The Works of William Herebert, OFM


Poem 15: Eterne rex altissime; Fol. 209v-210r
Kyng hexst of alle kynges, þat hauest non endynge,
Buggere of Cristenemen þat bœth of ryth leuynge,
Þorou þé deth ys uordon and brouth to þ'endinge,
And ȝyuen ys ous þe ouere hond of graces vindinge.
Vor hœ´uene and œ´rþe and helle, and al þat þrinne bœ´n,
To þé shullen bouwen hœm and bénden hœre knœ´n.
Aungles þat in heuene bœ´th quaketh uor wondringe,
Þat abouten dedlich mon sœth so gret chaunginge,
Vor vlesh sunneth and vlesh béteth and vlesh ys God regninge.
Þou, Crist, bœ´ oure blisse and oure gladiing,
Þat wyþoute misse in hœuene hast wonyng,
Þat al þys ylke myddelerd hauest to ȝemyng,
And al þys wordles ioye hast in vorhówyng.
Þat whén þou shalt uerlich comen ous to déme,
Comen yne cloudebryth wyth blówinde béme,
Vrom þe pyne of helle, Iesu, þou ous ȝéme.
And ȝeld þe lorene crounes, God wœ´ to þé réme.