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From MS. Lansdowne, No. 762, written in the reign of Henry V.
THE MASTER OF OXFORD'S CATECHISM Questions between the Master of Oxenford and his Scholar. The
Clerk's question. Say me where was God when he made heaven
and earth? The Master's answer. I say, in the further end
of the wind. C. Tell me what word God first spake? M.
Be thou made light, and light was made. C. What is God?
M. He is God, that all things made, and all things hath
in His power. C. In how many days made God all things?
M. In six days... C. Whereof was Adam made? M.
of viij things: the first of earth, the second of fire, the iijde
of wind, the iiijth of clouds, the vth of air wherethrough he
speaketh and thinketh, the vjth of dew whereby he sweateth, the
vijth of flowers, whereof Adam hath his eyen, the viijth is salt
whereof Adam hath salt tears. C. Whereof was found the
name of Adam? M. Of four stars, this be the names, Arcax,
Dux, Arostolym, and Momfumbres. C. Of what state was Adam
when he was made? M. A man of xxx winter of age. C.
And of what length was Adam? M. Of iiij. score and vj.
inches. C. How long lived Adam in this world? M.
ix. c. and xxxty winter, and afterward in hell till the passion
of our Lord God. C. Of what age was Adam when he begat
his first child? M. An c. and xxx. winter, and had a son
that hight Seth... C. What was he that never was born,
and was buried in his mother's womb, and since was christened
and saved? M. That was our father Adam. C. How long
was Adam in Paradise? M. vij. years, and at vij. years'
end he trespassed against God for the apple that he ate on a Friday,
and an angel drove him out. C. How many winters was Adam
when our Lord was done on the cross? M. That was v. ml.
cc. and xxxij. years. C. What hight Noes wife? M.
Dalida; and the wife of Sem, Cateslinna; and the wife of Cam,
Laterecta; and the wife of Japheth, Aurca. And other iij. names,
Ollia, Olina, and Olybana. C. Whereof was made Noes ship?
M. Of a tree that was cleped (1) Chy. C. And what
length was Noes ship? M. Fifty fathom of breadth, and cc.
fathom of length, and xxx. fathom of height. C. How many
winter was Noes ship in making? M. iiij. score years. C.
How long dured Noes flood? M. xl. days and xl. nights.
C. How many children had Adam and Eve? M. xxx. men
children and xxx. women children. C. What city is there
where the sun goeth to rest? M. A city that is called Sarica.
C. What be the best herbs that God loved? M. The
rose and the lily. C. What fowl loved God best? M.
The dove, for God sent His Spirit from heaven in likeness of a
dove. C. Which is the best water that ever was? M.
River Jordan, for God was baptised therein. C. Where be
the angels that God put out of heaven and became devils? M. Some
into hell, and some reigned in the sky, and some in the earth,
and some in waters and in woods. C. How many waters be
there? M. ij. salt waters, and ij. fresh waters. C.
Who made first ploughs? M. Cam, that was Noes son. C.
Why beareth not stones fruit as trees? M. For Cayme slew
his brother Abell with the bone of an ass's cheek. C. What
is the best thing and the worst among men? M. Word is best
and worst. C. Of what thing be men most afraid? M.
Men be most afraid of death. C. What are the iiij things
that men may not live without? [M.] Wind, fire, water,
and earth. C. Where resteth a man's soul, when he shall
sleep? M. In the brain, or in the blood, or in the heart.
C. Where lieth Moises' body? M. Beside the house
that hight Enfegor. C. Why is the earth cursed, and the
sea blessed? M. For Noe and Abraham, and for christening
that God commanded. C. Who set first vines? M. Noe
set the first vines. C. Who cleped first God? M.
The devil. C. Which is the heaviest thing bearing? M.
Sin is the heaviest. C. Which thing is it that some loveth,
and some hateth? M. That is judgment. C. Which be
the iiij things that never was full nor never shall be? M.
The first is earth, the second is fire, the third is hell, the
fourth is a covetous man. C. How many manner of birds be
there, and how many of fishes? M. liiij. of fowls, and
xxvj. of fishes. C. Which was the first clerk that ever
was? M. Elias was the first. C. What hight the iiij.
waters that runneth through paradise? M. The one hight
Fyson, the other Egeon, the iijde hight Tygrys, and the iiijth
Effraton. These be milk, honey, oil, and wine. C. Wherefore
is the sun red at even? M. For he goeth toward hell. C.
Who made first cities? M. Marcurius the giant. C.
How many languages be there? M. lxij, and so many disciples
had God without his apostles. (Coulton II, p.115-117) |
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Copyright: McMaster University, 2000 | ||