<i>The Handselling of Peace</i>.
Says he, "<i>Herewith I establish peace betwixt all men, but most
of all betwixt all men and this same Guest who sits here, and so is
named; that is to say, all men of rule, and goodly bonders, and all
men young, and fit to bear arms, and all other men of the country-side
of Heron-ness Thing, whencesoever any may have come here, of men
named or unnamed. Let us handsel safety and full peace to that unknown
new-comer, yclept Guest by name, for game, wrestling, and all glee,
for abiding here, and going home, whether he has need to fare over
water, or over land, or over ferry; safety shall he have, in all
steads named and unnamed, even so long as needs be for his coming home
whole, under faith holden. This peace I establish on behoof of us,
and of our kin, friends, and men of affinity, women even as men,
bondswomen, even as bonds-men, swains and men of estate. Let him be
a shamed peace-breaker, who breaks the peace, or spills the troth
settled; turned away and driven forth from God, and good men of the
kingdom of Heaven, and all Holy ones. A man not to be borne of any
man, but cast out from all, as wide as wolves stray, or Christian men
make for Churches, or heathen in God's-houses do sacrifice, or fire
burns, or earth brings forth, or a child, new-come to speech, calls
mother, or mother bears son, or the sons of men kindle fire, or ships
sweep on, or shields glitter, or the sun shines, or the snow falls,
or a Finn sweeps on skates, or a fir-tree waxes, or a falcon flies
the spring-long day with a fair wind under either wing, or the
Heavens dwindle far away, or the world is built, or the wind turns</i>
<i>waters seaward, or carles sow corn. Let him shun churches, and
Christian folk, and heathen men, houses and caves, and every home but
the home of Hell. Now shall we be at peace and of one mind each with
the other, and of goodwill, whether we meet on fell or foreshore, ship
or snow-shoes, earth or ice-mount, sea or swift steed, even as each
found his friend on water, or his brother on broad ways; in just such
peace one with other, as father with son, or son with father in all
dealings together. Now we lay hands together, each and all of us,
to hold well this say of peace, and all words spoken in our settled
troth: As witness God and good men, and all those who hear my words,
and nigh this stead chance to stand</i>."