<B CMKENTSE>
<Q M2 IR HOM KSERM>
<N KENTISH SERM>
<A X>
<C M2>
<O 1250-1350>
<M 1250-1350>
<K CONTEMP>
<D KL>
<V PROSE>
<T HOMILY>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X X>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U X>
<E X>
<J X>
<I X>
<Z INSTR REL>
<S SAMPLE X>


[^TEXT:  KENTISH SERMONS.
SELECTIONS FROM EARLY MIDDLE ENGLISH
1130-1250, PART I.
ED. J. HALL.
OXFORD: THE CLARENDON PRESS, 1963 (1920).
PP. 214.1 - 222.284^]

[^A NUMBER OF LEXICAL ITEMS SPELT AS TWO WORDS IN 
THE EDITION ARE SPELT AS ONE WORD IN THE VERSION BELOW, 
E.G. ibue (ED. i bue); apierede (ED. a pierede)^]

<P 214>
[} (\SERMO JN DIE EPIPHANIE.\) }]

   (\Cum natus esset ihesus in betleem iude in diebus
herodis regis ecce magi ab oriente uenerunt ierosolimam
dicentes. Vbi est qui natus est rex iudeorum.\)
We redeth i +to holi godespelle of te dai ase ure louerd        #
godalmichti
ibore was of ure lauedi seinte Marie i +te cite of bethleem.    #
+tet si
sterre was seauinge of his beringe. swo apierede te +to +trie   #
kinges of 
he+tenesse. tojanes +to sunne risindde. And al swo hi biknewe
his beringe bi +to sterre. swo hi nomen conseil betuene
hem +tet hi wolden gon for to hyne anuri. and +tet hi wolden    #
offri
him gold and stor and Mirre. And al swo hi hedden aparailed     #
here
offrendes swo kam si sterre +tet yede to for hem in to          #
iuresalem. +Tere
hi speken to herodes and hym askede. wer was se king of gyus    #
+tet
was ibore. And herodes iherde +tet o king was ibore +tet        #
solde bi
<P 215>
king of geus. swo was michel anud. and alle hise men. for +tet  #
he was
ofdred for to liese his king riche of ierusalem. +To dede he    #
somoni
alle +to wyse clerekes +tet ku+te +te laghe and hem askede wer  #
crist
solde bien ibore. Hi answerden +tet ine ierusalem. for hit      #
was swo
iseid and behote hwilem bi +to profetes. And al swo herodes     #
iherde
+tis. swo spac te +to +trie kinges. and hem seide. Go+t ha      #
seide into
bethleem and sechez +tet child. and wanne ye hit habbeth        #
hifunde swo
anuret hit. and efter +tet cometh to me. and hic wille go and   #
anuri
hit. +Tet ne seide he nocht herodes for +tet he hit wolde
onuri; ac for +tet he hit wolde slon. yef he hit michte         #
finde. +To
kinges hem wenten and hi seghen +to sterre +tet yede bifore     #
hem.
al wat hi kam over +to huse. war ure louerd was. and al swo hi  #
hedden
ifonden ure louerd; swo hin anurede. and him offrede hire       #
offrendes.
Gold. and. stor. and Mirre. +To nicht efter +tet aperede an     #
ongel of
heuene in here slepe ine metinge and hem seide and het. +tet    #
hi ne
solde ayen wende be herodes. ac be an o+ter weye wende into     #
hire
londes. Lordinges and leuedis +tis is si glorius miracle. and   #
si
glorius seywinge of ure lordes beringe. +tet us tel+t +tet      #
holi godespel of
te day. and ye muee wel understonde be +to speche of +te        #
godspelle
+tet me sal to dai mor makie offrinke +tan an o+tren dai. and   #
+ter of us
yeft ensample +to +trie kinges of he+tenesse. +tet comen fram   #
verrene
londes ure louerd to seche. and him makie offrinke. And
be +tet hi offrede gold. +tet is cuuenable yeftte to kinge;     #
seawede +tet
he was sothfast kink. and be +tet hi offrede Stor. +tet me      #
offrede wylem
be +to ialde laghe to here godes sacrefise; seawede +te he was  #
verray
prest. And be +tet hi offrede Mirre. +tet is biter +ting.       #
signefieth +tet hi
hedde beliaue +tet he was diadlich. +tet diath solde suffri     #
for manken.
Nu ihiereth wet signefieth +tet Gold. +tet Stor. +tet Mirre.    #
And offre
we Gostliche to ure lorde. +tet i offrede flesliche. +Tet Gold  #
+tet is
bricht and glareth ine +to brichtnesse of +to sunne.            #
signefieth +te gode
beleaue. +tet is bricht ine +te gode cristenemannes herte. Si   #
gode
beleaue licht and is bricht ine +to herte of +to gode Manne     #
ase gold.
Offre we +tanne god almichti god gold. Beleue we                #
stedefastliche.
+tet he is fader and sune. and holy gost. is onlepi god. Wo so  #
hath
beleaue ine gode swo offreth him god gold +tet Stor
signefied gode werkes. for ase se smech of +te store wanne hit  #
is ido
<P 216>
into +te ueree and goth upward to +to heuene and to gode ward   #
Swo
amuntet si gode biddinge to gode of +to herte of +to gode       #
cristenemanne.
Swo we mowe sigge +tet stor signefieth +te herte. and se smech  #
luue of
gode. Bi +tet Mirre +tat is biter. and be +to biternesse        #
defendet +tet
Cors +tet is mide ismered. +tet no werm nel comme ihende;       #
signefiet
+to gode werkes +tet is biter to +to yemernesse of ure flesce.  #
Si Mirre
signefiet uastinge. for +to luue of gode wakie. go ine          #
pelrimage. uisiti +te
poure. and to sike. and to do alle +te gode +tet me may do for  #
godes luue.
+to ilke +tinges so bieth bitere to +to wrichede flessce. Ac    #
al so si mirre
loket +tet bodi +tet no werm ne may +ter ihende come; so us     #
defendet
+to ileke +tinges fram senne. and fram +te amonestement of +to  #
dieule
+tet ha ne may us misdo. Lordinges nu ye habbet iherd +to       #
signefiance
of +to offringes +tet maden +to +trie kinges of
he+tenesse to gode. hye habbet to gode ioffred of yure          #
selure. and of
yure er+tliche godes. Ne ne offreth him nacht onlepiliche to    #
day. ac
alle +to daies i +to yere gostliche. Gold. and Stor. and        #
Mirre. ase hic.
habbe itold. Gold; fore Gode belaue. Stor; for holy urisun.
Mirre. for gode werkes. +tet bieth +to offringes. +tet ure      #
louerd beseke+t
auerichedaye +to cristenemanne. and werefore se xpistenman yef  #
has
de+t; of seruet +to blisce of heuene. And ihesu crist +tet for  #
us wolde
an er+te bi bore. and anured of +to +trie kinges of painime;    #
he yeu[{e{]
us his grace of +to holi gost in ure hertes wer bi we moue      #
hatie +to ileke
+tinges +tet he hatedh. and lete +to ileke +tinges +tat he      #
forbiet. and
luuie +to ilek +tinkes +tat he luued. and do +to ilek +tinges   #
+tat he hoot.
ine him so bileue and bidde and serui. +tet we mowe habbe +to   #
blisce
of heueriche. (\Quod uobis prestare dignetur per.\) 

[} (\DOMINI[{CA{] SECUNDA POST OCTAVAM EPIPHANIE. SERMO         #
EUAN.\) }]

   (\Nuptie facte sunt in chana galilee. & erat mater
ihesu ibi. Vocatus est autem ihesus ad nuptias &
discipuli eius.\) +Tet holi godspel of to day us tel+t. +tet a  #
bredale
was imaked ine +to londe of ierusalem. in ane cite +tat was     #
icleped
Cane in +ta time +tat godes sune yede in er+te flesliche. ac    #
To +ta bredale
<P 217>
was ure leuedi seinte Marie. and ure louerd ihesus crist and    #
hise
deciples. so iuel auenture +tet wyn failede. at +tise bredale.  #
+to seide
ure leuedi seinte Marie. to here sune. hi ne habbet no wyn.     #
And ure
louerd answerde and sede to hire. Wat belongeth hit to me       #
o+ter to
+te wyman. Nu ne dorste hi namore sigge. ure lauedi. Hac hye    #
spac
to +to Serganz +tet seruede of +to wyne. and hem seyde. al      #
+tet he hot
yu do; so do+t. And ure louerd clepede +te serganz and seyde to
hem. ffol vellet ha seyde. +tos ydres. +tet is to sigge +tos    #
Croos. o+ter
+tos faten of watere. for +ter were. vi. ydres of stone. +tet   #
ware iclepede
ba+tieres wer +to gius hem wesse for clenesse. and for          #
religiun. Ase
+te custome was ine +to time. +to serganz. uuluelden +to faten
of watere and hasteliche was iwent into wyne. bie +to wille     #
of ure
louerde. +to seide ure lord. to +to serganz. Moveth togidere    #
and
bereth to Architriclin. +tat was se +tet ferst was iserued.     #
And al so
hedde idrunke of +tise wyne +tet ure louerd hedde imaked of     #
+te
watere; ha niste nocht +te miracle. ac +to serganz wel hit      #
wiste. +tet
hedde +tet water ibrocht. +to seide Architriclin to +to         #
bredgume.
O+ter men seyde he do+t for+t +tet beste wyn +tet hi habbe+t    #
ferst at
here bredale. and +tu hest ido +te contrarie +tet +tu hest      #
ihialde +tet
beste wyn wath nu; +Tis was +te commencement of +to miracles    #
of ure
loruerde +tet he made flesliche in er+te. and +to beleuede on   #
him; his
deciples. Ine sigge nacht +tet hi ne hedden +ter before ine him
beliaue; ac fore +te miracle +tet hi seghe; was here beliaue    #
+te more
istreng+ted. Nu ye habbe+t iherd +te Miracle. nu ihere+t        #
+te signefiance.
+Tet water bitockned se euele xpisteneman. for
al so +tet water is natureliche schald and a kel+t alle +to     #
+tet hit drinke+t;
so is se euele xpisteman chald of +to luue of Gode. for +to     #
euele
werkes +tet hi do+t. Ase so is Lecherie. spusbreche. Roberie.
Manslechter. husberners. bakbiteres. and alle o+tre euele       #
deden.
+turch wyche +tinkes man ofserueth +tet fer of helle. Ase       #
godes oghe
mudh hit seid. and alle +to signefied +tet water; +tet +turch   #
yemere
werkes. o+ter +turch yemer iwil liesed +to blisce of heuene.    #
+tet wyn +tat
is naturelliche hot ine him selue; and anhet alle +to +tet      #
hit drinked;
betokned alle +to +tet bied anheet of +te luue of ure lorde.    #
Nu
<P 218>
lordinges ure lord god almichti. +tat hwylem in one stede. and  #
ine
one time flesliche makede of watere wyn; yet habbe+t manitime
maked of watere wyn; gostliche. wanne +turch his grace maked of
+to euele manne good man. of +te orgeilus umble. of +te lechur  #
chaste.
of +te ni+tinge large. and of alle o+tre folies; so ha maket of
+to watere wyn. +tis his si signefiance of +te miracle. Nu      #
loke euerich
man toward him seluen. yef he is win; +tet is to siggen yef he  #
is
anheet of +to luue of gode. o+ter yef he is water. +tet is yef  #
+tu art chold
of godes luue. yef +tu art euel man; besech ure lorde +tet he   #
do ine +te
his uertu. +tet ha +te wende of euele into gode. and +tet he    #
do +te do
swiche werkes +tet +tu mote habbe +to blisce of heuene. (\Quod  #
uobis.
prestare dignetur.\)

[} (\DOMINICA TERCIA POST OCTAVAM EPIPHANIE.\) }]

   (\Cvm descendisset ihesus de monte. secute sunt eum
turbe multe. Et ecce leprosus ueniens adorabat eum
dicens. Domine si uis; potes me mundare.\) +Tet holi
godspel of to dai us tel+t. +tet ure lord ihesus crist. ase he  #
hedde iyue
+to newe laghe. in one montayne. and hedde imaked +tet          #
formeste
sarmun +tet euerte made in er+te; suo him folgede michel folk.  #
Swo
kam a leprus. a sikman and onurede him and seyde. Lord. 
lord ha seide yef +tu wilt; +tu me micht wel makie hool of      #
mine lepre.
of mine euele. And ure lord him seide and spredde his hond. and
tok his lepre; hic wille seide ure lord +tet +tu bi clensed.    #
and al so
ra+te he was iwarisd of his maladie. Nu lordinges +tis is +te   #
miracle
+tet +tet godspel of te dai us tel+t. ac great is +te           #
tokningge. Se leprus
signefiez +to senuule men. si lepre +to sennen. +tet scab       #
bitokned +to
litle sennen. si lepre betokned +to grete sennen +tet biedh     #
diadliche.
Ase so is lecherie. spusbreche. Gauelinge. Roberie. +tefte.     #
Glutunie.
drunkenesse. and alle +to sennen +turch wiche me liest +to      #
luue of gode
almichti and of alle his haleghen. +turch Scab nis nacht man    #
and
wyman deseiurd fram mannes felarede. Ne for +to litle sennen.   #
+tet
noman hine ne mai loki. nis noon deseurd pardurableliche fram
gode; ne fram holi chereche. for lepre is man deseurd of +to    #
compainie
<P 219>
of gode and of alle his angles. +tat is to sigge for diadliche
senne. Nu ye habbet iherd +te miracle and wet hit
betokned. Nu loke we yef we bie+t clene of +tise lepre. +tat    #
is to
siggen of diadliche senne. Se [{leprus{] liest +te felarede of  #
o+ter men;
for se +tynteen et sterft inne diadliche senne; so forliest     #
+te compainie of
gode. And yef ye bie+t clene; loke+t +tet ye ne falle nocht.    #
+tet ye ne
bie deseuerd fram +te felarede of gode almichti. +turch none    #
euele
werkes +turch none euele iwil. And yef ye bie+t leprus +turch   #
diadliche
senne. greded gode Merci; +tet +to leprus yaf hel+te ine        #
bodie; +tet
he us yeue gostliche hel+te. in ure saule. Come+t to srifte     #
forleted
yure sennen and +ter of bie+t asoiled. +tanne sollie habbe      #
+to hel+te of
heuene. +tat is lif withuten ende. (\Quod uobis. prestare
dignetur. per.\)

[} (\DOMINICA QUARTA POST OCTAVAM EPIPHANIE.\) }]

   (\Ascendente ihesu in nauiculam. secuti sunt eum discipuli
eius. Et ecce motus factus est magnus in mari. Ita
ut nauicula operiretur fluctibus. Erat autem illis; uentus
contrarius.\) We redeth i +te holi godspelle of to dai
+tat ure lord ihesu crist yede one time in to ane ssipe and     #
ise deciples
mid him in to +te see. And so hi were in +to ssipe so aros a    #
great
tempeste. of winde. And ure lord was ileid him don to slepe.    #
ine +to
ssipe. er +tane +tis tempeste aroos. Hise deciples hedde gret   #
drede of
+tise tempeste. so awakede hine. and seiden to him. lord saue   #
us; for
we perisset. And ha wiste wel +tet hi ne hadde nocht gode       #
beleaue
ine him; +to seide to hem. wat dret yw folk of litle beliaue.   #
+To aros
up ure lord and tok +tane wynd and to see; and al so ra+te hit  #
was
stille. And al se +to men +tet weren in +to ssipe hedde iseghe  #
+to
miracle so awondrede hem michel. +Tis is si vaire miracle +tet  #
+tet
godspel of te day us tel+t. +Tere fore sal hure beliaue bie     #
+te betere
astreng+ted. Ine swiche lorde +tet siche miracle mai do and     #
do+t wanne
he wile. Ac hit is us nyede +tet se +tet sucurede hem ine +ta   #
peril; +tet
us sucuri ine ure niedes. +Tet we clepie to him +tet ha us
helpe. and he hit wille do ble+teliche. yef we him bisecheth    #
merci mid
good iwille al so him seluen seith bi +te holi writes. (\Salus  #
populi 
ego sum. & cetera.\) Hic am ha sei+t helere of +te folke. wanne
<P 220>
hi to me clepiedh ine hire sorghen. and ine hire niedes hic hi  #
sucuri
and beneme hem al here euel with ute ende. Grede we to him
merci sikerliche. yef se deuel us wille acumbri +turch senne.   #
+Turch
prede o+ter +turch anvie. o+ter +turh wre+the. o+ter +turch     #
o+ter manere of
diadliche senne grede we to him Merci. and sigge we him lord    #
sauue
us +tet we ne perissi. and +tet he us deliuri of alle eueles.   #
and +tet ha
yef us swiche werkes to done in +tise wordle; +tet +to saulen   #
of us
mote bien isauued a domes dai. and gon to +to blisce of heuene.
(\Quod ipse prestare dignetur.\)

[} (\DOMINICA IN SEXAGESIMA. SERMO.\) }]

   (\Simile est regnum celorum homini patrifamilias. qui
exijt primo mane conducere operarios in uineam
suam.\)
 
   Hure lord godalmichti to us speke+t ine +to holi
godespelle of te day. and us seaweth one
forbisne. +tet yef we uilleth don his seruise. +tet we sollen   #
habbe
+to mede wel griat ine heuene. For so seyth ure lord ine +to    #
godspelle
of to dai. +tet on goodman was. +tat ferst uut yede bi +te      #
Moreghen
for to here werkmen in to his winyarde. for ane peny of         #
forewerde.
and al so he hedde imad +tise forewerde; so ha sente hi into    #
his wynyarde.
so ha dede at undren and at midday al so. +to +tat hit was
ayen +tan euen; so ha kam into +te Marcatte. so he fond         #
werkmen
+tet were idel. +to seyde he to hem. Wee bie ye idel; and hie   #
answerden;
and seyde. lord; for we ne fonden te dai +tat us herde. Go+t
nu ha seide se godeman into mine wynyarde; and hic +tat richt   #
is;
yu sal yeue. +tos yede into +tise wynyarde. mid +to o+tre. +to  #
+tet hi wel
euen. +to seide +te lord to his sergant. Clepe +to werkmen and  #
yeld
hem here trauail. and agyn to hem +tat comen last. and go al    #
to +to
ferste. yef eueriche of hem ane peny. Se sergant dede
+tes lordes commandement. so paide +to werkmen and yaf euerich  #
ane
peny. And so hi seghen +to +tet bi +te Morghen waren icomen.    #
+tet
hi +tet waren last icume. Hedden here euerich ane peny; +To     #
wenden
hi more habbe; +to gruchchede hi amenges hem. and seyden. +tos
laste on ure habbe+t itravailed. and +tu his makest velaghes    #
to us. +tet
habbeth al deai ibye ine +tine wynyarde. and habbet+t i+toled   #
+te berdene
<P 221>
of +to pine. and of +to hete of al +to daie. +to ansuerede se   #
gode man
to on of hem. Frend ha seide i ne do +te noon unricht. Wat for
+tingketh +tat hic do min iwil; and al so ure lord hedde itold  #
+tise
forbisne; so he seide efter ward. so sulle +to uerste bie       #
last; and +to
laste ferst. Fele bie+t iclepede; ac feaue bie+t icornee. Nu    #
ihere+t
+te signefiance. +tes godeman; betockne+t godalmichti ure       #
lord. Se
winyard betockne+t. +te seruise of ure lorde. +te werkmen.      #
betockne+t
alle +to +tet do+t cristes seruise. +to tides of +to daie;      #
betokne+t
+te time of +tis world. Bie +te Morghen iherde ure lord         #
werkmen
in to his winyarde. +to ha sente +te patriarches. ate           #
begininge of +tis
wordl. ine is seruise. +tet +turch gode beleauee him seruede.   #
and seden
his techinge to alle +to +tet hi hedden hit to siggen. Also at  #
undren.
and at midday. iherede he werkmen into is winyarde. +to ha      #
sente be
+to time +tet Moyses was and aaron. and i +te time of his       #
prophetes
dede he mani god man in to his seruise; +tet +turch griate      #
luue to him
helden. and deden his seruise. To yenes +tan euen; godalmichti
ihierde werkmen in to his winyarde. +to +tat he alast of +tis   #
wordle
naam fles and blod ine +te Maidene seinte Marie. and seauede    #
ine +tis
world. +to fond he Men. +tet al day hedden ibe idel. Werefore   #
he
fond +tet he+ten folk +tet be +to time +tet was igo; hedden.    #
ibe ut of
godes beliaue. and of his luue. and of his seruise. Hi ne       #
hedden
nocht ibe idel for to done +to deueles werkes. Ac +tere fore
seith +tet godspel +tet hedden ibe idel; +to +tet hi nedden     #
bileued ane
god almichti. ne him louie ne him serui. For al +tat is ine     #
+tis wordle. 
+tet man is. bote yef ha luuie godalmichti. and him serui; al   #
hit him
may +tenche forlore and idelnesse. +to a resunede ure lord      #
+te paens
be ise apostles. vre fore hi hedden ibe so longe idel. +to      #
+tet hi ne
hedden ibe in his seruise; +to ansuerden +te paens; +tet non    #
ne
hedden iherd hij. +tet is to sigge +tet hi ne hedden neuer te   #
iheed
prophete ne apostle ne prechur. +tet hem seaude ne hem tachte   #
hu
i solden ine gode beleue ne him serui. Go+t a seide ure lord    #
inte mine
winyarde. +tet is inte mine beleaue. and hic yw sal yeue yure   #
peni +tet
is heueriche blisce. +to he+ten men yeden be +ta daghen into    #
cristes
seruise; and we +tet of hem bie+t icume. and habbe+t            #
cristendom
<P 222>
underfonge; bie+t ientred into cristes seruise +tere fore we    #
sollen
habbe ure peni +tet is +te blisce of heuene. al so wel ase
+to +tet comen bi +te Morghen. for al so we hopie+t for te      #
habbe heueriche
blisce; ase +to patriarches and +to prophetes. and +to          #
apostles and
+to gode men +tet hwilem ine +tis world godalmichti serueden.   #
So as
we habe+t iseid of diuers wordles. +tet god almichti dede       #
werkmen
into his winyarde; so we mowe sigge of +to elde of eueriche     #
men.
For godalmichti de+t werkmen into his winyarde bi +te Morghen.
Wanne ha clepe+t of swiche +ter bie+t into his seruise ine      #
here childhede. 
Wanne hi of +tis world wende+t. beswo +tet hi ne be ine no
diadlich senne. At undren ha sent men in to his winyarde. +tet  #
a
turne+t into his seruise. of age of man. At Middai wanne +to    #
dai is
al+ter hotestd betokned +to men of .xxx=ti=. wyntre. o+ter of   #
furti. for +te
nature of Man is of greater streng+te and of greater hete ine   #
+to age.
Se euen bitockne+t. elde of Man. +tet is se ende of +te liue.   #
Vre lord
de+t werkmen in to his winyarde agenes +to euen; Wanne
fele ine here elde wende+t ut of here senne in to cristes       #
seruise. As so
solle hi habbe +to blisce of heuene; ase +to +tet ferst comen   #
into +te
winyyarde. Nocht for +tan for +tise griate bunte +tet ure iord  #
yef+t ne
solde no man targi for to wende to godalmichti ne him to        #
serui. for al
so seid +tet holi writ +tet non ne wot +tane dai of his         #
dia+te. for Man
mai longe liues wene and ofte him leghe+t se wrench. Nu gode    #
men
ye habbe+t iherd +tet godspel and +te forbisne. Nu loke+t yef   #
ye bie+t
with inne +to winyarde. +tet is +tet yef ye bie+t ine godes     #
seruise yef ye
bie+t with ute diadliche senne yef ye hatied +tat he hate+t.    #
yef ye luuie+t
+tet he luue+t. and do+t +tet he hot. and but ye do; ye bie+t   #
hut of his
winyarde. +te is ut of his seruise. and ye do+t +tet ure lord   #
hoot. so ye
ofserue+t +tane peni. +tet is heueriche blisce. ye ofserue+t    #
+tet good +tet
noon herte ne may i+tenche ne noon yare ihere ne tunge telle.
+to blisce +tet god halt alle +to +tet hine luuie+t. +tider     #
lord
granti us to cumene. (\Quod ipse prestare dignetur. per.\) 



