[The Life of Adam and Eve]

  (original transcription by F. Vance Neill [March 1998];

revised by Míceál F. Vaughan [August 1998])

{Two fragment folios, which have been reinserted between folios 13 and 14 in the manuscript facsimile, follow.}

 

{1st fragment folio, ra}

 

Liõt bern þat angel briõt·

    Answerd anon riõt·

Ich was ar þe warld bi gan·

Er euer god maked man·

Þerfore he seyd so mot yt be·

He schal first anoure me·

Þan seyd þe messanger·

To liõt bern þat is now lucifer·

Bot þou do godes comandment·

Þou art in obedient·

& wreþþest god al miõti þer fore·

& so miõt þi mirþe be for lore·

Liõt bern answerd anon riõt·

Þurch pride þat in his word was liõt

He schal comen al to late·

Mi mirþe for to abate·

Ichil go sitten in my see·

& be more more master þan he· [second "more" subpuncted]

& anon riõt wiþ þat ????

He sett him in his owen ???

& þo liõtbern hade seyd so·

Mani þousend angels & mo·

Sayd þai nold in non manere·

Anour adam no eue his fere·

Þus in heuen pride bi gan·

While god in erþe made man·

Þo swete Ihesus þat was wiis·

Was comen out of paradis·

To heuen þer he ??om ?hold

& hadde maked men of mold·

He seyõe where liõt bern set·

& bad him loke to his fet·

& liõtbern anon riõt·

For pride þat in him was liõt·

In holy writ we heren telle·

He sanke adoun in to helle·

Þer he þoled michel schame·

Satanas is now his name·

& alle angels in heuen þat wer·

Þat him ani wittnesse bere·

Þat he was worþi to sitten in se·

Þer swete ihesu was won to be·

Þurch þe pouwer of godes miõt·

Seuen days & seuen niõt·

 

{1st fragment folio, rb}

 

Angels fellen adoun in to helle

In holy writ we heren it telle·

For pride þat was in hem liõt·

Of heuen blis þai lorn þe siõt·

& as we finden in lettrure·

Y not wheþer it be in holy scripture·

Þo liõt bern sat in his ?? se· [??erasure?]

& seyd he was worþier þan he·

For þe mone bar him wittnesse

It wexeþ & waineþ more & lesse·

Þe se þurch vertu of godes miõt·

Ebbeþ & flouweþ day & niõt·

Þis tvay no habbe neuer rest·

Noiþer bi est no bi west·

In heuen pride first bi gan·

Iin angels ar it cam in man· ["i" subpuncted?]

& for it com out of heuen·

& was þe form sinne of seuen·

Þer fore wiþ outen lesing·

Of alle sinnes pride is king·
Lete we now pride be·

       & to adam wende we·

& loke we hou him spet·

Þat þurch his wiues a bet·

& þurch þe fendes entisement·

He brak godes comandment·

God y blisced mot he be·

He for bede adam an appeltre·

Þat he ne schuld of liif no lim·

No frout þer of nim·

Þe fende in licknesse of a nadder·

Clombe opon þe tre wiþ outen ladder·

& cleped to him adames wiif·

For to apair adames liif·

& eue to þe nadder cam·

& at þe nadder an appel nam·

Þe fende gat alle þat he fond

& tok it eue in hir hond·

& seyd ete þou & adam of þis·

& õe schul ben al so wiis·

As god þat sitt in tr?inite·

& witten alle his privete·

??? ?? no schuld nouõt se no here·

Which godes pe???etes ? were·

 

{1st fragment folio, va}

 

Þer fore he it õou forbede·

It schuld nouõt comen in õour hede·

Eue of þe nadder þe appel nam

& to adam anon him cam·

& seyd do as ich þe rede·

& it schal be þe best dede·

Þat euer õete þou dest y wis·

Ete of þe appel þat here is·

& þou schalt be wiþ outen lesing·

Also wise of alle þing·

As he þat it for bede·

It schuld nouõt comen in þine hed·

Þurch þe fendes comber ment·

& þurch his wiues enticement·

Godes comandment he breke·

Þat he & his wiif eke·

Seþþen hem rewe boþe ful sore·

Þat þai leueden þe fendes lore·

In þe boke it is y write·

Þo þai hadde of þe appel bite·

Aiþer of oþer aschamed was·

& hiled her kinde wiþ more & gras·

Adam was of god a fliõt·

& went & hidde him anon riõt·

& god out of heuen cam·

& cleped anon after adam·

Þai seyd swete Ihesus·

Adam adam why destow þus·

Þou hast ybrouõt þi selue in wo·

& eue þi gode wiif also· ["eue" inserted above]

For þou hast min hest y broke·

For soþe adam ichil be wroke·

Õe haue ydon a sori dede·

For soþe õe schul haue õour mede·

Þo ihiu hadde to hem speke·

& told hem þat he wald ben a wreke·

Y blisced be his nam seuen·

He steyõe of him in to heuen·

& þer after anon riõt

He sent to hem an angel briõt

Wiþ a brenand swerd·

& drof hem in to miduerd·

Adam & eue his wiif·

In care þer to leden her liif·

 

{1st fragment folio, vb}

 

Gret pite it was to here·

Of adam & of eue his fere·

Hou þai wepen & grad allas·

Þo þai schulden for her trespas·

Out of paradys y gon·

It was pite to heren her mon·

Þo adam into erþe cam·

Bowes leues & gras he nam

A loghe he þouõt to biginne·

He and his wiif to crepen inne·

& þo þe loghe was y maked·

Þai lay þe in al star naked·

Sex days & sex niõt·

For hunger wel iuel y diõt·

Euerich day þai souõten mete·

Bot no whar þai no couþe it gete·

Þo sex days weren agon·

& þai no founde mete non·

Eue bi gan for to crie·

Allas adam for hunger we dye·

Alle þe sorwe þat þou art inne·

Certes alle it is for mi sinne·

Adam ich bi seke þe·

Sle me õif þi wille be·

For were ich out of godes siõt·

Par auentour adam þan þou miõt·

Oõein into paradys wende·

& haue þe blis wiþ outen ende·

A woman quaþ adam þo·

Allas why seydestow so·

Wostow make me so wode·

To sle min owhen flesche & blode·

Boþe in flesche & in bon·

Ihesus crist haþ made ous on·

He made þe of mi ribbe·

Þou miõtest be me no ner sibbe·

Õif þou þenkest more so·

Þou wilt bring ous in more wo·

Õif god sende on ous his curs·

Þan schul we fare þe wors·

Bot go we forþ & seche mete·

Wher þat we may ani gete·

& for fauõt dye we nouõt·

Õif we mow finden ouõt·

 

  {2nd fragment folio, ra}

 

Þai went forþ & mete souõten·

& of hem seluen litel rouõten·

Astay went to seche mete·

Þai seyõen bestes stonden & ete·

Ac þai no couþe finde non·

As wide as þai couþe gon·

Þan seyd adam þus·

Þo hadde wretþed swete ihesus·

He wald haue sent ous mete anouõ·

Hongend opon ich bouõ·

As he doþ þis wilde bestes·

& whe hadden holden his hestes·

Bot for we haue his hest y broke·

Þer for he wil ben awroke·

Þer fore eue mi rede it is·

For whe han don amis·

Go we out of þis wode schawes·

& liue we in pennaunce fourti dawes·

& at þe fourti dawes ende·

God al miõti þat is so hende·

& we miõten his loue gete·

Þai wolde he send ous mete·

Sir quaþ eue to adam þo·

Þat wold bring me more wo·

So long penaunce forto take·

Bot ich it miõt an ending make·

Õif mi penance weren y broke·

Þan wold god ben a wroke·

& be wroþer þan he is·

& ich dede eft amis·

Eue quaþ adam anon riõt·

Nouõt bot do þan what þou miõt

Wende to þe water of tiges anon·

& step in opon a ston·

& whan þou art comen in·

Wad in vp to þi chin·

& fond to stond þer in al stille·

Fourti days to ful fille·

& ich il in to þe flom go·

& stond þer in fourti days & mo·

Sex days mo & sex niõt·

Þurch þe help of godes miõt·

For in sex days & seuen niõt·

Alle þe warld was maked & diõt·

 

{2nd fragment folio, rb}

 

& ful fild on þe seuen day·

Þer fore as forþ as y may·

Ichil fond to helden stille·

Sex days more to ful fille·

Þat ich rede we bi ginne·

& do penaunce for our sinne·

& for þe penauunce wil be so hard·

Par auentour þan after ward·

God þat haþ õeuen ous liif so·

Wald sende ous sustenaunce þerto·

Eue vnder stode his rede·

& dede as adam hir bede·

As it telleþ in þe bok·

Aiþer at oþer leue tok·

Eue in to tiges wode·

& vp to þe chin sche stode·

& into þe flum wode adam·

& his penaunce vnder nam·

Þo þai hadde stonden þare·

In miche wo & miche care·

Tventi days stonden inne·

In þo to waters in pine·

Þe fende þouõt him to a wreke·

& her penaune for to breke·

& for mast he com to eue·

To brengen hir in mis bileue·

For eue hadde leued his lore·

He hoped þat sche wald more

& seyd eue wele is þe·

Þi lord sent þe word bi me·

Þat þi trespas is for õeue·

Þat þou dest oõains his leue·

Com out of þat water anon·

& as so swiþe astow miõt gon·

Go & sigge adam so·

& bring him out of his wo·

& ichil go þider wiþ þe·

& say him as ichaue don to þe·

Of þat tiding eue was glad·

& dede as þe fende hir bad·

Out of þe water sche com anon·

& wiþ þe fende dedde hir to gon·

Þo adam hadde of eue a siõt·

He wist wele anon riõt·

 

{2nd fragment folio, va}

 

Þat þe fende hir hadde ouercomen

& out of hir penaunce y nomen·

& ful gode õeme he nam·

It was þe fende þat wiþ hir cam·

& seyd eue allas allas·

Now is wers þan it was·

He þat comeþ in þi compeynie·

Now he haþ y giled þe tvie·

Forsoþe eue þat is he·

Þat giled þe to þe appel tre·

& made þe wiþ his enticement·

To breke godes comandment·

Þo eue wist it was satanas·

For sorwe þat in hir hert was·

Sche swoned & fel to grounde

& lay stille a ful gode stounde·

& anon as sche awoke·

For drede of god sche lay & qwoke·

& seyd allas õif god it wold

Þat euer was ich maked of mold·

Adam was in gret care·

Þat seyõe his wiif so iuel fare·

& seyd to þe fende of helle·

Ich w?eld þat þou wost me telle·

Whi þou ?suwest me & mi wiif·

& art about to pair our liif·

& we þe neuer no dede·

?????? ???? ????? ????? stede·

Þe fende answerd þo

& seyd adam þou art mi fo·

Sone after þe warld bi gan·

& god hadde fourmed þe to man·

Bi an angel he sent to me·

Þat y schuld anoure þe·

& y seyd þat y nold·

For ar þou were maked of mold

Ich was in heuen an angel briõt·

Of grace pouwer & grete miõt·

& for y nold anour þe nouõt·

In þis sorwe icham y brouõt·

Into helle for to wende·

& won þer wiþ outen ende·

& alle þat were to mi consent·

Alle þai hen to helle y went·

 

{2nd fragment folio, vb}

 

Euer to liue ?? ???? & wo·

Þer fore þou art our alder fo·

Adam þer he stode vp riõt·

Bi souõt god ful of miõt·

Deliuer out of his compeynie

Þe fende þat hadde swiche envie·

To him & to his wiif eue

Þat founded so her soules to greue·

Adam þer he stode al naked·

Þo he hadde his preyer maked·

Þurch þe pouwer of godes miõt·

Þe fende went out of hir siõt·

Þo þe sex & fourti days wer go

Þat adam hadde y þoled þat wo·

Out of þe water þo he cam·

Þan seyd eue to adam·

Adam adam wele is te·

& adam adam wo is me·

Þou hast þi penaunce to þende brouõt·

Þou miõt be ful glad in þouõt·

& ich may sing allas allas·

Icham wers þan ich was·

For now ichaue eft agilt·

Seþþen we wer out of paradis pilt

Þer fore ichil now bi ginne·

Oõain penaunce for to winne·

& wende & won in þister nesse

Out of alle liõtnesse·

Þe foule flesche þat haþ agilt·

In þester nesse it schal be pilt

Eue went fram adam·

Into þester nisse til þat sche cam·

& þo sche com to a þester stede·

Niõt & day in holy hede·

Gret wiþ child sche duelled þare·

In miche sorwe & michel care·

Þe time neiõed atte last·

Þat eue bigan to gret fast·

& hye bigan to gron sore·

& seyd louerd merci þine ore·

Who may telle adam mi þouõt·

In what sorwe þat ich am ?cau3t

Y no haue messanger non

Þat may on min errand gon

 

{The unnumbered folio fragment ends here. Leaf missing. Normally foliated leaves follow.}

 

 

f. 14ra

 

& he seiõe me wiþ his eyõe·

& seyd adam þou schalt dye·

Hold þat word in þi þouõt·

& loke þou for õete it nouõt·

Þus seyd god almiõti to me·

Þo com ich into erþe oõe·

& liued in trauail & in pine·

& so schulen after al mine·

Til god bi com man in erþe·

We schul haue penaunce & wele is werþe·

For ich & þi moder were at asent·

To breke godes comandment·

For we haue him so agilt·

In our hertes he haþ y pilt·

Boþe an euen & a morwe·

Sexti woundes of wo & sorwe·

Þat schal doure to alle in blod·

& wiþ þat word þer adam stode·

& bi gan to wepe sore·

& seyd merci lord þi nore·

Lord y blisced mot þou werþe·

Wher to was y made of erþe·

Swiche pine here to dreye·

Wer time comen ich wald dye·

Of adames sorwe eue toke kepe·

         & bi gan bitter to wepe·

& anon in þat ich stounde·

Iche kneled adoun on þe grounde·

& bad aboue to swete ihesus·

Sore wepende & seyd þus·

Lord ich bi seche þe·

Adames sorwe put in me·

For al þe sorwe þat he is inne·

Is for mi gilt & for mi sinne·

Adam hadde rewþe of his wiif

& was al ful of hir liif·

& seyd eue lat be þi fare·

& fond to bring me out of care·

Take seþ in þi compeynie·

& lok þat þou fast heyõe·

Lade him to paradise to þe õate·

& lat him abide þer ate·

& lete him stonden in þe siõt·

& god þat is ful of miõt

 

f. 14rb

 

For he haþ nouõt trespast so miche·

As haue we sikerliche·

Þerfore he may þe balder be·

To speke wiþ ihesu crist þan we·

Eue toke seþ anon·

& dede hem in þe way to gon·

To ward paradis anon þai go·

& þe fende þat was her fo·

Com & mett wiþ hem tvaye·

Riõt amid þe waye·

& bot seþ in þe visage·

& after ward a gret stage·

In his visage it was y sene·

Where stoden his teþ kene·

Allas allas quaþ eue þo·

What icham curssed & oþer mo·

Þat breken godes comandment·

Now is mi sones visage schent·

Hadde we holden his hest ariõt·

Þan hadde þe fende hadde no miõt·

For to touche nouõt of our blod·

No hadde y don hem nouõt bot gode·

To þe fende þo seyd eue·

Hou artow so hardi to greue·

Godes creatour þat þurch his grace·

Is fourmed after his owhen face·

Me þenke þat þou dost nouõt riõt·

To wretþe wiþ þe king of miõt·

Why artow so malicious·

To ward god & to ward ous·

Þe fende answerd anon þis·

Nouõt to ward god our malice nis

Bot to ward þe & al þe brod·

Þat euer comeþ of õour blod·

For þurch õou we ben y brouõt·

Þer wo & sinne is euer wrouõt·

& eue ichil þat þou it wite·

Seþþen þou & adam of þe appel bite·

We haue hadde pouwer & miõt·

To dere õou boþe day & niõt·

A foule þing quaþ seþ·

Fro mI moder þat here geþ·

& fro me þurch godes miõt·

Passe o way out of our siõt·

 

f. 14va

& þe fende be þe foule þing

Þurch miõt of þe heuen king·

Out of her siõt oway he nam·

Þai nist neuer whar he bicam·

Eue haþ seþ y ladde·

To paradys as adam badde·

& eue drouõ hir fram þe õate·

Sche no durst nouõt loke in þer ate·

Sche durst nouõt schewe god hir fate· ["r" inserted above]

Bot lete seþ abide grace·

& seþ in þilke stede·

Sore wepeand in holy bede·

He abod þer alle stille·

Godes merci & godes wille·

Þurch þe vertu of godes miõt·

Þer com adoun an angel briõt·

& seyd to seþ in þis maner

Þat he miõt wiþ eren here·

God þat al þe warld haþ wrouõt·

Sent þe word þou biddest for nouõt·

Er þe term be y gon·

Of fiue þousende winter & on·

& fiue & tventi winter & mo·

Er þat terme be ago·

& god þat is ful of miõt·

Be into erþe y liõt

& haue y nomen kind of man·

& baþed in þe flom Iordan·

Þan schal adam & eue his wiif·

Be anoint wiþ oyle of liif·

& alle þo þat after hem comen·

Þat haue cristen dom y nonomen [first "no" subpuncted]

Go tel adam þi fader þis·

Þat no noþer grace þer nis·

& to grayþe him bid him heyõe·

His terme neiõeþ þat he schal dye·

& when þe bodi þat haþ don sinne·

& þe soule schal parten atvinne·

Riõt whan þat time schal be·

Miche meruayl õe schullen y se·

So seyt mi lord þat alle haþ wrouõt·

& biddeþ þat õe no drede nouõt·

For nouõt þat õe schul here no se·

So he sent õou word bi me·

 

f. 14vb

 

Eue & seþ her way nome·

& went oõain as þai come·

& told adam þe tiding·

Þat him sent þe heuen king·

& adam held vp boþe his hond·

& þonked god of alle his sond·

Adam his eiõen vn feld·

& seþþen his sone he biheld·

& seyd merci swete ihesus

Whe haþ wounded mi sone þus·

Bi god adam quaþ eue·

He þat is about to greue·

Oure soules boþe niõt & day·

As michel as euer he may·

Þat is þe fende þat is our fo·

Þat haþ ous brouõt into þis wo·

He com & mett wiþ ous tvay·

As we õeden in þe way·

& went toward paradys·

Þus he bot him in þe viis

O we eue quaþ adam þo·

Þou hast ywrouõt michel wo·

Alle þat after ous be bore·

Alle schal curssen ous þer fore·

& alle þat after ous liuen·

Boþe amorwe & eke aneuen·

Schul be bisy to bere þe wo·

Þat is y wakened of ous tvo·

Þer fore eue telle alle þine childer·

Boþe þe õonger & þe elder·

Þat þai be filed of our sinne·

& bid hem ichon bi ginne·

Niõt & day merci to crie·

Mi time is comen y schal dye·

Þus adam bad eue his wiif·

Techen his childer after his liif·

Nou þai schuld anon bi ginne·

To crien merci for her sinne·

& þo he hadde y tauõt hem þus·

As þe boke telleþ ous·

He kneled adoun in his lede·

& dyed anon in þat stede·

& as þe angel hadde y seyd·

Alle þe liõtnisse was aleyd·

   

f. 15ra

 

Sonne & mone lorn her liõt·

Sex days & sex niõt·

Eue bi gan to wepe & crie·

Þo he seyõe adam dye·

& seþ made reweli mon·

& fel doun on his fader anon·

& as it telleþ in þe boke·

In his armes his fader he tok·

& ful bitterliche he wepe·

& god al miõti þerof toke kepe·

& sent adoun an angel briõt·

Þat seyd to seþ anon riõt·

Arise & lete þi sor we be·

& wiþ þine eyõen þou schalt se·

God þat al þe warld schal glade·

What he wil do wiþ þat he made·

God þat sit in heuen heyõe·

Tok adam soule þat seþ it seiõe·

& bi tok it seyn miõhel·

& seyd haue loke þis soule wel·

& put it in sorwe & þesternisse·

Out of ioie & alle liõtnisse·

Til fiue þousend winter ben ago·

Tvo hundred & eiõte & tventi mo·

Fro þe time þat he ete·

Of þat appel him þouõt so swete·

So long for his gilt·

In his ward he schal be pilt·

Þat maked him min hest breke·

So long ich wil ben a wreke·

On him & alle his blod eke·

Mi comand ment for he breke·

& whan þat terme is a go·

To ioie schal turn al his wo·

& after ward þan schal he·

Sitten in þilke selue se

Þat liõt bern sat min angel briõt·

Er pride was in his hert a liõt·

Þus seyd Ihesus þat sitt an heyõe·

& seþþen into heuen he steiõe·

Fram þe time þat cas fel·

Þat curssed kaim slouõ abel·

Til adam dyed opon mold·

As swete ihesus crist wold·

 

f. 15rb

 

Õete lay abel aboue erþe·

Til ihesu crist herd mot he werþe·

Bad his angels þat þai scholde·

Biry þe bodis vnder molde·

Þe angels al wiþ outen chest·

Dede anon godes hest·

Ito cloþes þe bodi þai feld·

Eue & hir children stode & bi held·

Riõt in þilke selue stede·

& hadde wonder what þai dede·

For þai no hadde ar þan·

Neuer sen biry no man·

Þan seyd an angel þer he stode·

To eue & to al hir brode·

Take õeme hou we do·

& her after ward do so·

Birieþ alle so þat dyen·

As õe se wiþ õour eyõen·

Þat we don þis bodis here·

Doþ õe in þe selue manere·

Þo þe angels had seyd þus·

Þai wenten oõain to swete ihesus·

To heuen þer þai formast were·

& leued eue & hir children þere·

Sex days after adam was dede·

     god almiõti an angel bede·

Go tellen eue adames wiif·

Þe terme was comen of hir liif

Þo eue wist sche schuld dye·

Sche cleped forþ hir progenie·

Boþe þe õonger & þe eldre·

Hir childer & hir childer childre·

& sayd þat alle miõten here·

Þo ich & adam mi fere·

Breken godes comand ment·

Anon his wretþe was ysent·

On ous & on our pro genie·

& þer fore merci õe schul crie·

& boþe bi day & eke bi niõt·

Doþ penaunce bi al õour miõt·

& þou seþ for ani þing·

Ich comand þe on mi blisceing·

Þat þi fader liif be write·

& min al so euerismite·

 

f. 15va

 

& min also eueri smite· [repeated line struck through ?later]

Fro þe bi ginning of his liif·

Þat he was maked & ich his wiif·

& hou we were filed wiþ sinne·

& what sorwe whe han liued inne·

& in whiche maner þat þou seye·

Rediliche wiþ þine eiõe·

Þi fader soule to pine sent·

For he brak godes comandment·

Alle þis loke þat þou write·

As wele as þou kanst it dite·

Þat þo þat now õong childre·

Mai it see & her elder·

& oþer þat here after be bore·

Hou we han wrouõt here bi fore·

Þat þai mowe taken ensaumple of ous·

& amenden o õain ihesus·

Þo eue hadde þus y seyd·

& hir erand on seþ y leyd·

Sche kneled adoun & bad hir bede·

& riõt in þilke selue stede·

Þat alle her kin stoden & seyõe·

Where sche dyed bi forn her eyõe·

Anon riõt as eue was dede·

Her children token hem to rede·

& beren hir þilke selue day·

Vn to þe stede þer adam lay·

& biried hir in þilke stede·

Riõt as þe angels dede·

Þat biried adam & abel·

Þer of þai token hede ful wel·

& þo sche was in erþe y brouõt·

Þai were sori in her þouõt·

& wopen & made miche wo·

Þo adam & eue was ago·

Boþe an euen & a morwe·

Þai wopen & made miche sorwe·

& at þe four days ende·

Ihesu made an angel wende·

& seyd þer þai wepen sore·

Doleþ sex days & namore·

Þe seuen day rest of õour sorwe

Boþe aneuen & a morwe·

For god þat alle þe warld haþ wrouõt·

& alle þe warld made of nouõt·

 

f. 15vb

 

As him þouõt it wald be best·

Þe seuenday he toke rest·

& anoþer þing witterly·

Iit bitokneþ þe day of merci· ["i" subpuncted]

Þe seuenday was sononday·

& þat day schal be domes day·

& alle þe soules þat wele haue wrouõt·

Þat day schul to rest be brouõt·

Þo þe angel hadde his erand seyd

Þat god al miõten hadde on him leyd·

Into heuen þe way he nam·

Þai wist neuer whar he bicam·

Seþ anon riõt bigan·

Of adam þat was þe forme man·

Al to gider he wrot his liif·

As eue hade beden adames wiif·

As telleþ þe boke þat wele wot·

In ston alle þe letters he wrot·

For fir no water opon mold·

Neuer greuen it no schold·

Þo seþ hadde writen adames liif

& eues þat was adames wiif·

Riõt in þilke selue stede·

Þer adam was won to bide his bede·

In þilke stede þe bok he leyd·

As wisemen er þis han y seyd·

Þer adam was won to biden his bede

& leued it in þilke stede·

& þer it lay alle noes flode·

& no hadde nouõt bot gode·

Long after nes flod was go·

Salamon þe king com þo·

Þat was air of dauid lond·

& adames liif þer he fond·

& al in ston writen it was·

& damaghed non letter þer nas·

For alle þat euer salamon couþe·

Þink in hert or speke wiþ mouþe·

On word he no couþe wite·

Of alle þat euer was þer write·

He no couþe o word vnder stond·

Þat seþ hadde writen wiþ his hond·

& salamon þat was wiis·

Bisouõt þe king of paradys

 

f. 16ra

 

Þat he schuld for his miõt·

Sende him grace fram heuen liõt·

Þat he miõt haue grace to wite·

What þing were þere y write·

God y blisced mot he werþe·

He sent an angel into erþe·

Þat tauõt salamon euerismite·

Alle adames liif y write·

& seyd to salamon y wis·

Here þer þis writeing is·

Riõt in þis selue stede·

Adam was wont to bid his bede·

& here þou schalt atemple wirche·

Þat schal be cleped holichirche·

Þer men schal bid holy bede·

As adam dede in þis stede·

& salamon þe king anon·

Lete reren atemple of lime & ston·

Þe first chirche vnder sonne·

Þat euer in warld was bi gonne·

Now haue õe herd of adames liif·

          & of eue þat was his wiif·

Whiche liif þai ladden here on mold·

& seþþen diden as god wold·

& þo adam in erþe was ded·

For sinne þat com of her sed·

God sent noes flod·

& adrenched al þe blod·

Swich wreche god nam·

Of alle þat of adam cam·

Saue noee & his wiif·

Þat god hadde graunted liif·

& his children þat he hadde·

To schip wiþ him þat he ladde·

Of noee seþþen & of his childer

We beþ y comen al to gider·

& seþþen þai leued in swiche sinne·

Þat for þe liif þai liueden inne·

Sodom & gomore þat wer þo·

Swiþe noble cites tvo·

Boþe sonken in to helle·

As we here clerkes telle·

& anoþer noble cite·

Þat was y hoten niniue·

 

f. 16rb

 

Was in þilke selue cas·

Bot as þe prophete ionas·

Bad for hem day & niõt·

To swete ihesu ful of miõt·

& made boþe king & quene·

& alle þat oþer pople bi dene·

In her bedes he made hem wake·

& hard penaunce he dede hem take·

& þo þai were to penaunce pilt·

God forõaf hem her gilt·

Þus niniue saued was·

Þurch bisekeing of Ionas·

Õete after noes flod·

al þat com of noees blod·

Were he neuer so holy man·

For þe sinne þat adam bi gan·

Þer most non in heuen com·

Er god hadde his con seyl nome·

To liõten in þe virgine marie·

& on þe rode wald dye·

For to biggen ous alle fre·

Yherd & heyed mot he be·

Now haue õe herd of swete ihesus·

As þe bok telleþ ous·

Of þe warld hou it bi gan·

& hou he made of mold man·

Iihesu þat was nomen wiþ wrong·

& þoled mani paines strong·

Among þe iewes þat wer felle·

To bring adam out of helle·

Õif ous grace for to winne·

Þe Ioie þat adam now is inne· [erasure/blot-or extra space-after "þat"]

 

 (version 31 August 1998)