Mathew


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I

The boke of the generacioun of Jhesu Crist, the sone of Dauyd, the sone of Abraham. Abraham gendride Ysaac. Ysaac forsothe bigate Jacob. Jacob forsothe bigate Judas and his bretheren. Judas forsothe bigate Phares and Zaram, of Thamar. Phares forsothe bigate Esrom. Esrom forsothe bigate Aram. Aram forsothe bigate Amynadab. Amynadab forsothe bigate Nason. Nason forsothe bigate Salmon. Salmon forsothe bigate Booz, of Raab. Booz forsothe bigate Obeth, of Ruth. Obeth forsothe bigate Gesse. Jesse forsothe bigate Dauith the kyng. Dauith forsothe kyng bigate Salomon, of that womman that was Uries wyf. Salomon forsothe bigate Roboam. Roboam forsothe bigat Abias. Abias forsothe bigate Asa. Asa forsothe bigate Josophat. Josophat forsothe bigate Joram. Joram forsothe bigate Osias. Osias forsothe bigate Joathan. Joathan forsothe bigate Achaz. Achaz forsothe bigate Ezechie. Ezechie forsothe bigate Manasses. Manasses forsothe bigate Amon. Amon forsothe bigate Josias. Josias forsothe bigate Jechonyas and his bretheren, in to transmigracyoun of Babiloyne. And after the transmygracyoun of Babiloyne, Jechonias bigate Salatiel. Salatiel forsothe bigate Zorobabel. Zorobabel forsothe begate Abyut. Abyut forsothe bygate Eliachim. Eliachym forsothe bigate Asor. Asor forsothe bigate Sadoc. Sadoc forsothe bygate Achym. Achym forsothe bygate Elyut. Elyut forsothe bygate Eleasar. Eleasar forsothe bigate Mathan. Mathan forsothe bigate Jacob. Jacob forsothe bigate Joseph, the husbond of Marie, of whiche Marie Jesus is born, that is clepid Crist. And so alle generaciouns from Abraham til to Dauith ben fourtene generaciouns, and fro Dauith vnto transmygracioun of Babiloyne ben fourtene generaciouns, and from the transmygracioun of Babiloyne vnto Crist ben fourtene generaciouns. Forsoth the generacioun of Crist was thus. Whane Marie, his modir, was spousid to Joseph, bifore that thei shulden come to gidre, she is foundun hauynge in the wombe of the Holy Gost. Joseph forsothe, hir husbond, when he was iust man, or riȝtful, and wolde not pupliche hir, or lede hir ferther, wolde priuyly forsake hire. Sothely hym thenkynge these thingus, lo! the angel of the Lord aperide in sleepe, or sweuen, to hym, sayinge, Joseph, the sone of Dauyd, nyl thou drede to take Marie, thi wyf; forsothe that thing that is born in hire is of the Holy Goost. Sothely she shal bere a sone, and thou shalt clepe his name Jesus; for he shal make his peple saif fro her synnes. Forsothe al this thing was don, that it shulde be fulfillid, that thing that was seid by a prophete, seiynge, Loo! a virgyne shal haue in wombe, and she shal bere a sone, and his name shal be clepid Emanuel, that is interpretid, or expounid, God with us. Sothely Joseph rysynge vp fro sleep, did as the angel of the Lord comaundide hym, and toke his wijf; and he knewe hir nat, til she had boren hir first bygoten sone, and clepide his name Jhesus.

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II

Therfore when Jhesus was born in Bethlem of Juda, in the days of kyng Herode, loo! kyngis, or wijs men, camen fro the eest to Jerusalem, sayinge, Wher is he, that is borun kyng of Jewis? forsothe we han seyn his sterre in the este, and we comen for to wirshipe hym. Sothely kyng Herode herynge is trublid, and al Jerusalem with him. And he, gedrynge to gidre alle the princis of prestis, and scribis of the peple, enquiride of hem, wher Crist shulde be borun. And thei seiden to hym, In Bethlem of Juda; for so it is writen bi a prophete, And thou, Bethlem, the lond of Juda, thou art nat the leste in the princis of Juda; for of thee a duk shal gon out, that shal gouerne my peple of Yrael. Than Herode, priuyli the kyngis clepid to hym, bisily lernyde of hem the tyme of the sterre that apperide to hem. And he, sendynge hem in to Bethlem, saide, Go ȝee, and axe ȝee bisily of the chyld, and whan ȝee han founden, telle aȝein to me, that and Y cummynge wirshipe hym. The whiche, when thei hadden herde the kyng, wenten awey. And loo! the sterre, the whiche thei sayen in este, wente bifore hem, til that it cummynge stood aboue, wher the child was. Forsothe thei, seeynge the sterre, ioyeden with a ful grete ioye. And thei, entrynge the hous, founden the child with Marie, his modir; and thei fallynge doun worshipiden hym. And her tresours opnyd, thei offreden to hym ȝiftis, gold, encense, and merre. And answer taken in sleep, that thei shulden not turne aȝein to Herode, thei ben turned by an other wey in to her cuntree. And when thei hadden gon awey, loo! the aungel of the Lord apperide in sleep to Joseph, sayynge, Ryse vp, and take the child and his modir, and flee in to Egipt, and be thou there, til that I seye to thee; sothely it is to cume, that Herode seeke the child, for to lese hym. The whiche Joseph, rysynge vp, toke the chijld and his modir by nyȝte, and wente into Egipt, and was there til to the deth of Erode; that it shuld be fulfillid, that thing that was said of the Lord by the prophete, sayinge, Fro Egypt Y haue clepide my sone. Thanne Erode seeynge that he was scorned, or disceyued, of the kyngis, was gretely wroth; and he sendynge slewȝ alle the children, that weren in Bethlem, and in alle the eendis of it, fro two ȝeer age and with ynne, after the tyme that he hadde souȝt out of the kyngis. Than it was fulfillide, that thing that was said by Jeremye, the prophete, sayinge, A voice is herd an heeȝe, weepynge and myche weilynge, Rachel weepynge hir sonys, and she wolde not be comfortid, for thei ben not. Sothely Erode dead, loo! the angel of the Lord apeeride in sleep to Joseph in Egipt, sayinge, Ryse vp, and take the childe and his modir, and go in to the lond of Yrael; for thei that souȝten the lijf of the chyld ben dead. The whiche Joseph, rysynge vp, toke the child and his modir, and cam in to the lond of Yrael. Forsothe he heerynge that Archelaus regnede in Jude for Eroude, his fadir, dred for to go thidir. And he, monestid in sleep, wente in to the parties of Galilee; and he cummynge dwelte in a citee, that is clepid Nazareth, that it shulde be fulfillid, that thing that is said by prophetis, For whi he shal be clepid of Nazareth.

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III

In thilke days came Joon Baptist, prechynge in the desert of Jude, sayinge, Do ȝe penaunce, for the kyngdom of heuens shal neiȝ, or cume niȝe. Forsothe this is he, of whom it is said by Ysaye, the prophete, A voice of a cryinge in desert, Make ȝe redy the wayes of the Lord; make ȝe riȝtful the pathes of hym. Forsothe that ilk Joon hadde cloth of the heeris of cameylis, and a girdil of skyn aboute his leendis; sothely his mete weren locustis, and hony of the wode. Thanne Jerusalem wente out to hym, and al Jude, and al the cuntre aboute Jordan; and thei weren cristenyd of hym in Jordan, knowlechynge there synnes. Sothely he seeynge many of Pharisees and of Saducese commynge to his bapteme, saide to hem, Generaciouns of eddris, who shewide to ȝou for to flee fro wrath to cumme? Therfore do ȝee worthi fruytis of penaunce, and nyl ȝe say with ynne ȝou, We han the fadir Abraham; sothely Y saye to ȝou, for whi God is miȝti to reyse vp of these stonys the sonys of Abraham. For now the axe is putt to the rote of the tree; sothely euery tree that makith nat good fruyt, shal be kitt doun, and shal be sent in to fijr. Forsothe Y cristene ȝou in water, in to penaunce; forsothe he that is to cumme after me is strenger than Y, whos shon Y am not worthi to bere; he shal baptise, or cristen, ȝow in the Holy Goost and fijr. Whos wynwing cloth, or fan, in his hond, and he shal fully clense his corne floore, and shal gedre his corne in to his berne; but chaffis he shal brenne with fyr unquenchable, or that neuer shal be quenchid. Thanne Jhesus came fro Galilee in to Jordan to Joon, for to be cristned of hym. Soothly Joon forbeed hym, sayinge, I owe for to be cristned of thee, and thou commest to me? Forsothe Jhesus answeringe saide to hym, Suffre now, for so it becummeth vs for to fulfille all riȝtwisnesse. Than Joon leete hym, or left hym. Forsothe Jhesus cristened steiȝ vp anoon fro the water; and loo! heuens ben opened to hym, and he say the Spirit of God cummynge doun as a culuer, and cummynge vpon hym; and loo! a voice fro heuenes, sayinge, This is my byloued sone, in the whiche Y haue plesid to me.

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IV

Thanne Jhesus was led in to desert of a spirit, that he shulde be temptid of the deuel. And whanne he hadde fastid fourty days and fourety niȝtis, afterward he hungride. And the tempter cummynge niȝ, saide to hym, Ȝif thou be Goddis sone, say that these stoons be maad looues. The whiche answerynge said to hym, It is wryten, A man lyueth not in breed aloon, bot in euery word that cometh forth fro the mouthe of God. Thanne the deuyl toke hym in to an hooly citee, and sette hym on the pynacle of the temple, and saide to hym, Ȝif thou be Goddis sone, sende thee doun; sothely it is wryten, For to his aungels he comaundide of thee, and thei shulden take thee in hoondis, lest perauenture thou hurte thi fote at a stoon. Eftsone Jhesus saith to hym, It is writen, Thou shalt not tempte the Lord thi God. Eftsone the deuel toke hym in to a ful heeȝ hill, and shewide to hym alle the rewmys of the world, and the glorie of hem; and saide to hym, Alle these thingis Y shal ȝeue to thee, ȝif thou fallynge doun shalt worshipe me. Than Jhesus saide to hym, Go, Sathanas; forsothe it is wrytin, Thou shalt worshipe the Lord thi God, and to hym alone thou shalt serue. Than the deuel lafte hym; and loo! aungelis camen niȝe, and serueden to hym. Sothely whanne Jhesus hadde herde that Joon was taken, he wente into Galilee. And the cite of Nazaret laft, he came, and dwelte in the citee of Caphernaum, beside the see, in the eendis of Zabulon and Neptalym, that it shulde be fulfillid, that thing that was said by Ysay, the prophete, The lond of Zabulon and the lond of Neptalym, the weye of the see ouer Jordan, of Galilee of hethene men, the peple that dwelte in derknessis say grete liȝt, and men sittynge in the cuntree of shadew of deth, liȝt is sprunge to hem. Fro thennus Jhesus bygan for to preche, and say, Do ȝe penaunce, forsothe the kyngdom of heuens shal cume niȝe. Sothely Jhesus, walkynge bisidis the see of Galilee, say two bretheren, Symon, that is clepid Petre, and Andrew, his brother, sendynge nett in to the see; forsothe thei weren fisheris. And he saide to hem, Come ȝe after me, and I shal make ȝou to be maad fisheris of men. And anon her nettis forsakyn, They sueden hym. And he goynge forTh fro That place, say tweyn oTher breTheren, Jamys of Zebedee, and Joon, his broTher, in The ship wiTh Zebedee, her fadir, makynge aȝein, or beetynge, her nettis, and he clepide hem. SoThely anoon The nettis forsaken and The fadir, Thei sueden hym. And Jhesus enuyraunyde al Galilee, techynge in The synagogis of hem, and prechynge The gospel of kyngdam, and helynge al sorow, or ache, and al sekenesse in The peple. And his opynyoun, or fame, wente in to al Syrie; and Thei offriden to hym alle men hauynge yuele, takyn wiTh dyuers sorowis and tourmentis, and hem That hadden deuelis, and lunatijk men, and men in palsie, and he helide hem. And There sueden hym many cumpanyes of Galilee, and of Decapoly, and of Jerusalem, and of Judee, and of beȝonde Jordan.

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V

Jhesus forsoThe, seynge cumpanyes, wente vp in to an hill; and when he hadde sete, his disciplis camen niȝe to hym. And he, openynge his mouThe, tauȝte to hem, sayinge, Blessid be the pore in spirit, for the kingdam in heuenes is heren. Blessid be mylde men, for thei shuln welde the eerthe. Blessid be thei that mournen, for thei shuln be comfortid. Blessid be thei that hungren and thristen riȝtwisnesse, for thei shuln ben fulfillid. Blessid be mercyful men, for thei shuln gete mercye. Blessid be thei that ben of clene herte, for thei shuln see God. Blessid be pesible men, for thei shuln be clepid the sonys of God. Blessid be thei that suffren persecucioun for riȝtwisnesse, for the kyngdam of heuenes is herun. Ȝee shulen be blessid, when men shulen curse ȝou, and shulen pursue ȝou, and shulen say al yuel aȝeins ȝou leeȝing, for me. Ioye ȝee with yn forth, and glade ȝee with out forth, for ȝoure meede is plenteuouse in heuenes; forsothe so thei han pursued and prophetis that weren before ȝou. Ȝee ben salt of the erthe; that ȝif the salt shal vanyshe awey, wherynne shal it be saltid? To no thing it is worth ouer, no bot that it be sent out, and defoulid of men. Ȝe ben liȝt of the world; a citee putt on an hill may nat be hid; nether men tendyn a lanterne, and putten it vndir a busshel, but on a candilstike, that it ȝeue liȝt to alle that ben in the hous. So shyyne ȝoure liȝt before men, that thei see ȝoure good werkis, and glorifie ȝoure fadir that is in heuens. Nyle ȝe gesse, or deme, that Y came to vndo, or distruye, the lawe, or the prophetis; I came not to vndo the lawe, but to fulfille. Forsothe I say to ȝou trewthe, til heuen and erthe passe, oon i, that is leste lettre, or titil, shal nat passe fro the lawe, til alle thingis be don. Therfore he that vndoth, or breketh, oon of these leste maundementis, and techith thus men, shal be clepid the leste in the rewme of heuenes; forsothe this that doth, and techith, shal be clepid grete in the kyngdame of heuenes. Forsothe Y say to ȝou, no but ȝif ȝoure riȝtwisnesse shal be more plenteuouse than of scribis and Pharisees, ȝee shulen not entre in to kyngdam of heuenes. Ȝee han herde that it is said to olde men, Thou shal nat slea; forsothe he that sleeth, shal be gylty of dome. But I say to ȝou, that euereche that is wrothe to his brother, shal be gylty of dome; forsothe he that shal say to his brother, Racha, that is, a word of scorn, shal be gylty of counseile; sothly he that shal say, Fool, that is, a word of dispisynge, shal be gylti of the fijr of helle. Therfore ȝif thou offrist thi ȝift at the auter, and there shalt bythenke, that thi brother hath sum what aȝeins thee, leeue there thi ȝift before the auter, and go first for to be recounseilid, or acordid, to thi brother, and thanne thou cummynge shalt offre thi ȝifte. Be thou consentynge to thin aduersarie soon, the whijle thou art in the way with hym, lest perauenture thin aduersarie take thee to the domesman, and the domesman take thee to the mynystre, and thou be sente in to prisoun. Trewely I say to thee, Thou shalt not go thennes, til thou ȝelde the last ferthing. Ȝe han herd for it was said to olde men, Thou shalt nat do lecherye. Forsothe Y say to ȝou, for why euery man that seeth a womman for to coueite hire, now he hath do lecherie by hire in his herte. That ȝif thi riȝt eiȝe sclaundre thee, pulle it out, and cast it fro thee; for it speedith to thee, that oon of thi membris perishe, than al thi body go in to helle. And ȝif thi riȝt hond sclaundre thee, kitt it awey, and cast it fro thee; for it spedith to thee, that oon of thi membris perishe, than that al thi body go in to helle. Forsothe it is said, Who euere shal leeue his wyf, ȝeue he to hir a libel, that is, a litil boke of forsakyng. Sothely Y say to ȝou, that euery man that shal leeue his wyf, outaken cause of fornicacioun, he makith hire do lecherie, and he that weddith the forsaken wijf, doth auoutrie. Efte soonys ȝee han herd, that it was said to olde men, Thou shalt not forswere, sothely to the Lord thou shalt ȝeeld thin oethis. Forsothe Y say to ȝou, to nat swere on al manere; neither by heuene, for it is the trone of God; nether by the erthe, for it is the stole of his feet; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the citee of a greet kyng; neither thou shalt swere by thin heued, for thou maist not make oon heer whyt, or blak; but be ȝoure word Ȝea, ȝea; Nay, nay; forsothe that that is more than this, is of yuel. Ȝee han herde that it is said, Eiȝe for eiȝe, toth for toth. But Y say to ȝou, to nat aȝein stonde yuel; but ȝif any shal smyte thee in the riȝt cheeke, ȝeue to hym and the tother; and to hym that wole stryue with thee in dome, and take awey thi coote, leeue thou to hym and thin ouer clothe; and who euere constrayneth thee a thousand pacis, go thou with hym other tweyne. Forsothe ȝif to hym that axith of thee, and turne thou nat awey fro hym that wol borwe of thee. Ȝee han herd that it is said, Thou shalt loue thin neiȝbore, and hate thin enmy. But Y say to ȝou, loue ȝee ȝoure enmyes, do ȝee wel to hem that haten ȝou, and preye ȝee for men pursuynge, and falsly chalengynge ȝou; that ȝee be the sonys of ȝoure fadir that is in heuenes, that makith his sune to springe vp vpon good and yuel men, and rayneth vpon iuste men and vniuste men. For ȝif ȝe louen hem that louen ȝou, what meed shul ȝee haue? whether and puplicans don nat this thing? And ȝif ȝee greten, or saluten, ȝoure bretheren oonly, what more ouer shul ȝee don? whether and paynymmys don nat this thing? Therfore be ȝee parfit, as and ȝoure heuenly fadir is parfit.

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VI

Take ȝee hede, lest ȝe don ȝour riȝtwisnesse before men, that ȝee be seen of hem, ellis ȝe shule nat han meed at ȝoure fadir that is in heuenes. Therfore when thou dost almesse, nyle thou synge byfore thee in a trumpe, as ypocritis don in synagogis and streetis, that thei ben maad worshipful of men; forsothe Y saye to ȝou, thei han resceyued her meede. But thee doynge almesse, knowe nat the left hond what thi riȝt hond doth, that thi almes be in hidlis, and thi fadir that seeth in hidlis, shal ȝelde to thee. And when ȝe shuln preye, ȝee shuln nat be as ypocritis, the whiche stondynge louen to preye in synagogis and corners of streetis, that thei be seen of men; trewly Y say to ȝou, thei han resseyued her meede. But whan thou shalt preye, entre in to thi couche, and the dore schet, preye thi fadir in hidlis, and thi fadir that seeth in hidlis, shal ȝeelde to thee. Sothely preyinge nyle ȝee speke moche, as hethen men don, for thei gessen that thei ben herd in theire moche speche. Therfore nyl ȝe be maad liche to hem, for ȝoure fadir woot what is need to ȝou, before that ȝe axen hym. Forsothe thus ȝe shulen preyen, Oure fadir that art in heuenes, halwid be thi name; thi kyngdom cumme to; be thi wille don as in heuen and in erthe; ȝif to vs this day oure breed ouer other substaunce; and forȝeue to vs oure dettis, as we forȝeue to oure dettours; and leede vs nat in to temptacioun, but delyuere vs fro yuel. Amen, that is, so be it. Forsothe ȝif ȝee shulen forȝeue to men her synnys, and ȝoure heuenly fadir shal forȝeue to ȝou ȝoure trespassis. Sothely ȝif ȝee shulen forȝeue not to men, neither ȝoure fadir shal forȝeue to ȝou ȝoure synnes. But when ȝee fasten, nyl ȝe be maad as ypocritis sorweful, for thei putten her facis out of kyndly termys, that thei seme fastynge to men; trewly Y say to ȝou, thei han resseyued her meede. But whan thou fastist, anoynte thin hede, and washe thi face, that thou be nat seen fastynge to men, but to thi fadir that is in hidlis, and thi fadir that seeth in hidlis, shal ȝeelde to thee. Nyle ȝe tresoure to ȝou tresours in erthe, wher rust and mouȝthe distruyeth, and wher theeues deluen out and stelen; but tresoure ȝee to ȝou tresouris in heuene, wher neither rust ne mouȝthe distruyeth, and wher theues deluen nat out, or undirmyne nat, ne stelen. Forsothe wher thi tresour is, there and thin herte is. The lanterne of thi body is thin eȝe; ȝif thin eiȝe be symple, al thi body shal be liȝtful; bot ȝif thyn eiȝe be weyward, al thi body shal be derkful. Therfore ȝif the liȝt that is in thee be derknessis, how grete shulen thilk derknessis be? No man may serue to two lordis, forsothe ethir he shal haat the toon, and loue the tother; other he shal susteyn the toon, and dispise the tothir. Ȝe mown nat serue to God and richessis. Therfore Y say to ȝou, that ȝe ben nat besie to ȝoure lijf, what ȝe shulen ete; othir to ȝoure body, with what ȝe shuln be clothid. Wher ȝoure lijf is nat more than mete, and the body more than clothe? Beholde ȝe the fleeȝinge foulis of the eir, for thei sowen nat, ne repyn, neither gadren in to bernys; and ȝoure fadir of heuen fedith hem. Wher ȝe ben nat more worthi than thei? Sothely who of ȝou thenkinge may putte to to his stature oo cubite? And of clothing what ben ȝe besye? Beholde ȝe the lilies of the feelde, how thei wexen. Thei traueilen nat, nether spynnen; trewly I say to ȝou, for whi neither Salamon in al his glorie was keuerid as oon of thes. For ȝif God clothith thus the heye of the feeld, that to day is, and to morwe is sente in to the fourneyse, how moche more ȝou of litil feith? Therfore nyl ȝe be bisie, sayinge, What shulen we ete? or, What shulen we drynke? or, With what thing shulen we be keuered? Forsothe heithen men sechen alle these thingis; trewly ȝoure fadir wote that ȝe han need to alle these thingis. Therfore seke ȝee first the kyngdam of God and his riȝtwisnesse, and alle these thingis shulen be cast to ȝou. Therfore nyle ȝe be besie in to the morwe, for the morew day shal be besie to it self; sothely it sufficith to the day his malice.

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VII

Nyle ȝe deme, that ȝe be nat demyd; for in what dome ȝe demen, ȝe shulen ben demyd, and in what mesure ȝe meten, it shal be meten to ȝou. But what seest thou a festu, or a litil mote, in the eiȝe of thi brother, and thou seest nat a beme in thin owne eiȝe? Or what maner saist thou to thi brother, Brother, suffre that I caste out a festu fro thin eiȝe, and loo! a beme is in thin owne eiȝe? Ypocrite, cast out first a beme of thin eiȝe, and than thou shalt see for to cast out a festu of the eiȝe of thi brother. Nyl ȝe ȝeue holy thing to houndis, nether sende ȝe ȝour margaritis, or preciouse stoonys, before swyne, lest perauenture thei defoulen hem with theire feet, and lest houndis turned to gidre al to-breke ȝou. Axe ȝe, and it shal be ȝouen to ȝou; seke ȝe, and ȝe shulen fynde; knocke ȝe, and it shal be opnyd to ȝou. For eche that axith, takith; and he that sechith, fyndith; and it shal be opnyde to a man knokynge. Other who of ȝou is a man, whom ȝif his sone axe breed, wher he shal dresse to hym a stoon? Other ȝif he shal axe a fishe, wher he shal dresse to hym a serpent? Therfore ȝif ȝe, when ȝe ben yuel men, han knowen for to ȝeue good thingus ȝouen to ȝoure sonys, hou myche more ȝoure fadir that is in heuenes shal ȝeue good thingis to men axinge hym? Therfore alle thingis, what euer thingis ȝee wolen that men don to ȝou, and ȝe do to hem, forsothe these thingis ben the lawe and prophetis. Entre ȝe bi the streyt ȝate; for the gate that ledith to perdicioun, or dampnacioun, is brode, and the weye large, and ther ben many that entren bi it. How streit is the ȝate, and narewe the weye, that ledith to lijf, and there ben fewe that fynden it. Perceyue ȝe, and flee fro fals prophetis, the whiche cummen to ȝou in clothingis of sheepis, bot wythynne thei ben rauyshynge wolues; of her fruytis ȝe shulen knowe hem. Whether men gaderen grapis of thornys, or fijgis of breeris? So euery good tree makith good fruytis; sothely an yuel tree makith yuel fruytis. A good tree may nat make yuel fruytis, nether an yuel tree make good fruytis. Euery tree that makith nat good fruyt, shal be kitte doun, and shal be sent in to the fire. Therfore of her fruytis ȝee shulen knowe hem. Nat eche man that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shal entre in to the kyngdam of heuenes; but he that doth the wille of my fadir that is in heuenes, he shal entre in to the kyngdam of heuenes. Many shul say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, whether we han nat prophecied in thi name, and han cast out deuelis in thi name, and han don many vertues in thi name? And than Y shal knowliche to hem, For I knewe ȝou neuer; departe awey fro me, ȝe that worchen wickidnesse. Therfore eche man that herith these my wordis, and doth hem, shal be maad liche to a wijse man, that hath bildid his hous vpon a stoon. And rayn came doun, and flodis camen, and wyndis blewen, and rusheden in to that hous; and it felle nat doun, for it was foundid on a stoon. And euery man that herith these my wordis, and doth hem nat, is liche to a man fool, that hath bildid his hous on grauel, or soond. And rayn came doun, and floodis camen, and wyndis blewen, and thei hurliden in to that hous; and it felle doun, and the fallyng doun therof was grete. And it is maad, when Jhesus hadde eendid these wordis, the cumpanyes wondreden on his techyng; sothely he was techynge hem, as a man hauynge power, and nat as the scribis of hem, and Pharisees.

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VIII

Forsothe when Jhesus hadde comen doun fro the hil, many cumpanyes folewiden hym. And loo! a leprouse man cummynge worshipide hym, sayinge, Lord, ȝif thou wolt, thou maist make me clene. And Jhesus, holdynge forthe the hond, touchide hym, sayinge, I wole, be thou maad clene. And anoon the lepre of hym was clensid. And Jhesus saith to hym, See, say thou to no man; but go, shewe thee to prestis, and offre that ȝifte that Moyses comaundide, in to witnessing to hem. Sothely when he hadde entride in to Capharnaum, centurio neiȝide to hym, preyinge hym, and saide, Lord, my child lyeth in the hous sike on the palsie, and is yuel tourmentid. And Jhesus saith to hym, I shal cume, and shal hele hym. And centurio answerynge saith to hym, Lord, I am not worthi, that thou entre vndir my roof; but oonly say bi word, and my child shal be helid. For whi and I am a man ordeynd vnder power, hauynge vndir me kniȝtis; and I say to this, Go, and he goth; and to an other, Come thou, and he cometh; and to my seruaunt, Do thou this thing, and he doth. Sothely Jhesus, heerynge these thingis, wondride, and saide to men suynge hym, Trewly I saye to ȝou, I fonde nat so grete feith in Yrael. Sothely Y say to ȝou, that manye shulen come fro the est and west, and shulen rest with Abraham and Ysaac and Jacob in the kyngdam of heuenes; forsothe the sonys of the rewme shulen be cast out in to vttremest derknessis; there shal be weepynge, and beetynge togidre of teeth. And Jhesus saide to centurio, Go, and as thou hast bileeued, be it don to thee. And the child was helid fro that houre. And when Jhesus hadde comen in to the hous of Symond Petre, he say his wyues moder liggynge, and shakun with feueris. And he touchide hir hond, and the feuer lefte hir; and she roose, and seruyde hem. Sothely whan the euenyng was maad, thei brouȝte to hym many hauynge deuelys, and he castide out spiritis by word, and helide alle hauynge yuel; that it shulde be fulfillid, that thing that was said by Ysaie, the prophete, sayinge, He toke oure infirmytees, and bere oure sykenessis. Sothely Jhesus seeynge many cumpanyes about hym, bad his disciplis go ouer the water. And oo scribe, or a man of lawe, commynge to, saide to hym, Maistre, I shal sue thee, whidir euer thou shalt go. And Jhesus said to hym, Foxis han dichis, or borowis, and briddis of the eir han nestis, but mannes sone hath nat wher he reste his heued. Sotheli an other of his disciplis saide to hym, Lord, suffre me go first, and birye my fadir. Forsothe Jhesus saide to hym, Sue thou me, and late dede men birye her dead men. And Jhesu steyinge vp in to a litel ship, his disciplis sueden hym. And loo! a grete steryng was maad in the see, so that the litil ship was hilid with wawis; but he slepte. And his disciplis camen niȝ to hym, and raysiden hym, sayinge, Lord, saue vs; we perishen. And Jhesus seith to hem, What ben ȝee of litil feith agast? Thanne he rysynge comaundide to the wyndis and the see, and a grete pesiblenesse is maad. Forsothe men wondreden, sayinge, What manere man is he this, for the wyndis and the see obeishen to hym? And whan Jhesus hadde comen ouer the water in to the cuntre of men of Genazereth, twey men hauynge deuelis runnen to hym, goynge out fro birielis, ful feerse, or wickid, so that no man miȝte passe by that wey. And loo! thei crieden, sayinge, What to vs and to thee, Jhesu, the sone of God? hast thou comen hidir before the tyme for to tourmente vs? Sothely a floc, or droue, of many hoggis lesewynge was nat fer from hem. But the deuelis preyeden him, seyinge, Ȝif thou castist out vs hennes, sende vs in to the droue of hoggis. And he saith to hem, Go ȝee. And thei goynge out wente in to the hoggis; and loo! in a greet bire al the droue wente heedlynge in to the see, and thei ben dead in watris. Forsothe the hirdes fledden awey, and cummynge in to the citee, tolden alle these thingis, and of hem that hadden the fendis. And loo! al the citee wente aȝeinis Jhesu, metynge hym; and hym seen, thei preiden hym, that he shulde passe fro her coostis.

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IX

And Jhesus, goyng vp in to a boot, passide ouer the water, and came in to his citee. And loo! thei offreden to hym a man syke in palsie, liggynge in a bed. Forsothe Jhesus, seeynge the feith of hem, saide to the man sike in palsie, Sone, haue thou trust; thi synnes ben forȝeuen to thee. And lo! sum of the scribis said with ynne hem self, This blasfemeth. And when Jhesus hadde seen her thouȝtis, he said, Wherto thenken ȝe yuel thingis in ȝour hertis? What is liȝter to saye, Thi synnes ben forȝeuen to thee, other to saye, Ryse thou, and walke? Forsothe that ȝe wite, that mannes sone hath power to forȝeue synnes in erthe, thanne he saide to thilke man in palsie, Ryse vp; take thi bed, and go in to thin house. And he roose, and wente in to his house. Sothely the companyes seeynge dredden, and glorifieden God, that ȝaue siche power to men. And when Jhesus passide thennis, he seiȝ a man sittynge in a tolbothe, Matheu by name. And he saide to hym, Sue thou me. And he, rysynge, folowide hym. And it is don, hym sittynge at the mete in the house, loo! many puplicanys and synneful men cummynge saten at the mete with Jhesu and his disciplis. And Pharisees seeynge saiden to his disciplis, Whi etith ȝoure maister with puplicanys and synful men? And Jhesus herynge saide, A leche is nat nede to men that faren wel, but to men hauynge yuel. Sothely ȝee goynge lerne what it is, Y wole mercye, and nat sacrifice; forsothe Y came, nat to clepe riȝtful men, bot synful men. Thanne the disciplis of Joon camen niȝe to hym, sayinge, Whi we and Pharisees fasten ofte, but thi disciplis fasten nat? And Jhesus saide to hem, Whether the sonys of the spouse, or husbonde, mow weilen, or mourne, how longe the spouse is with hem? Sothely days shulen come, when the spouse shal be taken awey fro hem, and thanne thei shulen faste. Sothely no man sendith ynne a medlynge of rudee, or newe, clothe in to an olde clothe; sothely he takith awey the plente of it fro the clothe, and a wors kittyng is maad. Nether men senden newe wijne in to olde botelis, or wijn vesselis, ellis the wijn vessels ben broken, and the wijn is shed out, and the wijn vessellis perishen. But men senden newe wijn in to newe wijn vessellis, and bothe ben kept. Jhesu spekynge these thingis to hem, loo! oo prince came to, and worshipid hym, sayinge, Lord, my douȝtir is now dead; but cume thou, and put thin hond vpon hire, and she shal lyue. And Jhesus rysynge suede hym, and his disciplis. And loo! a womman that suffride the flix, or rennynge, of blood twelue ȝeer, cam to byhynde, and touchide the hemme of his clothe. Sothely she saide with ynne hir self, Ȝif I touche oonly the clothis of hym, I shal be saaf. And Jhesus turnyde, and seeynge hir, saide, Douȝter, haue thou trust; thi faith hath made thee saaf. And the womman was maad saaf fro that houre. And when Jhesus came in to the hous of the prince, and seeȝ mynstrelis, and the companye makynge noyse, he saide, Go ȝe awey, for the wenche is nat dead, but slepith. And thei scornyden hym. And when the cumpanye was cast out, he entride in, and held hir honde; and the wenche roose vp. And this fame wente out in to al the londe. And Jhesu passynge thennes, twey blynde men sueden hym, cryinge, and sayinge, Thou sone of Dauith, haue mercy of vs. Sothely when thei came home, the blynde men camen niȝ to hym; and Jhesus saith to hem, What wole ȝe, that I do to ȝou? And thei seiden, Lord, that oure eeȝen ben opnyd. And Jhesus saide, Bileeue ȝe, that I may do this thing to ȝou? And thei sayn, Sothely, or ȝea, Lord. Than he touchide her eeȝen, sayinge, Vp ȝour feith be it don to ȝou. And the eeȝen of bothe ben opnyde. And Jhesus thretynyde to hem, sayinge, See ȝee, that no man wite. But thei goynge out, defameden hym thorwȝ al that lond. Sothely thei gon out, loo! thei offriden to hym a man doumb, hauynge a deuel. And whan the deuel was cast out, the doumbe man spac. And the cumpanyes wondreden, sayinge, It aperede neuere so in Yrael. But the Pharisees saiden, In the prince of deuelis he castith out deuelis. And Jhesus compaside aboute alle citees and castels, techynge in synagogis of hem, and prechynge the gospel of kyngdam, and helynge al languyshynge, or ache, and al siknesse. Forsothe Jhesus, siynge cumpanyes, hadde rewthe of hem; for thei weren traueilid, and liggynge as sheep nat hauynge a sheperde. Thanne he saide to his disciplis, Sothely there is moche rype corne, but fewe werkmen. Therfore preye ȝe the lord of the rijpe corn, that he sende workmen into his rijp corn.

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X

And the twelue disciplis clepid to gidre, he ȝaue to hem power of vnclene spiritis, that thei shulde casten hem out, and that thei shulden heele al ache, and al siknesse. These ben the names of twelue apostelis; the first, Symoun, that is clepid Petre, and Andrew, his brother; Philip, and Bartilmew; Jamys of Zebedee, and Joon, his brother; Thomas, and Matheu puplican; and James Alphei, and Thadee; Symount Canane, and Judas Scarioth, the whiche betraiede Crist. Jhesus sente these twelue, comaundynge to hem, and sayinge, Goth ȝe nat into the wey of heithen men, and entre ȝe nat in to the citees of Samarietanys; but rather goth to the sheep of the hous of Yrael, that perishiden. Sothely ȝee goynge preche, sayinge, for the kyngdam of heuenes shal neiȝe; hele ȝe seke men, vpreyse ȝee dead men, clense ȝe meselis, cast ȝe out deuelis; frely ȝe han taken, frely ȝeue ȝe. Nyl ȝe welden gold, nether syluer, ne money in ȝoure girdlis, not a scripe in the weye, nether two cootis, nether shoon, nether ȝeerd; for a workman is worthi his mete. In to whateuer citee, or castel, ȝe shulen entre, axeth who therinne is worthi, and there dwelle ȝe, til that ȝe gon out. Forsothe ȝe entrynge in to an house, grete ȝe, or salute ȝee, it, sayinge, Pees to this hous. And sothely ȝif that ilk hous be worthi, ȝoure pees shal cume on it; forsothe ȝif that house be nat worthy, ȝoure pees shall turne aȝein to ȝou. And who euere shall nat resceyue ȝou, nether heer ȝoure wordis, ȝee goynge forth fro that hous, or citee, smytith awey the dust fro ȝoure feet. Trewly I say to ȝou, it shall be more suffreable to the lond of men of Sodom and Gomor in the day of iugement, than to that citee. Loo! I sende ȝou as sheep in to the mydil of wolues; therfore be ȝe war, or wijse before, as serpentis, and symple as dowues. Forsothe be ȝe war of men, for thei shuln taken ȝou in counseilis, and thei shuln bete ȝou in there synagogis; and to presidentis, or meyris, and to kyngis ȝe shulen be led for me, in to witnessynge to hem, and hethen men. But whenne thei shulen take, or bitraie, ȝou, nyl ȝe thenke, how or what thing ȝee speeken, forsothe it shal be ȝouen to ȝou in that hour, what ȝe shuln speke; for it ben nat ȝe that speken, but the spirit of ȝoure fadir, that spekith in ȝou. Sothely the brother shal take the brother in to deth, and the fadir the sone, and the sonys shulen ryse aȝeins fadir and modir, and shulen tourmente hem bi deth. And ȝe shulen be in hate to alle men, for my name; forsothe he that shall dwelle stille in to the eende, this shal be saaf. Sothely whenne thei shulen pursue ȝou in this citee, flee ȝe in to an other. Trewly I saye to ȝou, ȝe shulen nat eende the citees of Yrael, til that mannes sone cume. The disciple is nat aboue the maistre, ne the seruaunt aboue his lord; it is ynow to the disciple, that he be as his maistre, and to the seruaunt as his lord. Ȝif thei han clepid the husbonde man, or the fadir of meynee, Belzebub, hou myche more his housholde meynee? Therfore drede ȝe nat hem; for no thing is couerid, or hid, that shal nat be shewid; and no thing is preuy, that shal nat be wist. That thing that Y say to ȝou in dercnessis, saye ȝee in the liȝt; and preche ȝe vpon housis, that thing that ȝee heere in ere. And nyl ȝe dreede hem that sleen the body; trewly thei mowen nat slea the soule; bot rather dreede ȝe hym, that may lese soule and body in to helle. Whether twey sparwis ben not sold for an halpeny? and oon of hem shal nat falle on the erthe withouten ȝoure fadir. Forsothe alle the heeris of ȝoure heued be noumbrid. Therfore nyle ȝe drede; ȝe ben better than many sparwis. Therfore euery man that shal knowleche me before men, and I shal knowleche hym byfore my fadir that is in heuenes. Sothely he that shal denye me bifore men, and I shall deniȝe hym before my fadir whiche is in heuenes. Nyl ȝee deme, that I cam to sende pees in to erthe; I cam not to sende pees in to erthe, but swerd. Sothely Y cam to departe a man aȝeins his fadir, and the douȝter aȝeinys hire modir, and the sonys wyf aȝeins the wyues, or husbondis, modir; and the enmyes of a man ben his homly meynee. He that loueth fadir or modir more than me, is nat worthi of me. And he that loueth sone or douȝter ouer me, is nat worthi of me. And he that takith nat his crosse, and sueth me, is not worthi of me. He that fyndith his soule, that is, temporal lyf, shal leese it; and he that lesith his soule, that is, lif, for me, shal fynde it. He that resseyueth ȝou, resceyueth me; and he that resceyueth me, resceyueth hym that sente me. And he that resceyueth a prophete in the name of a prophete, shal take the mede of a prophete. And he that resceyueth a iust man in the name of a iust man, shal take the meede of a iust man. And who euer ȝiueth drynke to oon of these leste a cuppe of cold water oonly in the name of a disciple, trewly I saye to ȝou, he shal nat leese his mede.

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XI

And it is don, when Jhesus hadde eendid, he, comaundynge to his twelue disciplis, passide fro thennes for to preche and teche in the citees of hem. Forsothe when Joon in boondis hadde herd the werkis of Crist, he, sendynge two or three of his disciplis, seide to hym, Art thou he that art to cummynge, or we abiden an other? And Jhesus answerynge, seide to hem, Ȝee goynge telle aȝein to Joon the thingis that ȝe han herde and seen. Blynde men seen, crokid men wandren, mesels ben maad clene, deef men heeren, dead men risen aȝein, pore men ben taken to prechynge of the gospel, or ben maad keepers of the gospel. And he is blessid, that shal nat be sclaundrid in me. Sothely hem goynge awey, Jhesus biganne for to seye of Joon to the cumpanyes, What thing wenten ȝe out for to see in desert? whether a reede wawid with wynd? But what thing wente ȝe out for to seen? whether a man clothid with soft thingis? Loo! thei that ben clothid with softe thingis ben in housis of kyngis. But what thing wenten ȝe out for to se? whether a prophete? Ȝe, I seie to ȝou, and more than a prophete. For this is he, of whom it is writyn, Loo! I sende myne aungel before thi face, that shal make redy thi wey bifore thee. Trewly I say to ȝou, ther roose noon more than Joon Baptist amonge children of wommen; forsothe he that is lesse in the kyngdam of heuenes, is more than he. Sothely fro the days of Joon Baptist til now the kyngdam of heuenes suffreth strengthe, or violence, and violent men rauyshen it. For alle prophetis and the lawe til Joon Baptist prophecieden; and ȝif ȝe wolen resseyuen, he is Ely that is to cume. He that hath eeris of heerynge, heere he. But to whom shal I gesse this generacioun lichy? It is lichi to children sittynge in cheepynge, the whiche, cryinge to her peeris, seien, We han sungen to ȝou, and ȝe han nat lippid; we han mourned to ȝou, and ȝe han nat weilid. Sothely Joon cam neither etyinge ne drynkynge, and thei seien, He hath a deuel. The sone of man came etynge and drynkynge, and thei seyen, Loo! a man deuourer, or glotoun, and drynker of wyn, and frend of puplicanys and synful men. And wijsdam is iustified of her sonys. Thanne Jhesus began for to seie repreue to citees, in whiche ful manye vertues of hym ben don, for thei diden nat penaunce. Woo to thee! Corozaym, woo to thee! Bethsaida; for ȝif tho vertues that ben don in ȝou hadden ben don in Tyre and Sydon, sum tyme thei hadden don penaunce in haire and asch. Netheles I say, it shal be softer, or lesse peyne, to Tyre and Sydon than to ȝou, in the day of dome. And thou, Caphernaum, whether til in to heuen thou shalt be rerid vp? Thou shalt go doun til into helle. For ȝif the vertues that ben don in thee, hadden be don in Sodom, perauenture thei shulden han dwellid til vn to this day. Netheles Y saye to ȝou, for to the lond of Sodom it shal be softer, or lesse peyne, in the day of dome, than to thee. In the ilk tyme Jhesus answerynge saide, I knowleche to thee, fadir, lord of heuen and erthe, for thou hast hid these thingis fro wijse men and ware, or sleeȝ men, and hast shewid hem to litil men; so, fadir, for whi so it was plesynge tofore thee. Alle thingis ben taken to me of my fadir; and no man knewe the sone, no but the fadir, neither eny man knewe the fadir, no but the sone, and to whom the sone wolde shewe. Alle ȝe that traueilen, and ben chargid, come to me, and I shal refreshe, or fulfille, ȝou. Take ȝe my ȝoc vpon ȝou, and lerne ȝe of me, for I am mylde and meeke in herte; and ȝe shulen fynde reste in ȝoure soulis. For my ȝoc is swete, or softe, and my charge liȝt, or eisy.

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XII

In that tyme Jhesus wente by cornys on the sabot day; forsothe his disciplis, hungrynge, bigunnen to pluc eris of corn, and to ete. Sothely Pharisees seeynge, seiden to hym, Loo! thi disciplis don that thing that is nat leeful to hem to do in sabothis. And he seide to hem, Whether ȝe han nat rad, what Dauith didde, when he hungride, and thei that weren with hym? hou he entride in to the hous of God, and ete loouis of proposicioun, or puttynge forth, the whiche loouis was nat leeful to hym to eet, nether to hem that weren with hym, no but to prestis only? Or whether ȝe han nat rad in the lawe, for in sabothis prestis in the temple defoulen the sabothis, and thei ben with outen grete synne? Sothely Y saye to ȝou, for this is more than the temple. Forsothe ȝif ȝe wisten, what it is, I wole mercy, and nat sacrifice, ȝe shulden neuer han condempnyd innocentis. Trewly mannys sone is, ȝhe, lord of the sabot. And whenne he passide thennus, he came in to the synagoge of hem. And loo! a man hauynge a drye hond. And thei axiden hym, sayinge, Ȝif it is leeful to heele in the sabot? that thei shulden acuse hym. Sothely he seide to hem, Who shal be a man of ȝou, that hath oo sheep, and ȝif it shal falle doun in to a dike in the sabotis, whether he shal nat holde, and lift it vp? Hou moche more is a man betre than a sheep? And so it is leeful to do good in the sabot. Thanne he seide to the man, Strecche forth thin hond. And he streiȝte forth; and it is restorid to helthe as the tother. Forsothe Pharisees goynge out, maden a counsel aȝeins hym, hou thei shulden leese hym. Sothely Jhesus witynge, wente awey thennes; and many sueden hym, and he helide hem alle. And he comaundide to hem, that thei shulden nat make hym opyn, or knowen; that that thing shulde be fulfilled, that was said by Ysay, the prophete, seyinge, Loo! my chosen child, whom I haue chosen, my derlyng, in whom it hath wel plesid to my soule; I shal putte my spirit on hym, and he shal telle dome to heithen men. He shal nat stryue, ne crye, nether eny man shal here his voice in stretis. He shal nat breke to gidre a schaken reed, and he shal nat quenche smokynge flax, til that he cast out dome to victorie; and hethen men shulen hope in his name. Thanne a blynd man and doumb, hauynge a deuel, was offrid vp to hym; and he helide hym, so that he spac, and say. And alle the cumpanyes wondreden, and saiden, Wher this be the sone of Dauith? But the Pharisees, herynge, seiden, He this castith not out feendis, no but in Belzabub, prince of fendis. Sothely Jhesus, witynge her thouȝtis, seide to hem, Eche kyngdam departid aȝeins hym self, shal be desolat, or discounfortid, and eche citee, or hous, departid aȝeins it self, shal nat stonde. And ȝif Sathanas castith out Sathanas, he is departid aȝeins hym self; therfore hou shal his kyngdam stonde? And ȝif I in Belzabub cast out deuelis, in whom, or whos miȝt, ȝoure sonys casten out? Therfore thei shulen ben ȝoure domys men. Forsothe ȝif I in the Spirit of God caste out fendis, therfore the kyngdam of God is cummen in to ȝou, or amonge ȝou. Ether hou may eny man entre in to the hous of a stronge man, and take awey his vesselis, no but first he shal bynde the stronge man, and than he shal rauyshe his hous? He that is nat with me, is aȝeinus me; and he that gadrith nat to gidre with me, scatrith abrood. Therfore Y seye to ȝou, al synne and blasfemye shal be forȝouen to men, but the spirit of blasfemye shal nat be forȝouen. And who euere shal seie a word aȝeins mannys sone, it shal be forȝouen to hym; forsothe he that shall seye a word aȝeins the Holy Goost, it shal nat be forȝouen to hym, nether in this world, ne in the tother. Ether make ȝe the tree good, and his fruyt good; ether make ȝe the tree yuel, and his fruyt euyl; forsothe a tree is knowen of the fruyt. Ȝe generacioun of eddris, howe mowe ȝe speke good thingis, when ȝe ben yuel? Sothely the mouth spekith of the grete plente of the herte. A good man brengith forth good thingis of good tresoure, and an yuel man bryngith forth yuel thingis of yuel tresour. Forsothe Y seie to ȝou, for whi of euery ydel word that men speken, thei shul ȝelde resoun therof in the day of dome; for of thi wordis thou shalt be iustified, and of thi wordis thou shalt be dampnyd. Thanne sume of the scribes and Pharisees answereden to hym, seyinge, Maistre, we wolden se a tokne of thee. The whiche answerynge seith to hem, An iuel generacioun and auoutrere sekith a tokne, and tokne shal nat be ȝouen to it, no but the tokne of Jonas, the prophete. For as Jonas was in the womb of a whall three days and three niȝtis, so mannus sone shal be in the herte of the erthe three days and three niȝtis. Men of Nynyue shal ryse in dome with this generacioun, and shulen condempne it; for thei diden penaunce in the prechynge of Jonas, and loo! here is more than Jonas. The queen of the south shal ryse in dome with this generation, and shal condempne it; for she came fro the eendis of the erthe, for to here the wisdam of Salomon, and loo! heere is more than Salomon. Forsothe whan an vnclene spirit shal go out fro a man, he goth by drye places, seekynge reste, and he fyndyth nat. Thanne he saith, I shal turne aȝein in to my hous, fro whennys Y came out. And he cummynge fyndith it voide, clensid with bismes, and maad faire. Thanne he goth, and takith seuen other spiritis with hym, worse than hym self; and thei entrynge yn dwellen there. And the last thingis of that man ben maad worse than the former. So it shal be and to this worst generacioun. Ȝit hym spekynge to the cumpanyes of peple, loo! his modir and his bretheren stoden with outeforth, seekyng for to speke to hym. Sothely sum man saide to hym, Loo! thi modir and thi brethren stonden with outforth, seekynge thee. And he, answerynge to the man seiynge to hym, seith, Who is my modir? and who ben my brethren? And he holdynge forth his hond in to his disciples, seide, Loo! my modir and my bretheren; treuly whoeuer doth the wil of my fadir that is in heuenes, he is my brother, suster, and modir.

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XIII

In that day Jhesus goynge out of the hous, sat besidis the see. And manye cumpanyes of peple ben gedrid to hym, so that he steyinge vp in to a boot sat; and al the cumpanye stode in the brynke. And he spak to hem many thingis in parablis, seiynge, Loo! he that sowith, goth out to sowe his seed. And the while he soweth, sum felden byside the weye, and briddis of the eyre camen, and eeten hem. Sothely other seedis felden into stoony placis, wher thei hadden nat moche erthe; and anoon thei ben sprungen vp, for thei hadde nat depnesse of erthe. Sothely the sunne sprung vp, thei swaliden, or brenden for hete, and for thei hadden nat roote, thei drieden vp. Forsothe other seedis felden amonge thornis; and the thornis wexen vp, and strangliden hem. But other seedis felden in to good lond, and ȝauen fruyt; sume an hundred fold, another sexti fold, another thritti fold. He that hath eris of heerynge, heere he. And disciplis cummynge to seiden to hym, Whi spekist thou in parablis to hem? The whiche answerynge seith to hem, For to ȝou it is ȝouen for to knowe the mysterie, or priuyte, of the kyngdam of heuenes; but it is nat ȝouen to hem. For it shal be ȝouen to hym that hath, and he shal haue plentee; trewly who that hath nat, that thing that he is seen to haue shal be taken awey fro hym. Therfore I speke to hem in parablis, for thei seeynge see nat, and thei heerynge heeren nat, nether vndirstonden; that the prophecie of Ysay seiynge be fulfillid in hem, With heerynge ȝe shulen heere, and ȝee shulen nat vnderstonde; and ȝee seeynge shulen see, and ȝee shulen nat see; for the herte of this peple is enfattid, and thei herden greuously with eris, and thei han closid her eeȝen, that sum tyme thei see with eeȝen, and with eris heeren, and vndirstonden in herte, and thei ben to gidre turned, and I heele hem. Forsothe ȝoure eeȝen that seen ben blessid, and ȝoure eris that heeren. Forsothe I saye trewthe to ȝou, for many prophetis and iuste men coueitiden to see thoo thingus that ȝee seen, and thei saien nat, and to heeren thoo thingis that ȝee heeren, and thei herden nat. Therfore heere ȝe the parable of the sowynge man. Eche that heerith the word of rewme, and vndirstondith nat, the yuel spirit cometh, and rauyschith that that is sowyn in his herte; this is that is sowen besidis the weye. Sothely he that is sowen on the stoon, this it is, that heerith the word of God, and anoon with ioye takith it. Forsothe he hath nat roote in hym self, but it is temporal; that is, it lastith bot a litil tyme. Forsothe tribulacioun and persecucioune maad for the word, anoon he is sclaundrid. Bot he that is sowen in thornys, is this that herith the word, and the bysynesse of this world, and the falsnessis of ritchessis stranglith the word, and it is maad with outen fruyt. Bot he that is sowen in to good lond, is this that herith the word, and vndirstondith, and bryngthe forth fruyt. And sothely sume makith an hundrefold, treuly another sixtyfold, forsothe another thrittifold. Another parable Jhesus putte forth to hem, seyinge, The kyngdam of heuenes is maad liche to a man, that sew good seed in his feeld. But, when men slepten, his enmye came, and sew aboue dernel, or cokil, in the midil of whete, and wente awey. Sothely when the herbe hadde growid, and maad fruyt, thanne the dernel, or cokil, apperiden. Forsothe the seruauntis of the husbondeman comynge niȝ, seiden to hym, Lord, wher thou hast nat sowen good seed in thi feeld? wher of than hath it dernel, or cokil? And he seith to hem, The man enmye hath don this thing. Trewly the seruauntis seiden to him, Wolt thou we go, and gedren hem? And he saith, Nay, lest perauenture ȝe gedrynge dernels, or coclis, draw vp by the roote togidre with hem and the whete. Suffre ȝe hem bothe wexe til to rype corne; and in tyme of rype corn I shal seie to reperis, First gedre ȝee to gedre dernels, or cockilis, and byndeth hem to gidre in knytchis, or smale bundelis, for to be brent, but gedere ȝe whete in to my berne. An other parable Jhesus putte forth to hem, seiynge, The kyngdam of heuenes is like to a corn of seneuey, the whiche a man takynge sewe in his feeld. The whiche trewly is leest of alle seedis, but when it hath wexen, it is most of alle wortis, and is maad a tree; so that briddis of the eyre cummen, and dwellen in bowis, or braunchis, therof. An other parable Jhesus spac to hem, The kyngdam of heuenes is lic to soure dowȝ, the whiche taken, a womman hidde in three mesuris of meele, til it were al sowrdowid. Jhesus spac alle these thingis in parablis to the cumpanyes of peple, and he spac nat to hem with outen parablis, that it shulde be fulfillid, that thing that is seid by the prophete, seyinge, I shal opyn my mouth in parablis; I shal bolke out, or telle oute, hid thingus fro makyng of the world. Thanne the cumpanyes laft, he came into an hous; and his disciplis camen niȝ to hym, seiynge, Expoune to vs the parable of dernelis, or cokelis, of the feeld. The whiche answerynge saith, He that sowith good seed is mannes sone; sothely the feld is the world; bot the good seed, these ben sonys of the kyngdam, dernels, or cocklis, forsothe these ben yuel sonys; but the enmye that soweth hem is the feend; but the ripe corn is the eendyng of the world, sothely the repers ben angelis. Therfore as dernels ben gedrid to gidre, and brent in fijr, so it shal be in the eendyng of the world. Mannes sone shal sende his angels, and thei shulden gedre of his rewme alle sclaundris, and hem that don wickidnesse; and thei shulen sende hem into the chymney of fijr, there shal be weepynge and betynge togidre of teeth. Thanne iust men shulen shyine as the sunne, in the rewme of her fadir. He that hath eris of heerynge, heere he. The kyngdame of heuenes is lijk to tresour hid in a feeld, the whiche a man that fyndith, hidith; and for ioye of it he goth, and sellith alle thingis that he hath, and bieth the ilk feeld. Eftsones the kyngdam of heuenes is lic to a man marchaunt, seekyng good margarytis; sothely oo preciouse margarite founden, he wente, and solde alle thingis that he hadde, and bouȝte it. Eft the kingdam of heuenes is lic to a nette sent in to the see, and of alle kynd of fishis gedrynge; the whiche whan it was fulfillid, men ledynge out, and sittynge bysidis the brynke, cheesiden the good into her vessels, but thei senten out the yuel. So it shal be in the eending of the world. Angelis shulen gon out, and shulen departe yuel men fro the mydil of iuste men. And thei shulen sende hem into the chymney of fijr; there shal be weepynge and betynge togidre of teeth. Han ȝee vnderstonden alle these thingis? Thei seien to hym, Ȝhe. He seith to hem, Therfore euery wryter tauȝt in the kyngdam of heuenes, is lic to an husbonde man, that bryngith forth of his tresour newe thingis and olde. And it is don, whanne Jhesus hadde eendid these parables, he passide fro thennis. And he, cummynge in to his cuntree, tauȝt hem in her synagogis, so that thei wondriden, and seiden, Wherof to hym this wisdam and vertues? Wher is nat this the sone of a smyth, or carpenter? Wher his modir be nat seid Marie? and his brethren, Jamys, and Joseph, and Symount, and Judas? and his sistris, wher thei alle ben nat at vs? Therfore wherof to hym alle these thingis? And so thei weren sclaundrid in hym. Forsothe Jhesus seide to hem, A prophete is nat with outen wirshipe, no but in his owne cuntree, and in his owne hous. And he dide nat there manye vertues, for the vnbyleue of hem.

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XIV

In that tyme Eroude tetrarcha, that is, prince of the fourthe part, herde the fame of Jhesu; and seide to his children, This is Jon Baptist, he hath risen fro dead, and therfore vertues worchen in hym. Forsothe Eroude helde Joon, and bounde hym, and putte him in to prisoun for Erodias, the wif of his brother. For Joon saide to hym, It is nat leful to thee for to haue hir. And he willynge to slea hym, drede the peple; for thei hadden hym as a prophete. Forsothe in the day of Eroudis birthe, the douȝter of Erodias leepte in the mydil, and pleside to Eroude. Wherfore with an ooth he byhiȝte for to ȝeue to hir, what euer thinge she hadde axid of hym. And she bifore monestid, or warnyd, of hir modir, seith, Ȝeue thou to me hidir the hed of Joon Baptist in a dische. And the kyng was sorowful, but for the ooth, and for hem that seeten to gidre at the mete, he comaundide to be ȝouen. And he sente, and bihedide Joon in the prisoun. And his heed is brouȝt to in a dische, and it is ȝouen to the whenche, and she bare it to hir modir. And his disciplis cummynge to token his body, and biryeden it; and thei cummynge tolden to Jhesu. The whiche thing when Jhesus hadde herd, he went fro thennus in to a boot, in to desert place besidis. And whenne the cumpanyes of peple hadden herd, thei folowiden hym and on the feet fro citees. And Jhesus, goynge out, saw a greet multitude of peple, and hadde rewthe of hem, and heelide the sike men of hem. Sothely the euenynge maad, his disciplis camen niȝ to him, seiynge, The place is desert, and the hour hath now passid; leeue thou the cumpanyes of peple, that thei, goynge in to castels, bigge meetis to hem. Forsothe Jhesus seide to hem, Thei han nat neede to go; ȝeue ȝe to hem for to ete. Thei answeriden, We han nat here, no but fiue looues and two fishis. The whiche seith to hem, Brynge ȝee hem hidir to me. And when he hadde comaundid the cumpanye for to sitte to mete on hay, fyue looues and two fishis taken, he byholdynge in to heuen, blesside, and brak, and ȝaue to his disciplis; sothely the disciplis ȝauen to the cumpanyes. And alle eeten, and weren fulfillid. And thei token the relifis of broken gobetis, twelue cofyns ful. Forsothe the noumbre of men etynge was fyue thousand of men, out taken wemmen and litel children. And anon Jhesus compellide, or comaundide, the disciplis for to go vp in to a boot, and go bifore hym ouer the see, til that he lefte the cumpanyes. And the cumpanyes left, he steiȝide vp in to an hill aloone for to preye. Sothely the euenyng maad, he was there aloone. Sothely the boot in the mydil see was throwen with wawis, forsothe the wynd was contrarie. But in the fourthe wakyng of the niȝt, he came to hem walkynge aboue the see. And thei, seeynge hym walkynge aboue the see, weren distourblid, seyinge, For it is a fantum; and for drede thei cryeden. And anoon Jhesus spac to hem, sayinge, Haue ȝe trust, I am; nyl ȝe dreede. Sothely Petre answerynge seide, Lord, ȝif thou art, comaunde me to cume to thee vpon the watris. And he seith, Cume thou. And Petre goynge doun fro the bote, walkide on the wateris for to cume to Jhesu. Trewly he, seeynge a strong wynde, was aferde; and whan he bygan for to be drenchid, he cryede, seyinge, Lord, make me saaf. And anoon Jhesus, holdynge forth the hond, cauȝte hym, and seith to hym, Thou of litil feith, whi hast thou doutid? And whenne he hadde stied vp in to the boot, the wynde cesside. Sothely thei, that weren in the boot, camen, and worshipiden hym, seyinge, Veryly, thou art Goddis sone. And whenne he had passide ouer the see, thei camen in to the lond of Genesar. And whenne men of that place hadden knowen hym, thei senten into al that cuntree; and thei offriden to hym al hauynge yuel. And thei preyiden hym, that thei shulden touche ether the hem of the clothing of hym; and who euer touchiden ben maad saaf.

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XV

Thanne scribis and Pharisees camen niȝ to hym fro Jerusalem, seyinge, Whi thi disciplis ouerpassen, or breken, the tradiciouns, or statutis, of elder men? for thei washen nat hondis, whenne thei eten breed. Sothely he answerynge seith to hem, And whi and ȝe breken the maundement of God for ȝoure tradicioun? For whi God seide, Honoure thi fadir and thi modir, and he that cursith fadir or modir, dye he by deth. But ȝe seyn, Who euere shal saye to fadir or modir, What euere ȝifte is of me, it shal profite to thee; and he hath not worshipid his fadir or modir; and ȝe han made the maundement of God voide, or idyl, for ȝoure tradicioun. Ipocritis, Ysay, the prophete, propheciede wel of ȝou, seyinge, This peple honoureth me with lippis, forsothe her herte is fer fro me; trewly thei worshipen me with outen cause, techynge the doctrines and maundements of men. And the cumpanyes of peple clepid to gidre to hym, he seide to hem, Heere ȝe, and vnderstonde. Nat that thing that entrith in to the mouth, defoulith a man; but that thing that cummeth forth fro the mouth, defoulith a man. Thanne his disciplis cummynge niȝ seiden to hym, Wost thou, that, this word herd, Pharisees ben sclaundrid? And he answerynge seith, Euery plantynge, the whiche my fadir of heuen hath nat plantid, shal be drawen vp by the roote. Suffre ȝe hem; thei ben blynde, and lederis of blynde men. Sothely ȝif a blynd man ȝeue ledynge to a blynd man, bothe fallen doun in to the diche. Forsothe Petre answerynge saide to hym, Expoun to vs this parable. And he seide, Ȝit and ȝe ben without vnderstondyng? Wher ȝe vnderstonde nat, that al thing that entrith in to the mouth, goth in to the wombe, and is sent out in to the goyng awey? But tho thingis that cummen forth fro the mouth, gon out of the herte, and tho thingus defoulen a man. For of the herte gon out yuel thouȝtis, mansleayngis, auoutries, fornicaciouns, theftis, fals witnessis, blasfemyes. These thingis it ben that defoulen a man; sothely for to ete with hondis vnwashen, defouleth not a man. And Jhesus gon out fro thennys, wente into parties of Tyre and Sidon. And loo! a womman of Canane gon out of the costis, cryede, seyinge to hym, Lord, the son of Dauid, haue mercye on me; my douȝter is yuel traueilid of a deuyl. The whiche answerid nat to hir o word. And his disciplis cummynge to preyeden hym, seyinge, Leeue thou hire, for she crieth after vs. Forsothe he answerynge seith, I am nat sent, no but to the sheep of the hous of Yrael that perishiden. Bot she came, and wirshipide hym, seyinge, Lord, help me. The whiche answerynge seith, It is nat good for to take the breed of sonys, and sende to houndis. And she seide, Ȝhe, Lord; forwhi and the litel whelpis eten of the crummys, that fallen doun fro the bord of her lordis. Thanne Jhesus answeringe seith to hir, O! thou womman, thi feith is grete; be it don to thee, as thou wolt. And hir douȝter was heelid fro that hour. And whenne Jhesus hadde passide thennes, he came bisidis the see of Galilee. And he steiynge in to an hyl, sat there. And many cumpanyes camen niȝ to hym, hauynge with hem doumbe men and crokid, feble and blynde, and many othir; and castiden hem doun at his feet. And he helide hem, so that the cumpanyes wondriden, seeynge doumbe men spekynge, and crokid goynge, blynd men seeynge; and thei magnyfieden God of Yrael. Sothely Jhesus, his disciplis gedered to gider, seide, I haue rewthe of the cumpany of peple, for now the thridde day thei dwellen still with me, and thei han not thing whiche thei shulen ete; and Y wole nat leeue hem fastynge, lest thei failen in the weye. And the disciplis seyen to hym, Therfore wherof so many loouys to vs in desert, that we fulfille so grete a cumpanye of peple? And Jhesus seith to hem, Hou many loouys han ȝee? And thei seiden, Seuene, and a few smalle fishis. And he comaundide to the cumpany, that thei shulde sitt to the mete vpon the erthe. And he takynge seuen looues, and fishis, and doynge thonkyngis, brak, and ȝaue to his disciplis; and disciplis ȝauen to the peple. And alle eten, and weren fulfillid, and thei token that that was ouer of relyues, seuene lepis fulle. Forsothe thei that eten weren foure thousand of men, with outen litil children and wemmen. And, the cumpanye of peple laft, he styede vp in to a boot, and cam into the coostis of Magedan.

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XVI

And Pharisees and Saduceis temptynge him camen niȝ to hym, and preiden hym for to shewe to hem a tokene fro heuene. And he answerynge seith to hem, The eeuenynge maad, ȝe seien, It shal be cleer, for the heuene is lijk to reed; and the morwe, To day tempest, for heuen shyneth heuy, or sorwful. Therfore ȝe han knowe to deme wisely the face of heuen, but ȝe mowen not wite the tokenys of tymes. The yuel generacioun and avowtrer sekith a tokne; and a tokene shal nat be ȝouen to it, no but the tokne of Jonas, the prophete. And, hem forsaken, he wente awey. And whenne his disciplis camen ouer the see, thei forȝaten for to take loouys. The whiche seide to hem, Beholde ȝe, and beth war of the sourdowȝ of Pharisees and Saducees. And thei thouȝten amonge hem, seiynge, For we han nat taken loouys. Forsothe Jhesus witynge seide to hem, What thenken ȝe amonge ȝou of litil feith, for ȝe han nat loouys? Ȝit ȝe vndirstonden nat, nether han mynde of fyue loouys in to fyue thousand of men, and hou many cofyns ȝe token? trewly nether of seuen loouys in to four thousand of men, and hou many lepis ȝee token? Whi vndirstonden ȝe nat, for I seide nat to ȝou of breed, Be ȝe war of sourdowȝ of Pharisees and of Saducees? Thanne thei vnderstoden, that he seide nat to be war of sourdowȝ of loouys, bote of the techynge of Pharisees and Saducees. Sothely Jhesus came in to the parties of Cesarie of Philip, and axide his disciplis, seyinge, Whom seyn men to ben mannes sone? And thei seiden, Summe Joon Baptist; other forsothe Hely; but other Jeremye, or oon of the prophetis. Jhesus seith to hem, Sothely whom seien ȝe me to be? Symon Petre answerynge seide, Thou art Crist, the sone of God lyuynge. Forsothe Jhesus answerynge seide to hym, Blessid art thou, Symon Bariona, that is, the sone of culuer; for flesh and blood shewide nat to thee, but my fadir that is in heuenes. And Y seye to thee, for thou art Petre, and vpon this stoon I shal bilde my churche, and the ȝatis of helle shulen nat han miȝt, or strengthe, aȝeins it. And to thee I shal ȝeue the keies of the kyngdam of heuenes; and what euer thou shalt bynde vpon erthe, shal be bounden and in heuenes; and what euer thou shalt vnbynde vpon erthe, shal be vnbounden and in heuenes. Thanne he comaundide to his disciplis, that thei shulden seie to no man, that he was Crist. Fro that tyme Jhesus bygan for to shewe to his disciplis, that it byhouith hym to go to Jerusalem, and suffre many thingus of the eldris, and scribis, and princis of prestis; and be sleyn, and the thridde day ryse vp aȝein. And Petre, takynge hym to, began for to blame hym, seyinge, Fer be it fro thee, Lord; this thing shal not be to thee. The whiche, turnyd, seide to Petre, Sathanas, go after me; thou art sclaundre to me; for thou sauerist nat, or vndirstondist nat, tho thingis that ben of God, but tho thingis that ben of men. Thanne Jhesus seide to his disciplis, Ȝif eny man wole cume after me, denye he hym self, and take his crosse, and sue me; for he that wole make his soule saaf, that is, his lyf, shal lese it; forsothe he that shal lese his soule, that is, his lyf, for me, shal fynde it. Sothely what profitith it to a man, ȝif he wynne al the world, trewly he suffre peyrynge of his soule? or what chaungynge shal a man ȝeue for his soule? For mannes sone is to come in glorie of his fadir, with his angelis, and thanne he shal ȝelde to euery man aftir his workis. Treuly I seie to ȝou, there ben summe of men stondynge heer, the whiche shul nat taaste deth, til thei seen mannys sone cummynge in his kyngdom.

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XVII

And after sexe dayes Jhesus toke Petre, and Jamys, and Joon, his brother, and ledde hem asydis in to an hiȝ hill, and was transfigured, or turnyd into an other lickenesse, bifore hem. And his face schoon as the sunne; forsothe his clothis were maad white as snow. And lo! Moyses and Helye apperiden to hem, spekynge with hym. Sothely Petre answerynge seid to Jhesu, Lord, it is good vs to be here. Ȝif thou wolt, make we here three tabernaclis; to thee oon, to Moyses oon, and oon to Helie. Ȝit hym spekynge, loo! a liȝty cloude shadewid hem; and loo! a vois of the cloude, seyinge, This is my derworth sone, in whom I haue wel pleside to me; heere ȝe hym. And the disciplis, heerynge, fellen doun in to her facis, and dredden gretely. And Jhesus came niȝ, and touchide hem, and seide to hem, Ris vp, nyl ȝe dreede. Forsothe thei, rysynge vp her eiȝen, sawen no man, no but Jhesus aloon. And, hem cummynge doun fro the mounteyn, Jhesus comaundide hem, seyinge, Saie ȝe to no man the visioun, til mannes sone ryse aȝein fro dead. And his disciplis axiden hym, seyinge, What therfore seyn scribis, that it behoueth Hely first come? And he answerynge seith to hem, Forsothe Hely is to come, and he shal restore alle thingis. Treuly Y seye to ȝou, that Hely is now comen, and thei knewen hym nat, but thei diden in hym, what euere thingis thei wolden; so and mannys sone is to suffre of hem. Thanne disciplis vndirstoden, that of Joon Baptist he hadde seid to hem. And whanne he cam to the cumpanye of peple, a man cam to hym, foldid on knees byfore hym, seyinge, Lord, haue mercy on my sone; for he is lunatyke, and suffrith yuel, for why oft tymys he fallith in to the fijr, and oft tymys in to water. And I offride hym to thi disciplis, and thei myȝten nat hele hym. Jhesus answerynge seith, A! thou generacioun vnbyleeful, or out of the feith, and weiward; hou longe shal I be with ȝou? hou longe shal I suffre ȝou? Brynge ȝee hym hidir to me. And Jhesus blamyde hym, and the deuel wente out fro hym; and the child is helid fro that houre. Thanne disciplis camen niȝ to Jhesu priuyly, and seiden to hym, Whi miȝte nat we casten hym out? Jhesus seith to hem, For ȝoure vnbyleue. Treuly I seie to ȝou, ȝif ȝe shulen haue feith, as a corn of seneuey, ȝe shulen seie to this hill, Passe thou hennus, and it shal passe; and no thing shal be impossible to ȝou; forsothe this kynde is nat cast out, no but by preyinge and fastynge. Treuly, hem lyuynge togidre in Galilee, Jhesus seide to hem, Mannes sone is to be bitraied in to the hondis of men; and thei shulen slea hym, and the thridde day he shal ryse aȝein. And thei ben maad ful sory. And whanne he came to Capharnaum, thei that token tribut, camen to Petre, and seiden to hym, Ȝoure maister payeth nat tribute? And he seith, Ȝhe. And whenne he had entrid in to an house, Jhesus came bifore hym, seyinge, Symount, what semeth to thee? Of whiche taken the kyngis of erthe tribut, or rent? of her owne sonys, ether of alyenys, or other mennys sones? And he seide, Of other mennus sonys. Jhesus seide to hym, Therfore sonys ben free. Forsothe that we sclaundre nat hem, go thou to the see, and sende an hoke, and take the ilke fishe that first cummeth vp; and, his mouth openyd, thou shalt fynde stater, that is, a certeyn of moneye; thou takyng it, ȝeue to hem for me and for thee.

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XVIII

In that hour the disciplis camen niȝ to Jhesus, seiynge, Who, gessist thou, is more in the kyngdam of heuenes? And Jhesus, clepynge to a litil child, putte hym in the mydil of hem; and seide, I seie trewthe to ȝou, no but ȝif ȝe shulen be turnyd, and maad as litil children, ȝe shulen nat entren in to the kyngdam of heuenes. Therfore who euere shal meeke hym as this litil child, he is more in the kyngdam of heuenes. And he that resceyueth oon siche litil in my name, resceyueth me. Forsothe who shal sclaundre oon of these smale leste, that byleeuen in me, it spedith to hym that a myln stoon of assis be hanged in his neeke, and be drenchid in to the depnesse of the see. Woo to the world, for sclaundris; treuly it is neede, that sclaundris come; netheles woo to the ilk man by whom a sclaundre cometh. Forsothe ȝif thin hond or thi foot sclaundre thee, kitt it of, and kast awey fro thee. It is good to thee to entre in to lyf feble, other croked, than hauynge two hondis or two feet to be sent in to euerlastynge fijr. And ȝif thin eiȝe sclaundre thee, pulle it out, and cast awey fro thee. It is good to thee with oon eiȝe to entre in to lyf, than hauynge two eiȝen to be sente in to fijr of helle. Se ȝe, that ȝe dispise nat oon of these litile. Trewly I seie to ȝou, that the angelis of hem in heuenes seen euermore the face of my fadir that is in heuenes. Forsothe mannys sone came for to saue that thing that perishide. What semeth to ȝou? Ȝif ther weren to summan an hundrid sheep, and oon of hem shall erre, wher he shal nat leeue nynty and nyne in desert, and shal go for to seeke that that erride? And if it befalle that he fynde it, trewly I seie to ȝou, for he shal ioye theron more than of nynty and nyne that erriden nat. So it is nat will before youre fadir that is in heuenes, that oon of these litil perishe. Forsoth ȝif thi brother shal synne in thee, go thou, and reproue hym, or snybbe, bitwixe thee and hym aloone; ȝif he shal heere thee, thou hast wonnen thi brother. Trewly ȝif he shal nat heere thee, take with thee oon or two, that euery word stonde in the mouthe of two or three witnessis. That ȝif he shal nat heere hem, seie thou to the chirche. Forsothe ȝif he shal not heere the chirche, be hee to thee as an hethen and a puplicane. I seie to ȝou trewli, what euere thingis ȝee shulen bynde vpon erthe, tho shulen be bounden and in heuenes; and what euere thingis ȝee shulen vnbynde vpon erthe, tho shulen be vnbounden and in heuenes. Eftsoone I seie to ȝou, that ȝif two of ȝou shulen consente on the erthe, of euery thinge whateuer thei shulen axe, it shal be don to hem of my fadir that is in heuenes. For where two or three shulen be gedrid in my name, ther I am in the midil of hem. Thanne Petre, cummynge niȝ to hym, seide, Lord, hou ofte shal my brother synne in me, and I shal forȝeue hym? Whether to seuen tymes? Jhesus seith to hym, I seie nat to thee, til seuen sithis; but to seuenty sythis seuene sithis. Therfore the kingdom of heuenes is lickened to a man kyng, that wolde putte resoun with his seruauntis. And whanne he began for to putte resoun, oon was offrid to hym, that owȝte to hym ten thousand talentis. Trewly whanne he hadde nat wherof to ȝelde, his lord comaundide hym to be sold, and his wif, and sonys, and alle thingis that he hadde, and to be payed. Forsothe the ilk seruaunt, fallynge doun, preide hym, seyinge, Haue pacience in me, and alle thingis I shal ȝeelde to thee. Sothely the lord of that seruaunt hauynge mercy, leete hym, or suffride hym, and forȝaue to hym the dette. Trewly thilk seruaunt gon out, fonde oon of his euen seruauntis, that ouȝte hym an hundrid pens; and he, holdynge hym, stranglide hym, seyinge, Ȝeld that thou owist. And his euen seruaunt preiede hym, seyinge, Haue pacience in me, and alle thingis I shal quyte to thee. Forsothe he wolde nat; but wente, and sent hym in to pryson, til that he paide al the dette. Sothely his euen seruauntis, seeynge the thingis that weren don, gretely hadden sorowe. And thei camen, and tolden to her lord alle the thingis that weren don. Thanne his lord clepide hym, and seide to hym, Weyward seruaunt, I forȝaf to thee al the dette, for thou preidist me. Therfore wher it behouede nat and thee to haue mercy on thi euen seruaunt, as I hadde mercy of thee? And his lord wroth, tok hym to tourmenturs, til that he paiede al the dette. So and my fadir of heuen shal do to ȝou, ȝif ȝe forȝeue nat euery man to his brother, of ȝoure hertis.

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XIX

And it is don, whenne Jhesus hadde eendide these wordis, he passide fro Galilee, and came in to the eendis of Judee ouer Jordan. And manye cumpanyes of men sueden hym, and he helide hem there. And Pharisees camen niȝ to hym, temptynge hym, and seyinge, Wher it be leeful for a man for to leeue, or forsake, his wijf, of what euer cause? The whiche answerynge seith to hem, Han nat ȝee rad, for he that made men at the bygynnynge, male and female he made hem? And he seide, For this thing a man shal leeue fadir and modir, and he shal cleue, or drawe, to his wif; and thei shulen be two in oo flesh. And so thei ben nat now two, bot oo flesh. Therfore a man departe nat that thing that God enioynyde, or knytte to gidre. Thei seyen to hym, What thanne comaundide Moyses, to ȝeue a litil boke of forsakynge, and to leeue off? And he seith to hem, For Moyses, at the hardnesse of ȝoure herte, suffride ȝou forsake ȝoure wyues; forsothe at the begynnyng it was nat so. Trewly I seie to ȝou, that who euer leeueth his wif, no but for fornicacioun, and weddith an other, doth a vowtrie; and he that weddith the forsaken wife, doth a vowtrie. His disciplis seien to hym, Ȝif the cause of a man with a wijf is so, it speedith nat to wedde. The whiche seith to hem, Nat alle men taken this word; but to which it is ȝouen. Sothely there ben geldyngis, the whiche ben thus born of the modris wombe; and there ben geldyngis, that ben maad of men, and there ben geldyngis, that han geldid hem self, for the kyngdam of heuenes. He that may take, take he. Thanne litil children weren offrid vp to hym, that he shulde putte hondis to hem, and preie. Sothely his disciplis blameden hem. But Jhesus seith to hem, Suffre ȝe litil childre cume to me, and nyl ȝe forbede hem for to come to me; for of siche is the kyngdam of heuenes. And whenne he hadde putte to hem hondis, he wente thennus. And loo! oon, cummynge to, seith to hym, Good maister, what of good thing shal I do, that I haue euerlastynge lyf? The which seith to hym, What axist thou me of good thing? There is oo good God. For ȝif thou wolt entre in to lif, kepe the comaundementis. He seith to hym, Whiche? Trewly Jhesus seide, Thou shalt nat do man sleaynge, thou shalt nat do avowtrie, thou shalt nat do thefte, thou shalt nat seye fals witnessinge; worshipe thi fadir and thi modir, and thou shalt looue thi neiȝbore as thi self. The ȝung man seith to hym, I haue kepte alle these thingis fro my ȝouthe, what ȝit failith to me? Jhesus seith to hym, Ȝif thou wolt be perfit, go, and selle alle thingus that thou hast, and ȝeue to pore men, and thou shalt haue tresour in heuene; and cum, sue thou me. Forsothe whenne the ȝung man hadde herde these wordis, he wente awey sorwful, for he was hauynge many possessiouns. Forsothe Jhesus seide to his disciplis, I seie to ȝou trewthe, for a riche man of hard shal entre in to the kyngdam of heuenes. And eftsone I seie to ȝou, it is liȝter, or eysier, a camel for to passe thorwȝ a nedelis eiȝe, than a riche man to entre into the kyngdam of heuenes. Treuly these wordis herd, the disciplis wondriden gretely, seyinge, Who therfore may be saaf? Forsothe Jhesus beholdynge seide to hem, Anentis men this thing is impossible; but anentis God alle thingis ben possible. Thanne Petre answerynge seide to hym, Loo! we han forsaken alle thingis, and we han sued thee; what therfore shal be to us? Jhesus forsothe seide to hem, Trewly Y seye to ȝou, that ȝe that han forsaken alle thingis, and sued me, in regeneracioun, or gendrynge aȝein, whenne mannes sone shall sitte in the sete of his mageste, and ȝe shulen sitt on twelue setis, or seegis, demynge the twelue kynredis of Yrael. And euery man that shal forsake hous, or bretheren, or sistren, or fadir, or modir, or wif, or sonys, or feeldis, for my name, he shal take an hundrid fold, and shal welde euere lastynge lyf. Forsothe many shulen be, the firste the laste, and the laste the firste.

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XX

The kyngdam of heuenes is lic to an husbond man, that wente out first erly, or by the morwe, to hyre workemen in to his vyne ȝerd. Forsothe the couenaunt maad with workmen, of a peny for the day, he sente hem in to his vyne ȝerd. And he, gon out about the thridde hour, say other stondynge ydil in the chepyng. And he seide to hem, Go and ȝee in to my vyne ȝerd, and that that shal be riȝtful, I shal ȝeue to ȝou. Sotheli thei wenten forth. Forsothe eftsoone he wente out aboute the sixte hour, and the nynethe, and dide on liche manere. But aboute the elleuenthe houre he wente out, and foond other stondynge; and he seide to hem, What stonden ȝe her ydil al day? Thei seien to hym, For no man hath hirid us. He seith to hem, Go and ȝe in to my vyne ȝerd. Forsothe whenne euenynge was maad, the lord of the vyne ȝerd seith to his procuratour, Clepe the workmen, and ȝelde to hem her hijre, bygynnynge at the laste til to the firste. Therfore whenne thei weren commen, that camen about the elleuenth hour, and thei token synguler pens, that is, euery man oo peny. Trewly and the firste cummynge demeden, that thei weren to take more, trewly and thei token echon by hym silf a peny. And thei takynge grutcheden aȝeins the husbond man, seyinge, These laste diden worche oon our, and thou hast maad hem euen to vs, that han born the charge of the day and hete? And he answerynge to oon of hem, seide, Frend, I do thee no wronge; whether thou hast nat accordid with me for a peny? Take that that is thine, and go; forsothe Y wole ȝeue and to this the laste man, as and to thee. Wher it is nat leful to me for to do that that I wole? Wher thin eiȝe is wickid, for I am good? So there shulen be the last men the firste, and the firste men the laste; for many ben clepid, bot few chosun. And Jhesus, steyinge vp to Jerusalem, toke his twelue disciplis in priuytee, and seith to hem, Loo! we gon vp to Jerusalem, and mannes sone shal be taken to princis of prestis, and scribis; and thei shulen condempne hym by deth. And thei shulen bitake hym to hethen men, for to be scornyd, and scourgid, and crucified; and the thridde day he shal ryse aȝein. Thanne the modir of the sonis of Zebede came niȝ to hym with hire sonys, honourynge, and axinge sume thing of hym. The whiche seide to hir, What wolt thou? She seith to hym, Seie that these two my sonys sitten, oon at thi riȝthalf, and oon at thi lefthalf, in thi kyngdam. Forsothe Jhesus answerynge seide, Ȝe wyten nat what ȝe axen, or shulen axe. Mowen ȝe drynke the cuppe that I am to drynke? Thei seien to hym, We mowen. He seith to hem, Forsothe ȝe shal drynke my cuppe; but to sitte at the riȝthalf or at lefthalf, it is nat myn to ȝeue to ȝou; but to whiche it is made redy of my fadir. And the ten herynge hadden indignacioun of the two bretheren. Sothely Jhesus clepide hem to hym, and seith, Ȝe witen, for princis of heithen men ben lordis of hem, and thei that ben more, hawnten power in to hem. It shal nat be so among ȝou; bot who euere wole be maad more among ȝou, be he ȝoure mynystre; and who euere amonge ȝou wole be firste, he shal be ȝoure seruaunt. As mannes sone came nat for to be serued, but for to serue, and for to ȝeue his soule, or lif, redempcioun for many. And hem goynge out of Jerico, manye cumpanyes of peple sueden hym. And loo! two blynd men sittynge besidis the weye, herden that Jhesus passide; and thei crieden, seyinge, Lord, the sone of Dauyth, haue mercy on vs. Forsothe the cumpanye blamyde hem, for to be stille; and thei crieden more and more, seiynge, Lord, the sone of Dauyth, haue mercy on vs. And Jhesus stood, and clepide hem, and seith, What wole ȝe, that I do to ȝou? Thei seien to hym, Lord, that oure eiȝen be openyd. Forsothe Jhesus, hauynge mercy on hem, touchide her eiȝen; and anoon thei sayen, and sueden hym.

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XXI

And whanne Jhesus came niȝ to Jerusalem, and cam to Bethfage, in the mount of Olyfeet, thanne Jhesus sente his two disciplis, seyinge to hem, Go ȝe in to the castel that is aȝeinus ȝou, and anon ȝe shal fynde a she asse tyed, and a colt with hir; vnbynde ȝe, and bryng to me. And ȝif eny man shal seie to ȝou eny thinge, seie ȝe, that the Lord hath need to hem; and anoon he shal leeue hem. Trewly al this was don, that that thing that was seid by the prophete shulde be fulfillid, seyinge, Seie ȝe to the douȝter of Syon, Loo! thi kyng cometh to thee, homly, or meke, sittynge on an asse, and a fole, the sone of a beest vndir ȝook. Forsothe disciplis, goynge, diden as Jhesus comaundide hem. And thei brouȝten to a she asse, and the fole, and puttiden her clothis on hem, and maden hym sitte aboue. Forsothe ful muche cumpanye strewiden her clothis in the wey; sothely other kittiden braunchis of trees, and strowiden in the weye. But the cumpanyes that wenten before, and that sueden, crieden, seyinge, Osanna, that is, I preie, saue, to the sone of Dauith; blessid is he that cummeth in the name of the Lord; Osanna in the heeȝist thingis. And when he had entrid in to Jerusalem, al the cite was stirid, seyinge, Who is this? Treuly the peplis seiden, This is Jhesus, the prophete, of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jhesus entride in to the temple of God, and kest out of the temple alle sellynge and byinge; and he turnyde vpsadoun the bordis of chaungeris, and the chaiers of men sellynge culueris. And he seith to hem, It is writen, My hous shal be clepid an hous of preiere; forsothe ȝe han made it a denne of thefes. And blynde and crokid camen niȝ to hym in the temple, and he helide hem. Forsothe the princis of prestis and scribis, seeynge the marueilouse thingis that he dide, and children cryinge in the temple, and seiynge, Osanna to the sone of Dauith, dedeyneden, and seiden to hym, Heerist thou what these seyen? Sothely Jhesus seith to hem, Ȝhe; wher ȝe han nat rad, For of the mouth of children, that kunnen nat speke, and of soukynge mylk, thou hast made parfite heryinge? And, hem forsaken, he wente forth out of the citee, in to Betanye; and there he dwelte, and tauȝte hem of the kyngdam of God. Forsothe on the morw, he, turnynge aȝein in to the citee, hungride. And he, seeynge a fige tree bysidis the weye, came to it, and fonde no thing ther on no but leeuys oonly; and he seith to it, Neuer be fruyt born of thee, in to with outen eende. And anoon the fijge tree was dried vp. And disciplis seeynge, wondreden, seyinge, Hou anon it driede. Sothely Jhesus answerynge, seith to hem, Trewly I seye to ȝou, ȝif ȝe shulen han feith, as a corn of seneuey, and douten nat, nat oonly ȝe shulen do of this fijge tree, bot and ȝif ȝe seien to this hill, Take thee, and caste thee in to the see, and so it shal be don. And alle thingis what euer ȝe shulen axe in preier byleuynge, ȝee shulen take. And whenne he came in to the temple, the princis of prestis and eldre men of the peple camen niȝ to hym techynge, seyinge, In what power dost thou these thingis? and who ȝaf to thee this power? Jhesus answerynge seide to hem, And I shal axe ȝou o word, the whiche ȝif ȝe shulen seie to me, and I shal seie to ȝou, in what power I do these thingis. Of whennes was the baptem of Joon; of heuene, or of men? And thei thouȝten with inne hem self, seyinge, Ȝif we shulen seie of heuene, he shal seie to vs, Whi therfore beleuen ȝe nat to hym? Sothely ȝif we shulen seie of men, we dreden the cumpanye of peple, for alle hadde Joon as a prophete. And thei answerynge to Jhesu seiden, We witen nat. And he seith to hem, Nether I seie to ȝou, in what power I do these thingis. Forsothe what semeth to ȝou? Sum man hadde two sonys; and he cummynge niȝ to the firste seide, Sone, go for to worche this day in to myn vyneȝerd. Sothely he answerynge seith, I nyle; forsothe afterward he stirid by penaunce, or forthenkynge, wente. Forsothe he, cummynge to the tother, seide lic maner. And he answerynge seith, Lord, I go; and he wente nat. Who of the two dide the fadris will? Thei seien to hym, The firste. Jhesus seith to hem, Trewly I seie to ȝou, for puplicanys and hooris shulen go before ȝou in to the kyngdam of God. Forsothe Joon cam to ȝou in the weye of riȝtwisnesse, and ȝe bileeueden nat to hym; but puplicanys and hooris beleueden to hym. Sothely ȝee seeynge nether hadde don penaunce afterward, that ȝe bileeuyden to hym. Heere ȝe an other parable. Ther was an husbondman, that plantide a vyne ȝerd, and ȝaue an hegge aboute, and dalue a pressour therynne, and bildide a toure, and hiride, or sette it to ferme, to erthe tiliers, and wente ferre in pilgrimage. Forsothe whenne the tyme of fruytis neiȝide, he sente his seruauntis to the erthe tiliers, that thei token fruytis of it. And, his seruauntis taken, the erthe tiliers beeten the toon an other thei slewen, but another thei stoonyden to deth. Eftsones he sente other seruauntis, mo than the firste, and liche maner thei diden to hem. Forsothe at the laste he sent his sone to hem, seyinge, Thei shulen shame, or drede, my sone. Sothely the erthe tiliers, seeynge the sone, seiden with ynne hem self, This is the eire; cume ȝe, slea we hym, and we shulen haue his eritage. And, hym taken, thei kesten out of the vynȝerd, and slewen. Therfore whenne the lord of the vyneȝerd shal cume, what shal he do to the ilk erthe tiliers? Thei seien to hym, He shal lese yuele the yuel men, and sette to hire his vyneȝerd to other erthe tiliers, the whiche shulen ȝelde to hym fruytis in her tymes. Jhesus seith to hem, Redden ȝe neuer in scripturis, The stoon the whiche beldynge men reproueden, this is maad in to the heued of the corner? Of the Lord this thing is maad, and it is merueilous in oure eiȝen. Therfore I seie to ȝou, for the kyngdam of God shal be taken fro ȝou, and shal be ȝouen to a folk doinge fruytis of it. And he that shal falle on this stoon, shal be broken togidre; forsothe vpon whom it shal falle, it shal togidre poune hym. And when the princis of prestis and Pharisees hadden herde his parablis, thei knewen that he seide of hem. And thei, seekynge to holde hym, dreden the cumpanyes of peple, for thei hadden hym as a prophete.

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XXII

And Jhesus answerynge seide eftsone in parablis to hem, seiynge, The kyngdam of heuenes is maad lic to a man kyng that made weddingus to his sone. And he sente his seruauntis for to clepe men beden to the weddyngis, and thei wolden nat cume. Eftsoone he sente other seruauntis, seiynge, Seie ȝee to the men beden to the feeste, Loo! I haue made redy my mete, my boles and volatilis ben slayn, and alle thingis redy; cumme ȝe to the weddyngus. Sothely thei dispisiden, or recken nat, and thei wenten awey, oon in to his vyneȝerd, forsothe an other to his marchaundise. But the other helden his seruauntis, and slowen hem, ponished with contek. Forsothe the kyng, whenne he hadde herde, was wroth; and, his hoostis sente, he loste, or distruyde, the man quellers, and brente her citee. Thanne he seith to his seruauntis, Sothely the weddyngis ben redy, but thei that weren clepid to the feeste, weren nat worthi. Therfore go ȝee to the outgoyngis of weyes, and whom euere ȝe shulen fynde, clepe to the weddyngis. And his seruauntis, gon out in to the weyes, gedreden togidre alle that thei founden, good and yuel; and the weddyngis of men sittynge at mete ben fulfillid. Forsothe the kyng entride, that he shulde see men sittynge at mete; and he seeȝ there a man nat clothid with brijd clothis. And he seith to hym, Frend, hou entridist thou hidir, nat hauynge brijd clothe? And he was doumbe. Thanne the kyng seide to the mynystris, His hondis and feet bounden, sende ȝee hym into vttermore derknessis; there shal be weepyng and betyng to gidre of teeth. Forsothe many ben clepid, but fewe chosen. Thanne Pharisees, goynge awey, token a counseile, that thei shulden take Jhesus in word. And thei senden to hym her disciplis, with Erodyanys, that ben men of Eroudis, seiynge, Maister, we witen, that thou art sothfast, and thou techist in trewthe the weye of God, and there is no cure, or charge, to thee of eny man, for thou beholdist nat the persoone of men. Therfore seie to vs, what it semeth to thee. Is it leful to ȝeue to Cesar, or emperour, rente, or tribut? Forsothe, the wickednesse of hem knowen, Jhesus seith, Ypocritis, what tempten ȝee me? Shewe ȝee to me the prynte of the moneye. And thei offriden to hym a peny. And Jhesus seith to hem, Whos is this ymage, and the wrytyng aboue? Thei seyen to hym, Of Cesar. Thanne he seith to hem, Therfore ȝelde ȝee to Cesar tho thingis that ben Cesaris, and to God tho thingis that ben of God. And thei heerynge wondreden; and, hym laft, thei wenten awey. In that day Saducees, that seyen there is no rysyng aȝein, camen niȝ to hym, and axiden hym, seyinge, Maister, Moyses seide, ȝif eny man be dead, nat hauynge a sone, that his brother wedde his wyf, and reyse seed to his brother. Forsothe seuen bretheren weren at vs; and the first, a wijf weddid, is dead. And he nat hauynge seed, left his wijf to his brother; also the secounde, and the thridde, til to the seuenthe. Forsothe the laste of alle, and the womman is dead. Therefore in the rysynge aȝein, whos wijf of the seuene shal she be? for alle hadden hir. Sothely Jhesus answerynge seith to hem, Ȝee erren, nether knowynge the scripturis, nether the vertu of God. Forsothe in the rysyng aȝeyn, neither thei wedden, nether ben weddid; but thei ben as the aungelis of God in heuene. Sothely of the rysynge aȝein of dead men, ȝee han nat rad, that it is seid of the Lord, seyinge to ȝou, I am God of Abraham, and God of Ysaac, and God of Jacob? he is nat God of deed men, but of lyuynge men. And the cumpanyes of peple heerynge, wondreden in his techynge. Forsothe Pharisees, heerynge that he hadde put silence to Saducees, camen to gidre in to oon. And oon of hem, a techer of the lawe, axede Jhesus, temptynge hym, Maistre, whiche is a greet maundement in the lawe? Jhesus seide to hym, Thou shalt loue the Lord thi God, of al thin herte, and in al thi soule, and in al thi mynde. This is the firste and the most maundement. Forsothe the secounde is lic to this; Thou shalt loue thi neiȝbore as thi self. In these two maundementis hangith al the lawe and prophetis. Sothely the Pharisees gedrid to gidre, Jhesus axide hem, seyinge, What semeth to ȝou of Crist, whos sone is he? Thei seyen to hym, Of Dauith. He seith to hem, Therfore hou Dauith in spirit clepith hym Lord, seyinge, The Lord seide to my Lord, Sitte on my riȝthalf, til that I put thin enmyes a stole of thi feet? Therfore ȝif Dauyd clepith him Lord, hou is he his sone? And no man miȝt answere a word to hym, nether eny man was hardy fro that day, for to axe hym more.

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XXIII

Thanne Jhesus spac to the cumpanyes of peple, and to his disciplis, seiynge, Vpon the chaier of Moyses, scribis and Pharisees seeten. Therfore kepe ȝee, and do ȝee alle thingis, what euere thingis thei shulen seie to ȝou. But nyl ȝee do after her werkis; sothely thei seien, and don nat. Sothely thei bynden to greuouse chargis, and vnportable, or that mown nat be born, and putten in to shuldres of men; but with her fyngir thei wolen nat moue hem. Therfore thei don alle her werkis, that thei be seen of men; forsothe thei alargen her filateries, that ben smale scrowis, and magnyfie hemmys. Sothely thei louen the first sittyng placis in sopers, and the first chaiers in synagogis; and salutaciouns in the chepyng, and to ben clepid of men maistirs. Sothely nyl ȝee ben clepid maistir; for oon is ȝoure maistir, forsothe alle ȝe ben brethren. And nyl ȝe clepe to ȝou a fadir on erthe, for oon is ȝoure fadir, that is in heuenes. Nether be ȝe clepid maistirs, for oon is ȝour maistre, Crist. He that is more of ȝou, shal be ȝoure mynystre. Forsothe he that shal hie hym self, shal be mekid; and he that shal meeke hym self, shal ben enhaunsid. Sothely woo to ȝou, scribis and Pharisees, ypocritis, for ȝe closen the kyngdam of heuenes before men; sothely ȝe entren nat, ne suffre men entrynge for to entre. Woo to ȝou, scribis and Pharisees, ypocritis, that eten the housis of widues, in longe preier preyinge; for this thing ȝe shulen take the more dom. Woo to ȝou, scribis and Pharisees, ypocritis, that cumpasen the se and the lond, that ȝee maken o proselite, that is, a conuertid to ȝoure ordre; and whanne he shal be maad, ȝe maken hym a sone of helle, double more than ȝou. Woo to ȝou, blynde lederis, that seien, Who euere shal swere by the temple of God, no thing is; sothely he that shal swere in the gold of the temple, owith, or is detour. Ȝee folis and blynde, forsothe what is more, the gold, or the temple that halowith the gold? And who euer shal swere in the auter, no thing is; but he that shal swere in the ȝifte that is on the auter, owith. Blynde men, forsothe what is more, the ȝift, or the auter that halowith the ȝifte? Forsothe he that swerith in the auter, swerith in it, and alle thingis that ben theron. And he that swerith in the temple, swerith in it, and in hym that dwellith in the temple. And he that swerith in heuene, swerith in the trone of God, and in hym that sittith theron. Woo to ȝou, scribis and Pharisees, ypocritis, that tithen mente, anete, and comyn, and han lefte tho thingis that ben greuouser, or of more charge, of the lawe, dom, and mercy, and feith. And these thingis it behofte, or nedide, for to do, and not to leeue hem. Blynde leders, clensynge a gnatte, but swolowynge a camel. Woo to ȝou, scribis and Pharisees, ipocritis, that maken clene that thing of the cuppe and plater, that is with outforth; forsothe with ynne ȝe ben ful of raueyne and vnclennesse. Thou blynd Pharisee, clense first that thing of the cuppe and plater that is with ynneforth, that and that thing that is with outenforth be maad clene. Woo to ȝou, scribis and Pharisees, ipocritis, that ben lic to sepulcris maad whijt, the whiche with outen forth semen faire to men; sothely with ynne thei ben ful of boonys of dead men, and al filthe. So and ȝee forsothe with outen forth aperen iuste to men; but with ynne ȝee ben ful of ypocrisie and wickidnesse. Woo to ȝou, scribis and Pharisees, ipocritis, that belden sepulcris of prophetis, and maken faire the birielis of iuste men, and seien, Ȝif we hadden ben in the dayes of our fadris, we shulden nat han be here felowis in the blood of prophetis. And so ȝe ben in witnessyng to ȝou self, for ȝe ben the sonys of hem that slowen the prophetis. And ȝe fulfillen the mesure of ȝoure fadris. Ȝee sarpentis, fruytis, or buriownyngus, of eddris, that sleen her modris, hou shulen ȝee flee fro the dom of helle? Therfore loo! I sende to ȝou prophetis, and wise men, and scribis, or writeris; and of hem ȝee shulen slee, and crucifie, and of hem ȝe shulen bete in ȝour synagogis, and shulen pursue fro citee in to citee; that al the iuste blode come vpon ȝou, that was shed on the erthe, fro the blood of iust Abel til the blood of Zacharie, the sone of Barachie, whom ȝee slowen bitwixe the temple and the auter. Trewli I seie to ȝou, alle these thingis shulen come vpon this generacioun. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that sleest prophetis, and stonyst hem that ben sent to thee, hou oft wold I gedre to gidre thi sonys, as an henne gedreth togidre hir chikenys vndir hir wengis, and thou woldist nat. Loo! ȝoure hous shal be lefte to ȝou desert, or forsaken. Forsothe I seie to ȝou, ȝee shulen nat see me fro hennys forth, til that ȝee seien, Blessid is he, that cumeth in the name of the Lord.

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XXIV

And Jhesus, gon out of the temple, wente; and his disciplis camen niȝ to hym, that thei shulden shewe to hym the bildyngis of the temple. Forsothe he answerynge seith to hem, Seen ȝee alle these thingis? Trewly I seie to ȝou, a stoon shal nat be lefte here on a stoon, the whiche shal nat be distruyed. Sothely hym sittynge on the hil of Olyuete, disciplis camen niȝ to him priuely, seiynge, Seie to vs, whanne thes thingis schulen be, and what tokene of thi comynge, and of ending of the world. And Jhesus answeringe seide to hem, Se ȝe, that no man disceyue ȝou. Many schulen come in my name, seyynge, I am Crist; and thei schulen disceyue manye. Sothly ȝe ben to heere bateyls, and opynyouns of bateyls; se ȝe, that ȝe ben not distroblid; forsoth it bihoueth thes thingis to be don, but not ȝit is the ende. Folk schal ryse to gidere aȝen folk, and rewme in to rewme, and pestilencis, and hungris, and erthemouyngis schulen be by placis; forsothe alle thes thingis ben bigynnyngis of sorwis. Thenne thei schulen bitake ȝou in to tribulacioun, and thei schulen slee ȝou, and ȝe schulen be in hate to alle folkis for my name. And thanne manye schulen be sclaundrid, and to gidere bitraye, or ech other, and in hate haue to gidere. And many false prophetis schulen ryse, and disceyue many. And for wickidnesse schal be plenteous, the charite of manye schal wexe coold; forsothe he that schal dwelle stable vnto the ende, he this schal be saaf. And this gospel of kyngdom schal be prechid in al the world, in to witnessinge to alle folkis; and thanne the ende schal come. Therfore whenne ȝe schulen se the abhomynacioun of discomfort, that is seid of Danyel, the prophete, stondynge in the hooly place; he that redith, vndirstonde; thanne thei that ben in Judee, fle to mounteyns; and he that is in the hous roof, come not down to take ony thing of his hous; and he that is in the feeld, turne not aȝen to take his coote. Forsoth wo to wymmen with childe and noryschinge in tho dayes. Sothly preie ȝe, that ȝoure fleynge be not maad in wyntir, or saboth. Forsothe thanne schal be greet tribulacioun, what maner was not fro the bigynnyng of the world to now, nethir schal be maad. And no but tho dayes hadden be breggid, al fleisch, that is, mankynde, schulde not be maad saaf; but tho dayes schulen be maad schort, for the chosun men. Thanne if ony man schal seie to ȝou, Lo! here is Crist, or there, nyle ȝe bileue. Forsothe false Cristis and false prophetis schulen ryse, and thei schulen ȝyue grete tokenes and wondris; so that also the chosyne be ledd in to errour, if it may be don. Lo! I haue bifore seid to ȝou. Therfore if thei schulen seie to ȝou, Loo! he is in desert, nyle ȝe go out; loo! in pryuey chambris, or placis, nyle ȝe bileue. Sothli as leyt goth out fro the eest, and apperith til in to the west, so schal be and the comynge of mannus sone. Where euere the body schal be, and the eeglis schulen be gederid thidur. Forsothe anoon aftir the tribulacioun of tho dayes, the sunne schal be maad derk, and the mone schal not ȝyue hir liȝt, and sterris schulen falle down fro heuene, and the vertues of heuenes schulen be mouyd. And thanne the tokene of mannus sone schal appere in heuene, and thanne alle kynredis, or lynagis, of erthe schulen weyle; and thei schulen se mannus sone comynge in the clowdis of heuene, with moche vertu and mageste. And he schal sende his angelis with a trumpe, and greet voice; and thei schulen gedere his chosyne fro foure wyndis of heuene, fro the hiȝeste thingis of heuenes til teermes, or endes, of hem. Lerne ȝe the parable of a fyge tree. Whenne his bouȝ, or braunche, is now tendre, and leeuys sprungen, ȝee witen, that somer is niȝ; so and ȝee whenne ȝee shulen se alle these thingis, witith that it is niȝ, and in the ȝatis. Trewly I seie to ȝow, for this generacioun shal nat passe, til that alle thingis be don; heuene and erthe shulen passe, but my wordis shulen nat passe. Forsothe of thilk day and hour no man woot, nether angelis of heuenes, no but the fadir alone. Forsothe as it was in the dayes of Noye, so shal be and the comyng of mannes sone. For as in the days bifore the grete flood, thei weren etynge and drinkynge, weddynge and takynge to weddynge, til in to that day, in the whiche Noe entride in to the ship; and thei knewen nat, til that the grete flood came, and toke alle men, so shal be the cummyng of mannes sone. Thanne two shulen be in a feeld, oon shal be taken to, and an other left, or forsaken; two wymmen shulen be gryndynge in oo querne, oon shal be taken to, and the other forsaken; two in oo bed, the toon shal be taken to, and the tother forsaken. Therfore wake ȝee, for ȝee witen nat in what houre ȝoure Lord is to cumme. Sothely that thing wite ȝee, for ȝif the housbonde man wiste in what houre the theef were to cumme, trewly he shulde wake, and suffre nat his hous to be vndirmynyd. And therfore and ȝee be redy, for in what hour ȝee gessen nat, mannes sone is to cumme. Who gessist thou is a trew seruaunt and prudent, or war, whom his lord ordeynyde on his meynee, that he ȝeue to hem mete in tyme? Blissid is that seruaunt, whom his lord, whenne he shal cumme, shal fynde doynge so. Trewly I seie to ȝou, for vpon alle his goodis he shal ordeyne hym. Forsothe ȝif thilk yuel seruaunt shal seie in his herte, My lord makith dwellynge, or taryinge, to cum, and bigynne to smyte his euen seruauntis, sothely ȝif he ete and drynke with drunkenlewe men; the lord of thilk seruaunt shal cume in the day in whiche he hopith nat, and in hour that he knowith nat, and shal departe hym, and put his part with ypocritis; there shal be weepynge, and betynge togidre of teeth.

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XXV

Thanne the kyngdam of heuenes shal be lic to ten virgynys, the whiche, takynge her laumpis, wente out meetynge the spouse, or husbonde, and the spousesse, or wijf; forsothe fyue of hem weren foolis, and fyue prudent. But the fyue foolis, her laumpis taken, token nat oyle with hem; forsothe the prudent token oyle in her vessels with laumpis. Forsothe the spouse, or housbonde, makynge dwellynge, alle nappiden and slepten. Sothely at myd niȝt a cry was maad, Loo! the spouse cummeth, go ȝee out metynge to hym. Thanne alle the virgynys rysen vp, and anourneden her laumpis. Sothely the foolis seiden to the wise, Ȝeue ȝee to vs of ȝoure oile, for oure laumpis ben qwenchid. The prudent answereden, seyinge, Lest perauenture it suffise nat to us and to ȝou, go ȝee rather to men sellynge, and bye to ȝou. Forsothe the while thei wenten for to bye, the spouse came; and tho that weren redy, entriden in with hym to the weddyngis; and the ȝate is shit. Sothely at the last and the other virgynys camen, seyinge, Lord, lord, opene to vs. And he answerynge seith, Treuly I seie to ȝou, I knowe nat ȝou. And so wake ȝee, and preye, for ȝee witen nat the day ne the hour. Sothely as a man goynge fer in pilgrimage, clepide his seruauntis, and bitoke to hem his goodis; and to oon he ȝaue fyue talentis, or besauntis, forsothe to an other two, but to an other oon, to eche after his owne vertu; and wente forth anoon. Forsothe and he that hadde take fyue talentis, wente forth, and wrouȝte in hem, and wan other fyue. Also and he that hadde taken two, wan other two. Sothely he that hadde taken oon, goynge forth, dalf in to the erthe, and hidde the mone of his lord. Bot after muche tyme, the lord of tho seruauntis came, and puttide resoun with hem. And he that hadde taken fyue talentis, cummynge to, offride other fyue, seyinge, Lord, thou bitokist me fyue talentis, or besauntis, loo! I haue geten ouer other fyue. His lord seith to hym, Wel be thou, good seruaunt and feithful, or trewe; for vpon fewe thingis thou hast ben trewe, I shal ordeyne thee vpon many thingis; entre thou in to the ioye of thi lord. Forsothe and he that hadde taken two talentis, came to, and seith, Lord, thou bitokist to me two talentis; loo! I haue geten ouer other two. His lord seith to him, Wel be thou, good seruaunt and trewe; for vpon fewe thingis thou hast ben trewe, I shal ordeyne thee vpon many thingis; entre thou in to the ioye of thi lord. Forsothe and he that hadde taken oo talent, cummynge to, seith, Lord, I wote that thou art an hard man; thou repist wher thou hast nat sewen, and thou gederist to gidre wher thou hast nat spreedde abrood; and I dredynge wente, and hidde thi talent in the erthe; loo! thou hast that that is thin. Sothely his lord answerynge, seide to hym, Yuel seruaunt and slowe, wistist thou that I repe wher I sewe nat, and gedere to gidre wher I spradde nat abrood? Therfore it bihouyde thee to sende, or betaken, my monee to chaungers, that and I cummynge shulde haue resceyued forsothe that that is myn with vsuris. And so take ȝe awey fro hym the talent, and ȝeue ȝe it to hym that hath ten talentis. For to euery man hauynge it shal be ȝouen, and he shal haue plente; and to hym that hath nat, and that that he semeth to haue, shal be taken fro hym. And caste ȝee out the vnprofitable seruaunt, and send ȝee hym in to vttermore derknessis; there shal be weepynge, and betyng to gidre of teeth. Forsothe whanne mannes sone shal cume in his mageste, and alle his angelis with hym, thanne he shal sitte on the sege of his magestee; and alle folkis shulen be gederid before hym, and he schal departe hem atwynne, as a sheperde departith scheep fro kidis; and sothli he schal seette the scheep on his riȝthalf, the kidis forsothe on the lefthalf. Thanne the kyng schal seie to hem, that shulen be on his riȝthalf, Come ȝee, the blessid of my fadir, welde ȝee, or take ȝee in possessioun, the kyngdam maad redy to ȝou fro the bygynnynge, or makynge, of the world. Forsothe I was hungry, and ȝe ȝauen to me for to ete; I thristide, and ȝee ȝeuen to me for to drynke; I was herberlesse, and ȝee gederiden, or herberden, me; nakid, and ȝee heliden me; seik, and ȝee visitiden me; I was in prisoun, and ȝe camen to me. Thanne iust men shulen answere to hym, seyinge, Lord, whenne syȝen we thee hungry, and we fedd thee; thristy, and we ȝeuen to thee drynke? whenne forsothe seien we thee herberlesse, and we gedriden thee; or nakid, and we heliden thee? or whenne seien we thee seek, or in prisoun, and we camen to thee? And he answerynge shal seie to hem, Treuly I seie to ȝou, as long as ȝee diden to oon of these my leste brethren, ȝee diden to me. Thanne the kyng shal seie and to hem, that shulen be on his left half, Depart fro me, ȝee cursid, in to euerlastynge fijr, the whiche is maad redy to the deuyl and his angelis. Sothely I hungeryde, and ȝe ȝauen nat to me for to ete; I thristide, and ȝee ȝauen nat to me for to drynke; I was herberlesse, and ȝee gedriden nat me; nakid, and ȝee couereden nat me; seik, and in prisoun, and ȝee visitiden nat me. Thanne and thei shulen answere to hym, seyinge, Lord, whanne seien we thee hungrynge, or thristynge, or herberlesse, or nakid, or seik, or in prisoun, and we seruyden nat to thee? Thanne he shal answere to hem, seiynge, Treuly I seie to ȝou, hou longe ȝee diden nat to oon of these leste, nethere ȝee diden to me. And these shulen go in to euerlastynge tourment; forsothe the iust men in to euere lastinge lyf.

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XXVI

And it is don, whenne Jhesus hadde eendid alle these wordis, he seide to his disciplis, Wite ȝee, for after two dayes pask shal be maad, and mannes sone shal be bitaken, that he be crucified. Thanne the princis of prestis and eldre men of the peple ben gedrid in to the halle of the prince of prestis, that was said Caiphas, and maden a counseile, that thei shulden holde Jhesu with gile, and slea; sothly thei seiden, Nat in the feste day, lest per auenture noys were maad in the peple. Forsothe whenne Jhesus was in Betanye, in the house of Symount leprous, a womman hauynge a boxe of alabastre of preciouse oynement, came niȝ to hym, and shedde out on the heued of hym restinge. Sothely disciplis seeynge hadden dedeyn, seyinge, Wherto this losse? forsothe it miȝte be solde for myche, and be ȝouen to pore men. Sothely Jhesus wytinge, seith to hem, What be ȝe heuy, or sory, to this womman? sothely a good work she hath wrouȝt in me. For whi ȝee shulen euermore haue pore men with ȝou, but ȝee shulen nat algatis haue me. Forsothe this womman sendenge this oynement in to my body, made for to birye me. Treuly I seie to ȝou, wher euer this gospel shal be prechid in al the world, it shal be seide and that this womman dide, in to mynde of hym. Thanne oon of the twelue, that was seide Judas Scarioth, wente forth to the princis of prestis, and seith to hem, What wolen ȝee ȝeue to me, and I shal bitake hym to ȝou? And thei ordeyneden to hym thritti platis of seluer. And fro that tyme he souȝte couenablete, for to bitake hym. Forsothe in the first day of the fest of pask disciplis camen to Jhesu, seyinge, Wher wolt thou we make redy to thee, for to ete paske? And Jhesus seith, Go ȝee in to the citee to sum man, and seie to hym, The maister seith, My tyme is niȝ; at thee I make paske with my disciplis. And the disciplis diden, as Jhesus comaundide to hem; and thei maden redy pask. Forsothe euenyng maad, he sat at the mete with his twelue disciplis. And he seide to hem etynge, Treuly I seie to ȝou, for oon of ȝou is to betraye me. And thei ful sory bygunnyn eche to seie, Lord, wher I am? And he answerynge seith, He that with me in puttith the hond in the plater, this shal bitraye me. Forsothe mannes sone goth, as it is writen of hym; but woo to that man, bi whom mannys sone shal be bitrayed; it were good to hym, ȝif that man hadde nat ben boren. Forsothe Judas that bitrayed hym, answeride, seyinge, Maister, wher I am? He seith to hym, Thou hast seid. Forsothe hem soupynge, Jhesus toke breed, and blisside, and bracke, and ȝaue to his disciplis, and seith, Take ȝee, and ete; this is my body. And he takynge the cuppe, dede thankyngis, and ȝaue to hem, seyinge, Drinke ȝee alle herof; this is my blood of the newe testament, the whiche shal be shed out for many, in to remissioun of synnys. Forsothe I seie to ȝou, I shal nat drinke fro this tyme, of this fruyt of the vyne, til in to that day whenne I shal drinke it newe with ȝou, in the kyngdam of my fadir. And an ympne, or heriynge, seid, thei wenten out in to the mount of Olyuete. Thanne Jhesus seith to hem, Alle ȝe shulen suffre sclaundre in me, in this niȝt; for it is wrytyn, I shal smyte the sheperde, and the sheep of the floc shulen be scatered. Forsothe after that I shal ryse aȝein, I shal go bifore ȝou in to Galilee. Sothely Petre answerynge, seith to him, And ȝif alle shulen be sclaundrid in thee, I shal neuere be sclaundrid. Jhesus seith to hym, Trewly I seie to thee, for in this niȝt bifore the cok crowe, thries thou shalt denye me. Petre seith to hym, And ȝif it shal behoue me to dye with thee, I shal nat denye thee. Also and alle disciplis seiden. Thanne Jhesus came with hem in to a toun, that is seid Gessemanye. And he seide to his disciplis, Sitte ȝee heer, the while I shal go thidir, and preie. And Petre taken to, and two sonys of Zebedee, he began for to be distourblid, or heuy, and sory in herte. Thanne he seith to hem, My soule is sorowful til to the deth; susteyne ȝee, or abyde ȝee, here, and wake ȝee with me. And he gon forth a litil, felle doun in to his face, preyinge, and seyinge, My fadir, ȝif it is possible, passe this cuppe fro me; netheles nat as I wole, but as thou wolt. And he came to his disciplis, and foonde hem slepynge. And he seith to Petre, So, wher ȝee miȝte nat oon hour wake with me? Wake ȝee, and preie, that ȝee entren nat in to temptacioun; forsothe the spirit is redy, bote the flesh seik, or vnstable. Eft the secounde tyme he wente, and preide, seyinge, My fadir, ȝif this cuppe may nat passe, no bote I drynke it, thi wille be don. And eftsone he came, and foonde hem slepynge; forsothe her eȝen weren greued. And hem left, he wente eftsone, and preide the thridde tyme, the same word seyinge. Thanne he came to his disciplis, and seith to hem, Slepe ȝee nowe, and reste ȝe; loo! the hour hath neiȝed, and mannes sone shal be taken in to the hondis of synners; ryse ȝee, go wee; loo! he that shal take me, shal neiȝe. And ȝit hym spekynge, loo! Judas, oon of the twelue, and with hym came a grete cumpanye, with swerdis and battis, sent of the princes of prestis, and of eldre men of the peple. Forsothe he that bitraiede hym, ȝaue to hem a tokne, seiynge, Whom euer Y shal kisse, he it is; holde ȝee hym. And anon he cummynge niȝ to Jhesu, seide, Haile, maistre; and he kisside hym. And Jhesus seide to hym, Frend, wherto art thou comen? Thanne thei camen niȝ, and castiden hondis in to Jhesu, and helden hym. And loo! oon of hem that weren with Jhesu, holdynge out the hond, drowȝ out his swerd; and he, smytynge the seruaunt of the prince of prestis, kitte of his litil ere. Thanne Jhesus seith to hym, Turne thi swerd in to his place; sothely alle that shulen take swerd, shulen perishe by swerd. Wher gessist thou, that I may nat preie my fadir, and he shal ȝeue to me now more than twelue legions of angelis? Hou therfore shulen the scripturis be fulfillid? for so it behoueth to be don. In that hour Jhesus seide to the cumpanyes of peple, As to a theef ȝee han gon out, with swerdis and battis, for to cacche me; day by day I satte at ȝou, techynge in the temple, and ȝee helden not me. Forsothe al this thing was don, that the scripturis of prophetis shulden be fulfillid. Thanne alle disciplis fledden, hym forsaken. And thei holdynge Jhesu, ledden hym to Caiphas, prince of prestis, wher scribis and Pharisees, and the eldre men of the peple hadden cummen to gidre. Forsothe Petre suede hym afer, til in to the halle of the prince of prestis; and he gon ynne with ynne, sate with seruauntis, that he shulde se the eend. Forsothe the princis of prestis, and alle the counseile souȝten fals witnessynge aȝeinus Jhesu, that thei shulden take hym to deth; and thei founden nat, whenne many fals witnessis hadden cummen to. Treuly at the laste, two fals witnessis camen, and seiden, This seide, I may distruye the temple of God, and after the thridde day bilde it aȝein. And the prince of prestis rysynge seith to hym, Answerist thou no thing to tho thingis, the whiche these witnessen aȝeinus thee? Forsothe Jhesus was stille. And the prince of prestis seith to hym, I couniour thee by quycke God, that thou seie to vs, ȝif thou be Crist, the sone of God. Jhesus seide to hym, Thou hast seid; netheles I seie to ȝou, an other tyme, or fro this tyme forth, ȝee shulen se mannes sone sittynge at the riȝthalf of the vertue of God, and cummynge in cloudis of heuene. Thanne the prince of prestis kitte, or to-rente, his clothis, seyinge, He hath blasfemed; what ȝit nede han we to witnessis? loo! now ȝee han herd blasfemye; what semeth to ȝou? And thei answerynge seiden, He is gilty of deth. Thanne thei spitten in to his face, and smyten hym with buffetis; forsothe other ȝouen strokis with the pawm of hondis in to his face, seyinge, Thou Crist, prophecie to vs, who is he that smote thee? Sothely Petre sat with outen in the porche; and an hond mayden came niȝ to hym, seyinge, And thou were with Jhesu of Galilee. And he denyede before alle men, seyinge, I woot nat what thou saist. Forsothe hym goynge out the ȝate, an other hond mayden say hym, and seith to hem that weren there, And this was with Jhesu of Naȝareth. And eftsone he denyede with an ooth, for he knewe nat the man. And after a litil, thei that stoden came niȝ, and seiden to Petre, Treuly and thou art of hem; for whi and thi speche makith thee opyn. Thanne he began to warye and swere, that he knewe nat the man. And anon the cok crew. And Petre bithouȝte on the word of Jhesu, that he hadde seide, Bifore the cok crewe, thries thou shalt denye me. And he gon out, wepte bittirly.

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XXVII

Forsothe the morwe maad, alle the princis of prestis, and eldre men of the peple token counseil aȝeins Jhesu, that thei shulden take hym to deth. And thei ladden hym bounden, and bitoken hym to Pilat of Pounce, meire, or chef iustice. Thanne Judas that bitrayede hym, seynge that he was dampnyd, he led by penaunce, or forthenkynge, brouȝte aȝein thritti platis of seluer to the princis of prestis, and to the eldre men of the peple, seyinge, I haue synned, bitrayinge iust blood. And thei seiden, What to vs? se thou. And the platis of seluer cast awey in the temple, he wente awey, and goyinge awey he hangide hym with a grane, or a gnare. Forsothe the princis of prestis, taken the platis of seluer, seiden, It is nat leueful to sende hem in to the tresorie, for it is the pris of blood. Sothly counceil taken, thei bouȝten with them the feeld of a potter, in to byryinge of dead men. For this thing the ilk feeld is clepid Acheldemak, that is, a feeld of blood, til in to this day. Thanne it is fulfillid, that thing that is seid by the prophete Jeremye, seyynge, And thei token thritty platis of syluer, the pris of a man preysid, whom thei preysiden of the sonys of Yrael; and thei ȝauen hem in to the feeld of a potter, as the Lord ordeyned to me. Sothely Jhesus stood byfore the meyre, or domysman; and the presedent axide hym, seyinge, Art thou kyng of Jewis? Jhesus seith to hym, Thou seist. And whenne he was acusid of the princes of prestis, and eldre men of the peple, he answeride no thing. Than Pilat seith to hym, Herist thou nat, hou many witnessyngis thei seien aȝeinus thee? And he answeride nat to hym to eny word, so that the presedent wondride gretely. Forsothe by a solempne day the presedent was wont for to delyuere to the peple oon bounden, whom thei wolden. Forsothe he hadde a noble man bounden, that was seid Barabas. Therfore Pilat seid to hem gedrid to gidre, Whom wole ȝee, I leeue, or delyuere, to ȝou? wher Barabas, or Jhesu, that is seid Crist? Sothely he wiste, that by enuye thei betraieden hym. Forsothe hym sittynge for iustise, or domysman, his wyf sente to hym, seyinge, No thing to thee and to that iust man; sothely I haue suffrid this day many thingis for hym, by a visioun, or sweuen. Forsothe the princis of prestis and the eldre men tisiden, or counseiliden, to the peplis, that thei shulden axe Barabas, but Jhesu thei shulden lese. Forsothe the president answerynge seith to hem, Whom of the two wolen ȝee to be left, or delyuerid, to ȝou? And thei seiden, Barabas. Pilat seith to hem, What therfore shal I do of Jhesu, that is seid Crist? Alle seien, Be he crucified. The presedent seith to hem, Sothely what of yuel hath he don? And thei crieden more, seyinge, Be he crucified. Forsothe Pilat seynge that he profitide no thing, but the more noyse was maad, water taken, washide the hondis byfore the peple, seyinge, I am innocent, or giltlesse, fro the blood of this iust man; se ȝee. And al the peple answerynge seide, His blood vpon vs, and on oure sonys. Thanne he lefte to hem Barabas, but he toke to hem Jhesu scourgid, that he shulde be crucified. Thanne kniȝtis of the president takynge Jhesu in the mote halle, gedriden to hym alle the cumpanye of kniȝtis. And thei vnclothinge hym, diden aboute hym a rede mantel; and thei foldynge a crowne of thornis, puttiden on his heued, and a reed in his riȝt hond; and the knee bowid, or folden, bifore hym, thei scornyden hym, seyinge, Hayle, kyng of Jewis. And thei spittynge in to hym, token a reed, and smyten his heued. And after that thei hadden scorned hym, thei vnclothiden hym of the mantel, and thei clothiden hym with his clothis, and ledden hym for to crucifie. Sothely thei goynge out, founden a man of Syrynen, cummynge fro a toun, Symont by name; thei constreyneden hym, that he shulde take his crosse. And thei camen in to a place that is clepid Golgatha, that is, the place of Caluarie. And thei ȝauen hym for to drinke wiyn meyngid with galle; and whenne he had tastid, he wolde nat drinke. Sothely after that thei hadden crucified hym, thei departiden his clothis, sendynge lot, that it shulde be fulfillid, that is seid by the prophete, seyinge, Thei departiden to hem my clothis, and on my cloth thei senten lot. And thei sittynge kepten hym; and thei puttiden on his heued the cause of hym wryten, This is Jhesus of Nazareth, kyng of Jewis. Thanne two theeues ben crucified with him, oon on the riȝt half, and oon on the left half. Forsothe men passynge forth blasfemyden hym, moouynge her heuedis, and seyinge, Vath, or fie, to thee, that distroyist the temple of God, and in the thridde day bildist it aȝein; saue thou thi self; ȝif thou art the sone of God, cume doun of the crosse. Also and princis of prestis scornynge, with scribis and eldre men, seiden, He made other men saaf, he may nat make hym self saaf; ȝif he is kyng of Yrael, cume he nowe doun fro the crosse, and we bileuen to hym; he trustith in God, delyuere he hym nowe, ȝif he wole; forsothe he seide, For I am Goddis sone. Forsothe and the theeuys, that weren crucified with hym, puttiden to hym with repreue the same thing. Sothely fro the sixte hour dercnessis ben maad on al the erthe, til to the nynethe hour. And about the nynthe houre Jhesus criede with grete voice, seyinge, Hely, Hely, lamazabatany, that is, My God, my God, wherto, or whi, hast thou forsaken mee? Sothly summen stondynge there, and heerynge, seiden, This clepith Hely. And anon oon of hem rennynge, fillide a spounge taken with aycel, or vynegre, and puttide to a reed, and ȝaue to hym for to drinke. But other seiden, Suffre thou; see we wher Hely cumme, delyuerynge hym. Forsothe Jhesus eftsones cryynge with grete voice, sente out the spirit. And loo! the veile of the temple is kitt, or rent, in to two parties, fro the heiȝest til doun. And the erthe is moued, and stoonys ben cleft; and biriels ben openyd, and many bodies of seintes that slepten, or weren dead, rysen aȝein. And thei goynge out of her biriels, after his resureccioun camen in to the holy citee, and apeeriden to manye. Treuly centurio and thei that weren with hym kepinge Jhesu, the moouynge of the erthe seen, and thoo thingis that weren done, dredden greteli, seyinge, Verrely this was Goddis sone. Forsothe there weren there many wymmen afer, that sueden Jhesu fro Galilee, mynystrynge to hym. Amonge whiche was Marie Mawdeleyne, and Marie of Jamys, and the modir of Joseph, and the modir of Zebedees sones. Forsothe when the euenyng was maad, there came a riche man fro Armathia, Joseph by name, the whiche and he was disciple of Jhesu. He wente to Pilate, and axide the body of Jhesu. Thanne Pilate comaundide the body to be ȝolden. And the body taken, Joseph wlappide it in a clene sendel, or lynnen cloth, and puttide it in his newe biriel, that he hadde hewen in a stoon; and he walowid to a grete stoon at the dore of the biriel, and wente awey. Forsothe Marye Mawdeleyne and an othere Marye weren there, sittynge aȝeins the sepulcre. Sothely on the tother day, that is after pascke euenynge, the princis of prestis and Pharisees camen to gidere to Pilate, seiynge, Sire, we han mynde, for the ilke traitour, or disseyuour, sayde ȝit lyuynge, Aftir thre dayes I shal ryse aȝen. Therfore comaunde thou the sepulcre to be kept til in to the thridde day; lest perauenture his disciplis comen, and stelen him, and seyen to the peple, He is risun fro deeth; and the laste errour schal be worse than the formere. Pilat seith to hem, Ȝe han the kepinge; go ȝe, kepe ȝe as ȝe kunnen. Forsoth thei goynge forth, kepten, or wardiden, the sepulcre, markinge, or seelinge, the stoon, with keperis.

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XXVIII

Forsothe in the euenyng of the saboth, or haliday, that schyneth in the firste day of the woke, Marie Mawdeleyn cam, and another Marie, for to se the sepulcre. And lo! ther was maad a greet erthe mouyng; forsoth the aungel of the Lord cam doun fro heuene, and comynge to turnide awey the stoon, and sat theron. Sothli his lokyng was as leyt, and his clothis as snow; forsothe for drede of him the keperis ben afferid, and thei ben maad as deede men. Forsothe the aungel answeringe seide to the wymmen, Nyle ȝe drede, for I woot that ȝe seken Jhesu, that is crucified; he is not here, sothli he roos, as he seide; come ȝe, and seeth the place, where the Lord was putt. And ȝe goynge sone, seie to his disciplis and to Petre, for he hath risun. And lo! he schal go bifore ȝou in to Galilee; there ȝe schulen se him. Lo! I haue bifore seid to ȝou. And Marie Mawdeleyn, and another Marie wenten out soone fro the buryel, with drede and greet ioye, rennynge for to telle his disciplis. And lo! Jhesus ran aȝens hem, seyinge, Heil ȝe. Forsothe thei camen to, and heelden his feet, and worschipiden him. Thanne Jhesus seith to hem, Nyle ȝe drede; go ȝe, telle ȝe to my britheren, that thei go in to Galilee; there thei schulen se me. The whiche whanne thei hadden gon, loo! summe of the keperis camen in to the cytee, and tolden to the princes of prestis alle thingis that weren don. And thei gedrid to gidre with the eldere men, a counceil takun, ȝaue to the knyȝtis plenteuous money, seyinge, Seie ȝe, for his disciplis camen by niȝte, and han stolen him, vs slepinge. And if this be herd of the presedent, or iustise, we schulen conceile him, and make ȝou sikir. And the money takun, thei diden, as thei weren tauȝt. And this word is pupplissid at the Jewis, til in to this day. Forsothe enleuene disciplis wenten in to Galilee, in to an hil, where Jhesus hadde ordeyned to hem. And thei seynge him, worschipiden; sothli summe of hem doutiden. And Jhesus comynge to, spak to hem, seyinge, Al power is ȝouun to me, in heuene and in erthe. Therfore ȝe goynge teche alle folkis, cristenynge hem in the name of the Fadir, and of the Sone, and of the Hooly Gost; techinge hem for to kepe alle thingis, what euere thingis I haue comaundid to ȝou; and lo! I am with ȝou in alle dayes, til to the endyng of the world.

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