f. 16rb
{Here appears the title followed by a cut-out miniature.}
f. 16va
Al þat ben in dedly sinne·
& þenk wiþ merci to mete·
Leue in crist þat õaue õou witt·
Õour sinnes forto bete·
Listen & õe schul here telle·
Wiþ wordes fair & swete·
Þe vie of on maiden
Men clepeþ seyn mer gre·
¶ Hir fader was apatriarke·
As y õou telle may·
In antiage he was born·
Opon þat false lay·
Feble was his hert·
Vstable was his fay·
Deue þinges & doumbe·
He serued niõt & day·
¶ Teodosus was his name·
In god no leued he nouõt·
He leued opon his fals godes·
Wiþ hondes þat were wrouõt·
Wicked weren his werkes·
& feble was his þouõt·
& euer he þouõt to bring
Cristendom to nouõt·
¶ As þai liued togider·
Þe king & þe quene·
Maiden mer grete·
Was geten hem bi tvene·
Þat seþþen leued on ihesu crist·
& hadde michel tene
& miche pure þoled seþþe·
Hir bodi þat was so schene·
¶ While þe quen õede wiþ child·
{Eleven lines are missing due to the miniature [on recto] being cut out. During this section, another paragraph -- indicated by a partially visible paraph -- begins at the eighth line. What begins the next column, preceding the second column's first paraph, is the remainder of this new stanza/paragraph.}
f. 16vb
Þat it were to deþ brouõt·
Wiþ outen more striif·
Þo hye herd þat tiding·
Sche wer a careful wiif· ["we?x"?]
¶ Anon so mergrete was y born·
Hir moder was wel wo·
For hir fader hadde beden·
To deþ þat sche schuld go·
Sche þouõt to saue þe childes liif·
& bring hir out of wo·
Ful priueliche & stille·
To azie sche sent hir þo·
¶ Into azies ward
Þe child was taken to loke·
Anon as sche was of eld·
Mer grete was sett to boke·
Hir felawes þat hir lyen bi·
At ich time þat þei woke·
Hou mergrete was in hir bedes·
Gode hede þai toke·
¶ Þe norice þat hir õemed·
Sche õemed hir wiþ winne·
Alle þai loued hir ful wele·
Þe hous þer sche wond inne
Anon as sche couþe witt·
Michel sche hated sinne·
Sche toke hir to ihesu crist·
Hir form liif to bi ginne·
¶ Anon as þe mayden was·
O fiftene winter eld·
Hir norice schepe·
Sche õeued on þe feld
Hir felawes þat hir wiþ were·
Ful õern þai hir bi held·
Hou sche maked hir praier·
To ihesus þat al may weld·
¶ Olibrious was lord
As we heren telle·
Of antiage & azie·
To õeuen & to selle·
He serued boþe niõt & day·
Þe foule fendes of helle·
Al þat leued on ihesu crist·
Olibrious þouõt to quelle·
f. 17ra
¶ Fram antiage in to asie·
Er miles tene & fiue·
For to stru þe cristen folk·
& bringen hem o liue·
Þai seyõe maiden mer grete·
Schepe bi forn hir driue·
Olibrious for hir fairnesse·
Õerned hir to wiue·
¶ He seyd to his kniõtes·
A fair maiiden y se·
Kestes hir opon hors·
& sche schal wende wiþ me·
& õif ich may enquere·
Of kin þat sche be fre·
Of alle þe wimen þat y wot·
Best hir schal be·
¶ & for hir michel feirhed·
Õif sche be born of þral·
Hir mariage·
No tineþ sche nouõt al·
Wele y schal hir cloþe·
In sikelatoun & pal·
Sche schal be mi leman
& haue gold to wal·
¶ Þe seruiance went as he hem bad·
To maiden mergrete·
Þer sche õemed hir norice schepe·
O dayes bi þe strete·
Michel it was þat þai hir bede·
& more þai hir bi hete·
Þe þouõtes of hir hert·
Wald sche nouõt for lete·
¶ Þe seriaunce of her erand·
Wald hir nouõt bi swike·
Damisel we say it þe·
Ful wele may þe like·
Olibrious is louerd
Of antiage rike
He õerneþ þe to wiue·
He nil þe nouõt bi swike·
¶ Þan maiden mergrete·
¶ Briõt so ani leuen·
Sche hem answerd·
Wiþ ful mild steuen·
f. 17rb
Ichaue õeuen mi maiden hed·
To ihesus crist of heuen·
Õeme it õif his willes is·
For his name seuen·
¶ Ihesu crist mi lord·
To õou y me rend·
In õou was no biginning·
No neuer schal ben ende·
Õif it be õour wille·
Õour angel õe me sende·
Fram þis foule saraõins·
Y may me nouõt de fende
¶ Al mi kin ichaue for sake·
In to mi neiõd kne
Ihesu crist mi lord·
Y toke me to þe·
Bleþe liche wald y for þi loue·
Martird to be·
Þis houndes me han bi sett·
Þat y no may nouõt fle·
¶ Þe seriaunce oõain went·
& told al her sawe·
Lord of þi pouste·
No õiueþ sche nouõt an hawe·
Sche takeþ hir to ihesu crist·
To warantise wil sche drawe·
Of al þat õe may hir do·
No stout hir non awe·
¶ Þan it spac olibrious·
Weri him sonne & mone·
Of al mon seriance
Gode haue y none
Bringeþ hir bi for me
Y turn hir mode ful sone·
Y do hir leue o pon mi god
Þriies ar it be none
¶ Þe seriaunce oõain went·
Sone þai gan hir mete·
Þai leyd hondes hir opon·
& brouõt hir to þe strete·
Sche com bi for olibrious·
Sone he gan hir grete·
He axed hir what sche hiõt·
Iche seyd mer grete·
f. 17va
¶ Maiden mergrete
Mi lem an schaltow be·
Ichold þe for mi wiif·
Õif þou be of kin fre·
Õif þou be of þraldam born·
Y õiue þe gold & fe·
Þou schalt be mi leman·
So long so it be·
¶ Þe maiden him answerd·
Sone opon on·
Cristen woman icham
& houen in funston·
Blisced be mi lord·
To wham ichaue me tan·
No wil y nouõt leue is loue·
For non oþer man·
¶ Trowestow þat ihesu liues·
Þat was don on rode
Õif þou trowest þat he liues·
Ich hold þe for wode·
Endelong his side
Ran þe water & þe blod·
Þe coroun was of þornes·
Þat on his heued stode·
¶ Þe maiden him answerd·
So þe angel hir kende·
He dede him on þe rode·
Al cristen folk to amende·
& seþþen into helle·
Þe holy gost he sende·
To deluer ous of þe pine·
Þat þou schalt in ende·
¶ Wele þouõt þat sarraõin·
It was him no bote·
To striue wiþ þat maiden· ["s" (of "strive") inserted later]
Hir hert was so gode·
He comand þat sche bounden ware·
Boþe hond & fot·
& seþþen in to prisoun don·
To turnen hir mode·
¶ Maiden mer grete·
O niõt in prisoun lay·
Sche was brouõt bi forn him
Opon þat oþer day·
f. 17vb
Maiden mer grete he seyd·
Þou trowe opon mi lay·
Ihesu þatow leuest on·
Þou do him al oway·
¶ Trowe on me & be mi wiif·
Wele þou schalt spede·
Antioge & azie·
Þou schalt haue to mede·
Sikelatoun & purpel pal·
Þat schal be þi wede·
Wiþ þe best metes in mi lond·
Wele y schal þe fede·
¶ Þine wicke redes sche seyd·
Y do out of mi þouõt·
Y take me to ihesu crist·
Þat wiþ hondes me wrouõt·
Al þis midlerd·
Maked he of nouõt·
& seþþen in to helle·
Þe holy gost he brouõt·
¶ Þan it spac olibrious·
Now it schal be sene·
Hongeþ hir vp bi þe fete·
For hir lordes tene·
On wham þat sche leues·
& whi sche is so kene·
& beteþ hir wiþ scourges·
Til õe ded hir wene·
¶ Þe seriaunce dede as hem hem bad·
Wiþ þe may þai gan striue·
Wiþ swepes & wiþ scourges·
Boþe man & wiue·
Þe blod ran of hir flesche·
As water doþ fram cliue
Til þai wende al same·
Þe maiden were oliue·
¶ Þan it spac olibrious·
Bi hir þer he stode·
& seyd maiden mergrete·
Þenke þe þis paines gode·
Trowe on min goddes·
& wende þou þi mode·
Haue merci on þi white flesche·
Men spilleþ þi blod·
f. 18ra
¶ Blisced be mi lord·
Þat was born in bedlem·
Of þat swete maiden·
Briõt so ani lem·
Þou do as þe teches
Satanas þi nem·
Me þenke þis paines swetter·
Þan ani milkes rem·
¶ Þan it spac olibrious·
Haþ sche non ahõe·
Alle þe paines õe hir do·
Hir þenke it bot plawe·
Wiþ õour croked nayles·
Þe hide of õe drawe·
As clene fram þe bon·
Has houndes it hadde knawe·
¶ Alle þe curssed þeues
Were ful glad in þouõt·
To do þe kinges hest·
Þai no targed nouõt·
Anon as þe tur mentours·
To mergrete were y brouõt·
Þai to drowen hir white flesche
Wiþ iren crokekely wrouõt·
¶ Sum þat bi hir stoden·
Her hertes were wel sore·
& seyd sore wepeand·
Mer grete þinore·
Do after olibrious·
& leue opon his lore·
Haue merci on þi fair bodi·
& þole þis paines no more·
¶ Mergrete answerd·
To hem þat bi hir stode·
I do me out of õour con seyl·
Õour redes be nouõt gode·
Y take me to ihesu crist·
Þat was don on þe rode·
Al þe pine þat ich þole·
It is þe soules fode·
¶ Sche loked vp to ihesu crist·
Mer grete & siõed sore·
& seyd swete ihesu crist·
Y leue opon þi lore·
f. 18rb
For þis men þat pin me þus·
Y crie lord þi nore·
For õif hem & lete me suffre·
For me þou suffredest more·
¶ Þan it spac olibrious·
Werri him sonne & mone·
For soþe wenche þi god is nouõt·
To whom þou biddest þi bone·
Bot þou leue on our godes·
& for sake him sone·
Y warn þe wele for al his help·
Þine liif days ben al don·
¶ Mer grete answerd
Olibrious anon·
Þine godes þatow leuest on·
Er dom so þe ston·
Þou hast pouer to reue me
Mi flesche fram þe bon·
To reue me mi soule·
Pouwer hastow non·
¶ Þan seyd olibrious·
Bot þou turn þi þouõt·
Smertliche & sone·
To deþ þou schalt be brouõt·
Bot first þou schalt to prisoun
& michel wo be wrouõt
Þi god þat þou leuest on·
He no schal help þe nouõt·
¶ Mer grete answerd þo·
Milde wordes & stille·
Certes wreche of al þi pret
Þat þou may do me tille·
Icham redi to su ffre here·
Al mi lordes wille·
& þou schalt to þe pine of helle·
For pine werkes ille
¶ Of olibrious lokeing·
Men miõt ben agast·
Takeþ mer grete he seyd·
& fetereþ hir ful fast·
& in þe deppest prisoun·
Þer in õe schullen hir cast·
& lete hir cole hir bodi þare·
For hir wordes vn wrast·
f. 18va
¶ Þei mergrete were to drawe
Þe flesche fram þe bon
Pite of þat maiden
Olibrious hadd non·
Wel hard was mergrete·
Bi set among her fon
Saue þe help of ihesu crist·
Help no hadde sche non·
¶ In to prisoun fetred·
Mergrete was brouõt
Ihesu crist of heuen·
Was algat in hir þouõt
& y blisced mot he be·
He ne for õat hir nouõt·
Out of þe court of heuen·
Com fort hir was brouõt·
¶ Sone after þat mergrete·
Was in prisoun done·
Þer com an angel fram heuen·
Long er it war none·
& brouõt margrete a staf·
Þat hye schuld vnder fon·
Fourmed after þe rode tre
Þat god was on y don·
¶ Þan seyd þat angel·
To mer grete þe briõt·
Ihesu crist mi lord·
Þat is ful of miõt
To wite þe fram þine enemis·
& to saue þi riõt·
He haþ sent þe þis staf·
Oõain þe fende to siõt·
¶ Maiden mer grete he seyd·
Drede þe no wiõt·
Þi sete is made in heuen
Bi for mi lord so briõt·
No is no tong in erþe·
No non eiõe siõt
Þat may telle þe ioie·
Was made of þe þis niõt·
¶ Þe angel into par adis·
Went oõain ful heuen·
& maiden mer grete·
Wiþ a milde steuen·
f. 18vb
Þonked swete ihesu crist·
& his names seuen·
Þat hir hadde swiche con fort sent·
Out of þe blisse of heuen·
¶ Maiden mergrete þo·
Loked hir bi side·
& seiõe a loþ lich dragoun·
Out of an hirn glide·
His eiõen wer ful griseliche·
His mouþe õeued wide
& mergrete miõt no whar fle·
Þer sche most abide·
¶ Maiden mergrete
Stod stille so ani ston·
& þat loþ liche worm
To hir ward gan gon·
He toke hir in his foule mouþe
& swalled hir flesche & bon·
Anon he to brast·
Damage no hadde sche non·
¶ Maiden mer grete
Opon þe dragoun stode·
Bliþe was hir hert·
& ioie ful was hir mode·
Blisced worþ ihesu crist·
His vertus er wel gode
Slayn is þe dragoun·
Þurch vertu of þe rode·
¶ Maiden mergrete·
Went þe dragoun fro·
Sche seiõe a wele fouler þing·
Sitten in a wro·
He hadde honden on his knes·
& eiõe on euerich to·
Miõt þer neuer loþer þing·
Opon erþe go·
¶ Sche õede to þat wiõt·
Wiþ þe croice in hir hond·
& þurch þe miõt of ihesu crist·
Wiþ hir wimpel sche him bond·
Sche toke him bi þe temples·
About sche him swong·
Sche set hir fot in his nek·
To þe erþe sche him þrong
f. 19ra
¶ Say me sone þou foule wiõt·
& þou loþe liche þing
Who þan is þi lord·
& who is þi king·
& who þe hider sent·
To make me sturbling·
Seiõe y neuer seþþen y was born·
So loþe liche a þing·
¶ Leuedi for þi lordes loue·
Þou may ful wele fond·
Left a litel þi fot·
Þat in mi nek stond·
For michel haue y walked·
Bi water & bi lond·
Nas y neuer are bounden·
In so hard bond·
¶ Ruffin was mi broþer
Þe dragoun þat þou slouõ·
Whiles he was on liue·
He wrouõt wonder anouõ
He maked þeues to stele o niõt·
O day to ligge & souõ
& õelt hem her seruise·
Wiþ wel michel wouõ·
¶ In a dragoun fourme·
Sent he was to þe·
For to spille þi memorie
Oþer to quelle þe·
Brosten is he of peces·
& bounden hastow me·
A maiden haþ ous ouer comen·
Litel is our pouste
¶ Belgys is my name·
Nis no bot to lyõe·
No may ich in non wise·
Þis pain long dreyõe·
Is nouõt mi gat in erþe·
Wiþ þe winde y fleye·
Al y fond for to quelle·
Þat y see wiþ eiõe·
¶ Þer ich finde a wiif·
Þat liõter is of barn·
Y com þer al so sone·
As euer ani arn·
f. 19rb
Õif it be vn blisced·
Y croke it fot or arm·
Oþer þe wiif hirseluen·
Of childe hed be for farn·
¶ Õif þou wist al wite·
Astow may ful wel
Loke in ich a strete·
Þou findes it eueri del·
Y pray þe for þi lordes loue·
Þou binde me wiþ stiel·
Þat y no may wiþ þine men·
Neuer striue a del·
¶ Salamon þe wise·
Til he was o liue·
He dede ous in abras fat·
& delued ous vnder cliue·
When he was o liue farn·
Þai lete ous out driue·
Þe men out of babiloine·
Þe bras fat þai gun riue·
¶ Þai wend to finde gold anouõ·
& lete ous alle go·
Sum wer swifter þan þe winde·
& sum þan þe ro·
Õete þer er in erþe·
Ten þousend & mo·
Al þat trowe on ihesu crist·
Þai fond at wirche ful wo·
¶ Be stille þou foule gost·
& de cende in to helle·
Be þou neuer so hardi
More man to quelle·
Y pray mi lord ihesu crist·
Þi pouste þat he felle·
He sank in to erþe·
So ston in drauõt welle
¶ On þat oþer day·
After it was non·
Olibrious comand·
Sche were of prisoun don·
Þe holy gost of heuen·
He com to hir ful sone·
Þe rode token in hir hond·
Þat crist was on don·
f. 19va
¶ Þan it spac olibrious·
Crist õiue him iuel dede·
Maiden mer grete he seyd·
Hastow taken þi rede·
Wistow be mi leman·
Y finde þe cloþ & mete·
Trowe on mi godes anon·
Or þi liif þou schalt for lete·
¶ Þine godes þai be doumbe·
Þat þou trouwest inne·
Þai er ich a dele·
Ful of sake & sinne·
Þai er comen out of helle·
Of satanas kinne
Þan þou wenes best to liue
Þou schalt to helle winne·
¶ Y rede þou leue on ihesu crist·
Þat al þe world haþ wrouõt
Fader & sone & holy gost·
Þat al þing made of nouõt·
& wiþ his swete blod·
He haþ ous alle bouõt·
Leue on him & be cristen man·
& lete þi wicke þouõt·
¶ Þan spac olibrious·
Þer he sat on his des·
Ichil bi leue on mi godes·
Þat y for mast ches·
For min godes be trewe
& þine er fals & les
While þou leuest on him·
Þou schalt haue no pes·
¶ Maiden mer grete
Answerd þer sche stode·
Y blisced be ihesu crist·
His help it is ful gode·
Y no doute þe no þing·
Be þou neuer so wode·
Mi trust is al on ihesu crist·
Þat for ous schadde his blod·
¶ Olibrious on mer grete·
Anon he gan to grenne·
& seyd to his tur mentours·
A pine y wil õou kenne·
f. 19vb
Takeþ & walleþ oyle·
& lete opon hir renne·
& bot þe wiche turn hir mode·
To deþ õe schul hir brenne·
¶ Forþ went þo tur mentours·
Sorwe hem mot bi tide·
& setten oyle opon þe fer·
Þai nold no lenger abide·
Opon hir fair bodi
Adoun þai lete it glide
Ihesu sent his angels doun·
To stond bi hir side·
¶ Þe angels stode hir so neiõe
Þat no þing miõt hir greue·
& hir hert was ful gode·
To godes owhen bi heue·
Olibrious was abouten·
To turn hir bi leue·
& euer sche held to ihesu crist·
Þat made adam & eue·
¶ Maiden quaþ olibrious·
Is þi rede y take·
Wiltow leue on mahoun·
& þi god for sake·
Ywis bot þou turn þi mode·
Þi sorwe bi ginneþ to wake·
Þou schalt þole deþ to day·
For þi lordes sake·
¶ Mergrete him answerd·
Milde liche & stille·
Õif y schal dye for his loue·
Icham at his wille·
Þei þou reue me mi liif·
Y nil nouõt turn þe tille·
Þou schal nouõt mi soule greue·
For al þine pines ille·
¶ Olibrious was neiõe wode·
For wretþe of þat wenche·
Opon agrete wicked nisse
He gan him bi þenche·
In a fat ful of water·
He bad men schuld hir sinche
& bot sche wald turn hir mode·
Þer in men schuld hir drenche·
f. 20ra
¶ Alle wicke turmentours·
Hong mot þay heiõe·
Fast þai were about·
Þat mer grete schuld dye·
Þai fild a fat ful of water·
Fast bi þe eiõe·
To drenche mergrete þer inne
Fast þai gun heye
¶ Þan spac þat maiden·
Mergrete þat was so fre·
Iihesu crist mi louerd·
Y blisced mot þou be·
Õif it be þi wille·
Þe water þat y se·
Lete me cristen þer inne·
In þe name of þe·
¶ Þe turmentours token hir·
Boþe bon & fel·
& wold drenche hir þer inne·
Þai wende do ful wel·
To con fort þat maiden·
An angel was ful snel·
Þat swete ihesus crist hir sent·
To con fort her ful wel·
¶ Alle þe pople seiõe þere·
An angel com fle·
& toke me rgrete of þe water
Þat þai al miõt se·
Þe fat brast on peces·
Þe folk bi gan to fle
Olibrious þat was king·
b +
¶ Þo þe popel seiõen
Al þe fat to driue
To for sake mahoun·
Þai heyed hem bi liue·
& leued opon ihesu crist·
Fif þousend & fiue·
Olibrious lete slen hem alle·
& bringen hem o liue·
¶ Anon bi for olibrious·
Þe tur mentours ronne
& seyd sir it is for nouõt·
Al þat we han bi gonne
a + [misplaced line follows: to be inserted at "b +" above]
A sori man was he·
f. 20rb
Þer com fleyand bestes·
As briõt as ani sonne·
& sauen hir fram harm·
For al þat euer we conne
¶ Olibrious was neiõe wode·
Ailed him no gaine·
He cleped forþ atur mentour·
Was he no þing lame
A strong man queller·
Malcous was his name·
Olibrious bi þouõt him
To do mer grete schame·
¶ Malcous quaþ olibrius· ["r" inserted above]
Go & heiõe þe swiþe·
Lade þis wiche out of toun·
& bring hir oliue·
Wiþ þi swerd smite of hir hed·
& lat þe blod out driue·
No schal sche neuer after þis day·
More oõains me striue·
¶ Malcous tok mergrete·
& ladde hir out of toun·
Þer was þe stede to heued men·
A litel bi side adoun·
& seyd maiden stoupe here·
Þer whiles y schaue þi croun·
& y schal maken al blodi·
Þine lockes þat ben broun·
¶ Þer suwed mer grete to þe deþ·
Al þat miõten go·
Mani was þat moder child·
Þat for hir deþ was wo·
Þe þonder gan to brest·
Þe sonne wex al blo·
Þe pople fel adoun to grounde
Þai nist of wele no wo·
¶ Þer com an angel fram heuen·
Þat was briõt of ble·
& seyd mergrete·
Y blisced mot þou be·
Ihesus crist of heuen
Sent þe word bi me·
In þe blisse of heuen·
Coround schaltow be·
f. 20va
¶ Milde mergrete·
Þat was so gode a mayde·
Þo sche herd þe angel voice·
Sche bi gan to a brayd·
Þe tidinges þat he brouõt hir· ["o" inserted above]
Neiõe hir hert sche leyd
& sett hir doun opon hir kne·
& þis wordes sche seyd
¶ Blisced be ihesu crist·
Þat haþ me sent þat sond·
& dyed on þe rode tre·
To bring ous out of bond·
Lord ich bi seke þe
Lete mi biding stond·
Of þat ichil bi seke þe·
For sin ful men in lond·
¶ Mergrete þe milde
Þat was godes mayde
Þouõt opon þe wordes·
Þe dragoun in prisoun seyd·
Þat deuels õede in erþe·
Women for to vp
breyd· ["vp" struck
through and subpuncted]
Þat were traueland of child·
Or doun in childe bed leyd·
¶ Þan bad mer grete·
To ihesu þat was so fre·
Õif ani woman trauayl·
& hard clepeþ to me·
Deliuer hir lord wiþ ioie·
Þurch vertu of þe tre·
Þat þou dest þi body on·
To make ous al fre·
¶ Alle þat mi passioun·
Heren oþer rede·
Oþer þat in mi name·
Don ani almos dede·
Ihesu crist mi lord
Wiþ honour þou hem fede·
Þe swete blis of heuen·
Graunt hem lord to mede·
¶ Þer com a voice fram ihesu crist·
Þat sitt in trinite
& seyd to maiden mergrete·
Y blisced mot þou be·
f. 20vb
Of þatow hast me bi souõt·
Þi bone graunt y the·
& in þe blisse of heuen·
Þou schalt won wiþ me·
¶ Þo þat maiden mergrete·
Hadde herd þat miri steuen·
Þat com fram swete ihesu crist
Out of þe blis of heuen·
Bi for malcous sche kneled·
Opon hir knes ful euen·
& bad him smite of hir heued·
Mo times þan seuen·
¶ Sche crid opon malcous·
Nold sche neuer blinne
Malcous smite of mi heued·
For õiue y þe þe sinne·
Þat nold y do he seyd·
For al þis warld to winne·
Þi louerd haþ wiþ þe speke·
¶ In wham þou leuest inne·
Malcous quaþ mer grete·
For soþe y telle þe·
Bot þou smite of mi heued·
Þou miõt nouõt saued be·
Haue y don & smite it of·
& y wil bid for þe·
Þat þou schalt haue þe blis·
Þat ihesu haþ graunted me·
¶ Malcous had turned his þouõt·
To ihesu crist bi heue·
For þe miracle þat he seiõe·
He turned to gode bi leue·
& sori he was in hert·
Þat he schuld hir greue·
& õete he smot of hir heued·
Ar þat it was eue·
¶ Anon as he had y don·
He kneled opon þe grounde·
& bi souõt him merci·
Þat for ous þoled wounde·
Þe angels cam fram heuen·
Wiþ in a litel stounde·
& bar mergrete soule·
Þer al mirþe is founde·
f. 21ra
¶ Teodosius a kniõt·
Þat leued on godes lay·
& þe norice of asie·
Þat loked þat fair may·
Þai tok vp hir swete bodi·
Slawe þer it lay·
& bird it wiþ miche anour·
Opon þat oþer day·
¶ Þo mergrete was bird·
As beþ oþer mo·
& teodosious þe kniõt·
Was y went hir fro·
Alle þat were seke·
Þat þder wald go·
Ihesu þurch his vertu·
Deliuerd hem of wo·
¶ Teodosious þe kniõt·
He lete writen hir liif·
Þat is now ouer al þe world·
Name couþe & riif
Hou sche þoled hir passioun·
Stille wiþ outen striif
Þat mirþe is of to here
To maiden & to wiif·
¶ Ihesu þat on þe rode was don·
Our soules for to borwe·
Scheld ous fram þe pine of helle·
& bring ous out of sorwe·
& grace for to õeme ous·
Out of ded li sinne·
& grant ous þe miche ioie·
Þer seynt mer grete is inne· amen·
(Version: MFV 2 September 1998)