Chapter VII: Part 7

To speke of an unkinde man,
I finde hou whilom Adrian,
Of Rome which a gret lord was,
Upon a day as he per cas
To wode in his huntinge wente, 5
It hapneth at a soudein wente,
After his chace as he poursuieth,
Thurgh happ, the which noman eschuieth,
He fell unwar into a pet,
Wher that it mihte noght be let. 10
The pet was dep and he fell lowe,
That of his men non myhte knowe
Wher he becam, for non was nyh
Which of his fall the meschief syh.
And thus al one ther he lay 15
Clepende and criende al the day
For socour and deliverance,
Til aȝein eve it fell per chance,
A while er it began to nyhte,
A povere man, which Bardus hihte, 20
Cam forth walkende with his asse,
And hadde gadred him a tasse
Of grene stickes and of dreie
To selle, who that wolde hem beie,
As he which hadde no liflode, 25
Bot whanne he myhte such a lode
To toune with his asse carie.
And as it fell him for to tarie
That ilke time nyh the pet,
And hath the trusse faste knet, 30
He herde a vois, which cride dimme,
And he his ere to the brimme
Hath leid, and herde it was a man,
Which seide, 'Ha, help hier Adrian,
And I wol ȝiven half mi good.' 35
The povere man this understod,
As he that wolde gladly winne,
And to this lord which was withinne
He spak and seide, 'If I thee save,
What sikernesse schal I have 40
Of covenant, that afterward
Thou wolt me ȝive such reward
As thou behihtest nou tofore?'
That other hath his othes swore
Be hevene and be the goddes alle, 45
If that it myhte so befalle
That he out of the pet him broghte,
Of all the goodes whiche he oghte
He schal have evene halvendel.
This Bardus seide he wolde wel; 50
And with this word his asse anon
He let untrusse, and therupon
Doun goth the corde into the pet,
To which he hath at þe ende knet
A staf, wherby, he seide, he wolde 55
That Adrian him scholde holde.
Bot it was tho per chance falle,
Into that pet was also falle
An ape, which at thilke throwe,
Whan that the corde cam doun lowe, 60
Al sodeinli therto he skipte
And it in bothe hise armes clipte.
And Bardus with his asse anon
Him hath updrawe, and he is gon.
But whan he sih it was an ape, 65
He wende al hadde ben a iape
Of faierie, and sore him dradde:
And Adrian eftsone gradde
For help, and cride and preide faste,
And he eftsone his corde caste; 70
Bot whan it cam unto the grounde,
A gret serpent it hath bewounde,
The which Bardus anon up drouh.
And thanne him thoghte wel ynouh
It was fantosme, bot yit he herde 75
The vois, and he therto ansuerde,
'What wiht art thou in Goddes name?'
'I am,' quod Adrian, 'the same,
Whos good thou schalt have evene half.'
Quod Bardus, 'Thanne a Goddes half 80
The thridde time assaie I schal':
And caste his corde forth withal
Into the pet, and whan it cam
To him, this lord of Rome it nam,
And therupon him hath adresced, 85
And with his hand ful ofte blessed,
And thanne he bad to Bardus hale.
And he, which understod his tale,
Betwen him and his asse, al softe,
Hath drawe and set him up alofte 90
Withouten harm, al esely.
He seith noght ones 'grant merci,'
Bot strauhte him forth to the cité,
And let this povere Bardus be.
And natheles this simple man 95
His covenant, so as he can,
Hath axed; and that other seide,
If so be that he him umbreide
Of oght that hath be speke or do,
It schal ben venged on him so, 100
That him were betre to be ded.
And he can tho non other red,
But on his asse aȝein he caste
His trusse, and hieth homward faste:
And whan that he cam hom to bedde, 105
He tolde his wif hou that he spedde.
Bot finaly to speke oght more
Unto this lord he dradde him sore.
So that a word ne dorste he sein.
And thus upon the morwe aȝein, 110
In the manere as I recorde,
Forth with his asse and with his corde
To gadre wode, as he dede er,
He goth; and whan that he cam ner
Unto the place where he wolde, 115
He hath his ape anon beholde,
Which hadde gadred al aboute
Of stickes hiere and there a route,
And leide hem redy to his hond,
Wherof he made his trosse and bond. 120
Fro dai to dai and in this wise
This ape profreth his servise,
So that he hadde of wode ynouh.
Upon a time and as he drouh
Toward the wode, he sih besyde 125
The grete gastli serpent glyde,
Til that sche cam in his presence,
And in hir kinde a reverence
Sche hath him do, and forth withal
A ston mor briht than a cristall 130
Out of hir mouth tofore his weie
Sche let doun falle, and wente aweie
For that he schal noght ben adrad.
Tho was this povere Bardus glad,
Thonkende God and to the ston 135
He goth and takth it up anon,
And hath gret wonder in his wit
Hou that the beste him hath aquit,
Wher that the mannes sone hath failed,
For whom he hadde most travailed. 140
Bot al he putte in Goddes hond,
And torneth hom, and what he fond
Unto his wif he hath it schewed;
And thei, that weren bothe lewed,
Acorden that he scholde it selle. 145
And he no lengere wolde duelle,
Bot forth anon upon the tale
The ston he profreth to the sale;
And riht as he himself it sette,
The iueler anon forth fette 150
The gold and made his paiement;
Therof was no delaiement.
Thus whan this ston was boght and sold,
Homward with ioie manyfold
This Bardus goth; and whan he cam 155
Hom to his hous and that he nam
His gold out of his purs, withinne
He fond his ston also therinne,
Wherof for ioie his herte pleide,
Unto his wif and thus he seide, 160
'Lo, hier my gold, lo, hier mi ston!'
His wif hath wonder therupon,
And axeth him hou that mai be.
'Nou, be mi trouthe! I not,' quod he,
'Bot I dar swere upon a bok 165
That to my marchant I it tok,
And he it hadde whan I wente:
So knowe I noght to what entente
It is nou hier, bot it be grace.
Forthi tomorwe in other place 170
I wole it fonde for to selle,
And if it wol noght with him duelle,
Bot crepe into mi purs aȝein,
Than dar I saufly swere and sein
It is the vertu of the ston.' 175
The morwe cam, and he is gon
To seche aboute in other stede
His ston to selle, and he so dede,
And lefte it with his chapman there.
Bot whan that he cam elleswhere 180
In presence of his wif at hom,
Out of his purs and that he nom
His gold, he fond his ston withal.
And thus it fell him overal,
Where he it solde in sondri place, 185
Such was the fortune and the grace.
Bot so wel may nothing ben hidd,
That it nys ate laste kidd:
This fame goth aboute Rome
So ferforth that the wordes come 190
To themperour Iustinian;
And he let sende for the man,
And axede him hou that it was.
And Bardus tolde him al the cas,
Hou that the worm and ek the beste, 195
Althogh thei maden no beheste,
His travail hadden wel aquit;
Bot he which hadde a mannes wit,
And made his covenant be mouthe,
And swor therto al that he couthe, 200
To parte and ȝiven half his good,
Hath nou forȝete hou that it stod,
As he which wol no trouthe holde.
This Emperour al that he tolde
Hath herd, and thilke unkindenesse 205
He seide he wolde himself redresse.
And thus in court of iuggement
This Adrian was thanne assent,
And the querele in audience
Declared was in the presence 210
Of themperour and many mo;
Wherof was mochel speche tho
And gret wondringe among the press.
Bot ate laste natheles
For the partie which hath pleigned 215
The lawe hath diemed and ordeigned
Be hem that were avised wel,
That he schal have the halvendel
Thurghout of Adrianes good.
And thus of thilke unkinde blod 220
Stant the memoire into this day,
Wherof that every wys man may
Ensamplen him, and take in mynde
What schame it is to ben unkinde;
Aȝein the which reson debateth, 225
And every creature it hateth.

XIII

JOHN OF TREVISA'S TRANSLATION OF HIGDEN'S POLYCHRONICON

1387.

Ranulph Higden (d. 1364) was a monk of St. Werburgh's at Chester, and has been doubtfully identified with the 'Randal Higden' who is said to have travelled to Rome to get the Pope's consent to the acting of the Chester miracle plays in English.

His _Polychronicon_, so called because it is the chronicle of many ages, is a compilation covering the period from the Creation to 1352. In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries it was the favourite universal history; and the First Book, which deals with general geography, has still a special interest for the light it throws on the state of knowledge in Chaucer's day.

Two English prose translations are known: Trevisa's, completed in 1387, and modernized and printed by Caxton in 1482; and an anonymous rendering made in the second quarter of the fifteenth century. Both are printed, with Higden's Latin, in the edition by Babington and Lumby, Rolls Series, 9 vols., 1865-86.

John of Trevisa was a Cornishman. He was a fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, from 1362 to 1365; and was one of those expelled from Queen's College for 'unworthiness' in 1379. He became vicar of Berkeley, and at the request of Sir Thomas Berkeley undertook the translation of the _Polychronicon_. In 1398 he brought to an end another long work, the translation of _Bartholomaeus de Proprietatibus Rerum_, the great encyclopaedia of natural science at this time. He died at Berkeley in 1402.

Trevisa was a diligent but not an accurate or graceful translator. He rarely adds anything from his own knowledge, though we have an example in the account of the reform of teaching at Oxford while he was there. The interest of his work depends chiefly on the curiosity of some passages in his originals.

A. THE MARVELS OF BRITAIN.

CHAP. xlii.

MS. Tiberius D. vii (about 1400), f. 39 a.

In Brytayn buþ hoot welles wel arayed and yhyȝt to þe vse of mankunde. Mayster of þulke welles ys þe gret spyryt of Minerua. Yn hys hous fuyr duyreþ alwey, þat neuer chaungeþ into askes, bote þar þe fuyr slakeþ, hyt changeþ ynto stony clottes. {5}

Yn Brytayn buþ meny wondres. Noþeles foure buþ most wonderfol. Þe furste ys at Pectoun. Þar bloweþ so strong a wynd out of þe chenes of þe eorþe þat hyt casteþ vp aȝe cloþes þat me casteþ yn. Þe secunde ys at Stonhenge bysydes Salesbury. Þar gret stones and wondur huge buþ {10} arered an hyȝ, as hyt were ȝates, so þat þar semeþ ȝates yset apon oþer ȝates. Noþeles hyt ys noȝt clerlych yknowe noþer parceyuet houȝ and wharfore a buþ so arered and so wonderlych yhonged. Þe þridde ys at Cherdhol. Þer ys gret holwenes vndur eorþe. Ofte meny men habbeþ {15} ybe þerynne, and ywalked aboute wiþynne, and yseye ryuers and streemes, bote nowhar conneþ hy fynde non ende. Þe feurþe ys þat reyn ys yseye arered vp of þe hulles, and anon yspronge aboute yn þe feeldes. Also þer ys a gret pond þat conteyneþ þre score ylondes couenable for men to dwelle {20} ynne. Þat pound ys byclypped aboute wiþ six score rooches. Apon euerych rooch ys an egle hys nest; and þre score ryuers eorneþ into þat pound, and non of ham alle eorneþ into þe se, bot on. Þar ys a pound yclosed aboute wiþ a wal of tyyl and of ston. Yn þat pound men wascheþ and baþeþ {25} wel ofte, and euerych man feeleþ þe water hoot oþer cold ryȝt as a wol hymsylf. Þar buþ also salt welles fer fram þe se, and buþ salt al þe woke long forto Saturday noon, and fersch fram Saturday noon forto Moneday. Þe water of þis welles, whanne hyt ys ysode, turneþ into smal salt, fayr and {30} whyyt. Also þar ys a pond þe water þerof haþ wondur worchyng, for þey al an ost stood by þe pond, and turnede þe face þyderward, þe water wolde drawe <hem> vyolentlych toward þe pond, and weete al here cloþes. So scholde hors be drawe yn þe same wyse. Bote ȝef þe face ys aweyward {35} fram þe water, þe water noyeþ noȝt. Þer ys a welle <þat> non streem eorneþ þarfram noþer þerto, and ȝet four maner fysch buþ ytake þarynne. Þat welle ys bote twenty foot long, and twenty foot brood, and noȝt deop bote to þe kneo, and ys yclosed wiþ hyȝ bankkes in euerych syde. {40}

Yn þe contray aboute Wynchestre ys a den. Out of þat den alwey bloweþ a strong wynd, so þat no man may endure for to stonde tofor þat den. Þar ys also a pond þat turneþ tre into yre and hyt be þerynne al a ȝer, and so tren buþ yschape into whestones. Also þer ys yn þe cop of an hul {45} a buryel. Euerych man þat comeþ and meteþ þat buriel a schal fynde hyt euene ryȝt of hys oune meete; and ȝef a pylgrym oþer eny wery man kneoleþ þerto, anon a schal be al fersch, and of werynes schal he feele non nuy.

Fast by pe Ministre of Wynburney, þat ys noȝt fer fram {50} Bathe, ys a wode þat bereþ moche fruyt. Ȝef pe tren of þat wode falle into a water oþer grounde <þat> þar ys nyȝ, and lygge þar al a ȝer, þe tren teorneþ ynto stoones.

Vndur þe cité of Chestre eorneþ þe ryuer Dee, þat now todeleþ Engelond and Wales. Þat ryuer euerych monthe {55} chaungeþ hys fordes, as men of þe contray telleþ, and leueþ ofte þe chanel. Bote wheþer þe water drawe more toward Engelond oþer toward Wales, to what syde þat hyt be, þat ȝer men of þat syde schal habbe þe wors ende and be ouerset, and þe men of þe oþer syde schal habbe þe betre ende and be {60} at here aboue. Whanne þe water chaungeþ so hys cours, hyt bodeþ such happes. Þis ryuer Dee eorneþ and comeþ out of a lake þat hatte Pimbilmere. Yn þe ryuer ys gret plenté of samon. Noþeles in þe lake ys neuer samon yfounde.

B. THE LANGUAGES OF BRITAIN.

CHAP. lix.

As hyt ys yknowe houȝ meny maner people buþ in þis ylond, þer buþ also of so meny people longages and tonges. Noþeles Walschmen and Scottes, þat buþ noȝt ymelled wiþ oþer nacions, holdeþ wel nyȝ here furste longage and speche, bote ȝef Scottes, þat were som tyme confederat and wonede {5} wiþ þe Pictes, drawe somwhat after here speche. Bote þe Flemmynges þat woneþ in þe west syde of Wales habbeþ yleft here strange speche, and spekeþ Saxonlych ynow. Also Englysch men, þeyȝ hy hadde fram þe bygynnyng þre maner speche, Souþeron, Norþeron, and Myddel speche in þe {10} myddel of þe lond, as hy come of þre maner people of Germania, noþeles by commyxstion and mellyng, furst wiþ Danes and afterward wiþ Normans, in menye þe contray longage ys apeyred, and som vseþ strange wlaffyng, chyteryng, harryng, and garryng grisbittyng. Þis apeyryng of þe {15} burþtonge ys bycause of twey þinges. On ys for chyldern in scole, aȝenes þe vsage and manere of al oþer nacions, buþ compelled for to leue here oune longage, and for to construe here lessons and here þinges a Freynsch, and habbeþ suþthe þe Normans come furst into Engelond. Also gentil men {20} children buþ ytauȝt for to speke Freynsch fram tyme þat a buþ yrokked in here cradel, and conneþ speke and playe wiþ a child hys brouch; and oplondysch men wol lykne hamsylf to gentil men, and fondeþ wiþ gret bysynes for to speke Freynsch, for to be more ytold of. {25}

[Þys manere was moche y-vsed tofore þe furste moreyn, and ys seþthe somdel ychaunged. For Iohan Cornwal, a mayster of gramere, chayngede þe lore in gramerscole and construccion of Freynsch into Englysch; and Richard Pencrych lurnede þat manere techyng of hym, and oþer men of Pencrych, so þat {30} now, þe ȝer of oure Lord a þousond þre hondred foure score and fyue, of þe secunde kyng Richard after þe Conquest nyne, in al þe gramerscoles of Engelond childern leueþ Frensch, and construeþ and lurneþ an Englysch, and habbeþ þerby avauntage in on syde, and desavauntage yn anoþer. {35} Here avauntage ys þat a lurneþ here gramer yn lasse tyme þan childern wer ywoned to do. Disavauntage ys þat now childern of gramerscole conneþ no more Frensch þan can here lift heele, and þat ys harm for ham and a scholle passe þe se and trauayle in strange londes, and in meny caas also. {40} Also gentil men habbeþ now moche yleft for to teche here childern Frensch.] Hyt semeþ a gret wondur houȝ Englysch, þat ys þe burþ tonge of Englysch men, and here oune longage and tonge, ys so dyuers of soon in þis ylond; and þe longage of Normandy ys comlyng of anoþer lond, and haþ on maner {45} soon among al men þat spekeþ hyt aryȝt in Engelond. [Noþeles þer ys as meny dyuers maner Frensch yn þe rem of Fraunce as ys dyuers manere Englysch in þe rem of Engelond.]

Also of þe forseyde Saxon tonge, þat ys deled a þre, and ys abyde scarslych wiþ feaw vplondysch men, and ys gret {50} wondur, for men of þe est wiþ men of þe west, as hyt were vnder þe same party of heuene, acordeþ more in sounyng of speche þan men of þe norþ wiþ men of þe souþ. Þerfore hyt ys þat Mercii, þat buþ men of myddel Engelond, as hyt were parteners of þe endes, vndurstondeþ betre þe syde {55} longages, Norþeron and Souþeron, þan Norþeron and Souþeron vndurstondeþ eyþer oþer.

Al þe longage of þe Norþhumbres, and specialych at Ȝork, ys so scharp, slyttyng, and frotyng, and vnschape, þat we Souþeron men may þat longage vnneþe vndurstonde. Y trowe {60} þat þat ys bycause þat a buþ nyȝ to strange men and aliens, þat spekeþ strangelych, and also bycause þat þe kynges of Engelond woneþ alwey fer fram þat contray; for a buþ more yturnd to þe souþ contray, and ȝef a goþ to þe norþ contray, a goþ wiþ gret help and strengthe. {65}

Þe cause why a buþ more in þe souþ contray þan in þe norþ may be betre cornlond, more people, more noble cytés, and more profytable hauenes.

XIV

POLITICAL PIECES

In the thirteenth century political poems were written chiefly in Latin or French. In the fourteenth century a steadily growing tendency to use English witnesses the increased interest of the people in politics and social questions. The fullest collections are those edited by T. Wright, _Political Songs of England_ (John to Edward II), Camden Society, 1839; and _Political Poems and Songs_ (Edward III to Richard III), Rolls Series, 2 vols., 1859-61.

The selections A and B are from the poems of Laurence Minot, of which the best edition is the third by J. Hall, Oxford 1914. Minot was a better patriot than a poet, and his boisterous contempt for the Scots and French reflects the spirit of England in the early days of Edward III's greatness.

The empty phrases in which the anonymous piece C abounds do not disguise a note of despair. The long war with France was becoming more and more hopeless. The plague that added to its miseries had carried off Henry, first Duke of Lancaster, in 1361. The Black Prince, to whom the nation looked for guidance, had died in 1376. The inglorious old age of Edward III ended in the following year. But there remained the hope, soon to be falsified, that the boy king Richard II would steer the ship of state to safety.

D is the earliest text of the letter which John Ball addressed to the Essex members of the Great Society of Peasants on the eve of the revolt of 1381. It shows how deep an impression the characters and allegorical form of _Piers Plowman_ had made on the oppressed serfs and labourers, and it gives some idea of the vague and incoherent thinking that brought ruin on their enterprise. Ball, who had defied established authority all his life, was freed from prison by the rebels, became a ringleader, and preached to their assembly on Blackheath a famous sermon with the text:

When Adam dalf, and Eve span,
Who was then the gentleman?

A few weeks later he was executed by sentence of Lord Chief Justice Tressilian, who had been charged by the King to take vengeance on the rebels.

The distich E sums up briefly the history of a year which turned moderate men against Richard II. A fuller contemporary picture of the events that led to his deposition is found in the alliterative poem _Richard the Redeles_, attributed by Skeat to the author of _Piers Plowman_.

A. ON THE SCOTS (ABOUT 1333).

BY LAURENCE MINOT.

MS. Cotton Galba E. ix (about 1425), f. 52 a.

_Now for to tell ȝou will I turn
Of batayl of Banocburn_

Skottes out of Berwik and of Abirdene
At þe Bannokburn war ȝe to kene;
Þare slogh ȝe many sakles, als it was sene,
And now has King Edward wroken it, I wene.
It es wrokin, I wene, wele wurth þe while! 5
War ȝit with þe Skottes for þai er ful of gile!

Whare er ȝe Skottes of Saint Iohnes toune?
Þe boste of ȝowre baner es betin all doune.
When ȝe bosting will bede, Sir Edward es boune
For to kindel ȝow care, and crak ȝowre crowne. 10
He has crakked ȝowre croune, wele worth þe while
Schame bityde þe Skottes, for þai er full of gile!

Skottes of Striflin war steren and stout,
Of God ne of gude men had þai no dout.
Now haue þai, þe pelers, priked obout, 15
Bot at þe last Sir Edward rifild þaire rout.
He has rifild þaire rout, wele wurth þe while!
Bot euer er þai vnder bot gaudes and gile.

Rughfute riueling, now kindels þi care;
Berebag with þi boste, þi biging es bare; 20
Fals wretche and forsworn, whider wiltou fare?
Busk þe vnto Brig, and abide þare.
Þare, wretche, saltou won, and wery þe while;
Þi dwelling in Dondé es done for þi gile.

Þe Skottes gase in Burghes and betes þe stretes; 25
Al þise Inglis men harmes he hetes;
Fast makes he his mone to men þat he metes,
Bot fone frendes he findes þat his bale betes.
Fune betes his bale, wele wurth þe while!
He vses al threting with gaudes and gile. 30

Bot many man thretes and spekes ful ill
Þat sum tyme war better to be stane—still.
Þe Skot in his wordes has wind for to spill,
For at þe last Edward sall haue al his will.
He had his will at Berwik, wele wurth þe while! 35
Skottes broght him þe kayes,—bot get for þaire gile.

B. THE TAKING OF CALAIS (1347).

BY LAURENCE MINOT.

MS. Cotton Galba E. ix (about 1425), f. 55 b.

_How Edward als þe romance sais
Held his sege bifor Calais._

Calays men, now mai ȝe care,
And murni<n>g mun ȝe haue to mede;
Mirth on mold get ȝe no mare,
Sir Edward sall ken ȝow ȝowre crede.
Whilum war ȝe wight in wede 5
To robbing rathly for to ren;
Mend ȝow sone of ȝowre misdede:
Ȝowre care es cumen, will ȝe it ken.

Kend it es how ȝe war kene
Al Inglis men with dole to dere. 10
Þaire gudes toke ȝe al bidene,
No man born wald ȝe forbere.
Ȝe spared noght with swerd ne spere
To stik þam, and þaire gudes to stele.
With wapin and with ded of were 15
Þus haue ȝe wonnen werldes wele.

Weleful men war ȝe iwis,
Bot fer on fold sall ȝe noght fare:
A bare sal now abate ȝowre blis
And wirk ȝow bale on bankes bare. 20
He sall ȝow hunt, als hund dose hare,
Þat in no hole sall ȝe ȝow hide;
For all ȝowre speche will he noght spare,
Bot bigges him right by ȝowre side.

Biside ȝow here þe bare bigins 25
To big his boure in winter tyde,
And all bityme takes he his ines
With semly se<r>gantes him biside.
Þe word of him walkes ful wide—
Iesu saue him fro mischance! 30
In bataill dar he wele habide
Sir Philip and Sir Iohn of France.

Þe Franche men er fers and fell,
And mase grete dray when þai er dight;
Of þam men herd slike tales tell, 35
With Edward think þai for to fight,
Him for to hald out of his right,
And do him treson with þaire tales:
Þat was þaire purpos, day and night,
Bi counsail of þe Cardinales. 40

Cardinales with hattes rede
War fro Calays wele thre myle;
Þai toke þaire counsail in þat stede
How þai might Sir Edward bigile.
Þai lended þare bot litill while 45
Till Franche men to grante þaire grace:
Sir Philip was funden a file,
He fled and faght noght in þat place.

In þat place þe bare was blith,
For all was funden þat he had soght. 50
Philip þe Valas fled ful swith
With þe batail þat he had broght.
For to haue Calays had he thoght
All at his ledeing, loud or still;
Bot all þaire wiles war for noght: 55
Edward wan it at his will.

Lystens now, and ȝe may lere,
Als men þe suth may vnderstand,
Þe knightes þat in Calais were
Come to Sir Edward sare wepeand. 60
In kirtell one, and swerd in hand,
And cried, 'Sir Edward, þine <we> are.
Do now, lord, bi law of land
Þi will with vs for euermare'.

Þe nobill burgase and þe best 65
Come vnto him to haue þaire hire.
Þe comun puple war ful prest
Rapes to bring obout þaire swire.
Þai said all: 'Sir Philip, oure syre,
And his sun, Sir Iohn of France, 70
Has left vs ligand in þe mire,
And broght vs till þis doleful dance.

Our horses þat war faire and fat
Er etin vp ilkone bidene;
Haue we nowþer conig ne cat 75
Þat þai ne er etin, and hundes kene
Al er etin vp ful clene—
Es nowther leuid biche ne whelp—
Þat es wele on oure sembland sene,
And þai er fled þat suld vs help.' 80

A knight þat was of grete renowne—
Sir Iohn de Viene was his name—
He was wardaine of þe toune
And had done Ingland mekill schame.
For all þaire boste þai er to blame, 85
Ful stalworthly þare haue þai streuyn.
A bare es cumen to mak þam tame,
Kayes of þe toun to him er gifen.

Þe kaies er ȝolden him of þe ȝate,—
Lat him now kepe þam if he kun. 90
To Calais cum þai all to late,
Sir Philip, and Sir Iohn his sun.
Al war ful ferd þat þare ware fun,
Þaire leders may þai barely ban.
All on þis wise was Calais won: 95
God saue þam þat it sogat wan!

C. ON THE DEATH OF EDWARD III, A.D. 1377.

Bodleian MS. Vernon (about 1400), f. 4106.

A! dere God, what mai þis be,
Þat alle þing weres and wasteþ awai?
Frendschip is but a vanyté,
Vnneþe hit dures al a day.
Þei beo so sliper at assai, 5
So leof to han, and loþ to lete,
And so fikel in heore fai,
Þat selden iseiȝe is sone forȝete.

I sei hit not wiþouten a cause,
And þerfore takes riht good hede, 10
For ȝif ȝe construwe wel þis clause,
I puit ȝou holly out of drede
Þat for puire schame ȝor hertes wol blede
And ȝe þis matere wysli trete:
He þat was vr moste spede 15
Is selden iseye and sone forȝete.

Sum tyme an Englisch schip we had,
Nobel hit was and heih of tour,
Þorw al Cristendam hit was drad,
And stif wolde stande in vch a stour, 20
And best dorst byde a scharp schour,
And oþer stormes, smale and grete.
Now is þat schip, þat bar þe flour,
Selden seȝe and sone forȝete.

Into þat schip þer longed a rooþur 25
Þat steered þe schip and gouerned hit;
In al þis world nis such anoþur,
As me þinkeþ in my wit.
Whyl schip and roþur togeder was knit,
Þei dredde nouþer tempest, druyȝe nor wete; 30
Nou be þei boþe in synder flit,
Þat selden seyȝe is sone forȝete.

Scharpe wawes þat schip has sayled,
And sayed alle sees at auentur.
For wynt ne wederes neuer hit fayled 35
Whil þe roþur mihte enduir.
Þouȝ þe see were rouh or elles dimuir,
Gode hauenes þat schip wolde gete.
Nou is þat schip, I am wel suir,
Selde iseye and sone forȝete. 40

Þis goode schip I may remene
To þe chiualrye of þis londe;
Sum tyme þei counted nouȝt a bene
Beo al Fraunce, ich vnderstonde.
Þei tok and slouȝ hem with heore honde, 45
Þe power of Fraunce, boþ smal and grete,
And brouȝt þe king hider to byde her bonde:
And nou riht sone hit is forȝete.

Þat schip hadde a ful siker mast,
And a sayl strong and large, 50
Þat made þe gode schip neuer agast
To vndertake a þing of charge;
And to þat schip þer longed a barge
Of al Fraunce ȝaf nouȝt a clete;
To vs hit was a siker targe, 55
And now riht clene hit is forȝete.

Þe roþur was nouþer ok ne elm,—
Hit was Edward þe Þridde, þe noble kniht.
Þe Prince his sone bar vp his helm,
Þat neuer scoumfited was in fiht. 60
The Kyng him rod and rouwed ariht;
Þe Prince dredde nouþur stok nor strete.
Nou of hem we lete ful liht:
Þat selde is seȝe is sone forȝete.

Þe swifte barge was Duk Henri, 65
Þat noble kniht and wel assayed,
And in his leggaunce worþili
He abod mony a bitter brayd.
Ȝif þat his enemys ouȝt outrayed,
To chastis hem wolde he not lete. 70
Nou is þat lord ful lowe ileyd:
Þat selde is seȝe is sone forȝete.

Þis gode Comunes, bi þe rode!
I likne hem to the schipes mast,
Þat with heore catel and heore goode 75
Mayntened þe werre boþ furst and last,
Þe wynd þat bleuȝ þe schip wiþ blast
Hit was gode preȝers, I sei hit atrete.
Nou is deuoutnes out icast,
And mony gode dedes ben clen forȝete. 80

Þus ben þis lordes ileid ful lowe:
Þe stok is of þe same rote;
An ympe biginnes for to growe
And ȝit I hope schal ben vr bote,
To holde his fomen vnder fote, 85
And as a lord be set in sete.
Crist leue þat he so mote,
Þat selden iseȝe be not forȝete!

Weor þat impe fully growe,
Þat he had sarri sap and piþ, 90
I hope he schulde be kud and knowe
For conquerour of moni a kiþ.
He is ful lyflich in lyme and liþ
In armes to trauayle and to swete.
Crist leeue we so fare him wiþ 95
Þat selden seȝe be neuer forȝete!

And þerfore holliche I ou rede,
Til þat þis ympe beo fully growe,
Þat vch a mon vp wiþ þe hede
And mayntene him, boþe heiȝe and lowe. 100
Þe Frensche men cunne boþe boste and blowe,
And wiþ heore scornes vs toþrete,
And we beoþ boþe vnkuynde and slowe,
Þat selden seȝe is sone forȝete.

And þerfore, gode sires, takeþ reward 105
Of ȝor douhti kyng þat dyȝede in age,
And to his sone, Prince Edward,
Þat welle was of alle corage.
Suche two lordes of heiȝ parage
I not in eorþe whon we schal gete; 110
And nou heore los biginneþ to swage,
Þat selde iseȝe is sone forȝete.

[Foot-note: 42 chilualrye _MS._]

[Foot-note: 110 I] In _MS._]

D. JOHN BALL'S LETTER TO THE PEASANTS OF ESSEX, 1381.

St. Albans MS. British Museum Royal 13. E. ix (about 1400), f. 287 a.

Iohon Schep, som tyme Seynte Marie prest of Ȝork, and now of Colchestre, greteth wel Iohan Nameles, and Iohan þe Mullere, and Iohon Cartere, and biddeþ hem þat þei bee war of gyle in borugh, and stondeth togidre in Godes name, and biddeþ Peres Plouȝman go to his werk, and chastise {5} wel Hobbe þe Robbere, and takeþ wiþ ȝow Iohan Trewman, and alle hiis felawes, and no mo, and loke schappe ȝou to on heued, and no mo.

Iohan þe Mullere haþ ygrounde smal, smal, smal;
Þe Kynges sone of heuene schal paye for al. 10
Be war or _y_e be wo;
Knoweþ ȝour freend fro ȝour foo;
Haueth ynow, and seith 'Hoo';
And do wel and bettre, and fleth synne,
And sekeþ pees, and hold ȝou þerinne; 15

and so biddeþ Iohan Trewman and alle his felawes.

[Foot-note: 4 togidre] togidedre _MS._]

[Foot-note: 11 ye] þe _MS._]

E. ON THE YEAR 1390-1.

St. John's College (Oxford) MS. 209, f. 57 a.

The ax was sharpe, the stokke was harde,
In the xiiii yere of Kyng Richarde.

XV

MISCELLANEOUS PIECES IN VERSE

Under this head are grouped a number of short poems, representing forms of composition that survive only by fortunate chance.

A is a curious little song, which has been printed from Hale MS. 135 by G. E. Woodbine in _Modern Language Review_, vol. iv, p. 236, and reconstructed by Skeat at vol. v, p. 105, of the same periodical.

B and C are the best-known lyrics of the important collection edited by Böddeker, _Altenglische Dichtungen des MS. Harley 2253_, Berlin 1878. They are literary and rather artificial in form.

D and E are minstrels' songs found, among other popular snatches, on a fly-leaf of Bodleian MS. Rawlinson D. 913, and edited by Heuser in _Anglia_, vol. xxx, p. 173. In E lines 14-16 and ll. 17-19 are to be expanded on the model of ll. 7-13.

All these songs are early, and have a lightness and gaiety that become rare as the fourteenth century advances.

F is one of several English scraps (ed. Furnivall in _Political, Religious, and Love Poems_, E.E.T.S., pp. 249 ff.) that are found scattered through the Latin text of MS. Harley 7322. Most of the English pieces are without poetical merit, but in this one poem the writer has attained a perfect simplicity.

G, printed in Wright and Halliwell's _Reliquiae Antiquae_, 1845, vol. i, p. 144, has been recognized as the first of the English ballads. It is the only example before 1400 of the swift and dramatic movement, the sudden transitions, and the restrained expression, characteristic of the ballad style.

H, first printed in _Reliquiae Antiquae_, vol. i, p. 240, is the latest of the short pieces. With onomatopoeic effects it gives a vivid if unfriendly picture of a blacksmith's forge on a busy night.

I is a charm edited by Furnivall at p. 43 of the E.E.T.S. volume in which F appears.

A. NOW SPRINGS THE SPRAY.

Lincoln's Inn MS. Hale 135 (about 1300).

_Nou sprinkes þe sprai,
Al for loue icche am so seek
Þat slepen I ne mai._

Als I me rode þis endre dai
O mi playinge, 5
Seih I hwar a litel mai
Bigan to singge:
'Þe clot him clingge!
Wai es him i louue-longinge
Sal libben ai!' 10
_Nou sprinkes, &c._

Son icche herde þat mirie note,
_Þ_ider I drogh;
I fonde hire in an herber swot
Vnder a bogh,
With ioie inogh. 15
Son I asked: 'Þou mirie mai,
Hwi sinkestou ai?'
_Nou sprinkes, &c._

Þan answerde þat maiden swote
Midde wordes fewe:
'Mi lemman me haues bihot 20
Of louue trewe:
He chaunges anewe.
_Y_iif I mai, it shal him rewe
Bi þis dai.'
_Nou sprinkes, &c._

[Foot-note: 4 Þis endre dai als I me rode _MS.; corr. Skeat_.]

[Foot-note: 5 playinge] _indistinct_.]

[Foot-note: 8 clingge] clingges _MS._]

B. SPRING.

MS. Harley 2253 (about 1325), f. 71 b.

Lenten ys come wiþ loue to toune,
Wiþ blosmen and wiþ briddes roune,
Þat al þis blisse bryngeþ.
Dayeseȝes in þis dales,
Notes suete of nyhtegales, 5
Vch foul song singeþ.
Þe þrestelcoc him þreteþ oo,
Away is huere wynter wo,
When woderoue springeþ.
Þis foules singeþ ferly fele, 10
Ant wlyteþ on huere †wynter† wele,
Þat al þe wode ryngeþ.

Þe rose rayleþ hire rode,
Þe leues on þe lyhte wode
Waxen al wiþ wille. 15
Þe mone mandeþ hire bleo,
Þe lilie is lossom to seo,
Þe fenyl and þe fille.
Wowes þis wilde drakes;
†Miles† murgeþ huere makes, 20
Ase strem þat strikeþ stille.
Mody meneþ, so do_þ_ mo—
Ichot ycham on of þo,
For loue þat likes ille.

Þe mone mandeþ hire lyht; 25
So doþ þe semly sonne bryht,
When briddes singeþ breme.
Deawes donkeþ þe dounes;
Deores wiþ huere derne rounes,
Domes for te deme; 30
Wormes woweþ vnder cloude;
Wymmen waxeþ wounder proude,
So wel hit wol hem seme.
Ȝef me shal wonte wille of on,
Þis wunne weole y wole forgon, 35
Ant wyht in wode be fleme.

[Foot-note: 22 doþ] doh _MS._]

C. ALYSOUN.

MS. Harley 2253, f. 63 b.

Bytuene Mersh and Aueril,
When spray biginneþ to springe,
Þe lutel foul haþ hire wyl
On hyre lud to synge.
Ich libbe in loue-longinge 5
For semlokest of alle þynge;
He may me blisse bringe—
Icham in hire baundoun.
_An hendy hap ichabbe yhent;
Ichot from heuene it is me sent; 10
From alle wymmen mi loue is lent,
And lyht on Alysoun._

On heu hire her is fayr ynoh,
Hire browe broune, hire eȝe blake;
Wiþ lossum chere he on me loh, 15
Wiþ middel smal and wel ymake.
Bote he me wolle to hire take,
For te buen hire owen make,
Longe to lyuen ichulle forsake,
And feye fallen adoun. 20
_An hendy hap, &c._

Nihtes when y wende and wake,
Forþi myn wonges waxeþ won,
Leuedi, al for þine sake
Longinge is ylent me on.
In world nis non so wyter mon 25
Þat al hire bounté telle con;
Hire swyre is whittore þen þe swon,
And feyrest may in toune.
_An hend<y hap>, &c._

Icham for wowyng al forwake,
Wery so water in wore, 30
Lest eny reue me my make,
Ychabbe yȝyrned ȝore.
Betere is þolien whyle sore
Þen mournen euermore.
Geynest vnder gore, 35
Herkne to my roun.
_An hendi <hap ichabbe yhent;
Ichot from heuene it is me sent;
From alle wymmen mi loue is lent,
And lyht on Alysoun>._ 40

D. THE IRISH DANCER.

Bodleian MS. Rawlinson D. 913.

Icham of Irlaunde,
Ant of the holy londe
Of Irlande.
Gode sire, pray ich _þ_e,
For of saynte charité, 5
Come ant daunce wyt me
In Irlaunde.

[Foot-note: 4 þe] ȝe _MS._]

E. THE MAID OF THE MOOR.

Bodleian MS. Rawlinson D. 913.

Maiden in the mor lay,
In the mor lay,
Seuenyst fulle, seuenist fulle,
Maiden in the mor lay,
In the mor lay, 5
Seuenistes fulle ant a day.

Welle wa_s_ hire mete;
Wat was hire mete?
Þe primerole ant the,—
Þe primerole ant the,— 10
Welle was hire mete;
Wat was hire mete?—
The primerole ant the violet.

Welle <was hire dryng>;
Wat was hire dryng? 15
Þe chelde water of <þe> welle-spring.

Welle was hire bour;
Wat was hire bour?
Þe rede rose an te lilie flour.

[Foot-note: 7 was] wat _MS._]

F. THE VIRGIN'S SONG.

British Museum MS. Harley 7322 (about 1375), f. 135 b.

Iesu, swete sone dere!
On porful bed list þou here,
And þat me greueþ sore;
For þi cradel is ase a bere,
Oxe and asse beþ þi fere:
Weepe ich mai þarfore.
Iesu, swete, beo noth wroþ,
Þou ich nabbe clout ne cloþ
Þe on for to folde,
Þe on to folde ne to wrappe, 10
For ich nabbe clout ne lappe;
Bote ley þou þi fet to my pappe,
And wite þe from þe colde.

G. JUDAS.

Trinity College (Cambridge) MS. B. 14. 39 (about 1300), f. 34 a.

Hit wes upon a Scere Þorsday þat vre Louerd aros;
Ful milde were þe wordes He spec to Iudas:

Iudas, þou most to Iurselem, oure mete for to bugge;
Þritti platen of seluer þou bere upo þi rugge.

Þou comest fer i þe brode stret, fer i þe brode strete; 5
Summe of þine cunesmen þer þou meist imete.

Imette wid is soster, þe swikele wimon:
'Iudas, þou were wrþe me stende þe wid ston, (_bis_)
For þe false prophete þat tou bileuest upon.'

'Be stille, leue soster, þin herte þe tobreke! 10
Wiste min Louerd Crist, ful wel He wolde be wreke.'

'Iudas, go þou on þe roc, heie upon þe ston,
Lei þin heued i my barm, slep þou þe anon.'

Sone so Iudas of slepe was awake,
Þritti platen of seluer from hym weren itake. 15

He drou hymselve bi þe top, þat al it lauede a blode;
Þe Iewes out of Iurselem awenden he were wode.

Foret hym com þe riche Ieu þat heiste Pilatus:
'Wolte sulle þi Louerd, þat hette Iesus?'

'I nul sulle my Louerd for nones cunnes eiste, 20
Bote hit be for þe þritti platen þat He me bitaiste.'

'Wolte sulle þi Lord Crist for enes cunnes golde?'
'Nay, bote hit be for þe platen þat He habben wolde.'

In him com ur Lord gon, as is postles seten at mete:
'Wou sitte ye, postles, ant wi nule ye ete? (_bis_) 25
Ic am iboust ant isold today for oure mete.'

Up stod him Iudas: 'Lord, am I þat?
I nas neuer o þe stude þer me Þe euel spec.'

Up him stod Peter, ant spec wid al is miste:
'Þau Pilatus him come wid ten hundred cnistes, (_bis_) 30
Yet ic wolde, Louerd, for Þi loue fiste.'

'Stille þou be, Peter! Wel I þe icnowe;
Þou wolt fursake me þrien ar þe coc him crowe.'

H. THE BLACKSMITHS.

British Museum MS. Arundel 292 (about 1425-50), f. 71 b.

Swarte smekyd smeþes smateryd wyth smoke
Dryue me to deth wyth den of here dyntes.
Swech noys on nyghtes ne herd men neuer:
What knauene cry and clateryng of knockes!
Þe cammede kongons cryen after 'col, col!' 5
And blowen here bellewys, þat al here brayn brestes:
'Huf, puf!' seith þat on; 'haf, paf!' þat oþer.
Þei spyttyn and spraulyn and spellyn many spelles;
Þei gnauen and gnacchen, þei gronys togydere,
And holdyn hem hote wyth here hard hamers. 10
Of a bole-hyde ben here barm-fellys;
Here schankes ben schakeled for the fere flunderys;
Heuy hamerys þei han, þat hard ben handled,
Stark strokes þei stryken on a stelyd stokke:
Lus, bus! las, das! rowtyn be rowe. 15
Swech dolful a dreme þe deuyl it todryue!
Þe mayster longith a lityl, and lascheth a lesse,
Twyneth hem tweyn, and towchith a treble:
Tik, tak! hic, hac! tiket, taket! tyk, tak!
Lus, bus! lus, das! swych lyf thei ledyn 20
Alle cloþemerys: Cryst hem gyue sorwe!
May no man for brenwaterys on nyght han hys rest!

I. RATS AWAY.

Bodleian MS. Rawlinson C. 288, f. 113 (15th-century writing, blurred).

I comawnde alle þe ratones þat are here abowte,
Þat non dwelle in þis place, withinne ne withowte,
Thorgh þe vertu of Iesu Crist, þat Mary bare abowte,
Þat alle creatures owyn for to lowte,
And thorgh þe vertu of Mark, Mathew, Luke, an Ion,— 5
Alle foure Awangelys corden into on,—
Thorgh þe vertu of Sent Geretrude, þat mayde clene,
God graunte þat grace
Þat <non> raton dwelle in þe place
Þat here namis were nemeled in; 10
And thorgh þe vertu of Sent Kasi,
Þat holy man, þat prayed to God Almyty
For skathes þat þei deden
Hys medyn
Be dayes and be nyȝt, 15
God bad hem flen and gon out of euery manesse syȝt.
_Dominus Deus Sabaot!_ Emanuel, þe gret Godes name!
I betweche þes place from ratones and from alle oþer schame.
God saue þis place fro alle oþer wykked wytes,
Boþe be dayes and be nytes! _et in nomine Patris et Filii_, 20
&c.

[Foot-note: 13 skathes] t _altered from_ f (?) _MS._]

XVI

THE YORK PLAY 'HARROWING OF HELL'

British Museum MS. Addit. 35290 (about 1430-40), f. 193 b.

The miracle play _Harrowing of Hell_ is assigned to the craft of Saddlers in the York cycle, edited by Miss L. Toulmin-Smith, Oxford 1885, pp. 372 ff. This is the text reproduced below. It is also found, though in a less perfect form, among the _Towneley Plays_, ed. England and Pollard, E.E.T.S., 1897, pp. 293 ff.

All the mediaeval stories of Christ's Descent into Hell are based on the gospel of Nicodemus, which seems to date from the fourth century, though the legend is referred to nearly two centuries earlier. This apocryphal narrative was popular throughout the Middle Ages. There is a prose translation in late Anglo-Saxon, and a Middle English verse rendering supplies some of the phrases in the play.

Two points deserve notice for their bearing on the development of miracles. A trace of their origin in the services of the Church is seen in the use made of the Scriptural passage 'Attollite portas, principes, vestras, et elevamini portae aeternales, et introibit rex gloriae', the dramatic possibilities of which were recognized in ritual from an early date. And the growing taste for comic scenes is met, without prejudice to the serious characters, by the rudimentary buffoonery of the Devil and his companions.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

ADAME
EUA
ISAIAH
SYMEON
IESUS
IOHANNES BAPTISTA
MOYSES
BELSABUB
SATTAN
DAUID
BELLIALL
MICHILL (Archangel)
PRIMUS DIABOLUS
SECUNDUS DIABOLUS

[SCENE I, _outside the gates of Hell_.]

1. <_Iesus._ M>anne on molde, be meke to me,
And haue thy Maker in þi mynde,
And thynke howe I haue tholid for þe
With pereles paynes for to be pyned.
The forward of my Fadir free 5
Haue I fulfillid, as folke may fynde,
Þerfore aboute nowe woll I bee
Þat I haue bought for to vnbynde.
Þe feende þame wanne with trayne,
Thurgh frewte of erthely foode; 10
I haue þame getyn agayne
Thurgh bying with my bloode.

2. And so I schall þat steede restore
F_ro_ whilke þe feende fell for synne;
Þare schalle mankynde wonne euermore 15
In blisse þat schall neuere blynne.
All þat in werke my werkemen were,
Owte of thare woo I wol þame wynne,
And some signe schall I sende before
Of grace, to garre þer gamys begynne. 20
A light I woll þei haue
To schewe þame I schall come sone;
My bodie bidis in graue
Tille alle thes dedis be done.

3. My Fadir ordand on þis wise 25
Aftir His will þat I schulde wende,
For to fulfille þe prophicye<s>,
And als I spake my solace to spende.
My frendis, þat in me faith affies,
Nowe fro ther fois I schall þame fende, 30
And on the thirde day ryght vprise,
And so tille heuen I schall assende.
Sithen schall I come agayne
To deme bothe goode and ill
Tille endles ioie or peyne; 35
Þus is my Fadris will.

[SCENE II, _Hell; at one side Limbo, enclosing the patriarchs and prophets; a light shines across_.]

4. _Adame._ Mi bretheren, harkens to me here,
Swilke hope of heele neuere are we hadde.
Foure thowsande and sex hundereth ȝere
Haue we bene heere in †þis stedde†. 40
Nowe see I signe of solace seere,
A glorious gleme to make vs gladde,
Wherfore I hope oure helpe is nere,
And sone schall sesse oure sorowes sadde.
_Eua._ Adame, my husband hende, 45
Þis menys solas certayne;
Such light gune on vs lende
In Paradise full playne.

5. _Isaiah._ Adame, we schall wele vndirstande;
I, Ysaias, as God me kende, 50
I prechid in Neptalym þat lande,
And Ȝabulon, even vntill ende.
I spake of folke in mirke walkand,
And saide a light schulde on þame lende;
This lered I whils I was leuand, 55
Nowe se I God þis same hath sende.
Þis light comes all of Criste,
Þat seede, to saue vs nowe,
Þus is my poynte puplisshid.
But Symeon, what sais þou? 60

6. _Symeon._ Þhis, my tale of farleis feele,
For in þis temple His frendis me fande;
I hadde delite with Hym to dele,
And halsed homely with my hande.
I saide, 'Lorde, late thy seruaunt lele 65
Passe nowe in pesse to liffe lastand,
For nowe myselfe has sene Thy hele,
Me liste no lengar to liffe in lande.'
Þis light Þou hast purueyed
To folkes þat liffis in leede, 70
Þe same þat I þame saide,
I see fulfillid in dede.

7. _Iohan. Baptista._ Als voyce criand to folke
I kende
Þe weyes of Criste, als I wele kanne;
I baptiste Hym with bothe my hande 75
Euen in þe floode of flume Iordanne.
Þe Holy Goste fro heuene discende
Als a white dowue doune on Hym þanne;
The Fadir voice, my mirthe to mende,
Was made to me euen als manne, 80
'This is my Sone,' he saide,
'In whome me paies full wele.'
His light is on vs laide,
He comes oure cares to kele.

8. _Moyses._ Of þat same light lernyng haue I, 85
To me Moyses He mustered his myght,
And also vnto anodir, Hely,
Wher we were on an hille on hight.
Whyte as snowe was His body,
And His face like to þe sonne to sight: 90
No man on molde was so myghty
Grathely to loke agaynste þat light;
Þat same light se I nowe
Shynyng on vs sarteyne,
Wherfore trewly I trowe 95
We schalle sone passe fro payne.

9. _i Diabolus._ Helpe! Belsabub! to bynde þer
boyes,
Such harrowe was neuer are herde in helle.
_ii Diab._ Why rooris þou soo, Rebalde? þou
royis;
What is betidde, canne þou ought telle? 100
_i Diab._ What! heris þou noȝt þis vggely
noyse?
Þes lurdans þat in Lymbo dwelle,
Þei make menyng of many ioies,
And musteres grete mirthe þame emell.
_ii Diab._ Mirthe? nay, nay, þat poynte is
paste, 105
More hele schall þei neuer haue.
_i Diab._ Þei crie on Criste full faste,
And sais he schal þame saue.

10. _Belsabub._ Ȝa, if he saue þame noght, we
schall,
For they are sperde in speciall space; 110
Whils I am prince and principall
Schall þei neuer passe oute of þis place.
Calle vppe Astrotte and Anaball
To giffe þer counsaille in þis case,
Bele-Berit and Belial, 115
To marre þame þat swilke maistries mase.
Say to Satan oure sire,
And bidde þame bringe also
Lucifer louely of lyre.
_i Diab._ Al redy, lorde, I goo. 120

11. _Iesus [Without]._ _Attollite portas,
principes_,
Oppen vppe, ȝe princes of paynes sere,
_Et eleuamini eternales_,
Youre yendles ȝatis þat ȝe haue here.
_Sattan._ What page is þere þat makes prees, 125
And callis hym kyng of vs in fere?
_Dauid [in Limbo]._ I lered leuand, withouten
lees,
He is a kyng of vertues clere.
A! Lorde, mekill of myght,
And stronge in ilke a stoure, 130
In batailes ferse to fight,
And worthy to wynne honnoure.

12. _Sattan._ Honnoure! in þe deuel way, for what
dede?
All erthely men to me are thrall;
Þe lady þat calles hym lorde in leede 135
Hadde neuer ȝitt herberowe, house, ne halle.
_i Diab._ Harke, Belsabub! I haue grete drede,
For hydously I herde hym calle.
_Belliall._ We! spere oure ȝates, all ill mot
þou spede!
And sette furthe watches on þe wall. 140
And if he calle or crie
To make vs more debate,
Lay on hym þan hardely,
And garre hym gang his gate.

13. _Sattan._ Telle me what boyes dare be so
bolde 145
For drede to make so mekill draye.
_i Diab._ Itt is þe Iewe þat Iudas solde
For to be dede, þis othir daye.
_Sattan._ O we! þis tale in tyme is tolde,
Þis traytoure traues<es> vs alway; 150
He schall be here full harde in holde,
Loke þat he passe noght, I þe praye.
_ii Diab._ Nay, nay, he will noȝt wende
Away or I be ware,
He shappis hym for to schende 155
Alle helle, or he go ferre.

14. _Sattan._ Nay, faitour, þerof schall he faile,
For alle his fare I hym deffie;
I knowe his trantis fro toppe to taile,
He leuys with gaudis and with gilery. 160
Þerby he brought oute of oure bale,
Nowe late, Laȝar of Betannye,
Þerfore I gaffe to þe Iewes counsaille
Þat þei schulde alway garre hym dye.
I entered in Iudas 165
Þat forwarde to fulfille,
Þerfore his hire he has,
Allway to wonne here stille.