Prologue

[fol. 380ra] Se now a prolog on the Apocalips.

prose-textblock1Alle men that wolen life mekeli in Crist, as the apostil seith, suffren persecucion. Aftir that, thou sone that neighest to the servise of God, stonde thou in rightwesnesse and in drede and make redi thi soule to temptacion. For temptacion is a mannes lyf on the erthe. But that feithful men faile not in hem, the Lord coumforteth hem and confermeth seynge, “I am with you unto the ende of the world, and litel floc nyle ye drede.” Therfor God the Fadir, seynge the tribulacions wiche holi chirche was to suffre, that was foundid of the apostlis on Crist the stoon, disposid with the Sone and the Holi Goost to shewen hem that me dredde hem the lasse. And al the Trinyté shewide it Crist in his manheed, and Crist to Joon bi an aungel, and Joon to holi chirche, of wich revelacion Joon made this book.

prose-textblock2Wherfore this book is seid Apocalips, that is to seie revelacion. For here it is conteyned that God shewide to Joon, and Joon to holi chirche, hou grete thingis holi chirche suffride in the firste tyme, and now suffrith, and schal suffre in the laste tymes of Antecrist, whanne tribulacion shal be so greet, that if it mowe be, thei that ben chosen ben mefed, and wiche medis she shal resceyve for thes tribulacions now and in tyme to come, that medis that ben bihoten maken hem glad, whom the tribulacions that ben tolde maken afeerd.

prose-textblock3Therfore this book among othere scripturis of the Newe Testament is clepid bi the name of profecie, and it is more excellent than profetis. For as the Newe Testament is worthier than the Olde, and the gospel than the lawe, so this profecie passeth other profecies of the Olde Testament, for it shewith sacramentis that ben now aparti fulfilde of Crist and of holi chirche, or ellis for to other is oo maner profecie, but to this is thre maner profecie gofen togider, that is of that that is passid, and of that that is present, and of that that is to come. And to conferme the autorité of it, ther cometh the autorité of him that sendeth, and of him that berith, and of him that resceyveth. He that sendeth is the Trynité, he that berith the aungel, he that resceyveth Joon.

prose-textblock4But whanne thes thingis ben shewide to Joon in visioun and ther ben thre kindis of visiouns, it is to seen undir wich kinde this be conteyned. For sum visioun is bodili, as whanne we seen any thing with bodili iyen. Sum is spiritual or ymagynarie, as whanne we slepeng seen or ellis waking we biholden the ymages of thingis bi wich sum other thing is signified, as Farao saw sleping eeris of corn, and Moises waking sawgh the boish [fol. 380rb] brenne. Another vision is of undirstonding, as whanne thrugh revelacion of the Holi Goost, thrugh undirstonding of thought, we conceyven the truthe of misteries as Joon sawgh tho thingis that ben contened in this book. For not oonli he saugh in spiritt the figuris, but also he undirstood in thought the thingis that weren signified bi hem.

prose-textblock5Joon saw and wroot in the ile of Pathmos, whanne he was exiled of Domician the most wickid prince, and a cause compellide him to write. For whil he was holden in outlawrie of Domician in the ile of Pathmos, in the chirchis that he hadde governed ther weren sprungen manye vices and dyverse eresies. For ther weren summe eretikis there that seiden that Crist was not tofore Marie, for as miche as he was in tyme born of hir, wich eretikis Joon in the bigynnyng of his gospel undirnymeth and seith, “In the bigynnyng was the Sone,” and in this book whanne he seith, “I am alpha and oo, that is the bigynnyng and the ende.” Summe also seiden that holi chirche shulde eende tofore the eende of the world, for charge of tribulacions, and that it shulde not undirfonge for hir travel everlasting mede. Therfore Joon, willing to distroie the errours of thes, sheweth that Crist was bigynnyng and eende, wherfore Ysaie seith, “Tofore me was no o god formed, and aftir me ther shal not be.” And that holi chirche thrugh exercise of tribulacions shal not be endid, but shal profiten and for hem resceyven an everlasting mede.

prose-textblock6Joon writeth to sevene chirchis of Asye and to her sevene bysshops of the forseide thingis, enformyng and teching bi hem al the general holi chirche. And so the mater of Joon in this werk, specialy of the chirche of Asie and also of al holi chirche, what she shal suffre in this present tyme and what she shal undirfonge in tyme to come, and his entent is to stire to pacience wich is to be kept, for the travaile is short and the mede is greet. The maner of his treting is sich: First he setteth tofore a prolog and a salutacion, wher he makith the hereris beningne and taking wel tent, and whanne he hath sett it tofore, he cometh to the telling, but tofore his telling he shewith that Crist is ever withoute bigynnyng and withouten ende, rehersing him that spekith, “I am alpha and oo, bigynnyng and ende.” Aftirward he cometh to his telling and departeth it in to sevene visiouns, and whanne thei ben eendid, this book is endid. He settith tofore the prolog and seith “The Apocalips of Jhesu Crist.” Undirstonde that this is as it is in othere, the visioun of Ysaie and also the parablis of Saloman.

prose-textblock7Jerom in this prolog on this Apocalips seith this.

Chapter 1

prose-textblock1[1] Apocalips of Jhesu Crist, wich God gaf to him to make open to hise servauntis, wiche thingis it bihoveth to be maad soone. And he signifiede sending bi his aungel to his servaunt Joon, [2] wich baar witnessing to the word of God and witnessing of Jhesu Crist in thes thingis what evere thingis he saw. [3] Blessid is he that redeth and he that herith the wordis of this prophecie, and kepith tho thingis that ben writen in it, for the tyme is nigh.

prose-textblock2[4] Joon to sevene [fol. 380va] chirchis that ben in Asie: grace and pees to you, of him that is and that was and that is to comynge and of the sevene spiritis that ben in the sight of his trone, [5] and of Jhesu Crist that is a feithful witnesse, the first bigeten of dede men and prince of kingis of the erthe, wich lovede us and waysshide us fro oure synnes in his blood [6] and made us a kingdam and prestis to God and to his Fadir. To him be glorie and empire, in to worldis of worldis. Amen.

prose-textblock3[7] Lo, he cometh with cloudis and ech iye shal se him, and thei that prickiden him and alle the kinredis of the erthe shulen biweile hem silf on him. Yhee, Amen.

prose-textblock4[8] “I am alpha and oo, the bigynnyng and the eende,” seith the Lord God, “that is and that was and that is to comynge almyghti.”

prose-textblock5[9] I, Joon, yor brother and partener in tribulacion and kingdam and pacience in Crist Jhesu, was in an ile that is clepid Pathmos, for the word of God and for the witnessing of Jhesu. [10] I was in spiritt in the Lordis dai and I herde bihinde me a greet vois as of a trumpe [11] seynge to me, “Write thu in a book that thing that thu seest and sende to the sevene chirchis that ben in Asie, to Efesus, to Smirma, and to Pergamus and to Tiatira and to Sardis and to Filadelfia and to Loadicia.”

prose-textblock6[12] And I turnede that I shulde se the vois that spac with me, and I turnede and I saw sevene candilstikis of gold, [13] and in the middel of the sevene golden candilstikis, oon lyk to the sone of man clothid with a long garnement and gird at the tetis with a golden girdel, [14] and the heed of hym and hise heeris weren whiyte as whyt wolle and as snow, and the iyen of him as a flawme of fyr, [15] and hise feet lyk to latoun as in a brennynge chymnei, and the vois of him as the vois of manye watris. [16] And he hadde in his righthond sevene sterres, and a swerd sharp on ever ether side wente out of his mouth, and his face as the sonne shyneth in his vertu.

prose-textblock7[17] And whanne I hadde seen him, I felde doun at his feet as deed, and he puttide his righthond on me and seide, “Nyle thu drede. I am the firste and the laste, [18] and I am alife and I was deed, and loo I am lifinge in to worldis of worldis and I have the keies of deeth and of helle.

prose-textblock8[19] “Therfore write thu wiche thingis thu hast seyn, and wiche ben and wiche it bihoveth to be doon aftir thes thingis. [20] The sacrament of the seven sterris, wiche thu sawest in my righthond, and the sevene golden candilstikis: the sevene sterris ben aungelis of the sevene chirchis, and the seven candilstikis ben seven chirchis.”

Chapter 2

prose-textblock1[1] “And to the aungel of the chirche of Efesie, write thu thes thingis, seith he that holdeth the sevene sterris in his righthond, wiche walkith in the middel of the sevene golden candilstikis. [2] I woot thi werkis and travele and thi pacience, and that thou maist not suffre yvele men, and thu hast assaied hem that seyn that thei ben apostlis and ben not, and thou hast founden hem liers, [3] and thou hast pacience, and thou hast suffrid for my name and failedest not.

prose-textblock2[4] “But I have agens thee a fewe thingis: that thou hast laft thi firste charité. [5] Therfor be thu myndeful from whennes thu hast falle and do penaunce [fol. 380vb] and do the firste werkis, ether ellis I shal come soone to thee, and I shal mofe thi candilstike fro his place, but thu do penaunce. [6] But thu hast this good thing, that thu hatidist the dedis of Nycholaitis, the wiche also I hate.

prose-textblock3[7] “He that hath eeris, heere he what the Spiritt seith to the chirchis. To him that overcometh I shal gife to ete of the tree of lyf that is in the paradys of my God.

prose-textblock4[8] “And to the aungel of the chirche of Smirma write thu thes thingis, seith the firste and the laste, that was deed and lifeth. [9] I woot thi tribulacioun and thi povert, but thu art riche and thou art blasfemed of hem that seyn that thei ben Jewis and ben not, but ben the synagoge of Sathanas. [10] Drede thu no thing of thes thingis wiche thou shalt suffre. Lo, the devel shal sende summe of you in to prison, that ye be temptid, and ye schulen have tribulacion ten daies. Be thu feithful to the deeth, and I shal gife to thee a crowne of lyf.

prose-textblock5[11] “He that hath eeris, here he what the Spiritt seith to the chirchis. He that overcometh shal not be hurt of the seconde deeth.

prose-textblock6[12] “And to the aungel of the chirche of Pergamus, write thou thes thingis, seith he that hath the swerd sharp on eche side. [13] I woot where thu duellist, where the sete of Sathanas is, and thou holdist my name and denyest not my feith. And in tho daies was Antifas my feithful wittnes that was slain at you, where Sathanas dwellith.

prose-textblock7[14] “But I have agens thee a fewe thingis, for thou hast there men holding the teching of Balaam, wich taughte Balaac for to sende sclaundir bifore the sones of Israel to ete sacrifices of idols and to do fornicacion. [15] So also thou hast men holding the teching of Nycholaitis. [16] Also do thu penaunce. If any thing lasse, I shal come soone to thee and I shal fighte with hem with the swerd of my mouth.

prose-textblock8[17] “He that hath eeres, here he what the Spiritt seith to the chirchis. To hym that overcometh, I shal gife aungelis mete hid and I shal gife to him a whyt stoon and in the stoon a new name writen, wich no man knowith but he that takith.

prose-textblock9[18] “And to the aungel of the chirche of Tiatire, write thu thes thingis, seith the Sone of God, that hath iyen as flawme of fyr and hise feet lyk latoun. [19] I knowe thi werkis and feith and charité and thi service and thi pacience, and thi laste werkis mo than the formere.

prose-textblock10[20] “But I have agens thee a fewe thingis, for thou suffrist the womman Jesabel wiche seith that she is a profetesse, to teche and disceyve my servauntis to do leyccherie and to ete of thingis offride to idols. [21] And I gaf to hir tyme that she shulde do penaunce, and she wolde not do penaunce of hir fornicacion, [22] and lo, I sende hir in to a bed and thei that doon leyccherie with hire shulen be in moost tribulacioun but thei doon penaunce of her werkis. [23] And I shal slee her sones in to deeth, and alle chirchis shulen wite that I am serchinge reynes and hertis, and I shal gife to ech man of you aftir his werkis.

prose-textblock11“And I seie to you [24] and to other that ben at Tiatire, who ever han not this teching and that knewen not the highnesse of Sathanas, hou thei seyn, I shal not sende on [fol. 381ra] you another charge. [25] Netheles, holde ye that that ye han, til I come.

prose-textblock12[26] “And to him that shal overcome and that shal kepe til in to the ende my werkis I shal gife power on folkis, [27] and he shal governe hem in an yren yarde, and thei shulen be broken togider, as a vessel of a potter, as also I resceyvede of my Fadir. [28] And I schal gife to him a morewe sterre. [29] He that hath eeris, here he what the Spiritt seith to the chirchis.”

Chapter 3

prose-textblock1[1] “And to the aungel of the chirche of Sardis, write thu thes thingis, seith he that hath the sevene spiritis of God and the sevene sterris. I wott thi werkis, for thu hast a name that thou lifest and thou art deed. [2] Be thu waking, and conferme thu othere thingis that weren to diyng. For I finde not thi werkis fulle bifore my God. [3] Therfore have thou in mynde hou thu resceyvedist and herdist, and kepe and do penaunce. Therfore if thou wake not, I shal come as a night theef to thee, and thu shalt not wite in what our I shal come to thee.

prose-textblock2[4] “But thu hast a fewe names in Sardis wiche han not defoulid her clothes, and thei schulen walke with me in white clothes, for thei ben worthi. [5] He that overcometh shal be clothed thus with whiyte clothis, and I shal not do awei his name fro the book of lyf, and I shal knowleche his name bifore my Fadir, and bifore hise aungelis. [6] He that hath eeris, here he what the Spiritt seith to the chirchis.

prose-textblock3[7] “And to the aungel of the chirche of Filadelfie, write thou thes thingis, seith the holi and trewe that hath the keie of David wiche openeth and no man closeth; he closeth and no man openeth. [8] I wot thi werkis, and lo I gaf bifore thee a dore opened wich no man mai close. For thou hast a litel vertu and hast kept my word and denyest not my name. [9] Lo, I shal gife to thee of the synagoge of Sathanas wiche sein that thei ben Jewes and ben not, but lien. Lo, I shal make hem that thei come and worshipe bifore thi feet and thei shulen wite that I lovede thee, [10] for thou keptist the word of my pacience. And I shal kepe thee fro the our of temptacion that is to comynge in to al the world to tempte men that duellen in erthe.

prose-textblock4[11] “Lo, I come soone. Holde thu that that thu hast, that no man take thi corown. [12] And him that shal overcome I shal make a piler in the temple of my God, and he shal no more go out. And I shal write on him the name of my God and the name of the cité of my God, of the newe Jerusalem that cometh doun fro hevene of my God, and my name new. [13] He that hath eeris, here he what the Spiritt seith to the chirchis.

prose-textblock5[14] “And to the aungel of the chirche of Loadice, write thu thes thingis, seith Amen the feithful wittnes and trewe, wich is bigynnyng of Goddis creature. [15] I wot thi werkis, for nether thu art coold, nether thu art hoot. I wolde that thu were coold ether hoot. [16] But for thu art lew and nether coold nether hoot, I shal bigynne to caste thee out of my mouth. [17] For thou seist that ‘I am riche and ful of goodis, and I have nede of no thing,’ and thu wost not that thu art a wreycche, and wreycchful and pore and blind and nakid. [18] I counsele thee to bye of me brent gold and preved that thu be maad riche and be clothid with whiyte clothes, that the confusion of [fol. 381rb] thi nakidnesse be not seen. And anoynte thine iyen with a collerie that thu see.

prose-textblock6[19] “I repreve and chastise whom I love. Therfore swe thu gode men and do penaunce. [20] Lo, I stonde at the dore and knocke. If any man herith my vois and openeth the gate to me, I shal entre to him and soupe with him and he with me.

prose-textblock7[21] “I shal gife to him that shal overcome to sitte with me in my troone, as also I overcam and satt with my Fadir in his troone. [22] He that hath eeris, here he what the Spiritt seith to the chirchis.”

Chapter 4

prose-textblock1[1] Aftir thes thingis I saw, and lo, a dore was opened in hevene, and the firste vois that I herde was as of a trumpe spekinge with me and seide, “Stie thou up hider, and I shal shewe to thee wich thingis it bihoveth to be doon soone after thes thingis.” [2] Anoon I was in spiritt, and lo a seete was sett in hevene, and upon the seete oon sitting. [3] And he that satt was lyk the sight of a stoon jaspis and to sardyn, and a reynbowe was in the cumpas of the seete, lyk the sight of smaragdyn. [4] And in the cumpas of the seete weren foure and twenti smale seetis, and above the troone foure and twenti eldir men sittinge hilid aboute with white clothis and in the heedis of hem golden crownes. [5] And leitis and voicis and thundringis camen out of the troone, and seven laumpis brennynge bifore the troone, wiche ben the sevene spiritis of God.

prose-textblock2[6] And bifore the seete as a see of glas lyk a cristal, and in the middil of the seete foure beestis fulle of iyen bifore and behinde. [7] And the firste beest lyk a lion, and the seconde beest lyk a calf, and the thridde beest havynge a face as a man, and the fourthe beest lyk an egle fleynge. [8] And the foure beestis hadden everich of hem sixe wyngis and al aboute and withinne thei weren fulle of iyen, and thei hadden not rest dai and night, seyng, “Holi, holi, holi, the Lord God almighti, that was and that is and that is to comynge.”

prose-textblock3[9] And whanne the foure bestis gafen glorie and onour and blessing to him that satt on the troone, that lifeth in to worldis of worldis, [10] the foure and twenti eldir men felden doun bifore him that satt in the troone and worschipiden him that lifeth in to worldis of worldis. And thei castiden her crownes bifore the troone and seiden, [11] “Thu Lord oure God art worthi to take glorie and onour and vertu, for thou madist of nought alle thingis, and for thi wille tho weren and ben made of nought.”

Chapter 5

prose-textblock1[1] And I saw in the righthond of the sitter on the troone a book writen withinne and without and seelid with seven seelis. [2] And I saw a strong aungel prechinge with a greet vois, “Who is worthi to opene the book and to undo the seelis of it?” [3] And noon in hevene nether in erthe nether undir erthe mighte opene the book nether biholde it. [4] And I wepte miche, for noon was founden worthi to opene the book nether to se it. [5] And oon of the eldir men seide to me, “Wepe thu not. Lo, a lion of the lynage of Juda, the rote of Davith, hath overcomen to opene the book and to undoo the sevene seelis of it.”

prose-textblock2[6] And I saw, and lo, in the myddil of the troone and of the foure beestis and in the middil of the eldir men, a Lomb stondinge as slayn, [fol. 381va] that hadde sevene hornes and seven iyen, wiche ben seven spiritis of God sent in to al erthe. [7] And he cam and took of the righthond of the sitter in the troone the book, [8] and whanne he hadde opened the book, the foure beestis and the foure and twenti eldir men fellen doun bifore the Lomb and hadden ech of hem harpis and golden viols fulle of odours, wiche ben the priers of seyntis.

prose-textblock3[9] And thei songen a new song and seiden, “Lord oure God, thu art worthi to take the book and to opene the seelis of it, for thu were slayn and agenboughtist us to God in thi blood, of eche lynage and tonge and puple and nacion, [10] and madist us a kingdam and prestis to oure God, and we shulen regne on erthe.”

prose-textblock4[11] And I saw and herde the vois of manye aungels al aboute the troone, and of the beestis and of the eldir men, and the noumbre of hem was thusandis of thousandis, [12] seynge with a greet vois, “The Lomb that was slain is worthi to take vertu and godheede and wisdam and strengthe and onor and glorie and blessing.”

prose-textblock5[13] And ech creature that is in hevene and that is on erthe and undir erthe and the see and wiche thingis ben in it, I herde alle seynge to him that satt in the troone and to the Lomb, “Blessing and onour and glorie and power in to worldis of worldis.” [14] And the foure beestis seiden, “Amen.” And the foure and twenti eldir men fellen doun on her facis and worchipiden hem that lifeth in to worldis of worldis.

Chapter 6

prose-textblock1[1] And I saw that the Lomb hadde opened oon of the sevene seelis, and I herde oon of the foure beestis seynge as a vois of thundir, “Come and se.” [2] And I saw, and lo, a whiyt hors, and he that satt on him hadde a bowe and a crowne was gofen to him, and he wente out overcomyng that he shulde overcome.

prose-textblock2[3] And whanne he hadde opened the secounde seel, I herde the secunde beest seynge, “Come thu and se.” [4] And another reed hors wente out, and it was gofen to him that satt on him that he shulde take pees fro the erthe, and that thei slee togider hemself. And a greet swerd was gofen to him.

prose-textblock3[5] And whanne he hadde opened the thridde seal, I herde the thridde beest seynge, “Come thu and se.” And loo, a blac hors, and he that satt on him hadde a balaunce in his hond. [6] And I herde as a vois in the middil of the foure beestis seynge, “A bilibre of wheete for a peny and thre bilibris of barlei for a peny, and hurte thu not wyn ne oile.”

prose-textblock4[7] And whanne he hadde opened the fourthe seel, I herde a vois of the foure beestis seynge, “Come thou and se.” [8] And lo, a pale hors, and the name was Deeth to him that saat on him, and helle swede him. And power was gofen to him on foure partis of the erthe for to slee with swerd and with hungir and with deeth and with beestis of the erthe.

prose-textblock5[9] And whanne he hadde opened the fifethe seel, I saw undir the auter the soulis of men slayne for the word of God and for the wittnessing that thei hadden. [10] And thei crieden with a greet vois and seiden, “Hou longe, thu Lord that art holi and trewe, demest not and vengist not oure blood of thes that duellen in the erthe?” [11] And white stollis for eche soule, a stoole weren gofen to hem. And it was seid to hem that thei shulden reste yit a litel tyme, til the noumbre of her felowis and of her bre|thren [fol. 381vb] be fulfilid that ben to be slayne as also thei.

prose-textblock6[12] And I saw whanne he hadde opened the sixte seel, and lo, a greet erthe mofing was maad and the sonne was maad blac as a sacke of heire, and al the mone was maad as blood, [13] and the sterris of heven fellen doun on the erthe as a fige tree sendeth hise unripe figus whanne it is mofed of a greet wynd. [14] And hevene wente awei as a book wlappid in, and alle mounteins and yles weren mofed fro her placis.

prose-textblock7[15] And the kingis of erthe and princis and tribunes and riche and stronge and ech bonde man and fre man hidden hem in dennes and stoones of hillis. [16] And thei seyn to stoones and to hillis, “Falle ye on us and hide ye us fro the face of him that sitteth on the troone and fro the wraththe of the Lomb! [17] For the greet dai of her wraththe cometh, and who shal mow stonde?”

Chapter 7

prose-textblock1[1] Aftir thes thingis, I saw foure aungelis stondinge on the foure corners of the erthe, holdinge foure wiyndis of the erthe that thei blewen not on the erthe nether on the see nether on any tree. [2] And I saw another aungel stiynge fro the rising of the sonne that hadde a signe of the lifing God, and he criede with a greet vois to the foure aungelis to wiche it was gofen to noie the erthe and the see, [3] and seide, “Nyle ye noie the erthe and the see, nether trees, til we marken the servauntis of oure God in the forheedis of hem.” [4] And I herde the noumbre of men that weren markid, an hundrid thusand and foure and fourty thusand markid of everi lynage of the sones of Israel.

prose-textblock2[5] Of the lynage of Juda, twelfe thusand markid. Of the lynage of Ruben, twelfe thusand markid. Of the lynage of Gad, twelfe thusand markid. [6] Of the lynage of Aser, twelfe thusand markid. Of the lynage of Neptali, twelfe thusand markid. Of the lynage of Manasse, twelfe thousand markid. [7] Of the lynage of Symeon, twelfe thusand markid. Of the lynage of Levy, twelfe thousand markid. Of the lynage of Isacar, twelfe thousand markid. [8] Of the lynage of Zabulon, twelfe thusand markid. Of the lynage of Joseph, twelfe thusand markid. Of the lynage of Benjamyn, twelfe thousand markid.

prose-textblock3[9] Aftir thes thingis, I saw a greet puple whom no man mighte noumbre of alle folkis and lynagis and puplis and langagis stondinge bifore the troone in the sight of the Lomb, and thei weren clothid with whiyte stoolis, and palmes weren in the hondis of hem. [10] And thei crieden with greet vois and seiden, “Heelthe to oure God that sitteth on the troone and to the Lomb.”

prose-textblock4[11] And alle aungelis stooden al aboute the troone and the eldir men and the foure beestis, and thei fellen doun in the sight of the troone on her facis and worchipiden God [12] and seiden, “Amen. Blessing and clerenesse and wisdam and doing of thankingis and onour and vertu and strengthe to oure God into worldis of worldis. Amen.”

prose-textblock5[13] And oon of the senyours answeride and seide to me, “Who ben thes that ben clothid with white cloothis? And fro whennes camen thei?”

prose-textblock6[14] And I seide to him, “My lord, thou wost.”

prose-textblock7And he seide to me, “Thes ben thei that camen fro greet tribulacion and waiyssheden her stoolis and maden hem whiyte in the blood of the Lomb. [15] Therfore thei ben bifore the troone of God and serven to him [fol. 382ra] dai and night in his temple. And he that sitteth in the troone duelleth on hem. [16] Thei shulen no more hungre nether thirste nether sonne shal falle on hem ne any heete, [17] for the Lomb that is in the middel of the trone shal governe hem and shal leede forth hem to the wellis of watris of lyf and God shal wipe awei eche teer fro the iyen of hem.”

Chapter 8

prose-textblock1[1] And whanne he hadde opened the seventhe seel, a silence was maad in heven as half an hour. [2] And I saw sevene aungelis stondinge in the sight of God, and sevene trumpis weren gofen to hem.

prose-textblock2[3] And another aungel cam and stood bifore the auter and hadde a golden censer and manye encensis weren gofen to him that he shulde gife of the preiers of alle seyntis on the golden auter that is bifore the trone of God. [4] And the smoke of encensis of the preiers of the holi men stiede up fro the aungelis hond bifore God. [5] And the aungel took the encenser and fillide it of the fyr of the auter and castide in to erthe, and thundris and voicis and leitingis weren made and a greet erthe mofing.

prose-textblock3[6] And the seven aungelis that hadde sevene trumpis maden hem redi that thei shulden trumpe. [7] And the firste aungel trumpide, and hail was maad and fyr meynd togidere in blood. And it was sent into the erthe, and the thridde part of the erthe was brent and the thridde paart of trees was brent and al the grene gras was brent.

prose-textblock4[8] And the seconde aungel trumpide, and as a greet hil brennynge with fyr was cast into the see, and the thridde part of the see was maad blood, [9] and the thridde part of creature was deed that hadden lifes in the see, and the thridde part of shippis periysshide.

prose-textblock5[10] And the thridde aungel trumpide, and a greet sterre brennynge as a litil brond fel fro hevene, and it fel into the part of flodis and into the wellis of watris. [11] And the name of the sterre is seid Wormod. And the thridde part of watris was maad into wormod, and manye men weren deede of the watris for tho weren made bitter.

prose-textblock6[12] And the fourthe aungel trumpide, and the thridde part of the sonne was smiten, and the thridde part of the mone and the thridde part of sterris, so that the thridde part of hem was derkid. And the thridde part of the dai shynede not and also of the night.

prose-textblock7[13] And I saw and herde the vois of an egle flyng bi the middel of hevene and seynge with a greet vois, “Wo, wo, wo to men that duellen in erthe of the other voicis of thre aungelis that shulen trumpe aftir.”

Chapter 9

prose-textblock1[1] And the fifethe aungel trumpede, and I saw that a sterre hadde fallen doun fro hevene into erthe. And the keie of the pitt of depnesse was gofen it. [2] And it openede the pitt of depnesse, and a smoke of the pitt stiede up as the smoke of a greet furneis, and the sonne was derkid and the eir of the smoke of the pitt. [3] And locustis wenten out of the smoke of the pitt into erthe, and power was gofen to hem as scorpions of the erthe han power. [4] And it was comaundid to hem that thei shulden not hurte the gras of the erthe nether any grene thing nether any tre, but oonli men that han not the signe of God in her forheedis. [5] And it was gofen to hem that thei shulden [fol. 382rb] not sle hem, but thei shulden be turmenteid fife monethis, and the turmenting of hem as the turmenting of a scorpion whanne he smiteth a man. [6] And in tho daies men shulen seke deeth and thei shulen not finde it, and thei shulen desire to dye and deeth shal fle fro hem.

prose-textblock2[7] And the liknessis of locustis ben lyk horsis made redi into batel, and on the heedis of hem as corownes lyk gold and the facis of hem as the facis of men. [8] And thei hadden heeris as the heeris of wymmen, and the teeth of hem weren as the teeth of liouns. [9] And thei hadden habirions as iren habirions and the vois of her wyngis as the vois of chaaris of manye horsis rennynge into batele. [10] And thei hadden tailes lyk scorpions and prickis weren in the tailis of hem and the might of hem was to noye men fyve monethis. And thei hadden on hem [11] a king, the aungel of depnesse to whom the name bi Ebrew is Iaabadon but bi Greek Apollion, and bi Laten he hath a name Extermynans, that is a distroier.

prose-textblock3[12] Oo wo is passid, and lo, yit comen two woos.

prose-textblock4[13] Aftir thes thingis also the sixte aungel trumpide, and I herde a vois fro foure corners of the golden auter that is bifore the iyen of God [14] and seide to the sixte aungel that hadde a trumpe, “Unbinde thu foure aungels that ben bounden in the grete flod Eufrates.” [15] And the foure aungels weren unbounden wich weren reedi into our and dai and moneth and yeer to sle the thridde part of men. [16] And the noumbre of the oost of horsmen was twenti thousand sithis ten thousand. I herde the noumbre of hem.

prose-textblock5[17] And lo, I saw horsis in vision and thei that saten on hem hadden firie habiriouns and of jacinct and of brimstoon, and the heedis of the horsis weren as hedis of lions, and fyr and smoke and brimstoon camen forth of the mouth of hem. [18] Of thes thre plagis the thridde part of men was slain, of the fyr and of the smoke and of the brimstoon that camen out of the mouth of hem. [19] For the power of horsis is in the mouth of hem and in the tailis of hem, for the tailis of hem ben lyk to serpentis havynge heedis, and in hem thei noien.

prose-textblock6[20] And the tother men that weren not slayne in thes plagis nether diden penaunce of the werkis of her hondis that thei worshipiden not develis and symilacis of gold and of silver and of bras and of stoon and of tre, wiche nether moun se nether here nether wandre, [21] and diden not penaunce of her mansleingis, nether of her wicchecraftis ether venemyngis, nether of her fornicacion, nether of her theftis, weren slayne.

Chapter 10

prose-textblock1[1] And I saw another strong aungel comynge doun fro hevene clothid with a cloude and the reynbowe on his heed. And the face of him was as the sonne, and the feet of him as a piler of fyr. [2] And he hadde in his hond a litel book opened, and he sette his right foot on the see and the lift foot on the erthe, [3] and he criede with a greet vois as a lion whanne he roorith. And whanne he hadde cried, the sevene thundris spaken her voicis. [4] And whanne the sevene thundris hadde spoken her voicis, I was to writinge, and I herde a vois fro hevene seynge, “Marke thu whate thingis the sevene thundris spaken, and nyle thou write hem.”

prose-textblock2[5] And the aungel [fol. 382va] whom I saw stondinge above the see and above the erthe lifte up his hond to hevene [6] and swoor bi him that lifeth in to worldis of worldis that made of nought hevene and tho thingis that ben in it and the see and tho thingis that ben in it and the erthe and tho thingis that ben in it, that tyme shal no more be. [7] But in the daies of the vois of the seventhe aungel, whanne he shal biginne to trumpe, the misterie of God shal be eendid as he prechide bi his servauntis profetis.

prose-textblock3[8] And I herde a vois fro hevene eftsone spekinge with me and seynge, “Go thu and take the book that is opened fro the hond of the aungel that stondith above the see and on the lond.”

prose-textblock4[9] And I wente to the aungel and seide to him that he shulde gife me the book, and he seide to me, “Take the book and devoure it, and it shal make thi wombe to be bitter, but in the mouth it shal be swete as hony.” [10] And I took the book of the aungels hond and devouride it. And it was in my mouth as swete as hony, and whanne I hadde devowrid it my wombe was bitter. [11] And he seide to me, “It bihoveth thee eftsone to profecie to hethene men and to puplis and langagis and to manye kingis.”

Chapter 11

prose-textblock1[1] And a reud lyk a yarde was gofen to me, and it was seid to me, “Rise thu and mete the temple of God and the auter and men that worshipen in it. [2] But caste thu out the foryard that is without the temple and mete not it, for it is gofen to hethen men and thei shulen defoule the holi citee bi fourti monethis and tweyne. [3] And I shal gife to my twei wittnessis and thei shulen profecie a thusand daies two hundrid and sixti and shulen be clothid with sackis.” [4] Thes ben twey olifes and twey candilstikis, and thei stonden in the sight of the Lord of the erthe. [5] And if anye man wol anoie hem, fyr shal go out of the mouth of hem and shal devoure her enemyes, and if any wole hurte hem, thus it bihoveth him to be slayn. [6] Thes han power to close hevene that it reyne not in the daies of her profecie, and thei han power on watris to turne hem into blood and to smyte the erthe with everi plage, and as ofte as thei wolen.

prose-textblock2[7] And whanne thei shulen eende her wittnessing, the beest that stieth up fro depnesse shal make batel agens hem and shal overcome hem and shal slee hem, [8] and the bodies of hem shulen liygge in the stretis of the grete citee that is clepid gostli Sodom and Egipt, where the lord of hem was crucified. [9] And summe of lynagis and of puplis and of langagis and of hethen men shulen se the bodies of hem bi thre daies and an half, and thei shulen not suffre the bodies of hem for to be putt in biriels, [10] and men enhabitinge the erthe shulen have joie on hem and thei shulen make mirie and shulen sende giftis togidere, for thes twey profetis turmentiden hem that duellen on erthe.

prose-textblock3[11] And aftir thre daies and an half, the spiritt of lyf of God entride into hem, and thei stooden on her feet, and greet drede fel on hem that sawen hem. [12] And thei herden a greet vois fro hevene seynge to hem, “Come ye up hider.” And thei stieden into hevene in a cloude, and the enemies of hem sawen hem.

prose-textblock4[13] And in that our a greet erthe mo|fing [fol. 382vb] was maad, and the tenthe part of the citee fel doun and the names of men seven thusand weren slayne in the erthe mofing, and the tother weren sente into drede and gafen glorie to God of hevene.

prose-textblock5[14] The secounde wo is goon. And lo, the thridde wo shal come soone.

prose-textblock6[15] And the seventhe aungel trumpede, and grete voicis weren made in hevene and seiden, “The rewme of this world is maad oure Lordis and of Crist his Sone, and shal regne into worldis of worldis. Amen.”

prose-textblock7[16] And the foure and twenti elder men that saten in her seetis in the sight of the Lord fellen on her facis and worshipiden God and seiden, [17] “We doon thankingis to thee, Lord God almighti, wich art and wich were and wich art to comynge, wiche hast taken thi greet vertu and hast regned. [18] And folk is ben wrooth, and thi wraththe cam and tyme of dede men to be demed and to yelde mede to thi servauntis and profetis and halowis and dredinge thi name to smale and to greete and to distroie hem that corrumpeden the erthe.”

Chapter 12

prose-textblock1[11:19] And the temple of God in hevene was opened and the arke of his testament was seyn in his temple, and leitingis weren made and voicis and thundris and erthe mofing and greet hail.

prose-textblock2[12:1] And a greet signe apperide in hevene, a womman clothed with the sonne and the mone undir hir feet, and in the heed of hir a crowne of twelfe sterris. [2] And she hadde in wombe and she criede travelinge of chylde and is turmentid that she bere chyld. [3] And another signe was seyn in hevene, and lo a greet reed dragon that hadde seven heedis and ten hornes, and in the heedis of him seven diademes, [4] and the tail of him drough the thridde part of sterris of hevene and sente hem into the erthe. And the dragon stood bifore the womman that was to bering chyld, that whanne she hadde born chyld he shulde devowre hir sone. [5] And she baar a knave chyld that was to rewling alle folkis in an iren yarde. And hir sone was raviysshid to God and to his trone. [6] And the womman flei into wildernesse where she hath a place maad redi of God that he fede hir there a thusand daies two hundrid and sixti.

prose-textblock3[7] And a greet batel was maad in heven, and Michhel and hise aungelis foughten with the dragon and the dragon faught and hise aungelis. [8] And thei hadden no might, nether the place of hem was founden more in hevene. [9] And thilke dragon was cast doun, the greet olde serpent that is clepid the devel and Sathanas, that disceyveth al the world, he was cast doun into the erthe and his aungelis weren sente with him.

prose-textblock4[10] And I herde a greet vois in hevene seynge, “Now is maad helthe and vertu and kingdam of oure God and the power of his Crist. For the accuser of oure brethren is cast doun, wich accuside hem bifore the sight of oure God dai and nighth. [11] And thei overcam him for the blood of the Lomb and for the word of his wittnessing, and thei loveden not her lifes til to deeth. [12] Therfore ye hevenes, be ye glad and ye that duellen in hem. Wo to the erthe and to the see, for the fend is comen doun to you and hath greet wraththe, witinge that he hath litel tyme.”

prose-textblock5[13] And aftir that the dragon saw that he was cast doun [fol. 383ra] to the erthe, he purswede the womman that baar the knave chyld. [14] And twey wyngis of a greet egle weren gofen to the womman that she shulde fle into desert into hir place where she is fed by tyme and tymes and half a tyme, fro the face of the serpent. [15] And the serpent sente out of his mouth aftir the womman water as a flood that he shulde make hir to be drawen of the flood. [16] And the erthe helpide the womman, and the erthe openede his mouth and soop up the flood that the dragon sende of his mouth. [17] And the dragon was wrooth agens the womman, and he wente to make batel with othere of hir seed that kepen the maundementis of God and han the wittnessing of Jhesu Crist.

prose-textblock6[18] And he stood on the gravele of the see.

Chapter 13

prose-textblock1[1] And I saw a beest stynge up of the see havynge seven heedis and ten hornes and on hise hornes ten diademes and on hise heedis the names of blasfemye. [2] And the beest whom I saw was lyk a pard and hise feet as the feet of a bere and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gaf his vertu and greet power to him. [3] And I saw oon of his heedis as slain into deeth, and the wounde of his deeth was curid and al erthe wondride aftir the beest, [4] and thei worshipiden the dragon that gaf power to the beest, and thei worshipiden the beest and seiden, “Who is lyk the beest, and who shal mowe fighte with it?”

prose-textblock2[5] And a mouth spekinge grete thingis and blasfemies was gofen to it and power was gofen to it to do two and fourti monethis. [6] And it openede his mouth into blasfemies to God, to blasfeme his name and his tabernacle and hem that duellen in heven. [7] And it was gofen to him to make batele with seyntis and to overcome hem. And power was gofen to him into ech lynage and puple and langage and folc. [8] And alle men worshipiden it that duellen in erthe whos names ben not writen in the book of lyf of the Lomb that was slain fro the bigynnyng of the world.

prose-textblock3[9] If any man hath eeris, heere he. [10] He that leedeth in to caitifté shal go into caitifté. He that sleeth with swerd, it bihoveth him to be slain with swerd. This is the pacience and the feith of seyntis.

prose-textblock4[11] And I saw another beest stiinge up fro the erthe, and it hadde two hornes lyk the Lomb and it spac as the dragon [12] and dide al the power of the formere beest in his sight, and it made the erthe and men dwellinge in it to worshipe the firste beest whois wounde of deeth was curid. [13] And it dide grete signes that also it made fyr to come doun fro hevene into erthe in the sight of alle men. [14] And it disceyveth men that duellen in erthe, for signis wich ben gofen to it to do in the sight of the beest, seynge to men duellinge in erthe that thei make an ymage of the beest that hath the wounde of swerd and lifede. [15] And it was gofen to him that he shulde gife spiritt to the ymage of the beest and that the ymage of the beest speke. And he shal make that whoever onowre not the ymage of the beest be slayn. [16] And he shal make alle smale and greete, and riche and pore, and fre men and boonde men to have a carecter in her righthond ether in her forheedis [17] that no man mai bye ether selle but thei han the carecter ether the name of the beest ether the noumbre of his name.

prose-textblock5[18] Here is wisdam. He that [fol. 383rb] hath undirstonding acounte the noumbre of the beest, for it is the noumbre of man. And his noumbre is sixe hundrid sixti and sixe.

Chapter 14

prose-textblock1[1] And I saw and lo, a Lomb stood on the mount of Sion and with him an hundrid thusand and foure and fourti thusand havynge his name and the name of his Fadir writen in her forhedis. [2] And I herde a vois fro hevene as the vois of manye watris and as the vois of a greet thundir, and the vois wiche I herde was as of manye harperis harpinge in her harpis. [3] And thei songen as a new song bifore the seete of God and bifore the foure beestis and senyours. And no man mighte seie the song but thei an hundrid thusand and foure and fourti thusande that ben boughte fro the erthe. [4] Thes it ben that ben not defoulid with wymmen, for thei ben virgyns. Thes swen the Lomb whidir ever he shal go. Thes ben boughte of alle men the firste fruyytis to God and to the Lomb. [5] And in the mouth of hem, leesing is not founden. For thei ben without wem bifore the trone of God.

prose-textblock2[6] And I saw another aungel flynge bi the middel of hevene havynge an everlasting gospel that he shulde preche to men sittinge on erthe, and on ech folc and lynage and langage and puple, [7] and seide with a greet vois, “Drede ye the Lord and gife ye to him onour, for the our of his doom cometh. And worshipe ye him that made heven and erthe, the see and alle thingis that ben in hem and the wellis of watris.”

prose-textblock3[8] And another aungel suede seynge, “Thilke greet Babilone fel doun, fel doun, wich gaf drinke to alle folkis of the wyn of the wraththe of hir fornycacion.”

prose-textblock4[9] And the thridde aungel swede hem and seide with a greet vois, “If any man worshipe the beest and the ymage of it and takith the carecter in his heed ether in his hond, [10] this for shal drinke of the wyn of Goddis wraththe that is meynd with cleer wyn in the cuppe of his wraththe, and shal be turmentid with fyr and brimstoon in the sight of holie aungelis and bifore the sight of the Lomb. [11] And the smoke of her turmentis shal stie up into the worldis of worldis, nether thei han rest dai and night wiche worshipen the beest and his ymage and if any man take the carect of his name.” [12] Here is the pacience of seyntis wiche kepen the maundementis of God and the feith of Jhesu.

prose-textblock5[13] And I herde a vois fro hevene seynge to me, “Write thu: blessid be deede men that dien in the Lord, fro hennes forth now the spiritt seith that thei reste of her travelis, for the werkis of hem swen hem.”

prose-textblock6[14] And I saw and lo, a whyt cloude, and above the cloude a sittere lyk the sone of man, havynge in his heed a golden crowne and in his hond a sharp sikil. [15] And another aungel wente out of the temple and cride with greet vois to him that satt on the cloude, “Sende thi sikil and repe, for the our cometh that it be ropen, for the corn of the erthe is ripe.” [16] And he that satt on the cloude sente his sikel into the erthe and rape the erthe.

prose-textblock7[17] And another aungel wente out of the temple that is in hevene and he also hadde a sharp sikil in his hond. [18] And another aungel wente out fro the auter that hadde power on fyr and water, and he criede with a greet vois to him that hadde the sharpe sikel and seide, “Sende thi sharp sikil and kitte awey the clustris [fol. 383va] of the vyneyard of the erthe, for the grapis of it ben ripe.” [19] And the aungel sente his sikel into the erthe and gederide grapis of the vyneyard of the erthe and sente into the greet lake of Goddis wraththe. [20] And the lake was troden withoute the cité, and the blood wente out of the lake til to the bridelis of horsis, bi furlongis a thusand and sixe hundrid.

Chapter 15

prose-textblock1[1] And I saw another signe in hevene greet and wondirful: sevene aungelis havynge the laste sevene vengeaunsis, for the wraththe of God is eendid in hem. [2] And I saw a glasen see meynd with fyr, and hem that overcam the beest and his ymage and the noumbre of his name stondinge above the glasen see, havynge the harpis of God [3] and synging the song of Moises, the servaunt of God, and the song of the Lomb, and seiden, “Grete and wondirful ben thi werkis, Lord God almighti. Thi weies ben juste and trewe, Lord king of worldis. [4] Lord, who shal not drede thee and magnifie thi name? For thu aloone art merciful. For alle folkis shulen come and worshipe in thi sight, for thi doomes ben opene.”

prose-textblock2[5] And aftir thes thingis, I saw and lo, the temple of the tabernacle of wittnessing was opened in hevene. [6] And sevene aungelis havynge sevene plagis wenten out of the temple and weren clothid with a stoole clene and whyt, and weren bifore girde with golden girdels aboute the brestis. [7] And oon of the foure beestis gaf to the sevene aungelis seven golden viols ful of the wraththe of God that lifeth into worldis of worldis, [8] and the temple was filled with smoke of the magesté of God and of the vertu of him. And no man mighte entre into the temple til the sevene plagis of sevene aungelis weren endid.

Chapter 16

prose-textblock1[1] And I herde a greet vois fro hevene seynge to the sevene aungelis, “Go ye and shede out the sevene viols of Goddis wraththe into the erthe.” [2] And the firste aungel wente and shedde out his viol into the erthe, and a wounde feers and worst was maad on alle that hadden the carect of the beest and on hem that worshipiden the beest and his ymage.

prose-textblock2[3] And the secunde aungel shedde out his viol into the see, and the blood was maad as of a deed thing, and ech man lifinge was deed in the see.

prose-textblock3[4] And the thridde aungel shedde out his viol on the floodis and on the wellis of watris [5] and seide, “Just art thu, Lord, that art and were holi, that demest thes thingis. [6] For thei schedden out the blood of halowis and profetis, and thu hast gofen to hem blood to drinke, for thei ben worthi.” [7] And I herde another seynge, “Yhe, Lord God almighti, trewe and juste ben thi dommes.”

prose-textblock4[8] And the fourthe aungel shedde out his viol into the sonne, and it was gofen to him to turmente men with heete and fyr. [9] And men swaleden with greet heete and blasfemeden the name of God havynge power on thes plagis. Nether thei diden penaunce that thei shulden gife glorie to him.

prose-textblock5[10] And the fifthe aungel shedde his viol on the seete of the beest, and his kingdam was maad derk, and thei eeten togidir her tongis for sorowe. [11] And thei blasfemeden God of [fol. 383vb] hevene for sorowis of her woundis, and thei diden not penaunce of her werkis.

prose-textblock6[12] And the sixte aungel shedde out his viol into that ilke greet flood Eufrates and driede the water of it, that weie were maad redi to kingis fro the sonne rising. [13] And I saw thre unclene spiritis bi the maner of froggis goo out of the mouth of the dragon and of the mouth of the beest and of the mouth of the false profete. [14] For thei ben spiritis of develis makinge signes, and thei goon forth to kingis of al erthe to gedere hem into batel to the greet dai of almighti God.

prose-textblock7[15] “Lo, I come as a night theef. Blessid is he that wakith and kepith hise clothes, that he wandre not nakid and that thei se not the filthehede of him.”

prose-textblock8[16] And he shal gedere hem into a place that is clepid in Ebrew Hermagedon.

prose-textblock9[17] And the seventhe aungel shedde out his viol into the eir, and a greet vois wente out of hevene fro the trone and seide, “It is doon.” [18] And leitingis weren made and voicis and thundris and a greet erthe mofing was maad, wich maner never was sithen men weren on erthe, sich erthe mofing so greet. [19] And the greete citee was maad into thre parties, and the citees of hethen men felden doun and greet Babilone cam into mynde bifore God, to gife to it the cuppe of wyn of the indignacion of his wraththe. [20] And eche ile flei awey, and hillis ben not founden, [21] and greet hail as a talent cam doun fro hevene into men. And men blasfemeden God for the plage of hail, for it was ful greet.

Chapter 17

prose-textblock1[1] And oon of the sevene aungelis cam that hadde sevene violes spac with me and seide, “Come thu, I shal shewe to thee the dampnacion of the greete hoore that sitteth on manye watris, [2] with wiche kingis of the erthe diden fornicacion, and thei that duellen in the erthe ben made drunken of the wyn of hir leyccherie.”

prose-textblock2[3] And he took me into desert in spiritt, and I saw a womman sittinge on a reed beest ful of names of blasfemie, havynge sevene heedis and ten hornes. [4] And the womman was enviround with purpur and reed and overgilt with gold and preciouse stoon and perlis, havynge a golden cuppe in hir hond ful of abhomynacions and unclannesse of her fornicacion, [5] and a name writen in the forheed of hir: Misterie, Babilone the greet modir of fornicacions and of abhominacions of erthe. [6] And I saw a womman drunken of the blood of seyntis and of the blood of martiris of Jhesu, and whanne I saw hir, I wondride with greet wondring.

prose-textblock3[7] And the aungel seide to me, “Whi wondrist thu? I shal seie to thee the sacrament of the womman and of the beest that berith hir that hath sevene heedis and ten hornes. [8] The beest wich thu saw was and is not, and she shal stie fro depnes and she shal go into periysshing. And men duelling in erthe shulen wondre whois names ben not writen in the book of lyf fro the making of the world, seynge the beest that was and is not.

prose-textblock4[9] “And this is the witt who that hath wisdam. The sevene heedis ben sevene hillis on wich the womman sitteth. And kingis sevene ben. [10] Fyve [fol. 384ra] han fallen doun, oon is, and another cometh not yit. And whanne he shal come, it bihoveth him to duelle a short time. [11] And the beest that was and is not, and she is the eightthe and is of the sevene, and shal go into periysshing.

prose-textblock5[12] “And the ten hornes wiche thu hast sein ben ten kingis that yit han not take kingdam, but thei shulen take power as kingis oon our aftir the beest. [13] Thes han a counsel and shulen bitake her vertu and power to the beest. [14] Thes shulen fighte with the Lomb, and the Lomb shal overcome hem, for he is Lord of lordis and King of kingis, and thei that ben with him ben clepid chosen and feithful.”

prose-textblock6[15] And he seide to me, “The watris wiche thu hast seyn where the hoore sittith ben puplis and folkis and langagis. [16] And the ten hornes that thu has sein in the beest, thes shulen make hir desolat and nakid and shulen ete the fleiysshis of hir and shulen brenne togidre hir with fyr. [17] For God gaf into the hertis of hem, that thei do that that is pleesaunt to him, that thei gife her kingdam to the beest, til the wordis of God ben endid. [18] And the womman whom thou hast seyn is the greet citee that hath kingdam on kingis of the erthe.”

Chapter 18

prose-textblock1[1] And aftir thes thingis, I saw another aungel comynge doun fro heven havynge greet power, and the erthe was lightid of his glorie. [2] And he criede with strong vois and seide, “Greet Babilon fel doun, fel doun, and is maad the abitacion of develis and the keping of ech unclene spiritt and of ech unclene foul and hateful. [3] For alle folkis dronken of the wraththe of fornicacion of hir, and kingis of the erthe and marchandis of the erthe diden fornicacion with hir, and thei ben made riche of the vertu of delicis of hir.”

prose-textblock2[4] And I herde another vois of hevene seynge, “My puple, go ye out of it, and be ye not parceners of the trespassis of it, and ye shulen not resseyve of the woundis of it. [5] For the synnes of it camen til to hevene, and the Lord hadde mynde of the wickidnesse of it. [6] Yelde ye to it as she yeldide to you, and double ye double thingis aftir hir werkis. In the drinke that she medlide to you, menge ye double to hir. [7] As miche as she glorifiede hirself and was in delicis, so miche turment gife ye to her and weiling. For in hir herte she seith, ‘I sitte a queen and I am not a widowe, and I shal not se weiling.’ [8] And therfore in oon dai, hir woundis shulen come, deeth and moornyng and hungir, and she shal be brent in fyr, for God is strong that shal deme hir.

prose-textblock3[9] “And the kingis of the erthe shulen biwepe and biweile hemself on hir wiche diden fornicacion with hir and lifeden in delicis, whanne thei shulen se the smoke of the brennyng of it, [10] stonding fer for drede of the turmentis of it and seynge, ‘Wo, wo, thilke grete citee Babilone and thilke strong cité, for in oon our thi doom cometh.’

prose-textblock4[11] “And marchaundis of the erthe shulen wepe on it and moorne, for no man shal bie more the marchaundise of hem, [12] the marchaundises of gold and of silver and of precious stoon and of peerl and of bys and of purpur and of silk and coccyn and eche tre tyme and alle vessels of yver and alle vessels of precious stoon and of bras and of iren and of marbil [13] and canel and amonye and of swete smel|linge [fol. 384rb] thingis and oynementis and encense and of wyn and of oile and of flour and of wheete and of werk beestis and of sheep and of horsis and of cartis and of servauntis and other lifes of men.

prose-textblock5[14] “And thine applis of the desir of thi lyf wenten awei fro thee, and alle fatte thingis and ful clere periysshiden fro thee. [15] And marchaundis of thes thingis shulen no more finde tho thingis. Thei that ben made riche of it shulen stonde fer for drede of turmentis of it, wepinge and mornynge [16] and seynge, ‘Wo, wo, thilke greet citee that was clothid with bys and purpur and reed scarlett and was overgilt with gold and precious stoon and margaritis. [17] For in oon our, so manye riycchessis ben destitute.’

prose-textblock6“And ech governoure and alle that seilen bi ship into place and maryneris and that worchen in the see stooden fer [18] and crieden, seynge the place of the brennyng of it, seynge, ‘What is lyk this greet citee?’ [19] And thei kesten poudir on her heedis and crieden wepinge and moornynge and seynge, ‘Wo, wo, thilk greet cité in wiche alle that han shippis in the see ben made riche of prices of it, for in oon our it is desolatt.’ [20] Hevene and holie apostlis and profetis, make ye ful out joie on it! For God hath demed yor doom on it.”

prose-textblock7[21] And oo strong aungel took up a stoon as a greet mylnestoon and caste into the see and seide, “In this greet bire, thilk greet cité Babilon shal be sent, and now it shal no more be founden. [22] And the vois of harpis and of men of music and synginge with pipe and trumpe shal no more be herd in it. And ech crafti man and ech crafte shal no more be founden in it, and the vois of mylnestoon shal no more be herd in thee. [23] And the light of lanterne shal no more shyne to thee, and the vois of the hosebonde and of the wyf shal no more yit be herd in thee. For thi marchaundis weren princis of the erthe, for in thi wiycchecraftis alle folkis erriden. [24] And the blood of profetis and seyntis is founden in it, and of alle men that ben slayn in erthe.”

Chapter 19

prose-textblock1[1] Aftir thes thingis, I herde as a greet vois of many trumpis in hevene seynge, “Alleluya! Heryng and glorie and vertu is to oure God. [2] For trewe and just ben the domes of him wich demede of the greet hoore that defoulide the erthe in hir leyccherie and vengede the blood of his servauntis of the hondis of hir.” [3] And eft thei seide, “Alleluya! And the smoke of it stieth up into the worldis of worldis.”

prose-textblock2[4] And the foure and twenti senyours and foure beestis fellen doun and worshipiden God sitting on the trone and seiden, “Amen, Alleluya!”

prose-textblock3[5] And a vois wente out of the trone and seide, “Alle the servauntis of oure Lord God, seie ye heryngis to oure God, and ye that dreden God, smale and greete.”

prose-textblock4[6] And I herde a vois of a greet trumpe, as the vois of manye watris and as the vois of grete thundris seynge, “Alleluya! For oure Lord God almighti hath regned. [7] Joye we and make we mirthe, and gife we glorie to him. For the weddingis of the Lomb camen and the wyf of him made redi hirself. [8] And it is gofen to hir that she kyvere hir with whyt bissyn shynynge.” Forwhi bissyn is justifyngis of seyntis.

prose-textblock5[9] And he seide to me, “Write thou, ‘Blessid be thei that ben clepid to the soper of the weddingis of the Lomb.’” And [fol. 384va] he seide to me, “Thes wordis of God ben trewe.”

prose-textblock6[10] And I fel doun bifore his feet to worshipe him, and he seide to me, “Se thu that thu do not! I am a servaunt with thee and of thi brethren havynge the wittnessing of Jhesu. Worshipe thu God, for the wittnessing of Jhesu is spiritt of profecie.”

prose-textblock7[11] And I saw hevene opened and lo, a whiyt hors, and he that satt on him was clepid Feithful and Soithfast. And with rightwesnesse he demeth and fighteth. [12] And the iyen of him weren as flawme of fyr and in his heed manye diademes. And he hadde a name writen wich no man knew but he. [13] And he was clothed in a clooth spreynd with blood, and the name of him was clepid the Sone of God. [14] And the oostis that ben in hevene sweden him on white horsis clothed with bissyn white and clene. [15] And a swerd sharp on ech aside cam forth of his mouth, that with it he smite folkis. And he shal reule hem with a iren yarde, and he tredith the pressour of wyn of strong vengeaunce of the wraththe of almighti God. [16] And he hath writen in his clooth and in his hemme: “King of Kingis and Lord of Lordis.”

prose-textblock8[17] And I saw an aungel stonding in the sonne, and he criede with a greet vois and seide to alle briddis that flowen bi the middel of hevene, “Come ye and be ye gederid to the greet soper of God, [18] that ye ete the fleiyss of kingis and fleiyss of tribunes and fleiyss of stronge men and fleiyss of horsis and of tho that sitten of hem, and the fleiyss of alle free men and boonde men and of smale and of grete.”

prose-textblock9[19] And I saw the beest and the kingis of the erthe and the oostis of hem gederid to make batele with him that satt on the horse and with his oost. [20] And the beest was caught and with hir the fals profete that made signes bifore hir in wiche he disceyvede hem that tooken the carect of the beest and that worshipiden the ymage of it. Thes tweyne weren sente quyke into the pool of fyr brennynge with brymstoon, [21] and the tother weren slayn with the swerd of him that satt on the hors, that cometh forth of the mouth of him. And alle briddis weren fillid with the fleiyss of hem.

Chapter 20

prose-textblock1[1] And I saw another aungel comynge doun fro hevene havynge the keie of depnes and a greet cheyne in his hond. [2] And he caughte the dragon, the oolde serpent that is the devel and Sathanas, and he boond him bi a thousand yeris. [3] And he sente him into depnesse and closede and markide on him that he disceyve no more the folkis til a thousande yeris be fillid. After thes thingis, it bihoveth him to be unbounden a litel tyme.

prose-textblock2[4] And I saw seetis and thei saten on hem, and doom was gofen to hem. And the soulis of men biheedide for the wittnessing of Jhesu and for the word of God, and hem that worshipiden not the beest nether the ymage of it, nether tooken the carect of it in her forheedis nether in her hondis, and thei lifeden and regneden with Crist a thusande yeris. [5] Othere of dede men lifeden not til a thusande yeris ben endid. This is the first agenrising. [6] Blessid and holi is he that hath part in the firste agenrising. In these men, the secounde deeth hath not power, but thei shulen be prestis of God and of Crist, and thei shulen regne with him a thusande yeris.

prose-textblock3[7] And whanne a thou|sande [fol. 384vb] yeris shulen be endid, Sathanas shal be unbounden of his prison. And he shal go out and shal disceyve folkis that ben on foure corners of the erthe, Gog and Magog. And he shal gedere hem into batel, whois noumbre is as the gravel of the see. [8] And thei stieden up on the broodnesse of erthe and envirounden the castels of seyntis and the loved citee, [9] and fyr cam doun of God fro hevene and devouride hem. And the devel that disceyvede hem was sent into the pool of fyr and of brimstoon where bothe the beest [10] and false profetis shulen be turmentide dai and night into worldis of worldis. Amen.

prose-textblock4[11] And I saw a greet whyt trone and oon sittinge on it, fro whois sight the erthe fleigh and hevene, and the place is not founden of hem. [12] And I saw dede men greete and smale stondinge in the sight of the trone. And bokis weren opened and dede men weren demed of thes thingis that weren writen in the bokis, aftir the werkis of hem. [13] And the see gaf hise dede men that weren in it, and Deeth and helle gafen her dede men that weren in hem, and it was demed of eche aftir the werkis of hem. [14] And helle and Deeth weren sente into a pool of fyr. This is the secunde deeth. [15] And he that was not founden writen in the book of lyf was sent into the pool of fyr.

Chapter 21

prose-textblock1[1] And I saw new hevene and new erthe, for the firste hevene and the firste erthe wente awei, and the see is not now. [2] And I, Joon, saw the holi citee Jerusalem new comynge doun fro hevene maad redi of God as a wyf ourned to hir hosebonde. [3] And I herde a greet vois fro the trone seynge, “Lo, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shal duelle with hem, and thei shulen be his puple and he God with hem shal be her God. [4] And God shal wipe awei eche teer fro the iyen of hem, and deeth shal no more be, nether moornyng nether cryng nether sorowe shal be over, wich firste thingis wenten awei.”

prose-textblock2[5] And he seide that satt in the trone, “Lo, I make alle thingis newe.” And he seide to me, “Write thu, for thes wordis ben moost feithful and trewe.”

prose-textblock3[6] And he seide to me, “It is doon. I am alpha and oo, the bigynnyng and eende. I shal gife freli of the welle of qwik watir to him that thirsteth. [7] He that shal overcome shal welde thes thingis, and I shal be God to him and he shal be sone to me. [8] But to feerdful men and unbileveful and curside and manquellers and fornicatours and to wiycchis and worshipers of idols and to alle liers, the part of hem shal be in the pool brennynge with fyr and brimstoon, that is the secunde deeth.”

prose-textblock4[9] And oon cam of the sevene aungelis havynge viols fulle of sevene the laste vengeauncis, and he spac with me and seide, “Come thu, and I shal shewe to thee the spousesse, the wyf of the Lomb.” [10] And he took me up in spiritt into a greet hil and high, and he shewide to me the holi citee Jerusalem comynge doun fro hevene of God, [11] havyng the clereté of God and the [fol. 385ra] light of it lyk a preciouse stoon, as the stoon jaspis as cristal. [12] And it hadde a wal greet and high, havynge twelfe gatis and in the gatis of it twelfe aungelis and names writen in that ben the twelfe names of twelfe lynagis of the sones of Israel. [13] And fro the eest thre gatis, and fro the north thre gatis, and fro the south thre gatis, and fro the west thre gatis. [14] And the wal of the citee hadde twelfe foundementis and in hem the twelfe names of twelfe apostlis and of the Lomb.

prose-textblock5[15] And he that spac with me hadde a golden mesure of a reud that he shulde mete the citee and the gatis of it and the wal. [16] And the citee was sett in square, and the lengthe of it is so miche as miche as is the breede. And he matt the citee with the reud bi furlongis twelfe thusandis, and the heighte and the lengthe and the breede of it ben evene. [17] And he matt the wallis of it of an hundrid and foure and fourti cubitis bi mesure of man, that is of an aungel. [18] And the bilding of the wal thereof was of the stoon jaspis, and the citee itself was clene gold lyk clene glas. [19] And the foundementis of the wal of the citee weren ourned with al precious stoon, the first foundement jaspis, the secounde safirus, the thridde calcedonyes, the fourthe smaragdus, [20] the fyvethe sardony, the sixte sardyus, the seventhe crisolitus, the eightthe berillus, the nynthe topasius, the tenthe crisopassus, the elleventhe jacinctus, the twelfthe ametistus. [21] And twelfe gatis ben twelfe margaritus bi eche, and eche gate was of ech margarite. And the stretis of the citee weren clene gold as of glas ful shynyng.

prose-textblock6[22] And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God almighti and the Lomb is the temple of it. [23] And the citee hath noo nede of sonne nether moone that thei shyne in it, for the clerenesse of God shal lightne it, and the Lomb is the lanterne of it. [24] And folkis shulen walke in light of it, and the kingis of erthe shulen bringe her glorie and onour into it. [25] And the gatis of it shulen not be closid bi dai, and night shal not be there. [26] And thei shulen bringe the glorie and onour of folkis into it. [27] Nether any man defoulid and doing abhominacion and leesing shal entre into it, but thei that ben writen in the book of lyf and of the Lomb.

Chapter 22

prose-textblock1[1] And he shewide to me a flood of qwik water shynynge as cristal comyng forth of the seete of God and of the Lomb [2] in the middel of the strete of it, and on eche side of the flood, the tre of lyf bringinge forth twelfe fruyytis, yeldinge his fruyyt bi ech moneth. And the leeves of the tree ben to the heelthe of folkis. [3] And eche cursid thing shal no more be. But the seetis of God and of the Lomb shulen be in it, and the servauntis of him shulen serve to him, [4] and thei shulen se his face and his name in her forheedis. [5] And night shal no more be. And thei shulen not have nede to the light of lanterne nether to light of the sonne, for the Lord God shal lightne hem. And thei shulen regne into worldis of worldis.

prose-textblock2[6] And he seide to me, “Thes wordis ben moost feithful and trewe. And the Lord God of spiritis of profetis sente his aungel to shewe hise servauntis whate thingis it bihoveth to be doon soone. [7] And lo, I come [fol. 385rb] swifteli. Blessid is he that kepith the wordis of profecie of this book.”

prose-textblock3[8] And I am Joon that herde and saw thes thingis. And aftirward that I hadde herd and seyn, I fel doun to worshipe bifore the feet of the aungel that shewide to me thes thingis. [9] And he seide to me, “Se thu that thu do not! For I am servaunt with thee and of thi brethren profetis and of hem that kepen the wordis of profecie of this book. Worshipe thu God.”

prose-textblock4[10] And he seide to me, “Signe ether seele thu not the wordis of profecie of this book, for the tyme is nigh. [11] He that noieth, noie he yit, and he that is in filthes, waxe he foul yit, and a just man be justified yit, and the holi be halowid yit.

prose-textblock5[12] “Lo, I come soone and my mede with me, to yelde to ech man aftir his werkis. [13] I am alpha and oo, the firste and the laste, bigynnyng and eende. [14] Blessid be thei that waiysshen her stoolis, that the power of hem be in the tre of lyf, and entren bi the gatis into the citee. [15] For withoutforth houndis and wiycchis and unchaste men and manquellers and servynge to idols and eche that loveth and maketh leesing.

prose-textblock6[16] “I, Jhesus, sente myn aungel to witnesse to you thes thingis in chirchis. I am the rote and kyn of Davith and the shynyng morowe sterre.”

prose-textblock7[17] And the Spiritt and the spousesse seyn, “Come thou.” And he that heerith, seie he, “Come thou.” And he that thirsteth, come he, and he that wole, take he freli the water of lyf.

prose-textblock8[18] And I wittnesse to ech man heringe the wordis of the profecie of this book, if any man shal putte to thes thingis, God shal putte on him the vengeauncis writen in this book. [19] And if any man do awei of the wordis of the book of this profecie, God shal take awei the paart of him from the book of lyf and fro the holi citee and fro thes thingis that ben writen in this book.

prose-textblock9[20] He seith that berith wittnessing of thes thingis, “Yhe, Amen. I come soone.” Amen. Come thu, Lord Jhesu.

prose-textblock10[21] The grace of oure Lord Jhesu Crist be with you alle. Amen.