The wars of Alexander: an alliterative romance translated chiefly ...

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64
THE BISHOP WEARS HIS MITRE.
[Ashmole.
The bishop and
priests are richly
aiTayed.
Now passis furth fis prelate
•
vflth pre-tis of ))e temple,
Reueschid him rially & • Jjat in riche wedis,
AVi-'t/i erst ifei abite vndire aH • as I am in-fo/ij-mede,
Fulle of bridis & of bestis • of bise & of purpre ; 1532
And pat was garnest* full gay • with golden skirtis,
Store starand stanes • strekilland all ouire,
Their garments
ai e covered with
gems.
The bishop wears
a golden mitre.
The rest are
dressed in n(
Saudid fuH" of safirs & * ojjire sere ge>imes,
And poudird with perry was perro«r & • othire. 1536
And sithen be castis on a Cape • of kastand hewes,
With riche rabies of gold! railed bi • fe^ hemmes,
A vestoure to vise on of • violet floures,
Wro3t fuH of wodwose & • o]>er wild bestis 1540
And fan him lii3til(J his hede • & had! on a Mitre,
Was forgid aH of fyne gold! " & fret fuH: of perrils,
Sti3t staffuii of stanes • pat stra3t out hemes,
As it ware sheme-and shaftis of • fe shire soil. 1544
Docto2«-s & diuinoM-s & othire dere maistris,
lustis of iewry & iogis of pe lawe,
•
AVare tired aH in tonacles • of tarrayn webbis
J)ai were bret-full of bees • aH pe body ouire, 1548
And oper clientis & clerkis • as to fe kirke faUis,
Ware aU samen of a soyte • in surples of raynes,
So rich a sight
Was nevei^eeen.
[Fol. 27.]
The citizens
follow in the
bishop's train.
all
in robes white
113 3110W.
j)at slike a si3t, I supose * Avas neuer sene eftire,
So parailed a procession • a person a-gaynes. 1552
j^ow bowis furth pe bischop at • Jje bur3e ^atis,
Wi't/i prestis & with prelatis a pake out of nombre
•
And aH pe cite in sorts felowis him efuV,
•
Quirris furth aU in quite * of qualite as aungels ; 1556
Maistirs, marchands, & Maire • mynistris & othire,
Worthi wedous & wenchis & wyues *
of pe cite
Be ilka barne in pe burgh • as bla3t ere jjaire wedis
As any snyppandf snawe * pat in fie snape li3tzjf. 1560
j)a)' passis pe procession a • piple be-forne.
Of childire aft in chalk^ quyte chosen out ahundreth,
•
With bellis & wtt^ baners & blasand torchis,
•
'
Jtead an. * Added in the margin. ' MS. shalk.