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The Sources of Standard English.


OXFORDSHIRE

(About A.D. 1340.)

That is fro old Hensislade ofre the cliff into stony londy wey; fro the wey into the long lowe; fro the lowe into the Port-strete; fro the strete into Charewell; so aftir strem til it shutt eft into Hensislade — De Bolles, Couele, et Hedyndon. Thare beth hide londeymere into Couelee. Fro Charwell brigge andlong the streme on that rithe. . . . This privilege was idith in Hedington . . . . myn owne mynster in Oxenford. There seint Frideswide . . . . alle that fredome that any fre mynstre frelubest . . . . mid sake and mid socna, mid tol and mid teme . . . . and in felde and alle other thinge and ryth that y . . . . belyveth and byd us for quike and dede and . . . . alle other bennyfeyt.[1]

KENT.

(A.D. 1340.)

Aye þe vondigges of þe dyeule zay þis þet volʓeþ. ‘Zuete Jesu þin holy blod þet þou sseddest ane þe rod vor me and vor mankende: Ich bidde þe hit by my sseld avoreye þe wycked vend al to mi lyves ende. zuo by hit.’

Þis boc is Dan Michelis of Northgate y-write an Englis of his oʓene hand, þet hatte: Ayenbite of inwyt. And

  1. Kemble, Codex. Dipl., III. 329. This charter is a late forgery, and seems much damaged. The proper names in it will be recog­nised by Oxford men.