I gyff baptyme in water puere,
That is callyd flom Jordon;
My baptyme is but sygnysure
Of his baptyme that his lyke hath non!
He is a lord of gret valour,
I am not worthy to onbokylle his schon;
ffor he xalle baptyze, as seyth Scryptour,
That comyth of hem alle everychone
In the Holy Goost!
He may dampne and he may save,
Alle goodnesse of hem we have,
Ther may no man his werkes deprave,
ffor he is Lorde of myghtes most?
Hic accedit Jhesus ad Johannem, quem intuens Johannes dicat, digito demonstrans Jhesum, "Ecce agnus Dei qui tollit peccata mundi!"
Beholde! the lombe of God is this,
That comyth now here beforne;
The wich xalle wasche the worlds mys,
And save alle that that was forlorne:
This same lombe forsothe it is,
That of a mayd fulle clene was borne;
Shamfulle deth this lambe i-wys
Xalle suffer for us and be alle to-torne,
And rent on a roode!
He xalle suffer for mannys sake
Lytylle rest, and moche gret sorow and wrake;
Hys bake xalle be bowndyn to a stake,
And betyn owt alle his bloode!
Jhesus. John Baptyste, myn owyn good ffrende,
That ffeythffully dothe preche my wylle;
I the thanke with alle my mende,
ffor that good servyse thou dost me tylle.
