The Siege of Jerusalem
Anonymous
Published for the Early English Text Society by H. Milford, Oxford University Press London 1932 Early English Text Society (Series). Original series ; 188
Published: c. 1390-1400
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1: In Tiberyus tyme þe trewe emperour
2: Sir Sesar hym sulf seysed in Rome
3: Whyle Pylat was prouost vnder þat prince riche
4: & Iewen iustice also in Judeus londis
5: Herodes vnder his emperie as heritage wolde
6: Kyng of Galile ycalled whan þat Crist deyed
7: Þey Sesar sakles wer þat oft synne hatide
8: Þrow Pylat pyned he was & put on þe rode
9: A pyler py3t was doun vpon þe playn erþe
10: His body bonden þer to beten with scourgis
11: Whyppes of quyrboyle by-wente his white sides
12: Til he al on rede blode ran as rayn [i]n þe strete
13: Suþ stoked hym on a stole with styf Mannes hondis
14: Blyndfelled hym as a be & boffetis hym ra3te -2-
15: 3if þou be prophete of pris prophecie þey sayde
16: Whiche [beryn] her aboute bolled þe laste
17: A þrange þornen croune was þraste on his hed
18: Vmbe-casten hym with a cry & on a croys slowen
19: For al þe harme þat he hadde hasted he no3t
20: On hem þe vyleny to venge þat his veynys brosten
21: Bot ay taried ouer þe tyme 3if þey tourne wolde
22: 3af hem space þat hym spilide þey hit spedde lyte
23: Forty wynter as y fynde & no fewer 3yrys
24: Or princes presed in hem þat hym to pyne wro3t
25: Til hit tydde on a tyme þat Tytus of Rome
26: Þat alle Gascoyne gate & Gyan þe noble
27: Whyle noye noyet hym in Neroes tyme
28: He hadde a malady vn-meke a-myd[dis] þe face
29: Þe lyppe lyþ on a lumpe lyuered on þe cheke
30: So a canker vnclene hit cloched to gedres
31: Also his fader of flesche is ferly bytide
32: A biker of waspen bees bredde on his nose -3-
33: Hyued vpon his hed he hadde hem of 3ouþe
34: And Waspasian was caled þe waspene bees after
35: Was neuer syknes sorer þan þis sir þoled
36: For in a liter he lay laser at Rome
37: Out of Galace was gon to glade hym a stounde
38: For in þat cuþe he was kyng þey he car þolede
39: Nas þer no leche vpon lyue þis lordes couþ helpe
40: Ne no grace growyng to gayne her grym sores
41: Now was þer on N[a]than Neymes sone of Grec[e]
42: Þat sou3t oft ouer þe se fram cyte to oþer
43: Knewe contreys fele kyngdomes manye
44: & was a marener myche & marchaunt boþe
45: Sensceus out of Surye sent hym to Rome
46: To þe athel Emperour an eraunde fram þe Jewes
47: Caled Nero by name þat hym to noye wro3t
48: Of his tribute to telle þat þey withtake wolde
49: Nathan toward Nero nome on his way
50: Ouer þe Grekys grounde myd þe grym yþes -4-
51: An heye setteþ þe sayl ouer þe [salte] water
52: & with a dromound on þe deep drof on faste
53: Þe wolco[n] wanned anon & þe water skeweþ
54: Cloudes clateren gon as þey cleue wolde
55: Þe racke myd a rede wynde roos on þe myddel
56: & sone sette on þe se out of þe souþ syde
57: Blewe on þe brode se bolned vp harde
58: Nathannys naue a-non on [þe] norþ dryueþ
59: So þe wedour & þe wynd on þe water metyn
60: Þat alle hurtled on an hepe þat þe helm 3emyd
61: Nathan flatte for ferde & ful vnder hacchys
62: Lete þe wedour & þe wynde worþe as hit lyked
63: Þe schip scher vpon schore schot froward Rome
64: Toward vncouþ costes keuereþ þe yþes
65: Rapis vnradly vmbe ragged tourres
66: Þe brode sail at o brayd to-bresteþ a twynne
67: Þat on ende of þe sschip was ay toward heuen -5-
68: Þat oþer doun in þe deep as alle drenche wolde
69: Ouer wilde wawes he wende as alle walte scholde
70: St[a]rke stremes þrow yn stormes & wyndes
71: With mychel langour atte laste as our lord wolde
72: Alle was born at a by[rre] to Burdewes hauene
73: By þat wer bernes atte banke barouns & kny3tes
74: & [citezeins] of þe sy3t selcouþ [hem] þo3t
75: Þat euer barge oþer bot or berne vpon lyue
76: Vnpersched passed hadde þe peryles wer so many
77: Þey token hym to Titus for he þe tonge couþe
78: & he [hem] fraynes how fer þe flode hadde yferked
79: Sir out of Surre he seide y am come
80: To Nero sondis-man sent þe [seygnour] of Rome
81: Ffram Sensceus his seriant with certayn leteres
82: Þat is iustise & iuge of Jewen lawe
83: Me wer leuer at þat londe le[ngede] þat y wer
84: Þan alle þe gold oþer good þat euer god made
85: Þe kyng in to conseyl calleþ hym sone -6-
86: & saide Canste þou any cur or craft vpon erþe
87: To softe þe grete sore þat sitteþ on my cheke
88: & y schal þe redly rewarde & to Rome sende
89: Nathan nyckes hym with nay sayde he non couþe
90: Bot wer þou kyng in þat kuþþe þer þat Crist deyed
91: Þer is a worlich wif a womman ful clene
92: Þat haþ softyng & salue for eche sore out
93: Telle me tyt quoþ Titus & þe schal tyde better
94: What medecyn is most þat þat may vseþ
95: Wheþer gommes oþer graces or any goode drenches
96: Oþer chauntementes or charmes y charge þe to say
97: Nay non of þo quoþ Nathan bot now wole y [telle]
98: Þer was a lede in our londe while he lif hadde
99: Preued for a prophete þrow preysed dedes
100: & born in Bethleem one by of a burde schene
101: & 3o a mayde vnmarred þat neuer man touched
102: As clene as clef þer cristalle sprynges
103: Without hosebondes helpe saue þe holy goste
104: A kyng & a knaue child 3o conceyued at ere -7-
105: A touche of þe trinyte touched hir hadde
106: Þre persones in o place preued to gedres
107: Eche grayn is o god & o god bot alle
108: & alle þre ben bot one as eldres vs tellen
109: Þe first is þe fader þat fourmed was neuer
110: Þe secunde is þe sone of his sede growyn
111: Þe þridde in heuen myd hem is þe holy goste
112: Neþer merked ne made bot mene fram hem passyþ
113: Alle ben þey endeles & euer of o my3t
114: & weren endeles euer [er] þe world was bygonne
115: As sone was þe sone as þe self fader
116: Þe holy goste with hem hadde þey euer
117: Þe secunde persone þe sone sent was to erþe
118: To take careynes kynde of a clene mayde
119: & so vnknowen he came caytifes to helpe
120: & wro3t wondres ynowe ay tille he wo driede
121: Wyne he wro3t of water at o word ene
122: Ten lasares at a logge he leched at enys
123: Pyned myd p[ar]il[sye] he putte to hele
124: & ded men fro þe deþ eche day rered
125: Croked & cancred he keuered hem alle -8-
126: Boþ þe dombe & þe deue myd his der wordes
127: Dide myracles mo þan y in mynde haue
128: Nis no clerk with countours couþe aluendel rekene
129: Fyf þousand of folke is ferr to here
130: With two fisches he fedde & fif ber loues
131: Þat eche freke hadde his fulle & 3it ferre leued
132: Of brede & of broken mete bascketes twelue
133: Þer suwed hym out of an cite [seuenty] & twey
134: To do what he dempte disciples wer hoten
135: Hem to citees he sende his sawes to preche
136: Ay by two & by two til hy wer a-twynne
137: Hym suwed of an-oþer cite semeliche twelue
138: Pore men & no3t prute aposteles wer hoten
139: Þat of cay[ti]fes he ches holy churche to encresche
140: Þe out-wale of þis worlde þis wer her names
141: Peter James & Jon & Jacob þe ferþe
142: & þe fifþe of his felawys Phelip was hoten
143: Þe sixte Symond was caled & þe seueþ eke -9-
144: Bertholomewe þat his bone neuer breke nolde
145: Þe ey3t man was Mathu þat is myche yloued
146: Tadde & Tomas her ben ten euen
147: & Andreu þe elleueþ þat auntred hym myche
148: Byfor princes to preche was Petrus broþer
149: Þe laste man was vnlele & luþer of his dedis
150: Judas þat Jesu Crist to þe Jewes solde
151: Suþ hymsulf he slowe for sorow of þat dede
152: His body on a balwe tree to-breste on þe myddel
153: Whan Crist hadde heried helle & was [to] heuen passed
154: For þat mansed man Mathie þey chossyn
155: 3it vnbaptized wer boþe Barnabe & Poule
156: & no3t knewen of Crist bot comen sone after
157: Þe princes & þe prelates a3en þe paske tyme
158: Alle þei hadde hym in hate for his holy werkes
159: Hit was a doylful dede whan þey his deþ caste
160: Þrow Pilat pyned he was þe prouost of Rome
161: & þat worliche wif þat arst was ynempned
162: Haþ his visage in hir veil Veronyk 3o hatte
163: Peynted priuely & playn þat no poynt wanteþ -10-
164: For loue he left hit hir til hir lyues ende
165: Þer is no gome [o]n þis [grounde] þat is grym wounded
166: Meselry ne meschef ne man vpon erþe
167: Þat kneleþ doun to þat cloþ & on Crist leueþ
168: Bot alle hapneþ to hele in [ane] hand whyle
169: At Rome reyned þe emperour quoþ þe kyng riche þan
170: Cesar synful wrecche þat sent hym fram Rome
171: Why nadde þy lycam be leyd low vnder erþe
172: Whan Pilat prouost was made suche a prince to jugge
173: & or þis wordes wer [wel] wonne to þe ende
174: Þe canker þat þe kyng hadde clenly was heled
175: With out faute þe face of flesche & of hyde
176: As newe as þe nebbe þat neuer was wemmyd
177: A corteys Crist seide þe kyng riche þan
178: Was neuer worke þat y wro3t worþy þe to telle
179: Ne dede þat y haue don bot þy deþ mened
180: Ne neuer sey þe in si3t goddis sone der
181: Bot now [be] bayne [to] my bone blessed lord -11-
182: To stire Nero with noye & newen his sorowe
183: & y schal buske me boun hem bale to wyrche
184: To do þe deueles of dawe & þy deþ venge
185: Telle me tit quoþ Titus what tokne he lafte
186: To hem þat knew hym for Crist & his crafte leued
187: Nempne þe trinyte by name quoþ Nathan at þries
188: & þer myd baptemed be in blessed water
189: Forþ þey fetten a font & foulled hym þer
190: Made hym cristen kyng þat for Crist werred
191: Corrours in to eche coste þan þe cours nomen
192: & alle his baronage bro3t to Burdewes hauen
193: Suþ with þe sondes-man he [s]ou3t to Rome
194: Þe ferly & þe fair cure his fader to schewe
195: & he gronnand glad grete god þanked
196: & loude criande on Crist carped & saide
197: Worþy wemlese God in whom y byleue
198: [Als] þou in Bethleem was born of a bry3t mayde
199: Sende me hele of my hurt & heyly y a-fowe
200: To be ded for þy deþ bot hit be der 3olden -12-
201: Þat tyme peter was pope & preched in rome
202: Þe lawe & þe lore þat our byleue askeþ
203: Folowed faste on þe folke & to þe fayþ tourned
204: & crist wro3t for þat wye wondres ynow
205: Þer of waspasian was war þat þe waspys hadde
206: Sone sendeþ hym to & þe soþe tolde
207: Of crist & þe kerchef þat keuered þe sike
208: As nathan neymes sone seide þat [was to nero] come
209: Þan to consayl was called þe kny3tes of rome
210: & assenteden sone to sende messages
211: Twenti kny3tes wer cud þe ker[ch]yf to fecche
212: & asked trewes of þe emperour þat erand to done
213: Ac without tribute or trewes tenfulle wyes
214: Þe kny3tes with þe kerchef comen ful blyue
215: Þe pope 3af pardoun to hem þat passed þer a3ens
216: With processioun & pres princes & dukes
217: & whan þe womman was war þat þe wede owede
218: [of] seint peter þe pope 3o platte to þe grounde
219: Vmbefelde his fete & to þe freke saide
220: Of þis kerchef & my cors þe kepyng y þe take -13-
221: Þan bygan þe burne biterly to wepe
222: For þe doylful deþ of his der mayster
223: & longe stode in þe stede or he stynte my3t
224: Whan he vnclosed þe cloþe þat cristes body touched
225: Þe wede fram þe womman [he] warpe atte laste
226: Receyued hit myd reuerence & rennande teris
227: Out of þe place myd pres þey passed on swyþe
228: & ay held hit on hey þat alle byhold my3t
229: Þan twelf barouns bolde þe emperour bade wende
230: & þe pope departe fram þe pople faste
231: Veronyk & þe vail waspasian þey bro3t
232: & seint peter þe pope presented boþe
233: Bot a ferly byfelle forþ myd hem alle
234: In her temple bytidde tenful þynges
235: Þe mahound & þe mametes tomortled to peces
236: & al tocrased as þe cloþ þro3 þe kirke passed
237: Into þe palice with þe printe þan þe pope 3ede
238: Kny3tes kepten þe cloþe & on knees fallen
239: A flauour flambeþ þer fro þey felleden hit alle -14-
240: Was neuer odour ne eyr vpon erþe swetter
241: Þe kerchef clansed hit self & so cler wexed
242: My3t no lede on hit loke for li3t þat hit schewed
243: As hit aproched to þe prince he put vp his hed
244: For comfort of þe cloþ he cried wel loude
245: Lo lordlynges her þe lyknesse of crist
246: Of whom my botnyng y bidde for his bitter woundis
247: Þan was wepyng & wo & wryngyng of hondis
248: With loude dyn & dit for doil of hym one
249: Þe pope availed þe vaile & his visage touched
250: Þe body suþ al aboute blessed hit þrye
251: Þe waspys wenten away & alle þe wo after
252: Þat er lasar was longe ly3tter was neuere
253: Þan was pypyng & play his pyne was awey
254: Þey 3elden grace to god þis two grete lordes
255: Þe kerchef arieþ fram alle & in þe eyr hangyþ
256: Þat þe symple my3t hit se in to soper tyme
257: Þe veronycle after veronyk waspasian hit called -15-
258: Garde hit gayly agysen in gold & in seluere
259: 3it is þe visage in þe vail as veronyk hym bro3t
260: Þe romaynes at rome a relyk hit holden
261: Þis whyle nero hadde noye & non ny3tes reste
262: For his tribute was [tynt] as nathan told hadde
263: He commaundiþ kny3tes to come consail to holde
264: Erles & alle men þe emperour aboute
265: Assembled þe senatours sone vpon haste
266: To iugge who jewes my3t best vpon þe jewys take
267: & alle demeden by dome þo dukes to wende
268: Þat wer cured þrow crist þat þey on croys slowen
269: Þat on waspasian was of þe wyes twey
270: Þat þe trauail vndertoke & titus an oþer
271: A bold burne on a blonke & of his body comyn
272: No ferþer sib to hymself bot his sone der
273: Crouned kynges boþe & mychel crist loued
274: Þat hadde hem [g]euen of his grace & her grem stroyed -16-
275: Moste þei hadde hit in hert her hestes to kepe
276: & her forwardis to fulfille þat þei byfor made
277: Þan was rotlyng in rome robbyng of brynnyes
278: Schewyng of scharpe [stele] scheldes ydressed
279: Lau3te leue at þat lord leften his sygne
280: A grete dragoun of gold & alle þe [g]yng folwed
281: By þat schippis wer schred yschot on þe depe
282: Takled & atired on talterande yþes
283: Ffresch water & wyn wounden yn faste
284: & stof of alle maner store þat hem strengþe scholde
285: Þer wer floynes a flot farcostes many
286: Cogges & crayers ycasteled alle
287: Galees of grete streyngþe with golden fanes
288: [þe brede] on þe brod se aboute four myle
289: Þey ty3ten vp tal-sail whan þe tide asked
290: Hadde byr at þe bake & þe bonke lefte
291: Sou3te ouer þe se with soudeours manye
292: & [ioyned in to] port jaf in judeis londys -17-
293: Suree cesaris londe þou may seken euer
294: Ful mychel wo m[o]n be wro3te in þy [w]lonk tounes
295: Cytees vnder s[yon] now is 3our sorow uppe
296: Þe deþ of þe dereworþ crist der schal be 3olden
297: Now is bethleem þy bost ybro3t to an ende
298: Jerusalem & ierico forjuggyd wrecchys
299: Schal neuer kyng of 3our kynde with croune be ynoyntid
300: Ne jewe for jesu sake [i]ouke in 3ou more
301: Þey setten vpon eche side surrie withyn
302: Brente ay at þe bak & [all] bar laften
303: Was no3t bot roryng & r[u]th in alle þe riche tounnes
304: & red laschyng lye alle þe londe ouer
305: Token toun & tour teldes ful fele
306: Brosten 3ates of brass & many borwe wonnen
307: Holy þe heþen here hewyn to grounde
308: Boþ in bent & in borwe þat abide wolde
309: Þe jewes to ierusalem þ[ere] josephus dwelde
310: Flowen as þe foule doþ þat faucoun wolde strike
311: A cite vnder syon sett was ful noble
312: With many toret & tour þat toun to defende -18-
313: Princes & prelates & poreil of þe londe
314: Clerkes & comens of contrees aboute
315: Wer schacked to þat cite sacrifice to make
316: At paske tyme as preched hem prestes of þe lawe
317: Many swykel at þe sweng to þe swerd 3ede
318: For penyes passed non þo3 he pay wolde
319: Bot diden alle to þe deþe & drowen hem after
320: With engynes to jerusalem þer jewes wer þykke
321: Þey sette sadly a sege þe cite alle aboute
322: Pi3ten pauelouns doun of pallen webbes
323: With ropis of riche silk raysen vp swyþe
324: Grete tentis as a toun of torke[is] cloþys
325: Choppyn ouer þe cheuentayns with charboklis four
326: A gay egle of gold on a gilde appul
327: With grete dragouns grym alle in gold wro3te
328: Lyk to lyouns also lyande þervnder
329: Paled & paynted þe paueloun was vmbe
330: Stoked ful of storijs strayned myd armys
331: Of quaynte colour to know kerneld alofte
332: An hundred stondyng on stage in þat stede one -19-
333: Toured with torettes was þe tente þanne
334: Suþ britaged aboute bri3t to byholde
335: Er alle þe sege was sette 3it of þe cite comyn
336: Messengeres wer made fram maistres of þe lawe
337: To þe chef cheuentayn þey chosen her wey
338: Deden mekly by mouþe her message attonys
339: Sayen þe cite haþ [vs] sent to serche 3our wille
340: To here þe cause of 3our comyng [& what] 3e coueyte wolde
341: Waspasian no word to þe wyes schewed
342: Bot sendeþ sondismen a3en twelf siker kny3tes
343: [gert hem greithely] to go & þe gomes telle
344: Þat alle þe cause of her com[e] was crist forto venge
345: Sayþ y bidde hem be boun bishopes & oþer
346: Tomorow or [mydday] [alle modur-nakyd]
347: Vp her 3ates to 3elde with 3erdes an hande
348: Eche whi3t in a white scherte & no wede ellys
349: Jewyse for iesu crist by juggement to take
350: & make hem come þat iesu crist þro3 conseil bytrayede -20-
351: Or y to þe walles schal wende & walten alle ouere
352: Schal no ston vpon ston stonde by y passe
353: Þis sondismen sadly to þe cite 3ede
354: Þer þe lordes of þe londe lent weren alle
355: Tit tolden her tale & wonder towe made
356: Of crist & of cayphas & how þey come scholde
357: & when þe kny3tes of crist carpyn bygonn
358: Þe jewes token alle twelf without tale mor
359: Her hondis bounden at her bak with borden stauys
360: And of flocken her fa[x] & her fair berdis
361: Made hem naked as a nedel to þe neþer houe
362: Her visages blecken with bleche & al þe body after
363: Suþ knyt with a corde to eche kny3tes swer
364: A chese & charged hem her chyuentayn to ber
365: Sayþ vnbuxum we beþ his biddyng to 3ete
366: Ne no3t dreden his dom his deþ haue we atled
367: He schal vs fynde in þe felde ne no ferr seke
368: Tomorowe pryme or hit passe & so 3our prince telliþ
369: Þe burnes busken out of burwe bounden alle twelf -21-
370: A3en message to make fram þe maister jewes
371: Was neuer waspasian so wroþe as whan þe wyes come
372: Þat wer scorned & schende vpon schame wyse
373: Þis kny3tes byfor þe kyng vpon knees fallen
374: & tolden þe tale as hit tid hadde
375: Of þy manace ne þy my3t þey make bot lyte
376: Þus ben we tourned of our tyre in tokne of þe soþe
377: & bounden for our bolde speche þe batail þey willeþ
378: Tomorowe prime or hit passe þey put hit no ferre
379: Hit schal be satled on þy-self þe same þat þou atlest
380: Þus han þey certifiet þe [to saye] & sende þe þis cheses
381: Wode wedande wroþ waspasian was þanne
382: Layde wecche to þe walle & warned in haste
383: Þat alle maner of men in þe morowe scholde
384: Be sone after þe sonne assembled in þe felde
385: He strey3t up a standard in a stour wyse
386: Bild as a belfray bretful of wepne
387: Whan o3t fauted in þe folke þat to þe feld longed
388: Atte þe belfray to be botnyng to fynde -22-
389: A dragoun was dressed drawyn a lofte
390: Wyde gapande of gold gomes to swelwe
391: With arwes armed in þe mouþe & also he hadde
392: A fauch[ou]n vnder his feet with four kene bladdys
393: Þerof þe poyntes wer pi3t in partyis four
394: Of þis wlonfulle wor[l]de þer þei werr fondyn
395: In forbesyn to þe folke þis fauchoun hengeþ
396: Þat þey hadde wonnen with [werre] al þe world riche
397: A bal of brennande gold þe beste was on sette
398: His taille trayled þer aboute þat tourne scholde he neuere
399: Whan he was lifte vp[his liche] þer þe lord werred
400: Bot ay lokande on þe londe tille þat al lau3te wer
401: Þer by þe cite my3t se no setlyng wolde rise
402: Ne no trete of no trewes bot þe toun 3elde
403: Or ride on þe romayns for þey han her rede take
404: Þer britned to be or þe [burghe] wynne
405: His wynges [brighte wer & brade] boun forto flee -23-
406: With belles bordored aboute al of bri3t seluere
407: Redy whan ou3te runnen to rynge ful loude
408: With eche [wap] of a [wynde] þat to þe wynges sprongyn
409: Ibrytaged aboute þe belfray was þanne
410: With a tenful tour þat ouer þe toun gawged
411: Þe b[est] by þe bri3tnesse burnes my3t knowe
412: Four myle þer fro so þe feldes schonen
413: & on eche pomel wer py3t penseles hy3e
414: Of selke & sendel with seluere ybetyn
415: Hit glitered as gled fur ful of gold riche
416: Ouer al þe cite to se as þe sonne bemys
417: Byfor þe four 3ates he formes to lenge
418: Sixtene þousand by somme while þe sege lasteþ
419: Sette ward [to] þe walles þat no3t awey scaped
420: Sixe þousand in sercle þe cite alle aboute
421: Was no3t while þe ny3t laste bot nehyng of stedis
422: Strogelyng in stele wede & stuffyng of helmes -24-
423: With armyng of olyfauntes & oþer arwe bestes
424: A3en þe cristen to come with castels on bake
425: Waspasya[n] in stele wede & his wyes alle
426: Weren di3t forþ by day & drowen to þe vale
427: Of josophat þer jesu crist schal juggen alle þinges
428: Bigly batayled hym þer to bide[n] þis oþer
429: Þe fauward titus toke to telle vpon ferste
430: With six þousand soudiours assyned for þe nones
431: & mony in þe mydward wer merked to lenge
432: Þer waspasian was with princes & dukes
433: & sixtene þousand in þe þridde with a þryuande kny3t
434: Sir sabyn of surrie a siker man of armes
435: Þat prince was of prouynce & michel peple ladde
436: Fourty hundred in helmes & harnays to schewe
437: & ten þousand atte tail at þe tentis lafte
438: Hors & harnays fram harmyng to kepe
439: By þat bemys on þe burwe blowen ful loude
440: & baners beden hem forþ now blesse vs our lorde
441: Þe jewes assembled wer sone & of þe cite come
442: An hundred þousand on hors with hamberkes atired
443: Without folke vpon fot at þe four 3ates
444: Þat preset to þe place with pauyes on hande
445: Fyf & twenti olyfauntes defensable bestes
446: With brode castels on bak out of burwe come
447: & on eche olyfaunte armed men manye
448: Ay an hundred an hey an hundred withyn
449: Þo drowen dromedarius doun deuelich þicke
450: [an] hundred þousand & yheled with harnays of mayle
451: Eche beste with a big tour þer bold men wer ynne
452: Twenty told by tale in eche tour euene
453: Cameles closed in stele comen out þanne
454: Faste toward þe feld a ferlich nonbr
455: Busked to batail & on bak hadde
456: Echon a toret of tre with ten men of armes
457: Chares ful of chosen charged with wepne
458: A wonder nonbr þer was who so wite lyste
459: Many dou3ti þat day þat was adradde neuer -26-
460: Wer fond fey in þe feld er þat fi3t endid
461: An olyfaunt yarmed came out at þe laste
462: Keuered myd a castel was craftily ywro3t
463: A tabernacle in þe tour atyred was riche
464: Pi3t as a paueloun on pileres of seluere
465: A which of white seluere wal[w]ynde þer-ynne
466: On four goions of gold þat hit fram grounde bar
467: A c[h]osen chayr þerby on charbokeles twelfe
468: Betyn al with barn[d] gold with brennande sergis
469: Þe chekes of þe chayr wer cha[r]-bokles fyue
470: Couered myd a riche cloþe þer cayphas was sette
471: A plate of pulsched gold was pi3t on his breste
472: With many preciose perle & pured stones
473: Lered men of þe lawe þat loude couþe synge
474: With sawters seten hym by & þe psalmys tolde
475: Of dou3ty david þe kyng & oþer der storijs
476: Of joseph þe noble jewe & judas þe kny3t
477: Cayphas of þe kyst kyppid a rolle
478: & radde how þe folke ran þro3 þe re[d]e wa[ters]
479: Whan pharao & his ferde wer in þe floode drouned
480: & myche of moyses lawe he mynned þat tyme
481: Whan þis faiþles folke to þe feld comen
482: & batayled after þe bent with many burne kene
483: For baneres þat blased & bestes yarmed
484: My3t no man se þrow þe sonne ne þe cite knowe
485: Waspasian dyuyseþ þe vale alle aboute
486: Þat was with baneres ouer[brade] to þe borwe wallis
487: To barouns & bold men þat hym aboute wer
488: Seiþ lordlynges aloude lestenyþ my speche
489: Her nys king noþer kny3t comen to þis place
490: Baroun ne burges ne burne þat me folweþ
491: Þat þe cause of his come nys crist forto venge
492: Vpon þe faiþles folke þat hym fayntly slowen
493: Byholdeþ þe heþyng & þe harde woundes
494: Þe betyng & þe byndyng þat þe body hadde
495: Lat neuer þis lawles ledis lau3 at his harmys
496: Þat bou3t vs fram bale with blod of his herte -28-
497: [i] quyckeclayme þe querels of alle quyk burnes
498: & clayme of euereche kyng saue of crist one
499: Þat þis peple to pyne no pite ne hadde
500: Þat preueþ his passioun who so þe paas redeþ
501: Hit nediþ no3t at þis note of nero to mynde
502: Ne to trete of no trewe for tribute þat he askeþ
503: Þat querel y quikcleyme [qweþer] he ne wilneþ
504: Of þis rebel to rome bot resoun to haue
505: Bot mor þing in our mynde myneþ [vs] today
506: Þat by resoun to rome þe regnance fallyþ
507: Boþe þe my3t & þe mayn [&] mais[trie] on e[rþe]
508: & lord[chipe] of eche londe þat liþe vnder heuen
509: Lat neuer þis faiþles folke with fi3t vs wynne
510: Hors ne harnays bot þey hit hard byen
511: Plate ne pesan ne pendauntes ende
512: While any lyme may laste or we þe lif haue
513: For þei ben feyn[t] at þe fi3t fals of byleue
514: & wel wenen at a wap alle þe wo[r]ld quelle -29-
515: Noþer grounded on god ne on no grace tristen
516: Bot alle in st[erynne]s of stour & in strengþ one
517: & we ben di3t today dri3ten to serue
518: Hey heuen kyng [take] hede to his owne
519: Þe ledes louten hym alle & aloude sayde
520: Today þat fleþe any fote þe fende haue his soule
521: Bemes blowen anon blonkes to ne3e3
522: Stedis stampen in þe felde stif steil vnder
523: Stiþe men in stiropys striden alofte
524: Kny3tes croysen hemself cacchen her helmys
525: With loude clarioun cry & alle kyn pypys
526: Tymbris & tabourris tonelande loude
527: 3euen a schillande schout schrynken þe jewes
528: As womman [welter solde in swounn] whan hir þe water ne3eþ
529: Lacchen launces anon lepyn to-gedris -30-
530: As fur out of flynt ston ferde hem bytwene
531: Doust drof vpon lofte dymedyn alle aboute
532: As þonder & þicke rayn þrowolande in skyes
533: [þei] beren burnes þrow brosten launces
534: Kny3tes crosschen doun to þe cold erþe
535: Ffou3t faste in þe felde & ay þe fals vnder
536: Doun swowande [one] swelt with out swar more
537: Tytus tourneþ hym to tolles of þe beste
538: Forjustes þe jolieste with joyn[yng] of werr
539: Suþ with a bri3t bronde he betiþ on harde
540: Tille þe brayn & þe blod on þe bent ornen
541: Sou3t þro3 an oþer side with a sore wepne
542: Bet on þe broun stele while þe bladde laste
543: An hey breydeþ þe brond & as a bore lokeþ
544: How hetterly doun hente who so wolde
545: Alle bri3tned þe bent as bemys of sonne
546: Of þe gilden ger & þe goode stones -31-
547: Ffor schyueryng of sche[l]des & schynyng of helmes
548: Hit ferde as alle þe firmament vpon a fur wer
549: Waspasian in þe vale þe fanward by-holdeþ
550: How þe heþyn her heldiþ to grounde
551: Cam with a fair ferde þe fals men to mete
552: As greued griffouns girden in samen
553: Spakly her speres on sprotes þay 3eden
554: Scheldes as schidwod on scholdres tocleuen
555: Schoken out of schepes þat scharpe w[ere] ygrounde
556: & mallen metel þro3 vnmylt hertes
557: Hewen on þe heþen hurtlen togedr
558: Forschorne gilt schroud sch[o]dered burne[s]
559: Baches woxen ablode aboute in þe vale
560: & goutes fram gold wede as goteres þey runne
561: Sir sabyn setteþ hym vp whan hit so 3ede
562: Rideþ myd þe rereward & alle þe route folweþ -32-
563: Kenely þe castels came to assayle
564: Þat þe bestes on her bake out of burwe ladden
565: Atles on þe olyfauntes þat orible wer
566: Girdiþ out þe guttes with grounden speres
567: R[o]ppis rispen forþ þat redles an hundred
568: Scholde be busy to burie þat on a bent lafte
569: Castels clateren doun cameles brosten
570: Dromedaries to þe deþ drowen ful swyþe
571: Þe blode fomed hem fro in þe flasches aboute
572: Þ[at] knedepe in þe dale dascheden stedes
573: Þe burnes in þe bretages þat aboue wer
574: For þe doust & þe dyn as alle doun 3ede
575: Al forstoppette in stele storteblynde wexen
576: Whan hurdi3s & hard erþe hurtled togedre
577: & vnder dromedaries doun di3ten hem sone
578: Was non left vpon lyue þat a lofte standeþ
579: Saue [ane] olepy olyfaunt at þe grete 3ate
580: Þeras cayphas þe clerke in castel rideþ -33-
581: He say þe wrake on hem wende & away tourneþ
582: With twelf maystres made of moyses lawe
583: An hundred helmed men hien hem after
584: Er þey of castel my3t come cau3ten hem alle
585: Bounden þe bischup on bycchyd wyse
586: Þat þe blode out barst eche band vnder
587: & bro3ten [to] þe [berfraye] alle [þo] bew clerkes
588: Þer þe standard stode & stadded hem þer
589: Þe beste & þe britage & alle þe bri3t ger
590: Chair & chaundelers & charbokel stones
591: Þe rolles þat þey redden [on] & alle þe riche bokes
592: Þey bro3te myd þe bischup þou hym bale þou3te
593: Anon þe feyþles folke fayleden herte
594: Tourned toward þe toun & tytus hem after
595: Ffe[l]de of þe fals ferde in þe felde lefte
596: An hundred in her helmes myd his honde one
597: Þe fals jewes in þe felde fallen so þicke
598: As hail froward heuen hepe ouer oþer -34-
599: So was þe bent ouerbrad blody byrunne
600: With ded bodies aboute alle þe brod vale
601: My3t no stede doun stap bot on stele wede
602: Or on burne oþer on beste or on bri3t scheldes
603: So myche was þe multitude þat on þe molde lafte
604: Þer so many wer mar[red] mereuail wer ellis
605: 3it wer þe romayns as rest as þey fram rome come
606: [vnrevyn] eche a renk & no3t a ryng brosten
607: Was no poynt perschid of alle her pris armur
608: So crist his kny3tes gan kepe tille complyn tyme
609: An hundred þousand helmes of þe heþen syde
610: Wer fey fallen in þe felde [þat no freke skapide]
611: Saue seuen þousand of þe somme þat to þe cite flowen
612: & wy[nn]en with mychel wo þe walles with-ynne
613: Ledes lepen to a-non louken þe 3ates
614: Barren hem bigly with boltes of yren
615: Brayden vp brigges with brouden chaynes -35-
616: & portecolis with pile picchen to grounde
617: Þei wynnen vp why3tly þe walles to kepe
618: Fr[e]sche vnfonded folke & grete defence made
619: Tyeþ in-to tourres tonnes ful manye
620: With grete stones of gret & of gray marble
621: Kepten kenly with caste þe kernels alofte
622: Quar[r]en qu[a]rels out with quart[ote]s attonys
623: Þat oþer folke at þe fote freshly assayled
624: Tille eche dale with dewe was donked aboute
625: With-drowen hem fro þe diche dukes & oþer
626: [for] þe caste was so kene þat come fram þe walles
627: Comen forþe with þe kyng clene as þey 3ede
628: W[ant]ed no3t o wye ne non þat wem hadde
629: Princes to her pauelouns passen on swyþe
630: Vnarmen hem as tyt & alle þe ny3t resten
631: With wacche vmbe þe walles to many wyes sorowe
632: Þey wolle no3t þe heþen her so harmeles be lafte -36-
633: Sone as þe rede day ros [o]n þe schye
634: Bemes blowen anon burnes to aryse
635: Þe kyng comaundeþ a cry þat comsed was sone
636: Þe ded bodies on þe bonke barforto make
637: To spoyle þe spilt folke spar scholde none
638: Geten girdeles & ger gold & goode stones
639: Byes broches bry3t besauntes riche
640: Helmes hewen of gold hamberkes manye
641: Kesten ded vpon ded was deil to byholde
642: Made wide weyes & to þe walles comen
643: Assembleden at þe cite saut to bygynne
644: Ffolke ferlich þycke at þe four 3ates
645: Þey bro3ten toures of tre þat þey taken hadde
646: A-3en euereche 3ate 3arken hem hey
647: By-gonnnen at þe grettist a garrite to rer
648: Groded vp fro þe grounde on twelfe grete postes
649: [it] was wonderlich wide wro3t vpon hy3te -37-
650: Ffyue hundred in frounte to fi3ten at þe walles
651: Hardy men vp-on haste hyen at þe grecys
652: & bygonnnen with bir þe borow to assayle
653: Quarels flambande of fur flowen out harde
654: & arwes [vn]arwely with attyr enuenymyd
655: Taysen at þe toures tachen on þe jewes
656: Þro3 kernels cacchen her deþ many kene burnes
657: Brenten & beten doun þat bilde was wel þycke
658: Brosten þe britages & þe brode toures
659: By þat was many bold burne þe burwe to assayle
660: Þe hole batail boun a-boute þe brode walles
661: Þat wer byg & brode & bycchet to wynne
662: Wonder heye to byholde with holwe diches vnder
663: Heye bonked a-bou[t]e vpon boþe sydes
664: Ri3t wicked to wynne bot 3if wyles helpe
665: Bow-men atte bonke benden her ger
666: Schoten vp scharply to þe schene walles
667: With arwes & arblastes & alle þat harme my3t
668: To affray þe folke þat defence made -38-
669: Þe jewes werien þe walles with wyles ynowe
670: Hote [p]l[ay]ande picche a-monge þe peple 3eten
671: Brenn[a]n[d] leed & brynston barels fulle
672: Schoten schynande doun ri3t as schyr water
673: Waspasian wendeþ fram þe walles wariande hem alle
674: Oþer busked wer boun benden engynes
675: Kesten at þe kernels & clustred toures
676: & monye der daies worke dongen to grounde
677: By þat wri3tes han wro3t a wonder stronge pale
678: Alle aboute þe burwe with bastiles manye
679: Þat [no freke in my3t fonde with-owttyn fethyrhames]
680: [ne] no segge vnder sonne my3t fram þe cite passe
681: Suþ dommyn þe diches with þe ded corses
682: Crammen hit myd karayn þe kirnels vnder
683: Þat þe stynk of þe steem my3t strike ouer þe walles
684: To coþe þe corsed folke þat hem kepe scholde -39-
685: Þe cors of þe condit þat comen to [þe] toun
686: Stoppen euereche a streem þer any str[ande] 3ede
687: With stockes & stones & stynkande bestes
688: Þat þey no water my3t wynne þat weren enclosed
689: Waspasian tourneþ to his tente with titus & oþer
690: Commaundeþ consail anon on cayphas to sitte
691: W[hat] deþ by dome þat he dey scholde
692: With þe lettered ledes þat þey lau3te hadde
693: Domes-men vpon de[y]s demeden swyþe
694: Þat ech freke wer quyk fleyn þe felles of clene
695: Þen to be on a bent with blonkes to-drawe
696: & suþ honget on an hep vpon heye galwes
697: Þe feet to þe firmament alle folke to byholden
698: With hony vpon ech [halfe] þe hydeles anoynted
699: Corres & cattes with claures ful scharpe
700: Ffour kagge[d] & knyt to cayphases þeyes
701: Twey apys at his armes to angren hym mor -40-
702: Þat renten þe rawe flesche vpon rede peces
703: So was he pyned fram prime with persched sides
704: Tille þe sonne doun sou3t in sommere-tyme
705: Þe lered men of þe lawe a litel bynyþe
706: Weren tourmented on a tre topsail walten
707: Knyt to euerech clerke kene corres twey
708: Þat alle þe cite my3t se þe sorow þat þey dryuen
709: Þe jewes walten ouer þe walles for wo at þat tyme
710: Seuen hundred slow hem-self for sorow of her clerkes
711: Somme hent her heer & fram þe hed pulled
712: & somme [down] for deil dasch[e]de to grounde
713: Þe kyng lete drawen hem a-doun whan þey dede wer
714: Bade a bole-fur betyn to brennen þe corses
715: Kesten cayphas þer-yn & his clerkes twelf
716: & brenten euereche bon in-to þe browne askes
717: Suþ went to þe walle on þe wynde syde
718: & alle a-brod on þe burwe blewen þe powder -41-
719: Þer is doust [to] 3our drynke a du[ke] to hem crieþ
720: & bade hem bible of þat broþ for þe bischopes soule
721: Þus ended coursed cayphas & his clerkes alle
722: Al to-brused myd bestes brent at þe laste
723: In tokne of tresoun & trey þat he wro3t
724: Whan crist þrow his conseil was cacched to deþ
725: By þat was þe day don dym[m]ed þe skyes
726: Merked [þe] montayns & mores a-boute
727: Foules fallen to fote & her feþres r[y]s[t]en
728: Þe ny3t-wacche to þe walle & waytes to blowe
729: Bry3t fures a-boute betyn a-brode in þe oste
730: Þe kyng & his consail carpen to-gedr
731: Chosen chyuentayns out & chiden no mor
732: Bot charged þe chek-wecche & to chambr wenten
733: Kynges & kny3tes to cacchen hem reste
734: Waspasian lyþ in his logge litel he slepiþ
735: Bot walwyþ & wyndiþ & waltreþ a-boute -42-
736: Ofte tourneþ for tene & on þe toun þynkeþ
737: Whan schadewes & schir day scheden attwynne
738: Leuerockes vpon lofte lyften her steuenes
739: Burnes busken hem out of bedde with bemes loude
740: Boþe blowyng on bent & on þe burwe walles
741: Waspasian bounys of bedde busked hym fayr
742: Fram þe fote to þe fourche in fyne gold cloþes
743: Suþ putteþ þe prince ouer his pal[l]e[n] wedes
744: A brynye browded þicke with a brest-plate
745: [þe] gra[te was] of gray steel & of gold riche
746: Þer-ouer he casteþ a cote colour[ede] of his armys
747: A grete girdel of gold with-out ger oþer
748: Layþ vmbe his lendis with lacchetes ynow
749: A bry3t burnesched swerd he belteþ alofte -43-
750: Of pur purged gold þe pomel & þe hulte
751: A brod schynande scheld on scholdir he hongiþ
752: Bocklyd myd bri3t gold abou[t]e at þe necke
753: Þe glowes of gray steel þat wer with gold hemmyd
754: Hauleþ [ouer] harnays & his hors askeþ
755: Þe gold hewen helme haspeþ he blyue
756: With viser & with a-vental deuysed for þe nones
757: A croune of clene gold was closed vpon lofte
758: Rybaunde vmbe þe rounde helm ful of riche stones
759: Py3t prudely with perles in-to þe pur corners
760: & so with saphyres sett þe sydes a-boute
761: He strideþ on a stif stede & strikeþ ouer þe bente
762: Li3t as a lyoun wer loused out of cheyne
763: His segges se[y]en hym alle & echon sayþ to oþer
764: Þis is a comlich kyng kny3tes to lede
765: He boweþ to þe barres or he bide wolde
766: Betynge on with þe brond on þe bras rynges -44-
767: Comeþ caytifes forþ 3e þat crist slowen
768: Knoweþ hym for 3our kyng or 3e cacche mor
769: Wayteþ doun fro þe walle what wo is on hande
770: May 3e fecche 3ou no fode þo3 3e fey worþe
771: & þo3 3e waterles wede wynne 3e no3t o droppe
772: Þo3 3e deþ scholde dey daies in 3our lyue
773: Þe pale þat i pi3t haue passe hit who my3t
774: Þat is so byg on þe bonke & haþ þe burowe closed
775: Ffourty to fy3ten a3ens fyue hundred
776: Þo3 3e wer etnes echon in scholde [3]e [tourne]
777: & more manschyp wer hit 3it mercy by-seche
778: Þan metles marr þer no my3t helpys
779: Was non þat warpiþ a word bot waytes her poyntes
780: 3if [any] stertis on st[r]ay with stones hem to kylle
781: Þan wroþ as a wode bore he wendeþ his bridul
782: 3if 3e as dogges wol dey þe deuel haue þat recche
783: & or i wende fro þis walle 3e schul wordes schewe -45-
784: & efte spakloker speke or y 3our speche owene
785: By þat a jewe josophus þe gentyl clerke
786: Hadde wro3t a wonder wyle whan hem water fayled
787: Made wedes of wolle in wete for to plunge
788: Water-waschen as þey wer & on þe walle hengen
789: Þe wedes dropeden doun d[r]yed 3erne
790: Rich rises hem fro þe romayns byholden
791: Wenden wel her wedes hadde wasschyng so ryue
792: Þat no wye in þe wone water schold fayle
793: Waspasian þe wile wel ynow knewe
794: Loude law3[eþ] þer-at & lordlynges byddis
795: No burne abasched be þo3 þey þis bost make
796: Hit beþ bot wyles of werr for water hem fayleþ
797: Þan was no-þyng bot a newe note to bygynne
798: Assaylen on eche a side þe cite by halues
799: Merken myd manglouns ful vn-mete dyntes -46-
800: & myche of masouns note þey marden þat tyme
801: Þer-of was josophus war þat myche of werr couþe
802: & sette on þe walle side sakkes myd chaf
803: A3ens þe streyngþe of þe stroke þer þe stones hytte
804: Þat alle dered no3t a dy3s bot grete dy[n] made
805: Þe romayns runne to a-non & on roddes knytte
806: Siþes for þe sackes þat selly wer kene
807: Ra3ten to þe ropis rent hem in sonder
808: Þat alle dasschande doun in-to þe diche flatten
809: Bot josophus þe gynful her engynes alle
810: Brente with brennande oyle & myche bale wro3t
811: Waspasian wounded was þer wonderlich sore
812: Þrow þe hard of þe hele with an hande-darte
813: Þat boot þrow þe bote & þe bone nayled
814: Of þe frytted fote in þe folis syde
815: Sone assembled hym to many sadde hundred -47-
816: Þat wolden wrecken þe wounde oþer wo habben
817: Þey bowyn to þe barres bekered 3erne
818: Fou3t ri3t felly foyned with speres
819: Jo[k]ken jewes þro3 engynes by þanne
820: Wer manye bent at þe bonke & to þe burwe þrewen
821: Þer wer selcouþes sen as segges mowe here
822: A burne with a balwe-ston was þe brayn cloue
823: Þe gretter pese of þe panne þe pyble forþ strikeþ
824: Þat hit flow in-to þe feld a forlong or more
825: A womman bounden with a barn was on þe body hytte
826: With þe ston o[f] a staf[-slyng] as þe storyj telleþ
827: Þat þe barn out brayde fram þe body clene
828: & was born vp as a bal ouer þe burwe walles
829: Burnes wer brayned & brosed to deþ
830: Wymmen wide open walte vnder stones
831: Frosletes fro þe ferst to þe flor þrylled -48-
832: & many toret doun tilte þe temple a-boute
833: Þe cite had ben seised myd saut at þat tyme
834: Nad þe folke be so fers þat þe fende serued
835: Þat kilden on þe cristen & kepten þe walles
836: With arwes & arblastes & archers manye
837: With speres & spryngoldes sponnen out hard
838: Dryuen dartes a-doun 3euen depe woundes
839: Þat manye renke out of rome [by] rest[ing] of þ[e] s[o]nne
840: Was mychel leuer a leche þan layke myd his ton
841: Waspasian stynteþ of þe stour steweþ his burnes
842: Þat wer for-beten & bled vnder bry3t yren
843: Tyen to her tentis myd tene þat þey hadde
844: Al wery of þat werk & wounded ful sore
845: Helmes & hamberkes hadden of sone
846: Leches by torche-li3t loken her hurtes
847: Waschen woundes with wyn & with wolle stoppen
848: With oyle & orisoun ordeyned in charme -49-
849: Suþ euereche a segge to þe soper 3ede
850: Þo3 þey wounded wer was no wo nempned
851: Bot daunsyng & no deil with dynnyng of pipis
852: & þe nakerer noyse alle þe ny3t-tyme
853: Whan þe derk was doun & þe day spr[o]ngen
854: Sone after þe sonne sembled þe grete
855: Comen forþ-with þe kyng conseil to her
856: Alle þe kny3thod clene þat for crist werred
857: Waspasian waiteþ a-wide his wyes byholdeþ
858: Þat wer frescher to fi3t þan at þe furst tyme
859: Prayeþ princes on ernest & alle þe peple after
860: Þat eche wye of þat werr schold his wille specke
861: For or þis toun be tak & þis toures heye
862: Michel tor[fere] & tene vs tides on hande
863: Þay tourned alle to titus & hym þe tale scheweþ
864: Of þe cite & þe sege to seyn for hem alle
865: Þan titus tourneþ hem to & talkyng bygynneþ -50-
866: Þus to layke with þis les[e folke] vs lympis þe worse
867: For þey ben fel[l]e of defence ferce men & noble
868: & þis toured toun is tenful to wynne
869: Þe worst wrecche in þe wone may on walle lygge
870: Strike doun with a ston & stuny many kny3tes
871: Whan we schul houe & byholde & litel harme wirche
872: & ay þe loþe of þe layk li3t on vs-selue
873: Now mowe þey ferke no ferr her fode forto wynne
874: Wolde we stynt of our strif whyle þey her stor ma[r]-den
875: We scholde with [hunger] hem honte to hoke out of toun
876: [with-owttyn weme or wounde or any wo ells]
877: For þer as fayleþ þe fode þer is feynt strengþe
878: & þer as hunger is hote hertes ben feble
879: Alle assenteden to þe sawe þat to þe [sege] longed
880: Apaied as þe prince & þe peple wolde -51-
881: To þe kyng wer called constables þanne
882: Marchals maser[s] men þat he to tristiþ
883: He chargeþ hem che[f]ly for chaunce þat may falle
884: With wacche of waled men þe walles to kepe
885: For we wol hunten at þe hart þis heþes aboute
886: & hur racches renne a-monge þis rowe bonkes
887: Ride to þe reuer & rer vp þe foules
888: Se faucouns fle fole of þe beste
889: Ech segge to þe solas þat hym-self lyked
890: Princes out of pauelouns presen on stedes
891: Torn[ei]en trifflyn & on þe toun wayten
892: Þis lyf þey ledde longe & [lord] 3yue vs grace
893: In rome nero haþ now mychel noye wro3t
894: To deþ pyned þe pope & mychel peple quelled
895: Petr apostlen prince & seint poule [also] -52-
896: Senek & þe senatours & alle þe cite fured
897: His modir & his my[l]de wif murdred to deþe
898: Combred cristen fele þat on crist leued
899: Þe romayns resen a-non whan þey þ[i]s rewþe seyen
900: To quelle þe emperour quyk þat hem vnquemed hadde
901: Þey pressed to his paleys porayle & oþer
902: To br[it]ten þe bold kyng in his burwe riche
903: Þe cite & þe senatours assented hem boþe
904: Non oþer dede was to doun þey han his dome 3olden
905: Þan flowe þat freke frendles alone
906: Out at a pore posterne & alle þe peple folwed
907: With a tronchoun of tre toke he no more
908: Of alle þe glowande gold þat he on grounde hadde
909: On þat tronchoun with his teþ he toggeþ & byteþ
910: Tille hit was piked at þe poynt as a pokes ende
911: Þan abideþ þat burne & biterlych spekeþ
912: To alle þe wyes þat þer wer wordes aloude
913: Tourneþ traytours a3en schal neuer þe tale rise -53-
914: Of no karl by þe coppe how he his kyng quelde
915: Hym-self he strykeþ myd þat staf stre3t to þe hert
916: Þat þe colke to-clef & þe kyng deyed
917: Six monþe after & no mor þis myschef bytydde
918: Þat waspasian was went to werry on þe jewes
919: Four mettyn myle out of rome to mynde for euere
920: Þat erst was emperour of alle þus ended in sorow
921: Þe grete to-gedres þan [gete] hem an-oþer
922: On gabba a gome þat mychel grem hadde
923: Þro3 othis l[ucy]us a lord þat hym longe hated
924: & at þe last þat lord out of lyf hym bro3t
925: Amydde þe market of rome þe[y] mette to-gedres
926: Othis falliþ hym fey 3af hym fale woundes
927: Þat four monþes & [no] mor hadde mayntened þe croune
928: & þo deyed þe duke & þe diademe lefte
929: & whan þat gabba was gon & to grounde bro3t
930: Othis entriþ on ernest & emperour was made -54-
931: Þe man in his maieste was monþes bot þre
932: Þan he 3eldeþ sathanas þe soule & hym-self quelled
933: Þe romayns risen vp a renk rome for to kepe
934: A kny3t þat vitel was calde & hym þe croune rau3te
935: Bot for sir sabyns sake a segge þat was noble
936: Waspasian broþer of blode [þat] he brytned hadde
937: Waspasian vpon vitel to vengen his broþer
938: S[en]t out of surrie segges to rome
939: Þat [a]s naked as an nedul þe newe emperour
940: For sir sabyns sake alle þe cite drowe hym
941: Suþ gored þe gome þat his guttes alle
942: As a bowe[l]ed beste in-to his breche felle
943: Doun 3er[m]ande he 3ede & 3eldeþ þe soule
944: & [þey] kay3t þe cors & kast in-to tybre
945: Seuen monþes þis [segge] hadde septre on hande
946: & þus loste he þe lyf for his luþer dedes
947: An oþer segge was to seke þat septre schold haue -55-
948: For alle þis grete ben gon & neuer agayn tournen
949: Now of þe cite & of þe sege wolle y sey mor
950: How þis comelich kyng þat for crist werreþ
951: Haþ holden yn þe heþen men þis oþer half wynter
952: Þat neuer burne was so bold þe burwe for to passe
953: As he to dyner on a day with dukes was sette
954: Comen renkes fram rome rapande swyþe
955: In bruneys & in bry3t wede with bodeworde newe
956: Louten alle to þe lord letres hym rau3ten
957: Sayn comelich kyng þe kny3thod of rome
958: Þro3 þe senatours assent & alle þe cite ellis
959: Han chosen þe her chyuentayn her chef lord to worþe
960: And riche emperour of rome þus redeþ þis letres
961: Þe lord vnlappeþ þe lef þis letres byholdeþ
962: Ouer-lokeþ ech a lyne to þe last ende
963: Bordes born wer doun & þe burne riseþ
964: Calleþ consail a-non & kyþeþ þis speche -56-
965: 3e ben burnes of my blod þat y best wolde
966: My sone is next to my-self & oþer sib manye
967: Sir sabyn of surrie a segge þat y triste
968: & oþer frendes fele þat me fayþ owen
969: Now is me bodeword of blys bro3t froward rome
970: To be lord ouer þat lond as þis letres spekeþ
971: Sir sabyn of surrie sey þe by-houyþ
972: How y my3t sauy my-self & i so wro3t
973: Ffor y haue heylych hey3t her forto lenge
974: [tille] me þe 3ates ben 3et & 3olden þe keyes
975: [and] i þis toured [t]oun ha[ue] taken at wille
976: & suþ houshed on hem þat þis hold kepyn
977: Brosten & betyn doun þis britages heye
978: Þat neuer ston in þat stede stond vpon oþer
979: Kyþe þ[i] consail sir kny3t þis kyng to hym sayde
980: For y wol worche by þy witt 3if worschip may folowe -57-
981: Þan seiþ sir sabyn a-non semelich lord
982: We ben wyes þe with þy worschup to furþer
983: Of longe tyme bylafte & ledes þyn owen
984: Þat we doun is þy dede may no man demen elles
985: Þe dom demed was þer who so doþ by anoþer
986: Schal be soferayn hym-self sein in þe werke
987: For as fers is þe freke atte ferr ende
988: Þat of fleis þe fel as he þat foot holdeþ
989: Bytake tytus þy sone þis toun for to kepe
990: & to þe dou3ti duke domyssian his broþer
991: Her i holde vp myn honde myd hem for to lenge
992: With alle þe here þat i haue while my herte lasteþ
993: & þou schalt ride to rome & receyue þe croune
994: In honour emperour to be as þyn eure schapiþ
995: So may þy couenaunt be kept þat þou to crist made
996: Þy-self dest þat þy soudiours by þyn assent worchen
997: Þan with a liouns lote he lifte vp þe eyen
Lines 998-1097 are missing currently -64-
1098: To voiden alle by vile deþ þat vitelys destruyed
1099: Wymmen & weyke folke þat weren of olde age
1100: My3t no3t stonde in stede bot her stor mardyn
1101: After [þay] touche of trewe to trete with þe lord
1102: Bot Titus graunteþ no3t for gile þat þe gomes þenke
1103: For he is wise þat is war or hym wo hape
1104: & with falsede a-fer is fairest to dele
1105: To worchyn vnder þe wal w[a]yes þey casten
1106: Whan Tytus nold no trewe to þe toun graunte
1107: With mynours & masouns myne þey bygonne
1108: Grobben faste [i]n þe grounde & god 3yue vs joye
1109: As Tytus after [on] a tyme vmbe þe toun r[i]deþ
1110: Wyþ sixty speres of þe sege segges a fewe -65-
1111: Alle outwith þe ost out of a kaue
1112: Vp a buschment brake alle of bri3t hedis
1113: Fyf hundred fi3tyng men fellen hem aboute
1114: In jepouns & jambers Jewes þey wer
1115: Hadde wro3t hem a wey & þe wal myned
1116: & Titus tourneþ hem to without tale mor
1117: Schaftes schedred wer sone & scheldes yþrelled
1118: [And many schalke thurghe schotte with þe scharpe ende]
1119: Brunyes & bri3t wede blody by-runne
1120: & many segge at þat saute sou3te to þe grounde
1121: Hacchen vpon hard steel with an herty wylle
1122: Þat fur out flowe as of flynt stonys
1123: Of þe helm & þe hed hewen at-tonys
1124: Þe stompe vnder stede feet in þe steel leueþ
1125: Þe 3ong duk Domycian of þe dyn herde
1126: And issed out of þe ost with e3te hundred speres -66-
1127: Ffel on þe fals folke vmbe-feldes hem sone
1128: As bestes bretnes hem alle & haþ his broþer holpen
1129: Þan Titus toward his tentis tourneþ hym sone
1130: Makeþ mynour[s] & men þe myne to stoppe
1131: After profreþ pes for pyte þat he hadde
1132: Whan he wist of her wo þat wer withyn stoken
1133: Bot Jon þe jenfulle þat þe Jewes ladde
1134: An oþer Symond of his assent forsoke þe profre
1135: Sayn leuer in þis lif lengen hem wer
1136: Þan any renke out of Rome [re]joycid her sorowe
1137: Sale in þe cite was cesed with þanne
1138: Was no3t for besauntes to bye þat men bite my3t
1139: For a ferþyng-worþ of fode floryns an hundred
1140: Princes profren in þe toun to pay in þe fuste
1141: Bot alle was boteles bale f[or] who so bred hadde
1142: Nold a goet haue [g]ouen for goode vpon [erþ]e
1143: Wymmen falwed faste & her face chaungen -67-
1144: Ffeynte & fallen doun þat so fair wer
1145: S[ome] swallen as swyn som swart wexen
1146: Som lene on to loke as la[n]terne-hornes
1147: Þe morayne was so myche þat no man couþe telle
1148: Wher to burie in þe burwe þe bodies þat wer ded
1149: Bot wenten with hem to þe walle & walten [hem o]uere
1150: In-to þe depe of þe diche þe ded doun fallen
1151: Whan Titus told was þe tale to trewe god he vouched
1152: Þat [he] hadde profred hem pes & grete pite hadde
1153: Þo praied he Josophus to preche þe peple [to en-forme]
1154: [For] to saue hemself & þe cite 3elde
1155: Bot Jon forsoke þe sawe so for to wyrche
1156: With Symond þat oþer segge þat þe cyte ladde
1157: Myche peple for þe prechyng at þe posterne 3atis
1158: Tyen out of þe toun & Tytus bysecheþ -68-
1159: To for[g]yue hem þe gult þat þey to god wro3t
1160: & he graunteþ hem grace & gaylers bytau3t
1161: Bot whan þey metten with mete vnmy3ty þey wer
1162: Any fode to defye so faynt was her strengþe
1163: Fful þe gottes of gold eche gome hadde
1164: Lest fomen fongen hem schold her floreyns þey eten
1165: Whan hit was bro3t vp abrode & þe bourd aspyed
1166: [Wiþou]ten leue of þat lord ledes hem slowen
1167: [G]oren euereche a gome & þe gold taken
1168: Ffayn[ere] of þe floreyns [þan of] þe frekes alle
1169: Ay wer þe 3ates vn[3]et tille two 3eres ende
1170: So longe þey [s]ou3t hit by sege or þey þe [cite] hadde
1171: Eleuen hundred þousand Jewes in þe mene whyle
1172: Swalten while þe sweng last by swerd & by hunger
1173: Now Titus conseil haþ take þe toun to assayle
1174: To wynne hit on eche [wise] of warwolues handes -69-
1175: Neuer pyte ne pees profre hem more
1176: Ne gome þat he gete may to no grace taken
1177: [þei] armen hem as tyt alle for þe werr
1178: Tyen euen to þe toun with trompis & pypys
1179: With nakerers & grete noyce ne3en þe walles
1180: Þer many styf man & stour stondiþ alofte
1181: Sir Sabyn of Surrye on a syde 3ede
1182: Þe 3ong duke Domycian drow to an oþer
1183: XV þousand [fi3tynge] men eche freke hadde
1184: With many maner of engyne & mynours ynowe
1185: Tytus at þe toun 3ate with ten þousand helmes
1186: Merkeþ mynour[s] at þe wal wher þey myne scholde
1187: On ech side for þe assaute setteþ engynes
1188: & bold-brayned men in belfrayes heye
1189: Was no3t bot dyn & dyt as alle deye scholde
1190: So eche lyuande lyf layeþ on oþer -70-
1191: At eche kernel was cry & quasschyng of wepne
1192: & many burne atte brayd brayned to deþ
1193: Sir Sabyn of Surrye whyle þe saute laste
1194: Leyþ a ladder to þe wal & alofte clymyþ
1195: Wendeþ wy3tly þeron þo3 hym wo happned
1196: & vp stondiþ for ston[es] or for steel gere
1197: Syx he slow on þe wal sir Sabyn alone
1198: Þe seueþ hitteþ on hym an vnhende dynte
1199: Þat þe brayn out brast at boþ nose-þrylles
1200: & Sabyn ded of þe dynt in-to þe diche falleþ
1201: Þan Tytus wepyþ for wo & warieþ þe tyme
1202: Syþ he þe lede haþ lost þat he loue scholde
1203: Ffor now is a duke ded þe dou3tiest y trowe
1204: Þat euer stede bystrode or any steel wered
1205: Tytus on þe same side setteþ an engyne
1206: A sowe wro3t for þe werr & to þe wal dryueþ -71-
1207: Þat alle ouerwalte þer he went & wyes an hundred
1208: Wer ded of þat dynt & in þe diche ly3ten
1209: Þan Tytus heueþ vp þe honde & heuen kyng þonkeþ
1210: Þat þey þe dukes deþ han so der bou3te -25-
1211: Þe Jewes praien þe pees þis was þe paske-euene
1212: & þe comelich kyng þe keyes out rau3ten
1213: Nay traytours quoþ Tytus now take hem 3ourselfen
1214: Ffor schal no ward on 3our wal vs þe way lette
1215: We han geten vs a gate a[g]en 3our wille
1216: Þat schal be satled sour on 3our sory kynde
1217: Or þe 3ates wer 3olden þre 3er byfore
1218: Ouer þe cyte wer seyn selcouþe þynges
1219: A bry3t bren[n]yng swerd ouer þe burwe henged
1220: Without hond oþer helpe saue [of] heuen one
1221: Armed men in þe ayer vpon ost-wyse
1222: Ouer þe cyte wer seyn sundrede tymes -72-
1223: A calf a3en kynde calued in þe temple
1224: & eued an ewe-lombe at [þe] offryng-tyme
1225: A wye on þe wal cried wonder heye
1226: Voys fram est & fram west & fram þe four wyndis
1227: & sayd Wo wo wo worþ on 3ou boþe
1228: Jerusalem þe Jewen toun & þe joly temple
1229: 3if sayþ þe wye on þe walle o word mor
1230: Wo to þis worldly wone & wo to my-selue
1231: & deyd whan he don hadde þrow dynt of [a] slynge
1232: & haplich was had away how wyst I neuere
1233: & þan þey deuysed hem & vengaunce hit helde
1234: & wyten her wo þe wronge þat þey wro3te
1235: Whan þey brutned in þe burwe þe byschup seint Jame
1236: No3t wolde acounte hit for Crist þe car þat þey hadde
1237: Bot vp 3eden her 3ates [þey] 3elden hem alle
1238: Without brunee & bri3t wede in her bar chertes -73-
1239: fram none tille þe merke ny3t neuer ne cesed
1240: Bot man after man mercy bysou3t
1241: Tytus into þe toun takeþ his way
1242: My3t no man st[e]ken [i]n þe stret for stynke of ded corses
1243: Þe peple in þe pauyment was pite to byholde
1244: Þat we enfamy[n]ed for defaute whan hem fode wanted
1245: Was no3t on ladies lafte bot þe lene bones
1246: Þat wer fleschy byfor & fayr on to loke
1247: Burges with balies as barels or þat tyme
1248: No gretter þan a grehounde to grype on þe medil
1249: Tytus tarieþ no3t for þat bot to þe temple wendiþ
1250: Þat was rayled þe roof with rebies grete
1251: With perles & peritotes alle þe place ferde
1252: As glowande gledfur þat on gold st[r]ikeþ
1253: Þe dores ful of dyemauntes dryuen wer þicke
1254: & made merueylous lye with margeri perles -74-
1255: Derst no candel be [ky]nde whan clerkes scholde rise
1256: So wer þey lemaunde ly3t & as a lampe schonen
1257: Þe Romayns wayten on þe werke warien þe tyme
1258: Þat euer so precious a place scholde persche for her synne
1259: Out þe tresour to take Tytus commaundyþ
1260: Doun bete þe bilde brenne hit in-to grounde
1261: Þer was plente in þe place of precious stonys
1262: Grete gaddes of gold who-so grype lyste
1263: Platis pecis of peys pulsched vessel
1264: Bassynes of brend gold & oþer bry3t ger
1265: Pelours masly made of metals fele
1266: In cop[r]e craftly cast & in clene seluere
1267: Peynted [with] pur gold alle þe place was ouer
1268: Þe Romayns renten hem doun & to Rome ledyn
1269: Whan þey þe cyte han sou3t vpon þe same wyse -75-
1270: Telle couþe no tonge þe tresours þat þei þer foundn
1271: Jewels for joly men je[mewes] riche
1272: Ffloreyns of [fyne] gold no freke wanted
1273: Riche pelour & pane princes to wer
1274: Besantes bies of gold broches & rynges
1275: Clene cloþes of selke many carte-fulle
1276: Wele wanteþ no wye bot wale[þ] what hym lykeþ
1277: Now masouns & mynours han þe molde sou3te
1278: With pykeyse & ponsone persched þe walles
1279: Hewen þrow hard ston hadde hem to grounde
1280: Þat alle derkned þe diche for doust of þe pouder
1281: So þey wrou3ten at þe wal alle þe woke-tyme
1282: Tille alle þe cyte was serched & sou3t al aboute
1283: Maden wast at [a] wappe þer þe walle stode
1284: Boþe in temple & in tour alle þe toun ouer
1285: Nas no ston in þe stede stondande alofte
1286: Morter ne m[o]de walle bot alle to mulle fallen -76-
1287: Noþer tymbr ne tre temple ne oþer
1288: Bot doun betyn & brent into blake erþe
1289: & whan þe temple was ouertourned Tytus commaundys
1290: In plowes to putte & alle þe place erye
1291: Suþ sow hit with salt & seide þis wordes
1292: Now is þis stalwourþe stede distroied for euere
1293: Tytus suþ sett hym on a sete riche
1294: As juge Jewes to jugge justise hym-self
1295: Criour[s] callen hem forþ as hy þat Crist slowen
1296: & beden Pilat apere þat prouost was þanne
1297: Pilat proffriþ hym forþ apered at þe bar
1298: & he frayneþ þe freke alle with fair wordis
1299: Whan Crist of dawe was don & to þe deþ 3ede
1300: Of þe he[þ]yng þat he hadde & þe hard woundis
1301: Þan melys þe man & þe matere tolde
1302: How alle þe ded was don whan he deþ þoled -77-
1303: For þritty penyes in a poke his postel hym solde
1304: So was he bargayned & bou3t & as a beste quelled
1305: Now corsed be he quoþ þe kyng þat þe cate made
1306: He wexe marchaunte amys þat þe money fenged
1307: To sille so precyous a prince for penyes so fewe
1308: [Thoghe ilke a ferthynge had bene ful florence an hundrethe]
1309: Bot I schal marchaundise make in mynde of þat oþer
1310: Þat schal be heþyng to hem or I hennes passe
1311: Alle þat here bodyes wol by or bargaynes make
1312: By lower pris for to passe þan þey þe prophete solde
1313: He made in myddel of [þe] ost a market to crye
1314: Alle þat cheffare wolde chepe chepis to haue
1315: Ay for a peny of pris who-so pay wolde
1316: Þrytty Jewes in a þrom þrongen in ropis
1317: So wer þey bargayned & bou3t & bro3t out of londe
1318: Neuer suþ [on] þat syde cam segge of hem after
1319: Ne non þat leued in her lawe scholde in þat londe dwelle -78-
1320: Þat tormented trewe God þus Titus commaundyþ
1321: Josophus þe gentile clerke a-jorneyd was to Rome
1322: Þer of þis mater & mo he made fayr bokes
1323: & Pilat to prisoun was do to pyne for euere
1324: At Viterbe þer he veniaunce & vile deþ þoled
1325: Þe wye þat hym warded wente on a tyme
1326: Hym-self fedyng with frut & feffyt hym with a per
1327: & forto paren his pere he praieþ hym 3erne
1328: Of a knyf & þe kempe kest hym a trenchour
1329: & with þe same he schef hymself to þe herte
1330: & so þe kaytif as his kynde corsedlich deied
1331: Whan alle was demed & d[on]e þei drow vp tentis
1332: Trossen her tresour & trompen vp þe sege
1333: Wenten syngyng away & han her wille forþred
1334: & hom riden to Rome Now rede ous our lord