The siege of Jerusalem
Lines 1 through 100
Page
1
In Tiberyus tyme že trewe emperour
1
Sir Sesar hym sulf seysed in Rome
2
Whyle Pylat was prouost vnder žat
prince riche
3
& Iewen iustice also in Judeus
londis
4
Herodes vnder his emperie as
heritage wolde
5
Kyng of Galile ycalled whan žat
Crist deyed
6
Žey Sesar sakles wer žat oft synne
hatide
7
Žrow Pylat pyned he was & put on že
rode
8
A pyler pyȝt was doun vpon že playn
erže
9
His body bonden žer to beten with
scourgis
10
Whyppes of quyrboyle by-wente his
white sides
11
Til he al on rede blode ran as rayn
[i]n že strete
12
Suž stoked hym on a stole with styf
Mannes hondis
13
Ȝif žou be prophete of pris
prophecie žey sayde
15
Whiche [beryn] her aboute bolled že
laste
16
A žrange žornen croune was žraste on
his hed
17
Vmbe-casten hym with a cry & on a
croys slowen
18
For al že harme žat he hadde hasted
he noȝt
19
On hem že vyleny to venge žat his
veynys brosten
20
Bot ay taried ouer že tyme ȝif žey
tourne wolde
21
Ȝaf hem space žat hym spilide žey
hit spedde lyte
22
Forty wynter as y fynde & no fewer
ȝyrys
23
Or princes presed in hem žat hym to
pyne wroȝt
24
Til hit tydde on a tyme žat Tytus of
Rome
25
Žat alle Gascoyne gate & Gyan že
noble
26
Whyle noye noyet hym in Neroes tyme
27
He hadde a malady vn-meke a-myd[dis]
že face
28
Že lyppe lyž on a lumpe lyuered on
že cheke
29
So a canker vnclene hit cloched to
gedres
30
Also his fader of flesche is ferly
bytide
31
Hyued vpon his hed he hadde hem of
ȝouže
33
And Waspasian was caled že waspene
bees after
34
Was neuer syknes sorer žan žis sir
žoled
35
For in a liter he lay laser at Rome
36
Out of Galace was gon to glade hym a
stounde
37
For in žat cuže he was kyng žey he
car žolede
38
Nas žer no leche vpon lyue žis
lordes couž helpe
39
Ne no grace growyng to gayne her
grym sores
40
Now was žer on N[a]than Neymes sone
of Grec[e]
41
Žat souȝt oft ouer že se fram cyte
to ožer
42
Knewe contreys fele kyngdomes manye
43
& was a marener myche & marchaunt
bože
44
Sensceus out of Surye sent hym to
Rome
45
To že athel Emperour an eraunde fram
že Jewes
46
Caled Nero by name žat hym to noye
wroȝt
47
Of his tribute to telle žat žey
withtake wolde
48
Nathan toward Nero nome on his way
49
An heye settež že sayl ouer že
[salte] water
51
& with a dromound on že deep drof on
faste
52
Že wolco[n] wanned anon & že water
skewež
53
Cloudes clateren gon as žey cleue
wolde
54
Že racke myd a rede wynde roos on že
myddel
55
& sone sette on že se out of že souž
syde
56
Blewe on že brode se bolned vp harde
57
Nathannys naue a-non on [že] norž
dryuež
58
So že wedour & že wynd on že water
metyn
59
Žat alle hurtled on an hepe žat že
helm ȝemyd
60
Nathan flatte for ferde & ful vnder
hacchys
61
Lete že wedour & že wynde worže as
hit lyked
62
Že schip scher vpon schore schot
froward Rome
63
Toward vncouž costes keuerež že yžes
64
Rapis vnradly vmbe ragged tourres
65
Že brode sail at o brayd to-brestež
a twynne
66
Žat ožer doun in že deep as alle
drenche wolde
68
Ouer wilde wawes he wende as alle
walte scholde
69
St[a]rke stremes žrow yn stormes &
wyndes
70
With mychel langour atte laste as
our lord wolde
71
Alle was born at a by[rre] to
Burdewes hauene
72
By žat wer bernes atte banke barouns
& knyȝtes
73
& [citezeins] of že syȝt selcouž
[hem] žoȝt
74
Žat euer barge ožer bot or berne
vpon lyue
75
Vnpersched passed hadde že peryles
wer so many
76
Žey token hym to Titus for he že
tonge couže
77
& he [hem] fraynes how fer že flode
hadde yferked
78
Sir out of Surre he seide y am come
79
To Nero sondis-man sent že
[seygnour] of Rome
80
Ffram Sensceus his seriant with
certayn leteres
81
Žat is iustise & iuge of Jewen lawe
82
Me wer leuer at žat londe le[ngede]
žat y wer
83
Žan alle že gold ožer good žat euer
god made
84
& saide Canste žou any cur or craft
vpon erže
86
To softe že grete sore žat sittež on
my cheke
87
& y schal že redly rewarde & to Rome
sende
88
Nathan nyckes hym with nay sayde he
non couže
89
Bot wer žou kyng in žat kužže žer
žat Crist deyed
90
Žer is a worlich wif a womman ful
clene
91
Žat haž softyng & salue for eche
sore out
92
Telle me tyt quož Titus & že schal
tyde better
93
What medecyn is most žat žat may
vsež
94
Whežer gommes ožer graces or any
goode drenches
95
Ožer chauntementes or charmes y
charge že to say
96
Nay non of žo quož Nathan bot now
wole y [telle]
97
Žer was a lede in our londe while he
lif hadde
98
Preued for a prophete žrow preysed
dedes
99
& born in Bethleem one by of a burde
schene
100
Lines 101 through 200
& ȝo a mayde vnmarred žat neuer man
touched
101
As clene as clef žer cristalle
sprynges
102
Without hosebondes helpe saue že
holy goste
103
A touche of že trinyte touched hir
hadde
105
Žre persones in o place preued to
gedres
106
Eche grayn is o god & o god bot alle
107
& alle žre ben bot one as eldres vs
tellen
108
Že first is že fader žat fourmed was
neuer
109
Že secunde is že sone of his sede
growyn
110
Že žridde in heuen myd hem is že
holy goste
111
Nežer merked ne made bot mene fram
hem passyž
112
Alle ben žey endeles & euer of o
myȝt
113
& weren endeles euer [er] že world
was bygonne
114
As sone was že sone as že self fader
115
Že holy goste with hem hadde žey
euer
116
Že secunde persone že sone sent was
to erže
117
To take careynes kynde of a clene
mayde
118
& so vnknowen he came caytifes to
helpe
119
& wroȝt wondres ynowe ay tille he wo
driede
120
Wyne he wroȝt of water at o word ene
121
Ten lasares at a logge he leched at
enys
122
Pyned myd p[ar]il[sye] he putte to
hele
123
& ded men fro že dež eche day rered
124
Bož že dombe & že deue myd his der
wordes
126
Dide myracles mo žan y in mynde haue
127
Nis no clerk with countours couže
aluendel rekene
128
Fyf žousand of folke is ferr to here
129
With two fisches he fedde & fif ber
loues
130
Žat eche freke hadde his fulle & ȝit
ferre leued
131
Of brede & of broken mete bascketes
twelue
132
Žer suwed hym out of an cite
[seuenty] & twey
133
To do what he dempte disciples wer
hoten
134
Hem to citees he sende his sawes to
preche
135
Ay by two & by two til hy wer
a-twynne
136
Hym suwed of an-ožer cite semeliche
twelue
137
Pore men & noȝt prute aposteles wer
hoten
138
Žat of cay[ti]fes he ches holy
churche to encresche
139
Že out-wale of žis worlde žis wer
her names
140
Peter James & Jon & Jacob že ferže
141
& že fifže of his felawys Phelip was
hoten
142
Bertholomewe žat his bone neuer
breke nolde
144
Že eyȝt man was Mathu žat is myche
yloued
145
Tadde & Tomas her ben ten euen
146
& Andreu že elleuež žat auntred hym
myche
147
Byfor princes to preche was Petrus
brožer
148
Že laste man was vnlele & lužer of
his dedis
149
Judas žat Jesu Crist to že Jewes
solde
150
Suž hymsulf he slowe for sorow of
žat dede
151
His body on a balwe tree to-breste
on že myddel
152
Whan Crist hadde heried helle & was
[to] heuen passed
153
For žat mansed man Mathie žey
chossyn
154
Ȝit vnbaptized wer bože Barnabe &
Poule
155
& noȝt knewen of Crist bot comen
sone after
156
Že princes & že prelates aȝen že
paske tyme
157
Alle žei hadde hym in hate for his
holy werkes
158
Hit was a doylful dede whan žey his
dež caste
159
Žrow Pilat pyned he was že prouost
of Rome
160
& žat worliche wif žat arst was
ynempned
161
Haž his visage in hir veil Veronyk
ȝo hatte
162
For loue he left hit hir til hir
lyues ende
164
Žer is no gome [o]n žis [grounde]
žat is grym wounded
165
Meselry ne meschef ne man vpon erže
166
Žat knelež doun to žat clož & on
Crist leuež
167
Bot alle hapnež to hele in [ane]
hand whyle
168
At Rome reyned že emperour quož že
kyng riche žan
169
Cesar synful wrecche žat sent hym
fram Rome
170
Why nadde žy lycam be leyd low vnder
erže
171
Whan Pilat prouost was made suche a
prince to jugge
172
& or žis wordes wer [wel] wonne to
že ende
173
Že canker žat že kyng hadde clenly
was heled
174
With out faute že face of flesche &
of hyde
175
As newe as že nebbe žat neuer was
wemmyd
176
A corteys Crist seide že kyng riche
žan
177
Was neuer worke žat y wroȝt woržy že
to telle
178
Ne dede žat y haue don bot žy dež
mened
179
Ne neuer sey že in siȝt goddis sone
der
180
To stire Nero with noye & newen his
sorowe
182
& y schal buske me boun hem bale to
wyrche
183
To do že deueles of dawe & žy dež
venge
184
Telle me tit quož Titus what tokne
he lafte
185
To hem žat knew hym for Crist & his
crafte leued
186
Nempne že trinyte by name quož
Nathan at žries
187
& žer myd baptemed be in blessed
water
188
Forž žey fetten a font & foulled hym
žer
189
Made hym cristen kyng žat for Crist
werred
190
Corrours in to eche coste žan že
cours nomen
191
& alle his baronage broȝt to
Burdewes hauen
192
Suž with že sondes-man he [s]ouȝt to
Rome
193
Že ferly & že fair cure his fader to
schewe
194
& he gronnand glad grete god žanked
195
& loude criande on Crist carped &
saide
196
Woržy wemlese God in whom y byleue
197
[Als] žou in Bethleem was born of a
bryȝt mayde
198
Sende me hele of my hurt & heyly y
a-fowe
199
Lines 201 through 300
Žat tyme peter was pope & preched in
rome
201
Že lawe & že lore žat our byleue
askež
202
Folowed faste on že folke & to že
fayž tourned
203
& crist wroȝt for žat wye wondres
ynow
204
Žer of waspasian was war žat že
waspys hadde
205
Sone sendež hym to & že sože tolde
206
Of crist & že kerchef žat keuered že
sike
207
As nathan neymes sone seide žat [was
to nero] come
208
Žan to consayl was called že knyȝtes
of rome
209
& assenteden sone to sende messages
210
Twenti knyȝtes wer cud že ker[ch]yf
to fecche
211
& asked trewes of že emperour žat
erand to done
212
Ac without tribute or trewes
tenfulle wyes
213
Že knyȝtes with že kerchef comen ful
blyue
214
Že pope ȝaf pardoun to hem žat
passed žer aȝens
215
With processioun & pres princes &
dukes
216
& whan že womman was war žat že wede
owede
217
[of] seint peter že pope ȝo platte
to že grounde
218
Vmbefelde his fete & to že freke
saide
219
Žan bygan že burne biterly to wepe
221
For že doylful dež of his der
mayster
222
& longe stode in že stede or he
stynte myȝt
223
Whan he vnclosed že clože žat
cristes body touched
224
Že wede fram že womman [he] warpe
atte laste
225
Receyued hit myd reuerence &
rennande teris
226
Out of že place myd pres žey passed
on swyže
227
& ay held hit on hey žat alle byhold
myȝt
228
Žan twelf barouns bolde že emperour
bade wende
229
& že pope departe fram že pople
faste
230
Veronyk & že vail waspasian žey
broȝt
231
& seint peter že pope presented bože
232
Bot a ferly byfelle forž myd hem
alle
233
In her temple bytidde tenful žynges
234
Že mahound & že mametes tomortled to
peces
235
& al tocrased as že clož žroȝ že
kirke passed
236
Into že palice with že printe žan že
pope ȝede
237
Knyȝtes kepten že clože & on knees
fallen
238
Was neuer odour ne eyr vpon erže
swetter
240
Že kerchef clansed hit self & so
cler wexed
241
Myȝt no lede on hit loke for liȝt
žat hit schewed
242
As hit aproched to že prince he put
vp his hed
243
For comfort of že clož he cried wel
loude
244
Lo lordlynges her že lyknesse of
crist
245
Of whom my botnyng y bidde for his
bitter woundis
246
Žan was wepyng & wo & wryngyng of
hondis
247
With loude dyn & dit for doil of hym
one
248
Že pope availed že vaile & his
visage touched
249
Že body suž al aboute blessed hit
žrye
250
Že waspys wenten away & alle že wo
after
251
Žat er lasar was longe lyȝtter was
neuere
252
Žan was pypyng & play his pyne was
awey
253
Žey ȝelden grace to god žis two
grete lordes
254
Že kerchef ariež fram alle & in že
eyr hangyž
255
Žat že symple myȝt hit se in to
soper tyme
256
Garde hit gayly agysen in gold & in
seluere
258
Ȝit is že visage in že vail as
veronyk hym broȝt
259
Že romaynes at rome a relyk hit
holden
260
Žis whyle nero hadde noye & non
nyȝtes reste
261
For his tribute was [tynt] as nathan
told hadde
262
He commaundiž knyȝtes to come
consail to holde
263
Erles & alle men že emperour aboute
264
Assembled že senatours sone vpon
haste
265
To iugge who jewes myȝt best vpon že
jewys take
266
& alle demeden by dome žo dukes to
wende
267
Žat wer cured žrow crist žat žey on
croys slowen
268
Žat on waspasian was of že wyes twey
269
Žat že trauail vndertoke & titus an
ožer
270
A bold burne on a blonke & of his
body comyn
271
No feržer sib to hymself bot his
sone der
272
Crouned kynges bože & mychel crist
loued
273
Moste žei hadde hit in hert her
hestes to kepe
275
& her forwardis to fulfille žat žei
byfor made
276
Žan was rotlyng in rome robbyng of
brynnyes
277
Schewyng of scharpe [stele] scheldes
ydressed
278
Lauȝte leue at žat lord leften his
sygne
279
A grete dragoun of gold & alle že
[g]yng folwed
280
By žat schippis wer schred yschot on
že depe
281
Takled & atired on talterande yžes
282
Ffresch water & wyn wounden yn faste
283
& stof of alle maner store žat hem
strengže scholde
284
Žer wer floynes a flot farcostes
many
285
Cogges & crayers ycasteled alle
286
Galees of grete streyngže with
golden fanes
287
[že brede] on že brod se aboute four
myle
288
Žey tyȝten vp tal-sail whan že tide
asked
289
Hadde byr at že bake & že bonke
lefte
290
Souȝte ouer