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An Early Middle English Text
Layamon's Brut (c.1200)

þa comen tydinge to Arðure þan kinge
þat seoc wes Howel his mæi, þerfore he wes sari
In Clud liggende, and þer he hine bilæfde.
 

A 14th-century West Midland Text
Cleanness (c.1380)

Thay teen vnto his temmple & temen to hym seluen
Rekenly wyth reuerence þay rechene his auter,
þay hondel þer his aune body and vsen hit boþe;
If þay in clannes be clos þay cleche gret mede.

A 14th-century Southern Text
Ayenbite of Inwyte (1340)

Vers zigge we of þe zenne of glotoune þet is a vice þet þe dyevel is moche myde y-payd and moche onpayþ God. Be zuych zenne heþ þe dyevel wel gret mihte in manne.

A 14th-century Scots Text
John Barbour. The Bruce (1375)

A! fredome is a noble thing!
Fredome may man to haiff liking;
Fredome all solace to man giffis:
He levys at e that frely levys!

An early 15th-century London Text
Hoccleve. La Male Regle (1405)

Whil thy power and excellent vigour
As was plesant vnto thy worthynesse
Regned in me and was my gouernour,
Than was I wel, tho felte I no duresse

A mid 15th-century Northern Text
York Play of the Crucifixion (1463)

Sir knyghtis, take heede hydir in hye,
This dede on dergh we may noght drawe
Ye wootte youreselffe als wele as I