The siege of JerusalemAnonymousca. 85 kilobytesMiddle English CompendiumSJerus

The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials in furtherance of its educational and research mission. This work has been identified as being in the public domain, free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights. You may copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. If you have questions about the collection, please contact Digital Content and Collections (mec-info@umich.edu). If you have concerns about the inclusion of an item in this collection, please contact Library Information Technology (LibraryIT-info@umich.edu).

1993This text has not been carefully proofread. The transcriber (Hoyt Duggan) has from time to time, especially in ll. 200-600, a section prepared separately from the portions in lower case, emended from the manuscripts against the Day-Kölbing editionThe siege of JerusalemAnonymousE. Kölbing and Mabel Dayxxxi, 133 p. : front. ; 22 cm.Published for the Early English Text Society by H. Milford, Oxford University PressLondon1932Early English Text Society (Series). Original series ; 188The printed text contained illustrations which are not noted in the electronic text.

Front and back matter from printed edition not included.

Editorial notes from printed edition not included in electronic edition.

 c. 1390-1400
The siege of Jerusalem Lines 1 through 100 In Tiberyus tyme þe trewe emperour Sir Sesar hym sulf seysed in Rome Whyle Pylat was prouost vnder þat prince riche & Iewen iustice also in Judeus londis Herodes vnder his emperie as heritage wolde Kyng of Galile ycalled whan þat Crist deyed Þey Sesar sakles wer þat oft synne hatide Þrow Pylat pyned he was & put on þe rode A pyler pyȝt was doun vpon þe playn erþe His body bonden þer to beten with scourgis Whyppes of quyrboyle by-wente his white sides Til he al on rede blode ran as rayn [i]n þe strete Suþ stoked hym on a stole with styf Mannes hondis Blyndfelled hym as a be & boffetis hym raȝte Ȝif þou be prophete of pris prophecie þey sayde Whiche [beryn] her aboute bolled þe laste A þrange þornen croune was þraste on his hed Vmbe-casten hym with a cry & on a croys slowen For al þe harme þat he hadde hasted he noȝt On hem þe vyleny to venge þat his veynys brosten Bot ay taried ouer þe tyme ȝif þey tourne wolde Ȝaf hem space þat hym spilide þey hit spedde lyte Forty wynter as y fynde & no fewer ȝyrys Or princes presed in hem þat hym to pyne wroȝt Til hit tydde on a tyme þat Tytus of Rome Þat alle Gascoyne gate & Gyan þe noble Whyle noye noyet hym in Neroes tyme He hadde a malady vn-meke a-myd[dis] þe face Þe lyppe lyþ on a lumpe lyuered on þe cheke So a canker vnclene hit cloched to gedres Also his fader of flesche is ferly bytide A biker of waspen bees bredde on his nose Hyued vpon his hed he hadde hem of ȝouþe And Waspasian was caled þe waspene bees after Was neuer syknes sorer þan þis sir þoled For in a liter he lay laser at Rome Out of Galace was gon to glade hym a stounde For in þat cuþe he was kyng þey he car þolede Nas þer no leche vpon lyue þis lordes couþ helpe Ne no grace growyng to gayne her grym sores Now was þer on N[a]than Neymes sone of Grec[e] Þat souȝt oft ouer þe se fram cyte to oþer Knewe contreys fele kyngdomes manye & was a marener myche & marchaunt boþe Sensceus out of Surye sent hym to Rome To þe athel Emperour an eraunde fram þe Jewes Caled Nero by name þat hym to noye wroȝt Of his tribute to telle þat þey withtake wolde Nathan toward Nero nome on his way Ouer þe Grekys grounde myd þe grym yþes An heye setteþ þe sayl ouer þe [salte] water & with a dromound on þe deep drof on faste Þe wolco[n] wanned anon & þe water skeweþ Cloudes clateren gon as þey cleue wolde Þe racke myd a rede wynde roos on þe myddel & sone sette on þe se out of þe souþ syde Blewe on þe brode se bolned vp harde Nathannys naue a-non on [þe] norþ dryueþ So þe wedour & þe wynd on þe water metyn Þat alle hurtled on an hepe þat þe helm ȝemyd Nathan flatte for ferde & ful vnder hacchys Lete þe wedour & þe wynde worþe as hit lyked Þe schip scher vpon schore schot froward Rome Toward vncouþ costes keuereþ þe yþes Rapis vnradly vmbe ragged tourres Þe brode sail at o brayd to-bresteþ a twynne Þat on ende of þe sschip was ay toward heuen Þat oþer doun in þe deep as alle drenche wolde Ouer wilde wawes he wende as alle walte scholde St[a]rke stremes þrow yn stormes & wyndes With mychel langour atte laste as our lord wolde Alle was born at a by[rre] to Burdewes hauene By þat wer bernes atte banke barouns & knyȝtes & [citezeins] of þe syȝt selcouþ [hem] þoȝt Þat euer barge oþer bot or berne vpon lyue Vnpersched passed hadde þe peryles wer so many Þey token hym to Titus for he þe tonge couþe & he [hem] fraynes how fer þe flode hadde yferked Sir out of Surre he seide y am come To Nero sondis-man sent þe [seygnour] of Rome Ffram Sensceus his seriant with certayn leteres Þat is iustise & iuge of Jewen lawe Me wer leuer at þat londe le[ngede] þat y wer Þan alle þe gold oþer good þat euer god made Þe kyng in to conseyl calleþ hym sone & saide Canste þou any cur or craft vpon erþe To softe þe grete sore þat sitteþ on my cheke & y schal þe redly rewarde & to Rome sende Nathan nyckes hym with nay sayde he non couþe Bot wer þou kyng in þat kuþþe þer þat Crist deyed Þer is a worlich wif a womman ful clene Þat haþ softyng & salue for eche sore out Telle me tyt quoþ Titus & þe schal tyde better What medecyn is most þat þat may vseþ Wheþer gommes oþer graces or any goode drenches Oþer chauntementes or charmes y charge þe to say Nay non of þo quoþ Nathan bot now wole y [telle] Þer was a lede in our londe while he lif hadde Preued for a prophete þrow preysed dedes & born in Bethleem one by of a burde schene Lines 101 through 200 & ȝo a mayde vnmarred þat neuer man touched As clene as clef þer cristalle sprynges Without hosebondes helpe saue þe holy goste A kyng & a knaue child ȝo conceyued at ere A touche of þe trinyte touched hir hadde Þre persones in o place preued to gedres Eche grayn is o god & o god bot alle & alle þre ben bot one as eldres vs tellen Þe first is þe fader þat fourmed was neuer Þe secunde is þe sone of his sede growyn Þe þridde in heuen myd hem is þe holy goste Neþer merked ne made bot mene fram hem passyþ Alle ben þey endeles & euer of o myȝt & weren endeles euer [er] þe world was bygonne As sone was þe sone as þe self fader Þe holy goste with hem hadde þey euer Þe secunde persone þe sone sent was to erþe To take careynes kynde of a clene mayde & so vnknowen he came caytifes to helpe & wroȝt wondres ynowe ay tille he wo driede Wyne he wroȝt of water at o word ene Ten lasares at a logge he leched at enys Pyned myd p[ar]il[sye] he putte to hele & ded men fro þe deþ eche day rered Croked & cancred he keuered hem alle Boþ þe dombe & þe deue myd his der wordes Dide myracles mo þan y in mynde haue Nis no clerk with countours couþe aluendel rekene Fyf þousand of folke is ferr to here With two fisches he fedde & fif ber loues Þat eche freke hadde his fulle & ȝit ferre leued Of brede & of broken mete bascketes twelue Þer suwed hym out of an cite [seuenty] & twey To do what he dempte disciples wer hoten Hem to citees he sende his sawes to preche Ay by two & by two til hy wer a-twynne Hym suwed of an-oþer cite semeliche twelue Pore men & noȝt prute aposteles wer hoten Þat of cay[ti]fes he ches holy churche to encresche Þe out-wale of þis worlde þis wer her names Peter James & Jon & Jacob þe ferþe & þe fifþe of his felawys Phelip was hoten Þe sixte Symond was caled & þe seueþ eke Bertholomewe þat his bone neuer breke nolde Þe eyȝt man was Mathu þat is myche yloued Tadde & Tomas her ben ten euen & Andreu þe elleueþ þat auntred hym myche Byfor princes to preche was Petrus broþer Þe laste man was vnlele & luþer of his dedis Judas þat Jesu Crist to þe Jewes solde Suþ hymsulf he slowe for sorow of þat dede His body on a balwe tree to-breste on þe myddel Whan Crist hadde heried helle & was [to] heuen passed For þat mansed man Mathie þey chossyn Ȝit vnbaptized wer boþe Barnabe & Poule & noȝt knewen of Crist bot comen sone after Þe princes & þe prelates aȝen þe paske tyme Alle þei hadde hym in hate for his holy werkes Hit was a doylful dede whan þey his deþ caste Þrow Pilat pyned he was þe prouost of Rome & þat worliche wif þat arst was ynempned Haþ his visage in hir veil Veronyk ȝo hatte Peynted priuely & playn þat no poynt wanteþ For loue he left hit hir til hir lyues ende Þer is no gome [o]n þis [grounde] þat is grym wounded Meselry ne meschef ne man vpon erþe Þat kneleþ doun to þat cloþ & on Crist leueþ Bot alle hapneþ to hele in [ane] hand whyle At Rome reyned þe emperour quoþ þe kyng riche þan Cesar synful wrecche þat sent hym fram Rome Why nadde þy lycam be leyd low vnder erþe Whan Pilat prouost was made suche a prince to jugge & or þis wordes wer [wel] wonne to þe ende Þe canker þat þe kyng hadde clenly was heled With out faute þe face of flesche & of hyde As newe as þe nebbe þat neuer was wemmyd A corteys Crist seide þe kyng riche þan Was neuer worke þat y wroȝt worþy þe to telle Ne dede þat y haue don bot þy deþ mened Ne neuer sey þe in siȝt goddis sone der Bot now [be] bayne [to] my bone blessed lord To stire Nero with noye & newen his sorowe & y schal buske me boun hem bale to wyrche To do þe deueles of dawe & þy deþ venge Telle me tit quoþ Titus what tokne he lafte To hem þat knew hym for Crist & his crafte leued Nempne þe trinyte by name quoþ Nathan at þries & þer myd baptemed be in blessed water Forþ þey fetten a font & foulled hym þer Made hym cristen kyng þat for Crist werred Corrours in to eche coste þan þe cours nomen & alle his baronage broȝt to Burdewes hauen Suþ with þe sondes-man he [s]ouȝt to Rome Þe ferly & þe fair cure his fader to schewe & he gronnand glad grete god þanked & loude criande on Crist carped & saide Worþy wemlese God in whom y byleue [Als] þou in Bethleem was born of a bryȝt mayde Sende me hele of my hurt & heyly y a-fowe To be ded for þy deþ bot hit be der ȝolden Lines 201 through 300 Þat tyme peter was pope & preched in rome Þe lawe & þe lore þat our byleue askeþ Folowed faste on þe folke & to þe fayþ tourned & crist wroȝt for þat wye wondres ynow Þer of waspasian was war þat þe waspys hadde Sone sendeþ hym to & þe soþe tolde Of crist & þe kerchef þat keuered þe sike As nathan neymes sone seide þat [was to nero] come Þan to consayl was called þe knyȝtes of rome & assenteden sone to sende messages Twenti knyȝtes wer cud þe ker[ch]yf to fecche & asked trewes of þe emperour þat erand to done Ac without tribute or trewes tenfulle wyes Þe knyȝtes with þe kerchef comen ful blyue Þe pope ȝaf pardoun to hem þat passed þer aȝens With processioun & pres princes & dukes & whan þe womman was war þat þe wede owede [of] seint peter þe pope ȝo platte to þe grounde Vmbefelde his fete & to þe freke saide Of þis kerchef & my cors þe kepyng y þe take Þan bygan þe burne biterly to wepe For þe doylful deþ of his der mayster & longe stode in þe stede or he stynte myȝt Whan he vnclosed þe cloþe þat cristes body touched Þe wede fram þe womman [he] warpe atte laste Receyued hit myd reuerence & rennande teris Out of þe place myd pres þey passed on swyþe & ay held hit on hey þat alle byhold myȝt Þan twelf barouns bolde þe emperour bade wende & þe pope departe fram þe pople faste Veronyk & þe vail waspasian þey broȝt & seint peter þe pope presented boþe Bot a ferly byfelle forþ myd hem alle In her temple bytidde tenful þynges Þe mahound & þe mametes tomortled to peces & al tocrased as þe cloþ þroȝ þe kirke passed Into þe palice with þe printe þan þe pope ȝede Knyȝtes kepten þe cloþe & on knees fallen A flauour flambeþ þer fro þey felleden hit alle Was neuer odour ne eyr vpon erþe swetter Þe kerchef clansed hit self & so cler wexed Myȝt no lede on hit loke for liȝt þat hit schewed As hit aproched to þe prince he put vp his hed For comfort of þe cloþ he cried wel loude Lo lordlynges her þe lyknesse of crist Of whom my botnyng y bidde for his bitter woundis Þan was wepyng & wo & wryngyng of hondis With loude dyn & dit for doil of hym one Þe pope availed þe vaile & his visage touched Þe body suþ al aboute blessed hit þrye Þe waspys wenten away & alle þe wo after Þat er lasar was longe lyȝtter was neuere Þan was pypyng & play his pyne was awey Þey ȝelden grace to god þis two grete lordes Þe kerchef arieþ fram alle & in þe eyr hangyþ Þat þe symple myȝt hit se in to soper tyme Þe veronycle after veronyk waspasian hit called Garde hit gayly agysen in gold & in seluere Ȝit is þe visage in þe vail as veronyk hym broȝt Þe romaynes at rome a relyk hit holden Þis whyle nero hadde noye & non nyȝtes reste For his tribute was [tynt] as nathan told hadde He commaundiþ knyȝtes to come consail to holde Erles & alle men þe emperour aboute Assembled þe senatours sone vpon haste To iugge who jewes myȝt best vpon þe jewys take & alle demeden by dome þo dukes to wende Þat wer cured þrow crist þat þey on croys slowen Þat on waspasian was of þe wyes twey Þat þe trauail vndertoke & titus an oþer A bold burne on a blonke & of his body comyn No ferþer sib to hymself bot his sone der Crouned kynges boþe & mychel crist loued Þat hadde hem [g]euen of his grace & her grem stroyed Moste þei hadde hit in hert her hestes to kepe & her forwardis to fulfille þat þei byfor made Þan was rotlyng in rome robbyng of brynnyes Schewyng of scharpe [stele] scheldes ydressed Lauȝte leue at þat lord leften his sygne A grete dragoun of gold & alle þe [g]yng folwed By þat schippis wer schred yschot on þe depe Takled & atired on talterande yþes Ffresch water & wyn wounden yn faste & stof of alle maner store þat hem strengþe scholde Þer wer floynes a flot farcostes many Cogges & crayers ycasteled alle Galees of grete streyngþe with golden fanes [þe brede] on þe brod se aboute four myle Þey tyȝten vp tal-sail whan þe tide asked Hadde byr at þe bake & þe bonke lefte Souȝte ouer þe se with soudeours manye & [ioyned in to] port jaf in judeis londys Suree cesaris londe þou may seken euer Ful mychel wo m[o]n be wroȝte in þy [w]lonk tounes Cytees vnder s[yon] now is ȝour sorow uppe Þe deþ of þe dereworþ crist der schal be ȝolden Now is bethleem þy bost ybroȝt to an ende Jerusalem & ierico forjuggyd wrecchys Schal neuer kyng of ȝour kynde with croune be ynoyntid Ne jewe for jesu sake [i]ouke in ȝou more Lines 301 through 400 Þey setten vpon eche side surrie withyn Brente ay at þe bak & [all] bar laften Was noȝt bot roryng & r[u]th in alle þe riche tounnes & red laschyng lye alle þe londe ouer Token toun & tour teldes ful fele Brosten ȝates of brass & many borwe wonnen Holy þe heþen here hewyn to grounde Boþ in bent & in borwe þat abide wolde Þe jewes to ierusalem þ[ere] josephus dwelde Flowen as þe foule doþ þat faucoun wolde strike A cite vnder syon sett was ful noble With many toret & tour þat toun to defende Princes & prelates & poreil of þe londe Clerkes & comens of contrees aboute Wer schacked to þat cite sacrifice to make At paske tyme as preched hem prestes of þe lawe Many swykel at þe sweng to þe swerd ȝede For penyes passed non þoȝ he pay wolde Bot diden alle to þe deþe & drowen hem after With engynes to jerusalem þer jewes wer þykke Þey sette sadly a sege þe cite alle aboute Piȝten pauelouns doun of pallen webbes With ropis of riche silk raysen vp swyþe Grete tentis as a toun of torke[is] cloþys Choppyn ouer þe cheuentayns with charboklis four A gay egle of gold on a gilde appul With grete dragouns grym alle in gold wroȝte Lyk to lyouns also lyande þervnder Paled & paynted þe paueloun was vmbe Stoked ful of storijs strayned myd armys Of quaynte colour to know kerneld alofte An hundred stondyng on stage in þat stede one Toured with torettes was þe tente þanne Suþ britaged aboute briȝt to byholde Er alle þe sege was sette ȝit of þe cite comyn Messengeres wer made fram maistres of þe lawe To þe chef cheuentayn þey chosen her wey Deden mekly by mouþe her message attonys Sayen þe cite haþ [vs] sent to serche ȝour wille To here þe cause of ȝour comyng [& what] ȝe coueyte wolde Waspasian no word to þe wyes schewed Bot sendeþ sondismen aȝen twelf siker knyȝtes [gert hem greithely] to go & þe gomes telle Þat alle þe cause of her com[e] was crist forto venge Sayþ y bidde hem be boun bishopes & oþer Tomorow or [mydday] [alle modur-nakyd] Vp her ȝates to ȝelde with ȝerdes an hande Eche whiȝt in a white scherte & no wede ellys Jewyse for iesu crist by juggement to take & make hem come þat iesu crist þroȝ conseil bytrayede Or y to þe walles schal wende & walten alle ouere Schal no ston vpon ston stonde by y passe Þis sondismen sadly to þe cite ȝede Þer þe lordes of þe londe lent weren alle Tit tolden her tale & wonder towe made Of crist & of cayphas & how þey come scholde & when þe knyȝtes of crist carpyn bygonn Þe jewes token alle twelf without tale mor Her hondis bounden at her bak with borden stauys And of flocken her fa[x] & her fair berdis Made hem naked as a nedel to þe neþer houe Her visages blecken with bleche & al þe body after Suþ knyt with a corde to eche knyȝtes swer A chese & charged hem her chyuentayn to ber Sayþ vnbuxum we beþ his biddyng to ȝete Ne noȝt dreden his dom his deþ haue we atled He schal vs fynde in þe felde ne no ferr seke Tomorowe pryme or hit passe & so ȝour prince telliþ Þe burnes busken out of burwe bounden alle twelf Aȝen message to make fram þe maister jewes Was neuer waspasian so wroþe as whan þe wyes come Þat wer scorned & schende vpon schame wyse Þis knyȝtes byfor þe kyng vpon knees fallen & tolden þe tale as hit tid hadde Of þy manace ne þy myȝt þey make bot lyte Þus ben we tourned of our tyre in tokne of þe soþe & bounden for our bolde speche þe batail þey willeþ Tomorowe prime or hit passe þey put hit no ferre Hit schal be satled on þy-self þe same þat þou atlest Þus han þey certifiet þe [to saye] & sende þe þis cheses Wode wedande wroþ waspasian was þanne Layde wecche to þe walle & warned in haste Þat alle maner of men in þe morowe scholde Be sone after þe sonne assembled in þe felde He streyȝt up a standard in a stour wyse Bild as a belfray bretful of wepne Whan oȝt fauted in þe folke þat to þe feld longed Atte þe belfray to be botnyng to fynde A dragoun was dressed drawyn a lofte Wyde gapande of gold gomes to swelwe With arwes armed in þe mouþe & also he hadde A fauch[ou]n vnder his feet with four kene bladdys Þerof þe poyntes wer piȝt in partyis four Of þis wlonfulle wor[l]de þer þei werr fondyn In forbesyn to þe folke þis fauchoun hengeþ Þat þey hadde wonnen with [werre] al þe world riche A bal of brennande gold þe beste was on sette His taille trayled þer aboute þat tourne scholde he neuere Whan he was lifte vp[his liche] þer þe lord werred Bot ay lokande on þe londe tille þat al lauȝte wer Lines 401 through 500 Þer by þe cite myȝt se no setlyng wolde rise Ne no trete of no trewes bot þe toun ȝelde Or ride on þe romayns for þey han her rede take Þer britned to be or þe [burghe] wynne His wynges [brighte wer & brade] boun forto flee With belles bordored aboute al of briȝt seluere Redy whan ouȝte runnen to rynge ful loude With eche [wap] of a [wynde] þat to þe wynges sprongyn Ibrytaged aboute þe belfray was þanne With a tenful tour þat ouer þe toun gawged Þe b[est] by þe briȝtnesse burnes myȝt knowe Four myle þer fro so þe feldes schonen & on eche pomel wer pyȝt penseles hyȝe Of selke & sendel with seluere ybetyn Hit glitered as gled fur ful of gold riche Ouer al þe cite to se as þe sonne bemys Byfor þe four ȝates he formes to lenge Sixtene þousand by somme while þe sege lasteþ Sette ward [to] þe walles þat noȝt awey scaped Sixe þousand in sercle þe cite alle aboute Was noȝt while þe nyȝt laste bot nehyng of stedis Strogelyng in stele wede & stuffyng of helmes With armyng of olyfauntes & oþer arwe bestes Aȝen þe cristen to come with castels on bake Waspasya[n] in stele wede & his wyes alle Weren diȝt forþ by day & drowen to þe vale Of josophat þer jesu crist schal juggen alle þinges Bigly batayled hym þer to bide[n] þis oþer Þe fauward titus toke to telle vpon ferste With six þousand soudiours assyned for þe nones & mony in þe mydward wer merked to lenge Þer waspasian was with princes & dukes & sixtene þousand in þe þridde with a þryuande knyȝt Sir sabyn of surrie a siker man of armes Þat prince was of prouynce & michel peple ladde Fourty hundred in helmes & harnays to schewe & ten þousand atte tail at þe tentis lafte Hors & harnays fram harmyng to kepe By þat bemys on þe burwe blowen ful loude & baners beden hem forþ now blesse vs our lorde Þe jewes assembled wer sone & of þe cite come An hundred þousand on hors with hamberkes atired Without folke vpon fot at þe four ȝates Þat preset to þe place with pauyes on hande Fyf & twenti olyfauntes defensable bestes With brode castels on bak out of burwe come & on eche olyfaunte armed men manye Ay an hundred an hey an hundred withyn Þo drowen dromedarius doun deuelich þicke [an] hundred þousand & yheled with harnays of mayle Eche beste with a big tour þer bold men wer ynne Twenty told by tale in eche tour euene Cameles closed in stele comen out þanne Faste toward þe feld a ferlich nonbr Busked to batail & on bak hadde Echon a toret of tre with ten men of armes Chares ful of chosen charged with wepne A wonder nonbr þer was who so wite lyste Many douȝti þat day þat was adradde neuer Wer fond fey in þe feld er þat fiȝt endid An olyfaunt yarmed came out at þe laste Keuered myd a castel was craftily ywroȝt A tabernacle in þe tour atyred was riche Piȝt as a paueloun on pileres of seluere A which of white seluere wal[w]ynde þer-ynne On four goions of gold þat hit fram grounde bar A c[h]osen chayr þerby on charbokeles twelfe Betyn al with barn[d] gold with brennande sergis Þe chekes of þe chayr wer cha[r]-bokles fyue Couered myd a riche cloþe þer cayphas was sette A plate of pulsched gold was piȝt on his breste With many preciose perle & pured stones Lered men of þe lawe þat loude couþe synge With sawters seten hym by & þe psalmys tolde Of douȝty david þe kyng & oþer der storijs Of joseph þe noble jewe & judas þe knyȝt Cayphas of þe kyst kyppid a rolle & radde how þe folke ran þroȝ þe re[d]e wa[ters] Whan pharao & his ferde wer in þe floode drouned & myche of moyses lawe he mynned þat tyme Whan þis faiþles folke to þe feld comen & batayled after þe bent with many burne kene For baneres þat blased & bestes yarmed Myȝt no man se þrow þe sonne ne þe cite knowe Waspasian dyuyseþ þe vale alle aboute Þat was with baneres ouer[brade] to þe borwe wallis To barouns & bold men þat hym aboute wer Seiþ lordlynges aloude lestenyþ my speche Her nys king noþer knyȝt comen to þis place Baroun ne burges ne burne þat me folweþ Þat þe cause of his come nys crist forto venge Vpon þe faiþles folke þat hym fayntly slowen Byholdeþ þe heþyng & þe harde woundes Þe betyng & þe byndyng þat þe body hadde Lat neuer þis lawles ledis lauȝ at his harmys Þat bouȝt vs fram bale with blod of his herte [i] quyckeclayme þe querels of alle quyk burnes & clayme of euereche kyng saue of crist one Þat þis peple to pyne no pite ne hadde Þat preueþ his passioun who so þe paas redeþ Lines 501 through 600 Hit nediþ noȝt at þis note of nero to mynde Ne to trete of no trewe for tribute þat he askeþ Þat querel y quikcleyme [qweþer] he ne wilneþ Of þis rebel to rome bot resoun to haue Bot mor þing in our mynde myneþ [vs] today Þat by resoun to rome þe regnance fallyþ Boþe þe myȝt & þe mayn [&] mais[trie] on e[rþe] & lord[chipe] of eche londe þat liþe vnder heuen Lat neuer þis faiþles folke with fiȝt vs wynne Hors ne harnays bot þey hit hard byen Plate ne pesan ne pendauntes ende While any lyme may laste or we þe lif haue For þei ben feyn[t] at þe fiȝt fals of byleue & wel wenen at a wap alle þe wo[r]ld quelle Noþer grounded on god ne on no grace tristen Bot alle in st[erynne]s of stour & in strengþ one & we ben diȝt today driȝten to serue Hey heuen kyng [take] hede to his owne Þe ledes louten hym alle & aloude sayde Today þat fleþe any fote þe fende haue his soule Bemes blowen anon blonkes to neȝeȝ Stedis stampen in þe felde stif steil vnder Stiþe men in stiropys striden alofte Knyȝtes croysen hemself cacchen her helmys With loude clarioun cry & alle kyn pypys Tymbris & tabourris tonelande loude Ȝeuen a schillande schout schrynken þe jewes As womman [welter solde in swounn] whan hir þe water neȝeþ Lacchen launces anon lepyn to-gedris As fur out of flynt ston ferde hem bytwene Doust drof vpon lofte dymedyn alle aboute As þonder & þicke rayn þrowolande in skyes [þei] beren burnes þrow brosten launces Knyȝtes crosschen doun to þe cold erþe Ffouȝt faste in þe felde & ay þe fals vnder Doun swowande [one] swelt with out swar more Tytus tourneþ hym to tolles of þe beste Forjustes þe jolieste with joyn[yng] of werr Suþ with a briȝt bronde he betiþ on harde Tille þe brayn & þe blod on þe bent ornen Souȝt þroȝ an oþer side with a sore wepne Bet on þe broun stele while þe bladde laste An hey breydeþ þe brond & as a bore lokeþ How hetterly doun hente who so wolde Alle briȝtned þe bent as bemys of sonne Of þe gilden ger & þe goode stones Ffor schyueryng of sche[l]des & schynyng of helmes Hit ferde as alle þe firmament vpon a fur wer Waspasian in þe vale þe fanward by-holdeþ How þe heþyn her heldiþ to grounde Cam with a fair ferde þe fals men to mete As greued griffouns girden in samen Spakly her speres on sprotes þay ȝeden Scheldes as schidwod on scholdres tocleuen Schoken out of schepes þat scharpe w[ere] ygrounde & mallen metel þroȝ vnmylt hertes Hewen on þe heþen hurtlen togedr Forschorne gilt schroud sch[o]dered burne[s] Baches woxen ablode aboute in þe vale & goutes fram gold wede as goteres þey runne Sir sabyn setteþ hym vp whan hit so ȝede Rideþ myd þe rereward & alle þe route folweþ Kenely þe castels came to assayle Þat þe bestes on her bake out of burwe ladden Atles on þe olyfauntes þat orible wer Girdiþ out þe guttes with grounden speres R[o]ppis rispen forþ þat redles an hundred Scholde be busy to burie þat on a bent lafte Castels clateren doun cameles brosten Dromedaries to þe deþ drowen ful swyþe Þe blode fomed hem fro in þe flasches aboute Þ[at] knedepe in þe dale dascheden stedes Þe burnes in þe bretages þat aboue wer For þe doust & þe dyn as alle doun ȝede Al forstoppette in stele storteblynde wexen Whan hurdiȝs & hard erþe hurtled togedre & vnder dromedaries doun diȝten hem sone Was non left vpon lyue þat a lofte standeþ Saue [ane] olepy olyfaunt at þe grete ȝate Þeras cayphas þe clerke in castel rideþ He say þe wrake on hem wende & away tourneþ With twelf maystres made of moyses lawe An hundred helmed men hien hem after Er þey of castel myȝt come cauȝten hem alle Bounden þe bischup on bycchyd wyse Þat þe blode out barst eche band vnder & broȝten [to] þe [berfraye] alle [þo] bew clerkes Þer þe standard stode & stadded hem þer Þe beste & þe britage & alle þe briȝt ger Chair & chaundelers & charbokel stones Þe rolles þat þey redden [on] & alle þe riche bokes Þey broȝte myd þe bischup þou hym bale þouȝte Anon þe feyþles folke fayleden herte Tourned toward þe toun & tytus hem after Ffe[l]de of þe fals ferde in þe felde lefte An hundred in her helmes myd his honde one Þe fals jewes in þe felde fallen so þicke As hail froward heuen hepe ouer oþer So was þe bent ouerbrad blody byrunne With ded bodies aboute alle þe brod vale Lines 601 through 700 Myȝt no stede doun stap bot on stele wede Or on burne oþer on beste or on briȝt scheldes So myche was þe multitude þat on þe molde lafte Þer so many wer mar[red] mereuail wer ellis Ȝit wer þe romayns as rest as þey fram rome come [vnrevyn] eche a renk & noȝt a ryng brosten Was no poynt perschid of alle her pris armur So crist his knyȝtes gan kepe tille complyn tyme An hundred þousand helmes of þe heþen syde Wer fey fallen in þe felde [þat no freke skapide] Saue seuen þousand of þe somme þat to þe cite flowen & wy[nn]en with mychel wo þe walles with-ynne Ledes lepen to a-non louken þe ȝates Barren hem bigly with boltes of yren Brayden vp brigges with brouden chaynes & portecolis with pile picchen to grounde Þei wynnen vp whyȝtly þe walles to kepe Fr[e]sche vnfonded folke & grete defence made Tyeþ in-to tourres tonnes ful manye With grete stones of gret & of gray marble Kepten kenly with caste þe kernels alofte Quar[r]en qu[a]rels out with quart[ote]s attonys Þat oþer folke at þe fote freshly assayled Tille eche dale with dewe was donked aboute With-drowen hem fro þe diche dukes & oþer [for] þe caste was so kene þat come fram þe walles Comen forþe with þe kyng clene as þey ȝede W[ant]ed noȝt o wye ne non þat wem hadde Princes to her pauelouns passen on swyþe Vnarmen hem as tyt & alle þe nyȝt resten With wacche vmbe þe walles to many wyes sorowe Þey wolle noȝt þe heþen her so harmeles be lafte Sone as þe rede day ros [o]n þe schye Bemes blowen anon burnes to aryse Þe kyng comaundeþ a cry þat comsed was sone Þe ded bodies on þe bonke barforto make To spoyle þe spilt folke spar scholde none Geten girdeles & ger gold & goode stones Byes broches bryȝt besauntes riche Helmes hewen of gold hamberkes manye Kesten ded vpon ded was deil to byholde Made wide weyes & to þe walles comen Assembleden at þe cite saut to bygynne Ffolke ferlich þycke at þe four ȝates Þey broȝten toures of tre þat þey taken hadde A-ȝen euereche ȝate ȝarken hem hey By-gonnnen at þe grettist a garrite to rer Groded vp fro þe grounde on twelfe grete postes [it] was wonderlich wide wroȝt vpon hyȝte Ffyue hundred in frounte to fiȝten at þe walles Hardy men vp-on haste hyen at þe grecys & bygonnnen with bir þe borow to assayle Quarels flambande of fur flowen out harde & arwes [vn]arwely with attyr enuenymyd Taysen at þe toures tachen on þe jewes Þroȝ kernels cacchen her deþ many kene burnes Brenten & beten doun þat bilde was wel þycke Brosten þe britages & þe brode toures By þat was many bold burne þe burwe to assayle Þe hole batail boun a-boute þe brode walles Þat wer byg & brode & bycchet to wynne Wonder heye to byholde with holwe diches vnder Heye bonked a-bou[t]e vpon boþe sydes Riȝt wicked to wynne bot ȝif wyles helpe Bow-men atte bonke benden her ger Schoten vp scharply to þe schene walles With arwes & arblastes & alle þat harme myȝt To affray þe folke þat defence made Þe jewes werien þe walles with wyles ynowe Hote [p]l[ay]ande picche a-monge þe peple ȝeten Brenn[a]n[d] leed & brynston barels fulle Schoten schynande doun riȝt as schyr water Waspasian wendeþ fram þe walles wariande hem alle Oþer busked wer boun benden engynes Kesten at þe kernels & clustred toures & monye der daies worke dongen to grounde By þat wriȝtes han wroȝt a wonder stronge pale Alle aboute þe burwe with bastiles manye Þat [no freke in myȝt fonde with-owttyn fethyrhames] [ne] no segge vnder sonne myȝt fram þe cite passe Suþ dommyn þe diches with þe ded corses Crammen hit myd karayn þe kirnels vnder Þat þe stynk of þe steem myȝt strike ouer þe walles To coþe þe corsed folke þat hem kepe scholde Þe cors of þe condit þat comen to [þe] toun Stoppen euereche a streem þer any str[ande] ȝede With stockes & stones & stynkande bestes Þat þey no water myȝt wynne þat weren enclosed Waspasian tourneþ to his tente with titus & oþer Commaundeþ consail anon on cayphas to sitte W[hat] deþ by dome þat he dey scholde With þe lettered ledes þat þey lauȝte hadde Domes-men vpon de[y]s demeden swyþe Þat ech freke wer quyk fleyn þe felles of clene Þen to be on a bent with blonkes to-drawe & suþ honget on an hep vpon heye galwes Þe feet to þe firmament alle folke to byholden With hony vpon ech [halfe] þe hydeles anoynted Corres & cattes with claures ful scharpe Ffour kagge[d] & knyt to cayphases þeyes Lines 701 through 800 Twey apys at his armes to angren hym mor Þat renten þe rawe flesche vpon rede peces So was he pyned fram prime with persched sides Tille þe sonne doun souȝt in sommere-tyme Þe lered men of þe lawe a litel bynyþe Weren tourmented on a tre topsail walten Knyt to euerech clerke kene corres twey Þat alle þe cite myȝt se þe sorow þat þey dryuen Þe jewes walten ouer þe walles for wo at þat tyme Seuen hundred slow hem-self for sorow of her clerkes Somme hent her heer & fram þe hed pulled & somme [down] for deil dasch[e]de to grounde Þe kyng lete drawen hem a-doun whan þey dede wer Bade a bole-fur betyn to brennen þe corses Kesten cayphas þer-yn & his clerkes twelf & brenten euereche bon in-to þe browne askes Suþ went to þe walle on þe wynde syde & alle a-brod on þe burwe blewen þe powder Þer is doust [to] ȝour drynke a du[ke] to hem crieþ & bade hem bible of þat broþ for þe bischopes soule Þus ended coursed cayphas & his clerkes alle Al to-brused myd bestes brent at þe laste In tokne of tresoun & trey þat he wroȝt Whan crist þrow his conseil was cacched to deþ By þat was þe day don dym[m]ed þe skyes Merked [þe] montayns & mores a-boute Foules fallen to fote & her feþres r[y]s[t]en Þe nyȝt-wacche to þe walle & waytes to blowe Bryȝt fures a-boute betyn a-brode in þe oste Þe kyng & his consail carpen to-gedr Chosen chyuentayns out & chiden no mor Bot charged þe chek-wecche & to chambr wenten Kynges & knyȝtes to cacchen hem reste Waspasian lyþ in his logge litel he slepiþ Bot walwyþ & wyndiþ & waltreþ a-boute Ofte tourneþ for tene & on þe toun þynkeþ Whan schadewes & schir day scheden attwynne Leuerockes vpon lofte lyften her steuenes Burnes busken hem out of bedde with bemes loude Boþe blowyng on bent & on þe burwe walles Waspasian bounys of bedde busked hym fayr Fram þe fote to þe fourche in fyne gold cloþes Suþ putteþ þe prince ouer his pal[l]e[n] wedes A brynye browded þicke with a brest-plate [þe] gra[te was] of gray steel & of gold riche Þer-ouer he casteþ a cote colour[ede] of his armys A grete girdel of gold with-out ger oþer Layþ vmbe his lendis with lacchetes ynow A bryȝt burnesched swerd he belteþ alofte Of pur purged gold þe pomel & þe hulte A brod schynande scheld on scholdir he hongiþ Bocklyd myd briȝt gold abou[t]e at þe necke Þe glowes of gray steel þat wer with gold hemmyd Hauleþ [ouer] harnays & his hors askeþ Þe gold hewen helme haspeþ he blyue With viser & with a-vental deuysed for þe nones A croune of clene gold was closed vpon lofte Rybaunde vmbe þe rounde helm ful of riche stones Pyȝt prudely with perles in-to þe pur corners & so with saphyres sett þe sydes a-boute He strideþ on a stif stede & strikeþ ouer þe bente Liȝt as a lyoun wer loused out of cheyne His segges se[y]en hym alle & echon sayþ to oþer Þis is a comlich kyng knyȝtes to lede He boweþ to þe barres or he bide wolde Betynge on with þe brond on þe bras rynges Comeþ caytifes forþ ȝe þat crist slowen Knoweþ hym for ȝour kyng or ȝe cacche mor Wayteþ doun fro þe walle what wo is on hande May ȝe fecche ȝou no fode þoȝ ȝe fey worþe & þoȝ ȝe waterles wede wynne ȝe noȝt o droppe Þoȝ ȝe deþ scholde dey daies in ȝour lyue Þe pale þat i piȝt haue passe hit who myȝt Þat is so byg on þe bonke & haþ þe burowe closed Ffourty to fyȝten aȝens fyue hundred Þoȝ ȝe wer etnes echon in scholde [ȝ]e [tourne] & more manschyp wer hit ȝit mercy by-seche Þan metles marr þer no myȝt helpys Was non þat warpiþ a word bot waytes her poyntes Ȝif [any] stertis on st[r]ay with stones hem to kylle Þan wroþ as a wode bore he wendeþ his bridul Ȝif ȝe as dogges wol dey þe deuel haue þat recche & or i wende fro þis walle ȝe schul wordes schewe & efte spakloker speke or y ȝour speche owene By þat a jewe josophus þe gentyl clerke Hadde wroȝt a wonder wyle whan hem water fayled Made wedes of wolle in wete for to plunge Water-waschen as þey wer & on þe walle hengen Þe wedes dropeden doun d[r]yed ȝerne Rich rises hem fro þe romayns byholden Wenden wel her wedes hadde wasschyng so ryue Þat no wye in þe wone water schold fayle Waspasian þe wile wel ynow knewe Loude lawȝ[eþ] þer-at & lordlynges byddis No burne abasched be þoȝ þey þis bost make Hit beþ bot wyles of werr for water hem fayleþ Þan was no-þyng bot a newe note to bygynne Assaylen on eche a side þe cite by halues Merken myd manglouns ful vn-mete dyntes & myche of masouns note þey marden þat tyme Lines 801 through 900 Þer-of was josophus war þat myche of werr couþe & sette on þe walle side sakkes myd chaf Aȝens þe streyngþe of þe stroke þer þe stones hytte Þat alle dered noȝt a dyȝs bot grete dy[n] made Þe romayns runne to a-non & on roddes knytte Siþes for þe sackes þat selly wer kene Raȝten to þe ropis rent hem in sonder Þat alle dasschande doun in-to þe diche flatten Bot josophus þe gynful her engynes alle Brente with brennande oyle & myche bale wroȝt Waspasian wounded was þer wonderlich sore Þrow þe hard of þe hele with an hande-darte Þat boot þrow þe bote & þe bone nayled Of þe frytted fote in þe folis syde Sone assembled hym to many sadde hundred Þat wolden wrecken þe wounde oþer wo habben Þey bowyn to þe barres bekered ȝerne Fouȝt riȝt felly foyned with speres Jo[k]ken jewes þroȝ engynes by þanne Wer manye bent at þe bonke & to þe burwe þrewen Þer wer selcouþes sen as segges mowe here A burne with a balwe-ston was þe brayn cloue Þe gretter pese of þe panne þe pyble forþ strikeþ Þat hit flow in-to þe feld a forlong or more A womman bounden with a barn was on þe body hytte With þe ston o[f] a staf[-slyng] as þe storyj telleþ Þat þe barn out brayde fram þe body clene & was born vp as a bal ouer þe burwe walles Burnes wer brayned & brosed to deþ Wymmen wide open walte vnder stones Frosletes fro þe ferst to þe flor þrylled & many toret doun tilte þe temple a-boute Þe cite had ben seised myd saut at þat tyme Nad þe folke be so fers þat þe fende serued Þat kilden on þe cristen & kepten þe walles With arwes & arblastes & archers manye With speres & spryngoldes sponnen out hard Dryuen dartes a-doun ȝeuen depe woundes Þat manye renke out of rome [by] rest[ing] of þ[e] s[o]nne Was mychel leuer a leche þan layke myd his ton Waspasian stynteþ of þe stour steweþ his burnes Þat wer for-beten & bled vnder bryȝt yren Tyen to her tentis myd tene þat þey hadde Al wery of þat werk & wounded ful sore Helmes & hamberkes hadden of sone Leches by torche-liȝt loken her hurtes Waschen woundes with wyn & with wolle stoppen With oyle & orisoun ordeyned in charme Suþ euereche a segge to þe soper ȝede Þoȝ þey wounded wer was no wo nempned Bot daunsyng & no deil with dynnyng of pipis & þe nakerer noyse alle þe nyȝt-tyme Whan þe derk was doun & þe day spr[o]ngen Sone after þe sonne sembled þe grete Comen forþ-with þe kyng conseil to her Alle þe knyȝthod clene þat for crist werred Waspasian waiteþ a-wide his wyes byholdeþ Þat wer frescher to fiȝt þan at þe furst tyme Prayeþ princes on ernest & alle þe peple after Þat eche wye of þat werr schold his wille specke For or þis toun be tak & þis toures heye Michel tor[fere] & tene vs tides on hande Þay tourned alle to titus & hym þe tale scheweþ Of þe cite & þe sege to seyn for hem alle Þan titus tourneþ hem to & talkyng bygynneþ Þus to layke with þis les[e folke] vs lympis þe worse For þey ben fel[l]e of defence ferce men & noble & þis toured toun is tenful to wynne Þe worst wrecche in þe wone may on walle lygge Strike doun with a ston & stuny many knyȝtes Whan we schul houe & byholde & litel harme wirche & ay þe loþe of þe layk liȝt on vs-selue Now mowe þey ferke no ferr her fode forto wynne Wolde we stynt of our strif whyle þey her stor ma[r]-den We scholde with [hunger] hem honte to hoke out of toun [with-owttyn weme or wounde or any wo ells] For þer as fayleþ þe fode þer is feynt strengþe & þer as hunger is hote hertes ben feble Alle assenteden to þe sawe þat to þe [sege] longed Apaied as þe prince & þe peple wolde To þe kyng wer called constables þanne Marchals maser[s] men þat he to tristiþ He chargeþ hem che[f]ly for chaunce þat may falle With wacche of waled men þe walles to kepe For we wol hunten at þe hart þis heþes aboute & hur racches renne a-monge þis rowe bonkes Ride to þe reuer & rer vp þe foules Se faucouns fle fole of þe beste Ech segge to þe solas þat hym-self lyked Princes out of pauelouns presen on stedes Torn[ei]en trifflyn & on þe toun wayten Þis lyf þey ledde longe & [lord] ȝyue vs grace In rome nero haþ now mychel noye wroȝt To deþ pyned þe pope & mychel peple quelled Petr apostlen prince & seint poule [also] Senek & þe senatours & alle þe cite fured His modir & his my[l]de wif murdred to deþe Combred cristen fele þat on crist leued Þe romayns resen a-non whan þey þ[i]s rewþe seyen To quelle þe emperour quyk þat hem vnquemed hadde Lines 901 through 1100 (lines 998-1097 missing) Þey pressed to his paleys porayle & oþer To br[it]ten þe bold kyng in his burwe riche Þe cite & þe senatours assented hem boþe Non oþer dede was to doun þey han his dome ȝolden Þan flowe þat freke frendles alone Out at a pore posterne & alle þe peple folwed With a tronchoun of tre toke he no more Of alle þe glowande gold þat he on grounde hadde On þat tronchoun with his teþ he toggeþ & byteþ Tille hit was piked at þe poynt as a pokes ende Þan abideþ þat burne & biterlych spekeþ To alle þe wyes þat þer wer wordes aloude Tourneþ traytours aȝen schal neuer þe tale rise Of no karl by þe coppe how he his kyng quelde Hym-self he strykeþ myd þat staf streȝt to þe hert Þat þe colke to-clef & þe kyng deyed Six monþe after & no mor þis myschef bytydde Þat waspasian was went to werry on þe jewes Four mettyn myle out of rome to mynde for euere Þat erst was emperour of alle þus ended in sorow Þe grete to-gedres þan [gete] hem an-oþer On gabba a gome þat mychel grem hadde Þroȝ othis l[ucy]us a lord þat hym longe hated & at þe last þat lord out of lyf hym broȝt Amydde þe market of rome þe[y] mette to-gedres Othis falliþ hym fey ȝaf hym fale woundes Þat four monþes & [no] mor hadde mayntened þe croune & þo deyed þe duke & þe diademe lefte & whan þat gabba was gon & to grounde broȝt Othis entriþ on ernest & emperour was made Þe man in his maieste was monþes bot þre Þan he ȝeldeþ sathanas þe soule & hym-self quelled Þe romayns risen vp a renk rome for to kepe A knyȝt þat vitel was calde & hym þe croune rauȝte Bot for sir sabyns sake a segge þat was noble Waspasian broþer of blode [þat] he brytned hadde Waspasian vpon vitel to vengen his broþer S[en]t out of surrie segges to rome Þat [a]s naked as an nedul þe newe emperour For sir sabyns sake alle þe cite drowe hym Suþ gored þe gome þat his guttes alle As a bowe[l]ed beste in-to his breche felle Doun ȝer[m]ande he ȝede & ȝeldeþ þe soule & [þey] kayȝt þe cors & kast in-to tybre Seuen monþes þis [segge] hadde septre on hande & þus loste he þe lyf for his luþer dedes An oþer segge was to seke þat septre schold haue For alle þis grete ben gon & neuer agayn tournen Now of þe cite & of þe sege wolle y sey mor How þis comelich kyng þat for crist werreþ Haþ holden yn þe heþen men þis oþer half wynter Þat neuer burne was so bold þe burwe for to passe As he to dyner on a day with dukes was sette Comen renkes fram rome rapande swyþe In bruneys & in bryȝt wede with bodeworde newe Louten alle to þe lord letres hym rauȝten Sayn comelich kyng þe knyȝthod of rome Þroȝ þe senatours assent & alle þe cite ellis Han chosen þe her chyuentayn her chef lord to worþe And riche emperour of rome þus redeþ þis letres Þe lord vnlappeþ þe lef þis letres byholdeþ Ouer-lokeþ ech a lyne to þe last ende Bordes born wer doun & þe burne riseþ Calleþ consail a-non & kyþeþ þis speche Ȝe ben burnes of my blod þat y best wolde My sone is next to my-self & oþer sib manye Sir sabyn of surrie a segge þat y triste & oþer frendes fele þat me fayþ owen Now is me bodeword of blys broȝt froward rome To be lord ouer þat lond as þis letres spekeþ Sir sabyn of surrie sey þe by-houyþ How y myȝt sauy my-self & i so wroȝt Ffor y haue heylych heyȝt her forto lenge [tille] me þe ȝates ben ȝet & ȝolden þe keyes [and] i þis toured [t]oun ha[ue] taken at wille & suþ houshed on hem þat þis hold kepyn Brosten & betyn doun þis britages heye Þat neuer ston in þat stede stond vpon oþer Kyþe þ[i] consail sir knyȝt þis kyng to hym sayde For y wol worche by þy witt ȝif worschip may folowe Þan seiþ sir sabyn a-non semelich lord We ben wyes þe with þy worschup to furþer Of longe tyme bylafte & ledes þyn owen Þat we doun is þy dede may no man demen elles Þe dom demed was þer who so doþ by anoþer Schal be soferayn hym-self sein in þe werke For as fers is þe freke atte ferr ende Þat of fleis þe fel as he þat foot holdeþ Bytake tytus þy sone þis toun for to kepe & to þe douȝti duke domyssian his broþer Her i holde vp myn honde myd hem for to lenge With alle þe here þat i haue while my herte lasteþ & þou schalt ride to rome & receyue þe croune In honour emperour to be as þyn eure schapiþ So may þy couenaunt be kept þat þou to crist made Þy-self dest þat þy soudiours by þyn assent worchen Þan with a liouns lote he lifte vp þe eyen Lines 998-1097 are missing To voiden alle by vile deþ þat vitelys destruyed Wymmen & weyke folke þat weren of olde age Myȝt noȝt stonde in stede bot her stor mardyn Lines 1101 through 1200 After [þay] touche of trewe to trete with þe lord Bot Titus graunteþ noȝt for gile þat þe gomes þenke For he is wise þat is war or hym wo hape & with falsede a-fer is fairest to dele To worchyn vnder þe wal w[a]yes þey casten Whan Tytus nold no trewe to þe toun graunte With mynours & masouns myne þey bygonne Grobben faste [i]n þe grounde & god ȝyue vs joye As Tytus after [on] a tyme vmbe þe toun r[i]deþ Wyþ sixty speres of þe sege segges a fewe Alle outwith þe ost out of a kaue Vp a buschment brake alle of briȝt hedis Fyf hundred fiȝtyng men fellen hem aboute In jepouns & jambers Jewes þey wer Hadde wroȝt hem a wey & þe wal myned & Titus tourneþ hem to without tale mor Schaftes schedred wer sone & scheldes yþrelled [And many schalke thurghe schotte with þe scharpe ende] Brunyes & briȝt wede blody by-runne & many segge at þat saute souȝte to þe grounde Hacchen vpon hard steel with an herty wylle Þat fur out flowe as of flynt stonys Of þe helm & þe hed hewen at-tonys Þe stompe vnder stede feet in þe steel leueþ Þe ȝong duk Domycian of þe dyn herde And issed out of þe ost with eȝte hundred speres Ffel on þe fals folke vmbe-feldes hem sone As bestes bretnes hem alle & haþ his broþer holpen Þan Titus toward his tentis tourneþ hym sone Makeþ mynour[s] & men þe myne to stoppe After profreþ pes for pyte þat he hadde Whan he wist of her wo þat wer withyn stoken Bot Jon þe jenfulle þat þe Jewes ladde An oþer Symond of his assent forsoke þe profre Sayn leuer in þis lif lengen hem wer Þan any renke out of Rome [re]joycid her sorowe Sale in þe cite was cesed with þanne Was noȝt for besauntes to bye þat men bite myȝt For a ferþyng-worþ of fode floryns an hundred Princes profren in þe toun to pay in þe fuste Bot alle was boteles bale f[or] who so bred hadde Nold a goet haue [g]ouen for goode vpon [erþ]e Wymmen falwed faste & her face chaungen Ffeynte & fallen doun þat so fair wer S[ome] swallen as swyn som swart wexen Som lene on to loke as la[n]terne-hornes Þe morayne was so myche þat no man couþe telle Wher to burie in þe burwe þe bodies þat wer ded Bot wenten with hem to þe walle & walten [hem o]uere In-to þe depe of þe diche þe ded doun fallen Whan Titus told was þe tale to trewe god he vouched Þat [he] hadde profred hem pes & grete pite hadde Þo praied he Josophus to preche þe peple [to en-forme] [For] to saue hemself & þe cite ȝelde Bot Jon forsoke þe sawe so for to wyrche With Symond þat oþer segge þat þe cyte ladde Myche peple for þe prechyng at þe posterne ȝatis Tyen out of þe toun & Tytus bysecheþ To for[g]yue hem þe gult þat þey to god wroȝt & he graunteþ hem grace & gaylers bytauȝt Bot whan þey metten with mete vnmyȝty þey wer Any fode to defye so faynt was her strengþe Fful þe gottes of gold eche gome hadde Lest fomen fongen hem schold her floreyns þey eten Whan hit was broȝt vp abrode & þe bourd aspyed [Wiþou]ten leue of þat lord ledes hem slowen [G]oren euereche a gome & þe gold taken Ffayn[ere] of þe floreyns [þan of] þe frekes alle Ay wer þe ȝates vn[ȝ]et tille two ȝeres ende So longe þey [s]ouȝt hit by sege or þey þe [cite] hadde Eleuen hundred þousand Jewes in þe mene whyle Swalten while þe sweng last by swerd & by hunger Now Titus conseil haþ take þe toun to assayle To wynne hit on eche [wise] of warwolues handes Neuer pyte ne pees profre hem more Ne gome þat he gete may to no grace taken [þei] armen hem as tyt alle for þe werr Tyen euen to þe toun with trompis & pypys With nakerers & grete noyce neȝen þe walles Þer many styf man & stour stondiþ alofte Sir Sabyn of Surrye on a syde ȝede Þe ȝong duke Domycian drow to an oþer XV þousand [fiȝtynge] men eche freke hadde With many maner of engyne & mynours ynowe Tytus at þe toun ȝate with ten þousand helmes Merkeþ mynour[s] at þe wal wher þey myne scholde On ech side for þe assaute setteþ engynes & bold-brayned men in belfrayes heye Was noȝt bot dyn & dyt as alle deye scholde So eche lyuande lyf layeþ on oþer At eche kernel was cry & quasschyng of wepne & many burne atte brayd brayned to deþ Sir Sabyn of Surrye whyle þe saute laste Leyþ a ladder to þe wal & alofte clymyþ Wendeþ wyȝtly þeron þoȝ hym wo happned & vp stondiþ for ston[es] or for steel gere Syx he slow on þe wal sir Sabyn alone Þe seueþ hitteþ on hym an vnhende dynte Þat þe brayn out brast at boþ nose-þrylles & Sabyn ded of þe dynt in-to þe diche falleþ Lines 1201 through 1300 Þan Tytus wepyþ for wo & warieþ þe tyme Syþ he þe lede haþ lost þat he loue scholde Ffor now is a duke ded þe douȝtiest y trowe Þat euer stede bystrode or any steel wered Tytus on þe same side setteþ an engyne A sowe wroȝt for þe werr & to þe wal dryueþ Þat alle ouerwalte þer he went & wyes an hundred Wer ded of þat dynt & in þe diche lyȝten Þan Tytus heueþ vp þe honde & heuen kyng þonkeþ Þat þey þe dukes deþ han so der bouȝte Þe Jewes praien þe pees þis was þe paske-euene & þe comelich kyng þe keyes out rauȝten Nay traytours quoþ Tytus now take hem ȝourselfen Ffor schal no ward on ȝour wal vs þe way lette We han geten vs a gate a[g]en ȝour wille Þat schal be satled sour on ȝour sory kynde Or þe ȝates wer ȝolden þre ȝer byfore Ouer þe cyte wer seyn selcouþe þynges A bryȝt bren[n]yng swerd ouer þe burwe henged Without hond oþer helpe saue [of] heuen one Armed men in þe ayer vpon ost-wyse Ouer þe cyte wer seyn sundrede tymes A calf aȝen kynde calued in þe temple & eued an ewe-lombe at [þe] offryng-tyme A wye on þe wal cried wonder heye Voys fram est & fram west & fram þe four wyndis & sayd Wo wo wo worþ on ȝou boþe Jerusalem þe Jewen toun & þe joly temple Ȝif sayþ þe wye on þe walle o word mor Wo to þis worldly wone & wo to my-selue & deyd whan he don hadde þrow dynt of [a] slynge & haplich was had away how wyst I neuere & þan þey deuysed hem & vengaunce hit helde & wyten her wo þe wronge þat þey wroȝte Whan þey brutned in þe burwe þe byschup seint Jame Noȝt wolde acounte hit for Crist þe car þat þey hadde Bot vp ȝeden her ȝates [þey] ȝelden hem alle Without brunee & briȝt wede in her bar chertes fram none tille þe merke nyȝt neuer ne cesed Bot man after man mercy bysouȝt Tytus into þe toun takeþ his way Myȝt no man st[e]ken [i]n þe stret for stynke of ded corses Þe peple in þe pauyment was pite to byholde Þat we enfamy[n]ed for defaute whan hem fode wanted Was noȝt on ladies lafte bot þe lene bones Þat wer fleschy byfor & fayr on to loke Burges with balies as barels or þat tyme No gretter þan a grehounde to grype on þe medil Tytus tarieþ noȝt for þat bot to þe temple wendiþ Þat was rayled þe roof with rebies grete With perles & peritotes alle þe place ferde As glowande gledfur þat on gold st[r]ikeþ Þe dores ful of dyemauntes dryuen wer þicke & made merueylous lye with margeri perles Derst no candel be [ky]nde whan clerkes scholde rise So wer þey lemaunde lyȝt & as a lampe schonen Þe Romayns wayten on þe werke warien þe tyme Þat euer so precious a place scholde persche for her synne Out þe tresour to take Tytus commaundyþ Doun bete þe bilde brenne hit in-to grounde Þer was plente in þe place of precious stonys Grete gaddes of gold who-so grype lyste Platis pecis of peys pulsched vessel Bassynes of brend gold & oþer bryȝt ger Pelours masly made of metals fele In cop[r]e craftly cast & in clene seluere Peynted [with] pur gold alle þe place was ouer Þe Romayns renten hem doun & to Rome ledyn Whan þey þe cyte han souȝt vpon þe same wyse Telle couþe no tonge þe tresours þat þei þer foundn Jewels for joly men je[mewes] riche Ffloreyns of [fyne] gold no freke wanted Riche pelour & pane princes to wer Besantes bies of gold broches & rynges Clene cloþes of selke many carte-fulle Wele wanteþ no wye bot wale[þ] what hym lykeþ Now masouns & mynours han þe molde souȝte With pykeyse & ponsone persched þe walles Hewen þrow hard ston hadde hem to grounde Þat alle derkned þe diche for doust of þe pouder So þey wrouȝten at þe wal alle þe woke-tyme Tille alle þe cyte was serched & souȝt al aboute Maden wast at [a] wappe þer þe walle stode Boþe in temple & in tour alle þe toun ouer Nas no ston in þe stede stondande alofte Morter ne m[o]de walle bot alle to mulle fallen Noþer tymbr ne tre temple ne oþer Bot doun betyn & brent into blake erþe & whan þe temple was ouertourned Tytus commaundys In plowes to putte & alle þe place erye Suþ sow hit with salt & seide þis wordes Now is þis stalwourþe stede distroied for euere Tytus suþ sett hym on a sete riche As juge Jewes to jugge justise hym-self Criour[s] callen hem forþ as hy þat Crist slowen & beden Pilat apere þat prouost was þanne Pilat proffriþ hym forþ apered at þe bar & he frayneþ þe freke alle with fair wordis Whan Crist of dawe was don & to þe deþ ȝede Of þe he[þ]yng þat he hadde & þe hard woundis Lines 1301 through 1334 Þan melys þe man & þe matere tolde How alle þe ded was don whan he deþ þoled For þritty penyes in a poke his postel hym solde So was he bargayned & bouȝt & as a beste quelled Now corsed be he quoþ þe kyng þat þe cate made He wexe marchaunte amys þat þe money fenged To sille so precyous a prince for penyes so fewe [Thoghe ilke a ferthynge had bene ful florence an hundrethe] Bot I schal marchaundise make in mynde of þat oþer Þat schal be heþyng to hem or I hennes passe Alle þat here bodyes wol by or bargaynes make By lower pris for to passe þan þey þe prophete solde He made in myddel of [þe] ost a market to crye Alle þat cheffare wolde chepe chepis to haue Ay for a peny of pris who-so pay wolde Þrytty Jewes in a þrom þrongen in ropis So wer þey bargayned & bouȝt & broȝt out of londe Neuer suþ [on] þat syde cam segge of hem after Ne non þat leued in her lawe scholde in þat londe dwelle Þat tormented trewe God þus Titus commaundyþ Josophus þe gentile clerke a-jorneyd was to Rome Þer of þis mater & mo he made fayr bokes & Pilat to prisoun was do to pyne for euere At Viterbe þer he veniaunce & vile deþ þoled Þe wye þat hym warded wente on a tyme Hym-self fedyng with frut & feffyt hym with a per & forto paren his pere he praieþ hym ȝerne Of a knyf & þe kempe kest hym a trenchour & with þe same he schef hymself to þe herte & so þe kaytif as his kynde corsedlich deied Whan alle was demed & d[on]e þei drow vp tentis Trossen her tresour & trompen vp þe sege Wenten syngyng away & han her wille forþred & hom riden to Rome Now rede ous our lord