolde derewrlice forð clepien. ⁊ do hine wasse. ⁊ ȝiéfe him hís formemete. þ̵ him to lang ne þuhte to abiden of se laford to þe none inn come. Gief he fend wére. me sceolden ánon eter gat ȝemete mid gode repples ⁊ stiarne swépen. ⁊ stiarne híne besíé. ⁊ binde him hand ⁊ fétt. ⁊ do hine in to þiesternesse. ⁊ þer abide of all his ȝeferen were ȝegadered. þ̵ hi alle clone. símle belócen were. Þa sende se king his ærndraches of fif ceðen to alle his under þeoden. to ȝelaðie þis folc. hwet bute ícome súm cófer sum láter`sum frend sum fend´. ⁊ was idon bí ham al swá ær cweðe [we] þ̵ isett was. Þa hit þer to com. þ̵ se hlaford in to þar halle come. mid his dierewurð ȝeferede. mid ǽrlen ⁊ aldren. mid cn`i´hten mid þeínen. þa cweð se hlafor to his. Æér þann we mid ure frienden toðe mete gó. scewie we þes uncoðe mæn ur ȝefó. þa hi to for him cóme. þa wénte he hin to ham ⁊ þus cweð. Un [f. 56 v2] wraste man wat lacede ȝéu an alle míre rice þat ȝíe hatrede ⁊ widerwardnesse aȝénes me ȝe win[ne] sceolde. ⁊ to mine `fá´ ȝebugon. Swá ibrúce ic mine rice ne scule ȝíe mine mete ibite. ac scule þa þe hit mid mire lufe ȝearnede. Þa þis was iségd. þa were cofe abruden into þesternesse. þe hi sturfe hungre. ⁊ se hlaford nam wiðinne to is frenden ⁊ et ⁊ dranc ⁊ macede hine wel bliðe mid his `⁊ þer hi hadden brad ⁊ win. ⁊ vii. sandon´. ¶[N]u gode menn understandeð þis bispel. Þes king is ure hlaford almihti god þe is king ofer alle kingen. ⁊ hlaford ofer alle hlafordé. S[t]rang he his ⁊ michti. for he ȝesceop alle þing of nahte. ⁊ na þing ne máȝi áȝenes his wille. ne him wiðstande. for þan him séigd se wítíȝe. Qui celorum contines tronos ⁊ c. þ̵ is. hlaford `of mihte´ þe halst hefenen þrimsettles. ⁊ tó neowelnes`se´ þe under eorðe is be locést. ·iii· prou. þe dunan þu a`wiðhst´ mid þina hand; he is íwiss mihti for þan þe non mihté nis buton fram him. His land is all þes middenard. for he alle ȝesceop. ⁊ all dihte wið ute swince. He us is · king · ⁊ sceppend. ⁊ fader. ⁊ hlaford. King for he mid rihtwisnesse diht `man ⁊ engel god ⁊ euel´. sceppende. for he us machede lichame ⁊ sawle ableow. feder for he us fett ⁊ scred. ⁊ forðteh alse is cyldren. hlaford forþan þe is ȝéie ⁊ drednesse is ofer hus. ⁊ `þas´ áh to bienne. He is hure fader. he lenð us his eorðe tó tolie. his corn to sawe. his eorðe us werpð corn ⁊ westm. níatt. ⁊ dierchin. his loht leóem ⁊ lif. his wáter · drench ⁊ fiscẏnn. his fér manifeald þenínge. his sónne. mone. sterren. rien. dáw. wind. wude. `unitald fultume´ al þ̵ we habbeð of þése feder we habbeð. of wam we alle ⁊ us sielfe habbeð. Múȝe we ahct clepeien hine moder wene we. ȝíe muȝe we. hwat deð si moder hire bearn. formes[t] hi hit chereð ⁊ blissið be þe lichte. ⁊ seþe hi dieð under hire árme [f. 57 r1] oðer hi`s´ hafed heleð to don him slepe. ⁊ reste. Þis deð all ȝíure drihte. he blisseð hus mid dȝéies licht. h[e] sweueð hus mid þiestre nicht. Gíet for an oðre þing god ȝescop þa niht. He wat wel þ̵ maníȝe men bieð sa ful of ȝéscung. mihti efre ísí. Ná ȝewóld ham selfe. to bigeten 12 5 10 15 5 10 13 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 14 50 56. hafð] hafd MS. 57. word] worder MS. 61. self cweð] selþ cwed MS. 71. þesen] þ corr. out of p. 89. ne corr. out of na. 90. manifeald sénne] manifead fénne MS. 98. þurh] þurl MS. 100. ur] un MS. 112. hi] hit MS. 118. þan] þ̵ MS. oðre] ooðre MS. 121. þan] þ̵ MS. witerlice] witetlice MS. 124. þan] þ̵ MS. 131. mid] min MS. 140. þo corr. out of to | hali ȝewitien MS. 143. þan] þ̵ MS. middenard] middernad MS. þan] þ̵ MS. 144. cwaceð] cwaced MS. 149. self] selþ MS. 153. seieð] seied MS. wrldlic échte. þer for god hafð ȝescepe ham reste. súme `wile´ hare`s´ unþances. ȝeíet he cweð a wunder word to þar sawle bi þa witíe ysaiam. Numquid potest mulier obliuisci infantem suum ut non misereatur filio uteri sui. þ̵ is la líef maȝíe wiman forȝeten his oge cild. þ̵ hi ne milsi. hire bárn of hire ogen innoð. ⁊ ȝief hi for ȝiet þah hwéðer nell íc for ȝete þe cweð drihte. be þam þe he fader is ⁊ lafórd he him self cweð be þe witíe. Si ego pater ubi est honor meus. si dominus ubi est tim`or´ meus. þ̵ is. gif ic fader ham. wer his mi manscipe. ȝif ic. hlaford wer hís mine aȝéíe? þer fore. G. m. ure king. we oȝeð wr`h´mint. hur sceappend al þat we bieð. ure fader soðe lufe. ur h`l´aford drednesse. ⁊ þis is séo king þe wile wíte an alle his underþeode wá hine lufeð ⁊ hwa hine hateð. hwá him is frend oðer fend. ⁊ þer for he hað ȝelaðed alle fol[c]. to ane dȝéíe. þ̵ is dome`s´ dȝeíe. þ̵ hi alle þer beon be þe latst. hwé seden ærst þ̵ þes ærndraces wer isent of fif cheðen. swa ibeoð. þas fif cheðen beoð fif lágan. for þan þe god is þurh þesen ȝecnówé. Si forme lage þ̵ is si ȝécénde lage. þe god sett formest an þes mannes heorte. þ̵ is þat non man ne don oðere. buton þ̵ þe he wolde þ̵ me ded[e] him. ⁊ don his nixtan al þ̵ he wolde þ̵ me ded[e]him. Wið ute þeser láge ni`s´ man þe ȝescod habbe. Ærndraces of þisser lage wer abel. Seth. enoc. Nóe. ⁊ swíce gode man. Seðe þes middenard was ȝestaþeled fram þa forme man to þa latst þe wrð ét þes [f. 57 r2] wrldes ende. nas tid ne týme ne ne wrð. þ̵ god ne send gode mænn his folc forte ȝelaðie to his rice. Ac si láge sóne adiligde. þurh unwreaste leahtrum ⁊ manifald sénne. Þer efter arerde god þas lage þurh moẏsen þe heretoche of his folce þe he þa ȝecás. ⁊ wráte his him self in stanene wax br`e´dene. ⁊ si ȝeleste sume wíle. ⁊ þer of were larþawes ⁊ ȝelaðieres Moises ⁊ aaron. ⁊ samuel. ⁊ fele oðre. Swa lange þ̵ si alswa swið[e] abreað. ⁊ adiliȝede. þurh unhersamnesse. wat hit com to þa time þe god sende þe halie witíge. ⁊ hi þa arérdon mid hare wríte þurh þes halíe gastes gífe `þa´ god lage. ⁊ rihtleceden þ̵ folc swa se hi mihten. ⁊ bodeden ure`s´ hlafordes to cýme ses helendes ihesu cristes. þe sceolde his aȝén wille. þurh his gastes ȝífe in ure heorte wríte. ⁊ don ús mid his mihte þ̵ stef creft ne mihte. ⁊ an þesser láȝe of þe witȝin. wer laðieres móche. Eft bine fece ⁊ þes lare ⁊ lage swiðe acolede þurh manifea[l]d sénne. ⁊ hur ⁊ hur þurh false gódes þe ælc þiode ham selfe macéde. sume of golde. súm of silure. of treowe. of stane. ⁊ awente godes lof ⁊ wrhminte fram þe sceappende to þare ȝesceafte. swa þ̵ þa ure halende wes accenned of þam unwemmede mede sante Marie. al se middennard was mid senne begripe. ⁊ al fol`c´ ȝede in to þe`s´ diefles muðe. buton wel feáwe of wam his lefe moder wes istriened. he þa arerd alle godnisse. ⁊ sette his halíe láge. ⁊ þat þe móre his. ȝiaf miht ⁊ strencþe þurh þe gief of his gaste his hesne to fulforðie. þ̵ non oðre laȝe ne mihte. ⁊ understandeð hwu. Þri ampres were an mancyn ær his to cyme. Ure acenneng wes ful. ur lif unwreast. ur deað grislic. he com ⁊ brochte þri þin[g] þer aȝén. he wes acénde of þe clene mede. þe efer þurh lefede mede. hi`s´ lif was haliȝe. his deað ful of milce. his clene acennende clénséde ure fule acennende. his hali lif rihtlecede ure unwreaste lif. his admoded deað ofer com. ⁊ fordede ure soriȝe ⁊ ȝelice deað. þís is [f. 57 v1] si fierðe láge. An þisser were ærndraces ⁊ ȝelaðieres þa apostles ⁊ þe leorninch[n]ihtes. þer efter ures helendes upstíȝe to heuene. þa apostles ⁊ hare íunglenges þe[r] efter come halíe men ⁊ þe hafedmen þe nu beoð in halíe cyrce. ⁊ wrðeð of domes déȝe. þurh þes hali gastes ȝífe. ⁊ al swa ure helende ham leórde. maníȝe þing [t]ehten þa folce to freme. ⁊ þis is si fifte lage. An þisser beoð bedeles ⁊ laðieres to berie archebiscopes. ⁊ biscopes. prestes. ⁊ hare ȝegeng. Ac þah we fif næmmíe. alle hi [beoð an] on godes wille. ⁊ élc of ham ȝestrenð ⁊ fulfellþ oðre. Of þeses fif ceþen ⁊ of hare bedeles we habbeð ȝéu ȝéséd. Of þe folce we siggeð þ̵ hit cumþ fastlice. fram middenardes anginn alse fele alse deade beoð alse fele beoð to berie ícóme. wat frend. wat fá. ⁊ elce déȝíe þícce þringeð. Ac ȝief ȝé habbeð understande þ̵ we ȝíu er séde. eter gate me his scýft. ⁊ þer me hi to ȝesceodeð. Si gate þ̵ is elces mannes endedeíe. þan he stepð ut of þese life into þan oðre. Ac we sede ȝehw. þ̵ ȝief he frend were me sceolde ȝief him his mórȝe mete þ̵ he þe bet mihte abide þann more mete. Swa hit is here. þan se gode man þe godes lufe hað ȝéfolged to is ende cumþ. witerlice wið ut uúantruce þer cumeð þe hali engles him tó. ⁊ ȝéf hað ahte uniwasse oðer hit wrð ȝewasse iþer pine of þe deaðe þe he her þáleð. oðer efter mid eðelice lette. ⁊ þan lat me þa sawle to merchestowe. þ̵ his se morȝemete si blisse þe he hað an þar sawle. þat wite ȝe wel. nan halege nað his fulle blisse er he under fó adomes deíe his licame. þ̵ wrð se fulle mete. þan se mann mid sawle ⁊ mid licame under-fangð sicernesse of écer blisse. ⁊ wat belimpð hit ȝief he fend his `þe´ to þare gate cumþ? God þurh his [f. 57 v2] mucele milce ne letes us nefer fandie. Ac naþeles ȝief he fend his an unwreast mann þer beoð anú ȝeréd`i´e. þe weregede gastes þe hine uniredlice underfangeð mid stiarne swupen. Alse fele unþeawes alse hade upe him ⁊ sennenn. al swa fendes he þer ȝemet. hīne to underfó. ⁊ to don hīne into þiesternesse. oft a domes dȝéi alle godes fend simle fram his ȝesecðe abroden bienn ⁊ hi[n] to hare lean ham þe lange scel ȝeleste. Þus hit hað íbí ⁊ is. ⁊ wrð oft domesdei. Ac þann hit þer to cumþ þ̵ se hlaford á þe mucele deíe. cumþ forté ísí ⁊ frend ⁊ fend. þann cumþ all his underþiede him to fore. þer he sit mid his derewrþe ȝefered mid niȝen anglene had. mid þer unwēmmed meide his moder. mid his apostlen. mid þa hágefaderen. ⁊ þo halíȝe wítien. mid martiren. mi[d] hali confessoren mid halie meiden. mid al þan þe þer midenarde for his lufe werpeð abéc. ⁊ lagelice her him þenið. wic ȝeíe. wic drednesse wurð þer. þan þat fer to for him abernð þ̵ middenard. þan si eorðe alle cwaceð þan þe sterren falleð. si sunne ⁊ se mone aþestreð for godes brictnesse. þe wlcne to gað. and si hali rode tacne mid þe spere ⁊ mid þe neiles þurh angles beoð forð ibrocht. þann þe angles cwaciað. ⁊ tó richtwíse ham adredeð. wat sceol se senfulle don. þe isecgð þer his richtwise deme. þe non ne maíe bechece. non beswice. he his him self witnisse ⁊ deme. Wat sceol se wrecce don. þe bufon iséȝð his hlaford þe he ȝegremed áfeð. under him helle muð open. abuuten him all folc. him selfe bi s`c´a[n]dlice senne beswapen. þer ne mái non frend oðre helpe. ælc had innóh to donne an him selfe. Þan seieð ham god þe geltẏ mannen ȝe seneȝeden. an ȝeur 55 60 65 70 75 15 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 16 115 120 125 130 135 140 17 145 150 160. gṛod MS. 162. þe] q̣þe MS. 167. cóm] cón MS. 170. Seðe] sede MS. A 36. þe] wc MS. écenesse. ⁊ ȝe scule [f. 58 r1] birne an mire écenisse. Ȝe seneȝden alse lange alse ȝé lefede ⁊ ȝe scule birne alse longe as íc lefie. Witeð into éce fer. þe is `ȝ ´æarced mine fó ⁊ his ȝegen. Son[e] hi wrðeð abroden of his ȝesecþe. ⁊ þan sone geð se hlaford mid his frenden to his mete. þ̵ his to is esten. þe seið an þan hali write Delicie méé sunt esse cum filiis hominum. þat is. Mine esten beoð wunian mid mannen bearnen. Ac we sed[en] ȝíu litl her þ̵ hi sceolden abben god brad ⁊ uin. ⁊ vii sonden. hi sculen habe þ̵ brad þe seið iþe godspel. Ego sum panis uiuus qui de celo descendi. Þet is. Ic ám cwuce bread þe astah fram hefene. seȝð ure helende. Se þe of þese brad ett. ne sterfeð he nefer. Þis bread was ímaced of ane `h´wete corne. al swa se he cweð ȝeðe godspelle. Nisi granum frumenti. ⁊ c. þis corn was ȝesawen þurh þes ængles muð into ðes meidenes ære Marie. in þare burh of nazareth. þis corn cóm fer`s´t inne bethléem. þ̵ cweð us of breade. hit wex ⁊ bleówu. in iudea. hit rípede in ierusalem. Judas ⁊ þat leoðre folc hit répén. ⁊ deden hit an þar rode alswa alse be twenen melstanent. Seðe hit was idon into þer berient alswa into hófne. þanen hit was ibroht up into heofene to þes hahes hlafordes borde. þer hit fet. ⁊ engles. ⁊ mancinn in écenisse. ⁊ þis is hare b`r´ead. hwer scule we win finden? Al swa se he cweð. Ego sum uitis uera. ⁊ c. VI. THE PROVERBS OF ALFRED “Jesus College, Oxford, E 29, formerly Arch. i. 29 (J).... written not long after 1276 (Anglia xxx, 222).... Our piece is written continuously as prose, each stanza forming a paragraph, but iv and v are in one without l. 54, which is here supplied, while l. 43 is written at the end of the preceding paragraph and similarly the lines beginning viii-xvii, xix-xxiii. The scribe was evidently struggling with an original which he could not always read; see footnote to l. 105. “.... the copy of the Poema Morale in the same MS. has undergone a drastic revision which sets it apart among the versions of that poem, and the version of the Owl and Nightingale has suffered, though not to the same extent. On the other hand MS. T was copied by a man who was incapable of remodelling it; though a ruin, it often preserves in details the original.” Incipiunt documenta Regis Aluredi. Þus Queþ Alured T Seuorde séte þeynes monye. fele Biscopes. and feole. bok iléred. Eorles prute. knyhtes egleche. þar wes þe eorl Alurich. of þare lawe swiþe wis. And ek Ealured englene hurde. Englene durlyng; on englene londe he wes kyng. Heom he bi gon lére. so ye mawe i hure. hw hi. heore lif lede scholden. Alured. he wes in englene lond. and king. wel swiþe strong. He wes king. and he wes clerek. wel he luuede godes werk. He wes wis on his word. and war. on his werke. he wes þe wysuste mon; þat wes englelonde on. ii Þvs queþ Alured englene frouer. wolde ye mi leode. lusten éure louerde. he óu wolde wyssye. wisliche þinges. hw ye myhte worldes. wrþsipes welde. and ek eure saule. somnen to criste. wyse were þe wordes. þe seyde þe king Alured. | Mildeliche ich Munye. myne leoue freond. poure and riche. leode myne þat ye alle a drede. vre dryhten crist. luuyen hine and lykyen. for he is louerd of lyf. He is one. god; ouer alle godnesse. He is one gleaw. ouer alle glednesse. He is one. blisse. ouer alle blissen. 155 160 165 170 18 f. 262 r] 5 10 15 20 f. 262 v] 26 19 30 52. After mon, erasure of two letters. 85. After wismon, ut deleted. He is one monne. Mildest mayster. He is one. folkes fader. and frouer. He is one. rihtwis. and so riche king. þat him ne schal beo wone. nouht of his wille. þe hine her on worlde. wrþie þencheþ. iii Þvs queþ alured. englene urouer. Ne may non ryhtwis king. vnder criste seoluen. Bute if he beo in boke ilered. And he. his wyttes swiþe wel kunne. And he cunne lettres. lokie him seolf one. hw he schule his lond laweliche holde. iv Þus queþ Alured. Þe eorl and þe eþelyng. ibureþ vnder gódne. king. þat lond to leden. myd lawelyche deden. And þe clerek and þe knyht. he schulle démen euelyche riht. þe poure. and þe ryche. démen ilyche. Hwych so þe mon soweþ; al swuch he schal mowe. And eueruyches monnes dom. to his owere dure churreþ. v [Þus queþ Alured.] þan knyhte bi houeþ. kenliche on to fóne. for to werie þat lond. wiþ hunger and wiþ herivnge. þat þe chireche habbe gryþ. And þe cheorl beo in fryþ. his sedes to sowen. his medes to mowen. And his plouh beo i dryue. to vre alre bihoue. þis is þes knyhtes lawe. loke he þat hit wel fare. vi Þvs queþ Alured. þe mon. þe on his youhþe. yeorne leorneþ. wit and wisdom. and i writen reden; he may beon on elde. wenliche lorþeu. And þe þat nule one youhþe yeorne leorny. wit and wysdom. and iwriten rede. þat him schal on elde. sore rewe. þenne cumeþ elde. and vnhelþe. þenne beoþ his wéne ful wroþe isene. Boþe heo beoþ bi swike. and eke hi beoþ a swunde. vii þus queþ Alured. Wyþ vte wysdome is weole wel vnwurþ. for þey o mon ahte. huntseuenti Acres. and he hi hadde isowen. alle myd reade golde. And þ̵ | gold greowe. so gres doþ on eorþe. nere he for his weole. neuer þe furþer. Bute he him of frumþe. freond iwrche. 35 40 45 50 55 20 60 65 70 75 80 f. 263 r] 91. þenne he wule after yeue in l. 90. 105. youþe in darker ink in a space too large for it; similarly doweþes, l. 118; wlonk, l. 124; vouh, l. 129; Mayþenes, l. 130. 122. yetst] yefst MS. for. hwat is gold. bute ston. bute if hit haueþ wismon. viii þus queþ Alured. Ne scolde neuer yongmon howyen to swiþe. þeih him his wyse wel ne lykie. Ne þeih he ne welde. al þat he wolde. for god may. yeue god after vuele. weole after wowe. þenne he wule. wel is him þat hit ischapen is. ix þus seyþ Alured. Strong hit is to reowe. a yeyn þe séé þat floweþ. so it is to swynke. a yeyn vnylimpe. þe mon. þe on his youhþe. swo swinkeþ. and worldes weole her iwinþ. þat he may on elde. idelnesse holde. And ek myd his worldes weole. god iqueme er he quele. youþe and al þat he haueþ i drowe. is þenne wel bi towe. x þus queþ Alured. Monymon weneþ þat he wene ne þarf. longes lyues. ac him lyeþ þe wrench. for þanne his lyues alre best luuede. þenne he schal léten; lyf his owe. for nys no wrt uexynde a wude. ne a velde. þat euer mvwe þas feye furþ vp holde. Not no mon þene tyme. hwanne he schal. heonne turne. Ne nomon þene ende. hwenne he schal heonne wende. Dryhten hit one wot. doweþes louerd. hwanne [we] vre lif leten schule. xi þus queþ Alured. Yf þu seoluer and gold. yetst and weldest in þis world. Neuer vpen eorþe. to wlonk. þu ny wrþe. Ayhte nys non ildre istreon; ac hit is godes lone. hwanne hit is his wille. þar of we schulle wende. And vre owe lyf. myd alle for leten. þanne schulle vre ifon. to vre vouh. gripen. welden vre Mayþenes. and leten vs by hinde. xii þus queþ Alured. Ne ilef þu nouht to fele. uppe þe séé þat floweþ. If þu hafst madmes monye and inowe. gold and seoluer. hit schal gnyde to nouht. to duste hit schal dryuen. Dryhten schal | libben euere. Monymon for his gold. haueþ godes vrre. 85 21 90 95 100 105 110 115 22 120 125 130 f. 263 v] 136 149. After þe, þ erased. And for his seoluer. hym seolue for yemeþ. for yeteþ and for leseþ. Betere him by come iboren þat he nére. xiii þus queþ Alured. Lvsteþ ye me leode. ower is þe n...