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The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin

¶ Who so bereŠ palm, þe tokne is þis, {f.73ra}

Þat in clene lif he is;

Þat is to vnderstonde

Hit is tokning of loue,

5000 Þat God him haueŠ wraththe forŠoue,

Þat bereŠ palm on honde.

¶ Þis is þe þridde þing

Þat palm bitokneŠ, wiŠouten lesing:

Whan man had palm inome,

1000 Þat man haueŠ in his riŠt

Þourgh þe vertu of Godes miŠt

Hise enemis ouercome.

¶ Þe ferthe þing is to wite,

Ase Godes clerkes findeŠ iwrite,

1500 No lesing hit ne is:

Þe man þat bereŠ palm aboute,

Alle hise enemis him sschulle doute,

Godes baner hit is.

¶ Þat bitokneŠ, wiŠouten nay,

2000 Þe palm on palmes Sonenday,

Þat man is al aboue;

Šif a man is clene ishriue

And halt penaunce him is iŠiue,

Þan haueŠ he Godes loue.

2500 ¶ Šif þi palm is riŠt inome,

Þan hauest þou ouercome

Þe fend þourgh flessches fiŠt;

Þanne beŠ þin enemis ouercome,

And here miŠt hem is binome,

3000 And þou bere palm ariŠt.

¶ Forsothe, we here clerkes telle

Alle þe fendes þat beŠ in helle

BeŠ in werre and wrake,

Whan a Cristeneman in londe

3500 BereŠ trewliche palm on honde

And haueŠ hise sinnes forsake.

¶ And Ihesu and his moder Marie

And alle here swete compaignie {f.73rb}

Þat beŠ in heuene iset

4000 BeŠ glade whan we beŠ idiŠt

For to beren oure palm ariŠt,

And habben oure sennes bet.

¶ For palm of alle flour is pris

Of rose rode, of flour de lis,

4500 Þat to oure leuedi was sent;

Þat oure leuedi was clene of lif,

Clene maiden and clene wif,

BitokneŠ verraiment.

¶ And clene virgine Šhe was also,

5000 Þat is heiere þan þe two:

Wif oþer maidenhede.

For womman mai lese virginite

WiŠ wille and þout, so mot ic þe,

WiŠouten flesschlich dede.

5500 ¶ But maidenhod mai non bi lorn

Of no womman þat is iborn,

WiŠouten mannes mone,

Ne no maiden wiŠ childe gon,

Ne neuer Šite ne dede non,

6000 Saue oure leuedi al one.

¶ Še was maiden and virgine

And bar a child wiŠouten pine,

Þat men clepeŠ Ihesus,

Þat in erthe man bicam

6500 And bataille vndernam

AŠen þe fend for ous.

¶ Þise beŠ þe toknes, wiŠouten lesing,

Whi Ihesu, heuene-king,

Sente here palm into erthe;

7000 For þere nas neuere womman bore,

Neiþer after ne bifore,

Þat was so mochel wurthe.

¶ Oure swete leuedi milde and fre –

Ihered and heghed mote Šhe be –

7500 Šhe makeŠ oure blisses newe; {f.73va}

Šhe tok þe palm þat God here sente,

And into here chaumbre anon Šhe wente

And dede on cloþes newe.

¶ Oure swete leuedi, maiden briŠt,

8000 Knelede adoun anonriŠt

And seide here bileue,

And bad a bone to God in heuene,

For hise dereworhte names seuene

Þat no fend sscholde hire greue.

8500 ¶ Wel owghte þanne al mankenne,

Þat habben ilein in dedli senne

Boþe dai and nyŠt,

Of þe fend to ben adrad,

Whan Šhe swich a bone bad

9000 Þat bar þe king of miŠt.

¶ Þo Šhe hadde bede þat bede,

Šhe wente anon in þe stede

To sibbe and fremde ek,

And made hem come togedere anon,

9500 And to hem alle made here mon,

And doelfulliche Šhe spek.

¶ Šhe saide ‘Ihesu, mi swete sone,

Nelle no lengere ich here wone,

Swich sonde he haueŠ me sent

1000 Bi an aungel þat cam fram heuene

WiŠ a ful milde steuene,

And aŠen is went.

¶ And ich biseche Šou par charite

Alle þat hider beŠ comen to me,

1050 Boþe heghe and lowe,

Šif ich habbe don vnriŠt,

Let me amenden be mi miŠt

And be mi geltes aknowe.’

¶ Alle þat stouden here bi {f.73vb}

1100 Of þo wordes were sori,

For Šhe was so hende,

And seide ‘Leuedi, what is þi þowt?

Haue merci on vs and leue vs nowt.

Whi wiltou fram vs wende?

1150 ¶ In muchel sorewe and muchel wo

Sschulle we liue whan þou art go,

Boþe dai and niŠt.

Iblessed be þou, swete leuedi,

To vs þou hauest be ful redi

1200 To seruen vs day and niŠt.’

¶ Þous þai saiden alle wiŠ tonge,

Þai wepen sore and honden wronge;

In herte hem was ful wo,

Þe poure þinges þat seke weren,

1250 Þo þai herden wiŠ here heren,

Þat Šhe wolde go.

¶ Þanne saide oure swete leuedi

To alle þo þat stoden hire bi,

Þat wopen and wrongen

1300 ‘Ne wepeŠ nowt. Holde Šou stille.

Ich mot do mi sones wille.

I ne mai hit nowt wiŠstonde.’

¶ Hire herte armede oure leuedi briŠt

And gan to wepe anonriŠt

1350 For pite þat Šhe seghŠ.

Þo made þai alle reuliche mone

And bigonne to wepe ech one,

Alle þat stoden hire neghŠ.

¶ Þo kam sone seint Jon

1400 And seghŠ oure leuedi make hire mon

And seide ‘Mi leuedi dere,

Tel me, leuedi milde of mod,

Who haueŠ seid þe ouwt bote god? {f.74ra}

Whi makest þou swuche chere?’

1450 Marie answerede wiŠ milde steuene

‘John, me kam a sonde fram heuene

Bi an aungel briŠt;

Mi sone, þat bowghte man so dere,

Nelle no lengere þat ich be here –

1500 Iblessed be his miŠt.

¶ Þerfore ich wepe and mai nowt blinne;

For we sschullen parten atwinne,

Min herte armeŠ sore;

And wel fawe ich wolde see

1550 Mi sone – iblessed mote he be –

I ne saughŠ him nowt wel Šore.’

¶ Þo John herde hou hit was,

He siŠte sore and saide ‘Allas,

Hou goŠ þis worldes winne!

1600 Leuedi, what sschal be mi red?

Certes, nou ich wolde bi ded,

Nou we sschulle parten atwinne.

¶ Mi louerd, þat deide on rode tre,

Into heuene is went fram me,

1650 Þat i ne mai wiŠ him speke,

And þou wult, leuedi, wende me fro?

Allas, allas, what me is wo,

Whi nelle myn herte breke?’

¶ ‘John’ quad oure leuedi þo,

1700 ‘Þerfore be þou no þing wo,

To heuene Šif ich am nome.

Ich wille biseche mi sone dere.

Þat þou ne sschalt nowt longe dwellen here;

To me þou sschalt come.’

1750 ¶ Þous oure leuedi and saint John

Either to oþer maden here mon,

Als Šhe stonden ifere. {f.74rb}

Hou aiþer vpon oþer wep,

Who so tok þerof kep,

1800 Pite hit was to here.

¶ Alle þe apostles weren went to preche,

In diuerse stedes þe poeple to teche,

In bok als Šhe moun here;

And alle hem cam toknyng

1850 Fram swete Ihesu, heuene-kyng

Þat þere þai comen ifere.

¶ Als God hit wolde for þe nones,

Alle þai comen þider at ones,

Ase manie als þere were,

1900 Sauue seint Thomas of Ynde –

Wo was him, he was bihinde –

He ne was nowt þere.

¶ Anon ase þe apostles seghen,

Seint John wep wiŠ his eghen,

1950 Þai weren amaid alle.

‘John’ quad Peter ‘leue fere,

Whi makst þous foule chere,

What is þe bifalle?’

¶ ‘Peter’ quad John ‘iwis,

2000 Formest þou sschalt telle me þis:

Hou be Šhe hider ilad?

Hou was Šoure counseil inome,

Þat Šhe beŠ alle hider icome,

Þat were so wide isprad?’

2050 ¶ Peter and hise felawes echon

Answereden seint John,

Ase manie ase þere were;

Þai saiden þai hadde wonder alle

Of þe kas þat was bifalle,

2100 Hou þei comen þere.

‘Nou wolle ich telle’ quad seint John, {f.74va}

‘Wharfore ich make mi mon

And whi ich wepe so sore:

An aungel cam fram swete Ihesus

2150 And to oure leuedi seide þous:

Šhe ne sschal ben here nammore.

¶ For no þing þat mai bitide

Šhe ne mot here no lengere abide

Ne libbe but daies þre.

2200 Swich tiding haueŠ þe aungel brout

Fram him þat al þe werld had wrout –

Iblessed mote he be.

¶ Þerfore Šhe beŠ hider isent,

To ben at here enterement,

2250 Mi leuedi milde and fre.

Nou mowe Šhe counforte me in þis kare,

Whan mi leuedi is fram me fare;

Welcome mote Še be.’

¶ Þo wiste þai Ihesu sente hem þider,

2300 And wenten forht alle togider

To oure leuedi, and seiden þous:

‘We beŠ at þi comaundement,

Hider to þe ous haueŠ isent

Þi sone swete Ihesus.’

2350 ¶ Þanne seide maiden Marie

To Peter and to his compaignie

‘Welcome mote Še be.

Iblessed wurht he dai and niŠt,

Mi sone Ihesu ful of miŠt,

2400 Þat sente Šhou hider to me.

¶ And ich biseche Šhou for his loue,

Mi sone þat sit vs alle aboue

Þat hider Šou had isent,

Ne leteŠ no Iwes ful of enuye

2450 Do mi bodi no vilainye, {f.74vb}

Whan þe soule is went.’

¶ Þo oure leuedi þous hadde iseid,

In a bed Šhe was ileid

And held hire þere ful stille;

2500 Alle þe apostles seten hire bi

And lokeden oure swete leuedi,

To abide Godes wille.

¶ Alle fillen aslepe echone,

Sauue oure swete leuedi alone.

2550 No slep wiŠ here þer nas;

Drede of deŠ was in here þout,

Þerfore Šhe ne slep nowt,

And no wonder hit nas.

¶ Of deŠ Šhe moste ben adrad;

2600 God þat on þe rode was sprad,

Als telleŠ þe profetie,

AŠens deŠ þat was to come,

Er he was wiŠ Jues nome,

He was afered to die.

2650 ¶ Holi writ telleŠ þous,

Þat oure louerd, swete Ihesus,

Þat is so milde of mod,

For al his power and his miŠt

Of deŠ he was so sore afriŠt,

2700 Þat he swatte blod.

¶ Þerfore Ihesu, ful of miŠt,

Sente adoun an aungel briŠt

To his moder þer Še lai;

For he wiste wel þourgh his miŠt,

he: MS Šhe.

2750 Þat Šhe wolde ben afriŠt

AŠen here deŠdai.

¶ Þe aungle liŠt doun bi here bed

And saide ‘Marie, be nowt adred

Of deht, þat is neghŠ, {f.75ra}

2800 For nowt þat þou sschalt here se.

Þous sente þi sone word bi me,

In heuene þat sit on heghŠ.’

¶ Quad oure leuedi milde and fre

‘Iblessed mote mi sone be,

2850 Þat me þat sonde sente.’

And þe aungel þat was so briŠt

Tok his leue anon ariŠt

And into heuene wente.

¶ AŠhens oure leuedi sscholde bi ded,

2900 Al þe erthe quok for dred

And after cam a þonder;

But oure leuedi dradde nowt,

For tiding þat þe aungel had browt

Of al þat grete wonder.

2950 ¶ Sone after þat anon

Þe apostles woken euerichon;

Þanne seide oure leuedi briŠt

‘Mi time comeŠ þat i sschal fare

Into blisse out of þis kare.

3000 WakeŠ a litel whiŠt.

¶ Bi toknes þat ich habbe iherd and sein,

On slepe while Šhe habben lein,

Iich wot mi deŠ is neghŠ.

Iheried and heighed mot he worthe,

3050 Swich tokne mi sone sente nouþe

Out of heuene on hegh.’

¶ Boþe niŠt and eke dai

Oure leuedi in here chaumbre lai,

To bide here sones wille;

3100 And þe apostles were ful hende,

Nolde neuer on fram here wende,

But helden hem þere al stille.

¶ Ihesu, þat þolede deŠ on tre, {f.75rb}

For to maken vs alle fre,

3150 Vpon gode Fridai,

A compaignie wiŠ him he nam,

And to his swete moder he cam

In chaumbre þer Še lai.

¶ Þo swete Ihesu ful of miŠte

3200 Was comen wiŠ his angles briŠte.

Þanne seide oure leuedi fre

‘Sone, blessed be þat stounde,

Þat ich Šede wiŠ þe ibounde,

And welcome mote þou be.’

3250 ¶ ‘Moder’ quad swet Ihesu þo,

‘WiŠ me to heuene þou most go

WiŠ al þis compaignie,

And wone þere wiŠouten ende

In þe blisse þat haueŠ non ende,

3300 But formest þou most die.’

¶ Þanne seide oure leuedi Marie

‘Leue sone, let me nowt die,

Ich beseche þe.

Leue sone, for mi loue

3350 Let mi deŠ be forŠoue.

Šif hit mai so be.’

¶ ‘Leue moder’ quad swete Ihesus,

‘For sothe, hit mot nede be þous,

Þi deŠ maist þou nowt fle,

3400 For al þat liueŠ, al sschal die,

Oþer elles, moder, ich moste lie,

And þat ne mai nowt be.’

¶ ‘Sone’ quad oure leuedi þo,

‘Ase þou wult, ich wille also;

3450 But ich biseche þe,

Let me neuere be so afriŠt,

Of þe fend to habbe no siŠt, {f.75va}

For þe loue of me.’

¶ ‘Moder’ quad Ihesu ‘ne doute þe nowt,

3500 Hit ne cam neuer in mi þout,

Þat þou sscholdest habben a siŠt

Of no fend, Šif ich mai,

But joie and murthe þat lesteŠ ay,

Boþe dai and niŠt.’

3550 ¶ Oure swete leuedi was glad þerfore

And blessed þe time, þat he was bore

And in hire bodi liŠte;

And mildeliche, wiŠouten pine,

Anon Še deide, þat swete virgine,

3600 Þat bar þe king of miŠt.

¶ And as hit telleŠ in þe bok,

Þe soule out of here bodi he tok,

Ihesu ful of miŠte,

And wiŠ murthe of aungeles steuene

3650 Hit was ibore to þe blisse of heuene,

Þere alle murthes be diŠte.

¶ Þo þe soule of maide Marie

WiŠ al þat faire compaignie

To heuene was iwent,

3700 Alle þe apostles þat þere were

Leiden þe bodi vppon a bere

Þourgh Godes comaundement.

¶ Þanne seide Ihesu anon

‘Peter, tak þine felawes echon,

3750 And nimeŠ vp þe bere,

And Še sschulle finde a redi pahtŠ

Into þe val of JosephahtŠ,

And burieŠ mi moder þere.

¶ And a palm þat ich here sente

3800 Bi an aungel þat to here wente, {f.75vb}

To warn here Še sscholde die,

John, þat palm þou sschalt bere,

Mi moderes bodi for to were

Fram Iwes ful of enuye.’

3850 ¶ Þo Ihesu þous hadde iseid,

Þe bodi þat on þe bere was leid,

Þere hit lai al stille;

Ihesu Šaf hit his blessing

And steghŠ to heuene þer he was king,

3900 As hit was his wille.

¶ Wel oughte we þat ben in erthe,

Were þai neuere so litel wurthe,

For to worsschipen louerd oure,

Whan swete Ihesu ful of miŠt

3950 Cam into erthe fram heuene-liŠt,

His moder for to onoure.

¶ And whoso nelle nowt be war,

To honoure þe moder þat him bar,

And his fader at nede,

4000 Swete Ihesu, heuene-kyng,

HaueŠ graunted hem luther ending

And sschort life to mede.

¶ And whoso honureŠ be his miŠt

His fader and his moder ariŠt,

4050 Als he sscholde do,

He sschal habbe ate byginning

Long lif and god endyng

And heuene-blisse þerto.

¶ Þo Ihesu was to heuene went

4100 And þe soule þider was sent,

Þanne seide seint John

‘Ga we don as God vs het,

Ga we forhtŠ vpon oure fet {f.76ra}

WiŠ þis cors anon.’

4150 ¶ Foure apostles þat þar were.

Token vp anon þe bere,

Þei nolde no lengere dwelle;

Þei wenten þourghhout þe toun

WiŠ a fair processioun

4200 Amang þo Iwes felle.

¶ Þe Iwes þat weren Godes fon

Herden þe apostles singen echon

And senten for to enquere

Of þe noise þat þai herde,

4250 Wuche manere hit ferde,

And wat noise hit were.

¶ Men tolde þe Iwes ful of enuie

Þat hit was houre leuedi Marie

Þat was boren þourgh þe toun

4300 To buriing, richeliche idiŠt

And wiŠ mani torches liŠt,

WiŠ fair processioun.

¶ Þan seide þe Iwes – ful mote hem falle –

‘Þis is a gret despit wihtalle,

4350 Þat ani man sschal here.

Marie, þat bar þat foule traitour,

Sschal be bore wiŠ swich honur

Among vs alle here.

¶ Ga we don hem sschame inow

4400 And caste þe bere amiddes þe slow.’

And anonriŠt

A Jw laide hond vpon þe bare,

And al fast he cleuede þare

Þourgh vertu of Godes miŠt.

4450 ¶ Oþer þat comen to don hire sschame,

Wexen boþe blinde and lame – {f.76rb}

Foule mote hem falle.

Blessed be þe king of miŠt,

Þat so sauede his moder riŠt

4500 Amang þe Jwes alle.

¶ Þe apostles hadde god game.

Þat þai Šede so to sschame,

Al was here plei.

Þei nere no þing agaste,

4550 But songen euere iliche faste

And wenten forht here way.

¶ Þe Jw þat cleuede vpon þe bere,

Knew Peter, þat was þere,

And seide wiŠinne a stonde

4600 ‘Bid þi lord þat is so hende

Deliure me vt of þis bende

Þat ich am inne ibounde.’

¶ Peter answerede þo

To him þat was ibounden so

4650 And in sorewe browt

‘Þat Ihesu, mi louerd, is ful of miŠt,

Nou þou miŠt se bi siŠt,

Þat þi bileue nis nowt.’

¶ Šif þou wilt bileue þis,

4700 Þat Ihesu almiŠti is,

Þat deide vpon þe tre,

Is Ihesu þat oure leuedi bar,

Ich wille bidden him, als i dar,

Habbe mercy on þe.’

4750 ¶ Þe Jw þat hangede on þe bere

Amang alle þat þere were

Turnede anon his þought

And seide ‘Ich bileue þis,

Þat Ihesu almiŠti is, {f.76va}

4800 And al þe werld made of nowt,

¶ And was boren of Marie,

And for þe poeple wolde die,

For me and oþer mo;

And bidde him, Šif his wille be,

4850 Þat he habbe pite of me

And bringe me vt of wo.’

¶ Anonri[Š]t in þat stede

Swete Ihesus herde his bede

And liured him of bondes;

4900 And he held hise hondes vpri[Š]t

And þonked Ihesu ful of miŠt

Alle hise swete sondes.

¶ Alle þe Jwes þat þere were

On him þat hangede on þe bere,

4950 In weie þer he Šede,

he: MS Še.

Spatten on him anonriŠt,

For he leuede on Godes miŠt,

And he ne tok non hede.

¶ Peter bad him gon and preche,

5000 And þat he sscholde þe Jwes teche,

Which was Godes miŠt;

And he wente and was ful glad

To do þat seinte Peter bad,

And bileued ariŠt.

5050 ¶ His bileue was trist and god,

And ful wel he vnderstod,

Who browte him out of wo,

And prechede þat er þe þridde dai

He made leuen on Godes lay

5100 An hondred Jwes and mo.

¶ Lete we nou þis miracle be

And of oure leuedi telle we

And of þe apostles echon,

Hou þai wenten bi a pahtŠ

5150 Into þe val of JosephahtŠ

An[d] buriede oure leuedi anon.

¶ Þo oure leuedi was buried þere, {f.76vb}

Alle þe apostles þat þere were

To þe cite þai Šede;

5200 And in þai wenten anon,

And were ful sori euerichon,

To murthe Šhe toke non hede.

¶ For er Šhe passe(n)den fram þe ston,

Þer cam to hem an aungel anon

5250 In þilke selue stede

And bad hem wende forht to preche

And þe poeple for to teche,

Als Šhe ere dede.

¶ Litel mete þat dai Šhe eten,

5300 But at þe mete longe þai seten

And maden mourninde chere;

Euerich to oþer made his mone,

Þat oure leuedi was fram hem gone,

Þat was hem lef and dere.

5350 ¶ While Šhe seten in þat place,

Swete Ihesu ful of grace

Kam þilke selue dai

WiŠ cumpaignie of aungeles briŠte,

And into JosephahtŠ he liŠte,

5400 Þere oure leuedi lai.

¶ Iblessed be hise names seuene.

He browte here soule vt of heuene

Into erthe amang mankenne;

Ihesu, as hit was his wille,

5450 Wente to þe bodi al stille

And putte þe soule þerinne.

¶ Þous swete Ihesus wis of red

Suffred his moder to be ded,

To fulfulle þe profecie,

5500 For in þe bok hit is told,

Þat al þe world, Šong and hold,

Al þat liueŠ, sschal die.

¶ Þerfore Ihesu ful of miŠt

Brouwte here soule fram heue[ne] liŠt

5550 WhiŠ murthe of aungles steuene; {f.77ra}

And soule and bodi and flessch and bon

Šhe was boren vp anon

Into þe blisse of heuene.

¶ Þough a man miŠte dwelle,

5600 Þer nis no man þat mai telle

Þe ioie in heuene was diŠt

AŠenes oure leuedi briŠt and sschene,

And þere Šhe was corouned qwene

WiŠ Ihesu ful of miŠt.

5650 ¶ On of þe apostles þer was,

Þat was ihoten seint Thomas

And was boren in Hynde,

Kam to þe buriingward

And brak his felawes foreward –

5700 He was to longe bihinde.

¶ And bi þe weie als he Šhede

To JosephahtŠ, Thomas tok hede,

And wiŠ is eghen he seghŠ

Oure swete leuedi, seinte Marie,

5750 WiŠ Ihesu and his compaignie,

To heuene where Šhe steghŠ.

¶ Seint Thomas was agast anon

Of hise felawes echon,

For he nas nowt þare;

5800 He was asschamed, seint Thomas,

And ful sori þerfore he was

And in muchele care.

¶ ‘Swete leuedi’ quad seint Thomas,

‘At þi buriing nowt i nas,

5850 As ich sscholde habbe be;

Þat ich bodiliche telle mai,

Þat ich saugh þe here todai,

Som tokne send þou me.

¶ But þou sende me som tokning,

5900 Mine felawes wille leue no þing,

Þat ich saugh þe here.

Help me, leuedi, leue lif,

Leste þer wexe bitwene vs strif,

Whan we comen ifere.’

5950 ¶ Oure leuedi – blessed mote Šhe be. {f.77rb}

Of Thomas hadde gret pite,

In kare þat was ibounde;

Þe gerdel of hire middel smal,

Nowt a gobet þerof but al,

6000 Šhe let falle to grounde.

¶ And Thomas was war of þat,

Vpon knowes þere he sat,

And þe gurdel he tok;

And oure leuedi steghŠ,

6050 And nammore of hire he ne seghŠ,

As witnesseŠ holi bok.

¶ Seint Thomas ne reste neuere on gronde,

Her he hadde hise felawes founden,

Þer þei seten on rowe;

6100 And anon as Šhe were mette,

WiŠ feire wordes he hem grette

And mekede him to hem lowe.

¶ Þe god apostel, seint John,

He spak to Thomas anon,

6150 Þo he tok of him hede,

And seide to him ‘Thomas of Hinde,

Euere more þou art bihinde.

Where were þou at þis nede?’

¶ Þous þe apostel, seint John,

6200 Blamede seint Thomas anon

For he nas nowt þere,

And echon þat euer þer was,

Alle blamede seint Thomas,

Ase manie als þer were.

6250 ¶ Thomas of Hinde stod al stille

And let hem habben al here wille

And seggen al here þout;

‘Felawes’ quad Thomas ‘so mot ich þe.

I saugh oure [leuedi] latter þan Šhe,

6300 Þerfore ne chideŠ me nowt.’

¶ ‘Thomas, Thomas’ quad seint John,

‘We laiden hire in a þrough of ston,

And þere we here lete.

Which manere miŠt hit be

6350 Þat þou here seghe latter þan we? {f.77va}

We ne dede seththen but ete.’

¶ ‘Felawes’ quad Thomas þo,

‘Forsothe, Šhe is þenne igo

And went ellesware.

6400 Iich warne Šhe wel, so mot ich þriue,

Þough Šhe highen neuere so bliue,

Šhe ne sschulle nowt finde hire þare.’

¶ ‘Þous þou ferdest’ quad Peter þo,

‘Þo swete Ihesus was ago

6450 And risen þourgh his miŠt:

Er þou haddest þiself ifounde

WiŠ þin hond his bitter wonde,

Þou noldest nowt leuen hit riŠt.’

¶ ‘Peter’ quad Thomas ‘so mot ich þe,

6500 Ich leue miself bet þan þe;

Ich knowe oure leuedi ful wel.

WiŠ boþe myn eghen ich hit seghŠ.

Into heuene where Šhe steghŠ,

Boþe fle[s]ch and fel.

6550 ¶ And ich or trowede in mi þought,

Þat Še nolden leue me nowt,

And ich bad hire a bone:

Šhe sscholde sende me som toknyngh,

Þat ich was toward here burying.

6600 And Šhe graunted me sone.

¶ Þer i sat vpon mi kne,

Leuedi, blessed mote Šhe be,

Flour of wommen alle,

Þe gerdel þat Šhe werede in herthe –

6650 Ihered and heghed mote Šhe werthe –

Bifore me Šhe let falle.

¶ And Šif Šhe nelleŠ nowt leue me,

Here Šhe sschulleŠ sone ise,

I ne segge nowt amis.

6700 Þe gerdel þat Šhe werede hereselue

Šhe sente tokne to Šou twelue,

And, lo, here hit is.’

¶ Þo seint John þe gerdel seghŠ,

He held vp boþe honden on heghŠ

6750 And knelede adoun ful lowe, {f.77vb}

And kuste þe gerdel anonriŠt,

Þo he hadde þeroffe a siŠt,

And seide ‘þis gerdel ich knowe.

¶ Mi god felawes’ quad seint John,

6800 ‘In Josephaht in þe ston,

Boþe were buried ifere;

Þo þe þrough was ischut,

Þe gerdel was aboute here knut.

Hou hit euere kam here?

6850 ¶ I rede we wenden and enquere

Wheþer þe swete bodi be þere

Þat bar swete Ihesus,

Oþer Šhe is out of monument

Irisen and to heuene went,

6900 Als Thomas telleŠ vs.

¶ Wende we þider alle twelue

And se we þe sothe oure selue.

Þanne mowe we be ful bold.

Šif Šhe nis nowt in þe ston,

6950 Þanne hit is lesing non,

Þat Thomas haueŠ vs told.’

¶ Alle twelue were at on

And wenten to þe þrough of ston

Þere oure leuedi was leid.

7000 No þing in þe ston þer nas.

Þo wiste þai wel þat soht hit was

Þat Thomas hadde iseid.

¶ ‘Lo! felawes’ quad Thomas þo,

‘Þe swete bodi is ago

7050 Þat hider was ibrowt;

For Še nolde nowt leue me,

Nou Še mowen Šoureseluen se

Þat ich ne gabbed nowt.’

Þo wenten alle þe apostles anon,

7100 Alle abouten þe ston

And knouledyn adoun,

To honoure þer þe bodi lai;

Al an houre of a dai

Þei leien in oreisoun.

7150 ¶ And anon Ihesu Crist {f.78ra}

Sente a swithe gret mist

Aboute þe apostles twelue.

And echon in diuerse stede,

To prechen, ase þai here deden,

7200 Was boren bi himselue.

Alle were awondred in here þowt,

Hou sone Šhe were atwinne ibrowt,

And no wonder hit nas;

But swete Ihesu ful of miŠt,

7250 Þat made boþe dai and niŠt,

Ase he wolde, also hit was.

¶ Iblessed be he, swete Ihesus,

Þat swich a loue had kud vs

Þour[gh] his mochel miŠt,

7300 To crownen a womman of oure kinde

Qwene in heuene – habbeŠ hit in minde,

And serueŠ God ariŠt.

A gret loue he kudde vs anoþer:

He bicam in erthe oure broþer,

7350 And oure fader he is

And bowte vs out of seruage

And Šaf ous to oure heritage

Heuenriches blis.

¶ Wel owte we be blithe of mod:

7400 Heuene is oure þourgh kinde of blod,

Oure and oure childre;

Swete Ihesu deide þerfore

And bowte hit þo hit was lore

Þourgh trespas of oure eldre.

7450 He were a fol þat miŠte chese

And wolde þat heritage lese

For loue of worldes winne.

Ech man, ase forht as he mai,

Þenk vpon domesdai

7500 And sschome dedli sinne.

¶ Nou habbe Še herd þe resoun

Of þe swete assumpsioun

Of oure leuedi hende.

Ihesu, þat is here swete sone,

7550 Šiue ous grace for to wone

In ioie þat neuere schal ende.