Bifore þy borde hatȝ þ{o}u broȝt beu{er}age i{n} þede, Þat blyþely were fyrst blest w{i}t{h} bischopes hondes, Louande þeron lese goddeȝ, þat lyf haden neu{er}, Made of stokkes & stoneȝ þat neu{er} styry moȝt. 1720 [Sidenote: For this sin God has sent thee this strange sight, the fist with the fingers writing on the wall.] & for þat froþande fylþe, þe fader of heuen Hatȝ sende[88] i{n}-to þis sale þise syȝtes vncowþe, Þe fyste w{i}t{h} þe fy{n}g{er}es þat flayed þi hert, Þat rasped renyschly þe woȝe w{i}t{h} þe roȝ pe{n}ne. 1724 [Headnote: THE INTERPRETATION OF THE HANDWRITING.] [Sidenote: These are the words: “Mene, Tekel, Peres.] Þise ar þe wordes here wryten w{i}t{h}-oute werk more, By vch fygure, as I fynde, as oure fader lykes. “Mane, techal, phares, merked i{n} þry{n}ne, Þat þretes þe of þy{n} vnþryfte vpon þre wyse; 1728 Now expowne þe þis speche spedly I þenk. [Sidenote: [Fol. 81a.]] [Sidenote: Mene.-- God has counted thy kingdom and finished it.] Mane menes als much as, maynful gode Hatȝ cou{n}ted þy kyndam bi a clene nou{m}bre, & ful-fylled hit i{n} fayth to þe fyrre ende. 1732 [Sidenote: Tekel.-- Thy reign is weighed and is found wanting in deeds of faith.] To teche þe of techal, þat terme þ{us} menes, Þy wale rengne is walt i{n} weȝtes to heng, & is fu{n}de ful fewe of hit fayth dedes. & phares folȝes for þose fawtes to frayst þe trawþe, 1736 [Sidenote: Peres.-- Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Persians.] In phares fynde I forsoþe þise felle saȝes; De-parted is þy pryncipalté, depryued þ{o}u worþes, Þy rengne rafte is þe fro, & raȝt is þe perses, [Sidenote: The Medes shall be masters here.”] Þe medes schal be mayst{er}es here, & þ{o}u of menske schowued.” 1740 [Sidenote: The king commands Daniel to be clothed in a frock of fine cloth.] Þe ky{n}g comau{n}ded anon to cleþe þ{a}t wyse, In frokkes of fyn cloþ, as forward hit asked; [Sidenote: Soon is he arrayed in purple, with a chain about his neck.] Þe{n}ne sone watȝ danyel dubbed i{n} ful dere porpor & a coler[89] of cler golde kest vmbe his swyre. 1744 Þe{n} watȝ demed a de-cre bi þe duk seluen, [Sidenote: A decree is made, that all should bow to him, as the third lord that followed Belshazzar.] Bolde baltaȝa[r] bed þat hy{m} bowe schulde Þe comynes a lof calde þat to þe ky{n}g lo{n}ged, As to þe prynce pryuyest preued þe þrydde, 1748 Heȝest of alle oþ{er}, saf onelych tweyne, To boȝ aft{er} baltaȝar i{n} borȝe & i{n} felde. [Sidenote: The decree was made known, and all were glad.] Þys watȝ cryed & knawen i{n} cort als fast, & alle þe folk þer-of fayn þat folȝed hy{m} tylle; 1752 [Sidenote: The day, however, past.] Bot how-so danyel watȝ dyȝt, þat day ou{er}-ȝede, [Sidenote: Night came on.]