And thei feye, that it hathe ben there, iithe
die beginnyi^ of the World ; and was (um-
tyme grene, and bare Leves, unto the tyme
that oureLord dyede on the Cros ; and thanne
it dry^de ; and ^ dyden aile the Trees, that
weren thanne in the World. And fimune
feyo, be here Piophecyes, that a Lord, a
Prynce of the Weft fyde of the World Ihalle
wynnentheLond of Promyilioun, that is the
Holy Lond, withe heipe of Criftene Men ;
and hefchalle do fynge a Mafleundtr that drye
Tree, and than the Tree ichalle wexen grene
and here bothe Fruy t and Leves. And tbofghe
that Myracle manye Sarassines and Jewes
ichulle ben turned to Criftene Feythe. And

3 therfore



i/r John Maundevile, Kt. 83

thcrfore thei don grctWorfchipe thereto, and
kepen it fuUc bcfyly. And alle be it fb, that
. it be dryc, natheles zit he berethe gret vertue :
for certeynly he that hathe a litillc there of
upon himyithelethchimof thefallynge Evylle ;
and his Hers ich^e not ben a foundred : and
manye othere Vertaes it hathe : where fore
Men holden it fiille precyous.
