in the wey a yense his comyng And somme sprade her clothis in the wey and songe Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini Blessyd be he that comythe in the name of oure lord kyng of israhel where for hooly churche makyth this day solempne procession in mynde of the procession that was made ayense crist also ioye myrthe of oure resing froÌ„ deth to lyue that hath leyne all this yere in dedly syn now y truste to god that they be resyd to god leuyng And for angeles of heueÌ„ make moch ioye of your rising out of syn And thus we take palme and flowres in procession as they did and go in procession knelyng to the crosse in the worshiâ— and mynde of hym that was done one the crosse worshippyng and wel comyng hym with songe in to the chirche as the people ded oure lord in to the cite of iherusalem Thanne iohan bellet askithe a question seith that criste had the grettest worshippe rydyng one the asse that euer he had in this worlde ThaÌ„ why worshippe we the crosse and not the asse to this question he answerithe hym selfe and seyth that the worship of this world as Salamon seyd All is but a vanite and noughte and makithe to for gete a man his god and hym selfe Ther as grete tribulacione dissese and heuynesse causithe a man to thynke of god â—rye to hym for socoure and helpe and to know hym selfe And ther foâ— all cristen people shulde putte a wey all worldely vanitees that bryngythe moche peple to grete my scheue and many to euer lastyng peyne we worshippe the crosse foâ— hyt was cause of oure redemption and saluacion and to brynge vs to euer lastyng ioye and blysse that we hopyn all to come to Thanne anone whan criste was come to the cite of iherusalem he wente to the temple and droue oute all byers and sellers that he fonnde ther in seyde Domus mea do mus oracionia vocabitur My house is a house of preyouris and ye make hit a den of theuys Thus oure lord yafe all cristen people en sample to leue byyng sellyng on the holy day and in specyall in churche A nothir hit is why hit is callid palme sonday for be cause that palme be tokenythe victory where all cristeÌ„ peple shulde bere palme in processione in tokenyng that he hadde foughten with the fende and hath the victorye of hym be shryfte of mouthe satisfactione with dede mekely done his penaunce with grete contricione in his herte and in this wyse ouercome his gostly enemy the fende we rede in the gestis of romayns yâ— it was the maner summe tyme. that yf there were any loÌ„de that were rebell a yense the Emperour a none the Emperour wolde sende summe worthy knyghte with grete pissaâ—â—â— of people to that lond and putte hem downe make hem sogettys to the Emperour of rome And whanne this knyghte hadde done so than shulde he be sette in a châ— re â—rayâ—d with clothys of golde in the beste wyse and a branche of palme in his honde in tokenyng that he had the victory and with gret worshippe broughte in to rome but whanne he come in to any worthy cite thaÌ„ ther shulde stonde one by hym and bete hym in the mouthe with a branche of olyue sayng thus Anotholites this is to sey kowe thy selfe that is to vnderstonde thoughâ— thou be grete nowe aud haue the victorye make not to moche of thy selfe for hit may fortuue a nothir tyme thou maiste haue the worse and tourne to moche vylony more than now to worshippe where for â—e not now to proude of thy selfe Thus shulde ye bete youre selfe in the mouthe of youre soule with the branche of olyne that ys with the vertu of mekenesse and so bolde yowe in loue and meke in her te and euer more dreding and feryng lefte he fall a yene in to synne And so leue the worshipâ— that ye haue now For truste this trewly â—â—â—knesse is that vertu that moste so â—este ouer cometh youre gostely enemy the fende and souneste gaderithe a man to vertuos leuyng that we may haue thys vertu of mekenesse pacience and charite to ouer come oure gostly enemy now and euer Amen GOod frendis ye shall vnderstond that hooly churche vsid these thre dayes and seythe seruice in the euyntyde that is mekenesse where for we call hit tenables But hooly churche callid hit tenebras Than why this seruice is thus done in mekeuesse hooly fadres tellithe for thre causis One is the nyghte before that oure lord ihesu crist was take he wente vn to the mounte of olyuete and preyde thus Pater misipassibile est transeat a me calix iste My fadyr yf it be possible that this bitter passion may passe fro me yf it were the fader is will and else not And for drede fere of that bitter passion that he felde in his sperit he swete bothe blode and watyr A nothir cause is this that a noÌ„ aftir myd nyghte come iudas with â— knyghtis and moche othir people to take criste and for hit was myrke and they coude not well knowe hym frome seynte iames he was so like criste there for judas seyde Quem osculatus â—â—ero ipsum emÌ„ tenete For sothe quod he him that I shall kysse it is take ye him for seint iames was so like criste that moche people callid hym cristus brothir and thus iudas be trayed his mastyr and thus was criste take in mekenesse with all the spite that thei cowde do to hym beting hym and spetyng in â—his face The thrydde cause is whan criste was naked on the crosse fete hande hangyng thre ow rys frome vnderyn tyll none Thanne the sonne with drowe her lighte was â—erâ—e thourghe alle the worlde shewyng that the makyr of lyght was at that tyme payned to dethe for these thre causis the seruice in the nyghte is done in myrkenesse the whiche seruice makyth mynde how iudas betrayed criste and how iewes come as preuely as they â—oude for dre de of the comyn people where for to the seruice is no bell ronge but a sounde made of tre where all cristen pÌ„eple may haue knoweliche to come to this seruice preuely with oute makyng of any noyse all that the people shuld speke of comyng and goyng shulde sounde of the tree that is the crosse that oure lord was done vpon and of his passion and of the wordys that ourâ— lord spake haÌ„gyng on the crosse and howshe seyde to his modyr Mulier ecce filins tuns wâ—man see thy sonne and how he coÌ„maunded his modyr to seint iohan the euangelist in kepyng and what seyde the these that hyng by hym and seyd thus Domine â—nanâ—o vâ—neris in regâ—um tuum memento meâ— Lord whanne thou comyste to thy kyngdome haue mynde of me and a none oure lord seyd to hym Hodie meâ—umeris in paradiso This day thonshalte be with me in paradyse and
peyned hym so they lad de hym forthe all blody Admontem calâ—arie To the mounte of calnarye to the ende of deth yâ—t wymmen of the Cite whan they sighe hym so fowle fare with and all to luggiâ— and to drawe for very pitte they wepte vppon hym ThaÌ„ seyde oure lord to hem Nolite flere super me sêª super vos et filios vestros ye wymmen of iherusaleÌ„ wepe ye not for me but vpon you and youre children for there shall dayes come in the whiche ye shall blysse the wombes that were bareyne and the pappys that neuer gaue socke Thus oure lord prechyd be fore the vengeaunce that fill aftyr vpon iherusalem The whiche prophecye Jeremye the prophete spake of that is radde in hooly churche these thre dayes at tenebras the whiche was so horible of many diuerse myscheuys in speciall of houÌ„ger that children lay for hounger dede in the stretis Than was there a woman was come of grete birthe that for hunger toke her own child that fedde with her pappys and slewe hit partid hit in ij partyes and than she rostyd halfe and that othir halfe she kepte till on the morowe Thanne as peple come by the strete they hadde sauoure of the rost and anone they come in to haue hadde parte ther of and whan they sawe the modyr roste her own childe and sone they were heuy and foule dismayed and wolde notte ete there of but wente theyr wey forthe ayene Than toke the modyr of that childe and ete there of seyde in this maner wyse this is myne owne sone and myne owne childe that I bare of my body and fedde hit with my pappys but yit I wolle rathir ete hit than dye for hunger There for I tell yew this for to shew yew somwhat of the vengeaunce that fill in the cite of iherusalem aftir the dethe of oure lord ihesu criste Thanne they ladde hym to the mounte of Caluarye and ther they sâ—reyned so on the crosse that euery bone of his body myght be knowen on from a nothir and naylyd hym honde and fete to the crosse and they gaue vp the crosse and the body to gedyr and with a grete peyse they lete the crosse and the body falle downe to gedir in to the morteyse that all the body daschâ—d and all his bones crakyd and his ioyntes braste and â—eynes and all wouÌ„des braste oute of blode sydis armes legges fete and bondes so that ther lefte no blode in hym And â—â—â— they toke a clothe wlyle the blode was hote and wonde hit a boute his body till the blode was colde and than they drew away the clothe and pullid away the flesche froÌ„ the bones this was a grete pite And so whan he shulde dye he began as Iohan Hellet seythe Deus meus respice in me And so seyde all verses sewyng till he come vn to that verse In te domine speram And so atte this verse An manus tuas domine commendo spiritum meum redemisti me domine deus veritatis There he gaue vp the spirite This is a grete ensample that oure lord ihesu Criste â—n to alle cristen that euery maÌ„ shulde haue in mynde these verses And he that can hem sâ—y and yf he sey hem â—uery day he shall not dye no maner myscheuous nor rengeable dethe Thannâ— aftyr this passi on we sey orysons knelyng at euery orison saue at that orison that is seyde for the iewis at that orison hooly church knelith not for be cause iew ysm scorne knelyng thre tymes to criste whaÌ„ they scourgid hym Thanne these orisones holy chirche preyith for all maner of people for iewis sarise nes cysmatys heretikis but not for cristen peple for while any man or woman stonte a cursed he is dampned be fore god and dampned shall be at his dethe but he repente him and amende him while he leuith in this pÌ„sente worlde But take he de what seint AusteÌ„ seith Siscirem pro certoâ—nod â—ater meus esset in inâ—erno non â—r arem pro illo nisipro diabolo yf I wyste for a trouthe that my fadir were dampned in to helle I wolde neuer prey for him but as for the deuell of hell for ther is no preyoure of holy churche that helpithe a dampned man Than aftyr these orisones the crosse is broughte forthe to the whiche all cristen people shulde worshippe this day in worshippe of hym that this day dyed on the crosse and to prey to oure lord ihesu criste to for geue vs all oure tre space as criste preyde to his fadyr of heuen to for geue hem that ded hym on the crosse Narracio There was a knyght summe tyme and that was a grete lord and he hathe a worthy man vn to his sone And so hit hapyd that a nothir knyghte and this man fille atte debate and so thys knyghte slewe him where fore the fadyr of thys man that was dede gade ryd a grete multitude of people and pursewed that othir knyghte wher so ener he wente to haue sleyne him nyghte and day so that he myghte haue no reste but euer de de fley for fere of hys lyffe Thanne hit happyd on a good fryday this knyghte sawe all cristen people go to the churche And he be thought him that criste dyed that day on the crosse for all man kynde and putte hym only in the mercy of almyghty god and wente to the churche with othir people to serue god and whan he was in the chirche a non this othir knyghte had worde and come with moche people in to the churche and his swerde drawen in his hoÌ„de for to sle hym and whaÌ„ this othir knyghte sawe that and wyste well that he hadde trespased hym and fyll downe flatte to the grounde with his armes spradde a brode as our lord ihe su crist sprad de his armys on the cros and seyde For his loue that this day sprad de his armys on the ercssâ— and suffered passion and dyed for the and me and all maÌ„kynde haue thou mercy one me and for geue me thy sones dethe Thanne this knyghte thoughte hit hadde be to horrible a thynge to smyte hym whyle that he lay so and cryed hym mercy so mekely and a none he putte vp his swerde and seyde to hym Now for his soue that this day dyed on the crosse for the and me and all mâ—â—yn de I for yeue the and to ke hym vp and kyssed hym and a none wente to gedyr aftyr vn to do worshippe to the crosse knelyng And whanne this knyghte worde haue kyssed the fete of the crosse the Image low sid his armys from the crosset be clippyd the knyghte a boute the necke and kyssyd him and spal e thus that all the people herde I for yeue the as thow haste fore yeuen fore the loue of me and thus all cristen people shulde do and than they shulde haue mercy and grace of god and blysse euer lastyng In die pashe GOod
sterrys in the firma ment Than whan this childe was borne he was callyd isaac And whan he was .xxv. wynter of age god seyde to abraham in this wyse Take thy sone isaac and go to soche an hyll as he shewed to hym and offre hym in sacrifice that was to sle hym as the maner was sume tyme. Than abraham had be hefte of god to haue grete issew and thoughe he loued his so ne neuer so moche yit he toke hym anone with oute grocchyng and wente to the hyll and made his sone isaac to bere wode to brenne hym selfe with And whâ—n they come to the hyll toppe abrahâ— made an auter of wode sette hit on fyre and than he toke his sone isaac and wolde haue slayne hym offered to god Than anone spake an angell to abraham and bade hym leue of and take the shepe that stode ther by and offer hym in stede of thy sone isaac He abraham ye may vnderstonde the â—adyr of heuen and be isa ac his sone ihesu criste that spared for no loue that he hadde to hym but suffered the iewis to ley wo de vpon his backe that was the crosse yâ— he shulde be done on hym selfe and ladde hym to the hyll of caluary and there dede hym vpon the Auter of wode that was the crosse that was made of â—owre diuerse maner of wode that was Cidyr Cipir Olyue and Palme and ther on he dyed for all maÌ„ kynde Thus may criste well be called isaac that is vnderstonde laughter for many a soule he broughte oute of hell laugyng that wente the thyr sore wepyng Than lyke as thys was a figure of cristys pession longe or he was borne ryght so thys day criste hym selfe in the gospell seyde thus to his disciples that he shuld be betrayed Tradetur enim gentiâ—ua et il ludetur et flagella bitur conspuitur et postâ—uam flagel lauerunt eum die tercia resurget And how he shulde be takyn and betyn with stourges spytte vpon after his stourgyng done vpon the crosse and so sle hym and the thride day shall ryse ayen to lyfe and for they shulde haue the better beleue ther to and to his wordys anone to fore hem he made a blynde man to see that cryed and seyde Ihesu fili dauid miserere meâ— Ihesu the sonne of dauid haue mercy of me Thanne seyd oure lord to hym what woldeste thou that I shulde doo to the and he seyd â—omine vt videam lord yeue me syght Thanne seyd oure lorde thy seythe hathe saued the And a none he had his sighte and he thankyd god So muste euery criston man that wyll haue perdonâ— of god he mote haue contricion full of herte with shrifte of mouthe and sa tisfaction in dede beyng in hole charite with oute faynyng and in stable feythe with out flateryng And to stere yow more to the feythe I tell yow thys ensample Narracio There was a bishop in englonde that hyghte croste hede and was bishoppe of lyncoll was holdyn the grettyst clerke in englond or in the worlde and whan he lay in his dethe bedde there come to hym a grete multitude of fendes and disputedr with hym of the feythe in so moche that they had de nyghe turned hym oute of the beleue putte in to dispayre Thanne was oure lady redy and seyd to hym my seruaunt be leuyste thou not in hooly chirche as it techith And anone he cryed and seyd yis gracious lady I be leue as hooly churche techith me and anone the fend is wente her wey and gafe vp the goste to euer lastyng blysse to the whiche god bryng vs all Amen â—ominica prima quadragesime â—Ood men and wymmen thys day ys callyd in hooly churche the firste sonday in quadragesime a nombre of .xl. for from this day tyll esâ—yâ— day be .xl. dayes and for be cause that euery man synnyth more or lesse for to make satisfaction for our trespas all cristen people be bounde be the lâ—we of god and hooly churche to faste these .xl. dayes saue tho that the lawe dispensith with for resonable cause Children that be with in age wymmâ—n that be wyth chylde olde people that be myght lese to faste laboryng people as pylgremys and syke peple those the lawe dispensith with vpon her concience Than for the cause that sonday is noo day of penaâ—nce there for ye shall be gynne your faste one esche wedenysday that day ye moste come to hooly churche and â—â— ke aschys of the prestes handes and thenke one the wordes â–ª well that he seytth oner your hedys Memento hoÌ„ quod cinis es et in cinerem reuerteris haue mynde man of aschys that thou arte come and to aschys thou shalt tour ne ayene Than be there â—inâ—râ—â— shylles why ye shall faste these xl dayes on is as the gospell tellith this day thus â—nctâ—s est Iâ—esâ—a in desertuÌ„â—t temptaretur a diabolo how the hooly goste bade oure lorde crisâ— jhesu go in to deserte to wynne iherusa lem and iherico to be teÌ„ â—â—ed of the fende was there xl dayes fastyng xl nyghtis for youre sake shewyng to all cristen people the â—ertu and the â—â—de that comythe of fastyng the whiche â—e expressâ—d in the preface of the masse that is seyd in hooly churche the xl dayes that is thus Qui corporalâ— iâ—iâ—â—io vi cia comprimis men tem â—leâ—â—â— virtutem largiria That hooly fastyng thâ—usteth downe â—ices and lifteth vp thouthe of man to â— tâ—ous and to largenesse of all goodnesse and getith grete mâ—de in heuen that shall laste euer and â—â—â—â— graâ—e â—ere in erth for as clerkes telle the spetell of a sastyng maÌ„ shall sle an addyr bodely than moche more it sleithe the myghte of the olde addir that is the fende of helle that come to eue in para dyse in lykenesse of an ad dyr and temptid her to glotony veyne glory and couetyse ryght so the â—â—nde come to criste in likenesse of a mâ— lefte â—e had be knowyn and temptid criste and as the gospell seythe Câ—m iâ—iâ—â—asset quadragintâ— diâ—â—â—a et quadraginta noâ—tiâ—â—â— posteâ— esuxiit whanne criste had de fastyd xl dayes xl nyghtis than be kynde of manhode he hunge red Than come the fende to hym and schewde hym stones and seyde Si â—iâ—iâ—â— dei â—a â—iâ— vt â—apides isti pacâ— fiant yf thou be goddis sone of heuen make these stones brede for ryght as â—â—â— was â—â—beshed whan she saw the appyll be temptacion of the fende to ete there of The same wyse he wente to hate made crist to ete of the brede For glotony is not only in mannes mete but in the foule luste and appetite of a man Than seyde criste anone to him Non in solo pane vi uit homo sed de omni verbo quod procedit de ore dei Man leuythe not only by brede but by euery worde that comythe from the mow the of
to the quere syngyng the latanye preyng all the seyntys of heuen to prey to god to yeue to all that be cristyn to kepe that worthy sacrameÌ„t to goddis plesaunce and the couenaunte that they haue made in her cristonyng Than the preste gothe to the masse for criste that is hede of all holy church is not reson kyrieleysou is seyde for iâ— euery preyoure in especiall in the masse it is grete nede to aske helpe and so cour of god to kepe vs from all maner of temptaciones that the fende puttith in vs and namely in goddis seruice Gloria in excelsia is seid for the fadyr of heuyne hathe grete ioye to be holde the people that his so ne hathe boughte with his passione and to see hem in reste pese and charite echone with othir The greyle is not seyde for tho that be fewe cristoned be not yit perfite to walke in grace of â—tuous Alleluya is seyd for it is grete ioye to angeles to se be cristonyng the nombre of hem restored a yene Aftyr alleluya a tracte is seyde hey songen for though be cristonyng they be wasche from synyit muste the trauell besely to kepe hem from coÌ„beraunce of the fende that they fall not in dedly syn The offertory is seyde for the wymeÌ„n that comeÌ„ with oyntementys to offer to cristis body they founde hym not in his toÌ„ be Agnus dei is seyde but no pax yeue for criste that is hede of pes is not yit reson The poste comyn is not seyde for tho that be newe cristoned shuld not be hoseled this day but on the morow for in olde tyme there come to cristonyng people of grete age Than a shorte euynsonge is done for the children that were not cristoned where of gretely they where noyed with sekenesse of colde of longe seruice thanne is endid vndir a shorte Colet of all the sacrament of cristonyng is endid in the passione of Criste by the whiche all cristen people were restored to euer lastyng blysse to the whiche god brynge vs all to Amen In die paraschene GOod frendis this day is callid god fryday for al that oure lord ihe su criste suffered this day tourned vs to grete ioye for this day he suffered passione vndyr pounce pylate fore oure sake Hit is an olde say that a fowle be gynuyng hathe a fowle endyng Now se how this pylat be ganne cursidly endyd full wrechidly for as seynte Austen seythe cursed leuyng furste askith a cursed ende aftyr he that for getith hym selfe here in his leuyng is full lyke to for gete hymselfe in his laste ende This pylat was a knyghtes sone that was callid Tyrus that gate hym of a woman that hyghte Pyle and this woman nes fadyr hyghte atte so whanne this childe was borne they sette the moderys name and the gruÌ„de fadyr after and so by bothe names callid hym Pylat Than after whan he was of .iij. yere of age his modyr broughte hym in to the knyghtes court to his fadyr Than had the knyghte a nothir sone ny lyke to pylates age but for this knyghtys so ne was in all his reule more gentillere more manfully more godly more belouyd than this pylate so for hate and for enuyâ— there of this pylat one a day slewe this knyghtys sone than was the knyghte wondyr sory but yit he wolde not sle pylat aut sente hym to rome to be there in hostage for a tribute that the knyÈt shulde pay to the emperoure Thanne hit happid that the kyng of fraunce had sente his sone thedir for the same cause Thanne for be cause whan pylate saw that he was more beloued and cherisched than this pilate slew him Than for he was so cursid the emperour be couÌ„sell of the romaynes sente pylate in to a countre that was callid pounce where that the people of that countre were so cursid that they slewe any that come to be maystre ouer hem So whan this pilate come thethir he applyed hym to her maneres so what with wyles and sotilte he ouercome hem aud had the maystry and gate his name and was callid pylate of pounce and had grete domynacion power Thanne the kyng of iherusalem sente aftyr hym and made hym leue tenaunt vndyr hym of the londâ—â— of iury And for pilate lyked well the office preuely he sente to the Emperour and had his office confermed of him vnwetyng to the kyng herode kyng that tyme where fore whan kyng herode herde what he had done he was so wrothe they were enemyes vn to the tyme that oure lord ihesu criste was take and thanne they be come fren disayene and fill bothe in to one assent of cristis dethe Thanne happyd hit aftyrwarde that the Emperour fill sike and sente aftyr criste fore to hele hym for hit was tolde hym that criste helid all that euer wolde come to hym of all manere of sykenesse what somme euer sykenesse hit had be But thanne hadde pylate done hym to dethe or the messengere come Than whanne the Emperoure vnderstonde that he sente for pylate and made hym come to hym and whanne pilate herdâ— this he was sore a ferde and toke one Cristus coteâ— â–ª And so whanne he come to rome to the Emperour All tho that were in presente made pylate good chere all the whyle that he hadde on Cristus cote Aâ—d the emperour swore be fore that he shulde be dede Than toke they of the cote and a none as the cote was of the Emperour was so wâ—othe with pilate that he putte hym in to a pryson till he hadde take couÌ„sell what dethe that he shulde dye on Than as sone as pylate woste and vnderstonde that he shulde be dede he toke his owne knyfe and slewe hymselfe with alle And whanne the Emperour herde there of and vnderstonde that he hadde slayne hym selfe and thanne a none he made to teye a grete stone a bowte pylates necke and to caste hym in to a watyr that is callid Tybir thanne whan he was caste in there the fendis made soche a noyse ther a boute that all the Cite of rome was sore a freyed of hem Thanne whan the Emperour sawe this he made to take hym vp ayene and than was he caste in to a watyr that was betwixe to hye hilles and sollonge tyme astyr there was in the watyr many horrible sightes sayne a bowte that cursed man Thus oure lord ihrsu criste suffered passion and dethe for all maÌ„kynde and furste whanne he was take they did buffete hym and stripyd hym naked and bete him with stourgis A vertice capitia vsâ—Ê’ ad plantis pedmn non fuit in eo sanitas that fro the highheste place of his he de to the sole of the fete was no thyng lefte hole one hym but all rawe aftyr made a croune of thornys set hit on his hede and bete hit down with stâ—â—ys of reede that hit perischyd his brayne and whan they had
they not vp ayene till they haue do somme â—uâ— sed dedis for than they rere wederys and make tempestis in the see and drawe downe shippis make debate among the people and make on to sle a nothir and tende fyre and brenne houses drawe downe steples trees and cause wymen to ouerley her children make people to hange heÌ„ selfe and drowne hem selfe in wanne hope and in dyspeyre and do many cursed dedis And for to putte awey all soch my scheuys and the powre of the fende hooly churche hathe ordeyned that all cristen people shall faste and go a processione these thre dayes and prey to god and to oure lady and to all seyntes of heuen of helpe and socoure where for in these processiones bellis be roÌ„ge baneres be splaed the crosse comythe aftyr and the people sewith aftyr â—â—r ryght as a kyng whaÌ„ he gothe to a batayle his tromppetis goo to fore thanne the baneres and than comythe the kyng and his oste foloyng So in this procession the bellis be goddis tromppys the baneres comyth aftyr Than comyth the crosse in cristus lykenes as kyng of cristen people and all sâ—we hym and with her good preyoures chase a wey the fendes that they haue no power and lyke a cursed terauÌ„t wolle be sore a ferde and dradde whaÌ„ he herde the tromppis of a kyng that were his â—â—my sey his baneres displayed in the feld with his oste coming towarde hym in the same wyse the fende the teraunte of hell is a ferde dredithe hym sore whan the bellis ringith and the baneres be bore and the crosse with all the people come preyng thanne he fleith and dare not a by de and puttith awey his power that 〈…〉 Narracio we rede at the Cite of Constantyne as the people wente in processione for a dissese that the people had as they songe la tony sodenly a child was pluckyd vp in to the eyre and bore in to heuen and the angeles taughte hym to syng this songe Sancte deus Sanctefor iâ— Sanete et in mortalis misere re nobis and anon he was ladde down ayen to the erthe and thanne he songe that same songe a none they were delyuered of her dissesis this is to sey in englische hooly god hooly stronge god holy neuer shall dye haue mercy vs God that is hooly and neuer shall dye haue mercy one vs. god willithe and woll that we be stronge for to fighte with the feÌ„de with the worlde and with the flesche and than he woll haue mercy on vs and brynge vs to that place than there as angeles singâ— Sancte deus SaÌ„cte â—orâ—iâ— Holy god hooly stronge god haue mercy one vs and bring vs to his blysse Amen Ascensio dmÌ„ GOod frend is so che a day ye shall haue an hyghe a solempne feste in hooly churche that is callid the ascension of oure lord the su Criste for that day as the feythe and be leue techith how god is veray god man and styed vp in to heuen where fore in tokenyng of this the paschpll that is the chefe lyghte in holy church that hathe stoÌ„de openly in the quere from Estyr vn to this day Now hit is remeuyd a wey in tokening that criste is chefe lyghte in holy churche so oure lorde diuerse tymes opeÌ„ly apperithe to his disciples and taughte hem the feythe and the beleue and this day hestyghed vp in to heuen and there wolle a â—yâ—e vn to the day of dome But nowe ye shall here the maner of this ascension from escyr day vnto this day he was not with his disciples algates but diuerse tymes appered vn to hem and he appered to hem as they satyn at her mete ete with hem to shew heÌ„ that he was very god man in flesche and blode as they were For somme of hem they were in dowte lefte he hadde be a spirite that hathe no 〈…〉 flecsche nor blode ther for to preue the trowthe he ete with hem in her sighte and badde hem goâ— in to the hyll of olyue there in fighte of all his disciples he blessyd hem and styed vp in to heueÌ„ and lefte the steppes of his fete thurste downe in to the harde marbull stone for a tokyn of his asceÌ„sion Thanne ye shall vnderstonde that the hill of olyuete be tokenithe merry where for criste styed vp at the hyll of olyuete shewyng well that he is the hede of mercy and he is euer redy to yeue mercy to all that askithe mercy with meke herte Thanne in his vp rising as we call Ascension angeles made so moche melodye that no tonge may tell it so fayne they were of his comyng Ascen dit velociter he styed vp swyftely for as it were a moment he was froÌ„ erthe to heuen A grete clerke a philosouer yâ— is callid â—abymoyses he seyth that it is as fer froÌ„ erthe to heuen as a holy man myght leue a thousand yere and euery day go a thousand myle But he that mette this wey knowithe beste and this wey shall be mette of a ryghtfull a good maÌ„ Thanne in his ascension he hadde with hym a grete multitude of foules the which he fâ—tte oute of hell from the fendes bondes He styed vp al so with his woundes rede fresche blody And as bede seythe for v. causes Furste for to veri fye the feyth of his resur rection for he wse in very flesche blode that dyed on the crosse for all mankynde The secounde to shew his woundes to his fadyr in grete helpe socoure to all maÌ„kynde The thridde is to shewe how ryghtfull they be daÌ„ pned that woll not bele ue in his passion in his resurrection The four the isto shew how mercyfull he is to them that woll be leue aske mercy The .v. is that he bare with hym a signe of victory for a sykernesse to all mankynde for lyke as a lord is siker that ha the a trew aduoket be for a Auge to answere fore him so in sikernesse to all maÌ„kynde we fynde hym oure aduket ener more redy to answere for vs at thyng that the fende ou re gofâ—ly enemy makyth a yense vs. wher for seith the hooly scripture a sike rer attourney may no maÌ„ be but god Dbi mater osteÌ„dit fil io pe ct as et vhera where for the modir shewed the sone here brestes and her pappes Filius patri latus et vulnera The sone shewde to the fadyr his fides all to betoÌ„ his woundes bledyng how shulde any thyng be putte a wey or deuydyd there as soch tokenes of loue be shewyd he may not fare a mysse that hath soch to frend is in the couÌ„trey of heuen Also by the steyng vp in to heueÌ„ of oure lord ihesu criste maÌ„ hath gotyn a grete digâ—â—te for a maÌ„ to see hys owne kynde his owne flesch hisblode sittyng on the
yow and charge you yf ther be any of you that fall to any synne that he come and amende hym there of and I woll be redy to all that loÌ„gith to me For take this in certayne in the same wyse as a man woll not go to a place there as a stynckyng â—areyne is but yf that he stoppe his nose and highe hym thense Ryghte so the holy goste flethe from the soule that is comberid with dedely synne and angelus woll stoppe her nosys for moche more fowler stinkith dedely synne in the sighte of god thanne dothe any careyn to smell to the peple and as the holy gost fleth to hem that bydith in good lyffe and clene and in parfyte loue and charite and hathe pitte and compassione of alletho that be in any dissese or tribulacion to soch the holy goste visitithe and comyth to And with soche as hym listith to come to a byde and com 〈…〉 th and techith hem â—â— all nede But as the seruice of this feste is more preysed than any othyr tyme for as this feste holy church callith to hem and seythe Deni sancte spiritus Come holy goste specially to haue helpe and socoure and grace and to haue parte of the dole that he makithe at this tyme to alle cristen people that be abell to receyue his yiftes But ye shall vnderstonde that the holy goste makith his dole in othir wyse than othir people For they dele as hit likith heÌ„ but the holy goste delithe to all the people that is nedefull and spedfull to hem that yâ—â—te and somme more and somme lesse one yifte and somme anothir some he yeuith wysedome in holy scripture to vnderstonde holy scripture he yeuith grace to haue grete luste and lykyng there ynne that is for to sey they be lusty to preche and to teche vertu and goodnesse and eâ— forme the people to the hele of their soules vnto them that here hit and bere hit awey But many had leuer to here a songe of robynhode or tale of rebaudry where for goddis worde shall not be pÌ„chith to soche And somme he yeuithe grace so in vnderstondyng of diuerse langage As Englische Frenche walche Irische with oute any grete trauayle in lernyng hit ys a grete yifte and a miracle and a speciall grace of almyghty god that any man can vnderstonde oure in spekyng There be v. letteres that makythe all the wordes of all the worlde and of all langages that be vnder heuene And with oute one of these letteres may no maner a man make no worde and that bene these 〈…〉 A E I â— and D â–ª And also somme he yeuithe grace of counsell for to do aftyr good couÌ„sell And somme he enspirith with ynn for they that he shewith hem and makith them to knowe to fore what woll come aftyr and fall And yeâ—ithe hem grace to deâ—e the better from the wor se wher for they do so wysely and discretly that all the people be gladde to here hem speke and to do aftyr her counsell And somme he yeuithe grace also to doo aftir coÌ„sell as oure lord ihesu criste gaue hym selfe counsellyng a man that wolde leue a parfyte lyffe to leue all that he hathe and go in to a religion and be there gouerned by hys wardeynes counsell and by his owne this couÌ„sell comyth of god And somme he â—â—â—th also grate of sufferyng moch bodely sykenesse grâ—te wronges and moche dissese bothe in body and in soule losse of catell lordeshippes mastershippes frendis and all that he sufferithe with a meke herte thankyng almyghty god of his sonde this comyth of the grace of the hooly goste Also he yeuithe somme grace of lernyng in diuerse science somme to lerne one crafte and somme anothir so be â—he whiche he may gete his luyng with trouth so thâ—â— a man woll putte to hiâ— good wyll and his dilgence and trewly to laboure and not to sloâ—â—â—â—e and slepe slew the fuly and vnthryfty but â— dewe tyme to labour besâ—ly the holy gost hathe yâ—uen euery man sommâ— knowyng to gete his luyng with trouthe Also somme he geuythe grace of pite and filleth her hertes so full of pitâ— and compassion of her euene cristen that he in dissese aduersite that they yeuen hem of theyr goodis to helpe and to socoure hem at her â—â—de and to comfortâ— hem in all that they may for cristus sake and also mercyable that they for geue hem all that they haue trespased to hem in any wyse Somme he yeuithe also to dâ—â—de god in so moche that they be euer a feâ—de to displese almyghty god and euer thynkeÌ„ of grete vengeauÌ„ce that god woll take for synne at the day of dome Timâ—r domini expellit peccatum the drede of god and the horrible peynes of hell puttithe a wey synne thus nyghthe and day somme be euer a ferde to offende god and euer besely to do well in preuyte as in opyn sighte of people he that hathe this yifte hathe a speciall grace of the holy goste Her sunt septem do na spiritua sancti These be the yeftes that the holy goste departid among all maÌ„kynde and yeuithe somme more than summe But there may no man excuse hym but that the holy goste â—assignithe hym somwhat of these in tyme of his cristonyng where the bishoppÌ„ at the confermacion rehersithe these wordes of the sacrameÌ„t I woll tell you an ensample to fere yow the more to the sacrameÌ„t of cristonyng that is fouÌ„den in the lysse of seynte James Narracio There was an holy bishoppe that tourned low is the kyng of Fraunce to cristen feythe and so whan the kyng come to cristen at the halowyng of the founte there was grete prese of peple that the clerke that bare the bishoppes crismatory myghte not bryng hit to the bishoppe and so whan the fonte was halowed come to the Anoyntyng he myghte not come to his crismatory thaÌ„ the bishoppe lifte vp his eyen to god preyng god deuontly for helpe and a none there with there come a done as white as any milke that was the holy gost beryng in her bill a violl with oyle and creme to the bishoppe And whan he openyd the vyoll there come oute there of so swete a sauour that all the people had woÌ„dre there of and were gretly comfortid there by and that coÌ„tynued till the seruice was done Here by ye may well se though the preste sey the wordis the holy goste worchith the sacrament and dothe vertu of the wordes Now that the holy goste may descende and lyghten in vs that we may come to receyue hym to oure saluacione Amen In die penthecosten GOod men and wymmen thys day is callid wyt sonday for be cause that this day the hooly goste broughte wytte and wysedome in to cristus disciples and so by her prechyng aftyr in to all cristendome Than may ye vnderstonde that many hathe wytte but not wysedome for there be many that haue wytte to
fayre childe sittyng on the see sonde hadde a lytill shelle in his honde and ther with he toke watyr oute of the seeland caste hit in to a litill pitte faste Thanne seyde this mastir to this childe sone what doste yâ— and he seyde Sire y am a boute to haue all thys watyr that is in the see in to this litill pytte Than seyde this mastyr that shalte thou neuer do hyt passithe any maÌ„nes power Sire seyde he as sone shall I do this as thow shalte doo that thou arte a boute to do and anone the childe vanishid a wey Than this mastir thou ghte it was not goddis wylle and lefte his stodyyng in that mater thankythe god hyly By this ensample we may se that it is not godd is will that we shulde mense yn that mater but seedefastly beleue in the fadir the sone and the hooly goste Deni per fidem trinitatiâ— come by feythe and loue of this persite feythe of the trinite Deni per opera miseri cordie come by the werkys of mercy doyng Deni per opera insticie come to this beleue be doyng of werkys of ryghte wisnesse and thus ye shall come to this per site beleue fadir and sone and holy goste Et tuÌ„c coronaberia corona glorie eterne And than thou shalte be crow ned with a crowne of euerllastyng Joye and blisse to the whiche brynge vs to the hooly Trynite Amen De corpore xpÌ„â— GOod frendis ye shall vnderstoÌ„de that this das ys an highe and a solempne feste in hooly churche the feste of corpus christi hit is the feste of oure lordis his owne body the whiche is offered to the highe fadir of heueÌ„ at the auter in remission of oure synnes to all cristeÌ„ peple that leue here in persite lyffe and charite and grete socoure and helpe in releuyng hem that be in peynes of purgatory there a bydyng the mercy of god ye shall vnderstonde that this feste was fouÌ„de by a 〈…〉 that was callide vâ—bane the v â–ª the whiche hadde grete grace and deuocion in the sacrament in the Autee consideryng the grete me de helpe and socoure to mannes soule and to the fortheryng of leuyng to all cristen people here in this presente worlde there fore he ordeyned thys presente feste to be halowed in the nexte thoursday aftyr the feste of the holy trinite for all cristeÌ„ people that wolle be saued muste haue â—adde beleue in the holy sacrameÌ„t that hit is goddis owne body in sâ—â—me of brede made by â—â—â— vertu of cristus word is that the preste seythe and by worchyng of the holy goste Thanne for this holy 〈…〉 thought to drawe the people to more deuocion and bettir wyll to this holy sacrament and to do the seruice this day he grauntith to all that be worthy that be tho that be verrey contrite and shreuyn of her synnes be in the churche at bothe euynsonges at matenesse and atte masse for eche C. dayes of pardon and for eche oure of the day xl dayes of pardon and euery day of the vâ—â—s a C. dayes of pardon in remission of all her synnes for euer more enduryng Thanne ye shall vnderstoÌ„de that oure lord 〈…〉 crist on shereth ours day at nyghte whanne he hadde souped and wyste well that in the morowe that he shulde suffre passion and dethe and passe oute of this worlde vntâ— his fadir in heuen he ordeyned a perpetuall memory of his passion to a byde for euer with all cristen people here in erthe He toke brede and wyne and made his owne flesche and blode yaue hit to his disciples to ete and to drynke and seyde Accipite et mandu cate hoc est corpna meum Take ye thys ete hit for hit is myn owne flesche and blode and this he dede for they shulde haue mynde of hym And so he yafe to all othir prestes power to make his owne body of brede and wyne thus euery preste hath power to make the sacrament be he good or badde for the sacrament may no man a mende nor a peyre but he that is a good man and a holy leuer helpith gretly tho that he preyith for And he that doth the office of the preste worthely and trewly shall be glad and ioyfull that euer he was borne For owre lorde hath Èeuine a preste a yefte and poure here merth that he yafe neuyr to angelle in heuin that is to make his own body in forme of brede There fore Èe schall haue worschipe more in heuyne thene any tonge can tell or herte thinke and he that is an euyll liffer and know is hym selfe in dedely sinne presumith to minister that worthi sacramente woll note a mende hym he may be se wer of perpetuall damnacion wyth fyndis of hell in euyr lastinge payne Then schall Èe vndirstaÌ„d that he grauntith this sacrameÌ„t to be vsid for euer more in holy churche for foure causes that be nede full to all cristen people The fyrste is for maÌ„nes grete helpyng The seconde for cristus passion myndyng The thridde for grete â—one shewyng And the fourthe for grete mede getyng Nota anod propâ—er noueÌ„ racioÌ„es prodest homini aâ—dire missâ— secundum Angusti nâ— Seynt Austyn seith hit profitith gretly all cristen people to here masse and in speciall for ix causiâ— seythe thus Quia illo die qua audierat missam necessaria cibaria et coÌ„ced uÌ„tur For that day he herith a masse he shall fayle no bodely fode nor no necessary thynge that shall be longyng to hym nor no lette shall haue in his iorneye where that euer he trauelithe The secounde is all veniall synnes shall be for yeuen him and ydull word is The thridde is yf a man dyâ— hit shall sconde for his ho sell The fourthe he shall not that day lese his sight The v. all ydull othis yâ— day shall be for yeueÌ„ him The vi that day he shall not dye no soden dethe The vij as longe as he herith that masse he shall not wex olde The viij all his steppis toward and fromward the chirche his good angell rekenythe to his saluacion The ix all the while that he be holdithe the hooly sacramentall wikyd spirites fle from hym and haue no power ouer him be he neuer so grete a synner This helpe and so coure we haue of the holy goste and of the sacrament here in erthe and at oure laste ende all cristen people woll sende aftyr the preste to come to hym with godd is body to reseyue hit knowyng well that â–ª he beleuyth stedefastly that it is the same flesche and blode that criste toke of oure lady sinttmary and was borne of her body verray god and man and aftyr sufferyd passion and dethe on the crosse for all mankynde leyde in tombe â–ª And rose from dethe to lyue and now sittithe on his faderis righte honde in heuen and shall come a yene at the day of dome and deme the
in miracles worchyng that reysed so many men to lyffe Also he suffered grete passione for criste saâ—ke for whanne he was in the cite of pateas there he torned to the feyth the wyf of Egeas And this Egeas was a grete man and made moche people to do sacrifice and ofringes to maumentys but for seint andrew repreuyd hym ther of anone he made to take hym and wold haue made hym to do sacrifice but he wold not and stedefastly ayenstode hym and preuyd be many ensamples be cause that he and all the people shulde worshipe god and not the fendis of hell Thanne was egeas wode for wrothe and made men to take andrew stripe hym nakyd and bete hym with storges that all his body ranne on blode and thanne made to bynde hym hande aud fote and made do hym on a crosse for he shulde peyne there on longe or he died but whanne andrewe come to the place ther the crosse was he knelid downe and seyd thus Salue crâ—x que in corpore christi dedicata eâ— Hooly be thou xrosse that arte halowed made hooly by the precyous body of oure lord ihesu christe I desire to clippe the to me where for take me to the for I yeld me vnto my mastyr ihesu criste that dyed on the crosse And than andrew stode vp and ded of his clothis and yaue hem to the tourmentoures and bad hem do as they where chargid to do of the iustice Thanne they bounde hym to the crosse honde and fote and his hede downewardes and streyued hym so that the blode barste oute at euery knotte of the ropes so he honge there .iij. dayes a lyue prechyng the people and so ther come to the prechyng many thowsandes of people for pite that they hadde of hym they bad Egeas take hym downe or they wolde sle hym Thanne for fere of the people egeas come to take hym downe Than seint Andrew ayenstode hym and seyd Quid tu venisti adme egeas what comist thou to me Egeas wete thou well thou shalte haue no myght to take me downe for on this crosse woll I dye And euyn ther with Hiis enim dictiâ— splendor nimis circuiens eum quasi per mediaÌ„ horam a grete lyght come a boute hym that ther no man myghte se hym in space of halfe an oure and more Thanne seyd seint Andrew Obsecro tednÌ„e miserere mei I be seche the lord haue mercy on me and so in that lyght he yafe vp the goste And thanne whan egeas sawe know this that he was dede he wente homeward than after that day he waxyd wode and sone after he dyed among all people And whan maximilla his wyffe herde ther of a none she toke andrewys body and buried it in a tombe and oute of the tombe wellyd manna oyle to gedyr and by that people of the Countre knowe whanne hit shuld be dere and whan grete plente For whan it shall be cheppre hit wellyth plentyfully and whan it shall be derthe sharsely Narracio Hit fell so ther was a bishop that louyd well seint andrew and for the fynde myght in no wyse brynge hym oute of his purpose he come to the bishoppe in lykenesse of a feyr woman preyng hym that she myÈt speke with hym in counsell of confession And he graunted ther to Sire seyd she y am a knyghtes doughter and haue be moche cherished and norishid in grete tendernes and for I see this world is but a vanite to truste vpon y haue avowed chastite now my fadyr wold mary me to a worthy prince and for I wolde not brecke my vowe y am come preuely a wey in pore aray and thus y herde of your grete holynesse am come to haue your councell and socour helpe of yow wherfore I pray yow that ye ordeyn for me that the fende haue no power to lette me of my porpose Thanne the bishop comforted her and bad that she shulde thancke god that hadde sette her in suche porpose and that he wolde sende her grace ther with to coÌ„tynue And seyde to her Esto secura filia Be thou sekyr doughter this day thou shalte dyne with me and thanne we shall by good auyse whan we haue dyned ordeyn so for yow that ye shall do ryght well Nay sir seyd she lefte the people wold haue any suspessione of badde reule ye seyd the bishop ther of no charge Plurima erimus non soli For ther shall be so many in company that ther she ll be none suspessione Thanne sho thankyd hym feyre and scho was sette to for the bishoppe in a chayr at mete And euer whanne the bishoppe lokyd on her he semyd her so fayr that he was gretly temptyd on her so that he hadde all moste foryete hym selfe And thanne anone ther come a pilgryme to the gate and bete fast on the gate that all that were in the halle were sore a stonyd of the noise so he cryed lete in lete in Thanne seyde the bishoppe shalle this man come ynne ThaÌ„ne seyd sho late hym answere to somme questione firste whethir he be worthy or no to comesonye in presence Thanne seyde the bishop I pray yow makeye the question for I am not a vysid at this tyme Thanne seyd sho to the massenger In terroga quod eÌ„ magis miraculuÌ„ quod deus vmquaÌ„ in parua re fecit Aske hym what was the grettyste miracle that euer god made in a fote of erth Thanne whanne the pilgreme was askyd this he answerd seyd a mannys face the which is but fote and but a mannys owne face For thow all the meÌ„ and wymmen that euer where borne stode a fore me Èytte shulde y knowe one from a nothir be som degre whan he yafe this answere he was gretly coÌ„mendid therfore Than seyd she I se that he is wyse byd hym yefe a nothir answere to anothir question Aske hym whethir erthe is he yer or heuyn Than he answerd seyd thus There as cristys body is ther is erth for cristys body is of our kynde and oure kynde is erth ther fore ther as cristis body is erth is heyer than heuyn whanne he had yeuyn that answere he was well a lowed and was beden come in Nay seyd she late hym a soyle the thyrde question Aske hym how ferre it is fro heuyn to hell than whan he was oposid of this he answerde the messengere Goo agayne to her that setteth in the chayre be fore the bishop and bydde her yeue this answere for she can better than I. Quando de celo in abissum â—ecidit For she is a fend and hath metyn hit and so did I neuer She fyll downe with lucifer And whanne the messengere herde this he was all heuy but he yafe this answere that all men myghte here Than this fend vanished away with an horrible stinke Than the bishop bethouÈt hym of his temptacion was sory in his
of seynte Nicolas and there he wolde offer vp a couppe of golde and than sone after he hadde a childe And whanne this childe was of resonable age his fadyr dede do make a couppe of golde And whanne hit was made hit likyd hym so well that he lete make anothir and thanne he wente towardes seint Nicolas churche and he muste passe ouer the see So whanne they were in the see the fadyr badde the sone take vp some water with the couppe And than the childe wolde haue caught water and the couppe fyll oute of his honde in to the see And than the childe wolde haue caught the couppe ayene and fill after in to the see and so the childe was drowned there in the see Thanne the fadyr made moche sorowe but yit he wente forth with yâ— othir couppe to do his pilgremage And whanne he come to seint Nicolas churche and offerid vp his couppe and sette it on the Auter anone hit was caste from the auter and he sette hit ayene hit was caste ferther and yit the thride tyme he set te hit ayene and thanne hit was caste moche ferther Thanne come the childe with yâ— othir couppe in his honde and seyd to all the peple that seint nicolas toke hym vp by the hande whanne he fill in to the see and latte him saue oute Thanne was the fadyr gladde and of fered vp there bothe coupes and wente home a yene with grete ioye and myrthe Narracio There was anothyr ryche man that be preyores of seint Nicolas hadde a childe and he made a feyre chappell in worshippe of god and seint Nicolas So hit happed on a day this childe was takyn wiâ—h enemys and ladde in to anothir straynge countre there he was in seruice in the kynges courte And as it happed on a seint Nicolas day he be thoughte hym of the grete myrthe and solempnite that was made that day in his fadres chapel at home and he was heuy and sikyd wounder sore Thanne the hyng herde ther of Thanne seyd the kyng Nicolas what meneste thou to sighte so sore be mery for thou muste nedys a byde here with vs And anone ther come a grete wynde and smote the house and braste hit And the childe was caughte vp with the cuppe that he bare in his hande and was sette be fore the gate of the Chapell ther as his fadyr made his feste Thanne was there made grete ioye and myrthe of this miracle To thus ye may see how grete compassione that seint Nicolas hadde of hem that where in misheue and dissese somme bokys say yâ— this childe was of Normandy and was takyn with a sowdon be yonde the see and ofte he was betyn And ones whan he was betyn vp on a seint Nicolas day and putte in to preson than he wepte sore And with that he fell on slepe And whanne he woke he was in the chirche of his fadres De concepcione heate marie virginie Ood men wymmen soche a day ye shall haue the concepcion of oure lady the whiche day and feste hooly chirche makythe mynde and mencion of the concepcion of oure lady for thre speciall causes The firste is for her fadres hoâ—lynesse The secounde for her modres goodnesse And the thride for her mekenesse She hadde a fadyr that was callyd Ioachym that was so hooly a man that whanne he was but .xv. wynter of age he deparryth all his good in to thre partyes And one parte he delyd to wedowes and to fadyrles children The secounde parte he gaue to theym that where pore and nedy The thryde parte he kepithe to hym selfe and his housholde And whaÌ„ he was .xxxij. wynter of age for the grete goodnesse of Anne he wedded her And whanne they where wedded they where to gedyr .xxij. yere in the whiche tyme Anne neuer displesed him with no maner thyng nothir nyghte nothir day For she was so gentyll to him for they where bothe good and hooly yit god sente hem no frute of her bodyes but where bareyne where fore they made a vowe to god that yf he wold sende hem a childe they wolde offered vn to hym vp to the temple for to serue god bothe nyghte and day Thanne on a day as Ioachym wente with his neyborus to the temple to do his offerynges The bishoppe that highte Isachar whukyd hym openly before all the people and seyd Ioachym hit fallyth not for the that arte bareyne and haste no frute to do offe rynges with othir peple that god hathe sente frute in Jherusalem Than was Ioachym sore dysmayed and distonyed with this rebuke Than he wente home wepyng and toke his schepard preuely with his schepe and wente forthe into a ferre countrey a mongt mounteynes and hyllis and purposid to haue be there all his lyffe and neuer more to come home to Anne hys wyffe Thanne whan ioachym was gone Anne was sory and preyde to god and seyd lord that me is woo that I am bareyne and may haue no frute and now more my husbonde is gone from me I wote not whethir he is be come lorde haue mercy on me Thanne as she preyde thus an angell come downe and coÌ„forted her and seyde anne be of good comforte for thou shalt haue a childe in thyne olde age ther was neuer none lyke ne neuer shall be Thanne was anne a ferde of this Angellys his word is of the â—ighte of hym and lay all wey in her preyoures as she hadde be dede Thanne wente the same Angell to Ioachym seyde these same wordes and badde Ioachym take a lambe and offyr hit in sacrifice to god and so he dede and whanne he hadde done so from mydday tyll euensonge tyme he lay on the grounde in his preyoures thankyng god with all his herte Thanne on the morow as the angell bad he wente homewarde to Anne his wyffe with his shepe And whanne he come nyghe home the Angell come to Anne and bad her goo to the gate that was callyd the goldyn gate and a byde her husbonde there tyll he come Thanne was she gladde and toke her meydenes with her and wente to the gate and there schemette with ioachym and seyd lorde I thanke the for I was a wedowe and now am a wyffe I was bareyne and now y shall haue a childe y was woo and wepynge and now y shall be in ioye lykyng And sone after anne conseyued oure lady And whan she was borne she was callyd mary as the angell badde be fore Than after that she was wenyd she was brought to the temple and lefte there among othir virgenys to serue god both nyghte and day Than was she so meke among all othir virgenys in all her leuyng that all virgenys callyâ— her quene of virgenys So she is the mekyste of all the seintes that be â—â— heuen and most redyeâ—â— to helpe all them that callith to her in any nede Narracio we rede in hooly write a miracle of oure lady There was
a lordys man that hadde gaderyd moche good of his lordys for he was his rente gaderar and wente to be re hit to his lorde Than was ther theses that sette for hym to robbe hym by the weye in the woode there as he muste nedys goo thourghe So whan he come in to the wode he be thoughte hym that he hadde not seyde oure lady sauter as he was wonte to do And he knelyd downe and beganne to sey Thanne come oure lady lyke a fayre madyne and sette a garlounde on his hede and at eche aue she sette a rose in the garlounde that was so bryghte that all the woode shone there of and whan he hadde done he kyssed the erthe and wente his wey Thanne come the theses and toke hym and ledde hym to her maistre the whiche had seyen all these doynges than seyde he to hym what woman was that that sette the garlaunde on thyne hede and he seyd â—irre for so the y sye no woman ne garlaunde Than seyd these maister these y wote well thou arte a lordys man haste moche good with the but y wolde fayne wete what woman that hit was that come to the and why thou knelyst downe and he seyd whan y sigh yow y was a ferde and also y be thought me that y hadde not seyd oure lady sauter and knelyd doune to sey it preyng oure lady to helpe me at my nede than seyd he for her loue goo thy wey and prey to her for vs and so he wente his wey safe and sounde be helpe and socour of oure dere lady But now ye shall here how this feste was firste founde There was a kyng in Englond that highte wyllyam conquerour he sente the abbot of ramsey to the kyng of denemarke on his message and whan he come in to the see there come a derkenes and a tempest that he and all that where with hym wente to haue be drowned And euery man preyde besyly to god and to oure lady for socour and helpe and othir dyuerse seyntâ—s and this abbot preyde to god and to oure lady full deuotely Than come to hem a fayre woman and seyd to them yf ye woll haue the contepcione of oure lady in worshippe that is .ij. dayes after seint nicolas day she woll be redy to helpe and socour yow at this tyme and than this abbot seyd ye with good wyll and y woste what shulde be the seruice of the feste Thanne seyd she the same that is in the Natiuite safe tourne the natiuite in to the concepcion And the abbot seyde hit shulde be done with full good wyll than anone the tempest â—â—ssed and all was well and they saylid forthe the Abbot dede his message and come ayene safe and sounde spedde well in euery degre And whan he come home he tolde the kyng this vision the kyng made hym preche it in all the reame aboute And thus hit was a lowed in all hooly churche Narracio Also we finde that ther was a seculer chanon that one a tyme wente ouer a water to haue done a vowtrey with a woman And as he was a boute to be gynne to sey oure lady matenes as he was at the inuitatory that is Aue maria there with the fende caste him downe and drowned hym wolde haue hadde hym to hell thanne come oure lady seyd why haste thou take this man the fende seyd for we fynde hym in oure seruice goyng to do a vowtrey thaÌ„ seyd oure lady he was in my seruice anone restorid hym to lyffe ayen bad hym do no more synne And bad hym to halowe also her concepcion so he dede and was a good man euer after all his lyffe Narracio Also there was a clerke that euery day vsed to sey the seruice of oure lady thanne hit happid be councell of his frendis he shulde haue a wyffe and whanne he shulde be wedded he be thoughte hym that he hadde not seyd oure lady seruice Than he made all the people to goo oute of the chirche whyle he seyd his seruice And thanne he knelyd a downe and seyd his seruice tyll he come to an antem of oure lady Quam pulchra es amica mea Thanne oure lady aperyd vn to hym and seyd why sayste thou that I am fayre and honeste why wytte thou than leue me and take anothir Thanne seyd he on to oure lady what wolte thou that I shall do thanne seyd oure lady yf thou wolte leue thy fleschely wyffe and serue my sone and me I shall be thy spouse and thou shalte haue with me a crowne of euer lastyng lyffe in the kyngdome of euer â—astyng blysse the whiche god and his blessed modyr seynt mary and all hooly seintys in heuene bryng vs all thethir now and euer Amen Sequitur sermo breuis de saÌ„cto thoma apostolo GOod men and wymmen soche a day ye shall haue seynt thomas day that was cristys apostell and ye shall faste the euyne do hym worshippe specially for thre causes The firste for the preuyng of oure beleue And for grete wounderes in his wey And grete miracles in his day This hooly apostell preued so oure feythe that he lefte no troble for whanne the disciples seyd that oure lord was resyn from dethe to lyue and they had seyne hym and spoke with him Thomas seyd he wolde not beleue it till he had putte his honde in to his syde in to the wouÌ„de that the spere hadde made Thanne .viij. dayes after whan all the disciples were to gedyr and Thomas wiâ—h hem Thanne oure lord ihesu criste come bodely to hem and seyde Par vobis Pees be with yow and thanne oure loâ—de seyd to Thomas of ynde Mitte manum tuam in latus meum Putte thy honde in to my syde in to the wounde that was made with the spere that smote me to the herte Et noli esse incredulus And be no lenger oute of the beleue but be stede faste in the feythe Thanne whan thomas hadde do so a none he cryed and seyde for grete woundre Dominua meus et deus meus my lord my god I beleue that thou arte verry god and man Thanne oure lorde seyd to hym Beatiqui crediderunt et non viderunt blessed be tho that beleue and se not for now thow haste seyn thou beleuiste but yit the taryng of Thomas broughte vs to sadder beleue and to the blessyng of oure lord ihesu criste Of thys spekyth seynte Gregori and seyth thomas of ynde thou haste holpe more to the feythe that woldeste not beleue tyll thou haddiste felyd his wounde thanne dyd mary mawdeleyne that dyd beleue at firste sighte Mâ—nus est enim in maria magdalene que cicius credidit quam Thomas qui diu dubitauit Thus Thonas preued oure feythe and oure beleue that we nedyd neuer to vary nor be in dowte Also thomas dyd many meruallys grete wounderys that were in his dayes Narracio Hit happid
nostri Ihesu cristi GOod men and wymmen as ye heryn and seyn as hooly churche makyth mynde and mencion of the grete myrthe and me lodye of the blessyd birth of oure lord ihesu crist very god man that was this day borne of his modyr mary in socour of all man kynde But in e speciall for thre causis Firste to yeue pese to man of good wyll and to lyghte hem that were darcke in synne and for to drawe vs with loue to hym Thanne as to the firste cause he was borne to geue men peese of good wyll I may well preue this for whan he was borne angellys songhe thus Gloria in excelsia deo c. Ioye be to god in heuen pese in erth to man kynd of good wyll At midnighte oure lord was borne for be kynde all thyng was in pees reste inshewyng that he was and is Princepa pacia Prince of peese come to make pees be twyxe god and man and be twyxe the angell and man and be twyx man and man And for to be trew mediatour be twyx god and man he toke natur and kynde of bothe and was bothe verray god and man and by his mediacion he knette the loue of god to man so saddely that the fadyr of heuyn sparyd not hym that is his owne but sente hym in to this worlde to bye man kynde with his precious blode thourghe his grete mekenesse to ioye of paradyse that man hadde loste be couetyse of vnbuxsumnes Thus he made pees be twyx god and man and man and man for whanne angeles say her lord wrothe with man for his vnbursumnes for it is a synne that angeles hatyn gretly Ther fore they kepte the gatys of paradyse and wolde lette no soule come ynne tyll they say her lord borne of man kynde Thanne a none for loue of our lord the angels did mankynde worshippe spake goodly to mankynde as to the sheperdys that keptyn her shepe in the countre by They bad hem go to the cite of Bethlem and ther they shuld fynde a childe borne and leyde in a crache and bad hem do hym worshippe and so they dedyn And euer syn angelys haue ben frendely to man and lowly end haue done reuerence to mankynde for the incarnacion of oure lord ihesu criste Thus he made pees betwene angelys man Also he made pees betwene man and man for a yene the tyme that oure lord wolde be borne he made so grete pees that in all the worlde ther as kyngdomes and countreys were in debate and werred eche with othyr on to the tyme of our lordis birthe Than there was so grete pees that a man that was callyd octauian Emperour of rome and he hadde the gouernaunce of the worlde for all the world was subiete to rome and hit dured xxx wynter in so moche that ther was a mauÌ„ment sente oute from rome in to all the world comaundyng to all maner of people shuld go to the cite that he drew lynage of ley a peny vpon his hede and so offer hit vp in knolechyng that he was sogette to the Emperour of rome Than muste Joseph oure ladyes husbonde nedys go to the cite of Bethleem for to offer with othir peple but for he had no money to offer he toke an oxe with hym to selle at the cite to make money to do his deâ—te with but for he durste not leue our lady be hynde hym for she was nyghe her tyme. And there fore he sette her vpon an asse and toke her with hym And so whanne they come to the cite of Bethleem hit was so full of people so that Joseph and oure lady myghte haue no logyng but tourned in to a cabon that was made betwyxse two houses there as the people of the countre sette her horses and theyr asses and othir bestis whanne they come in to the towne to the markette and so there they founde a crache with hey And they sette the oxe and the asse ther to and so there they taryed all that nyghte And whanne hit was a lytyll be fore mydnyght oure lady badde Joseph goo in the towne and loke her for a myddewyffe whan the tyme was come she shuld be delyuerid asked her wher ther shulde after hym any be borne that shulde be gretter than he Thanne at myd day Sybill loked in the sonne and there she saye a cercle of gold a boute the sonne Et in medio circuli virgo pulch errima And the myd dys of the cercle a fayre mayden and a childe in her arme with a crowne of gold And whan sibyll had shewid this to the Emperour she seyd to hym this childe shall be gretter than thos arte or euer were or euer shall be and ther fore do hym worshippe and reuerence Than a none the emperour toke ensence and dede worshippe to hym and charged all the people to do the same and to calle the childe her god hym but a man as othir were Thus all cristen people may lerne to do worshippe and seruice to this childe this day And ther fore the thyrde masse this day is seyd at myd day in tokenyng that cristen people shulde come and offer in the worshippe of this childe and his modyr and shewen hym seruaunt and suget to hym and knoleche this childe for his lord and his god and eche man shulde come to hym for loue and not for drede And ther fore the office of the masse this day begynneth thus Puer natus est nohis A childe is borne to vs he seyth and not a man for all cristen people shulde be bolde and not a ferde to come to hym to haue grace for he is full of grace and redy to yeue mercy to hem that askith hit mekely with dewe reuerence he is euer redy to yeue mercy and grace In tokenyng that same day that crist was borne in Bethleem a welle of water in rome tourned and ranne oyle all that day shewyng that the well of grace and mercy was borne that day that shuld yeue mercy and grace to all theym that wolde come to hym and aske mercy and grace and that ye shall here be ensample Narracio we rede of a woman that was defowled in lechery and all moste fill in dispayr of drede for whanne she be thoughte her of the streytenesse of cristes dome and the greâ—â— horrible peynes of hell that were ordeyned for soche synners as she was â—orâ— a ferde and be thoughte her of cristes passion what loue he shew de to all cristen people she thoughte she was vnkyn de to hym and he sufferid so sore for hâ—â— And than she be thoughte her how children be they neuer so wrothe and shewe neuer so grete vengeaunce how lyghtly they woll sese and for geue where fore this woman a none cryde to Criste preyng hym for his child he de to for geue her and to haue mercy on her and a none she herde a voyce an high in the eyre and seyd
with oure lord chesu criste from the tyme that he was baptisid in to the tyme of his asceÌ„sione to bere wittenesse with vs of his vprysing of his doyng Than they setten these ij men Joseph barsabas mathie leyde lotte vppon hem seyde thus preyng oure lord O lord thou knowist the hertis of all men shewe to vs whiche thow cheâ—iâ—te of these ijj men the lotte fill on mathie so he was in nombre with the othir xi Than mathie wente in to mirre to preche worde of god fore he had the grace of the hooly goste with hym he did miracles tourned moche people to the feythe of criste Than was the fende sory aperyd to the Bishoppe of the iewes lawe in likenesse of a yonge childe with longe heris hore bad him take mathie do hym to the dethe or else he wolde tourne all the people to cristus feythe Than the Bishoppe wexyd nyghe wode forwrathe and sente oute people to seke mathie whaÌ„ they had hym they bounde hym his hondis be hynde hym caste a rope aboute his necke ladde hym to prison there bonde him faste with cheynes of yron Thanne the nyght aftir oure lord â—hesu Câ—riste come to hym with a grete lighte and lousid his bondis and whaÌ„ he had well comfortid him he opened the pryson dore bad hym go preche the feythe spare for no maÌ„ Than there as he pÌ„chid there were somme that a yenestode hym letid othir yâ— wolde haue tourned to the feythe ThaÌ„ seyd mathie to hem I tell you be for he shall fall downe to hell pitte so a none in sighte of all meÌ„ the erthe openyd they sanke downe in to helle body soule neuer was seyne more of hem than was the people sore a gaste of that sighte tourned to the feythe a grete nombre of hem ThaÌ„ whan the bishoppÌ„ herde ther of they toke hym bounde hym sette men to throwe stones at hym whan he was nyghe de de he bad cristen pleople to bere the stone that he was stonedwith in to the grau with him in wittenesse of his martirdomâ— he knelid downe helde vp his hondis to god seyde O lord I be sech the take my spirit gafe vp the goste Reynold of chestre in his cronicles tellith a nothir miracle like this seythe whanne seynte wolston visitid his bishoppÌ„riche the people brought a man be for him that did his neyboures moche disese wolde neuer be in pese preyng the bishop to chastise him whan the bishop had prechid this man he was euer lenger the worse thoÌ„ the bishop all the people preyde to seint mathie to shewe som miracle be this man what he was worthy to haue than anoÌ„ in sight of all the people ther come oute of the erthe ij fendes with brennyng hokes pullid this quicke man douÌ„e to hell whan he was gone the people were well releued had reste pese euer aftyr Amen â–ª De annunciacione beate marie uir ginis GOod frend is so che a day ye shall haue an highe a sole mpne feste in holy churche the annuÌ„ciacion of oure lady and he that had a vowed or ioyned in penaunce muste faste the euyn ye shall vnderstonde that hit is callid the annuÌ„ciacion for this cause for the fadyr of heuen sente his angell Gabriell Missus est an gelus gabriel a deo in cinitatem cui no men nazareth In to the cite that was callid nazaret to oure lady that was newe wedded be the bidding of god and reuelacion of the holy goste to a man that callid Joseph and as she was in her chaÌ„bre in her prey oures the Angell gabriell come to her and seid oure lorde iâ— with the Thanne was she gretly a stoyned of this greting for there was in that couÌ„trey a man that cowde moche whiche crafte and so with helpe of fendes he made him selfe like an Angell and come to diuerse maydenes and seyd he was sente from god to hem on his message so ofte tyme lay by hem did hem grete vylony Thanne whan oure lady herde tell of that man she was a drade lefte hit had be he for she had spoke with none Angell be fore nor there were no soche worâ—is ne soche gretynges made neuer none to her be fore ThaÌ„ Gabriell the Angell comforted ther and seyd Ne time as maria inâ—e uisti graciam apud dominum Drede the not mary for sothe thou haste founde grace of oure lord for a mong alle wymmen oure lord hathe chosyn the forto be the modir of his sone hym thou shalte conceyue be feythe be loue of the holy goste with oute any dede of maÌ„ that shall shadowe the quenche alle fleschly luste tende the lighte of gostely loue that thow shalte conceyue the sone of the highe god And thus thow shalte be bothe modir mayde so was neuer noÌ„ before Thanne a none oure lady herde this wordis a none there with come a spirituall swettenesse ioye in her herte that a none or any erthly moÌ„â—owde tell hit so with all the reuerence of meke nesse that she cowde sche answered thus a yene seyde Ecce aucilla domini fiat michi secundum uerbum tuum Lo here goddis owne mayde redy to do goddis wyll preyng hit may be to me righte as thow seyste Thus that blessyd body conceyued oure lord ihesu criste in euer lastyng ioye to all the world Thus I may likyn oure lady to a pÌ„cious stone callid enix he is as clere as any criscall shall of kinde whaÌ„ the sonne shynythe hote on him hit openithe receyued a droppe of the dewe of heuen in to him closithe a yene till .ix. monthes aftyr thanne hit openithe fallithe oute a stoÌ„e of the same kinde so closithe a yene as euer hit was neuer openithe aftyr Thus oure lady was as clene as any cristall for the hote loue of the hooly goste at the ix month is ende she was delyueryd of her sone oure lord ihesu criste she aftyr as clene meyden as she was to fore Than whan the Angell hadde done his message he wente his wey to heueÌ„ oure lady wente to her cosyn elisabeth that was grete with childe with seinte Iohan Baptiste whoÌ„ she come to Elisabethe she grette her mekely as sone as oure lady spake to Elisabeth the childe in Elisabethes wombe pleyde made grete ioye forâ—â—â—â—we that oure lord had take mankynde was come to saue he in that were lorne Thannâ— oure lady dwellid therewith Elisabeth her cosyn till the tyme that seinte Iohan was borne was myddewyffe to eli sabeth toke seint Iohan from the erthe there she lerned all that her ned id for to knowe ayeÌ„ the tyme that her sone shulde be borne was persite y noughe there
of ThaÌ„ mekely she toke her leue wente home a yeue to Nasareth Than thoughte Ioseph he wold go â—oke how his wyffe dede wente towardes her whan oure lady herde of his comyng sche wente agaynâ— hym grete hym full mekâ—ly But whan ioseph sawe her gret with childe he meruâ—yled gretely how that myght be for well he wyste hit was not his fore he hadde neuer parte of her body in that degre fore he knowe well that she had made a vowe before she wold neuer haue parte of mannes body thought how he was made to wedde her by the byddyng of the holy goste grete miracle shewyng thoughte right in his herte he was not worthy to dwelle in her company and thoÌ„ght in his herte to haue gone home aÈene and to leue her there Thene come an angell to hym sayd be not aferd to take mari thy wyfe to thy kepyng fore it is of the holy goste that is quicke in her body for thow shall be her keper and norse to her chyld and whanne â–ª hit is borne call it ihesus for he shall be sauiour to all the world Than ye shall vnderstond that for iiij causes as seynte Ambrose seyth oure lady was weddid to this olde maÌ„ Ioseph The firste was yf she hadde conceyued with oute wedloke the iewes wolde haue seid that she had be an euyll woman of her body so haue stoned her to dethe The secouÌ„de cause was fore she was so shamefast that she had herde any haue putte any defame to her she wolde haue dyede fore sorow The thrydde cause was for ioseph shulde bere wittenesse of her maydenhode The fourthe cause fore ioseph shulde helpe her at her birth brynge her to bethleem and aftyr in to Egipte so ayene in to her owne countre fore these iiij causes she was weddid to this olde man Ioseph And also to be gyle the fende that he shulde not knowe hym from a nothir â–ª childe Nowe haue ye herde of the Annunciacion There be somme people that aske a question why there stondithe a wyne potte with lyllyus betwene oure lady Gabriell the Angell at her salutacion This is the cause fore oure lady atte her salutacion conceyued be feythe Narracio Hit be fill thus vpon a cristemasse day that a cristen man and â— iewe sate to gedyr and spake of the concepcion of oâ—re lady and as they were there stode a wyne potte to fore he in with a lyly there ynne Thanne seyd the cristen man we be leue that oure lady conceyued lyke as this lyly conceyuythe colour of grene and aftyr bryngiâ—h forth a whyte floure with oute crafte of man or any pay ryng to the stalke right so oure lady conceyued of the hooly goste and aftyr broughte her sone oure lord ihesu criste withoute any wemme of her body that is floure and chefe of all wymmen Thanne seyde the iewe whan I see a lyly sprynge oute of the dethe stalke that stondith in this potte thanne wolle I beleue that thow seyste hit is trew and a none there with sprange a white lyly oute of the dede stocke that stode in that same wyne potte And whan this Iewe sawe that a none he fill downe vn to the grounde vppon his knees and seyde thus lady nowe I see well that thowe conceyued with the hooly goste oure lorde Ihesu criste goddys sone of heuen And thou were clene mayden bothe be fore the birthe and also aftyr the birthe And so a none he was cristoned and so aftir he was a full hooly man And this is the cause where so that the potte with the lylyus is sette betwene oure lady the Angell for righte as the iewe disputid with the cristen man of the maner of the concepcion So oure lady disputid with the Angell of the maner howe she shulde conceyue and be bothe modir and mayde or she consentid ther to Thanne ye that woll faste the v. euâ—â—ys of oure lady in worshippe of her v. ioyes that she had of her sone The firste was whan she conceyued of the holy goste know that sche was modir to goddis sone of heuen The secounde was on cristemasse day whan she was delyuered of her so ne with oute any payne of her body for as she coÌ„ceyued with oute luste of her body also she was delyuered withoute peyne of her body The iij. ioye was one Estyr day whan her sone rose from dethe to lyue come to her kyssed her made her more ioyefull of his â—prysing than she was sory of his dethe The fourthe ioye was whann heâ—sâ—yed vp to heuen on holy thurday in the same flesche blode that he toke in her body The v ioye was in her assumpcion whan she sawe her sone come with grete multitude of angelis semtis to fette her to heuen and crowned her quene of heuen Emperes of hell and lady of the world so all that be in heueÌ„ shall do her reuerence and worshippe and all bethe in erthe shall do her seruice These be the v. ioyes that oure lady hadde of her sone and ye shall vnderstoÌ„de that he that woll grete oure lady with v. aueys shall neuer come in to the payne of hell Narracio we finde wreton of an hooly mayden that was deuoute in oure lady seruice and euery day grete her with v. ioyes Than hit happened so on a day that she fill sike and felte her selfe welle that sche shulde be dede and for fere she â—ighed wonder sore and made grete mone for be cause she wysce not whetâ—r she shulde go afher dethe Thanne come oure lady to her and seid why arte thow so sory yâ— hast made me so ofte glad gretyng me with ioyes that I hadde of my sone there fore be not sory but knowe thou well that yâ— shalte go with me in to euer lastyng blysse ioye euer with oute ende Narracio we fynde of seint Gilbert that one a tyme he was nye dede of the quincy whaÌ„ his throte was so grete wâ—ll nye dede â— he myghte vnnethe take brethe oure lady come to hym seyde to hym gilbert my seruaunt hit were euyll do that thy throte shulde suffer penaunce that hathe so oftyn tymes gladid me with my ioyes a none she toke her feyre pappe mylâ—yd on his throte and wente her wey a none there with he was hole thankyd oure lady euer aftyr De saÌ„cto georgio martire GOod frendis soche a day ye shall haue seynt Gorges day the holy martyr hit is wreton in his lyffe that there was an horrible dragon be side a Cite that was callid Cirme of the whiche dragon meÌ„ of the Cite were sore a ferde in so moch that be couÌ„sell of the kyng euery day they gaffe hym a childe a shepe to ete fore fere lefte he wolde haue come in to the Cite Than whan alle the children shep were nye eton for because that the
thow schall come aftyr suffre more penauÌ„ce than I may for I am olde thow arte yonge mayste suffre more than y there for make the redy for ther is grete tourment ordeyned for the. ThaÌ„ were ther somme herde Laurence speke of tresour than the Emperour sente aftyr Laurence seyde Ostende michi thesaâ—râ—a ecclesie Shewe me the tresour of the churche or â—lse thou shalt be put to soche a tourmente that yâ— shalt be fayne to delyuer hit Than how 〈◊〉 sixtus semt Laurence come to â—â—is tresour ye shall here we rede that there was an holy man that highte Origenee that conuertid philip the Emperour thaÌ„ the reme of frauÌ„ce was rebell a yense the emperour of rome than this emperour sente a knyghte of his in to fraunce with moche people to ouer come fraunce This knyght was callid decius in shorte tyme he made fraâ—ce sogettes to the emperour as the were to â—orâ— Than whan this emperour philip herde that decius had do so well in grete worshippe to Deciuâ— to thanke him for his iorney The emperour toke with hym a fewe men rode of rome a yense decius to wellcome him home Than decius sawe yâ— the emperour did him so grete reuerence he thoughte hit had be for dredâ— not for loue thought to be emperour him selfe so in that nyght nexte laâ—tyr as the emperour lay in his bede sleping deciâ—â— slewe hym toke all his people to rome with him Than whaÌ„ the romay â–ª nes the senatours herde ther of what for drede what for loue they made decins emperour ThaÌ„ whan philippus sone heâ—de tell that his fadir was dede in this wyse he was a â—erde leâ—â—â— decius wolâ—â— haue â—ayn him toke all his â—â—deâ—is tresour to holy churche bare hit to 〈◊〉 sixtus to Laurence preyng hem yf cause were that decius slew him they shulde dele this tresour to holy chiâ—â—he to pore people that had nede Than decius slew philippis sone for fere left he wolde haue vengid his fâ—deris dethe whan he had come to â—annes state this was the tresour that â—â—pe sixtus laureÌ„ce had and for this tresour they put Laurence in to pÌ„son Than was there a maÌ„ yâ— hight luâ—â—llâ—s in pryson yâ— by grete weping had lost his sight thaÌ„ LaureÌ„ce made him to see a yen cristoned hym where fore many blynde men women come to Laurence had her sight than the emperour sente to Laurence to delyuer the tresour than he preyde him of iij. dayes respite so he wold shew the tresoure So these iij. dayes laurence was lette out of prison wente gederid all the pore people to gedir that he cowde fynde blynd lame or crokyd the iij. day he brought hem before the emperour to his paleyse seyd Lo here is euer lasting tresour this wolle neuer fayle fore hit woll endure for euer in heuen so Laurence shewde â— yâ—uâ—e couetyse largenes for he delte for goddis sake all that he had myght haue spente hit in vanite he had wolde Also in tourment of passion he schewde loue swetenesse than the emperoure coÌ„maundid to bring for the all maner of tourmentry scourges nayles stones salte piche brymstone brennyng coles iron schaftes barris of Iron gred irons coÌ„maundid all schuld be spente vpon Laurence but he wolde schew the tresour for sake his god to do sacrifice to mawmentis than seyde semt Laurence thou vn blessid maÌ„ these metus drynkes haue I euer desired for right as swete â—etis drinkes â—lese thy body so these tourmentis plesith my soule makithe me stronge myghty to suffre passion for my lordis sake than was the emperour wroth coÌ„mauÌ„did to bete him scourges full of knottes leue not till the blode ranne downe on euery syde than they seyde cheynes of â—â—on brâ—unyng to his sydus that brenâ—â—the the flesche froÌ„ the bones euer laurence thankid god hertely ThaÌ„ was decius wod for wo seyde thoughe thou with thy wyche crafce scâ—rnest my tourmeÌ„tes yit thou shuldeste not scorne me And than he coÌ„maundid to bete him a yen wiâ—h wiâ—pis knottes of lede till the bones were bare Thann laurence yafe vp his hede to god preyde thaÌ„ ther come a voyce from heueÌ„ thou muste suffer more tourmentis passion for loue of me this decius heâ—de hit hym selfe thow shalte come to me with grete ioye blysse Than seyde deciâ—s to the peple ye may here all how fendes com coÌ„forte him go and bete him a yene with sâ—â—rges Than was there a knyghte of the Emperours that hightâ— romanus that saw an Angell with a schete of silke com wype laurence fidis thaÌ„ he for soke the emperourâ— be come the disciple of semt laurence laurence anone cristoned him than decius made to smyte of romanus hede thaÌ„ decius did make a grete fyre sette a gredyron there on to roste laurence thurst him downe with fyre for kys they did so Than laurence lokid vp on the emperour seyde â—howe wreche yâ— syde is rostid y now ete there of while yâ— othir syde rostith I drede not thy tourmentes caste his eyon vp to god seyde Lorde ihe su criste take my spirite so he yelde vp the goste â–ª than the tourmentures wente her â—ey left the body â—ying there than come cristeÌ„ peple toke the body beried hit with grete lameÌ„tacion thus laâ—rence sheude mekenes a yens malice largenesse a yens couetise a yens passion loue swetenesse for the grete loue yâ— he had to god made him sette nought by alle his tourmenâ—s yâ— were do â–ª to his body Seint gregory tellith how ther was a pÌ„ste that hight staculus was â—ely to meÌ„de a chirche of seint laurence that was disiroyed with lombardes but he waÌ„tid brede to his werkemen made moche sorow there fore he preyde to god seint laurence besily of helpe thaÌ„ he lokid in to an ouyn foÌ„de hit full of new whâ—re brede but he wente hâ—â— wolde haue seruid heÌ„ but fore a weke hit foÌ„de â—â—â—â—y now all the tyme his werke was a making we finde yâ— ther was an emperour that a cursed maÌ„ of leuing whan he was dede ther come a legâ—oÌ„ of fendes to fech him as they come by a holy ermytes selle they made a gret noyse the ermyte had grete meruayle there of openyd a wyndow spake to on that come be hinde askid in the name of god what they were he seyd fendes that were senâ—â— to the emperour that was dede to loke yf they myght haue him for ther reward than the ermyte coÌ„mauÌ„did hem to come a yen that wey tell him how they spâ—dde he did so seyde whaÌ„ his synnes were leyde in the balauÌ„ce was ny ouer come than come
to the feythe be fre wyll of hem selfe and whan they were all cristo ned than wente Eracli us with both ostis to the olde kyng Cosdre as he satte in his trone seyd to him thus For because thou haste do worshippe to the holy crosse thou shalte chese yf thou wolte be cri stoned haue thy kyngdome a yen for a litill tri bute in reste pese or else to be dede he for soke to be cristoned than a non Eraclius smote of his he de right there made a cry that his tre four shulde be dalte a monge his men â—cious stones othir iewles shulde be kepte to restore the chirchis that were distroyed toke the crosse wente to iherusalem And whan he come to the mounte of oliuete towardes the cite of iherusalem ryding one a trapped hoâ—se he wolde haue rydyn in to the cite of iherusalem â—ut sodenly the yatiâ—â—â—â— to ge dir was playn wall thaÌ„ was he gretly a stoyned meruelyd gretely of yâ— vengeaunce made a grete mone Than come an angell stode on the ya tis seyde QuaÌ„doâ—rex noster whan the kyng of heuen come this wey thourghe these yatiâ— to wardes his passion he rode on no trapped horse nor in no clothe of golde but mekely one a simple asse yâ—uyâ—g ensample of mekenesse to all people than the angell wente his wey ThaÌ„ the kyng with all deuocion that coude myght a none did of his clothis vn to his shirte bare fote Than the yate opeâ—â—d he wente ynne to the yate of iherusalem so in to the temple offered the crosse a yene as hit was to fore ThaÌ„ for the grete ioye that the peple had of this crosse â—oâ—â— the grete miracles yâ— gode shewed hit was more 〈◊〉 â—ftâ—r thaÌ„ hit 〈◊〉 to â—â—re the â—â—â— shippe of the crosse that was caste downe aftyr was lifte vp where this this day is callid the â—â—altacion of the crosse â—â—re as seint Austeyn seythe the crosse that was furste of so grete spite velony now is of grete worship that Emperours kinges worshippe hit we â—â—de in legenda aurea that aie we come to a churche for deâ—aute that no man was in the chirche he weÌ„ te to the rode for gâ—â—t en uye that he had to criâ—â—â— he cutte the rodis throte a none the blode sterte oute one his clothis so his clothis were alle rede blode And than he hid the rode in a preuy place as he wente home a cristen man mete him sey de to him thou haste slay ne somme maÌ„ where haste thou done him the iewe seyd nay hit was not so the cristen man seyd thy clothis be alle blody of him Than this iewe knelid downe seyde for sothe the god that this cristen people be leue vpon is of grete vertu myght tolde him how he had doue cryde mercy with all his herte so he was cristoned an holy maÌ„â—uer aftyr so wente to â—uer lasting ioye blysse to the whiche god brynge vs all to Amen De quatuor temporum GOod freÌ„dis this weke ye shall haue ymbre deyes that is wedenysday fryday satirday the whiche dayes calixte the pope ordey ned iiij tymes in the yere to all yâ— bethe of couenable age for certeyn cau ses as ye shall here Oure olde faderis fastid foure tymes in the yere a yense foure highe solempne fe stis if we woll shew vs good children we muste faste folowe the same rewle that they vsid and there fore we faste iiij ty mes Furste in marche The secounde at witson tyde The iij. bytwix her ueste sede tyme And the iiij be fore cristemas Marche is a tyme that dryethe vp the moystenes that is in the erth whe re for we faste that tyme to drye the erthe of oure body of humerus that be full nedefull to the body to the soule For that tyme the humurus of le chery temptith a maÌ„ mo ste of any tyme of the ye re Also we falte at witfontyde fore to gete grace of the holy goste that we may be in perâ—ite loue charite to god to all the worlde Caritaa cooperit multitudiueÌ„ peccatoruÌ„ Charite co uerith the multitude of synnes Also we faste to haue mekenes in oure her t is to put a wey all pry de that reynith in vs. Al so we faste betwene herueste sedtyme for to haue grace to gedir frutes of good werkis in to the house of oure conscience so be ensample of good leuyng a monge the people that we comyn with bothe riche pore Also we faste in wynter fore yâ— sleith all stinkyng wedis of synne fowle erthe of fleschly lustes that makid good angelis good peple to with drawe hem from vs For right as net tell bâ—â—nnith rosis othir flowres that be nye hit in the same wyse a vicious man or woman sterith settith on fyre hem that biâ—h in her coÌ„pany And for these causes we â—aste iiij tymes in the yere and euery tyme iij. dayes that be tokenith iij. speciall yâ— tues that he lpith a maÌ„ to grace that is fasting deuoute preyng almesse dede doyng And be opinion of moche people these dayes be callid ymbre dayes because that ou re elder faderis wolde one these dayes ete noo brede but cakis made vnder as kis so be the etyng of that they reducid in to theyr minde that they were but askes shulde tourne ayeÌ„ wyste not how sone by that they tourned a wey from all delicius me tis drynkys toke noo hede so that they had esy â—ustinaunce this causithe hem to thinke on dethe that wyll cause a man to desyre no more thaÌ„ he ne dith absteyne him selfe from all maner of bodely lustes to encrese in ver tueâ—be the which we may come to euer lasting blys De festo sacti ma thei GOod frend is so â—he a day ye shall haue seint mathe uâ—â—ay the whiche was â—â—â—â—tus apostle ye shall fâ—â—ste the euyn come to holy chirche in worshippÌ„ of god seint mathew he is gretly coÌ„mendid in holy churche for certeynâ— holy vertues that he had Hewas obedient to criste at the firste calling he prechid the gospell with oute faynyng he suffered passion mekely with oute any deuyyng Furste he was obedient to criste at the firste calling for he satte in a certeyn place besy to gete good crisâ— câ—me that wey lokyd on him bad him come go with him Thann he caste so grete loue to crisâ— that he left all his goodiâ— that he had sewed criste forthe full simple and full pore Also he fedde criste gladly for on a day he preyde Criste to ete with him made criste a grete feste not in delicatâ— metis drynkys
sacrifice to hÌ„er mawmentes or else they shulde be dede ThaÌ„ come an angell askid yf they wolde haue her enemyes dede or no and they seyde they desyred to haue her enemyes tourned to the feyth the angell askid yf they wolde suffre martirdome fore cristus sake they seyd they wolde suffre deth Than they coÌ„maundid tourned to the mawmentes in the temple coÌ„maunded the fendes that were in hem to come oute to plucke the ymages all to pecis so they did than was the bishop wrothe yâ— her goddis fill so to pecis a non ther come a thouÌ„ dir a lyghtenyng cleue the temple in iij. parties down to the grouÌ„de than these bishoppis sodeÌ„ly slew these apostlis thaÌ„ the king toke her bodyes beried heÌ„ rially made there a fayre church in worshippÌ„ of god these holy apostles Amen De festo omnium sanctorum GOod frendis soche a day ye shall hÌ„aue all halowyn day ye shall faste the euyn on the morow come to chÌ„irch worship god oure lady all halowyn Frendes ye shall vnderstonde that this feste was ordeyned fore iij speciall causes that be these Furste fore the temple hÌ„alowyng for omission fullfillyng and also fore negligent leuyng Furste for the temple halowyng for whan the romaynes were lordes of all the worlde they made a temple in rome as a doffe house namyd hit panteon set in the myddis of the temple an ymage that was the chefe mawment of rome of euery londe in the worlde an othir ymage all a boute the walles the name of the loÌ„de that the jmage was of wreton vnder the fete of the jmage all was made so by nigromancie yf that any loÌ„de tourned from the emperour a noÌ„ the jmage of the londe wolde tourn his backe to the jmage of rome his face to the walle So whaÌ„ the bishoppÌ„ come to the temple fouÌ„de any ymage tourned a none they wolde to the Emperour tell him Than wolde they ordeyn an oste of peple sende in to the londe sette hem atte reste pese And so this temple endured thus vn to the tyme that 〈…〉 Bonifâ—ce the iiij come Thanne he weÌ„te to the emperour that was callid foca and preyde him that he wold yeue him that teÌ„ple that he myghte putte oute the multitude of mawmeÌ„tis to halow hit in the worshippe of god oure lady all balowyn And so he gaffe the 〈…〉 the temple Than come ther an othir 〈…〉 that was callid Gregory coÌ„maundid all holy chÌ„urche to halowe the feste like as it was be gon Also this feste was ordeyned by the same 〈…〉 to fullfille oure omissionis For many seyntes dayes in the yere we leuyn vn serued foâ—â— there be so many that we may not serue eche by heÌ„ selfe For as jerom seyth that there be for eche day in the yere x. M. marteres out take the firste day of Ianiuere where fore holy churche ordeyned that this day we shulde fullfille thatswe haue left be hinde all the yere And thus â—ery seintis euyne hathe his worshippe of vs yf we kepe well that day in worshippÌ„ to god oure lady all halowyn Also this feste is ordeyned â—o be halowed to clense vs of oure negligence and vncoÌ„nyng also by worldely occupacions doyng we be full recheles in keping oure holydayes there for the holy feste is ordeyned fore we shulde make a mendis as mochÌ„ as we may of that we haue trespasid in othir festis there for vnderstonde ye that they be in gret parell that brekithe this feste or any othir in worldely occupaciones worchyng or in any synn doyng in byyng or in sellyng or in any othir fal hode contryuyng Also ye shall vnderstonde that this day oure preyoures shall be sonner herde thaÌ„ any othir day fore this day all the seintes in heueÌ„ come to gedir to prey to god fore vs. there fore ye may know well that all coming to gedir shall be sonner herde than one or to be hem selfe The seintes that be in heuene were somme tyme as we be now bothe in flesche in blode body bone and were oure elder faderis they be full glad make moche ioye whann they may gete any preyoures or alâ—es dedis of vs with the which they may pÌ„sente god oure lady preyng fore vs. to shewe you be ensample hÌ„ow all seintes come to gedir as this day ye shall here Narracio we finde wreton in legenda aurta that in the same yere this feâ—te was ordeyned to be halowed there was a keper of seinte peters chÌ„irche in rome that this day aftir matenes at midnyght whaÌ„ all people were go from matenes fore grete deuocion that he had he wente to euery auter in the chirch and seyde hÌ„is deuocions whan he had gone all a boute than wente he to the hye anter there fill a slepe his spirite was raueschid sawe the fadir of heueÌ„ sittyng in his mageste and a grete multitude of angeles a boute him And than come a fayre quene with a crowne one her hede richely a rayde a grete company of virgines maydens sewyng her Thann the kyng a rose a yene her to sette a cheyre of golde sette her there yun thaÌ„ come one clothid in camell skyunes hÌ„im sewed a grete company of aged men Than come a nothir like a bishop aftir him many othir bishoppes And than come a grete multitude as it had be knyghtes aftir hem moche othir people all they come be for the kyng knelid down before the kyng did him worshippe Than the bishopp began to sey matenes Than spake this in to the angell that lad him askid him what all this people was in that a ray than seyde the angell the kyng is god him selfe the quene is oure lady he that was clothid in camell skynnes was iohaÌ„ baptiste othir patriarkes prophetes with him The bishoppe was seint petir othir apostles confessoures with hym The knyghÌ„tis was seint gorge with othir marterers comyners that were good trew leuers seruauÌ„tes to god here vpon erthe they come alle to thanke god for the grete worshippe that they had here in erthe preyde be sely to god that bitheÌ„ in erthe that he shulde haue mercy on hem This is the cause that this feste was furste founde there fore late vs come to churche worshippe god and all halowyn yâ— they may prey for vs that we mâ—y at once laste ende â—â— of â— nombre that shall worship god that boke speâ—â—th of seyth thus Diditurbam magnam quam nemo dinume rare poterit for they be so many that no mau can nombre hem and all they prey for vs euyr more that we may come to that blysse that they be in Amen In die auimaruÌ„ GOod
not for lord nor fore kyng but openly preched thâ— worde of god and taughte the feythe aftyr in euery place And he that was to fore so proude so feres and sone aftir was so meke and so lowly yâ— he fill to the grounde to euery cristen maÌ„nes fote that euer he â—respased to and mekely be soughte hem of mercy with a full pacient herte where fore seynte â–ª Austeyn likenyth hym to an Onicorne of kynde that berith an horne in his nose and with that home he â—leithe alle the bestys that he fightithe with Also he is so ferse in him selfe that thee may no hunter take him but thus they wolle be gile hym they wolle aspey where the vnicorne hauntith and vse to walke there they wolle sette a meyde and as sone as the vnicorne seethe the mayde a non be kynde he wol fall downe and ley his hede in her lappe than all the myghte streghte is gone And than they come and take hym Thus he seythe seynte Poule was firste fo ferse in hym selfe that they durste not preche there as he was nor speke to hym for drede But whanne oure lord ihesu criste shewed him swetenesse of his grace and this fayre mayde that is the lawe of hooly churche a none poule fill downe to the grounde was soget to all cristeÌ„ peple here fore hooly churche was gladde of his defendyng He is sette also in highe ensample of highe a mendyng for oure lord is so gracious yâ— all cristen people may be saued that woll for fake her mysâ—e leuyng and be conuertid Multomagis gaudiuÌ„ erit in celo de vno peccatore penitenciam ageÌ„ re quam de nonagin ta nâ—uem qui uoÌ„ indigent penitentia There is more Joye in heuen vppon on synner doyng penâ—unee thanne vppon xcix that dede neuer synne And ther for oure lorde wold that all were conuertid and saued where fore in highe ensample and coumforte to all sinfull peple he sette seynte Poule to loke vppon for thoughe a maÌ„ had do neuer so moche synne and he wolde fore sake his synne and synne no more Thanne all the companye of heuen makythe myrthe and melodye of his conuersion as we do here in erthe of the conuersion of seynte Poule but there is moche people that loue more synne with luste and likelyng in this world than they do god Fore there be many that wolle neuer leue synne nothir for the loue of god nor for the desire of the blisse of heuene nor for ferâ— of the fende nor drede of the grete paynes of hell But somme people seyne god wolle neuer lese that he hathe boughte dere with his passion but they that sey so be notte wyse god wolde that none were loste but be ware thou lese not thy selfe for alle the whyle thow loueste more synne than god and haddest leuer to serue the fende than god thou arte cause of thyne owne dampnacion fore whyle thou haste more wille to serue the fende be his childe than goddis childe thow lesiste thy selfe and god hathe ordeyned fendes to tourmente hem in euer lastyng payne But seinte Gregor seyth they that shalle be dampned begynne her penauÌ„ce here in this world in party and aftyr her deth continâ—ueth of euer more where fore I telle yow this ensample Narracio There was a man that was an officer with a lord and stode a cursed and on a tyme â—â— he rode towardes a maner of his lord is he fille oute of his mynde and â—n bâ—â— deâ—id his horse and he bare hym in to a maner of his lordis And than a none the bayly conseyued howe hit was with this man that he was discranght oute of his minde and a none made the people to bynde hym to a poste in a barne so whaÌ„ the bayly and his seruauÌ„tes had souped he bad one of his seruauntes go loke how that this man dede and he wente to this man And whan he come there he sawe iij. gre blacke dogges plucking a wey this mannes fleshe from the bone Thanne was this seruaunte a ferde that â—nethe he hadde his mynde but wente to his bed and lay there sike longe aftyr And on the morow whanne the people come the thir as this man was bouÌ„de theâ— founde no more of this man but his bare bones and all the flesche was clene a wey Thus ye may see he that contynualy leued in synne may be full sykyr of a foule ende and thoughâ— his ende semythe fayre in the sighte of a man yit hit is ryghte foule in the sight of almyghty god and all his angellis where for hit is nedefull for euery cristen man and woman to a meÌ„de hym while he is here in this world and hathe tyme and space of a mendement And he that dothe so shall come to seynte Poule and be there with hym in euerlastyng blysse to the whyche bryng vs he that died for vs and all mankynde Amen Sequitur â—e parificacioÌ„e beate marie virginia â–ª GOod frendis soche a day ye shall haue candelmas day that day makith mâ—de and mencion of oure lady of her sone speciyally iij thingis oure ladyes purificacion in sime onis metyng and in caÌ„dâ—les offeryng This day is callid the purificacion of oure lady in englische hit is the clensing of oure lady but fore noo nede that she had there to fore sche was clensid with the worchyng of the hooly goste in conceyuyng of her sone that there was in her no maner of spotte of filthe But for that day was the xl day from the birthe of her sone and was callid in the iewes lawe the day of the purificacione not only for oure lady but for all othir wymmen where fore we calle hit the purificacion of oure lady The lawe of the iewes was soche that a woman that was delyueryd of a man childe was holde vnclene vij dayes aftyr thaÌ„ the lawe gaue her leue to go to her husbonde but yit she was vnclene xxxiij dayâ—â— but till xliiij dayes were fullfilled she shulde holde her with oute the churche with her offeryng And the offering â–ª in those dayes was of a riche man a lambe and for a pore maÌ„â—â—s a peyre of turtyll doues or elles othir doues and so offered oure lady with her sone And yf a woman be delyueryd of a mayden childe she shulde duble all those same dayes a fore sayde that is for to say the comyng to her husbonde and also the comyng to the temple and so this is there son there of For hit is so that all grete clerkys sey that hit to vij dayes aftyr whanne a woman hathe conceyued a maÌ„nes childe or that the same sede tourne in to blode And hit is also .xxxiij. dayes aftyr oâ— it tourne to any shappe of man than god sente lyffe in to hit and yf hit be a mayde childe hit doublithe all the dayes bothe in tournyng in to the blode also in shappe of body this
is the cause eue that was the furste â—ormyd woman that eâ—â—r wrathid oure lord more thaÌ„ did the maÌ„ Adam therfore she is lenger in formyng Thus fore fleschly complexion of man woman she is vn clene in her selfe there for this purificacion is ordeyned But vnderstondith well that oure lady had no nede to this clensing fore she conceyued not with complexion of man but only of the holy gosce so that she was clene of all maner of filthe touching consent of man But yit she wente to the temple no othir wymmen dede specyally for iiij causes The firste was to fullfillethe scripture that seyth thus Quanto maiâ—eâ— taâ—to te humilieâ— The higher that thou arte in degre the mekyr thou shuldeâ—â—e make the Thus did oure lady for she wyste well sche was modir to goddis sone of heuen and had so grete worshippe passyng alle othir wymmen yit sche made her as the poreste woman that was in the company The secouÌ„de cause was as she fullfillithe the lawe of circuÌ„cision of her sone in the same wyse she fullfillid the purificacion and in offeryng of her sone in the temple doyng for him as othir pore wymmen did for her children The thridde cause for to stoppe the iewes mouthes left they had seyde that she had not do the lawe and so caughte a grete sclaundre a yense hÌ„eÌ„ in tyme comyng The fourthe cause was for to yeue ensample to all othir wymen that they shulde come to chirche aftyr the birthe of her childe thanke god that he hathe sauyd hem from dethe in her trauelyng for in that tyme a woman is in grete parell of dethe for there is noo sikenes in the world that gothe so nyghe dethe fore these causes hooly churche makythe mynde of oure ladyes purificacion Hit makythe mynde also of the comyng of symeon and Anne Symeon ille senex din vixerat â—ine etas cooperatur Anne This symeon was a passing olde man but he had preyde to god besely all his lysse that he shuld neuer dye till he had seyne criste bodely in this worlde and so he dede And this Anne hathe preyde the same Also ye shall vnderstonde that this was not â—ine oure ladyes mo dir but an othir aÌ„na â–ª that had a husbonde vij yere and whan her husbonde was dede she wold not be weddid no more but leuyd till she was lxxx yere olde and serued god in the temple nyghte and day and preyde to se god or she dyede oure lord grauntid her Thanne whan oure lady come into the temple with her sone the hooly goste warned symeon and Anne and a none they with moche ioye wente a yenste hym and broughte hym in to the temple Et Symeon accepiteum in uluaa snaâ— And symeon toke him in his armes with all the reuerence that he cowde and myghte and seyde 〈◊〉 dimittis sernum tuum domine secundum nerhum â—num in pace cetera O thow lord nowe for yeue thy seruaunt aftyr thy word in pese and so with all the worshippÌ„ and reuerence that he coude he louyd thaÌ„kid him that he wolde lete hym leue so long to see hym bodely with his eyeÌ„ wher in mynde of this whan a woman comythe to chirche of a childe she a bydithe at the churche dore till the preste come caste hooly water on her and takythe her in by the honde in to the churche yeuen her leue aftyr to come to churche and to goo to her husbonde for and they haue comened to gedyr be fore they muste bothe shreyue heÌ„ ther of and take her penaunce Also hooly chirch makythe mynde of candels offeryng and as ye see hit is a comyn vse for all cristen people that be of conuenient age to come that day to churche and bere a candell brennyng in procession as thoughe they wente bodely with oure lady But nowe ye shalle here howe this worshippefull feste was firste founde Somme tyme whanne the Romaynes by grete myghte and viall power conquered all the world fore they hadde grete dominacion they were so prowde that they for gete her god and made hem diuerse goddis aftyr her owne luste And so among all they hadde a god that they called Mars that had be to fore a notable knyghte in batayle And so they preyde to hym fore helpe and fore they wolâ—â— spede the better of this knyghte the people preyde and did grete worshippe to his modir that was called februa aftyr the whiche woman moche people haue opinion that this mone that is callid februarij where fore the secounde day of this mone is Candelmas day The Romaynes this nyghte wolde goo a boute the Cite of rome with torchis and candels breÌ„nyng in worshippe of this woman Februa for hope to haue the more helpe and socoure of her sone mars Than was there a 〈◊〉 that was callid Sergius whan he sawe Cristen people drawe to this false maumentry and vnâ—â—â— we beleue he thought to vndo this foule vse and custume and tourne hit in to goddis worshippe and oure ladyes and yaffe coÌ„maundement that all cristen people shulde come to churche and offer vp a candell brennyng in the worshippe that they did to this woman februa did worshippe to oure lady and to her sone oure lord Ihesu Criste so that now this feste is solemply halowed thorow all cristendome and eche cristen man and womaÌ„ of couenable age to come to chirche and offer vp her caÌ„dels as though they were bodely with oure lady hopyng for this reuerence and worshippÌ„ that they do to oure lady to haue a grete rewarde in heuen and of her sone oure lord ihesu â–ª criste and so they may be sekyr and hit be doo in clene lyffe and with good deuocione A candell is made of weke and wexe So was cristis soule hid with ynne the manhode Also the fyre be tokemith the god hede Also hit be tokenithe oure lady modirhode and maydenhede lighte with the fyre of loue Also hit be tokenith euery cristen man and woman that doth good dedis with good entente and perfite loue charite to god and to all cristen people where for yf there be any of you that his candell of charite be queynte goo a none and be a cordid with his neybores and lighte his caÌ„dell and thaÌ„ offer hit vp fore that is goddis wyll And yf ye do not thus ye shall lese all youre me rite and youre mede yn heuen god kepte them so that they had no harme Than for this â–ª Judas was one of the xij apostels the nombre of heÌ„ muste be fullfilled than was criste steyed vp in to heuen the xi apostles were to gedyr with many othir people in a place Thanne seyde Petyr to hem thus now all good men bretheren hit is well knowe to you that Judas was one of the xij be cause the noÌ„bre may not be in perfeyte hit is nedefull to chese on of these ij men that hathe be