Note 945 — CAPITOLO XXII. La fine di Roma e del suo impero.

And a lytille fro Ebron is the Mount of Mambre, of the whiche the Valeye takethe his Name. And there is a Tree of Oke, that the Sarazines clepen Dirpe, that is of Abrahames tyme, the whiche Men clepen the drye Tree. And thei seye, that it hathe been there sithe the beginnynge of the World; and was sumtyme grene, and bare Leves, unto the tyme that oure Lord dyede on the Cros; and thanne it dryede; and so dyden alle the Trees, that weren thanne in the World. And summe seyn, be here Prophecyes, that a Lord, a Prince of the West syde of the World shalle wynnen the Lond of Promyssioun, that is the Holy Lond, withe helpe of Cristene Men; and he schalle do synge a Masse undir that drye Tree, and than the Tree schalle wexen greene and bore bothe Fruyt and Leves. And thorghe that Myracle manye Sarazines and Jewes schulle ben turned to Cristene Feythe. And therfore thei don gret Worschipe thereto, and kepen it fulle besyly. And alle be it so, that it be drye, natheles zit he berethe gret vertue; for certeynly he that hathe a litille there of upon him, it belethe him of the fallynge Evylle; and his Hors schalle not ben a foundred; and manye othere Vertues it hathe: where fore Men holden it fulle precious. The Voiage and Travaile of sir John Mawndevile, ed. di J. O. Halliwell, Londra, 1839, c. VI, p. 68-9.