Chapter I: Part 1

[Transcriber's Note:

This text is intended for users whose text readers cannot use the "real" (unicode/utf-8) version of the file. Characters that could not be fully displayed have been "unpacked" and shown in brackets:

[Gh], [gh] (yogh)
[&] (Tironian ampersand)
[þ/] (thorn with stroke)
[e,] (e with tail, "e caudata")
[.y] (y with over-dot)
[´æ] (accented æ)
[-a], [-e]... (vowel with macron or "long" mark)
[)a], [)e]... (vowel with breve or "short" mark)
[a.], [b.]... (expunctuated letter, "under-dot")

All but the first three are rare, or occur only in notes. Any other bracketed characters are in the original text.

The form {} represents a half-width space, generally between prefix and main word. These are not always unambigous; readers should consult page images or a printed text. The {;} is a punctuation mark similar to a semicolon.

A few selections use additional, very unusual letters that will be explained as they appear.

In the last three selections, doubled ¶¶ represents the large C-like paragraph symbol. In Orm and earlier selections, ¶ is as printed.

Italicized letters or parts of words, indicating expanded abbreviations, are shown in {braces}. Spaced-out text, used mainly for Latin quotations, is marked with _lines_. Boldface is shown with +marks+, while large initial capitals are shown with double ++marks before the letter. Superscript letters are shown with ^.

The Notes were published in a separate volume, in preparation at the time this e-text was produced (August 2008). For each selection, the bracketed 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.

Further details about the format of this e-text are at the end of the text. All notes in [[double brackets]] were added by the transcriber.]

SELECTIONS FROM
EARLY MIDDLE ENGLISH

1130-1250

Edited With Introductions And Notes

by

JOSEPH HALL
M.A., Hon. D.Litt., Durham University

PART I: TEXTS

OXFORD
At The Clarendon Press
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 1
Worcester Cathedral Library, 174.

II. SAINT GODRIC'S HYMNS 5
British Museum, Royal 5 F. vii.

III. THE PETERBOROUGH CHRONICLE (A.D. 1132-1154) 5
Bodleian, Laud Misc. 636.

IV. CHARTER OF HENRY THE SECOND 11
B. M., Harleian Charter iii B. 49.

V. A PARABLE 12
B. M., Cotton Vespasian A. xxii.

VI. THE PROVERBS OF ALFRED 18
Jesus Coll. Oxford, Arch. E. 29.

VII. MEMENTO MORI 29
Same as No. VI.

VIII. POEMA MORALE 30, 31
Lambeth, 487.
B. M., Egerton 613.
Trinity Coll. Camb., B. 14. 52.

IX. ANCRENE WISSE A 54, 55
Corpus Christi Coll. Camb., 402.
Caius Coll., 234.

IX. ANCRENE WISSE B 60, 61
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.

X. IN DIEBUS DOMINICIS 76
Lambeth, 487.

XI. HIC DICENDUM EST DE PROPHETA 79
Same as for No. X.

XII. SERMONS FOR PALM SUNDAY AND EASTER DAY 82
Trinity Coll. Camb., B. 14. 52.

XIII. VICES AND VIRTUES 88
B. M., Stowe 34.

XIV. LA[Gh]AMON 94, 95
B. M., Cotton Caligula A. ix.
B. M., Cotton Otho C. xiii.

XV. ORM 112
Bodleian, Junius 1.

XVI. SAWLES WARDE 117
Bodleian, 34 (to l. 339, p. 127).
B. M., Royal 17 A. xxvii (from l. 339, p. 127
to end).

XVII. SAINT KATHERINE 128
B. M., Royal 17 A. xxvii.

XVIII. THE ORISON OF OUR LADY 132
B. M., Cotton Nero A. xiv.

XIX. SAINT JULIANA 138, 139
B. M., Royal 17 A. xxvii.
Bodleian, 34.

XX. THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE 148, 149
Jesus Coll. Oxford, Arch. E. 29.
B. M., Cotton Caligula A. ix.

XXI. THE BESTIARY 176
B. M., Arundel 292.

XXII. GENESIS AND EXODUS 197
Corpus Christi Coll. Camb., 444.

XXIII. KENTISH SERMONS 214
Bodleian, Laud Misc. 471.

CORRIGENDA

[Transcriber's Note:

All corrections listed here have been made in the body of the e-text. The form as originally printed is shown in [brackets]. A few additional corrections have been added from the Notes volume.]

1/17 [nu beoþ] [_printed without brackets_]
2/30 [fei][gh]e [[fei]ge]
11/1 {þ}urh MS kurh
[_body text printed without italics; added linenote_]
12/15 alisendnesse [alisendnessee]
14/58 fi{lio} [fi{lii}]
17/162 d{escendi} [d{escendit}]
83/32 For v{iam} p{ro} read v{estimenta} p{rosternebant}
85/79 s{e}cla [s{e}c{u}la]
87/161 Omit words in brackets
[_printed [his fleis [&] his blod.] at beginning of line_]
150/16 þat [þar]
152/57 wit [wiþ]
154/104 bysemar [bisemar]
160/183 nyht [niht]
160/185 vych [vich]
160/191 quaþ [qwaþ]
166/289 In footnote, Þule [_added footnote_]
167/289 In footnote, Þule [_no change_]
167/310 eue [eve]
168/336 Murehþe ilyche [Mureþe iliche]
168/339 holy [holi]
221/248 iheed _for_ ihee[r]d

I. WORCESTER FRAGMENTS

[[MS description from Notes volume:

"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

[++S]{an}c{tus} beda was iboren her on breotene mid us · [f. 63 r
[&] he wisliche [writen] awende
[þ/] þeo englis{c} leoden þurh weren ilerde ·
[&] he þeo c[not]ten unwreih · þe questiuns hoteþ ·
þa derne di[gh]elnesse · þe de[or]wurþe is · 5
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 10

wilfrid of {R}ipum · 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 · 15
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 · [&] [þ/] folc forþ{}mid
Nu sæiþ [ure] drihten þus · _Sicut aq{ui}la p{ro}uocat 20
pullos suos ad uolandu{m} · [&] sup{er} eo[s uolitat ·]_
þis beoþ godes word to worlde asende ·
[þ/] we sceolen fæier feþ [festen to him] ·

[Linenotes:
2. _writen_] [_bec_] Varnhagen. || 3. _englisc_] _englise_ MS. ||
7. [_fif_] V. || 11. _Ripum_] _Sipum_ MS. || 13. _Paulin_]
[_Cwiche_]_lm_ Wright. || 22. _þis_] _þus_ V.]

B. HOMO PUTREDO ET FILIUS HOMINIS VERMIS

en earde · [f. 63v
[&] alle þeo isceæftan · þe him to [s]cu[l]en ·
[&] mid muchele cre[fte · þe]ne mon he idihte ·
[&] him on ileide · lif [&] soule ·
Softliche he heo isom[nede] · ac þær biþ sor idol · 5
[þ/] bodeþ [þ/] bearn : þonne hit iboren biþ ·
hit [woan]eþ [&] mænet þeo weowe ·
[&] þene seoruhfule siþ · [&] [þ/] sori idol ·
[þ/] soule schal [[&] li]came · sorliche idælen ·
forþon hit cumeþ weopinde · [&] woniende iwiteþ · 10
[swo D]eaþ mid his pricke · pineþ þene licame ·
he walkeþ [&] wendeþ [&] woneþ [oftes]iþes ·
he sæiþ on his bedde · wo me [þ/] ic libbe ·
[þ/] æffre mine lif dawes · þus [lon]ge me ilesteþ ·
for heui is his greoning · [&] seorhful is his woaning · 15

[Linenotes:
3. [_þe_]_ne_ Buchholz. [_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.]

[&] al [biþ] his siþ · mid seorwe biwunden ·
him deaueþ þa æren : him dimmeþ [þa] i[gh]en ·
him scerpeþ þe neose · him scrinckeþ þa lippen ·
him scorteþ [þe] tunge · [him starkeþ his skin ·]
him trukeþ his iwit · him teoreþ his miht · 20
him coldeþ his [siden ·] liggeþ þe ban stille ·
þonne biþ [þ/] soule{}hus · seoruhliche bereaued ·
[at] also muchele wunne · þe þer{}inne wunede ·
þus biþ þæs bearnes · [bod]unge ifulled ·
þeo moder greoneþ · [&] [þ/] bearn woaneþ · 25
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 [þ/] wræcche lif · iended al mid sori siþ ·
þonne biþ þe [fei][gh]e · iflut to þen flore · 30

[Linenotes:
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.]

[[Partial word [_bodi_]ge italicized as shown]]]

he biþ eastward istreiht · he biþ sone stif ·
he [col]deþ also clei · hit is him ikunde ·
Mon hine met mid one [gh]erde · [&] þa mol[de] seoþþen ·
ne mot he of þære molde · habben na{m}more ·
þonne [þ/] rihte imet · [rih]tliche tæcheþ · 35
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 [þ/] hore honden · swuþe beoþ ifuled ·
Gif heo hondleþ þe[ne d]eade · seoþþen his dea[gh]es beoþ igon · 40
sone cumeþ [þ/] wrecche wif · þe [forh]oweþ þene earfeþ siþ ·
forbindeþ þæs dædan muþ · [&] his dimme e[gh]en ·
[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 ·] 45

[Linenotes:
32. [_col_]_deþ_ Z., [_hear_]_deth_ S. || 41. The last half of
this line is due to l. 43. || 43. [_þonne_] H. || [_Ec_] B. ||
44. _þarinne_] [_þon_]_ne_ S., [_In_]_ne_ H., B.]

C. CONFABULABOR CUM AMARITUDINE ANIMAE MEAE

[ ] þu me · þeo hwule þet ic wunede inne þe · [f. 64r
for þu were leas [&] luti[gh] · [&] 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 · 5
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 · 10
beden swuþe [gh]eorne · [þet] þe come bote ·
heom þuþte alto longe · [þ/] þu were on liue ·
for heo [we]ren grædie · to gripen þine æihte ·

[Linenotes:
C 5. [_pa_]_newes_ Holthausen. || 7. _þe_] _e_ in darker ink. ||
10. [_sibbe_] no gap in MS.]

nu heo hi dæleþ heom imong · [heo] doþ þe wiþ{}uten ·
ac nu heo beoþ fuse · to bringen þe ut of huse, 15
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 [þ/] ic souhte · so seoruhfulne · buc ·
noldest þ[u lo]kien lufe · wiþ ilærede men · 20
[gh]iuen ham of þine Gode · [þ/] 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 ·
swuþe deor wurþe lac · licame cristes · 25
þurh þæ{n}e þu were · alese[d] from helle{}wite ·
[&] mid his reade blode · [þ/] he [gh]eat on rode ·
þo þu we[re] ifreoed to farene i{n}to heouene ·
ac þu fenge to þeowdome · þ{urh} þæs de[ofles] lore ·
Bi þe hit is iseid · [&] soþ hit is on boken · 30

[Linenotes:
18. _semdest_] _scendest_ S. || 20. [_lo_]_kien_ S.,
[_ma_]_kien_ H., [_þe ma_]_kien_ B. || 24. _leofli_[_c_] B. ||
26. _þæne_ Z., in MS. _þære_.]

_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 [þ/] þu lufedest · 35
[&] ic scal wræcche soule [· weo]we nu driæn ·
eart þu nu loþ [&] unwurþ · alle þine freonden ·
nu ha{m} [þun]cheþ alto long · [þ/] þu ham neih list ·
ær þu beo ibrouht · þaer þu be[on] scalt ·
on deope sæþe · on durelease huse · 40
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 · [þ/] b[ittere] þe biþ fornon ·
[þ/] bittere ilæsteþ æffre · [þ/] swete ne cumeþ þe [næffre ·] 45

[Linenotes:
36. [_weo_]_we_ H., [_ece_] _we_ S. || 38. _nu ham_]
_nu han_ MS. || 43. _þære_] [_kunde_] S., H., B.]

II. SAINT GODRIC'S HYMNS

[[MS description from Notes volume:

"Royal 5 F vii, British Museum ... apparently an inserted leaf. This leaf ... belongs to the beginning of the thirteenth century...."]]

A ++Sainte marie uirgine [f. 85r
moder ih{es}u cristes nazarene
onfo schild help þin godric ·
onfang bring he[gh]ilich wið þe in godes riche ·

++Sainte marie xpistes bur 5
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 · 10

C ++Sainte Nicholaes godes druð ·
tymbre us faire scone hus ·
At þi burth at þi bare.
Sainte nicholaes, bring vs wel þare.

[Linenotes:
II. 3. Over _onfo_, _onfong_ in later hand. || 4. _wið_] _w_ corr.
out of _þ_. || 6. _maidenes_] _id_ corr. out of _rd_.]

III. THE PETERBOROUGH CHRONICLE

[[MS description from Notes volume:

"Laud Misc. 636, Bodleian Library (MS. E).... A new hand begins with 1132 and continues to the end in 1155 A.D."]]

[Headnote: The Anarchy]

[Sidenote: M·C·XXXII.]

f. 88v] ++Ðis gear co{m} henri king to þis land. þa co{m} henri abbot [&] uureide þe muneces of burch to þe king forþi ð he uuolde underþeden ð mynstr{e} to clunie. sua ð te king was wel neh be{}paht. [&] sende eft{er} þe muneces. [&] þur`h´ godes milce [&] þur`h´ þe b{iscop} of Seresb{er}i [&] te b{iscop} of linc{ol} [&] te oþre ricemen þe {5} þer wæron þa wiste þe king ð he feorde mid suicdo{m}. Þa he na{n} mor ne{}mihte. þa uuolde he ð his nefe sculde ben abb{ot} in burch. oc xpist it ne{}uuolde. Was it noht suithe lang þer{}eft{er} þatte king sende eft{er} hi{m}. [&] dide hi{m} gyuen up ð abb{ot}rice of burch. [&] faren ut of lande. [&] te king iaf ð abb{ot}rice an p{ri}or of S' neod Martin was {10} ge{}haten. he co{m} on S' pet{res} messe{}dei mid micel wurscipe into the minstre.

[Sidenote: M·C·XXXV.]

++On þis gære for se king h{enri} ouer sæ æt te la{m}masse. [&] ð oþer dei þa he lai an slep in scip. þa þestrede þe dæi ouer al landes [&] uuard þe sunne suilc als it {15} uuare thre niht ald mone. an st{er}res abuten hi{m} at middæi. Wur`þ´en men suiðe of{}uundred [&] of{}dred [&] sæden ð micel þing sculde cum{en} her{}eft{er}. sua dide. for þat ilc gær warth þe king ded. ð oþer daei eft{er} S' Andreas massedæi · on norm{andi}. Þa wes treson a þas landes. for æuricman sone ræuede oþer þe mihte. {20} Þa namen his sune [&] his frend [&] brohten his lic to engle{lande} [&] bebiriend in Reding{e}. Godman he wes [&] micel æie wes of hi{m}. durste nanman misdon wið oðer on his time. Pais he makede men [&] dær. Wua{}sua bare his byrthen gold [&] sylure. durste na{n} man sei to hi{m} naht bute god. {25}

[Linenote:
20. _þa wes treson a_ Emerson, in MS. _þa westre sona_.]

f. 89r] Enmang þis was his nefe cumen to engle{lande} Stephne de blais. [&] co{m} to lundene. [&] te lundenisce folc hi{m} underfeng. [&] senden [e,]ft{er} þe ærceb{iscop} Will{el}m curbuil. [&] halechede hi{m} to kinge on midewintre{}dæi. On þis kinges time wes al unfrið [&] yfel [&] ræflac. for agenes hi{m} risen sona þa ricemen þe wæron swikes. alre fyrst Balduin {30} de Reduers [&] held Execestre agenes hi{m}. [&] te king it be{}sæt. [&] siððan Bald{uin} acordede. Þa tocan þa oðre [&] helden her castles agenes hi{m}. [&] dauid king of scotland toc to uuerrien hi{m} · þa þohuuethere þat here sandes feorden betwyx heo{m}. [&] hi to{}gædere comen [&] wurðe sæhte. þoþ it litel forstode. {35}

[Sidenote: M·C·XXX`VII´.]

++Ðis gære for þe `k{ing}´ Steph{ne} ofer sæ to normandi [&] ther wes under{}fangen for{}þi ð hi uuenden ð he sculde ben alsuic alse the eo{m} wes. [&] for he hadde get his tresor. ac he to{}deld it [&] scatered sotlice. Micel hadde henri k{ing} gadered gold [&] syluer. [&] na god ne dide me for his saule thar{}of. {40}

Þa `þe´ king S{tephne} to englal{ande} co{m} þa macod he his gadering æt Oxeneford. [&] þar he na{m} þe b{iscop} Roger of Sereb{er}i [&] Alex{ander} b{iscop} of lincol [&] te canceler Rog{er} hise neues. [&] dide ælle in p{ri}sun. 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 {45} wunder. Hi hadden hi{m} 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 hi{m} heolden. [&] fylden þe land ful of castles. Hi suencten suyðe þe uureccemen of þe land mid castel weorces. þa þe castles uuaren {50} 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 [&] wi{m}men. [&] diden heo{m} `in p{ri}sun´ eft{er} gold [&] syluer. [&] pined heo{m}; untellendlice pining. for ne uuæren næure nan martyrs swa pined alse hi wæron. Me henged up bi the fet [&] smoked heo{m} · mid {55} ful smoke. Me henged bi the þu{m}bes other bi the hefed. [&] hengen bryniges on `her´ fet. Me dide cnotted strenges abuton here [f. 89v] hæued. [&] uurythen to ð it gæde to þe `h´ærnes. Hi diden heo{m} in quarterne þar nadres [&] snakes [&] pades wæron inne. [&] drapen heo{m} swa. Sume hi diden in crucethus ð is in an c[e,]ste þat was scort [&] nareu. [&] {60} un{}dep. [&] dide scærpe stanes þer{}inne. [&] þrengde þe man þær{}inne. ð hi{m} bræcon alle þe limes. In mani of þe castles wæron lof [&] gri{m}. 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. {65} 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 u{m}wile [&] clepeden it tenserie. þa {70} þe uureccemen ne hadden na{n} 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 su{m} wile {75} 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 nam{en} al þe god ð þar{}inne was. [&] brenden sythen þe cyrce [&] alte gædere. Ne hi ne forbaren b{iscopes} land ne abb{otes} ne preostes. ac ræueden {80} munekes [&] clerekes. [&] æuricman other þe ouer myhte. Gif twa men oþer ·iii· coman ridend to an tun. al þe tunscipe flugæn for heo{m}. wenden ð hi wæron ræueres. Þe biscopes [&] leredmen heo{m} cursede æure. oc was heo{m} 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 {85} 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. 90r] On al þis yuele time heold Martin abbot his abbotrice ·xx· wint{re} [&] half gær [&] viii· dæis. mid micel suinc. [&] fand þe munekes [&] te gestes al þat heo{m} be{}houed [&] heold mycel {90} carited in the hus. [&] þoþwethere wrohte on þe circe [&] sette þar{}to landes [&] rentes. [&] goded it suythe. [&] læt it refen [&] brohte heo{m} into þe neuuæ mynst{re} on S' PETRES mæsse dæi mid micel wurtscipe. ð was · anno ab incarn{atione} d{omini} · M·c·xl. a co{m}bustio{n}e loci ·xxiii· [&] he for `to´ Rome. [&] þær wæs wæl under{}fangen fra{m} þe pape {95} Eugenie. [&] be{}gæt thare p{ri}uilegies. 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 Will{el}m malduit þe heold Rogingha{m} þæ castel. he wan Cotingha{m} [&] Estun. [&] Of hugo of {100} Walt{e}uile he uuan hyrtlingb{eri} · [&] Stanewig. [&] lx · sol. of Aldewingle `ælc gær´. And he makede manie munek{es} [&] plantede winiærd. [&] makede mani weorkes. [&] wende þe tun betere þan it ær waes. [&] waes god munec [&] god man. [&] forþi hi{m} luueden god [&] gode men. {105}

[Linenotes:
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_.]

Nu we willen sægen su{m}del wat belamp on Steph{nes} kinges time. On his time þe iudeus of Noruuic bohton an xpisten cild be{}foren estren [&] pineden hi{m} alle þe ilce pining ð ure drihten was pined. [&] on langfridæi hi{m} on rode hengen for ure drihtines luue. [&] sythen byrieden hi{m}. wenden ð it sculde ben for{}holen. oc ure dryhtin {110} atywede ð he was hali m{arty}r. [&] to munekes hi{m} namen. [&] bebyried hi{m} heglice in þe minst{re}. [&] he maket þur[h] ure drihtin wunderlice [&] manifældlice miracles. [&] hatte he S' Willelm.

[Sidenote: M·C·XXXVI`II´.]

++On þis gær co{m} dauid king of Scotl{and} mid ormete færd to þis land. wolde winnan þis land. {115} [&] hi{m} co{m} togænes Will{el}m eorl of Albamar þe þe king adde beteht euorwic [&] to other æuez men mid fæumen [&] fuhten wid heo{m}. [&] fle{m}den þe king æt te Standard. [&] sloghen suithe micel of his genge. [f. 90v]

[Sidenote: M·C·XL.]

++On þis gær wolde þe king Steph{ne} tæcen Rodb{er}t eorl {120} of gloucestre þe kinges sune · Henries. ac he ne myhte for he wart it war. Þer{}eft{er} 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· k{alend}. Ap{ri}l'. wæron men suythe of wundred. Þer{}eft{er} fordfeorde Will{elm} ærceb{iscop} of cantwarb{eri}. {125} [&] te king makede Teodbald ærceb{iscop} þe was abbot in the bec. Þer eft{er} wæx suythe micel uuerre be{}tuyx þe king [&] Randolf eorl of cæstre noht for{}þi ð he ne iaf hi{m} al ð he cuthe axen hi{m}. alse he dide alle othre. oc æfre þe mare he iaf heo{m}. þe wærse hi wæron hi{m}. Þe eorl heold lincol agænes þe king. [&] be{}na{m} hi{m} al ð he {130} ahte to hauen. [&] te king for þider [&] besætte hi{m} [&] his brother Will{el}m de R[om]are in þe castel. [&] te æorl stæl ut [&] ferde eft{er} Rodb{er}t eorl of gloucestre. [&] brohte hi{m} þider mid micel ferd. [&] fuhten suythe on Candel masse dæi agenes heore lauerd. [&] namen hi{m} for his men [h]i{m} suyken [&] flugæn. [&] læd hi{m} to Bristowe [&] {135} diden þar in p{ri}sun [&] [fe]teres. þa was al englel{and} styred mar þan ær wæs. [&] al yuel wæ[s i]n lande. Þer{}eft{er} co{m} þe king{es} doht{er} henries þe hefde ben emp{er}i[ce] i[n A]lamanie. [&] nu wæs cuntesse in Angou. [&] co{m} to lundene [&] te lundenissce folc hire wolde tæcen. [&] scæ fleh [&] forles þar mic[el.] Þer eft{er} þe biscop of Wincestre henri {140} þe king{es} brother Steph{nes} spac wid Rodb{er}t eorl [&] wyd þe{m}p{er}ice [&] suor heo{m} athas ð he neure ma mid te king his brother wolde halden. [&] cursede alle þe men þe mid h[i{m}] heoldon. [&] sæde heo{m} ð he uuolde ííuen heo{m} up Wincestre. [&] dide heo{m} cumen þider. Þa hi þær inne wæren. þa co{m} þe king{es} cuen [mid al]hire strengthe. {145} [&] besæt heo{m}. ð þer wæs inne micel hungær. Þa hi ne leng ne muhten þolen þa stali hi ut [&] flugen. [&] hi wurthen war wid{}uten [&] folecheden heo{m}. [&] namen Rodb{er}t eorl of glouc{estre}. [&] ledden hi{m} to Rouecestre. [&] diden hi{m} þare in p{ri}sun. [&] te emp{er}ice fleh in{}to an minstre. [f. 91r] Þa feorden þe wisemen betwyx þe kinges {150} freond [&] te eorles freond [&] sahtlede sua ð me sculde leten ut þe king of p{ri}sun for þe eorl. [&] te eorl for þe king. [&] sua diden. Sithen þereft{er} 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 hi{m} sithen na{m} in ha{m}tun. þurhc wicci {155} ræd. [&] dide hi{m} in p{ri}sun. [&] ef{}sones he let hi{m} ut þurhc wærse red. to ð forewarde ð he suor on halido{m} [&] 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 þe{m}p{er}ice. for þa þe {160} king was in p{ri}sun þa wenden þe eorles [&] te ricemen þat he neure mare sculde cum{en} ut. [&] sæh`t´leden wyd þe{m}p{er}ice. [&] 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 {165} Walingford. Þær eft{er} 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 heo{m} til hi aiauen up here castles. [&] hi nan helpe ne hæfden of þe k{inge}. Þa ferde Eustace þe king{es} sune to france [&] na{m} þe king{es} suster of france to wife. wende to bigæton {170} 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]teb{eri}. God wi{m}man scæ wæs. oc scæ hedde litel blisse mid hi{m}. [&] xpist ne wolde ð he sculde {175} 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 co{m} to þe iunge eorl henri. [&] he toc hire to wiue. [&] al [f. 91v] peitou mid hire. Þa ferde he mid micel færd into engle[la]nd. [&] wan castles. [&] te king ferde agenes hi{m} mid {180} micel mare ferd. [&] þoþwæthere fuhtten hi noht. oc ferden þe ærceb{iscop} [&] te wise me`n´ betwux heo{m}. [&] makede ð sahte ð te king sculde ben lauerd [&] king wile he liuede. [&] æft{er} his dæi ware henri king. [&] he held`e´ hi{m} for fader [&] he hi{m} for sune. [&] sib [&] sæhte sculde ben betwyx heo{m}. [&] on al engleland. Þis [&] te othre foruuardes {185} þet hi makeden. suoren to halden þe king [&] te eorl [&] te b{iscopes} & te eorles [&] ricemen alle. Þa was þe eorl under{}fangen æt Wincestre [&] æt lundene mid micel wurtscipe. [&] alle diden hi{m} manred. [&] suoren þe pais to halden. [&] hit ward sone suythe god pais. sua ð neure was here. Þa was þe k{ing} strengere þanne he æuert her was. [&] te eorl {190} ferde ouer sæ. [&] al folc hi{m} luuede for he dide god iustise [&] makede pais. {192}

[Linenotes:
135-45. MS. rubbed here. || 172. MS. mutilated here.]

[Sidenote: M·C·LIIII.]

++On þis gær wærd þe king Steph{ne} ded [&] bebyried þer his wif `[&] his sune´ wæron bebyried æt fauresfeld. þæt minst{re} hi makeden. Þa þe king was ded. þa was þe eorl {195} beionde sæ. [&] ne durste nan man don oþer bute god for þe micel eie of hi{m}. þa he to engleland co{m}. þa was he underfangen mid micel wurtscipe. and to king bletcæd in lundene on þe sunnen dæi be{}foren midwint{er} dæi. [&] held þær micel curt.

Þat ilce dæi þat Mart{in} abb{ot} of burch sculde þider faren. þa {200} sæclede he [&] ward ded ·iiii· Ñ. iañ. [&] te munek{es} innen dæis cusen oþer of heo{m} sælf. Will{el}m de Walt{e}uile is gehaten. god clerc [&] god man. [&] wæl luued of þe k{inge} [&] of alle godemen. and o[n cyric]en byrie{den} þabb{ot} hehlice [&] sone þe cosan ab{bot} ferde [&] te muneces [mid him to] oxenforde to þe k{ing} [[&] he] iaf hi{m} þat abb{ot}rice. [&] he {205} ferde hi{m} 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 p{ro}cessiun. [&] sua he was alsua at Ramesæie. [&] at Torn{ey}. [&] at . . n [&] Spall{ding} [&] at {S. l.} bares. [&] . . . [&] [he nu is] abbot. [&] fa[ire] haued begunnon. xp[ist] him un[ne gode endinge]. {210}

[Linenotes:
203. MS. mutilated and defaced from this place onward. ||
204. _byrie^d_ in MS.]

IV. CHARTER OF HENRY THE SECOND

[[MS description from Notes volume:

"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, [wynn] and w."]]

++H' [þ]urh godes [gh]efu ænglelandes king gret ealle mine bissceopas [&] ealle mine eorlas [&] ealle mine scirereuan [&] ealle mine þeinas frencisce [&] englisce · on þan sciran þe teobalt erceb{isceop} [&] se hiret æt xp{ist}es chyrchen on Cantuarabir[gh] habbad land inne freondlice [&] ic keþe eow [þ/] ic hebbe heom geunnon [þ/] hi beon ælc þare lande wurþa {5} þe hi eafdon en Edwardes kinges de[gh]e · [&] 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 · [&] i{n}fangenesthiafes · [&] fleamene frimtha · ofer heore agene men · binna{n} Burgan [&] butan · {10} swa ful [&] swa ford swa mine agene Wicneres hit sechan scolden · [&] ofer swa fele þeinas swa ich heom to{}leten habban. And ic nelle [þ/] eni{}man enig{}þing þer{}on theo · butan hi [&] heara wicneras · þe hi hit bitechan · willað · ne frencisce ne englisce · for þan þi{n}gan þe ich habbe criste þas gerichtan forgifan minre Saule to ech{er}e alisendnesse [&] ic {15} nelle geþauian [þ/] enig{}man þis abrece bi minan fullen frenscipan. God geau gehealde.

[Linenotes:
1. MS kurh || IV. 4. _Cantuarabir[gh]_] last letter _[gh]_ or _g_;
the one has been corrected out of the other: so too in _de[gh]e_,
l. 6. || 14. _þingan_] _þimgan_ MS.]

V. A PARABLE

[[MS description from Notes volume:

"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

[[The section from _¶[N]u gode menn_ to end was printed as a single paragraph. It has been broken up for this e-text.]]

[f. 56v¹] [++H]it [gh]elamp [þ/] an rice king wes. strang [&] mihti. his `land´ gélest wide [&] side. his folc was `swiðe´ ærfeðtelle. his under{}þéoden [gh]éwer on his cyne{}rice wuneden. Þa be{}fel hit swa [þ/] hi{m} a þance beféll · to under{}[gh]eíte wá an alle his cyne{}rice hi{m} were frend oðer fend. hold oðer fá. [&] he nam hi{m} tó rede [þ/] heo{m} wolde {5} [gh]earceon anæ grate laðienge. [&] þider [gh]eclepíen all his underþéod. [þ/] hi bi éne féce to his curt `berie´ come sceolde [&] sette ænne dé[gh]ie. [þ/] hi alle be þe látst to þa d{e}[gh]`i´e. þer were. Ac þis [gh]esceod he hadde isétt bi{}tweone frend [&] fend. [þ/] þan hi come mistlice to bérie. [gh]ef he frend wére. me hine sceolde derewrlice forð{}clepien. [&] do hine wasse. {10} [&] [gh]iéfe hi{m} hís formemete. [þ/] hi{m} to la{n}g ne þuhte to abiden of {s}e laford to þe none inn come. Gief he fend wére. me sceolden ánon eter gat [gh]emete mid gode repples [&] stiarne swépen. [&] stiarne híne besíé. [&] binde hi{m} hand [&] fétt. [&] do hine in{}to þiest{er}nesse. [&] þer abide of all his [gh]eferen were [gh]egadered. [þ/] hi alle clone. símle {15} belócen were. Þa sende se king his ærndraches of fif ceðen to alle his under{}þeoden. to [gh]elaðie þis folc. hwet bute ícome súm cófer su{m} láter`su{m} frend su{m} fend´. [&] was idon bí ha{m} al swá ær cweðe [we] [þ/] isett was. Þa hit þer to co{m}. [þ/] se hlaford in{}to þar halle come. mid his dierewur{ð} [gh]eferede. mid [´æ]rlen [&] aldren. mid cn`i´hten {20} mid þeínen. þa cweð se hlafor to his. Æér þan{n} we mid ure frienden toðe mete gó. sce{w}ie we þes uncoðe mæn ur [gh]efó. þa hi to for hi{m} cóme. þa wénte he hin to ha{m} [&] þus cweð. Un [f. 56v²] wraste man wat lacede [gh]éu an alle míre rice þat [gh]íe hatrede [&] wid{er}wardnesse a[gh]énes me [gh]e win[ne] sceolde. [&] to mine `fá´ [gh]ebugon. Swá ibrúce ic mine {25} rice ne scule [gh]íe mine mete ibite. ac scule þa þe hit mid mire lufe [gh]earnede. Þa þis was iségd. þa were cofe abruden into þest{er}nesse. þe hi sturfe hungre. [&] se hlaford nam {w}iði{nne} to is frenden [&] et [&] dranc [&] macede hine wel bliðe mid his `[&] þer hi hadden brad [&] win. [&] vii. sandon´. {30}

[Linenotes:
V. 11. _se_] _fe_ MS. || 18. _sum ... fend_ added on margin. ||
20. _dierewurð_] _dierewurd_ MS. || _[&] aldren_ over an erasure. ||
21. _þeínen_ over an erasure. || 22. _scewie_] _scepie_ MS. ||
28. _wiðinne_] _hit h[-i]_ MS. || 29. _[&] þer ... sandon_ added
lengthwise on margin.]

[[_"sum ... fend" printed as shown in text, without leading space_]]

¶[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 [gh]esceop alle þing of nahte. [&] na þing ne má[gh]i á[gh]enes his wille. ne hi{m} wiðstande. for{}þan hi{m} séigd se wítí[gh]e. _Qui celor{um} {con}tines t{ro}nos_ [&] c. [þ/] is. hlaford `of mihte´ {35} þe {h}alst hefenen þri{m}settles. [&] tó neowelnes`se´ þe und{er} eorðe is be{}locést. ·iii· p{r}ou. þe dunan þu a`wiðhst´ mid þina hand; he is íwiss mihti for{}þ{an} þe non mihté nis buto{n} fra{m} him. His land is all þes middenard. for he alle [gh]esceop. [&] all dihte wið ute swince. He us is · king · [&] sceppend. [&] fader. [&] hlaford. King for he mid rihtwisnesse {40} diht `man [&] engel god [&] euel´. sceppende. for he us machede lichame [&] sawle ableow. feder for he us fett [&] scred. [&] forðteh alse is cyldren. hlaford forþa{n} þe is [gh]éie [&] drednesse is ofer hus. [&] `þas´ áh to bie{n}ne. He is hure fad{er}. he lenð us his eorðe tó tolie. h{is} corn to sawe. his eorðe us werpð corn [&] westm. níatt. [&] dierchin. his loht leóem [&] lif. {45} his wát{er} · drench [&] fisc[.y]nn. his fér manifeald þenínge. his sónne. mone. sterren. rien. dáw. wind. wude. `unitald fultume´ al [þ/] we habbeð of þése feder we habbeð. of wa{m} we alle [&] us siel{f}e habbeð. Mú[gh]e we ahct clepeien hine mod{er} wene we. [gh]íe mu[gh]e we. hwat deð si moder hire bearn. formes[t] hi hit che{r}eð [&] blissið be þe lichte. [&] {50} seþe hi dieð und{er} hire árme [f. 57r¹] oðer hi`s´ hafed heleð to don hi{m} slepe. [&] reste.

[Linenotes:
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.
_[þ/] = þat_. || 44. _his_] _he_ MS. || 48. _sielfe_] _sielþe_ MS.
|| 50. _chereð_] _cheteð_ MS.]

Þis deð all [gh]íure drihte. he blisseð hus mid d[gh]éies licht. h[e] sweueð hus mid þiestre nicht. Gíet for an oðre þing god [gh]escop þa niht. He wat wel [þ/] maní[gh]e men bieð sa ful of [gh]éscung. mihti efre ísí. Ná [gh]ewóld ha{m} selfe. to bigeten wrldlic échte. þer{}for {55} god haf{ð} [gh]escepe ha{m} reste. súme `wile´ hare`s´ u{n}þances. [gh]eíet he cweð a wunder word to þar sawle bi þa witíe ysaia{m}. _Nu{m}q{ui}d pot{est} mulier obliuisci infante{m} s{uum} u{t} n{on} m{isereatur} fi{lio} u{teri} s{ui}._ [þ/] is la líef ma[gh]íe wima{n} for[gh]ete{n} his oge cild. [þ/] hi ne milsi. hire bárn of hire ogen innoð. [&] [gh]ief hi for{}[gh]iet þah{}hwéðer nell íc {60} for{}[gh]ete þe cweð drihte. be þa{m} þe he fad{er} is [&] lafórd he hi{m} sel{f} cwe{ð} be þe witíe. _Si ego p{ate}r u{bi} {est} honor m{eus}. si d{ominus} u{bi} {est} ti{m}`or´ m{eu}s._ [þ/] is. gif ic fader ha{m}. wer his mi ma{n}scipe. [gh]if ic. hlaford wer hís mine a[gh]éíe? þer{}fore. G. m. ure king. we o[gh]eð wr`h´mint. hur sceappend al þat we bieð. ure fader soðe lufe. ur h`l´aford {65} drednesse. [&] þis is séo king þe wile wíte an alle his und{er}þeode wá hine lufeð [&] hwa hine hateð. hwá hi{m} is frend oðer fend. [&] þer{}for he hað [gh]elaðed alle fol[c]. to ane d[gh]éíe. [þ/] is dome`s´ d[gh]eíe. [þ/] hi alle þer beon be þe latst. hwé seden ærst [þ/] þes ærndraces wer isent of fif cheðen. swa ibeoð. þas fif cheðen beoð fif lágan. for{}þan þe god is {70} þurh þesen [gh]ecnówé.

[Linenotes:
56. _hafð_] _hafd_ MS. || 57. _word_] _worder_ MS. || 61. _self
cweð_] _selþ cwed_ MS. || 71. _þesen_] _þ_ corr. out of _p_.]

Si forme lage [þ/] is si [gh]écénde lage. þe god sett formest an þes ma{n}nes heorte. [þ/] is þat non man ne don oðere. buton [þ/] þe he wolde [þ/] me ded[e] hi{m}. [&] don his nixta{n} al [þ/] he wolde [þ/] me ded[e]hi{m}. Wið{}ute þeser láge ni`s´ man þe [gh]escod habbe. Ærndraces of þisser lage wer abel. Seth. enoc. Nóe. [&] swíce gode {75} man. Seðe þes mid{de}nard was [gh]estaþeled fra{m} þa forme man to þa latst þe wrð ét þes [f. 57r²] wrldes ende. nas tid ne týme ne ne wrð. [þ/] god ne send gode mænn his folc forte [gh]elaðie to his rice. Ac si láge sóne adiligde. þurh unwreaste leahtru{m} [&] manifald sénne. Þer{}efter arerde god þas lage þurh mo[.y]se{n} þe heretoche of his {80} folce þe he þa [gh]ecás. [&] wráte his hi{m} self in stanene wax{}br`e´dene. [&] si [gh]eleste sume wíle. [&] þer{}of were larþawes [&] [gh]elaðieres Moises [&] aaro{n}. [&] samuel. [&] fele oðre. Swa la{n}ge [þ/] si alswa swið[e] abreað. [&] adili[gh]ede. þurh unhersa{m}nesse. wat hit co{m} to þa time þe god sende þe halie witíge. [&] hi þa arérdon mid hare wríte þurh þes halíe gastes {85} gífe `þa´ god lage. [&] rihtleceden [þ/] folc swa se hi mihte{n}. [&] bodeden ure`s´ hlafordes to{}cýme ses helendes ih{es}u c{ri}stes. þe sceolde his a[gh]én wille. þurh his gastes [gh]ífe in ure heorte wríte. [&] don ús mid his mihte [þ/] stef{}creft ne mihte. [&] an þesser lá[gh]e of þe wit[gh]in. wer laðieres móche.

[Linenote:
89. _ne_ corr. out of _na_.]

Eft bine fece [&] þes lare [&] lage swiðe acolede þurh manifea[l]d {90} {s}énne. [&] hur [&] hur þurh false gódes þe ælc þiode ha{m} selfe macéde. sume of golde. súm of silure. of treowe. of stane. [&] awente godes lof [&] wrhminte fra{m} þe sceappende to þare [gh]esceafte. swa [þ/] þa ure halende wes accenned of þa{m} unwe{m}mede mede sante Marie. al se midde{n}nard was mid senne begripe. [&] al fol`c´ [gh]ede i{n}{}to þe`s´ diefles muðe. buto{n} {95} wel feáwe of wa{m} his lefe moder wes istriened. he þa arerd alle godnisse. [&] sette his halíe láge. [&] þat þe móre his. [gh]iaf miht [&] stre{n}cþe þur{h} þe gief of his gaste his hesne to fulforðie. [þ/] non oðre la[gh]e ne mihte. [&] understandeð hwu. Þri ampres were an mancyn ær his to cyme. Ure acenneng wes ful. u{r} lif unwreast. ur deað grislic. he {100} co{m} [&] brochte þri þi{n}[g] þ{er} a[gh]én. he wes acénde of þe clene mede. þe efer þurh lefede mede. hi`s´ lif was hali[gh]e. his deað ful of milce. his clene acennende clé{n}séde ure fule acenne{n}de. his hali lif rihtlecede ure unwreaste lif. his admoded deað ofer{}co{m}. [&] fordede ure sori[gh]e [&] [gh]elice deað. þís is [f. 57v¹] si fierðe láge.

[Linenotes:
90. _manifeald sénne_] _manifead fénne_ MS. || 98. _þurh_]
_þurl_ MS. || 100. _ur_] _un_ MS.]

An þisser were ærndraces [&] {105} [gh]elaðieres þa ap{ost}les [&] þe leorni{n}ch[n]ihtes. þer{}efter ures helendes upstí[gh]e to heuene. þa ap{ost}les [&] hare íunglenges þe[r] efter come halíe men [&] þe hafedmen þe nu beoð in halíe cyrce. [&] wrðeð of domes dé[gh]e. þurh þes hali gastes [gh]ífe. [&] al{}swa ure helende ha{m} leórde. maní[gh]e þing [t]ehten þa folce to freme. [&] þis is si fifte lage. An þisser beoð bedeles {110} [&] laðieres to b{e}rie archebisc{opes}. [&] biscop{es}. prestes. [&] hare [gh]egeng. Ac þah we fif næ{m}míe. alle hi [beoð an] on godes wille. [&] élc of ha{m} [gh]estrenð [&] fulfellþ oðre. Of þeses fif ceþen [&] of hare bedeles we habbeð [gh]éu [gh]éséd. Of þe folce we siggeð [þ/] hit cu{m}þ fastlice. fram middenardes anginn alse fele alse deade beoð alse fele beoð to b{er}ie ícóme. wat frend. {115} wat fá. [&] elce dé[gh]íe þícce þringeð. Ac [gh]ief [gh]é habbeð und{er}stande [þ/] we [gh]íu er séde. eter gate me his scýft. [&] þer me hi to [gh]esceodeð. Si gate [þ/] is elces mannes endedeíe. þ{an} he stepð ut of þese life into þan oðre. Ac we sede [gh]ehw. [þ/] [gh]ief he frend were me sceolde [gh]ief hi{m} his mór[gh]e mete [þ/] he þe bet mihte abide þan{n} more mete.

[Linenotes:
112. _hi_] _hit_ MS. || 118. _þan_] _[þ/]_ MS. || _oðre_]
_ooðre_ MS.]

Swa hit is here. {120} þ{an} se gode man þe godes lufe hað [gh]éfolged to is ende cu{m}þ. wite{r}lice wið{}ut uúantruce þer cumeð þe hali engles hi{m} tó. [&] [gh]éf hað ahte uniwasse oðer hit wrð [gh]ewasse iþer pine of þe deaðe þe he her þáleð. oðer efter mid eðelice lette. [&] þ{an} lat me þa sawle to merchestowe. [þ/] his se mor[gh]emete si blisse þe he hað an þar sawle. þat wite [gh]e wel. {125} nan halege nað his fulle blisse er he under{}fó adomes deíe his licame. [þ/] wrð se fulle mete. þa{n} se mann mid sawle [&] mid licame und{er}-fangð sicernesse of écer blisse. [&] wat beli{m}pð hit [gh]ief he fend his `þe´ to þare gate cu{m}þ? God þurh his [f. 57v²] mucele milce ne letes us nefer fandie. Ac naþeles [gh]ief he fend his an unwreast mann þer beoð {130} anú [gh]eréd`i´e. þe weregede gastes þe hine uniredlice und{er}fangeð mi{d} stiarne swupen. Alse fele unþeawes alse hade upe him [&] sennenn. al swa fendes he þer [gh]emet. h[-i]ne to und{er}fó. [&] to don h[-i]ne into þiesternesse. oft a domes d[gh]éi alle godes fend simle fra{m} his [gh]esecðe abroden bienn [&] hi[n] to hare lean ha{m} þe lange scel [gh]eleste.

[Linenotes:
121. _þan_] _[þ/]_ MS. || _witerlice_] _witetlice_ MS. ||
124. _þan_] _[þ/]_ MS. || 131. _mid_] _min_ MS.]

Þus hit hað íbí [&] {135} is. [&] wrð oft domesdei. Ac þan{n} hit þer to cumþ [þ/] se hlaford á þe mucele deíe. cumþ forté ísí [&] frend [&] fend. þann cumþ all his und{er}þiede hi{m} to{}fore. þer he sit mid his derewrþe [gh]efered mid ni[gh]en anglene had. mid þer unw[-e]mmed meide his moder. mid his ap{ost}len. mid þa hágefad{er}en. [&] þo halí[gh]e wítien. mid martiren. mi[d] hali {140} {con}fessore{n} mid halie meiden. mid al þan þe þer midenarde for his lufe werpeð abéc. [&] lagelice her hi{m} þenið. wic [gh]eíe. wic drednesse wurð þer. þ{an} þat fer to{}for hi{m} abernð [þ/] middenard. þ{an} si eorðe alle cwace{ð} þan þe sterren falleð. si sunne [&] se mone aþestreð for godes b{ri}ctnesse. þe wlcne to gað. and si hali rode tacne mid þe {145} spere [&] mid þe neiles þurh angles beoð forð ibrocht. þan{n} þe angles cwaciað. [&] tó richtwíse ha{m} adredeð. wat sceol se senfulle don. þe isecgð þer his richtwise deme. þe non ne maíe bechece. non beswice. he his hi{m} sel{f} witnisse [&] deme. Wat sceol se wrecce don. þe bufon isé[gh]ð his hlaford þe he [gh]egremed áfeð. under hi{m} helle muð open. {150} abuuten hi{m} all folc. hi{m} selfe bi s`c´a[n]dlice senne beswapen. þer ne mái no{n} frend oðre helpe. ælc had innóh to do{n}ne a{n} hi{m} selfe. Þan seie{ð} ha{m} god þe gelt[.y] ma{n}ne{n} [gh]e sene[gh]eden. an [gh]eur écenesse. [&] [gh]e scule [f. 58r¹] birne an mire écenisse. [Gh]e sene[gh]den alse lange alse [gh]é lefede [&] [gh]e scule birne alse lo{n}ge as íc lefie.

[Linenotes:
140. _þo_ corr. out of _to_ | _hali [gh]ewitien_ MS. || 143. _þan_]
_[þ/]_ MS. || _middenard_] _middernad_ MS. || _þan_] _[þ/]_ MS. ||
144. _cwaceð_] _cwaced_ MS. || 149. _self_] _selþ_ MS. ||
153. _seieð_] _seied_ MS.]

Witeð into éce fer. þe is {155} `[gh]´æarced mine fó [&] his [gh]egen. Son[e] hi wrðeð abroden of his [gh]esecþe. [&] þan sone geð se hlaford mid his frenden to his mete. [þ/] his to is esten. þe seið an þan hali write _Delicie méé sunt e{ss}e cu{m} filiis ho{minum}_. þat is. Mine esten beoð wunian mid mannen bearnen. Ac we sed[en] [gh]íu litl her [þ/] hi sceolde{n} abbe{n} god b{ra}d [&] uin. [&] vii {160} sonden. hi sculen habe [þ/] brad þe{}seið iþe godspel. _Ego su{m} panis uiu{us} q{ui} d{e} c{elo} d{escendi}._ Þet is. Ic ám cwuce bread þe astah fram hefene. se[gh]ð 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 [gh]eðe godspelle. _Nisi {gra}n{um} frum{en}ti_. [&] c. þis corn was [gh]esawen {165} þurh þes ængles muð into ðes meidenes ære Marie. in þare burh of nazareth. þis corn có{m} fer`s´t i{n}ne bethlée{m}. [þ/] cweð us of breade. hit wex [&] bleówu. in iudea. hit rípede in ier{usa}l{e}m. Judas [&] þat leoðre folc hit répén. [&] deden hit an þar rode alswa alse be{}twenen melstanent. Se{ð}e hit was idon into þer berient alswa into hófne. þanen {170} 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 su{m} uitis uera._ [&] c.

[Linenotes:
160. _g[r.]od_ MS. || 162. _þe_] _[q.]þe_ MS. || 167. _cóm_]
_cón_ MS. || 170. _Seðe_] _sede_ MS.]

VI. THE PROVERBS OF ALFRED

[[MS description from Notes volume:

"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.

[Headnote: Þus Queþ Alured]

++At Seuorde séte þeynes monye. [f. 262r
fele Biscopes. and feole. bok iléred.
Eorles prute. knyhtes egleche.
þar wes þe eorl Alu{ri}ch.
of þare lawe swiþe wis. 5
And ek Ealured englene hurde.
Englene durlyng{;}
on englene londe he wes kyng.
Heom he bi{}gon lére.
so ye mawe i{}hure. 10
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. 15
He wes wis on his word. and war. on his werke.
he wes þe wysuste mo{n}{;}
þat wes englelonde on.

ii

+Þ+vs queþ Alured englene frouer.
wolde ye mi leode. lusten éure lou{er}de. 20
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. |
+M+ildeliche ich Munye. myne leoue freond. [f. 262v
poure and riche. leode myne 26
þat ye alle a{}drede. vre dryhten crist.
luuyen hine and lykyen. for he is lou{er}d of lyf.
He is one. god{;} ouer alle godnesse.
He is one gleaw. ou{er} alle glednesse. 30
He is one. blisse. ou{er} alle blissen.
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. 35
{þe} hine her on worlde. wrþie þencheþ.

[Linenote:
36. _þe_] _wc_ MS.]

iii

+Þ+vs 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. 40
And he cunne lettres. lokie him{}seolf one.
hw he schule his lond laweliche holde.

iv