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Blickling Homily XV: Spel Be Petrus 7 Paulus\nEdited by R. Morris. Reproduced here by permission of the Council of the Early English Text Society.\nMen ða leofestan, weorðian we on ðissum andweardan dæge Sancte Petres Cristes apostola ealdormannes þrowungtide, 7 [top line cut off] apostoles, se is oþer cyricean hyrde to Cristes handa, oþer is hire lareow. Oþer is, ic cweþe, se æresta apostol, oþer se nehsta; Petrus ær Cristes þrowunga, 7 Paulus æfter his upastignesse; begen on geleafa gelice, begen wuldres beag æt urum Drihtne gesæliglice onfengon, forþon þe hie, on þære halgan þrowunge ealra on Cristes soþre eaþmodlicre andetnesse oþ heora lifes ende, untweogende mode þurhwunian; swa him Drihten Crist, eallum rihtgelyfdum mannum wunigendum for his noman, 7 þurhwuniggendum in tintregum on soþre andetnesse oþ ende his life untweogendlice, geheht 7 cwæþ, 'Þonne ge beforan kyningum gestondan 7 heahgerefum, 7 on ehtnessum for minum naman, ne þurfan ge noht besorgian hwæt ge sprecan; eow weorþeþ forgifen on þa sylfan tide hwæt ge sprecaþ [top line cut off] ac Godes Gast eowres Fæder se spreceþ on eow. Þonne læweþ broþer oþerne hæþnum on deaþ, 7 sunu se læweþ his fæder, 7 þa gingran arisaþ wiþ þam yldrum, 7 hie mid deaþe geswencaþ; 7 hie beoþ on feounge ealle for minum naman. Swa hwylc þonne soþlice swa on elne 7 on mines noman andetnesse oþ his ende wunað, se biþ hal 7 geneseþ on ecnesse.'\nMen þa leofestan, þonne þurhwunodan hie fæstlice æfter Cristes bebodum on his lufon 7 geleafan oþ heora ende; 7 hie stodan beforan Nerone þæm hæþnan casere 7 Agrippan his geongran. Þa woldan hie on ecnesse hæle 7 trume wið deofla niþum 7 helle witum, 7 wundorlice deaþ geþrowodan for Godes naman, 7 nu on wuldre geweorþode rixiaþ, 7 heora gemynd wunaþ on þære [top line cut off] folcum swa we nu gehyran magan, men þa leofestan, heora þrowunga, hu hie wiþ Simone þæm dry fæstlice gefliton 7 gewunnon. 7 for Godes naman andetnesse Petrus wæs on rode gefæstnod, 7 him þæt heafod wæs adune gewended 7 þa fet up; 7 Paulus wæs heafde becorfen. 7 þa hie to samne incoman, he him rehte hu myccle scipbrocu he gebad on þæm siþe þe he hie sohte, 7 wæs þyder ræpling gelæded: 7 Sanctus Petrus him rehte hwylce searwa 7 yfel sacunga Simon se dry arefnde. Þa gesamnodan hie heora weorod wiþ Simone þæm dry, 7 hie mon wregde to Nerone þæm casere, 7 to his andweardnesse heht gestandan; 7 hie Simon þone dry swiþe heredon. [top line cut off] beforan þæs folces mengeo. 7 Nerones wif Libia, 7 Agrippan wif Agrippina toþon swiþe fæstlice hie sylfe to Cristes lufan 7 geleafan gecyrdon, þæt hie noldan leng heora hlaforda ne heora wera ræstgemanan secean; 7 manige men of cyninges þegenrædene to Cristes þeowdome gecyrdon þurh Paules bodunga, swa þæt hie to his healle ne to his hirede eft wendan noldan. Ða wearþ Simon se dry eallunga aweht wiþ ðam apostolum 7 gelæred þæt he feala yfla sægde, 7 þæt Petrus bigswica wære; 7 him gelyfdon ealle þa men þa þe Simones wundordæda wafodan, forþon þe he þurh dreocræft worhte ærene næddran, 7 þa hie styredan, 7 stænene manlican 7 ærene, 7 hie hie styredan 7 urnon him sylfe, 7 wurdon færinga up on þære lyfte gesawene. 7 ongean þam Petrus [top line cut off] mid anum worde, 7 blinde men mid his bedum gehælde þæt hie locodan, 7 deoflum bebead þæt hie of deofolseocum mannum utferdon, 7 he þa deadan sylfe fram deadum mannum awehte, 7 sægde eallum folce þæt Simon dry wære, 7 hie lærde þæt hie fram his bigswice cyrdon. Ond þa gelamp þæt þæt ealle æfæste men onscunodan Simon þone dry, 7 hie hine scyldigne sægdon. Þonne sægdon þa men þe Simone folgodan þæt Petrus wære dry, þæt ilce þæt Simon him sylf wæs, 7 cyþdon þæt mid leasre gecyþnesse mid þone dry.\nÞa sona swa þæt word becom to Nerone þæm casere, þa heht he Simon þone dry infeccan beforan hine, 7 þa þa hwile þe he þær stod, he wearþ færinga geong cild, 7 sona eft eald man. [top line cut off] man, 7 bræd hine on feala bleona þurh deofles þegnunga. Þa Neron þa þæt geseah þa wende þæt hit Godes Sunu wære. Þonne sægde Petrus þæt he wære leas dry, 7 sceand 7 scyldig æ swica, 7 on eallum Godes dædum rihtes wiþerbroca; 7 nænges þinges mare þearf nære þonne mid Godes mægene his unriht yppe wurde. Þa eode Simon into Nerone 7 cwæþ to him, 'Gehyr me dugoþa casere: ic eom Godes Sunu þe of heofonum astag, ac ic adreah mycel broc oþ þis mid Petre; nu is min yfel twyfeald, nu Paulus þæt ilce læreþ, 7 wiþ me fliteþ 7 þæt ilce spreceþ 7 mid him bodaþ. Þonne forþon ne mæg þin rice leng stondan, buton þu heora forwyrde þe geornor þence.' 7 he þa wearð [top line cut off] geheapod, 7 heht oþre dæge hie ealle þry in beforan hine. Þa cwæþ se dry, 'Þis syndon þæs Nazareniscan Hælendes þegnas, þæm ofþynceþ þæt hie synd Iudea folces.' Neron cwæþ, 'Hwæt bið se Nazaarenisca?' Simon cwæþ, 'An ceaster is on Iudea lande, hatte Nazareþ, of þære com se heora lareow.' Þa cwæþ Neron, 'God manaþ ælcne man 7 lufaþ, to hwon ehtest þu þas men?' Simon cwæþ, 'Þis is þæt mennisc þe ealle mine dæda mid heora wordum onwendan, þæt hie me ne gelyfdon.' Þa cwæþ Neron to Petre, 'For hwon wæron gyt swa treowlease, oþþe incer cynn?' Ða cwæþ Petrus to þam dry, 'Eallum oþrum mannum þu mihtest þin unriht befæstan, ac God þurh me þa of [top line cut off] hæfdest, 7 nu þu sylfa wast genog geare ðæt þu me oferswiðan ne miht; me þynceþ wundor mid hwylcere byldo þu sceole beforan cininge gylpan þurh þine drycræft þæt þu mæge Crists þegnas oforswiþan.' Neron cwæþ, 'Hwæt is se Crist?' Petrus cwæþ, 'Hit is seþe þes dry Simon sagað þæt he sy; ðonne nis hit swa, ac he is ðæs mannes cniht, 7 his weorc syndon deofollicu. Þu þonne, dugoþa cyning, gif þu witan wille hwæt be Criste gedon wæs on Iudea lande, hat þe niman Pilatus ærendgewrit þe he sende to Claudio þæm casere ymb Cristes þrowunga.'\n7 þa heht he don swa, 7 rædan þæt gewrit beforan him; 7 hit þus cwæþ, 'Pilatus greteþ Claudium his hlaford. Nu niwan gelamp þæt ic me sylf onfand þæt Iudeas hie sylfe þurh æfæste him betweonon [top line cut off] 7 feodan; þonne witodlice þa hie heora hæfdan witgan on Godes gehatum 7 heora fæderas þæt witgodan, þæt him heora God wolde sendan of heofonum his þone halgan Sunu, se þe heora cyning mid rihte genemned wære, 7 him þæt þurh clæne fæmnan on þas world sendan wolde to eorþwarum; 7 þæs þa æghwylc heahgerefa wæs gewita on Iudeum þæt Ebrea God come hider; 7 mon geseah hine blinde onlyhtende, 7 hreofe clænsian, 7 laman gelacnian, 7 deofol of mannum drifan, 7 deade aweccan, 7 windum stilnesse bebeodan, 7 drygum fotum gan ofer sæs yþa, 7 oþre wundro manega wyrcean. Þa cwæþ eal Iudea folc þæt he Godes Sunu wære 7 þæt fulfremedlice oncneowan. Þa genaman him æfæst to þa ealdormen þara sacerda 7 hine sylfne oferfengon, 7 me symle [top line cut off] 7 wiþ heora folc rihte feala worhte. Þa gelyfde ic him þæt hit wære swa hie sægdon; beswang hine þa 7 to heora sylfra dome ageaf. Hie þa hine on rode ahangan; 7 þa he bebyrged wæs, settan him hyrdas to. 7 he ða soðlice minum ceapum hine halne 7 gesundne ðy ðriddan dæge æteowde, 7 of deaðe aras; 7 Iudea nið toðon swiðe barn þæt hie feoh sealdan þæm weardum, 7 swa cwædon, 'Secgað þæt his þegnas gereafodan his lic on us 7 forstælan.' 7 syþþan hie ðæt feoh onfengon, ne mihtan hie hweðre forswigian þæt þær geworden wæs; ac hie sædon me þæt hie þa ærest gesawon, 7 eac Iudea feoh onfengon, 7 on ðas word ic becom þe læs þe oðre wisan ænig man leoge, 7 þu ne wene þæt þu Iudea leasungum gelyfan þurfe.'\nÞa sona þa þæt gewrit aræded wæs, þa cwæþ Neron, 'Saga me, Petrus, wæs hit eal swa swa þæt gewrit sæg þurh hine geworden?' Sanctus Petrus cwæþ, 'Eal hit is swa, ne leoge ic; ac þu goda casere [top line cut off] leasingum beswican 7 ofercumen, þæt he weneþ furþon þæt he man ne sy, ac weneþ þæt he sy þæt þe God is; ac on Criste anum is ealles siges fylnes þurhtogen; 7 þurh þone man þe he on hine sylfne onfeng, þæt is se myccla mægenþrym 7 se unbegripendlica, se þurh þone man gemedemod wæs mannum to helpe. Þonne syndon on þyssum Simone twa speda, mannes 7 deofles; 7 he þonne men gæleþ ælces godes þurh his þone menniscan dæl.' Þa cwæþ Simon to Sancte Petre, 'For teonan me þincþ wundor; þu goda casere!' 'to hwon þu sceole for owiht þysne man habban ungelæredne fiscere þone leasostan, 7 nawþer ne on worde ne on gebyrdum mid nænigre mihte gewelgode? Þonne nelle ic þyssum fynd leng arian, ac nu ic bebeode minum englum þæt hie cuman 7 me [top line cut off] witnian.' Þa cwæþ Petrus, 'Ne ondræde ic me þine englas, ac hie magon him me ondrædon, for þon mægene mines Drihtnes þe mid me is, 7 for þære byldo þe ic to him wat, on þone þu leogende sagast þæt þu sie þæt he is.' Þa cwæþ se casere, 'Ne ondrædest þu þe Simon, Petrus, se þe his godcundnesse mid soþum wisum gerymeþ.' Him þa andswarede se eadiga apostol Sanctus Petrus 7 þus cwæþ, 'On þam is godcundnesse wen þe manna ingehygd wat 7 can, 7 heora heortena deagol ealle smeaþ 7 rimeþ; ac secge me nu gyf he God sy, hwæt ic þence oþþe hwæt ic do. Þone ilcan geþang ic þe ær sæde, ær he leoge, þæt he þe leogan ne durre, oþþe secge hwæt ic þence.' Neron cwæþ, 'Gang me near hider, 7 sege me hwæt þu þence.' Petrus cwæþ, 'Hat me bringan berene hlaf 7 me degollice syllan'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 syllan Sancte Petre. Þa cwæþ Petrus, 'Secge Simon me nu, gif he god sy, hwæt her si geþoht oþþe gecweden oþþe gedon.' Ða cwæþ Neron, 'Hu wilt þu þæt ic gelyfe ðæt Simon þis nyte, seðe deadne man ær awehte, 7 hine sylfne beheafdodne æfter ðon ðridan dæge eft geondweardodne, 7 eal ðæt ic gecwæþ þæt hedon sceolde, eall he þæt dyde.' Petrus cwæþ, 'Ne dyde he þa wisan beforan me.' Neron cwæþ, 'Me ætstondendum he þis eal dyde; witodlice he heht englas him to cuman 7 hie coman.' Petrus cwæþ, 'Ac for hwan ne deþ he þæt læsse nu he þæt maredyde, secge he hwæt ic þence 7 dyde.' Þa cwæþ Neron, 'Nu ic inc geseman ne mæg.' Simon cwæþ, 'Secgge Petrus hwæt ic þence;' 'þonne Simon deþ þæt he geþoht hafaþ, þonne gecyþe ic þæt ic wat ær hwæt he þenceþ.' 'Nu,' cwæþ Simon, 'wite þu casere þæt manna geþohtas mænig mon ne wat, buton God selfa. Petrus begæþ þæt he hit wite.' Petrus cwæþ, 'Hwæt þu cwist þæt þu sy Godes Sunu, sege þonne hwæt ic þence, oþþe hwæt ic do on deglum gerece. Nemn nu gif þu hit gereccean mæge.' 7 Petrus hæfde þonne þone hlaf gesegnod þe he onfeng berenne, 7 hine tobræc on twa, 7 hine gedyde on his twa slefan. Þa wearð Simon erre, forþon þe he arædan ne mihte þæs apostoles degol. Þa cleopode he hludre stefne 7 þus cwæþ, 'Cuman nu myccle hundas forþ 7 hine abitan beforan þyssum casere.' 7 þa færinga coman þær hundas forþ on wundorlicre mycelnesse 7 ræsdon on þone apostol; 7 Petrus stod on gebedum aþenedum handum, 7 eowode þæm hundum þone hlaf þe he þær ær gesegnode, 7 hie þa sona onweg gewitan 7 nahwær ne æteowdon. 'Nu ic cyþe mid dædum,' cwæþ Petrus to Nerone, 'næs mid wordum anum, þæt ic wiste ær hwæt Simon þohte. Witodlice se þe englas gehet wiþ me to sendenne, nu he brohte hundas wiþ me; 7 þæt cyþde swutollice þæt he næfre nænige godcunde englas næfde buton hundlice englas.'\nÞa cwæþ Neron to Simone, 'Hwæt is hit nu, Simon? ic wene wit syn oferswiþede.' 7 cerde hine þa to Paule, 7 ahsode hine 7 þus cwæþ, 'Hwæt cwist þu, Paulus?' Þa andswarode him Paulus 7 þus cwæþ, 'Wite þu, goda casere, þæt mycel yfel weaxeþ on þinum rice, gif þu lætest leng þysne dry rixian 7 þus mycel yfel wyrcean, 7 þin rice for his larum gefealleþ.' Neron cwæþ to Simone, 'Hwæt cwist þu, Simon?' Þa cwæþ Simon, 'Buton ic openlice gecyþe þæt ic God sylfa sy, ne onmun þu me nanre are wyrþne.' Neron cwæþ, 'Ac to hwon yldest þu þæt þu raþost do, gif þu God sy, þæt man þas menn witnige 7 cwelle?' Simon cwæþ, 'Hat þu me anne heahne tor of mycclum beamum getimbrian, þonne gestige ic ofer þone, 7 gecege mine englas, 7 bebeode him eow eallum tolociendum; hie me on heofonas beraþ to minum fæder. 7 gif hie þonne þis gedon magan, þu ongytest þæt hie syndon lease 7 unlærede men.' Þa cwæþ Neron to Petrus, 'Gehyrstu, Petrus, hwæt Simon cwiþ? Nu biþ ful raþe cuþ hu mycel mægen þin God hafaþ.' Petrus cwæþ, 'Gehyrstu, betsta casere? gif þu wilt, þu miht ongytan þæt Simon is mid deofle gefylled.' Þa cwæþ Neron, 'Hwæt sceolan us, oþþe hwæt doþ us þara worda ymbþone? Tomorgenne we beoþ gesemde.'\nÞa cwæþ Simon, 'Þæt þu wast þæt ic wæs dead, 7 þy þriddan dæge fram deadum mannum aras;' forþon þe Simon ær mid his drycræftum cwæþ to Nerone, 'Hat me heafde beceorfan on þeostrum, 7 gif ic ne arise fram deaþe þy þriddan dæge, wit þu þonne þæt ic eom dry. Gif ic þonne arise, wite þu be þon þæt ic beo Godes Sunu.' 7 þa syþþan het Neron þis eall swa gedon on þam þeostrum, þa he þa sceolde beon heafde becorfen; 7 se man hit forþ brohte on leoht, swa him beboden wæs þæt hi hine beheafdian sceolde, þa wæs hit gemeted scepes heafod; ac he nolde þæt þam cininge secgan, þe læs he hine sylfne forwregde þæt he to ungeorne bewiste hwæt he on þeostrum dyde. Adyde þa leomu 7 þæt heafod on weg þes sceapes, 7 þær þæt blod to samne geræc. 7 þa ateawde he hine Nerone þy þriddan dæge, 7 him to cwæþ, 'Hat gefeormian min blod 7 þonon adrygan, forþon þe ic wæs heafde becorfen, 7 nu on þyssum þriddan dæge aras, swa ic ær beforan þe sægde 7 geheht þæt ic don wolde.' 7 he þa Neron him seoþþan gelyfd.\nOncyrde hine þa to Paule 7 cwæþ to him, 'Forhwon ne sprecst þu, Paulus?' þa andswarede him Sanctus Paulus 7 cwæþ, 'Wenstu þæt ic sceole sprecan to þissum treowleasan men 7 to þissum orwenan dry, þe his sylfes sawle hafaþ deaþe geteohhad, þæs forwyrd 7 leasung 7 forleornung swiþe raþe cymþ to him, þe he hine sylfne deþ to þon he nis. 7 bysmraþ men mid his dreocræft þæt hie his wordum gelyfaþ. Gif þu wilt his wordum hyran 7 his bebodu læstan, þu forleosest þin rice 7 þines sylfes feorh. Þis is manna se wyrresta þe þurh deofles wisdom manige unware men beswiceþ mid his costungum; þy þu scealt biddan þone Halgan Gast þæt mote beon raþe open 7 onwrigen hwæt he sy. Witodlice swa swiþe swa he weneþ sylf þæt he sceole to heofonum ahafen weorþan, swa swiþe he biþ bedyped on þa neoþemestan helle witu, þær biþ a wop 7 hrop 7 toþa gristbitung. Þonne be þære lare mines lareowes þe þu me befrune, ne magan þær nænige oþre men onfon, butan þa ane þe mid clænum geleafan hie to þæm gegearwiaþ. Ic lærde simle sibbe 7 Godes lufan ymb þa burh Hierusalem 7 manige þeoda; ærest ic lærde þæt men lufodan hie him betweonan, 7 ælc on oþrum arwyrþnesse wiste; ic lærde wlance men 7 heahgeþungene þæt hie ne astigan on ofermedu, ne uþgendra welena to wel ne truwodon, ah þæt hie on God ænne heora hyht gesetton. Ic lærde eac þa medstrangan men þæt hie wæron on heora biwiste 7 on medmyclum hrægle gehealdene; 7 þearfan ic lærde þæt hie heora wædle gefean hæfdon 7 Gode þancodon. Fæderas ic lærde þæt hie heora bearnum þone þeodscipe lærdon Drihtnes egsan; 7 suna ic lærde þæt hie hyrdon heora yldrum 7 heora magum; 7 landagende men ic lærde þæt hie heora gafol mid gehygdum aguldon; 7 wif ic lærde þæt hie heora weras lufedan 7 him ege towiston; 7 ic lærde weras þæt hie be him anum getreowlice hie heoldan, swa hie willan þæt him man do, 7 forþon þe God gewrecþ on þæm were gif he unrihthæmed fremeþ wiþ oþer wif, 7 swa se wer hit wreceþ gif his wif hie forhealdeþ. Forþon þe God is Scyppend 7 Reccend ealra his gesceafta, 7 hlafordas ic lærde þæt hie getreowlice Gode hyrdon swa heora hlafordum, 7 þeowdon Godes ciricum: 7 ic lærde ealle men þæt hie beeodan anne Ælmihtigne God unbegripendlicne 7 ungesynelicne God. 7 þeos lar me wæs seald næs na for mannum ac þurh God sylfne. Hælende Crist 7 wuldres Fæder he me to bodunga sende 7 þus cwæþ, "Gong þu, ic beo lifes gast on þe 7 on eallum rihtgelyfendum on me 7 on Hælendne Crist; 7 eall ic gerihtwisige þæt þu cwist."'\nÞa wæs Neron afyrhted forþon wordum 7 hine oncyrde to Petre 7 cwæþ to him, 'Hwæt cwist þu, Petrus?' Þa cwæþ he, 'Ealle þa word sint soþe þe Paulus sægþ. Manige gear syndon agan nu seoþþan ure bisceopas geond eal Romana rice an to me gewreoto sende, 7 me be his clænnesse cyþde 7 be his lare. Wæs he ær ehtere Cristes æ; þa gecegde hine stefn of heofenum 7 hine soþfæstnesse lærde.' Æfter þyssum wæron manegu geflitu, oþþæt Petrus cwæþ, 'An God Ælmihtig, God Fæder on Hælendum Criste mid þon Halgan Gaste, Scyppend ealra gesceafta, þone ic bodige þe geworhte heofen 7 eorðan 7 sæ, 7 ealle þa þing þe on þæm þrim syndon, se is soþ Cyning 7 his rices nis nænig ende.'\nOnd þa æfter þon het Neron gewyrcean mycelne tor of treowum 7 of mycclum beamum, 7 bead þæt eall þæt folc come to þisse sceawunga 7 eal seo dugoþ Romana folces. Þa oþre dæge heht Neron Petrus 7 Paulus to þissum wæferfeonum gefeccean, 7 to him tocwæþ, 'Nu mæg soð hit sylf gecyþan.' Petrus 7 Paulus cwædon, 'God hine onwryhþ gyt, þeah þe wit hine ne geopenian.' 'Min gemet is,' cwæþ Paulus, 'þæt ic bege mine cneowa. Þu miht æt Gode abbiddan þæt þu wilt wið þæs dryg onginne, forþon þu ær gecoren wære fram Gode.' 7 þa dyde he swa Paulus, 7 begde his cneowa 7 hine gebæd. Petrus beheold Simon 7 cwæþ, 'Ongin þæt þu onginnest, forþon nu nealæceþ ægþer ge þin onwrigennes ge uncer gecyþnes, forþon þe ic geseo minne Crist cigendne me 7 Paulus.' Neron cwæþ, 'Hwyder magon gyt gangan from minum willan.' Petrus cwæþ, 'Þyder þe unc mon laþaþ 7 cegþ uncer Drihten.'\nÞa beforan eallum þæm folce astag Simon on þone torr, 7 aþendum earmum, mid lawere gebeagod, ongan fleogan on þa lyfte. Sona swa Neron þæt geseah, þa cwæþ he, 'Þes man is soþfæst 7 soþsecgende Simon, ac þonne hwæþere git Petrus 7 Paulus sindon bigswicon.' Þa cwæþ him Petrus to, 'Buton yldinge þu wast þæt wit syndon soþe Cristes þeowas, 7 þæt þes man nis Crist ac is dry.' Neron cwæþ, 'Gyt git þurhwuniað on incre anwilnesse, 7 nu git geseoþ hine geond heofenas feran.' Þa locode Petrus to Paule 7 cwæþ, 'Rære up þin heafod 7 geseoh þis þæt Simon deþ.' Þa ahof Paulus up his heafod. Þa wæron his eagan gefylled mid tearum, 7 he geseah Simon fleogende. Þa cwæþ he to Petre, 'To hwan ablinnest þu, Petrus? Freme nu forþon þæt þu ongunne. Soþlice unc gecyþeþ ure Drihten Hælend Crist his mægen.' Þa Neron þæt gehyrde, þa smercode he 7 cwæþ, 'Nu þas men geseoþ þæt hie synt ofercumene; dwelgaþ nu þa.' Petrus cwæþ, 'Nu swiþe raþe þe bið cuþ þæt wit ne dwelgaþ.' Locode þa up wið Simones 7 cwæþ, "Ic eow halsige scucna englas, ge þe hine on þære lyfte beraþ to beswicenne ungeleaffulra manna heortan, þurh God Ælmihtigne ealra Scyppend 7 þurh Hælendne Crist, se þe on ðone þriddan dæg fram deaþe aras, ic bebeode þæt ge hine of þisse tide leng ne beran, ac hine anforlætan.' 7 hie þa sona hine forletan, 7 he gefeol on þone stocc be þære stænenan stræte þe is haten Sacra uia, 7 tobærst on feower dælas. Ða genaman men eft þone stoc on weg, 7 feower syllice stanas on þære ilcan stowe alegdon, to gemynde 7 to cyþnesse þæs apostolican siges oþ þysne andweardan dæg.\nÞa heht Petrus 7 Paulus on bendum healdon, wende þæt he Simon arisan sceolde þy þriddan dæge. Petrus cwæþ, 'Þes Simon ne ariseþ næfre, forþon þe he is soðlice dead 7 on ecum witum genyþerod.' Þa heht Neron healdan Simones lic þry dagas, wende þæt he sceolde eft arisan þy þriddan dæge. Ahsode þa Petrus, 'Hwa lyfde þe þæt þu swylce scylde gefremedeste?' Petrus cwæþ, 'Gif þu wilt ongeotan 7 geþencean hu mycel hine beleah þæt he losode, þe læs he me yfel sacode wið God.' Neron cwæþ, 'Erre mode git me gedydon 7 ic hit mid yfelre bysene inc forgylde.' Petrus cwæþ, 'Þu cwist nu ealles þæt ðu wilt, ac þæt ungehaten is sceal beon geendod.' Ða cwæþ Neron to his burhgerefan Agrippan, 'Ðas men syndon æfestige; hit is mycel nedðearf þæt hie man forspille, 7 mid irenum þislum 7 ordum hie man slea in anre stowe for niman mid witum.' Agrippa cwæþ, 'Ungerisnre bysene ðu hatest hie witnian, ah me þynceþ unscyldiglicre þæt him man heafod of aceorfe butan oðrum witum. 7 Petrus ðonne, forðon þe he is mansleges scyldig 7 eac æfestig, hat hine on rode gebindan.' Þa cwæþ Neron, 'On ða betstan wisan þu demest.' Ða wæron gelædde Petrus 7 Paulus fram Nerones gesyhþe, 7 Paulus wæs beheafdod on Ostensi þæm wege. Petrus cwæþ, þa he com to þære rode, he cwæþ, 'Wendaþ min heafod ofdune, forðon þe min Drihten Hælend Crist of heofonum adune to eorþan astag, he wæs on rihte rode upahafen; þonne forþon þe he me of eorþan to heofonum laþaþ, þy sceal min rod onwended beon; min heafod sceal beon on eorþan gecyrred, 7 min fet to heofenum gereahte. Ne eom ic þæs wyrþe þæt ic swa on rode gefæstnod beo.' Þa wendon hie sona þa rode, 7 fæstnedan þa fet up 7 þæt heafod ofdune.\nÞa coman þær tosamne unarimedlico mengeo 7 wyrdon Neron þone casere, 7 him yfel cwædon; 7 hie wæron to þon hat-heortlice yrre þæt hie woldan þone casere cwicenne forbærnan. Þa styrde Petrus him 7 cwæþ, 'Nu for feawum dagum me bædon 7 lærdon Romane þæt ic gewat heonon onweg, þa com me Crist ongean þa gebæd ic me to him; 7 he ahsode, "Hwyder wilt þu gangan?" "Min Drihten, ic wille gangan to Rome." Cwæþ he þæt ic þær sy eft oþre siþe on rode ahangen. Ða cyrde ic eft hider to Rome. Þa cwæþ he Crist to me, "Ne þearft þu þe ondrædon, forþon þe ic eom mid þe, oþþæt ic þe ingelæde on mines Fæder hus." Þonne, men þa leofestan, ne gæle ge minne sið, nu mine fet gongað on heofenlicne weg; ne beoð ge nu unrote, ac gefeoþ mid me, forþon þe ge geseoþ nu todæge minra gewinna wæstm gefullian.' 7 þa þis gesprecan wæs, þa cwæþ he, "Þanc ic do, Crist þu goda hyrde, forþon þas sceap me efenþrowiaþ þa þu me befæsttest; bidde ic þe þæt hie syn dælnimende þine geofena mid me. Ic befæste þe nu þæt eowde þæt þu me sealdest þæt hiene oncneowon þæt hie buton me beon, þa þe habban. Þurh þe ic þys eowde styran 7 rihtan, nu ne mæg.' Sona swa he þas word gecwæþ, he his gast onsende; 7 sona æteawdan twegen weras þa þe næfre ær nænig man ne geseah, ne æfter þon geseon ne mihte. Þa cwædon þæt hie of Hierusalem coman 7 for him folgedan; 7 genaman deogollice his lic 7 gedydon on þruh bi Nawmachian, 7 in þa stowe asetton þe Uaticanus hatte; 7 þa cwædon hie to eallum folce, 'Gefeoþ ge 7 wynsumiaþ, forþon þe micle mundboran gegearwod habbað.'\n7 wite ge eac þe Godes frynd synd þæt Neronem þysne wyrrestan cining æfter þara apostola cwale, þæt he becom on hatunga his herges 7 on feounga Romana folces, swa þæt hie openlice þæt gesetton þæt he on witnunge stowe swa lange swungen wære oþþæt he swylte, swa his geearnung wæs. Sona swa him þæt geþeaht tocom, þa feol him ege on þæt he nahwær seoþþan mannum ne æteowde. Sume men wæron þe sægdon þæt hine wulfas abiton 7 fræton, þær he mid cyle 7 mid hungre on wudum dwolgende astifod læge. Þonne genaman þara haligra apostola lichoman Grecas 7 woldan lædon on Eastrice. Þa gewearþ mycelu eorþstyrung, 7 eal folc Romwara befeng þa lichoman on þære stowe Catacumbe þy wege þe hate Appia, þrim milum fram Rome byrig. 7 þær wæron gehealdene heora lic an gear 7 seofan monaþ, oþþæt hie getimbredon þa stowe þe heora lichoman nu onrestað. 7 þa wæron heora lichoman ge [the top line is clipped] ldrlicum lofsange, 7 hie hi on asette ærest Sancte Petres lichoman on þære stowe þe nemned is Uaticanus, 7 Sancte Paules be þæm wege Ostensi, on þære æfteran mile fram Rome. Þær beoþ gegearwode Godes mildheortnessa þæm þe þa lichoman seceaþ þurh heora gebedo, þæm mannum þe heora synna 7 unrihtes fæstlice geswicaþ, 7 hie Gode 7 heora scriftum fullice geandettiaþ, 7 be heora dome betaþ, 7 siþþan næfre to unrihtum ne gewendað; þonne onfoþ hie forgifnesse ealra heora gylta æt urum Drihtne on þæm ecan wuldre se leofað mid Fæder 7 mid Suna 7 mid þæm Halgan Gaste in ealra worlda world abuton ende on ecnesse. Amen.