The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church Part 1

The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church.

by AElfric.

PREFACE.

The work now presented to the Members of the aelfric Society, the first fruit of its praiseworthy attempt to rescue from oblivion the literary remains of our forefathers, was selected for the earliest publication of the Society, on account both of its valuable matter and the beautiful medium by which it is conveyed.

Of the author of the SERMONES CATHOLICI we know nothing with certainty beyond his name, though from the words of his own preface, where he speaks of king aethelred's days as past, and informs us that in those days he was only a monk and ma.s.s-priest, it follows that he was not aelfric archbishop of Canterbury, who died in the year 1006, or ten years before the death of king aethelred.

With better foundation we may a.s.sume him to have been aelfric archbishop of York, who presided over that see from the year 1023 to 1051[1]. Against this supposition there seems no objection on the score of dates, and that the composer of the 'Sermones' was a person of eminence during the life of archbishop {vi} Wulfstan, of whom, according to our hypothesis, he was the immediate successor, is evident from the language of his Canons, and of his Pastoral Epistle to Wulfstan, in which he speaks as one having authority; though in the first-mentioned of these productions he styles himself simply "humilis frater," and in the other "aelfricus abbas[2]," and afterwards "biscop."

Of aelfric's part in these Homilies, whether, as it would seem from his preface, it was that of a mere translator from the several works he therein names[3], or whether he drew aught from his own stores, my pursuits do not enable me to speak, though it seems that no one of his homilies is, generally speaking, a mere translation from any one given Latin original, but rather a compilation from several. Be this, however, as it may, his sermons in either case equally exhibit what were the doctrines of the Anglo-Saxon church at the period in which they were compiled or translated, and are for the most part valuable in matter, and expressed in language which may be p.r.o.nounced a pure specimen of our n.o.ble, old, Germanic mother-tongue. Of those doctrines it would not be consistent with the object of the Society, nor am I qualified to hazard an opinion: my labour has, {vii} consequently, been limited to that of a faithful transcription of what I believe to be the most complete ma.n.u.script, and to a conscientiously correct translation of that transcript, as literal as my acquaintance with the language and my notions of good taste permitted[4]; and I venture to hope that such a translation, though unattended by a commentary, will be regarded with interest by the members of each of the great communities into which the Christian world is divided.

Besides the Homilies, the chief works attributed to our aelfric are,--

I. A Grammar of the Latin tongue, printed at the end of Somner's Anglo-Saxon Dictionary, with a Glossary of Anglo-Saxon words[5].

II. A short astronomical treatise, ent.i.tled De Temporibus Anni[6].

III. An abridgment in Anglo-Saxon of the {viii} Pentateuch, the book of Joshua, and the book of Judges, printed by Thwaites[7].

IV. A Treatise on the Old and New Testaments[8].

V. Excerpta ex Libro aethelwoldi de Consuetudine Monachorum[9].

VI. A Latin Dialogue, with an interlinear Anglo-Saxon gloss[10].

VII. Ecclesiastical Canons, addressed to Wulsine, bishop of Sherborne.

VIII. A Pastoral Epistle, written by command of archbishop Wulfstan.

IX. An Epistle ent.i.tled "Quando dividis Chrisma[11]."

{ix} X. A Collection of Homilies on the Saints' days observed by the Anglo-Saxon Church.

Though the present is the first edition of these most ancient sermons in any of the Germanic tongues, it may be interesting to some readers to be informed that two attempts at publishing them were made in the early part of the last century by Mrs. Elizabeth Elstob, which failed through want of encouragement, a few leaves only having been printed[12].

In a.s.signing to aelfric, archbishop of York, the honour of being the author of the Homilies and other works enumerated above, it would have been gratifying to add, that the character of that prelate given by the chroniclers was beyond a doubt all that could be desired, and such as to render it highly probable that to him we are indebted for those n.o.ble and holy labours. Unfortunately the case is otherwise, the few facts recorded of aelfric of York being for the most part quite irreconcileable with the portrait of the pious student which our imagination spontaneously draws, on calling to mind the exertions in the cause of religion and learning attributed to our aelfric. Of the archbishop, Malmesbury speaks in terms of {x} no ordinary severity, a.s.serting, that at his instigation Hardac.n.u.t caused the corpse of his brother Harald Harefoot to be taken from the grave and decapitated, and afterwards thrown into the Thames; also, that being exasperated against the people of Worcester, who had rejected him for their bishop, he again instigated the same king to burn their city and confiscate their property, under the pretext of their having resisted the royal tax-gatherers[13]. The better testimony of Florence of Worcester, with regard to the first of these transactions, is, however, less prejudicial to the character of aelfric: he says merely, that aelfric, archbishop of York, with others was sent to London by the king for the purpose of digging up the body of Harald and casting it into a fen[14]. Of the second transaction Florence makes no mention. But the earliest account is that in the Saxon Chronicle[15], and in this it is simply said, that "he (Harthac.n.u.t) caused the dead body of Harald to be taken up, and had it cast into a fen:" to aelfric and the others there is no allusion whatever. In the same record his death is mentioned in the following terms of respect: "This year (1052) died aelfric, archbishop of York, a very venerable and wise man." It is also stated that he was the accuser of earl G.o.dwine, of the earl of Kent, and of Living, bishop of Worcester, as the murderers of the young aelfred, the son of aethelred[16].

The ma.n.u.script from which the text of the present volume is taken belongs to the Public Library at {xi} Cambridge. It is a small folio and probably coeval with its author, though hardly, as it has been supposed, his own autograph copy[17]. It is not perfect, having suffered mutilation in several places, but its defects are all supplied in the present work from another MS. in the British Museum[18]. For the most liberal use of the Cambridge ma.n.u.script, I beg leave, on the part of the aelfric Society, to express the sincerest thanks to the SYNDICS OF THAT UNIVERSITY.

To W. E. BUCKLEY, Esq., Fellow of Brasenose College, and Professor of Anglo-Saxon in the University of Oxford, I return my sincere thanks for his kindness in removing my doubts of the integrity of the text by collation with the Bodleian ma.n.u.script; also to my greatly respected friend, the REVEREND DANIEL ROCK, D.D., I acknowledge myself much indebted for the kind promptness with which he at all times satisfied my inquiries respecting the ancient observances of the Church, as well as other points of doubt, which his deep knowledge of ecclesiastical antiquities so well qualifies him to solve.

The second volume, containing Homilies for another year, is in preparation, and will, it is hoped, be laid before the Members of the Society in the course of the year 1845.

B. T.

PREFACE.

I aelfric, monk and ma.s.s-priest, although more weakly than for such orders is fitting, was sent, in king aethelred's day, from bishop aelfeah, aethelwold's successor, to a minster which is called Cernel, at the prayer of aethelmaer the thane, whose birth and goodness are known everywhere. Then it occurred to my mind, I trust through G.o.d's grace, that I would turn this book from the Latin language into the English tongue; not from confidence of great learning, but because I have seen and heard of much error in many English books, which unlearned men, through their simplicity, have esteemed as great wisdom: and I regretted that they knew not nor had not the evangelical doctrines among their writings, those men only excepted who knew Latin, and those books excepted which king aelfred wisely turned from Latin into English, which are to be had. For this cause I presumed, trusting in G.o.d, to undertake this task, and also because men have need of good instruction, especially at this time, which is the ending of this world, and there will be many calamities among mankind before the end cometh, according to what our Lord in his gospel said to his disciples, "Then shall {5} be such tribulations as have never been from the beginning of the world. Many false Christs shall come in my name, saying, 'I am Christ,' and shall work many signs and wonders, to deceive mankind; and also the elect, if it may be. And unless Almighty G.o.d shorten those days, all mankind will perish; but for his elect he will shorten those days."

Everyone may the more easily withstand the future temptation, through G.o.d's support, if he is strengthened by book learning, for they shall be preserved who continue in faith to the end. Many tribulations and hardships shall come on this world before its end, and those are the proclaimers of everlasting perdition to evil men, who afterwards for their crimes suffer eternally in the swart h.e.l.l. Then Antichrist shall come, who is human man and true devil, as our Saviour is truly man and G.o.d in one person. And the visible devil shall then work innumerable miracles, and say that he himself is G.o.d, and will compel mankind to his heresy: but his time will not be long, for G.o.d's anger will destroy him, and this world will afterwards be ended. Christ our Lord healed the weak and diseased, and the devil, who is called Antichrist, which is interpreted, Opposition-Christ, weakens and enfeebles the hale, and heals no one from diseases, save those alone whom he himself had previously injured. He and his disciples injure men's bodies secretly through the devil's power, and heal them openly in the sight of men: but he may not heal those whom G.o.d himself had before afflicted. He compels, through wickedness, men to swerve from the faith of their Creator to his leasings, who is the author of all leasing and wickedness. Almighty G.o.d permits the impious Antichrist to work signs, and miracles, and persecution, for three years and a half; for in that time there will be so much wickedness and perversity among mankind, that they will be well worthy of devilish persecution, to the eternal perdition of those who incline unto him, and to the eternal joy of those who by faith resist him. G.o.d also permits that {7} his chosen servants be cleansed from all sins through great persecutions, as gold is tried in fire. The devil slays those who withstand him, and then, with holy martyrdom, they go to the kingdom of heaven. Those who believe in his leasings, those he honours, and they shall have afterwards eternal torment for reward of their sin. The impious one will cause fire to come from above, as it were from heaven, in sight of men, as if he were G.o.d Almighty, who rules over heaven and earth; but Christians must then be mindful how the devil did, when he prayed to G.o.d that he might tempt Job; he made fire to come from above, as if from heaven, and burned all his sheep out in the field, and the shepherds also, save one who should announce it to him. The devil sent not fire from heaven, though it came from above; for he himself was not in heaven, after that he, for his pride, had been cast out. Nor also hath the cruel Antichrist the power to send down heavenly fire, though he, through the devil's craft, may so pretend. It will now be wiser that everyone know this, and know his belief, lest anyone have to await great misery. Our Lord commanded his disciples that they should instruct and teach all people the things which he had himself taught to them; but of those there are too few who will well teach and well exemplify. The Lord also cried, through his prophet Ezechiel, "If thou warnest not the unrighteous, and exhortest him not, so that he turn from his wickedness and live, then shall the wicked die in his iniquity, and I will require from thee his blood," that is, his perdition. "But if thou warnest the wicked, and he will not turn from his wickedness, thou shalt release thy soul with that admonition, and the wicked shall die in his unrighteousness." Again the Almighty spake to the prophet Isaiah, "Cry and cease thou not, raise thy voice as a trumpet, and declare to my people their crimes, and to the family of Jacob their sins."

From such commands it appeared to me that I should not be guiltless before G.o.d, if I would not declare to {9} other men, by tongue or by writings, the evangelical truth, which he himself spake, and afterwards to holy teachers revealed. Very many I know in this country more learned than I am, but G.o.d manifests his wonders through whom he will. As an almighty worker he works his work through his chosen, not because he has need of our aid, but that we may earn eternal life by the performance of his work. Paul the apostle said, "We are G.o.d's a.s.sistants," and yet we do nothing for G.o.d without the a.s.sistance of G.o.d. Now I desire and beseech, in G.o.d's name, if anyone will transcribe this book, that he carefully correct it by the copy, lest we be blamed through careless writers. He does great evil who writes false, unless he correct it; it is as though he turn true doctrine to false error; therefore should everyone make that straight which he before bent crooked, if he will be guiltless at G.o.d's doom. Quid necesse est in hoc codice capitula ordinare, c.u.m praediximus quod xl. sententias in se contineat?

excepto quod aethelwerdus dux vellet habere xl. quattuor in suo libro.

INCIPIT LIBER CATHOLICORUM SERMONUM ANGLICE, IN aeCCLESIA PER ANNUM RECITANDORUM.

SERMO DE INITIO CREATURae, AD POPULUM, QUANDO VOLUERIS.

An angin is ealra inga, aet is G.o.d aelmihtig. He is ordfruma and ende: he is ordfruma, fori e he waes aefre; he is ende butan aelcere geendunge, foran e he bi aefre ungeendod. He is ealra cyninga Cyning, and ealra hlaforda Hlaford. He hylt mid his mihte heofonas and eoran, and ealle gesceafta butan geswince, and he besceawa a niwelnyssa e under yssere eoran sind. He awec ealle duna {10} mid anre handa, and ne maeg nan ing his willan wistandan. Ne maeg nan gesceaft fulfremedlice smeagan ne understandan ymbe G.o.d. Maran cye habba englas to G.o.de onne men, and eah-hweere hi ne magon fulfremedlice understandan ymbe G.o.d. He gesceop gesceafta aa he wolde; urh his wisdom he geworhte ealle ing, and urh his willan he hi ealle geliffaeste. eos rynnys is an G.o.d; aet is se Faeder and his wisdom of him sylfum aefre acenned; and heora begra willa, aet is se Halga Gast: he nis na acenned, ac he gae of am Faeder and of am Suna gelice. as ry hadas sindon an aelmihtig G.o.d, se geworhte heofenas, and eoran, and ealle gesceafta. He gesceop tyn engla werod, aet sind englas and heah-englas, throni, dominationes, princ.i.p.atus, potestates, uirtutes, cherubim, seraphim. Her sindon nigon engla werod: hi nabba naenne lichaman, ac hi sindon ealle gastas swie strange and mihtige and wlitige, on micelre faegernysse gesceapene, to lofe and to wurmynte heora Scyppende. aet teoe werod abrea and awende on yfel. G.o.d hi gesceop ealle G.o.de, and let hi habban agenne cyre, swa hi heora Scyppend lufedon and filigdon, swa hi hine forleton. a waes aes teoan werodes ealdor swie faeger and wlitig gesceapen, swa aet he waes gehaten Leohtberend. a began he to modigenne for aere faegernysse e he haefde, and cwae on his heortan aet he wolde and eae mihte beon his Scyppende gelic, and sittan on am nor-daele heofenan rices, and habban andweald and rice ongean G.o.d aelmihtigne. a gefaestnode he isne raed wi aet werod e he bewiste, and hi ealle to am raede gebugon. aa hi ealle haefdon ysne raed betwux him gefaestnod, a becom G.o.des grama ofer hi ealle, and hi ealle wurdon awende of am faegeran hiwe, e hi on gesceapene waeron, to lalic.u.m deoflum. And swie rihtlice him swa getimode, aa he wolde mid modignysse beon betera onne he gesceapen waes, and cwae, aet he mihte beon am aelmihtigum G.o.de gelic. a wear he and ealle his geferan forcuran and wyrsan onne aenig oer gesceaft; and a {12} hwile e he smeade hu he mihte daelan rice wi G.o.d, a hwile gearcode se aelmihtiga Scyppend him and his geferum h.e.l.le wite, and hi ealle adraefde of heofenan rices myrhe, and let befeallan on aet ece fyr, e him gegearcod waes for heora ofermettum. a sona a nigon werod, e aer to lafe waeron, bugon to heora Scyppende mid ealre eamodnesse, and betaehton heora r?d to his willan. a getrymde se aelmihtiga G.o.d a nigon engla werod, and gestaelfaeste swa aet hi naefre ne mihton ne noldon syan fram his willan gebugan; ne hi ne magon nu, ne hi nella nane synne gewyrcan, ac hi aefre beo ymbe aet an, hu hi magon G.o.de gehyrsumian, and him gecweman. Swa mihton eac a ore e aer feollon don, gif hi woldon; fori e G.o.d hi geworhte to wlitegum engla gecynde, and let hi habban agenne cyre, and hi naefre ne gebigde ne ne nydde mid nanum ingum to am yfelan raede; ne naefre se yfela r?d ne com of G.o.des geance, ac com of aes deofles, swa swa we ?r cwaedon.

Nu enc menig man and smea hwanon deofol come; onne wite he aet G.o.d gesceop to maeran engle one e nu is deofol: ac G.o.d ne gesceop hine na to deofle; ac aa he waes mid ealle fordon and forscyldG.o.d urh a miclan up-ahefednysse and wierweardnysse, a wear he to deofle awend, see ?r waes maere engel geworht. a wolde G.o.d gefyllan and geinnian one lyre e forloren waes of am heofenlic.u.m werode, and cwae aet he wolde wyrcan mannan of eoran, aet se eorlica man sceolde geeon and geearnian mid eadmodnysse a wununga on heofenan rice, e se deofol forwyrhte mid modignysse. And G.o.d a geworhte aenne mannan of lame, and him on ableow gast, and hine geliffaeste, and he wear a mann gesceapen on sawle and on lichaman; and G.o.d him sette naman Adam, and he waes a sume hwile anstandende. G.o.d a hine gebrohte on neorxna-w.a.n.ge, and hine aer geloG.o.de, and him to cwae, "Ealra aera inga e on neorxna-w.a.n.ge sindon u most brucan, and hi ealle beo e betaehte, buton anum treowe e stent on middan {14} neorxna-w.a.n.ge: ne hrepa u aes treowes waestm, foran e u bist deadlic, gif u aes treowes waestm geetst." Hwi wolde G.o.d swa lytles inges him forwyrnan, e him swa miccle ore ing betaehte? Gyse hu mihte Adam tocnawan hwaet he waere, buton he waere gehyrsum on sumum ince his Hlaforde. Swylce G.o.d ew?de to him, "Nast u na aet ic eom in Hlaford and aet u eart min eowa, buton u do aet ic e hate, and forgang aet ic e forbeode. Hwaet maeg hit onne beon aet u forgan sceole: ic e secge, forgang u anes treowes waestm, and mid aere eaelican gehyrsumnysse u geearnast heofenan rices myrhu and one stede e se deofol of-afeoll urh ungehyrsumnesse. Gif u onne is lytle bebod tobrecst, u scealt deae sweltan." And a waes Adam swa wis aet G.o.d gelaedde to him nytenu, and deorcynn, and fugelcynn, aa he hi gesceapene haefde; and Adam him eallum naman gesceop; and swa swa he hi a genamode swa hi sindon gyt gehatene. a cwae G.o.d, "Nis na gedafenlic aet es man ana beo, and naebbe naenne fultum; ac uton gewyrcan him gemacan, him to fultume and to frofre." And G.o.d a geswefode one Adam, and aa he slep a genam he an rib of his sidan, and geworhte of am ribbe aenne wifman, and axode Adam hu heo hatan sceolde. a cwae Adam, "Heo is ban of minum banum, and flaesc of minum flaesce; beo hire nama Uirago, aet is faemne; foran e heo is of hire were genumen." a sette Adam eft hire oerne naman, Aeua, aet is lif; foran e heo is ealra lybbendra modor.

Ealle gesceafta, heofonas and englas, sunnan and monan, steorran and eoran, ealle nytenu and fugelas, s? and ealle fixas, and ealle gesceafta G.o.d gesceop and geworhte on six dagum; and on am seofoan daege he geendode his weorc, and geswac a and gehalG.o.de one seofoan daeg, foran e he on am daege his weorc geendode. And he beheold a ealle his weorc e he geworhte, and hi waeron ealle swie G.o.de. Ealle ing he geworhte buton aelc.u.m antimbre. He cwae, "Geweore leoht," and aerrihte waes leoht {16} geworden.

He cwae eft, "Geweore heofen," and aerrihte waes heofen geworht, swa swa he mid his wisdome and mid his willan hit gedihte. He cwae eft, and het a eoran aet heo sceolde forlaedan cuce nytenu; and he a gesceop of aere eoran eall nytencynn, and deorcynn, ealle a e on feower fotum ga; ealswa eft of waetere he gesceop fixas and fugelas, and sealde am fixum sund, and am fugelum fliht; ac he ne sealde nanum nytene ne nanum fisce nane sawle; ac heora blod is heora lif, and swa hrae swa hi beo deade, swa beo hi mid ealle geendode. aa he worhte one mann Adam, he ne cwae na, "Geweore man geworht," ac he cwae, "Uton gewyrcan mannan to ure anlicnysse," and he worhte a one man mid his handum, and him on ableow sawle; fori is se man betera, gif he G.o.de geih, onne ealle a nytenu sindon; foran e hi ealle gewura to nahte, and se man is ece on anum daele, aet is on aere sawle; heo ne geenda naefre. Se lichama is deadlic urh Adames gylt, ac eah-hwaeere G.o.d araer eft one lichaman to ec.u.m ingum on domes daeg. Nu cwaedon gedwolmen aet deofol gesceope sume gesceafta, ac hi leoga; ne maeg he nane gesceafta gescyppan, foran e he nis na Scyppend, ac is atelic sceocca, and mid leasunge he wile beswican and fordon one unwaran; ac he ne maeg naenne man to nanum leahtre geneadian, buton se mon his agenes willes to his lare gebuge. Swa hwaet swa is on gesceaftum wierweardlic geuht and mannum derige, aet is eall for urum synnum and yfelum geearnungum.

a ongeat se deofol aet Adam and Eua waeron to y gesceapene aet hi sceolon mid eadmodnysse and mid gehyrsumnysse geearnian a wununge on heofenan rice e he of-afeoll for his up-ahefednysse, a nam he micelne graman and andan to am mannum, and smeade hu he hi fordon mihte. He com a on naeddran hiwe to am twam mannum, aerest to am wife, and hire to cwae, "Hwi forbead G.o.d eow aes treowes waestm, e stent on middan neorxna-w.a.n.ge?" a cwae aet wif, "G.o.d us forbead aes treowes waestm, and cwae aet we {18} sceoldon deae sweltan, gif we his on byrigdon." a cwae se deofol, "Nis. .h.i.t na swa u segst, ac G.o.d wat genoh geare, gif ge of am treowe geeta, onne beo eowere eagan geopenode, and ge magon geseon and tocnawan aeger ge G.o.d ge yfel, and ge beo englum gelice." Naeron hi blinde gesceapene, ac G.o.d hi gesceop swa bilewite aet hi ne cuon nan ing yfeles, naor ne on gesihe, ne on spraece, ne on weorce. Wear eah aet wif a forspanen urh aes deofles lare, and genam of aes treowes waestme, and geaet, and sealde hire were, and he geaet. a waeron hi butu deadlice, and cuon aeger ge G.o.d ge yfel; and hi waeron a nacode, and him aes sceamode. a com G.o.d and axode hwi he his bebod tobraece? and adraefde hi butu of neorxna-w.a.n.ge, and cwae, "Foran e u waere gehyrsum ines wifes wordum, and min bebod forsawe, u scealt mid earfonyssum e metes tilian, and seo eore e is awyriged on inum weorce, syl e ornas and bremblas. u eart of eoran genumen, and u awenst to eoran. u eart dust, and u awentst to duste." G.o.d him worhte a reaf of fellum, and hi waeron mid am fellum gescrydde.

a deadan fell getacnodon aet hi waeron a deadlice e mihton beon undeadlice, gif hi heoldon aet eaelice G.o.des bebod. Ne orfte Adam ne eal mancynn e him sian ofacom naefre deaes...o...b..rian, gif aet treow moste standan ungehrepod, and his nan man ne onbyrigde; ac sceolde Adam and his ofspring tyman on asettum tyman, swa swa nu do claene nytenu, and sian ealle buton deae faran to an ecan life. Naes him gesceapen fram G.o.de, ne he naes genedd aet he sceolde G.o.des bebod tobrecan; ac G.o.d hine let frigne, and sealde him agenne cyre, swa he waere gehyrsum, swa he waere ungehyrsum.

He wear a deofle gehyrsum, and G.o.de ungehyrsum, and wear betaeht, he and eal mancynn, aefter isum life, into h.e.l.le-wite, mid am deofle e hine forlaerde. a wiste G.o.d hwaeere aet he waes forlaered, and smeade hu he mihte his and ealles mancynnes eft gemiltsian.

{20} On twam ingum haefde G.o.d aes mannes sawle geG.o.dod; aet is mid undeadlicnysse, and mid gesaele. a urh deofles swicdom and Adames gylt we forluron a gesaele ure sawle, ac we ne forluron na a undeadlicnysse; heo is ece, and naefre ne geenda, eah se lichama geendige, e sceal eft urh G.o.des mihte arisan to ecere wununge. Adam a waes wunigende on isum life mid geswince, and he and his wif a bearn gestryndon, aeger ge suna ge dohtra; and he leofode nigon hund geara and rittig geara, and sian swealt, swa swa him aer behaten waes, for an gylte; and his sawul gewende to h.e.l.le.

Nu smeagia sume men hwanon him come sawul? hwaeer e of am faeder, e of aere meder? We cwea of heora narum; ac se ylca G.o.d e gesceop Adam mid his handum, he gescyp aelces mannes lichaman on his modor innoe; and se ylca see ableow on Adames lichaman, and him forgeaf sawle, se ylca forgyf cildum sawle and lif on heora modor innoe, onne hi gesceapene beo; and he laett hi habban agenne cyre, onne hi geweaxene beo, swa swa Adam haefde.

a wear a hraedlice micel mennisc geweaxen, and waeron swie manega on yfel awende, and gegremodon G.o.d mid mislic.u.m leahtrum, and swiost mid forligere. a wear G.o.d to an swie gegremod urh manna mandaeda aet he cwae aet him ofuhte aet he aefre mancynn gesceop. a waes hwaeere an man rihtwis aetforan G.o.de, se waes Noe gehaten. a cwae G.o.d to him, "Ic wylle fordon eal mancynn mid waetere, for heora synnum, ac ic wylle gehealdan e aenne, and in wif, and ine ry suna, Sem, and Cham, and Iafeth, and heora reo wif; foran e u eart rihtwis, and me gecweme. Wyrc e nu aenne arc, reo hund faema lang, and fiftig faema wid, and ritig faema heah: gehref hit eall, and gecl?m ealle a seamas mid tyrwan, and ga inn syan mid inum hiwum. Ic gegaderige in to e of deorcynne, and of fugelcynne symble gemacan, aet hi eft to fostre beon. Ic wille sendan flod ofer ealne middangeard." {22} He dyde a swa him G.o.d bebead, and G.o.d beleac hi bynnan am arce, and asende ren of heofonum feowertig daga togaedere, and geopenode aer togeanes ealle wyll-springas and waeter-eotan of aere micclan niwelnysse. aet flod weox a and ab?r up one arc, and hit oferstah ealle duna. Wear a aelc ing cuces adrenct, buton am e binnon am arce waeron; of am wear eft ge-edstaelod eall middangeard. a behet G.o.d aet he nolde naefre eft eal mancynn mid waetere acwellan, and cwae to Noe and to his sunum, "Ic wylle settan min wedd betwux me and eow to isum behate; aet is, onne ic oferteo heofenas mid wolcnum, onne bi aeteowod min renboga betwux am wolcnum, onne beo ic gemyndig mines weddes, aet ic nelle heonon-for mancynn mid waetere adrencan." Noe leofode on eallum his life, aer am flode and aefter am flode, nigon hund geara and fiftig geara, and he a forferde.

a waes a sume hwile G.o.des ege on mancynne aefter am flode, and waes an gereord on him eallum. a cwaedon hi betwux him aet hi woldon wyrcan ane burh, and aenne stypel binnon aere byrig, swa heahne aet his hrof astige up to heofenum: and begunnon a to wyrcenne. a com G.o.d aerto, aa hi swiost worhton, and sealde aelc.u.m men e aer waes synderlice spraece. a waeron aer swa fela gereord swa aer manna waeron; and heora nan nyste hwaet oer cwae.

And hi a geswicon aere getimbrunge, and toferdon geond ealne middangeard.

a sian wear mancynn urh deofol beswicen, and gebiged fram G.o.des geleafan, swa aet hi worhton him anlicnyssa, sume of golde, sume of seolfre, sume eac of stanum, sume of treowe, and sceopon him naman; aera manna naman e waeron entas and yfel-daede. Eft onne hi deade waeron, onne cwaedon a cucan aet hi waeron G.o.das, and wurodon hi, and him lac offrodon; and comon a deoflu to heora anlicnyssum, and aeron wunodon, and to mannum spraecon swilce hi G.o.das waeron; and aet beswicene mennisc feoll on {24} cneowum to am anlicnyssum, and cwaedon, "Ge sind ure G.o.das and we besetta urne geleafan and urne hiht on eow." a asprang is gedwyld geond ealne middangeard, and waes se soa Scyppend, see ana is G.o.d, forsewen, and geunwurod. a waes hwaeere an maeg e naefre ne abeah to nanum deofolgylde, ac aefre wurode one soan G.o.d. Seo maeg asprang of Noes eltstan suna, se waes gehaten Sem: he leofode six hund geara, and his sunu hatte Arfaxa, se leofode reo hund geara and reo and rittig, and his sunu hatte Sale, se leofode feower hund geara and x.x.xIII.; a gestrynde he sunu se waes gehaten Eber, of am asprang aet Ebreisce folc, e G.o.d lufode: and of am cynne comon ealle heahfaederas and witegan, a e cydon Cristes to-cyme to isum life; aet he wolde man beon, fornean on ende yssere worulde, for ure alysednesse, see aefre waes G.o.d mid am healican Faeder. And yssere maege G.o.d sealde and gesette ?, and he hi laedde ofer s? mid drium fotum, and he hi afedde feowertig wintra mid heofenlic.u.m hlafe, and fela wundra on am folce geworhte; foran e he wolde of yssere maege him modor geceosan.

a aet nextan, a se tima com e G.o.d foresceawode, a asende he his engel Gabrihel to anum maedene of am cynne, seo waes Maria gehaten. a com se engel to hire, and hi gegrette mid G.o.des wordum, and cydde hire, aet G.o.des Sunu sceolde beon acenned of hire, buton weres gemanan. And heo a gelyfde his wordum, and wear mid cilde. aa hire tima com heo acende, and urhwunode maeden. aet cild is tuwa acenned: he is acenned of am Faeder on heofonum, buton aelcere meder, and eft aa he man gewear, a waes he acenned of am claenan maedene Marian, buton aelc.u.m eorlic.u.m faeder. G.o.d Faeder geworhte mancynn and ealle gesceafta urh one Sunu, and eft, aa we forwyrhte waeron, a asende he one ylcan Sunu to ure alysednesse. Seo halige moder Maria a afedde aet cild mid micelre arwurnesse, and hit weox swa swa ore cild do, buton synne anum.

{26} He waes buton synnum acenned, and his lif waes eal buton synnum. Ne worhte he eah nane wundra openlice ?ran e he waes ritig wintre on aere menniscnysse: a sian geceas he him leorning-cnihtas; aerest twelf, a we hata apostolas, aet sind aerendracan. Sian he geceas twa and hund-seofontig, a sind genemnede discipuli, aet sind leorning-cnihtas. a worhte he fela wundra, aet men mihton gelyfan aet he waes G.o.des Bearn. He awende waeter to wine, and eode ofer s? mid drium fotum, and he gestilde windas mid his haese, and he forgeaf blindum mannum gesihe, and healtum and lamum rihtne gang, and hreoflium smenysse, and haelu heora lichaman; dumb.u.m he forgeaf getingnysse, and deafum heorcnunge; deofolseoc.u.m and wodum he sealde gewitt, and a deoflu todraefde, and aelce untrumnysse he gehaelde; deade men he araerde of heora byrgenum to life; and laerde aet folc e he to com mid micclum wisdome; and cwae aet nan man ne maeg beon gehealden, buton he rihtlice on G.o.d gelyfe, and he beo gefullod, and his geleafan mid G.o.dum weorc.u.m geglenge; he onscunode aelc unriht and ealle leasunga, and taehte rihtwisnysse and sofaestnysse.

a nam aet Iudeisce folc micelne andan ongean his lare, and smeadon hu hi mihton hine to deae gedon. a wear an aera twelfa Cristes geferena, se waes Iudas gehaten, urh deofles tihtinge beswicen, and he eode to am Iudeisc.u.m folce, and smeade wi hi, hu he Crist him bel?wan mihte. eah e eal mennisc w?re gegaderod, ne mihton hi ealle hine acwellan, gif he sylf nolde; fori he com to us aet he wolde for us dea rowian, and swa eal mancynn a e gelyfa mid his agenum deae alysan fram h.e.l.le-wite. He nolde geniman us neadunge of deofles anwealde, buton he hit forwyrhte; a he hit forwyrhte genoh swie, aa he gehwette and tihte aera Iudeiscra manna heortan to Cristes slege. Crist a geafode aet a waelhreowan hine genamon and gebundon, and on rode hengene acwealdon. Hwaet a twegen gelyfede men hine arwurlice bebyrigdon, and Crist on aere hwile to {28} h.e.l.le gewende, and one deofol gewylde, and him of-anam Adam and Euan, and heora ofspring, one d?l e him ?r gecwemde, and gelaedde hi to heora lichaman, and aras of deae mid am micclum werede on am riddan daege his rowunge. Com a to his apostolum, and hi gefrefrode, and geond feowertigra daga fyrst him mid wunode; and a ylcan lare e he him ?r taehte eft ge-edlaehte, and het hi faran geond ealne middangeard, bodigende fulluht and sone geleafan.

Drihten a on am feowerteogoan daege his aeristes astah to heofenum, aetforan heora ealra gesihe, mid am ylcan lichaman e he on rowode, and sitt on a swiran his Faeder, and ealra gesceafta gewylt. He haef gerymed rihtwisum mannum infaer to his rice, and a e his beboda eallunga fors...o...b..o on h.e.l.le besencte. Witodlice he cym on ende yssere worulde mid micclum maegenrymme on wolcnum, and ealle a e aefre sawle underfengon arisa of deae him togeanes; and he onne a manfullan deofle betaec into am ecan fyre h.e.l.le susle; a rihtwisan he laet mid him into heofonan rice, on am hi rixia a on ecnysse.

Men a leofestan, smeaga ysne cwyde, and mid micelre gymene forbuga unrihtwysnysse, and geearnia mid G.o.dum weorc.u.m aet ece lif mid G.o.de see ana on ecnysse rixa. Amen.

HERE BEGINNETH THE BOOK OF CATHOLIC SERMONS IN ENGLISH, TO BE RECITED IN CHURCH DURING THE YEAR.