<B CMSIEGE>
<Q M4 NI ROM SJERUS>
<N SIEGE JERUS>
<A X>
<C M4>
<O 1420-1500>
<M 1420-1500>
<K CONTEMP>
<D WMO>
<V PROSE>
<T ROMANCE>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X X>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U X>
<E X>
<J X>
<I X>
<Z NARR IMAG>
<S SAMPLE X>


[^THE SIEGE OF JERUSALEM IN PROSE.
MEMOIRES DE LA SOCIETE NEOPHILOLOGIQUE
DE HELSINKI, XXXIV.
ED. A. KURVINEN. 
HELSINKI: SOCIETE NEOPHILOLOGIQUE, 1969. 
PP. 70.1 - 93.709^]

<P 70>
   Al men +tat wyll her of +te sege of Jerusalem, her +ge may   #
her
of gret meraculs +tat almytty God wro+gt to schow his goodnys
and of gret vengans +tat he toke for syn.
   Furst +ge schall wndurstond +ter felle iij +tinggys to +te   #
juis,
+tat is to say pylgremag. Hit began in Jacobe, +tat went vnto
Eygypt wytt his lenage; and +ter +tay wer in gret saruavg,
speycyally aftur +te dethe of Jacobe, tyll God send Meyses to
delyuyr +tem. And he lad them +toovrow +te Rede Seye: by
+te gret my+gt of God +te wattur stode styll vpe in bothe sydys
and let +tem pas into +te dessert of Cannon. And as kynge
Pharrov com them to have slayn, when he was in +te see wytt
all his ost, +te wattur ouerhyllyd +tem and drownnyd them
al, for +tey wer rebel a+gennyst +te commandment of God.
But +te juis, +tat wer callyd +te peppull of Hisyrayll, wer     #
fede
wytt manna, +tat cam from heyvyn, mad wytt angellys, and
her clovthis wer wyttout weme fortty +gere. And for all +tis
gret meracullys they dyde mammatre and offendyt allmy+gtty
God.
   +Ten fell +tey into gret saruage and traldome in Babelon,
and +tat contenovyd fyfty +ger +ger God graciously +tem         #
delyvyrte;
and soo is +geyt +te terme of fyfty +gere wytt vs +te +ger
of gracse.
   But +ter was in +tem gret dyssper, and +terfor God warnyd
+teme of gret wengans commyng to +tem, as +te good clarke
<P 71>
Josepphus reyhersyt in +tis wys: 'The day schall come +tat
the sytte of Jerusalem schal be destryid and +te juis           #
confondyde
for +ter sin. Messias schall send hem scham, war and confusion.
Ther schall com ij prynsis froo Rome, +te fadyr and +te
son, and thay schall dysstry +te cytte of Jerusalem and all
+te juis +tat +tey fynd +terin. And +te fadyr schall geet suche
worschype +tat he schall be Emparowr. But for all +tis warnyng
of profycy +tey wyll not amend +tem of +ter syne.' Etc.


   Aftur +te dethe of Cryst +ter came monny wengans to +tem.
But vij +ger aftur Crystys deth +te juis slowe sent Jamys +te
yongyr; +tey sayd sent Jamys preychyd in Jerusalem to amend
+tem of +ter syne. And +tey made hyme +te beschope of +te tovn.
He werryd no lynnyn nodyr wollon, no+tyr eete fleche nor
fyche no+tyr berd, nodyr was wesseh nor ba+tid, but he was
clo+tid in heyr. And he knelyd to God in prayers, +tat his bone
wex hard as horne. Soo he prayid for +te juis, but +tei guyt
hyme ewyll his mede.
   On a day of her pasca gret multytud of peppull wer geydyrt,
and +tey bad Jamys not teyche +te doctryne of Cryst and he
wold have love of +tem. But he boldlyche praychyd tyll +tey
puld hyme dovn of +te pulpyte +tat he stod in. And as he        #
knelyde
in his prayers, voon wytt a fullynge-stafe smot +te brayn ovte
of his hede. And +tey +tat lowyt Jamys berryid hym wytt
onovre. And on hyme God schewyde gret meracullys and on
+te juis grete wengans, but +tei wold not amend them.
   And Jamys was callyd +te brodyr of Cryst for he was so
lyk hyme. And he was warnyng and tokyn to +te juis +tat +tei
schuld amend +ter lyve.
<P 72>
   The secund tokyn was: As +tei wer at +ter fest in pascha,    #
+te
stattys and +te commyns, +ten fyl a stryfe, +tat +tay fyl and
slove euyryche odyr wytt +ter cnywys, +te nombur of xxx M,
by +te uenyjavns of God.
   The iij tokyn was an heyfer bor to sacryfyce +tat sodenly
fel don amonge +te pepull and calwyd a lambe.
   The iiij tokyne: On pasche ny+gt at iiij of +te bele a       #
ly+gte
was in +te tempull as hit hade byn dayly+gte, and +terof +tey
hade gret fere.
   The v tokyn: +Ter came a blast and a doon +tat hit brast
vp +te gattys, and schemyt +te wallys schuld ouerturn.
   The vj tokon: On a vennysday at eve +tey hard a crye in
+te tempull, saying: 'Goo we hens, goo we hens!' All +te pepull
ron away for feyr.
   The vij tokyn: +Ter was a ster in +te skye wytt a scharpe
peynt as a speyr alle a +ger ouer +teme.
   The viij tokon: +Tei see in +te skye mene and hors armyd     #
+tat
some tyme fow+gt and some tyme reste, +tat sore afeyrryde
+tem. And +tey sayd hit was tokyn of war or hovngur. +Tey
sayd soth and wyst not, but +tey wold not amend.
   The ix tokon was charys and waynys in +te clovdys aperyng
and anon frov +ter sy+gt.
   The x tokon was: iiij +gere or +te sege began +ter was bore
a man of Jude, +te sone of Jhesu Ananye. He stod vpe on
wy+gtsonday at +te fest and callyd on +te word, west, est,      #
north
and sowthe. And +ter come iiij wyndys on +te tempulle of        #
Jerusaleme
and on +te cyty and on the pepul for her syn, as hyme
semyd in his wision. He sayd: 'We schall have wengans for
sin.' For +tis wordys +tei byte hyme sor and bro+gt hym befor
Pylat. And he sayd as he sayd before, and euyr he cryid:
'Alas, Jerusalem, alas, we schall be confoundyt for synn!' And
<P 73>
when he wold not seys his saying, thay let hyme goo, but
+tey wold not amend +tem of her synne but foullov her ovn wyll.
And +te vsavge was alayd when Jhesu sayd (\'Consummatum 
est,'\) that betokeny+gth: 'The newe testement is begon,
for +te old is indyte and fulfyllyth for loue of man.' And they
had +te doctryne and all +te dedis of Cryst wryttyn in +ter
bokus of +ter on wryttyng, but +tey wold not do +teraftur, as
hit was prewyd when sent Teyllyn fond +te holly cros. Schwe
owercome them by +ter on bokus, and +geyte wold +tey not ask
mercy for +te dethe of Cryst and of +te saynttus of Cryste;
and +terfor +ge schall her how +tey sped.

   But furst spek we of Waspasyon, +te nobul kyng, +tat was
sor syke in leppur, and a cankur in his nose and lyppus, +tat
he sawe no helpe but dethe. And when he was bore, he had
waspus in his nos, and +terfor men callyd hyme Waspassyon.
This +tingis God send to hyme for +tis cavssys, +tat hath set
all his werkys at serttayn. And as God is lord aboue all        #
+tingis,
so is +te Emparowr kyng aboue all erthly lordys and kyngis.
And notwyttstondyng Waspasion wos not Emparovr at +te
begynnyng of +tis werke, but he was son aftur, so +tat +te      #
moste
worthi Lord almy+gty wold be awreykyde by his most nobyle
seruant. But he was so stynkyng in his leppur +tat no man
my+gt soffyr +te stynche no+tyr abyde in his chambur, but by
a wyse +tei put his met vnto hyme, for he my+gt nat aryse tyl
God hyme conforttyd.

   But at +te deth of Cryst was Tyberyis Emparowr of Rome
and raynnyd xxxiij +ger. And in his viij +ger Cryst soffyrt his
passyon. The juis wryt a letter to +te Emparovr, saying he
dyde wrong to sle ry+gt blod, Jhesu Cryst, and to set vp        #
mammatys
<P 74>
and to do fals sacryfyce in +te temppull and to spend
+ter offeryng in his on vse wyttout leve of +te gouernowrs of
+te tempule; and wytt +tat he made a condyte commynge into
his hows a+genst her vsage. And for his mysdedys he was
iugyte to exile. When he hart +tis, he ordent a ryche present
wyth letteris gaylly indyet and send hit to +te Emparowr as
followyth afturward. But next was Gayus Emparovr and next
hyme Clarydiis and +ten Nero, +tat slow Pettur and Povle,
and next hyme Waspasyon.
   But furst Waspasyon was kynge of Gallyse and of Gascony.
And he had a son +tat hy+gt Tyttus, +tat on a tyme was in +te
cytty Burdex. And +ter Tytus saw a schype comme seylyng
+tat come frome Jerusalem. Tytus send for +te mastur of +te
schyfe, and his name was Nataane, a man of Jude, +tat went
to Rome to bere trevage and letteris froo Pyllat to +te         #
Emparour
Tyberius, and soo he told to Tyttus. 'But I have,' he sayd,
'hade gret lete wyth temppas, and I am wynd-dryfe to +tis
plas.'
   Tyttus sayd: 'Tyburryus is dede, and iij Emparovris have
byn sethe.' But Tytus seythe: 'In Iude bythe good lechis;
and yfe +tou can telle me to a leche +tat can heylle my fadyr,
I schal wyll reyward +te and send +te to +te Emparovre vppon
myne non cost.'
   'Syr', sayd Nathone, 'I am no leche, but in Jude was         #
wrongfully 
do to dethe a trowe profete Jhesu of Nazarethe, +tat
elly+gt men, boddy and sovle.' And he tellyd to Tytus of
Crystus wertus preychyng and his holly werkys and grete
meracullys, and +tat he schowyd hymeselfe verry God and
man, and how he send his dessypullys to preche and gawe
heme power to heylle all syknys - and +tem +tat feythfully
belewy+g on Jhesu Cryst, they heylly+g hem in boddy and sowll
<P 75>
and howe he send +te Holy Gost to his desypuls aftur
his assencion and taw+gt to +tem lxx langagis to teche all +te
world. 'And yf +tey fadyr my+gt speke wyth one of his desyppuls
and wyl beleve in Jhesu Cryst, I dar say he schale be hole.'
   This harde Wellosiane, +tat was stowarde wyth Waspasyon,
and fayn he wold hit wher fulfyllyd. But furst +tey send Nataan
to Nero, +te crwell Emparovr +tat sclow hymselfe, and +terof
was Rome ful fayn. And as +ge schall her afturward, they chovs
Waspasion Emparovr, for he was moste of honnovr. And +tey
+to+gt +tat Tytus schuld keppe +te charge in his fadyris stede.
But +tis was to +ger aftur +tat Nataan woos goo home.
   But nowe twrne we to Nataan, howe he dyde his meyssage.
He hath take his trewage to +te Emparovr and letterys frow
Pyllat. In +tis wyes he told +te profycy that +te juis hade,    #
how
Cryst schuld be bor of a mayd of juis kynd to save man, +tat
was forlore. And he callyd to +te Emparovr in his letteris alle
+te myrracullys and the teychyng of Cryst +tat Pylat hade
wryte in his bokus. And he ascwsyd hyme in his letteris +tat
+te juis wer only +te cavs of his dethe, and not he, but as he
nedys most +geyfe jegement by +te crye of +te pepull. But he
was not exscwssyd so byfor God and man, for he knew +te
troth, as his on bokus wyttnyssyt, but he wold not do +teraftur
and amend hyme of his syne no+tyr abay to Godys lawe.
   As for to know how Pylat toke his name: In Spen ther was
a kyng +tat was callyd Tyrus. He gat a chyld on a mylwardys
do+gttur +tat hy+gt Pyla, and her fadyr hy+gt Atus, and +te
chyld was callyd Pylatus. The kyng gat a chyld on his wyfe
+te sam +gere, and +tis to chyldorn wer togeydur. And for +te
trowe chyld was strongur +ten Pylat, Pylat slow hyme. And
+te kynge most send a chyld in trevag to Rome, and he send
his son Pylat and put hym not to dethe. And at Rome was
+te kyngis son of Fravns; and for he was callyd mor genttyll
<P 76>
+ten Pylat, Pylat soon slow hyme. And +ten +te romans sende
hym wyth commyssion into +te heylle of Peynttus, and +ter
he was so cursyd +tat all men ferryd hym.
   But kyng Herrod for his crwelty send for hyme and mad
hym juge of Jude in Jerusaleme. And for parttynge of her
goodis +tey to wer aungurre, but +te onment was made in
+te senddyng of Cryst: at +te tyme of his passion Pylat send
hyme to Herrode, and Herrod send hyme a+geyne, and +ter
Pilat and Herrod wer acordyt and mad at one. And at +te
sayd tyme of Crystus passion +te juis sede: 'His blod on vs
and owre chylldorn.' And so into +te tokyne of veniance God
send to +tem +te blody flyxe and most on good fryday.
   But leve ve +tis and torne we a+geyne to Nathaan. When
Nathaane had don his herrond to Nero, he had letteris of
wyttnys of al +te matteris and his gon home. Uelysyane, the
steward wyth Waspasian, went to Waspasian and tolde to
his lorde all +te wordyse of Nathaon, how Pylat and +te juis
dyde Cryst to dethe, +tat came to save mankynd, takyng
fleche and blod of +te wyrgyn Maree, conseywyd of +te Holly
Gost, werry God and mane. +Te manheyde dyid for mannys
sowle savacion, and +te godhede arysyd a+geyne when he
hade fete the sollys owt of heylle, +tat he dere bo+gt wyth his
byttur passyon. And aftur +tat he oftyntymys aperryd to his
desyplys, and in +ter presense he asendyt to +te Fadyr in       #
heyuyn
and send to heme +te Holly Gost and +gavfe +teme all langgage
to teyche all +te world and +gaf theme power to heylle in
bothe bodye and sovle +tat faythfully belewyt in hyme and
<P 77>
keppyt his lawys. 'And +geyfe +ge may have on of his dysipplys,
I hoppe +ge schall be hooll.'
   Waspasion was glade of +tis talle and bade Wellosian goo
in hast to gete hyme a dessipull of Cryst. And so Welosian
went to Jerusaleme and tok his tyme and ryme by +te temppull
of Dawytt in the hows of Jacobe, a jwe; but he was a preuey
crystyn mane.
   Wellosiane told to hyme +te cavse of his commynge and
desiryde to her of Cryst and to spek wyth some of his           #
dessipplys
and +tat he my+gt have some reylikus of Cryst. Jacobe was
glade and tolde hime of his myrraculs and howe falslye he
was put to dethe. And he sayde: 'My do+gttur was von of +te
Marys +tat went wytt boxis hym to anynt. And yf +ti mastur
and lorde beleve on hyme, I dar say he schall be hoole. And
I wyle send for a lady +tat lowyt Cryst, and I hoppe +tat schew
and I schall geyfe +te good concelle.' And then was Wellysian
glade.

   On morrow Welosiane and Jacobe went to Pilat. But Vellosian
wold not aly+gt of his hors tyl he com to Pylat, for his lord
Uaspasion, kyng of Galyce, for he was lord of Jerusaleme,
and he wold have an nanswer in hast, 'for,' he sayd, '+te       #
trevage
hat+t be longe behynd.'
   Pilat askyd yf Nero wer dede, and he sayd: 'Nay, but my
lord Waspasion in his levetennand.' He made his herrand to
Pylat to take +te markys on his face to knowe hyme anodyr
tyme.
   Pylat was wrothe wyth him and porposyd him to sleye.
But +ter was a kny+gt +tat was namyd Barrobas, +tat was         #
delyuyrt
frove preson at +te dethe of Cryst, and he sayd: 'Hit
<P 78>
wer scham to do +tis kny+t harme +tat is aloon; and he semyth
a good kny+gt, for he dothe well his message. But dred not of
Waspasion, for we wyll make +te owr kynge. And yf Waspasioon 
set vppon +te, he schall hit sor aby. And so send him worde
by +tis good man.'
   Uelosian rode to his in full glad +tat he knew Pylat. And
Jacob bro+gt a ladye +tat hy+gt dame Werony, and schewe grant
to goo wyth hyme to conford and helpe his lorde. Dame Werony
sayde: 'I deyllyd in Gallaly and was syke in +te blody flyxe.
And I come to +tis tovne to have helpe of Jhesu of Nazarethe,
and was he lade to +te juis to his dethe. And I tok a cloth:
my wyl was to ber hit to a paynttur to hawe +te fugur of his
face; but as he bar +te cros toward his passion, I cryd on hyme
for sokor. And his blessid modyr Mary, schew sawe a cleyn
cloth in my hond, and +terwytt schew wyppyd +te face of her
son Jhesu, for he swet for beyryng of +te cros, and all +te
markys of his face wer sene in +te clothe +tat I wold let have
paynttyd. Owr Lady sent Mary toke to me +te clothe a+geyne,
and I mekely hit kyssyd and allsoo +te heme of +te clothe +tat
he werryd. And I toke his blessynge, and anon I was hole.
But for I love Cryst Jhesu, Pylat hatty+te me, and +terfor
I am glade to goo froo his power.'
   Sche made her reydy and went wyth Welosiane. But furst
at +te prayer of Welosian Jacob send for some of +te juis +tat
put Cryst to dethe. And +tey wyth gret game and jeying
told all +te storry of his passion. And Welosian bar hit        #
preueyly
in his mynd tyll +te tyme come +tat hit my+gt be awengyt. He
+tonkyd Jacob and prommyssid hime to be his good frende.
   Velosian hath goodly take his leve of Jacob; and toke his
lady wytt hyme into Gascony into his oon place, ther fore to
<P 79>
rest, and went to his lord and told hyme howe he hade sped
and how he hard +te juis tell all +te passion of Cryst.         #
Waspasion
sayd: 'And I may be hole, I wyll be awengyt on +tat crwelle
dethe and dede.'
   The lond ferryde of +te dethe of Uaspasion and crownyd his
sone Tyttus and made hime kynge. And +tat was one +te morrow
+tat Welosian was come home. And has dame Wyrony stod
in her in, sche sawe pope Cleyment come in +te way, +tat was
come fro Jerusaleme wyth Pettur and Povle, +tat Nero slow.
And +tis lady spake to Cleyment and told hyme why schow was
come, and +te pope was ful glade. And at +te prayer of Welosian
+tey went bothe to +te kynge.
   Uaspasion welcommyd +teme gladly and prayd +teme of
conford. Sent Cleyment sayd, yf he wold have helpe, he most
beleve one Jhesu Cryst, +tat all helpe is inne, the sone of God
and of +te wyrgyne Marry and werry God and mane, +tat com
to by man frow thraldom, for wythout his passion mane my+gt
not be sawyd. And sent Cleyment declaryd to hyme +te fethe
and +te lawys of God omnipotent.
   Uaspasion sayde: '+Gif I be hole, I wyll be a crystyne man   #
and
I welle awenge +te dethe of Cryste; for I wyll sleye all +te    #
juis
+tat I fynd, and I wylle sele xxx for a d for +tey sold +ter    #
Lord
for xxx d.'
   Then sayd Cleyment: 'Kyngis worschyppe hyme at his
byrthe, furst Errowd, +tat slow gret multytud of chyldorn for
his sake; and as bokus tellythe, +te sayd Erawde suffyrd all
syknis in his boddy and nowe +te paynnys of heylle. And I
hoppe +tat kyngis schall awenge his deth. Beleve his power is
to hele +te. He reysyd +te kny+gte +tat lay deyd in his grave   #
iiij
dayis. And aftur +tat he asenddyt to hewyne, he sent +te Holly
Gost to his decippuls, as he befor prommessid to +teme, and
<P 80>
ta+gtht +tem lxx launggagis to preche all +te worde and
+gavfe +teme power to hele in body and sovle all +tat wold
on hyme beleue and fay+gthfully serue hyme.'
   The kynge Uaspasion beleuyd +tis well wyth all +te           #
syrcumstanse
of +te fayth as he was taw+gt, and sent Cleyment
hyme asayllyd. Dame Werrony toke Cleyment +te wernakull
+tat Cryst wyppyd on his face, as befor is sayd. And sent       #
Cleyment
was reyuessid wyth onowr and bar +te warnacul to +te
kynge. And he reuerently hit kyssid and worschyppte +te
Fadyr and +te Son and +te Holly Gost and +te warnacull in +te
worschype of Crystus face, +tat hit towchyd and +terof wos
+te merk, and anon he was hole and praysyd almy+gtty God.
   And he sayd: 'I wyll awenge +te dethe of Cryst wyth his
grace, for I wot well he is +te son of God. And when I have     #
done
+tat dede, we wyll be crystynd all and geyf gret mede to +te
lady dame Verony.' And schw prayd hyme geyf to Cleyment
what he wold, for schw wyll abyd wyth hyme. And he +gavfe
+tem londys and renttus and gret reywardys.
   Sent Cleyment consayld hyme to take crystendome in hast,
but +te kynge sayd he wold furst wreke +te dethe of Cryst.
And he send for his son Tytus and for his lorddys. Also he
send to Nero +te Emparovr for lycens, and he sayd he most
wreke a spyte ido in Jerusaleme. And Nero hyme grant, but
he knew nat the cavse, for he was cursyd and louyt not
Cryst.
   The kynge mad hyme reydy, and furthe they went. But at
+te prayer of sent Cleyment and of dame Werony +te kynge
<P 81>
commandyt pece to ale crystyn men and yafe +tem good warrante
+tat no man schwld theme greve. Waspasion and his son
Tyttus went to schepe wyth a C M men. Sent Cleyment hyme
blessyd and toke his leve at +te see and went home, and dame
Werony wyth hym, in Goddyse pese. And +te kynge had good
weddur and wynd at wyll and wylle sped and all his men.

   In vj wekus Waspasion sayllyd to Acrvs and toke +te tovne
wyth force and set in men to keppe hit and wente into +te lond
and slowe and brent and toke vittayle plentte. And on a fryday
thay come fro Arryse to Japheth and segyt +te tovne. And
God send to +te pepulle of +te conttray wondyr +tingis, of      #
rayne,
hayle, snowe and wyndyse and hongur and gret sykenyse,
but to Waspasion and to his pepull God send welthe inowe in
all +ter jornaye.
   But +te tovne wold not +geld +tem longe tyme. Waspasion
swar he wold not go thens tyl hit wer +gelde. And +ten they     #
rone
euyryche apone odyr wyth +ter weppun tyll all wer slayne in
+te tovne save ij kny+gttus +tat lovyd togeydur, +tat wold sley
none odyr of +teme. +Te tone hy+gt syr Japhel, and he was kyne
to Syser, of +te blod of Waspasion. And +terfor +te kynge mad
hyme of his conssell and his gyd to Jerusaleme, and +tat he
dyd full well.
   They left keppars in Japhete and went +ter way. +Te crystyn
men in Jerusaleme had warnyng of +te Holly Gost and went
ouer flom Jurdane to a place +tat men cale Pellan, and +ter
+tey deyllyd. But some wold see what schuld fale and abyde in
Jerusaleme.
   When Pyllat wyst +tat Japheth was nome, he feyryd sor and
send for gret helpe. Then to hyme came Archeles, +te kynge of
Gallale, +te sone of Erroawd, +tat slowe +te chyldorne of       #
Hissarell.
He came wyth a gret host, and also +te conttray came to         #
Jerusaleme
<P 82>
for socur for fer of Waspasion, for he slow and brent
in all +te conttrey.
   Pylat sent spyis to wyt what way +tat Waspasion come. And
he and Ercheles rode out at +te gat and asayde her horssis.
But he hade no grace to flee, for Gode hade +geyfe hyme respyt
forty +ger, but he wold not amend.
   When +te spyis come a+geyne to Pylat, they told what way
+te host come and sayd +tey wer wondyr strong. And +ten
Pylat feryd sore. +Ten sayd Archeles to Pylat: 'Ferryd I        #
no+tinge,
for +ter is no wattur ner +te cyty +ten flem Jurdane. And when
+tey fynd no freche watur, +tey most nedys fle, and we wyl
follo and sley +teme all.'
   And whil +tis tale was a tellyng, +te tovne was besegyte.    #
And
+tis was +te iiij and xxx +ger aftur +te dethe of Cryst. On     #
+te day
of paske Waspasion bade Japhel, for he knew +te conttre, he
rood about +te cyty and see what was to be done. And so he
dyde and set +te host in gouernance wyth monny feyttys of war
and byte done +te subbarbuse to +te toune wale.
   And for +tey had noo freche wattur, +tey toke skynnys of
bestus and mad fyll hundyrtys of bagis and bogyse and fet
wattur one horsbakis and fyld so myche in +te wale of Josephath
+tat euyry man had inow+g. And +tey dayly fete more.
   And when +the pepull of Jerusaleme sawe wattur in +tat wale,
they merweld sor and told Pylat. Pylat and Archelese and
Josephus, +te good clarke, went to se hit and soor merveld
on +tat case. And +ten mastur Josephus, he sayde: 'This his
+te hond of Myssyas, for God is wrothe wyth vs for +te dethe
of +te profete Jhesu of Nazare+tet.' But Archeles sayd: 'Pylat,
drede +te not, but keppe +te cyty, and +tou schalt have +ti     #
wyle.'
   Uaspasion and Japhele and Welosian stod and save Pylat
on +te wallys, and Wellosian consellyd his lord to him to speke
<P 83>
and se what he wold say. Waspasion sayde: 'Pylat, se me,
+tat ame +ti lord and wyle awenge +ti fals dedis.' But at +tat
tyme he wase not his lord but sayd so to make hyme ferd. And
Pylat +gavfe hyme no word for sorro.
   Then sayd Waspasione to Archelese: '+Tou art forsworne,
and so was +ti fadyr. +Tou wer bettur hold wyth me +ten wyth
+te tovne. Thi fadyr dyid in vofule paynis, and so schalt +tou
or longe tyme pas.' But +tey +gavf hime no answer but so        #
departtyd.
   Pylat sayd: 'I feyr +tis kynge, for he is of Syseris blode   #
and
kynd and he wole do as he sayth.' Archeles sayd: 'We be stronge
ino+gth. I reyde +te wage hyme battayll.'
   And Pylat dyde aftur his consell and wagyt him battayle.
And Waspasion toke hit wyth glad cher and sayd: 'Pylat, +tou
schalt have schame of +ti battayl wytt the my+gt of God.'
   And +tey manly schet and cast ingyne, arrowe and quarrell
into +te tovne and slove gret multytude of pepule. And +te
tovne my+gtly +teme defendyd. And a quarrel haplye sclove
a povr mane +tat went wyth chyldorne in +te stret. But +te juis
hild hym a profete, and +terfor +tey feyrryd full sore.
   But in +te j +ger of +tis sege dyid Nero +te Emparowr. He
left Tytus to kepe +te sege, and he went to Rome and was
crovnnyd Emparovr in +te saryssynnis wyse. And he hastyd
hyme to Jerusaleme.
   The good man Jacobe sayde to Pylat: '+Tis jwe +tat we cale
a profet sayd xx +ger passid +tat +tis tovne schvld be          #
destryid;
and nowe he is slayne, I leve hit +te mor. I rede +ge +geyld    #
vpe
+te tovne.'
   Pylat wytt hyme was wrothe and sayd: '+Tis was +ti concent
wyth Welosian, and +tat +tou schalt aby full sore.' He lete
fettur Jacobe wytt yrone and cast hyme into a fovle dovngone
to dy wyttovte mete and drynke for lake of foode.
<P 84>
   The do+gttur of Jacobe, Mare, prayd to God for hyme and
sayd: 'Lord, I beleve on +te and come to seche +te wyth         #
eyntment
at +ti tombe, wyllynge +te to honovr and pleys. So helpe
my fadyr, +ti seruante.'
   And allmy+gtty God send an angele and fet Jacobe oute of
presone and set hyme wythout +te tovne wallese. He knelyd
dovne and +tankyd God, and +ten he went to +te host.
   Welosiane hyme welcommyd and bro+gt hyme to +te Emparovr
Waspasion and sayd: 'Tis is ovr frend +tat herberd
me in Jerusaleme when I went to get yove helpe and conford.'
+Te Emparovre hyme welcommyd and wos glad. And Jacob
hyme told how Pylat hade hym presond and how he was
delyuyrt by an angel. And also he told hyme all +te juis        #
consel.
   The Emparovr wos glad and mad hyme gret cher. And of
hyme he askyd consele to make a dyche abovt +te tovne, +tat
no man schwld go away vnspyid. And so hit was don and mad
in hast, and +tat +te juis sovr reypent.
   Pylat toke his conssayle of Archeles, of Barrobas, and of
Josephus. And +tey in +te ny+gt layd plankus ouer +te dyche
and come ovte wyth xxxv M of horsmen and l M of fotemen, and
sore +ti met in battayl. And gret multytud of pepul wer dede
in both partys. But Pylat lost xl M, and he schappyd into
+te tovne. And Josephus wose hurt soor; but he was a preway
crystyne man and most knew of +te juis lave; and he wos full
sorry for his kyne was ettynne.
   But Jacob let make charnels and berryd +te peppul. And +te
Emparovr wos glad and gretly conforttyd wyth +te wyse consell
of Jacob.
   +Ten began gret sowrro and hovngur in +te cyty. They eete
horse, cattys, rattys and myse and +te fen in +te waye and
+teron dogis and +terone cyldorne, and +te stronggyr eete +te
<P 85>
wekir. And +tey drow lote who schwld eete o+tyr. But +te gret
men wer confortyd in +ter hongyr by +te wertw of presious
stonnys +tat +tey had one heme.
   +Ter was a lady of +te conttray +tat hy+gt Marey, and schoe
deyllyd wyth a lady +tat hy+gt Clarys in +te cyty. Both wer
good crystyn wemen. The do+gttur of Mary was dede for hongur,
and so wer allmoste both ladyse, for to +teme was lewyd no
+tinge to ette.
   And +ten sayd Claryse: 'Ete we +tis chyld.' But Mary
sayd: 'Nay, ra+tyr wyl I dye.' +Ter come a angele and bade
+teme eete +te chyld. 'for hit is +te profysy +tat wemen schuld
eete +ter chyldorne.'
   And so +tey rost +te chyld. Pylat felyd +te savyr of +tis    #
rost
and send +terefor, and +ten wer +te wemen ful wo. But when
Pylat save what hit was, he commandyt +tat no man schwld
eete his chyld nor woman, but +tat +tey schwld eete +ter        #
treysore.
And so +tey eete gold and sylvyr wyth corne and heye, but hit
dyd +teme no good. But afturward +tey wer fayne to fete hit
ovte of +ter boddys.
   But aftur +te husbond eete +te wyfe, and +te wyfe eete +te
husbond, and euyrry man slow odyr for +ter treysser in +ter
boddyse, that +te strettys lay ful of dede men. And when thay
hade no treysore in +tem, no man wold +teme byrre but cast
+teme vppon heypuse and let +tem lye. And so +te pepule wer
lost wyth stenche. But when +te tovne was get, Tyttus let
bren +tem for stenche. And when he saw +tat dolful sy+gte, he
fel dovne on his kneis and sayd: 'Lord God, +tow knowyst wele
+tis is not for my fadyr nor for me, but for +ter on synnis.'

   But byfor +tis tyme +te counsseyle of +te cyty bad Pylat     #
yeld
+te sette and tovne. And Pylat sayd: 'Nay, abyde +ge a whylle
yf anny of +tis lordys may dye or yf we may +tem pleyse wytt
+geyftus of owr treysovr.'
<P 86>
   The Emparovr send Jacob to wyte yf +tey wold geyfe vpe
+te tovne. Jacob came to +te walle and callyd a jwe, and he fet
to hyme Josephus. And when he sawe Jacobe, he askyd hyme
how he came owt of preson. And Jacob hyme told howe, by
+te myracul of God. And Josephus thankyd God.
   And when Jacobe see he wase a crystyne mane, he wase
glad and told to hyme +te forsayde meracullus of Waspasion and
of sent Cleyment and dame Werony and Welosyane and of
hymeselfe, as +te storry before telly+gt. And +ten Josephus     #
hyme
prayd to pray to +te Emparovr for +te crystyne pepul, and Jacob
hyme grant.
   But Jacob askyd Josephus yf +tey wold held +te tovne. And
he sayd: 'Naye, but Pylat wolde asay yf he my+gt askape
wyth pleysovr of +geyftus. And yf +te Emprovr wer a crystyn
mane, we wold +geld vs to hyme, but we have leuyr deye +ten
+geld vs to a sarussyne.'
   +Tey toke her leve and departtyd. And Jacob told to +te
Emparovr what answer he hade. Then sayd Josephus to Pylat:
'I have herd ty+tingis +tat +te Emparovr wyl vs al destrye. I   #
rede
+ge cale yowr pepull and se what is to done.'
   Pylat lete a crye, and +te pepul aperyd before hyme. He
askyd of +teme what was her counsel best to done. Some sayd:
'We leve her to longe. Mysseas is rovthe wyth vs, for he is
+te sone of God, and we as fovllis stryve a+genst ovr lord God,
and we be worthy to suffyr wo. We fynd in profycy +tat +te
romans schvld vs destry, and now we aske mercy to late. But
go we ovte and schort we ovr lywys, for bettur is schort
payne +ten longe.' And some sayd: 'Hit his fayrer dethe to
sley eche o+tyr +ten to +geld vs to more payne.' And so xj M
slov euyreche odyr and fel dede for stynche of dede men.
<P 87>
   And +tey +ten begane to cry Jhesu mercy: 'We have sor
afendyt. We fynd sothe +tat +tou spake govynge to +ti passion:
Weppe +ge not for me, but for yovr chyldorne and for yovrselfe,
and so we may nowe, and curse +te brestus +tat +gave vs sovke
and +te body +tat vs bar. And +terfor, Pylat, +geld vp +te      #
tovne,
for ve no lengur may leue.'
   Then Pylat, Archeles, Josephus, Barrobas and +te commynte
went to +te wallys and sayd to +te Emparovr: 'Tis is +te last
daye of vij +ger. We may no lengur +te tovne kepe. Tel vs       #
whe+tyr
we schale lyve or dye, for we moste vs +geld.'
   When +te Emparovr +tis herd, he fel doune on his kneis and
+tankyd almy+gtty God. And +ten he stod vpe and sayd: '+Tou
slowe Cryst in his manhede wythoute gylte. On hyme +ge had
no mercy, nor none +ge geyt of me.'
   When Archeles +tis herd, he slowe hymeselfe wyth his ovn
sorde and fele adovne ouer +te walle. The Emparovre sayd:
'He is traytur and was trayttur, and so he dyid. 'But he bade
byrre hyme wor+teyly, for he was a kynge.
   Pylat toke +te keyis and oppynd +te +gattys, and Tytus wyth
his host went in. But in +te prese Josephus wyth fel men
askappyd into +te cyty of Jenopozame. +Te Emparovr let +teme
sowe in and +te cyty bysete, +tat +tey my+gt not skape. But
Joseffus wold not +geld hyme to +te Emparovr, for he was not
crystynd. But +te Emparovr so sovr hyme besett +tat he toke
wytt hyme xj fellowys and flede into a cave. And for hongur
+tey drove lottys who schovld eete odyr of +tem, and +te lotht
fel to Josephus +tat he schuld dye. But God wold not so, for
his wyte holpe fel men.
   When Josephus se he schuld be dede, he lepe on his fellow
and toke frov hyme his sword and hyme slove. And so he
<P 88>
asschapyd and went to +te Emparoure. +Te Emparovr askyd
what he wose, and he sayd: 'Josephus, +tat wrot +te storry of
Crystus dethe and of juis laves and of her prophecy +tat now
is favle.' The Emparovre sayd: '+Tou arte a spye. +Tou schalte
be dede; for yfe +tou wer so wyse a man, +tou my+gt have warnyd
+te juis of her harme.' Then sayd Josephus: 'I take wyttnis
by +te bokus +tat I wrote and allso of +te juis +tat I to +tem
hit told many +geryse passyd.'
   The bokys were fete of +te juis lawe, and hit was fond as
Josephus had sayd. And also hit was wyttnyssyd of mony
men. And Josephus told to +te Emparovre +tat he wase a
crystyne mane, and Jacob for hyme vndurtoke. And so +te
Emparovr hyme toke to grace.
   +Ten sayde Josephus: '+Ge may see by +tis bokus +tat I told
+te juis xl dayis befor +tat +ge schuld be Emparour and also of
+te sykenys of yowr sone Tytus, and wytt my covnsel I schal
helpe to make hyme hole.' For Tytus was sore syke in a          #
cardyacull
take wyth +te jay of his fadyris honovr. And +te Emparovr
sayde to Josephus: 'Yf +tou can my son helpe, I wyl +te         #
reywarde
ry+gt wele, for I love hyme most of al +tis world.'
   So on day Josephus sayd to Tytus: 'I trust ry+gt wele
yow to helpe of your syknys. But grant me +tat +ge be not
wrothe wyth no man +tat I brynge wytt me into yowr presens.'
And Tytus hyme granttyd. A man +tat Tytus movste hattyd.
Josephus let set hyme at +te mete in +te presens of Tytus and
hyme worthyly serwyd. The blod in his body hete for gret
grame and angur, and so his cardyacule frow hyme went, and
he was hole. And when he save hit was for his heyleth, he
+tankyd God. And +ten Tytus forsovked all +te wrath +tat he
hade to +tat. And Tytus toke Josephus nexte to hyme wyth
<P 89>
gret love. And +te Emparowr was ful glad and hym wele
reywardyde.

   But torne we to the sege of Jerusaleme. When Pylat se
Tytuse at +te +gawttys of Jerusaleme, he proferd to +geyfe hyme
his bayllywyke yf he my+gt geyt hyme his lyve and leve to
dweyll styll in +te cyty. And to +te Emparovr he wold +geyfe
a C sparhavkus ramage and a C of jentyl fawcons and xxx
mutys of hovndys and a C clothis of sylk and of gold and x
leons, x lebarttus, x boris, x mullys lad wytt treyssore,       #
syluyr
and gold, and wyth precyos stonnis. And Tytus +tus told his
fadyr +te Emparour. But he commandyt to kepe hyme into
good hold, for he schvld have no grace.
   Tytus, as +te Emparour hyme bade, went into +te tovne,
and Jacob wyth hyme to tell wyche wer crystyn men, theme
to save. And +te Emparovr keppyd wyttovte, +tat none schuld
fle. +Tey fyllyde +te dychys and opond +te +gattys, and Tytus
went in wytt iij C men wel armyd. He toke Pylat, and xxx
kny+gttus hyme keppyd. And +te juis +tat wer take alyve, +tei   #
bond
heme in heyppus, +tat none of +teme askappyd.
   And as he let bette dovne +te wallys, in a thyke place of    #
+te
walle he fond Joseph of Barmathe, fayr of coullur, +tat seyuyn
+ger was in +tat place wythovt mette or drynke, for he thav+gte
+te lawe of Cryste, +tat hyme wel fede wyth his godnys. Tytus
send hyme to +te Emparovr, and he hyme knewe note, for he
was most worthy mane aftur +te Emparowr.
   Then Tytus, Japhelle, Josephus, Josefe and Jacobe bro+gt
all +te crystyne men befor +te Emparovr, and he lete clothe
theme in whytte, +tat +te host my+gte +teme knowe and worchype.

   The pepull +tat wer sawyd told to +te Emparovr how +te juis
hade eyttyn her treyssour. And +terwyth +te Emparovr was
<P 90>
glade, for hit schuld, he sayd, torne +teme to payne; and let
make a crye and sold xxx jwis for a penny for +tey sold +ter
Lorde for xxx d. And +tey full sovr tormenttyd wer to fette
+te treyssour oute of her bellys; but +te Emparour bade do to
+teme +te most payne +tat +tey my+gte, and so +tey hade.
   Then Tytus bade bette dovne +te wallys and +terwyth fyle
+te dychis; for he lete no +tinge stond but +te tempul of       #
Salamone
and +te castyl wytt +te tour of Dawyte to fulfyll +the profycy.
And +tey berryde +te juis into downgheppus wythovte +te towne.
And +ter wer sold a C M and mo, and dede wyth weppyn
and hongur CCCC M and xvij. And her wenganse schall euyr
laste, for +tey be, and euyr schalle, in bondauge and gret
traldome.
   Tytus brou+gt Pylat to +te Emparour and sayd: 'Her is +te
traytur +tat put Cryste to dethe.' The Emparovr sayde: 'In
tymys me semyth I may well loue +tis mane. I can note be
wrathe wyth hyme. Loke +ge +ter be no gyle.'
   An olde mane +tat stod bysyde, he sayd he had one hyme
+te cote +tat owr Lady made and toke to Cryste, 'and by +te
wertwe of +tat clothe and of +te presyovs stonnys on hyme he
may go saufe amonge his foomen.'
   Thay toke frome hyme +tis cote, and +ten was +te Emprovr
ful wrothe and sayd: '+Tou art wor+ty mor schame +ten all +te
jwis.' He lete put hyme in a barrel of stele and porpossyd to 
caste hyme in +te see, but he abod to do hyme mor pyne.
   And when he come to Rome, he lett take hyme owt and put
hyme into a darke presson and feed hyme wyth barlay brede
and wattur. But in feste dayis he hade mete inowe. And so he
laye ij +ger on +te bare grovnd. And he neuyr reypent hyme 
of hys syne, but wyth a knyfe +tat he borrowyd of his kepper
to pare wyth a peyr he hymeselfweth slowe.
<P 91>
   When +te Emparovr +tis herd, he sayd: 'He dede most wekyd
dede, and +terfore he hathe most schamfull dethe; for he my+gt
do no werse dede +ten deme ovr Lord to deth.'
   Thay put hyme into +te barreylle and lade hyme into a        #
dyslate
place by a wattur syde. But for stynche and for feyr of feyndys
+tat wer abovte hyme many men wer dede. Then +tey toke
hyme vp and cast hyme inte a wattur. And +ter he dyde myche
sowrrov for he my+gt not synke. So he wase tossyde wyth
fenddys, wyth stenche and cry and darknys and wyth brennynge
feyr, +tat no man durst come ny +tat place.
   But on a nonetyde +ter come a schepe and se +tat cruvele
sy+gte and hard +te cry and see +te barreyll tossyd wyth        #
fendys,
and vnnethe they toke londe but wer ner loste. And +to +tey
wente into +te cytye on Vyene and told +te clarkys of +te cyty
in what a feyr +tat +tey wer. And +ten +te clarkys and laye     #
pepull
wyth gret pennans-dowynge prayde to Gode to be delyuyrt
of hyme. And Gode send to +teme a wayse and bad +teme
go to +te wattur syde, and so +tey dyde. And +ter +tey sawe
a roche of stone opone on +te see syde, and wyth a gret blast
of wynd, ly+gttynnyng and +tondorynge he was cast into +te
roche of stone, and +te roche clovsyde a+geyne. +Te peppule
+tankyde God. And so +tey wer of hyme delyuyrt.
   But +ter as he lay forst +te hole cane no mane stope, for    #
men
sayth hit gothe to helle. Etc.

   But turne we a+geyne to Jerusallem. Whyll +te Emparovr
lay at sege, he sent oute his men for wettayle. And as he +teme
bade, thay toke all +te castyllys and tovnnys in Jude into
+ter one hondyse and slow al +te peppull +tat wold not torne
to Goddys lawys; and al +tat wyll torne to Goddys lawe wer
<P 92>
sworne to be trowe. And +te Emparour on +teme set lawe and
keppynge.
   And +te Emparovr rewarddyte genttylmen +tat wyth hyme
wer in war wyth londyse and renttus, and +te commentye he
rewardyte wyth odyr goodyse plenty; for he made cleyne
alle +te lond of +ter gooddys and yafe hit to his men. And he
heme thankyde and toke his schepe, and so to Rome he sayllyde.
   But when he came to lond, wyth hyme mete in presessione
sent Cleyment and all his clargye and +te lady dame Weronye
wyth grete multytud of pepulle, hyme welcommynge and
+tankynge allmy+gtty Gode. Cleyment and +te lady mad gret
jaye +tat Jacobe, Joseph of Barmathe, Josephus and odyr
crystyne men wer savfe and +teme welcommyd wyth gret 
gladnyse.
   The Emparovr wase crystynd in hast, and so wer all his
pepule. The Emparour let schave all his men in tokyne of 
clennyse. And when +tey wer screwyne and crystonyd, he
clothyde +teme wyth whyte in tokenyng of cleynnyse and of
Goddyse lawe.
   The Emparour byldyd v churchus and wor+tily +tem induid.
And to +teme he yafe monny ryalle ornamenttus. And he send
into all his londdyse to keppe +te lawe of God and peys, and
 so hit wase do in all his dayis. And his sone Tyttus and +tey
lewyde a holly lyfe.
   The Emparour let close +te warnacul in syluyr and in golde
and put hit into a crystal stone, +tat men may hit see but not
hondyle. And dame Weroyny hit yaf to +te churche of seynte
Pettur in Rome.
<P 93>
   +Ten sente Cleyment sacryd +te Emparour and sete on hyme
+te crovne. And the Emparour set on seynt Cleyment a mytur
wyth a crovne and a presius dyadyme for chefe of all clarkys
and fadyr of all holly churche. And so be +te power +tat God
yafe to Pettur and to his sussessowryse the Emparour hyme 
confermyde poppe, as +ger wose chose by +te crystyne clergey.
Etc.

   At +te tombe of Waspasion the Emparovr, God schowyd
myracullys to blynd and to lame. And Tytus leuyde aftur hyme
a good lyue and euyry daye gafe gret almys for +te loue of
God. And he hade a good ende of this worlde.

   The jwis wente to Jerusaleme to byld hit a+geyne, but hit
was not +te wyll of God, for +tey schall neuyr have habytacione
but in bonddauge. And as +tey toke +ter markys to bylde +te
place +tat wose dystryid, they sawe a crose alle blody one +te
erthe all blody, +tat wase tokon her wenganse was not done.
And for feer +tey went +ter way. Anodyr tyme +tei come a+geyne,
and as +tey toke merkys, +tei sawe +te crose and her clothis
full of blode. And +tey went +ter way for fer. They come        #
a+geyne
+te +trede tyme, and as +tey stovpyd to take +ter mercus, they
hade no power to speke. But a feyr come frome +te grovnd
and brend theme all to povdyr.
   
   This wytnyssythe Josephus, +tat good clarke, +tat sawe and
wrot +ter actus. Etc.

   Her enddyth +te sege of Jerusaleme.



