the voys of syngyng whan he approchâ—d to them he sawe the Calf and the instrumentis of myrthe and he was so wroth that he threwe doun the tables brake them atte fote of the hylle ran and raught doun the Calf that they had made and brente and smote it al to pouldre whiche he caste in to water and gaf it to drynke to the chyldren of Israhel Thenne said Moyses to Aaron What hath this peple don to the that thou hast made to synne greuously to whom he answerd late not my lord take none indignacion at me Thou knowest wel that this peple is prone and redy to synne They said to me Make to vs goddes that may goo tofore vs We knowe not what is fallen to this Moyses that lad vs out of egypte To whom I said who of you that hath gold geue it me they toke and gaf it to me And I Caste it in to the fire and therof cam out this Calf And thenne said moises Alle they that ben of goddis parte and haue not synned in this Calf late hem Ioyne to me And the chyldren of leui Ioyned to hym and bade eche maÌ„ take a swerd on his side and take vengeance and slee euerych his brother his frende and neygbour that haue trespaced And so the chyldren of leui wente and slewe xxxiijM of the children of Israhel And thenne said Moyses ye haue halowed this day your handes vnto our lord And ye shal be therfore blessyd The second day moyses spack to the peple and said ye haue commysed and don the grettest synne that may be I shal ascende vnto our lord agayn and shal praye hym for your synne Thenne Moyses ascended agayn and receyuyd afterward two tables agayn whiche our lord had hym make And therin our lord wrote the comandements And after our lord comanded hym to make an arke and a tabernacle In whiche arke was kepte thre thinges ¶ First the Rodde with whiche he dide meruaillis A potte ful of manna and the .ij. tables with the comandementis And thenne after Moyses taught hem the lawe how eche man shold behaue hym ayenst other and what he shold doo and what he shold not doo And departed them in xij tribus ¶ And comanded that euery man shold brynge a Rodde in to the tabernacle ¶ And Moyses wrote eche name on the Rodde And Moyses shytte fast the tabernacle And on the morn ther was founde one of the roddes that burgeyned bare leuys and fruyt And was of on almonde tree that Rodde fyl to Aaron And after thys longe tyme the chyldren desireden to ete flesshe remembrid of the flesshe that they ete in egypte And grudchyd agayn Moyses And wold haue ordeyned to them a duc for to haue retorned in to egypte Wherfore Moyses was so woo that he desired of our lord to delyure hym fro this lyf by cause he sawe them so vnkynde ayenst god thenne god sente to them so grete plente of curlews that two dayes and one nyght they flewe so thycke by the ground that they toke gete nombre For they flewhe but the heyhgt of two cubytes and they had so many that they dreyde hem hangyng on their tabernacles and tentes yet were they not content but euer grutchyng Wherfore god smote them toke vengeauÌ„ce on hem by a grete plaghe And many deyde and were buryed there And thenne fro thens they wente in to Aseroth and dwellyd After this Maria and Aaron brother and suster of moyses began to speke agayn moyses by cause of his wif whiche was of ethyope and said god hath not spoken only by Moyses hath he not also spokeÌ„ to vs wherfore our lord was wroth Moyses was the humblest and mekest man that was in all the world Anone thenne our lord said to hym to Aaron and to marye Goo ye thre only vnto the tabernacle And there our lord said that ther was none lyke to Moyses to whom he had spoken mouth to mouth and repreuyd aaron and maria by cause they spack so to Moyses And beyng wroth departed fro them And anone maria was smeton and made lepre and whyte lyke snowe And whan Aaron behelde her and sawe her smeton with lepre he said to moyses I beseche the lord that thou sette not this synne on vs whiche we haue commysed folyly And late not this our suster be as a deed womaÌ„ or as born out of tyme caste away from her moder beholde and see half her flesshe is deuoured of the lepre Thenne Moyses cryed vnto our lord sayeng I beseche the lord that thou hele her to whom our lord said yf her fader had spytte in her face shold she not be put to shame and Rebuke vij dayes late her departe out of the castellis vij dayes and after she shal be callyd in agayn So maria was shytte out of the castellis vij dayes the peple remeuyd not fro the place tyl she was callyd agayn After this our lord coÌ„manded Moyses to sende men in to the londe of canaan that he shold gyue theÌ„ charge for see and considere the goodnes therof And that of euery trybe he shold sende somÌ„e Moyses dyde soo as our lord had comaunded whiche wente in brought of the fruytee wyth hem and they brought a braunche with one clustre of grapes as moche as two meÌ„ myght bere bytwene them vpon a colestaf whan they had seen the contre consydered by the space of xl dayes thei retorned and tolde the commodytees of the londe but somÌ„e said that the peple were stronge and many kynges and gyauntes in suche wyse that they said it was imprenable and that the peple were moche strenger than they were wherfore the peple anon were aferde and murmured agayn moyses and wold retorne agayn in to egypte Thenne Iosue Chaleph whiche were two of them that had consydered the loÌ„de said to the peple why grutche ye and wherof be ye aferd we haue wel seen the contrey and it is good to wynne the contrey floweth ful of mylke and hony be not rebelle ayenst god he shal gyue it vs be ye not aferd Thenne alle the peple cryed ayenst hem and whan they wold haue taken stones and stoned hem our lord in his glorye apperyd in a clowde vpon the coueryng of the tabernacle and said to Moyses thys peple byleueth not the sygnes and wondres that I haue shewd and don to hem I shal destroye them alle by pestylence And I shal make the a prynce vpon peple gretter strenger than this is Thenne prayd Moyses to our lord for the peple that he wold haue pyte on them and not destroye them but to haue mercy on them after the magnytude of his mercy And our lord at his request forgaf them Neuertheles our lord said that all tho men that had seen his mageste and the sygnes and meruaylles that he dyde in Egypte and in deserte and haue tempted hym ten tymes and not obeyed vnto his voys
And thise xij euery yere ascended vpon a montayne whiche was called victoryal and thre dayes they abode there and weesshe them clene and prayed our lord that he wold shewe to theym the sterre that balaam had sayd and prophesyed be forn Now it hapened on a tyme that they were there the day of the natyuyte of Ihesu Cryst and asterre cam ouer theym vpon this moÌ„tayne whiche had the fourme of aright fayr child vnder his â—ede was a shynyng crosse whiche spack to thise iij kynges sayeng Goo ye hastely in to the londe of Iudee And there ye shal fynde the kynge that ye sâ—che whiche is born of a virgyne Another cause putteth seynt Austyn For it myght wel be that the angele of heuene appiered to theym whiche sayde the sterre that ye see is Ihesu Cryst Goo ye anone and worshippe hym Another cause putteth seynt lyon that by the sterre whiche appiered to theym whiche was more resplendis shyng shynyng than the other that it shewde the souerayn kynge to be born on therthe Thenne anon departed they for to come to that place Now may it be demanded how in so lytil space of xiij dayes they myght come from so ferre as fro the eest vnto Iherusalem whiche is in the myddle of the world whiche is a grete space and longe way Therto answerith seynt remyge the doctour and saith that the chyld tho whom they wente myght well make them to goo somoche way in that while Or after this that saynt Iherome saith that they cam opoÌ„dromedaries whiche ben beestis that may goo as moche in one day as an horse in thre dayes And whan they cam in to Iherusalem they demaunded in what place the kynge of Iewes was born And they demauÌ„ded not yf he was born For they byleuyd it fermly that he was born And yf ony had demaunded of them wher by knowe ye that he is born they wold haue answerd we haue seeÌ„ his sterre in thoryent And therfore we come to worsshippe hym This is to vnderstond we beyng in the oryent sawe his sterre that shewde that he was born in Iudee And we be come to worship hym And therfore saith this doctour Remyge that they confessid this child veray man veray kynge and veray god veray man whan they said where is he that is born veray kynge whan they said kynge of Iewes veray god whan we be comen to worshippe hym For ther was a comaundement that none shold be worshipped but god And thus as saith saint Iohan Crisostome they confessyd the chlyd veray god by worde by dede And by yeftes of their tresours that they offred to hym and whan herode hade herd this he was moche troubled And all Iherusalem with hym herode was troubled for thre causes Fyrst by cause he dredde that the Iewes wold resseyue the chyld born for thier kyng And reffuse hym as a strauÌ„ger wherof saith saynt IohnÌ„ crisostoÌ„e in suche wise as the bowes of a tree that ben hye be soone moeuyd â–ª with the wynde so they that ben in hye estate of the world a lyght renomee troubthle them Secondly lest he shold be blamed of the Româ—ynes yf ony were kyng but yf he were ordeyned by themperour For so had the Romayns ordeyned that none shold be callyd lorde ne kynge but yf it were by the coÌ„mandement of themperour ¶ Thirdly he was angry as saynt gregory saith whan the kynge of henen was born the kynge of therthe was troubled and not without cause For the erthely lordshyp is counfounded whan the hyenes of heuene is declared and perceyued And all the contree of Ierusalem was troubled with hym for thre causes Fyrst by cause that the euyll enioye them not of the presence ne the comyng of the ryghtfull and iuste Secondly for adulacion and flateryng that they were sory of his angre Thirdly for lyke as the wyndes that ben contrarye in the see as longe as the wawes be moeued In lyke wyse the contraryte of prynces and wrath falleth on the people And therfore they doubted and feered leste they shold be tormented ¶ Thenne herode called alle the prestes of the lawe and doctours and demaunded of theym where Ihesu Cryst shold be born And whan he had vnderstonde of theym that he shold be born in bethleem the Cyte of Iuda he called the thre kynges a parte and demaunded of theym dylygently the tyme that the sterre appiered to theym For to knowe what he shold doo yf the kynges retorned not agayn to hym And he said to theym assone as ye shal haue founden the chyld and haue worshipped hym that they shold retorne and shewe it to hym In faynyng that he wold worshippe also hym ¶ And thought that he wold goo sle hym ¶ And it is to wyte that assone as they were entred in to IhrlÌ„m the sight of the sterre was taken froÌ„ theÌ„ and for thre causes First that they shold be coÌ„streyned to seche that place of his natyuyte lyke as they were certefyed by the appieryng of the sterre And bye the prophesye of the place of his byrthe and so it was don Secondly that they that sought the helpe and the world had deserued to lese the ayde dyuyne The iij. by cause that the signes by gyuen to mescreauntes And prophesyes to them that byleue well lyke as thappostle saith And therfore the signe whiche was gyuen to the thre kynges whiche yet were paynems ought not tappere to them as longe as they were with the Iewes and whan they were yssued of Iherusalem the sterre appered to them wiche wente to fore them and brought them til it cam aboue the place were the chyld was ye ought to knowe that ther ben thre opynyons of this sterre whiche Remyge the doc doctour putteth sayeng that some saie that it was the holy goost whiche appiered to the thre kynges in the fourme of a sterre whiche after appiered vpon the hedeof Ihesu Cryst in the lykenes of a douue Other saye lyke to saynt IohnÌ„ Crysostom that it was an angele that apperyd to the shepherdes and after appered to the kynges but to the shepherdes Iewes as to them that vse reason in fourme of a resonable creature And to the paynems as to vnresonable in lyknesse of nature vnresonable that is to saye of a sterre Other say more resonable and more veritable that it was a ster newe created made of god that whiche whaÌ„ he had don his offyce was brought agayn in to the mater wherof it was first fourmed And this sterre was this that fulgencius saith it differenced fro the other sterres in thre thinges First in situacion for it was not fyxed in the firmament but it henge in thayer nygh to therthe Secondly in clerenes for it was shynyng more than the other it appiered so that the clerenes of the soÌ„ne myghy not hurte ne appale hir light but at playn mydday it had right grete light and clerenes ¶ Thirdly in moeuyng for it went
and graunted my prayer and whan he was hole he toke fro me agayn the felde And thenne the prouoste made hym to be born to the bysshop and constrayned hym to entre in to the chyrche for to praye And the bysshop entryd in to the chirch And anon the prouoste deyed And the felde was reestablysshyd vnto the chirche sic eÌ„ finis Here endeth the lif of seynt Andrewe thappostle And here begynneth the lyf of seynt Nicholas the bisshop NYcholas is saide of nychos whiche is to saye victorye of laos peple so nycholas is as moche to saye as vyctorye of peple that is victorye of synnes whiche ben foulepeple ¶ Or ellis he is said victorye of peple by cause he enseygned taught moche peple by hys doctryne to ouercome vices and synnes Or Nycholas is said of Nichor that is the resplendour or shynyng of the peple For he had in hym thynges that make shynyng and clennesse After thys that saynt Ambrose saith The worde of god veray confessyon holy thought make a man clene And the doctours of grece wryte hys legende And somÌ„e other saye that Methodius the patriarke wrote it in greek And IohÌ„n the deken translated it in to latyn and adiousted therto many thynges NIcholas citezeyn of the cyte of Pancraes was born of Ryche and holy kynÌ„e And hys fader was Epyphanus And hys moder Iohane he was bygoten in the first flour of their age And fro that tyme for â—on they lyued in contynence and ledde an heuenly lyf Thenne the first day that he was wasshâ—n and bayned he adressid hym right vp in the basyn And he wold not take the breste ne the pappe but ones on the wednesday and ones on the fryday And in his yong age he eschewed the playes and Iapes of other yong chyldren he vsed and haunted gladly holy chyrche And all that he myght vnderstonde of holy scripture he executed it in dede and werke after hys power And whan hys fader and moder were departed out of this lyf he began to thynke how he myght distrybute hys Richesses and not to the preysyng of the world but to the honour and glorye of god and it was so that one hys neyhbour had thenne thre doughters virgyns and he was a noble man but for the pouerte of them to gydre they were constrayned and in veray purpose to abaÌ„donne theym to the synne of lecherye so that by the gayne and wynnyng of their Infamye he myght be susteyned And whan the holy man Nycholas knewe hâ—rof he had grete orrour of thys vylonye And threwe by nyght secretly in to the hows of the man a masse of golde wrapped in a cloth And whan the man aroos in the moenyng he fonde this masse of gold And rendred to god therfor grete thaÌ„kynges And therwith he maryed hys oldest doughter And a lityl whyle after thys holy seruaunt of god drewe in an other masse of gold whyche the man fonde and thanked god and purposed to wake for to knowe hym that so had ayded hym in hys pouerte And a fewe dayes Nicholas doubled the masse of gold and caste it in to the hows of this man he awoke by the sowne of the gold folowed Nicholas whiche fledde fro hym and he said to hym Syre flee not away so but that I may see knowe the Thenne he ran after hym more hastely and knewe that it was Nicholas And anon he kneled doun wold haue kyssed hys feet but the holy man wold not but requyred hym not to telle ne descouer thys thyng as longe as he lyued ¶ After thys the bysshop of the cyte yf Myrre deyde other bysshopp is assembled for to pourueye to this chyrche a bysshop And ther was emong the other a bysshop of grete auctoryte And alle thelectyon was in hym And whan he had warned all for to be in fastynges and in prayers Thys bysshop herd that nyght a voys whyche said to hym that at houre of matyns he shold take hede to the dores of the chyrche And hym that shold come first to the chirche and haue the name of Nicholas they shold sacre hym bysshop And he shewid this to the other bysshops and admonested them for to be alle in prayers And he kepte the dores And this was a merueyllous thyng For atte hour of matyns lyke as he had be sent fro god Nicholas aroos to fore all other And the bysshop toke hym whan he was comen And demanded of hym hys name And he whyche was symple as a donne enclyned hys heed and said I haue to name Nicholas Thenne the bysshop said to hym Nicholas seruaunt and frende of god for your holynes ye shal be bysshop of this placeâ— And syth they brought hym to the chyrche how be it that he refused it strongly yet they sette hym in the chayer ¶ And he folowed as he dyde to fore in all thynges of humylyte and honeste of maners he woke in prayers and made hys body lene he eschiewed companye of wymen he was huÌ„ble in receyuyng all thynges prouffytable in spekyng Ioyous in admonestyng and cruel in correctyng ¶ Hit is red in a cronycle that the blessyd Nicholas was atte the counseil of Nicene And on a day as a shippe with maronners were in perisshyng on the see they prayd and requyred deuoutly Nicholas seruaunt of god sayeng yf tho thynges that we haue herd of the said ben trewe preue them now And anon a man appered in lyknes and sayde loo see ye me not ye called me And thenne he began to helpe them in theyr exployte of the see And anon the tempest cessed And whan they were come to hys chyrche they knewe hym wythout ony man to shewe hym to them And yet they had neuer seen hym And thenne they thanked god and hym of theyr delyueraunce And he bad them to attrybue it to the mercy of god and to their byleue ond nothyng to hys merytes It was so on a tyme that alle the prouynce of saynt Nicholas suffred grete famyne in suche wyse that vytaylle faylled And thenne this holy man herd saye that certayn shippes laden with whete were arryued in the hauen And anon he wente theder and prayde the maroÌ„ners that they wold socoure the perisshid atte leste with an C muyes of whete of euery ship And they said fader we dar not For it is moten and mesured And we muste gyue rekennyng therof in the garners of themperour in Alexandrye And the holy man said to theym doo thys that I haue said to you and I promyse in the trouthe of god that it shal not be lassed ne mynuysshed whan ye shal come to the garners And whan they had delyueryd so moche out of euery shyppe they cam in to alexandrye delyuerd the mesure that they had receyued And thenne they recounted the myracle to the mynystres of themperour and worshipid and preysed strongly god and hys seruaunt Nicholas Thenne this holy man distrybuted the
paye ij duckettis and therfore come but fewe therin but offre wythout the chapel at an aulter And there is seuen yere and seuen lentys of pardon the body of saynt george lyeth in the myddel of the autre or chore of the sayd chapel And in his tombe is an hole that a man may put in his honde And whan a sarazyn beyng madde is broughte thyder and yf he put his heed in the hoole he shal anone be made parfytely hoool haue his wytte ageyn Thys blessyd and holy marter saynt George is patrone of this royame of englond and the crye of men of warre In the worshyp of whome is founded the noble ordre of the garter And also a noble college in the castell of wyndesore by kynges of englonde In whiche college is the herte of Saynt george Whyche Sygysmond the Emperour of almayn broughte and gafe for a grete and a precious relyque to Kyng Harry the fyfthe And also the sayd sygismonde was a broder of the sayd garter And also there is a pyece of his heed which college is nobly endowed to thonoure and worshyp of almyghty god and hys blessyd marter saynt george Thenne lete vs praye vnto hym that he be special protectour and defendour of thys royame ¶ thus endeth the lyf of saynt George Here foloweth of saynt marke theuangelyst and first thynterpretacion of his name MArke is as moche to saye as hye to commaūdement certeyn declyned bitter he was hye of commaundemente by reson of perfeccion in his lyf For he kepte not onely the commaundementes comyn but also the hye as been counceylles he was certeyn in the doctryne of the gospel lyke as he had receyued of saynt Peter his mayster he was declyned by reson of parfyte and grete humylite For bycause of grete mekenes he cutte of his thombe to the ende that he shold not be chosen to be a preest He was bytter by reson of right sharpe and bytter payne For he was drawen thorugh the cyte And emonge tho tormentes he gaue vp hys spyrite Or marke is sayd of a grete mayleot or betel whiche wyth one stroke maketh playne yron and engendreth melodye and confermeth it For Saynt marke by his onely doctryne quenched the vnstedfastnesse of the heretykes he engendryd the grete melodye of the praisyng of god cōfermed the chirche Of Saynt marke the Euangelyste MArke theuangeliste was of the kynrede of the leuytes and was a preest And whan he was crystened he was godsone of saynt Peter thappostle And therfore he wente wyth hym to Rome Whan Saynt peter preched there the gospell the good peple of Rome prayed saynt marke that he wold put the gospell in wrytyng lyke as saynt Peter had preched ¶ Thenne he at theyr request wrote and shewed hit to his mayster saynt peter to examyne And whan saynt Peter had examyned hit and sawe that hit conteyned the veray trouth he approuyd hit And commaunded that hit shold be redde at rome And thenne saynt Peter seyng saynt marke constaunt in the feythe he sente hym in to aquyle for to preche the feyth of Ihesu cryste where he prechyd the worde of god and dyd many myracles conuerted Innumerable multitude of peple to the feythe of cryst And wrote also to them the gospel lyke as he dyd to them of Rome whiche is in to this day kepte in the chyrche of aquylence and wyth grete deuocion kepte After thys it happed that saynt marke ladde wyth hym to Rome a bourgeys of that same cyte whome he had conuerted to the faythe named armogares And brought hym to saynt Peter and prayed hym that he wold sacre hym bysshop of aquyle and so he dyd Thenne thys armogares whan he was bysshop he gouerned moche holyly the chyrche And at the last the paynyms marterd hym Thenne Saynt Peter sente saynt mark in to alyxandrye where as he prechyd fyrst the word of god And assone as he was entred a grete multitude of peple assembled for to come ageynste hym There was he of so grete perfeccion that by his predycacion and by his good exaumples the pepl◠mounted in so holy conuersacion and in so grete deuocion that at his Instaunce they ledde theyr lyf lyke monkes He was of so grete humylyte that he dyd cutte of his thombe by cause he wold be no preest For he Iuged hym self not worthy therto but the ordenaunce of god of saynt peter came ageynste his wylle For saynt Peter made sacred hym bysshop of alyxandrye And anone as he came in to alexandre his shoen were broken torne whan he sawe that he said verayly I see that my iourney is sped ne the deuyl may not lette me syth that god hath assoyled me of my synnes Thenne wente saynt marke to a shomaker for tamende his shoes And as he shold werke he prycked sore hurted his lyfte hande with his alle and whan he felte hym hurte he cryed on hye one god whan saynt marke herde that he sayd to hym Now knowe I wel that god hath made my iourney prosperyous Thenne he toke a lytel claye and spyttel meddled them to gyder and layed hit on the wounde and anone he was hole whan the shomaker sawe thys myracle he broughte hym in to his hows and demaunded hym what he was and fro whens he come Thenne sayd Saynt marke that he was the seruaunt of Ihesu cryste and he sayd I wold fayne see hym Thenne sayd saynt marke I shal shewe hym to the thenne he began to preche to hym the faythe of Ih̄u crist and after baptysed hym and alle hys meyne whan the men of the towne herde saye that there was a man comen fro galylee that despysed and defended the sacrefyses of thydolles they began awayte how they myght delyuer hym to dethe whan saynt marke espyed that he made his shoomaker whiche was named auien bysshop of alixaundre And he hym self wente to pentepolyn where as he was two yere and after came ageyn to alyxaunder and founde thenne there the towne full of crysten men And the bysshoppes of thydolles awayted for to take hym Now hit happened on ester day whan saynt marke songe masse they assembled al put a corde aboute his necke and after drewe hym thorugh out the cyte and sayd lete vs drawe bubale to the place of bucale and the blood ranne vpon the stones and his flesshe was torne pyece mele that it laye vpon the pamente alle be bledde After thys they put hym in pryson where an aungel came and comforted hym after came our lord for to vysyte comforte hym sayeng Pax tibi marce euangelista meus Pees be to the marke myn euangeliste be not in doubte For I am wyth the and shal delyuer the And on the morne they put the corde aboute his necke and drewe hym lyke as they had done tofore And cryed drawe the bubale and whan they had drawen he thanked god and sayd in to thy handes lorde I
wythinforth she is a lyghtar ffor there she toke so largely that she spradde it habundantly She toke the lyght there wyth whiche afterward she enlumyned other And in that she chaas the best parte of the heuenly glorye she is sayde the lyght For thenne she was enlumyned of parfyght knowlege in thought with the lyght in clernes in body magdalene is as moche to saye as abydyng culpable Or magdalene is Interpreted closed or shette or not to be ouercomen Or ful of magnyficence by whiche is shewed what she was to fore her conuersion and what in her conuersion and what after her conuersion For to fore her conuersion she was abydyng gylty by oblygacion to euer lastyng payne In the conuercion she was garnysshyd by armour of penaunce She was in the best wyse garnysshed wyth penaunce For as many delyces as she had in her So many sacryfyses were founden in her And after her conuersion she was praysed by ouer haboundaunce of grace For where as synne habounded grace ouer habounded and was more cÌ„ Of marye Magdalene MArie Magdalene had her sur name of Magdalo a castel and was born of ryght noble lygnage parentis whiche were descended of the lygnage of kynges And her fader was named Sirus and her moder Eucharye She with her broder lazare and her suster Martha posseded the castel of magdalo whiche is two myle fro nazareth and bethanye the castel whiche is nygh to Ierusalem and also a grete parte of Ierusalem whiche all thyse thynges they departed emong them In suche wyse that marye had the castel magdalo Wherof she had her name magdalene And lazare had the parte of the cite of Ierusalem martha had to her parte bethanye And whan Marye gaf her self to all delyces of the body And lazare entended alle to knyghthod martha whiche was wyse gouerned nobly her brothers parte also her susters and also her owen and admynestred to knyghtes And her seruauntes and to pouer men suche necessytes as them neded Neuertheâ—â—s after thascencion of our lord they sold all thyse thynges and brought the valwe therof and leyde it at the feet of the appostlys Thenne whan magdalene habounded in rychesses And by cause delyte is felawe to rychesses and haboundaunce of thynges and for so moche as she shone in beaute gretly and in rychesses so moche the more she submysed her body to delyte and therfore she bost her ryght name and was callyd customably a synner and whan our lord IhÌ„u cryst prechyd there and in other places She was enspyred wyth the holy ghoost And went in to the hous of Symon leprous where as our lord dyned Thenne she durst not by cause she was a synner appere tofore the Iust and good peple but remayned behynde atte feet of our lord and wesshe his feet wyth the teres of her eyen and dryed them wyth the heer of her hede and enoynted hem wyth precyous oynement For thenabytantes of that regyon vsed baynes and oynementes for the ouer grete brennyng heet of the sonne And by cause that Symon the pharysee thought in hym self that yf our lord had ben a very prophete he wold not haue suffred a synful woman to haue touched hym Thenne our lord repreued hym of hys presumpsion and foryaf the woman alle her synnes And this is she that same marie magdalene to whom our lord gaf so many grete yeftes And shewed so grete signes of loue that he toke from her seuen deuyls he enbraced her alle in his loue and made her right famylyer wyth hym he wold that she shold be his hostesse And his procuresse in his Iourney he oft tymes excused her swetely For he excused her ayenst the pharyse whyche sayde that she was not clene and vnto her suster that sayde that she was ydle and vnto Iudas sayd that she was a wastresse of good and whan he sawe her wepe he coude not wythholde his teres And for the loue of her he reysed lazare whiche had be four dayes deed and heled her suster fro the fluxe of blood which had holden her seuen yere And by the merites of her he made marcelle chambriere of her suster martha to saye that swete word blessyd be the womb that bare the and the pappes that gaf the souke but after seynt ambrose it was martha that sayde so And thys was her chambriere This marie magdalene sayd it is she that wesshe the feet of our lorde and dryed them wyth the heer of her hede enoynted them with precyous oynement and did solempne penaunce in the tyme of grace And was the first that chaas the best parte whiche was at the feet of our lorde an herde his prechyng whiche enoynted his hede and at his passyon was nygh vnto the crosse whiche made redy oynementis and wold enoynt hys bodye and wold not departe fro the monumente whan hys descyples departed To whom Ihesu cryst appyered first after his resurectione and was felawe to the appostlys and made of our lord appostolesse of thappostles TheÌ„ne after thascencion of our lord the xiiij yere fro his passyon long after that the Iewes had sleyn seynt Stephen and had caste out the other dyscyples out of the Iewery whiche went in to dyuerse contrayes and preched the word of god Ther was that tyme wyth thappostles seynt maxyme whiche was one of the lxxij dyscyples of our lord to whom the blessyd marie magdalene was commysed by seynt peter and thenne whan the descyples wer departed Seynt maxyme marye magdalene and lazar her brother martha her suster Marcelle chaumberer of martha and seynt cedonye whiche was born blynde after enlumyned of our lorde alle thyse to gydre many other crysten men were taken of the mescreauntes and put in to a shyppe in the see wythout ony takyl or rother for to be drowned but by the puruyaunce of almyghty god they cam al to marcelle where as none wold receyue them to be lodged they duellyd and abode vnder a porche to fore a teÌ„ple of the peple of that contray And whan the blessyd marie magdalene sawe the peple assembled at this temple for to doo sacrefyse to thydollis she aroos vp peasibly with a glad visage a dyscrete tongue and wel spekyng And began to preche the faythe lawe of Ihesu cryst and withdrewe them fro the worshippyng of thydollis Thenne were they admerueylled of the beaute of the reson and of the fayr spekyng of her And it was no merueylle that the mouth that had kyssed the feet of our lord so deboneyrly and so goodly shold be enspyred with the worde of god more than the other And after that it happed that the prynce of the prouynce and hys wyf made sacrefise to thydollis for to haue a chyld And marie magdalene prechid to them IhÌ„u cryst And forbade them tho sacrefyses And after that a lytil whyle marie Magdalene apperyd in vysion to that lady sayeng wherfor hast thou so moche rychesse and
blessyd Euse be the pope and dwellyd there fyue yere And heled two lame men and two blynde men And thenne the Angel appered to her in her slepe and sayd to her what is this that thow dost that hast lefte thy Rychesses and lyuest here in delyces Aryse and dyne And after goo in to the cyte of Trecane that thow maist fynde there thy brother And thenne she sayd to her chambryere It behoueth vs no lenger to abyte here And she sayd lady whyder wylle ye goâ— Alle the peple here loue yow well And wylle ye go dye in a place where as the peple knowe yow not And she sayd god shalle purueye for vs And thenne she tooke a loof of barly breed and wente vnto the Cyte of Rauenne and entryd in to the hows of a ryche man whos doughter was bewayled as deed And she requyred the mayde of the hows that she myght be lodged there And she sayd how mayst thou be lodged here whan the doughter of hâ—rin is deed and alle be sorowfull And she sayd to her For me she shalle not deye and thenne she entrid in and took the haÌ„d of the mayde and reysed her vp al hole And the moder wold haue reteyned her there but she in no wyse wold agre therto but departed And the doughter lyued and aroos on the morne And whanne Sauyne with her chambryere arryued a myle nyghe vnto trecane she sayd to her Chambryere that she wold there reste a lytel And there cam a noble man fro the Cite named Lyceryen and demaunded them sayeng Of whens be ye To whome Sauyne seyde I am of this Cyte And he sayd Why lyest thow when thy speche sheweth the to be a pylgrym And she sayd Verayly I am a pylgrym and feche Sauyen my broder whome I haue long loste And he sayd to her that man for whome thou demaundest was but late slayne for the name of Ihesu Cryste and is buryed in suche a place And thenne she put hyr in prayeng and sayd lord which hast alwey kept me in chastyte suffre me thenne nomore to trauayle by these hard and wery Iourneyes ne my body to be remâ—ued oute of this place And lord I recommaunde to the my chambryere whiche hath suffred soo moche payne for me and for my broder whome I may not here see I byseche the to make me worthy to se hym in thy regne And whanne she had fynysshed her prayer she passed oute of this world and wente to oure lord whanne her chambryere sawe that her maystresse was deed she beganne to wepe by cause she had nothyng necessary to bury her with The sayd man thenne sente a cryat thorugh the Cyte that all grete and smale shold come see the strauÌ„ge woman that was there deed And incontynent alle the peple ranne and she was buryed honourably And this same day is the feste of saynt Sauyne that was wyf of saynt Valentyn knyght whiche was byheded vnder Adryan themperour by cause he wold not sacryfyse to thydollys Thus enden the liues of saint Samen martir and of Sainne his sustir Here foloweth the lif of seine Lowe And first of thinterpretacion of his name EOwe or Lupe is somme sekenes in the legge whiche behoueth a medycyne For hit is a maladye that regneth and vseth the flesshe And also hit is sayd a maner of fysshe that is on the water and on the londe And it may not drowne by no force of water And thus maye be expowned saynt Lowe For he vsed and strayned his propre flesshe by penaunce For he was lyke the lupe of the water and of the erth For he duellyd in the waters of dâ—lyâ—es of rychesses and of temptacions and myght not drowne among these waters in no wyse ¶ Of saynt Lupe or Lowe SAynt Lupe or Lowe was borne at OrleauÌ„ce And was of the ryal lygnage And by the resplendysshour of his grete and many myracles and vertues He was made Archebisshop of Sense And gaf alle that he hadde to poure peple And on a day whanne all was gyuen It happed that he hadde boden many men to dyne with hym And thenne his mynystres sayd that there was not wyn half ynough for the dyner And he answerd to them he that fedeth the byrdes of heuen shall performe hisâ— haryte of wyne And anone after come a messager to the yate that sayd to them that there were a reyued to fore the yate an honderd Mâ—es of wyne On a tyme they of the Courte sayd euylle of hym by cause that he had with hym a vyrgyn of oure lord whiche was doughter of his predecessour And as they sayd he loued â—eramour and spake moche despytously and ouer dysatemperately And whanne he herd these thynges he tooke the vyrgyne and kyssed her to fore alle the detractours and euylle sayers and sayde that no straunge ne euyll wordes ennoye ne hurte no man whanne his owne conscyence defoylleth hym not And by cause he knewe well that she loued well Ihesu Cryste and purely therfor this hooly man louyd her with a ryght pure thought On a tyme whanne the kyng Clotayre was kyng of Fraunce and entred in to Burgoyne he sente his styward ageynst them of sens for to assyege the Cyte ¶ Thenne Lupe entred in to the chirche and beganne to rynge the clock And whanne thenemyes herd it they had so grete drede that they supposed neuer to haue escaped fro thennes but that they shold haue deyde alle but yf they fledde and at the laste the stywarde of Burgoyne was taken â— And whanne he was taken ther was another styward sente in to Burgoyne cam to Sens And by cause saynt lupe had gyuen to hym no gyftes he had grete despyte And diffamed hym to the kyng so that the kynge sente hym in to exyle And there he shone by myracles and vertues And in the mene whyle they of Sens slewe a Bisshop whiche had taken the place of saynt lupe ¶ And after they impetred of the kyng that saynt Lupe retorned fro exyle And whanne the kyng sawe that he was wrongly doo to he was chauÌ„ged by the grace of god that he knelyd to fore the saynt and requyred pardon And restablysshed hym ageyne in his chirche and gaf to hym many fayr yeftes On a tyme as he cam to parys a grete coÌ„panye of prysoners cam ageynste hym theyr bondes broken And alle the dores of the pryson open On a sonday as he songe masse A precious stone fylle doune fro heuen in to his chalyce the whiche he gaf to the kynge whiche he helde for a noble relyque On a tyme the kyng Clotayre herd saye that the Clockes of saynt Steuâ—n of Sens had a merueylous swetenes in theyr sowne And sente for them and tooke them fro thens and dyde doo brynge them to Parys by cause he wold here the sown of them but it displeased moche to saynt Lupe And as sone as they were oute of the Cyte they lost
commaundyng hym to take vp the bodyes and burye them in his howe which old man took a cosyn of his an olde woman whiche â—uâ—llyd with hym in his celle went to the place where they had ben biheded And by cause it was nyghe to the Ryuer they myght lyghtely be broughte to the Celle by water but they hadde no ship ne bote redy ne they couth not the craft of rowyng ne had the strengthe to brynge them ageynste the streme of the Ryuer And whan they cam to the place they fonde the bodyes of the sayntes and a bote redy in the ryuer ordeyned by our lord Thenne they hauynge hope and trust in oure lord eche of them tooke vp a body of the martirs And wente frely withoute burthen in suche wise that it semed to them that they bare no berthen but that they were borne of the berthens And they entryng with the holy bodyes in to the litil boote withoute ores gouernayl that myght be sene ageynst the stronge streme of the flood were brought vnto the ryuage of his celle and there buryed them in his oratorye And where the persecucion of them ceessed the honoure of them was shewed to the peple by myracles In suche wyse that a grete chirche was afterward maade in thonoure of the holy sayntes of trewe Crysten peple thenne late vs praye to them that they pray for vs etcetera ¶ Thus endeth the martirdome of the holy saintes Crispyn and Crispynyan Here foloweth of the holy Appostles Symon Iude And first of their names SYmon is as moche to saye as obedyent or beynge in heuynes And he hadde a double name He was sayd Symon Zelotes And Symon Cananean of cana a strete that is in galilee there where as oure lord conuertid the water in to wyn And Zelotes is as moche to saye as canamen This holy man had in hym obedyence of the commaundements by execucion heuynesse by pyte of tormente And had loue of Sowles by ferme ardour of loue Iudas is as moche to saye as confessyng or glorious or Iudas is as moche to seye as gyuynge ioye For he had Confession of faythe glorye of Regne and glorye of the euerlastynge ioye This Iudas was called by many names He was sayd Iudas Iames For he was broder to Iames the lasse And he was callyd Thadee whiche is as moche to saye as takynge a prynce or Thadee is sayd of Tharea that is a vesture and of deus that is god For he was vesture ryal of god by ornament of vertues by whiche he took crist the prynce He is sayd also in thystory Ecclesiaste Lebeus whiche is as moche to say as herte or worshipper of hert Or he is said Lebeus of Lebes that is a vessel of herte by grete hardynesse or a worshipper of herte by purete a vessel by plenytude of grace For he deseruyd to be a vessell of vertues and a cawdâ—on of grace And Abdyas Bisshop of Babyloyne by the Appostles ordeyned wrote their passion and Legende in greke And the disciple of Abdyas translated it oute of greke in to latyn And was named Affrycan ¶ Of the holy sayntes Symon and Iude SYmon Cananyen Iudas thaddee were bretheren of Iames the lasse and sones of Marye Cleophe whiche was maryed to Alpheus And Iude was sente of Thomas to the kynge Abagar of Edysse after thascencion of oure lord And it is redde in the Hystorye Scolastyque that the sayd Abagar sente a pystle vnto oure lord Ihesu Cryst in this maner Abagar the sone of Euchanye To Ihesu blessyd saueour whiche appiereth in the places of Iherusalem sendeth salutacion I haue herd of the and of the helthes and recouerynges that thou makest and dost ben withoute medycynes and her bys And that thou makest the blynde to see by thyn only word and the lame go the mesels to be cured and made hole and the dede bodyes to lyue ageyne whiche thynges herd of the I wene in my courage that thou arte one of two that is that thou art god that arte descended from heuen for to do this or that thou arte the sone of god that dost suche thynges wherfore I praye the by wrytynge that thow wylt trauayle so moche as to come to me and hele me of my maladye Of whiche I haue be longe vexed And I haue herd saye that the Iewes murmure ageynst the and lye in a wayte ageynst the Come therfor to me For I haue a lytell Cyte but it is honeste And shall well suffyse to vs bothe Oure lord Ihesus answerd â—yn by wrytynge in these wordes Blessyd art thou that hast byleuyd in me whanne thou hast not sene me It is wreton of me that they that see me not shalte byleue in me And they that see me shall not byleue Of that thow hast wreton to me that I shalle come to the me behoueth taccomplysshe that whiche I am sente fore And after to be receyued of hym from whome I am sente whan I am ascended I shalle sende to the one of my disciples to hele the and quykene the This is wreton in Historia Ecclesiastica And whanne Abagar sawe that he myght not see god presently after that it is sayd in an Auncyent Historye as Iohan damascene witnesseth in his fourth boke He sente a payntour vnto Ihesu Cryste for to fygure thymage of oure lord to th ende that at leste that he myght see hym by his ymage whome he myght not see in his vysage And whan the payntoure cam by cause of the grete splendour and lyght that shone in the vysage of oure lord Ihesu Cryst he coude not beholde it ne couthe not counterfete it by no figure And whan oure lord sawe this thyng he toke fro the payntour a lynnen clothe and set it vpon his vysage and enprynted the very physonomye of his vysage therin And sente it vnto the kynge Abagar whiche so moche desyred it And in the same History is conteyned how this ymage was fygured It was well eyed well browed a longe vysage or chyere and enclyned whiche is a signe of maturyte or rype sadnes ¶ That Epistle of oure lord Ihesu Cryste is of suche vertu that in the Cyte of Edysse no Heretyk ne no paynym may lyue therynne ne none Tyraunt maye greue hit For yf ony people come ageynste that Cyte by force of Armes A Chyld shalle stande vpon the gate And shal rede that Epystle And that same daye eyther thenemyes shalle flee and ben aferd or they shalle make pees wyth them of the Towne And as is sayd this hath ben done But thys Cyte hath ben sithe taken of the Sarasyns and touched In suche wyse that for the multyplyeng of synnes this benefayt is lost Also it is redde in thystorye ecclesiastyke that whan oure lord was ascended in to heuen thomas thappostle sente thaddee that was Iude vnto the kynge Abagar accordyng to the promesse of oure lord And whan he was comen to hym And had told to hym that he was
of leos that is peple and of nardus that is an herbe swete smellynge For by the odour of good fame he drewe the peple to hym by thodour of good renommee Or Leonard may be said as gaderynge hyhe thynges Or hit is said of lyon the lyon hath in hym self four thynges The fyrst is force or strengthe And as Isydre sayth hit is in the brest and in the hede And so the blessyd saynt Leonard had strengthe in his brest by the refraynyng of euyl thoughtes in the heede by contemplacion of souerayne thynges Secondly the lyon hath subtilyte in two thyngis For he hath his eyen open whanne he slepeth And diffaceth his traces when he fleeth And thus Leonard waked by labour of good werke and in wakynge he slepeth by rest of contemplacion And diffaceth in hym self the trace of alle worldly affection Thyrdly the lyon hath myght in his voys For by his voys he reyseth the thirdde daye his whelpe that is dede borne And maketh alle other beestes by hym to be in pees and reste And in lyke wyse Leonard reysed many that were dede in synne and many that lyued bestyally he fixed them in good werkes and prouffitable Fourthly the lyon hath drede in his herte after that ysydore sayth He doubteth two thynges that is the noyse of wheles of chariottes or cartes fyre brennyng In lyke wyse Leonard doubted and in doubtyng he eschewed all the noyse of the world And therfor he fledde in to the deserte And he eschewed the fyre of couetyse and therfor he reffused the tresours that were of fryd to hym ¶ Of saynt Leonard AT is said that leonard was aboute the yere of oure lord vC And he was baptysed in the holy fount of saynt Remyge Archebisshop of Raynes And was Instructe of hym and enduced in holy disciplynes of helthe And the parentes and kynnesmen of saynt Leonard were chyef and hyest in the palays of the kynge of Fraunce This Leonard gate so moche grace of the kynge that alle the prysonners that he vysyted were anone delyuerd And whanne the renommee of his holynes grewe and encreaced the kyng constrayned hym for to dwelle with hym long tyme tyll that he hadde tyme couenable and gaf to hym a Bisshopryche And he reffused it and left al desyrynge to be in deserte And wente to Orleaunce prechynge there with his broder Lieffart And there lyued a lytel whyle in a Couente And thenne Lyeffart had desyre to dwelle allone in a deserte vpon the Ryuer of Loyre And Leonard was warned by tholy ghoost to preche in guyan And thenne they kyssyd to gyder and departed Thenne Leonard prechyd there and dyd many myracles and dwellyd in a forest nyghe to the Cyte of Lymoges In whiche forest the kyng had do made an halle or a lodge whiche was ordeyned for hym whan he shold go hunte And hit happed on a daye that the kyng wente for to hunte in that forest And the quene whiche was gone thyder with hym for her recreacion whiche thenne was grete with child beganne to trauayll of child And the trauayll endured longe and was in poynt to perysshe so that the kynge and al the meyny wepte for the peryl of the quene And thenne Leonard passyd thorugh the forest and herd the vois of them that wepte and was moeued with pyte and wente thyder And the kyng called hym And demaunded hym what he was and he sayd that he was a disciple of saynt Remyge And thenne the kynge had good hope by cause he hadde ben enformed of a good maistre And brought hym to the quene prayd hym that he wold praye for her and for the fruyt that she bare that she myght gete of god double ioye And anone as he hadde made his prayer he gate of god that he requyred Thenne the kynge offryd to hym moche gold and syluer but he reffused al and desyred hym to gyue hit to poure men sayd I haue no nede of no suche thynges It suffyseth me to despyse the Rychesses of the world and to serue god in this wode and that is that I desyre And thenne the kynge wold haue gyuen to hym alle the wode I wylle not haue all but as moche as I maye go aboute with myn asse in a nyght I desyre whiche the kyng gladly graunted to hym And there was made a monastery In whiche he lyued longe in abstynence and two monkes with hym And theire water was a myle fro them wherfore he dyde do make a pytte alle drye the whiche he fylled with water by his prayers And called that place noble by cause he hadde receyued it of a noble kynge And he shone there by soo grete myracles that who that was in pryson and called his name in ayde anon his bondes feters were broken and wente awey withoute ony gaynsayeng frely And cam presentyng to hym their chaines or yrons And many of them that were soo delyuerd dwellyd stylle wyth hym and seruyd there our lord And there were seuen of his noble lygnage whiche folde awey alle their goodes duelleden wyth hym And he delyuerd to eche of them a parte of that woode And by his holy ensample he drewe many to hym And at the laste thys holy man beynge endowed with many vertues the eyghte ydus of Nouembre departed oute of this world slept in oure lord wherafterward for the many myracles that god shewed there it was shewed to the clerkes of the Chirche that by cause that place was ouer lytil for the grete multitude of peple that cam thyder that they shold do make in another place another Chirche And bere therin the body of saynt Leonard honourably And thenne the Clerkes and the peuple weâ—â— alle thre dayes in fastynges and in prayers ¶ And on the third day they sawe alle the countreye couerd with snowe sauf only the place wherin saynt Leonard wold reste whiche was alle voyde And thyder was the body transported And the Chirche made And the grete multitude of yrons of dyuerse maners witnesse well how many myracles oure lord hath shewed for hym And specially to prysoners of whome the feters and yrons hange to fore his tombe The vycounte of lymoges had do make a grete chayne for to fere with alle the malefactours and commaunded that it shold be fastned vnto a tronke in his Toure And who someuer was bounden with this chayne to that tronke ther as it was sette he myght see no lyght And hit was a place ryght derke And who soo deyde there deyde not of one dethe only but more than of a thousand tormentes And it happed that one of the seruauÌ„tes of Seynt Leonard was bounden with this Chayne withoute deseruyng Soo that almost he gaf ouer his spyrit And thenne as he myght in his courage he auowed to Seynt Leonard And prayd hym that sythe he delyuerd other that he wold haue pyte on his seruaunt ¶ And anone saynte Leonard appierid to hym in a whyte
shold surmounte them and sende them to marterdom and whan she was broughte tofore the maysters and oratours she sayd to the emperour what Iugement is this to sette fyfty oratours and maysters ageynst one mayde and to promyse to theym grete rewardes for their victorye and compellest me to duspute wyth them wythoute hope of ony rewarde and god IhÌ„u crist which is veray guerdon of them that stryuen for hym shal be onelye wyth me and he shal be my rewarde for he is the hope and crowne of them that fyghte for hym and whan the maysters had sayd that it was Impossyble that god was made man ne that he had suffred deth the vyrgyne shewyd to them that the paynyms had sayd it tofore that he was made For plato sayd god to be alle rounde and to be slayne and Sybylle sayd thus that the ylke god shold be blessyd happy that shold hange on the crosse and whan the vyrgyne had right wysely dysputed wyth the maysters and that she had confounded theyr goddes by open reasons they were abasshed and wyste not what to saye but were al stylle And themperour was replenysshed wyth felonye ageynst theym and began to blame theym by cause they were ouercomen soo fowlly of one mayde and thenne one that was mayster aboue al the other sayd to the emperour knowe thou syr emperour that neuer was there ony that myght stonde ageynst vs but that anone he was ouercomen But thys mayde in whome the spyryte of god speketh hath soo conuerted vs that we can not saye ony thynge ageynste Ihesu cryste ne we may not ne dare not wherfore syr emperour we knowleche that but yf that thou mayste brynge forth a more prouable sentence of them that we haue worshypped hytherto that al we be conuerted to Ihesu cryste and whan the tyrauÌ„te herde this thyng he was esprysed with grete wodenesse and commaunded that they alle shold be brente in the myddes of the cytee And the holy vyrgyne comforted them and maad them constaunte to marterdom and enformed dylygentlye in the feythe and by cause they doubted that they shold deye without baptesme the vyrgyne sayd to theym Doubte ye no thynge for theffusyon of our blood shal be reputed to you for baptesme and garnysshe you with the sygne of the crosse and ye shal be crowned in heuen And whan they were caste in to the flammes of fyre they rendryd theyr sowles vnto god and neyther heer ne clothe of them had none harme ne were hurte by the fyre And whan the crysten men had buryed them the Tyraunte spake vnto the vyrgyne and sayd a ryght noble lady vyrgyne haue pyte of thy yongthe and thou shalte be chyef in my paleys nexte the quene and thyn ymage shal be sette vp in the myddes of the cyte shal be adoured of alle the people as a goddesse To whome the virgyn sayd leue to saye suche thynges For it is euyll to thynke hit I am gyuen and maryed to Ihesu cryste he is my spouse he is my glorye he is my loue and he is my swetnes there may noo fayr wordes ne no tormentes calle me fro hym and thenne he beyng ful of wodenesse commaunded that she shold be despoyled naked and beten wyth scorpyons and so beten to be 〈◊〉 in a derke pryson and there was tormented by hongre by the space of twelue dayes and themperour wente out of the contreye for certeyn causes and the quene was esprysed with grete loue of the virgyne and wente by nyght to the prison with porphyrye the prynce of knyghtes and whan the quene entryd she sawe the pryson shynyng by grete clerenesse and aungellys enoyntyng the woundes of the holy vyrgyne katheryne and thenne Saynt katheryne began to preche to the quene the ioyes of paradys and conuertyd hyr to the feythe and sayd to hir that she shold receyue the crowne of marterdom and thus spake they to gyder tyl mydnyÈt and whan porphyrye had herde al that she had sayd he fyl doun to hyr feet and receyued the feythe of Ihesu cryste wyth two hondred knyghtes and by cause the tyraunte had commaunded that she shold be twelue dayes without mete and drynke Ihesu cryst sente to hir a whyte dowue whiche fedde her with mete celestyal after this Ihesu cryst apperyd to hir with a grete multitude of aungellis and virgynes and sayd to hir doughter knowe thy maker for whome thou haste emprysed this trauayllous bataylle be thou constante for I am with the and whan themperour was retorned he commaunded hir to be brought tofore hym and whan he sawe hir so shynyng whome he supposed to haue ben tormented by grete famyne fastyng and supposed that somme had fedde hir in pryson was fulfylled wyth furour and commaunded to tormente the kepars of the pryson and she sayd to hym veraylye I toke neuer sythe mete of man but Ihesu cryste hath fedde me by hys aungel I praye the sayd themperour sette at thyn herte this that I admoneste the and answer not by doutable wordes we wyl not holde the as a chamberer but thou shalt tryumple as a quene in my royame in beaulte enhaunced To whome the blessyd vyrgyne katheryne sayd vnderstonde I praye the and Iuge trewely whome ought I better to chese of thyse two or the kyng puyssaunt pardurable glorious and fayre or one seek vnstedfast not noble and foule and thenne themperour hauyng dysdayne angrye by felonye of these two chese the one or do sacrefyse lyue or suffre dyuers tormentes perysshe and she sayd tarye not to do what tormentes thou wylt for I desyre to offre to god my blood and my flesshe lyke as he offryd for me he is my god my fader my frende myn onely spouse and thenne a mayster warned and aduysed the kyng beyng wode for angre that he shold make foure wheles of yron enuyronned with sharpe rasours cuttyng soo that she myght be horrybly al detrenched and cutte in that torment so that he myght fere the other crysten peple by ensauÌ„ple of that cruel torment and thenne was ordeyned that two wheles shold torne ageynst the other ij by grete force so that they shold breke al that that shold be betwene the wheles and thenne the blessyd vyrgyne prayed our lord that he wold breke thyse engynes to the praysyng of hys name and for to conuerte the people that were there and anone as thys blessyd vyrgyne was sette in this tormente the aungel of our lord brake tho wheles by soo gret force that it slewe four thousand paynyms And the quene that behelde thyse thynges came from aboue had hyd hir feythe tyl thenne descendyng anone and began to blame the emperour of so grete cruelte and thenne the kyng was replenysshed with woodnes whan he saw that the quene despysed to doo sacrefyse and dyd doo fyrste doo rente of hyr pappes and after smyte of hyr heed and as she was ladde vnto marterdom she prayed katheryne to praye god for