wyll saye thus to theym Venite benedicti patris mei Come ye my faderis blissed children receyue ye the kyngdom of heuen that is ordeyned to you and soo reherse to theym the vii werkes of mercy whan I was hungry ye gaaf me mete Sitiui et dedistis michi bibere whan I was thursty ye gaue me drynke and whan I was herberles ye herbered and soo forth all the werkes off mercy For whan ye gaf ony thynge in my name it was to me Thenne shall our lorde rebuke the riche people that wold not doo for his loue nor forgyue noo trespasse for his sake And saye to theym ¶ Discedite a me maledicti in ignem eternum Goo ye cursed people in to euerlastinge peyne of helle For whan I was a hungred ye gaue me noo mete c. ThaÌ„ maye they be full sory and woo that euer our lorde Ihesu Criste shall thus rebuke theym For ther shall noman of lawe to plete nor for golde nor syluer nor other yeftes to helpe For than shall nother mayster nor lordeshyp helpe but all be sette besyde but right as a man hath done soo shall he haue And ther shall be dyuerse accusers bothe aboue hym and benethe hym and on euery syde aboue hym shall be our lord Ihesu Criste his domes man Iratus est furor domini in populo suo wythout mercy to theym that dede no mercy and so accuse theym of the â—â—st thought that euer was amys On the right syde his angell tellyâ—◠〈◊〉 where whan and how ofte he â—yde amys On that other syde fendes chalengynge hym theyres as by ryght for his wycked dedes Vnder hym â—elle redy if he be founde in synne that daye they shall be peyned and in peyn wythout ende That daye poure people shall â—â—â—te wyth cryste at the dome And done the ryche people for the grete wrongâ—s that they dyde to them and they myghte gete none amendes tyll the daye off dome Thenne they shall haue theyâ— wylle of the ryche people For whan the ryche done the pore wronge they can doo nomore But praye to god to quyte theym at the daye of dome And soo he wyll for god sayth thus Michi vindictâ—m et ego retribuam ¶ Put all to me â–ª and I yelde euery man after his deseruynge Therfore whyle ye ben here make ye amendes for your wyckednesse And maâ—e them youre frendes that shal be your domes men at the day of dome And truste nat to them that shall coÌ„me after you leste ye be begyled And drede the payne of hell that neuir shall haue ende ¶ Narracio ¶ Saint Bede tellith howe there was an husbond man in Englond that fyl seke and ley dede from the euyn tyll on the morowe Thenne he rose and departed his godes in foure parties all his owne parte he gaue to pore meÌ„ and wente and was a monke in an Abbey that was nigh the water syde into the whiche water he went euery nyghte wâ—â—â—n neuir so colde and stode therin longe and suffred grete penaunce And whan he was asked why he dyd so to suffre that grete penaunce he sayde to 〈◊〉 we a greter payn that he had seen â—nd he wolde eâ—e but barly brede drinke water all his lyf after and tolde ii religiouse men the peynes that he hadde seen And they were so grete that he coude nat tell them openly He sayd that an aungell ladde him into a place there that oon syde was so colde that noo tongue myght tell the peyne therof And the other was so hoote that no man myghte tell the peyne therof And soules were caste oute of that one into that other that was a grete payne to them And the aungell shewyd him the fyre that came oute of hell that was so hoote and so ferre as him thought he mighte se it he thought it brente him and in the leaâ—â—e therof he sawe soules boile vp and downe cryenge and waylinge for woâ— Also he herde fendes crye caste out hote â—ede and brymstone to make their peines greter and so they tormentyd the soules in peyne Nowe lorde for thy grete mercy haue mercy on vs and kepe vs fro tho peines and bryng vs to the blis of heuyn that neuir shall haue endyng Amen ¶ Dominica in septuagesima GOod men wymen this daye is called in holy churche the soÌ„day in septuagesme for cause that holy churche is modre of all cristen people she taketh good hede to the children as a good modre oweth to doo and forasmoche as she seeth him full sory sek in synne and many of them wounded to the dethe with the swerde of synne the whiche synne hath caughte all this yere to fore and namely this cristeâ—â—asse tyme that was ordeyned in holy churche for grete solempnyte For euery maÌ„ shulde be besy to serue god with al his power bicause that criste him self shewyd that daye swetnesse of loue to al cristen people For man he was that tyme and in the same flesshe and bloode as one of vs and layde in a cradyl more pourely than any of vs and was cristenyd in water as one of vs And also he came to a weddynge for to clense it from synne and to make vs holy and bretherne to him and heires to the kyngdome of heueyn ¶ For these causes all cristen people owen to be full gladde in their soules as in the tyme makinge solempnite and myrthe and making them bothe clene in body and soule from all maner of synnes And groÌ„dynge them in grete sadnesse of loue to god and to all cristen people doynge greate almes to theym that haue nede ¶ But nowe the more harme is for that high and solempne feste is torned into fylthe synne and grete sekenesse to the soule as pryde by diuerse wyse in clothynge and in many diuerse guyseâ— vsynge into grete couetyse and into lechery that suythe alwaye glotony in slewth in goddes seruyce as â—apes and vanyte syngynge rebaudrye spekynge For vanyte causeth moche slouthe for emonge suche people he is moost worthy that mooste of harlatry can speke Thus these solempne and hygh festys that were ordeyned to grete worshippe of god and of our lady and al the saintes in â—â—uyn now been torned into greate offence to god ¶ wherfore oure mâ—dre holy churche seynge her children in suche dispayre as a moodre full of compassion sory in heâ—â—â— her for theym This day leyeth downe alleluya and other songes of myrth and melody and taketh Tractus that been songes of mornynge Also for this holy sacrament of weddynge is moche defoyled by vanyte of synne Therfore it is leyd downe thesâ— daies and in aduente For many that been nowe wedded yeuyth theym all to luste and lykynge of the bodyes of flesshely luste of this worlde And thinketh full lytell of the dethe that is full greuouse that coÌ„meth so sone after but as it is redde by greate clerkes It is more spedefull to 〈◊〉 soule to 〈…〉 an house there as is a 〈◊〉 and
haue noo power And lyke a cursed tyraunt wyll be sore aferd and a dradde whan he herd the trompettes of a kynge that were his enmy and sawe his baners splayde in the felde with his oste coÌ„mynge toward him In the same wyse the fende the tyrant of hell is aferd and dredith him sore For whaÌ„ne the bellys rynge and the baners ben bore and the crosse with all the people come praynge Thenne he fleeth and dare not abyde and 〈…〉 power that processâ—â—◠¶ Narracio ¶ we rede at the cytee of Constantyne as the people wente in procession for a disease that the people had as they songe Letany Sodenly a childe was plucked vp into the ayre and borne into heuyn and the aungellys taughte him to synge this songe â–ª Sancte dâ— sancte fortis sancte et â—moâ—â— miserere nobis And anoon he was lete downe agayn to the erthe And thenne he song that same songe and anoon they were delyuered of their diseases This is to say in englysshe Holy god holy stronge god holy and neuir shall dye haue mercye on vs God that is holy and neuir shal dye haue mercy on vs God wylleth and wyll that we be stronge for to fyghte with the fende with the worlde with the flesshe And thanne wyll he haue mercy on vs. and brynge vs to the place then there as aungellys synge Sancte deus sancte fortis Holy god holy stronge god haue mercy on vs and bringe vs to his blisse ¶ Ascensio domini gOod frendes suche a daye ye shall haue an hygh and a solempne feste in holy churche that is called thascension of oure lorde Iesu cryste For that day as the feyth and byleue techyth howe god is very god and man and flyed vp in to heuyn ¶ wherfore in â—oknyng of this the paschall that is the cheif light in holy â—hâ—rche that hath stonde openly in the quiâ—e from Ester vnto this daye Now it is remeuyd awaye in tokenynge that cryste is cheif lighte in holy churche And so oure lordâ— diuerse tymes openly appieryd to his disciples and taught theÌ„ the feyth and the beleue and this daye be styed vp into heuyn and there wyl abyde tyll the daye of dome But now ye shall here the maner of that ascension from Ester daye tyll this daye he was nat with his disciples alway but diuerse tymes apperyd vnto theym And he apperyd to them as they faâ—â—e at ther mete and ete with them to shew them that he was very god and man in flesshe and blood as they were For some of them were in doute left he had be a spirit that hadde nother flesshe â—e blood And therfore to preue the trouth he ete with them in their sight and bad theym goo to the hyll of olyuete â— there in sight of all his disciples be blessed theym and flyed vp into heuyn And lefte the steppes of his feet thâ—eft downe into the harde marbyll stone for a token of his ascension Thenne ye shal vnderstonde that the hyll of Olyuete betokneth mercy wherfore cryste â—â—yed vp at the hyll of olyuet shewâ—nge wele that he is hede of mercy And he is euir redy to shewe mercy to all that aske mercy with meke herte Thenne in his vp flyenge as we call ascension angellys made so moche melody that no tonge may tell it so fayne they wer of his coÌ„mynge ¶ Ascendit velociter she styed vp swyftly For as it werâ— a mommente he was from erth to heuen A grete clerke a philosopher that is called Rabymoyses he sayth that it is as ferre fro heuyn to erth as a holy man myghte lyue a thousand yere and euery daye go a thousand myle But hee that mette this way knoweth best And this waye shal be mette of a rightfull and a good man Thenne in his asceÌ„sion he had a greate multitude of soulâ—s the whiche he sette oute of hell fro the fendes bondes He sâ—yed also wyth his woundes rede fresshe and blody And as bede sayth for fyue causes Firste for to verifye the feythe of his resurrection For he rose in very flesshe blode that dyed on the crosse for all mankynde The secounde to shewe his wouÌ„dâ—s to his fader in greate helpe and socoure to all mankynde The thridde is to shewe how rightfull they be dampned that wyll nat beleue in his passion and in his resurrection The fourth to shewe how mercifull he is to theym that wyll beleue and aske mercy The fyfte is that he bare with him a signe of victory For a sikernesse of all mankynde For lyke as a lorde is syker that hath a true aduocate bifore a Iuge to aunswere for him So in lyke wyse to all mankynde we fynde him oure aduocate euirmore redy to aunswere for vs at nede that the fende oure goostlye enmy maketh ayeÌ„st vs. wherfore saith the holy scriptur A sykerer attournay may no man be thanne god Vbi mater osteÌ„dit filio pectus et vbera wherfore the modre shewyth the soone 〈…〉 and her papes Filâ—â—s patri latus et vulnera The sone shewith to the fader his sides all to beten and his woundes bleding Howe shulde any thinge be putt awaye or denyed there as such tokenes of loue be shewyd He may nat fare amysse that hath suche ii frendes in the countrey of heuyn Also by the styenge vp into heuyn of oure lord iesu Cryst man hath goten a grete dignyte For a man to se his owne kynde and his owne flesshe and his bloâ—â—â—tting on the right syde of the fadâ—â—euyn in his trone ¶ wherfore aunâ—â—â—lys considerynge the dignyte of man they wolde nat suffre noo man to doo theym worshyp as they dyd bifore the incarnacion of crist But they worshyp man for god him selue hathe take mankynd on hym and is nowe in heuyn bodily Hereby may ye see how moche biholde is he to his god what we that were bouÌ„â—â— bifore and thrall to the fende of hel and no â—we ben made free of al that and oure lorde iesu criste haue yeue to man a fredome aboue any aungellys and therfore we be bounde vnto hym to do him seruyce reuerence worshhip And there as aungellys kept somtyme the gates of paradise with brennynge swerdes that no soule myght coÌ„me in Nowe by feyth oure lorde Iesu criste to mankynde he hath cast vp the gates and warneth no man to â—rin that is of stedefaste byleue 〈◊〉 â—aint austyn saythe Aperuisti credentibus regna celorum· Thou haste opnyd the gates of heuyn to theym that byleue Also ye shall byleue right as a king of this world hath officers of diuerse degrees some 〈◊〉 and some lower And some more â—â—â—uâ—er than some So oure lorde â—g vp at this tyme the lawer angellys for grete wounder that they had in cristes ascension whan they sawe him in flesshe and blood styenge vp to heuen wythe so grete multitude of soules with him And also for the grete woundre that they hadde whan they
and after brengeth forth a whyte floure wythout crafte of man or ony peyryng to the stalke Ryght so our lady conceyued of the holy gooste and after brought her sone our lord Ihesu Cryste wythoute ony wemme of her body That is flour and cheef of alle wymmen Thenne said the iewe whaÌ„ I see a lylye sprynge oute of the dede stalke that standeth in this pot thenne wyl I byleue that thou sayst to be trewe And anon ther wyth sprange a whyte lyly oute of the dede stocke that stode in that same wyne pot And whaÌ„ the iewe sawe that anone he felle doune to the grounde vpon his knees and sayd thus Lady now I see well that thou conceyued wyth the holy gost our lord Ihesu criste goddis sone of heuen And thou were clene mayden both before the birth and so anone he was cristened so after he was a full holy man And this is the cause wherfore that the pot wyth the lily is set betwene our lady the angel For ryght as the iew disputed wyth the Cristen man of the maner of the Concepcion So our lady disputed wyth the angell of the maner how she shold conceyue be both moder mayde or she consented therto Thenne ye that wyl faste the v. euens of our lady in the worship of the v. ioyes that she had of her sone The first whan she conceyued of the holy gooste and knewe that she was moder to goddis sone of heuen The ii was on cristmasse daye whan she was delyuered of her sone wythoute ony peyne of her body For as she conceyued wythout lust of her body also she was deliuered wythout peyne of her body The iii. ioye was on ester daye whan her sone rose from deth to life and come to her kyssed her and made her more ioyefull of his vprysing than she was sory off his deth The iiii ioye whan he styed vp to heuâ—n on holy thursday in the same flesshe and blode that he toke in her body The v. ioye was in her assumpcioÌ„ whaÌ„ she sawe her sone come wyth grete multitude of angelis and saintes to fette her to heuen to crowne her quene of heuen and emperes of helle and lady of the world and so al that ben in heuen shall do her reuerence and worshyp And al that ben in erthe shal doo her seruyce Thyse ben the v. ioyes that our lady had of her sone and ye shall vnderstonde that he that wyl grete our lady with v. Aues shal neuer come in to the peynes of helle ¶ Narracio ¶ we fynde wreten of an holy maydeÌ„ that was denoute in our ladyes seruyce and euery daye greted her wyth v. ioyes Thenne it happed so on a daye that she fell seke felte her selfe well that she shold be dede and for fere she sighed wonder sore and made greate mone for by cause she wyft not wheder she shold goo after her deth Thenne come oure lady to her and said why arte thou so sory that hast made me so glad gretynge me wyth ioyes that I had of my sone therfor be not sory but knowe mell that thou shal go wyth me in to euerlastynge blysse and ioye wyth out ende Amen ¶ Narracio ¶ we fynde of saint Gylberte that on a tyme he was nye dede of the quynâ—â— and whan his throte was so grete and well nye dede that he myght not take breth our lady come to hym and sayd to hym Gylbert my seruaunt it were euyll do that thy throte shold suffre penaunce that hath soo oft tyme gladed me wyth ioyes and anone she toke her fayr pappe and mylked on his throte and wente her waye anone therwith he was hole and thanked our lady euer after De sancto Georgeo martire â—Ood frendes suche a daye ye shal haue saynt Georges daye The holy marter It is wreten in 〈◊〉 â—â—fe that there was an horryble dragon besyde a cyte that was called Câ—â—â—e of the whiche dragon men of the Cite were sore aferde in so moche that by counseyll of the kynge euery daye thei gaue hym a childe and a shepe to ete For fere lest he wolde haue come in to the Cyte Thenne whan all the chyldren and the shepe were nye ete for by cause that the kyng hym self gaue theÌ„ the counseyll they constreyned hym that he had but a doughter to gyue her to the dragon Thenne the kynge for fere of the people wyth wepyng and grete sorowe makynge delyuered hem his childe and sente her forth to the place â—â—ere as they were wont to set her own children and a shepe wyth her to abyde tyll the dragon come But than by the ordynaunce of god saynt George come tydyng that waye And whan he sawe this damoysell in her araye him thought she was a woman of greate byrth and asked her why she stode therre wyth the shepe in suche araye so mornynge Thenne answered she and said gentyll knyght well maye I morne make sorowe for I am a kynges doughter of this Cite and now I am sette here to be deuoured of a dragon that hath ete all the chyldren of this Cite be now dystroyed and nowe he muste haue me For my fader gaf hem counseyll therto and therfore gentyll knyght ryde hense faste and saue thy selfe leest the dragon sle bothe the and me Thenne sayd George damoysell that were grete shame and vylonye to me that am a knyghte well arayed And shold fle and thou a woman and sholdest abyde TheÌ„ne wyth that the dragon put oute his hede at an hole and spytted fyre proferd batayle to george he made a sygne of the crosse before hym and sett the spere in the reste and wyth grete myght bare downe the dragon to the grounde· And thenne he bad the damoysell bynde this dragon wyth her gyrdell about the necke And lede it wyth her in to the Cite and soo the dragon folowed after her as it hadde be a honde maide to bowe paciently· But whan the people of the Cyte sawe the dragon come they fledde for fere awaye Thenne George called the peple ayen and sayde to theym be not aferde For and ye wyll belyue in Criste and take cristeÌ„dom I wyll saue and sle this dragon and delyuer you of your enemye then were they so glad that anone xx thousand men wythoute wymen and children were cristened And the kynge the quene were first of all wyth al his housholde And thenne George slewe the dragon and bad the people tye oxen to hym and drawe it out of the Cite that the fauour of it dyde the peple no harme Thenne George bad the kynge edefye chirches in euery corner of his londe and be lusty to goddis seruyce and to honour and worship all the peple of holy chirche and euer haue coÌ„passyon and be sory for them that be pour or in ony dysease Thenne whan George had done thus and had torned al the londe to crysten feyth he herde of
thomas he saw suche a shyning in his face that he wente it had be crist Thenne sayd thomas to the kynge Byleue in Crist and thou shall be hole And he sayd I byleue hole in hym and feyne I wold be wroke on them that hauen doo hym to deth and anone he was hole Thenne Iudas wente to symon and wente bothe to gyder in to persy to preche And there they dyd many myracles so that they tourned the kynge and xlii thousande to crysten feyth And soo the cristen peaple encreased strongely Soo the kynge and all his meny were crystened and wythdrewe theyr offrynges from the mawmentes that was the bisshops lyuyng wherfore they were soo wrothe that they gadred hem too gydre and toke thyse appostles and lad them in to theyr temples to doo sacryfyce to their mawmentis or elles they shold be dede Thenne come an angell and asked hem yf they wold haue her enmyes dede or noo And they sayde they desyred to haue her enmies tourned to the feith And the angell asked yf they wolde suffre marterdom for crystis sake and they sayd they wolde suffre dethe TheÌ„ne they commaunded and tourned to the mawmentes in the temple and coÌ„maunded the fendes in them to come oute and to pulle the ymages all to peces and soo they dyde Thenne was the bysshop wroth that her goddis fell soo too peces And anone there come a thondryng and a lyghtenynge and cloue the temple in iii. partyes downe to the grounde and thyse bisshoppes sodeynly slew thyse appostles Thenne the kynge toke theyr bodyes and beryed hem ryally And made ther◠〈◊〉 fayr chirche in worshyp of god and thâ—se holy appostles Amen ¶ De festâ— olm sanctorum GOod frendâ—â— suche a daye ye shall haue all halowen daye and ye shall faste the euyn on the morowe come to the chirche and worshyp god and our lady and all halowyn Frendes ye shall vnderstonde that this feste was ordeyned for thre specyall causes and those ben thyse ¶ First for the temple halowyng for omyssion fulfyllyng and also for neclygent lyuing First for the temple halowyng for whan the Romanis were lordes of all the world they made a teÌ„ple in Rome lyke a doffehous and named it pantheon and set in the myddes of the temple an ymage that was the cheef mawmente of Rome and of euery londe in the worlde another ymage all aboute the walles and the name of the londe that the ymage was off wreten vnder the fote of the ymage And all was made by nygrymancy yf that ony londe tourned from themperour Anone the ymage of the londe wolde tourne his baâ—ke to the ymage of rome and his face to the walle Soo whan the bysshop come to the temple and founde ony ymage tourned anone they wolde goo to the emperour and telle hym Thenne wolde they ordeyne an oste of people and sende in to that londe and set them at rest and peas And soo this temple endured thus vnto the tyme that pope Boneface the fourth came Thenne he went to theÌ„perour that was called foca and prayed that he wolde gyue hym that temple that he myght putte oute the multitude of mawmentis And to halowe it in the worshyppe of god and our lady and all hâ—lowen soo he gaue the pope the temple Thenne come there another pope that was called Gregory and commaunded all holy chirche to halowe the fest lyke as it was begon Also this feste was ordeyned by the same pope to fulfylle our omyssions For many sayntes dayes in the yere we leuen vnserued for there be soo many that we may not serue echeone by hym self For as Iherom sayth that there ben for eche daye in the yere x. thousande marters oute take the fyrst daye of Ianuary wherfore holy chirche ordeyned that this daye we shold fulfylle that we haue lefte behynde all the yere And thus euery sayntes euen hath his worshyp to god and our lady and all halowen Also this feste is ordeyned to be halowed to clense vs of oure necligence vncuÌ„nynge and also by wordely occupacions doyng we be full recheles in kepynge our holy dayes and therfore this feste is ordeyned for we shal make amendes asmoche as we maye· of that we haue trespassed in other festes And therfore vnderstonde ye that they been in grete perell that breke this feste or ony other in wordely ocupacyons werkyng or in ony synne doyng in byeng or in sellyng or in ony other falshede contryuyng Also ye shall vnderstonde that this daye our prayers shall be sooner herde than ony other daye For this daye all the sayntes in heuen come to gyder to pray to god for vs and therfore ye may knowe well that all comyng to gyder shall be sooner herde than one or two by hem self The saintes that ben in heuen were some tyme as we ben now bothe in flesshe bâ—ode body and bone And were our elder faders they ben full glad make moche ioye whan they may gete ony preyers or almesdedes of vs. wyth the whiche they may presente god and our lady â–ª prayng for vs. and to shewe you by ensample how that all saintes come to gyder as this daye ye shall here ¶ Narracio ¶ we fynde wreten in legenda aurea that in the same yere this fest was ordeyned to be halowed there was a keper of saint Pâ—ters chirche in Rome that this daye after matens at mydnyght whan al the peple were gone from matens for grete deuocyon that he had â–ª he wente to euery aulter in the chirche saide his deuocions And whan he had gone all aboute thenne wente he to the hye aulter and there felle a slepe his spyrite was rauysshed and sawe the fader of heuen syttyng in his mayeste and a grete multytude of angellis abowte hym And thenne come a fayr quene wyth a crowne on her hede rychely arayed and a grete companye of vyrgins and maydens sâ—ynge her â—â—enne the kynge arose ayenst her and â—adde to fetche a chare of gold set hâ—â—in Thenne come 〈◊〉 clothed 〈◊〉 â—nels skinnis and him sued a grete company of good men Thenne come another lyâ—e a bisshop and after hym many other bysshops And thenne come a greate multytude as it had ben knyghtes and after hym moche other people and all they come before the kynge and dyde hym worship Thenne the bysshop began to sayâ—â—mateâ—s thenne spak this man to the angell that lad hym and asked what all thyse people were in that araye Thenne sayd the angell the kynge is god hym self And the Quene is oure Lady and he that was clothed in camels skynnis was Iohan Baptiste other patryarkis and prophetes wyth hym The bisshop was saint peter and other apostles and confessours wyth hym The knyght was saynt George wyth other marters comyners that were good trewe lyuers and seruauntes to god here vpon erthe And they come all to thaÌ„ke god for the grete worshyp that they had here in erthe praied
a man and told his name that was his seruaunt a lytyll to sore and that woman was and ther knyghtes wif and he haddeley by her husbondes lyf therfore they were bothe put to that penaunce and sayde the horse that I ryde on is the fende that brenneth me a C. fold worse than ony other fyre myghte that is in erthe And that peyne they muste so suffre tyl they had helpe of good preyers masses and almes dedes tolde hym many other thynges Than this knyghte dyde alle thinges that he sayd shold be her helpe and so delyuered hem oute of this peyne to euerlastyng blysse the which god brynge vs all to Amen ¶ Dominica in passione dniÌ„ GOod men and wymmen this daye is called the sondaye In passion weke this daye Oure lord Ihesu Criste began his passion For this 〈◊〉 the iewes had suche an enuye â—oâ— by cause he tolde her defautes and â—â—ces of mysliuyng And soo for this cause they repreued hym Soo this daye they were full assented to do hym to deth and soo they were aboute ofte byfore But they were letted by some thynge and most for fere of the comen people For they helde hym a prophete ¶ But this daye they â—uytte hem togider and fully accorded 〈◊〉 they wolde spaâ—â— for noo thynge but he sholde be dede wherfore as the gospell tellith as criste prechyd in the temple the iewys rebuked him spytously and sayd Nunc cognouimus quia demonium habes Nowe knowe we that thou haste a fende with the And all was to tempte him to haue made him speke som euyl worde by the whiche they mighte haue putt him to some repreefe And for he tolde them that he was goddes sone they were redy to haue stoned him to deth But he knewe well ther malice Iesus autem abscondit se et exiuit de templo Iesus hyd him selue and went oute of the temple ¶ Thus oure lord this day began his passion wherfore holy churche redeth this weke in the booke of Ierom the prophete that firste prophyced of cristes passion and tolde howe and what maner the iewys sholde doo hym to dethe Thenne ye shall vnderstonde wele that in the same wyse that the Iewys pursuyd criste to the deth In the same wyse I fere gretly lest there been moche false people that be cristned that pursuen criste in heuyn nowe ¶ Sainte Austyn sayth that they synne more greuously that pursue him in heuyn that the iewys dyd that pursued him in erth Thenne if ye wol wete whiche be those Take hede how criste marked them and sayd thus Oui ex deo est verba dei audit He that is of god heryth the worde of god For he heryth nat the word of god that sweryth many grete othes ful falsely Thiâ—â— been tho that 〈…〉 in heuyn that been glade in their 〈◊〉 whan they haue a foule dede doon and be grounded in foule cursed lyuynge of synne and wâ—ll nat amende theym for prechinge nor techynge but euir do foull dedes and anone been redy to fyghte and chyde with them that tell hâ—â— their defautes As it is shewyd by crist For the more harme is the condiciones of the people been suche nowe a dayes that he shall haue many enmyes that wyll saye trouthe And that I may preue by ensample ¶ Narracio ¶ There was somtyme a mawmente in a cyte that wold tell where any thinge was that was stole or myssed and who hadde it So it hpped on a tyme that a yonge man hadde stole a thinge and was aferde of this mawmente and anone he went to this mawmeÌ„t and fayde thus well I wote thou mayste deâ—me a grete shame and velonye But by god that I beleue vpon and thou discouer me I wyll breke thy bede And soo went forth his waye Thenne soone after caÌ„me they that missed this gode praynge the mawmente to tell theym who had it And whan they hadde long prayed at the laste the mawment spake and sayd Tymes be chaunged the people been worse than they were who saythe the trouthe his hede shal be broken So he that wyll saye trouthe he shal be shâ—â—e and so the true man shal be dâ—â—â—ted and so plucked that he shall nat wytt to whome he shall speke nor to whâ—â— he may tell his counseyll in truste 〈◊〉 that woll sonest descryue him soÌ„tyme speke mooste fareste ¶ It is wretyn in the boke of kynges haâ— ther were two knyghtes grete enmyes one to the other That one hight Ioab and that other amasa and this ioab saide to amasa as they mette Hayle broder and kyssed him and with his other honde behinde him he slewe him with his knyffe and smote him to the herte Thus it fareth nowe a daies by moche peple they freke full fayre bifore the people And behynde theym they wyl sle them wit a shrewyd knyf that is with the euyl and cursed tongue These been they that pursuyth him into heuyn set nought 〈◊〉 goddes woâ—de For though they here it with their crys it synketh nat in their hertes where god playneth him greuouâ—ly by his prophete Iheremye and saith this ¶ what gyfte fouÌ„de your fadâ—rs 〈◊〉 If I haue trespassed to you in a 〈◊〉 manerthinge tell me Allas for shaâ— of youre obstinat pryde for god is 〈◊〉 the right and so he tretythe with vs. thaâ— ben in the wrong He proferith merâ—â—oâ— we aske it He maketh him mercyfull to theym that displeasyth hym shewyth loue there non is worthy Thê° been their hertes harder than any stoon And thus ben we worse than iewes for we be vnkynde to him that shewyth to vs all kyndenesse And euir he cryeth to vs and sayth I haue lefte on erthe for ye sholde here my scripture Torne ayen to me and I woll resceyue the Lo myn armes ben al redy spredde to clyppe the to me And myn hede is redy bowed to kysse the My syde is all redy opnyd to shewe the myn herte my hondes my fete â—leden to shewe the what I suffryd for the and thou tornest away from me and thou be in parfyt lyf I wyll yeue the treasoure withoute nombre I sal auaunce the withoute comparison yeue the reste withoute ende So that all the faute shal be founde in the and natt in me Thus oure lorde proferith and techyth vs. and there been full fewe that wyll here him but â—et all these wordes passe oute of their hertes And takethe noon hede but all their mynde is in rychesse and in this worldes prosperyte in this presente lyf and take full lytel hede of the lyf that is coÌ„mynge And how oure lorde iesu criste suffryd deth to briÌ„ge vs to euirlastinge blisse ¶ Therfore in cristes passion maketh the prophete a grete lamentacion for the gete vnkyndnesse that he seeth in mankynde and sayth thus Thou man for vanyte thou stynkest for thy rustye synne And therfore I cry and wepe for thou haste on thy hede a garlond of flores and I
make nat to moch of thy selue For â—ay fortune a nother tyme he ra◠〈◊〉 â—hou mayste haue the worse and 〈…〉 moche velonye more thanne nowe to worship wherfore be natt now to proude of thy self ¶ Thus shulde ye bete youre selue in the mouthe of your soule wite the braunche of olyue that is with the vertue of mekenesse And so holde you in loue and meke in herte and euirmore dredynge and fearynge leste ye falle ayen to synne And so to leue the worship that ye haue now For truste this truly mekenesse is that vertue that mooste and sonest ouircommeth your gostly enmye the fende and sonest gadreth a man to vertuouse lyuyng That we may haue this vertu of mekenesse pacience and charite to ouyrcoÌ„me oure gostly ennymye nowe and euir Amen gOod frendes ye shall vnderstond that holy churche vsyth these thre daies and sayth seruice in the euyn tyde that iâ— mekenesse wherfore we call it tenebres But holy church calleth it tenebris Thenne why this seruyce is thus doon in meâ—enes holy faders tell for thre causes One is the nyght bifore that oure lorde Iesu criste was take he went into the mount of olyuete prayed thus Pater mi si possibile est transeat a me calix iste My fadre if it be possible that this byttre passion may passe fro me if it were the faders wyll and els nat And for drede and fere of that byttre passioun that he fylte in spyryte he swet both blode and water And another cause is this that anone after mydnyghte caÌ„me Iudas Scarioth with fifty knyghtes and moche other people to take criste And for it was derke and they coude nat we le know him fro sainte Iames he was so lyke to criste wherfore Iudas sayd Quem osculatus fuero cum tenete Forsoth quod he him that I shall kys it is Take ye him for saint Iames was so lyke that mooche people called hym cristes broder And thus Iudas betrayed his master and thus was cryste take in mekenesse with all the spyâ—â— that they coude doo to him berynge him and spyttynge in his face The thâ—â—d cause is whan criste was naked on the crosse fete and handes hangyng thre oures from vndryn tyll none Thenne the sonne with drewe her lighte â–ª and was derke through all the worlde shewing that the maker of lighte was at that tyme pâ—â—ed to the dethe For thies thre causes the seruice in the nyght is done in derkenesse The whiche seruyce maketh mynde How Iudas betrayed cryste and howe the iewys caÌ„me as pryuely as they coud for drede of the coÌ„men people wherfore to the seruice is no bel ronge but a sounde made of tre wherby all cristen people may haue knowelege to coÌ„me to that seruyce pryuâ—ly withoute makinge of any noyse And all that the people shulde speke of coÌ„myng and goynge shulde sounde of tree that is the crosse that oure lord god was done vpon and of his passion and of the wordes that oure lorde spake hangyng on the crosse howe he saide to his modre Mulier ecce filius tuus woman se thy sone And how he coÌ„meÌ„ dyd his modre to sainte Iohn the euaÌ„gâ—lyste in kepynge and what sayd the 〈◊〉 that henge by him and sayd thus â—omine quaÌ„do veneris in regnum tuum memento mei Lorde whanne thou coÌ„myst to thy kingâ—ome haue mynde on me And anoon 〈◊〉 lorde saide to him Hodie mecum eris in paradiso This daye thou shalt be with me in paradise And howe he betoke his spiryte into his faders hondes and sayd In manus tuas coÌ„mendo spiritum meum And so he yelde vp the gooste Thus coÌ„mynge and goynge to the chirche al cristen people shalde comen and leue vanyte and ydell talkynge and speke only of the crosse that is oure redemption A nother cause is whanne that Iudas hadde betrayed criste and sawe by his treson that he shulde be dede anone he fyll in dispayre and honge him self on a tree And than he displeasyd more criste for that dede than for all the trespas that he hadde doon to fore For criste is so mercyfull that and he hadde askyd mercy he sholde haue hadde mercy and foryeuenes Also at this seruyce be sette certayn candilles in the quere after the vse in some place more than in some other as the vse is the whiche been quenchyd one after a nother In toknynge of cristes disciples how they weÌ„t away eâ—he after other But whan all these caÌ„dâ—llys been taken awaye and the lyght goon yet one abydeth styll a whyle tyl clerkes haue song Kyâ—â—es and thies verses the whiche betokenyth the wymmeÌ„ that made lamentation at cristes sepulcre Thanne that candell is brought ayen and other lighted there and that betokenyth oure lady For all the feythe was loste saue only our lady and of al other were enfourmyd and taughte Also it betokneth criste him self that was in his manhode dede and leyde in sepulcre And the thridde day arose from dethe to lyue ayen and yaue lighte by loue to all that were dede and queynt by dispayre ¶ The strokes that the preest geuyth on the boke betokneth the clappes of thundre whan crist brast hel yates and dispoyled them and set oute Adam and Eue and all theym that he hadde boughte with his byttre passion ¶ Nowe haue ye herde somwhat what this seruice betokneth and thynk theruppon and be nat vnkynde to your god that suffred all this for you For vnkyndnesse is a synne that stynketh in the sighte of god Aâ— Saynt ambrose sayth that there may no man fynde a peyne grete enough to punysshe vnkindenesse And that ye shall here by an ensample as thus ¶ Narracio ¶ I fynde that Alisaundre Necham tellyth howe that there was somtyme a knyght that went oute of his owne countrey ferre in to a straunge londe to seke auentures And it hapned that he came into a grete forest and ther he herde a greate noyse of a beste that semyd in dispayre And then he wolde wytte what it mente and went nere sawe howe that a greate horrible adder and of greate lengith biclepyd A lyon and bouÌ„de him to a tree as he ley and slepte And whanne the Lyon woke and fonde him selue bounde myghte nat helpe him self he made a grete horrible noyse desiryng helpe of the knyghte Thenne hadde this knight compassion of this Lyon and wolde fayne haue holpen him but he dradde whan he was louse lest he wold haue fallen to him But bicause he was a knyghte and the Lyon was kinge of all bestes in that distresse he tooke his swerde and smote the adder asonder Thenne the Lyon anone felte him self louse and fyll downe to the knyghtes feete and euir after nyght and day in euery place he folowed the knyghte And euery nyghte this lyon leye at this knyghtes beddes feet and in euery batayll this Lyon was redy for to help his master In somoch that the people
ghoste And thenne whan Egeas sawe and knewe this that he was dede he wente homward Thenne after that dede he wexed wode and deyed amonge al the people And whan maximilia his wif herde herof anone she toke andrewe 〈◊〉 body beryed it in a tombe and oute of the tombe welleth manna and oyle to gyder and by that people of the coâ—â—tre knowe whan it sholde be dere and whan grete plente For whan it shall be plente it welleth plentyfully whaÌ„ it shall be derth sâ—arsly ¶ Narracio It felle so there was a bisshop yâ— loued wel saint andrew for the fende myght in no wyse bryng hym oute of 〈◊〉 purpose he come to the bisshop in lykenesse of a fayr woman praynge hym that she myght speke wyth hym in counseyl of confessioÌ„ he grauÌ„ted her therto sire she said I am a knyghtes doughter haue be moche cherisshed norisshed in gret tendernes for I se it is world is but a vanyte to truste vpon I haue auowed chasâ—â—e now my fader wold mary me to a worthy prynce I wold not breke my vow I am come preuely away in pour aray thus I herde of your grete holynesse â–ª am â—oâ—he to haue your couÌ„seyl socour and helpe of you â–ª wherfore I pray you ordeyne for me that the fende haue noo power to lete me of my purpose ¶ Thenne the bysshop comforted her and bad that she shold thanke god that had sette her in suche purpose And that he wold sende her grace therwyth to contynue and sayd to her Esto secura filia â–ª Be thou seker doughter this daye thou shalt dyne wyth me thenne we shall by good aduyse whan we haue dyned ordeyne soo for you that ye shall doo ryght well Nay syre sayd she lest the people wolde haue ony susspection off bad rule ye sayd the bysshop ther off noo charge Plurima erimus et non soli For ther shall be soo many in companye that there shall be noo susspectioÌ„ Thenne she thanked hym fayre and she was sette to fore the Bysshop in a chayre at mete And euer whan the bysshop loked on her he semed her so fayre that he was gretly tempted on her so that he had almost forgete hym self And thenne anone there come a pylgryme to the gate And bete fast on the gate that al that were wyth in the hall were sore astoned of the noyse â–ª soo he cryed lete in lete in Thenne sayd the bysshop shall this man come in thenne said she lete hym answere to some questyon first whether he be worthy or none to come soo nyghe in your presence Thenne said the bysshop I praye you make the question for I am not aduysed at this tyme Thenne said she to the messenger Interroga quod est magis miraculum quod deus vnquam iÌ„ parua re fecit ¶ Aske hym what was the gretest myracle that euer god made in a fote brode of erthe Thenne whan the pilgrym was asked this he answered and said a manny◠〈◊〉 the whiche is but a fot but a mannis own face For though all the men and wymmen yâ— oure were borne stode afor me yet shold I knowe one from another by some degre whan he gaue this answer He was gretly commended therfore Thenne sayd she I see that he is wyse byd him gyue another answer to another question Aske hym wheder erth is higer thaÌ„ heuen Thenne he answerd and sayd thus There as Cristis body is there is erth for cristis body is of oure kynde and our kynde is erth therfore there is cristis body is erth Is hygher than heuen whan he hadde gyuen that answer he was well alowed was byd come in Nay sayd she lete hym a soyle the thyrde question Aske hym how ferre it is from heuen to helle Thenne whan he was opposed of this he answerde the messenger Go ageyn to her that sytteth in the chayer before the bysshop and byd her gyue this answer For she can better telle it than I. QuaÌ„do de celo iÌ„ abissuÌ„ cecidit For she is a fende that hath moten it soo dyde I neuer she fyll doune wyth lucyfer And whan the messenger herde this he was all heuy But he gaue this answere that all myghte here Thenne this fende vanysshed awaye wyth an horryble stynke Thenne the bysshop bethoughte hym off this temtacion and was sory in his herte And anone he made to sende after this pylgryme But or that the messenger come ayen to the gate he was gone· ¶ Thenne the bysshop made all men to praye to god 〈…〉 wyttyng what the pylgrim was that so goodly halpe hym at his nede Thenne come a voyce to hym and sayd it was Saynt andrewe that come to socour hym for 〈…〉 and seruyce that he dyde to hym And bad hym preche this myracle to the people to see and knowe how graciously he helpeth all that wyll praye hym and therfore lete vs worship and to pray hym to be our socour and oure helpe ayenst the fende nowe euer Festum sancti Nicolai GOod men and wymen suche a daye ye shall haue saynt nycolas day the which is preysed in holy chirche and specyally for thre causes The first for his meke lyuynge The seconde for his heuenly techynge The thirde for his greate compassyon hauyng First he was made lowly Pater eius epiphanê° mater eius iohanna dicta est ¶ It is said that his fader hyght Epyphanus and his moder iohanne the whiche in her yough gote saynt Nycolas And whan he was borne they made her vowes bothe to kepe and to lyue in chastyte and nomore come to gyder but holde hem plesed of this one chylde that god had sent hem the whiche they made hym crysten and called hym Nycolas that is a mannis name But he kepeth the name of the chyld For he chose to kepe vertues mekenesse and symplenesse and wythout malyce ¶ Also we rede whyle he laye in his cradell he fasted wenesday and friday Thyse dayes he wold sâ—e but 〈◊〉 of the daye and therwyth he helde him pleysed thus he lyued al his lyf in vertues wyth this childes name ¶ And therfore children done hym worshyp bifore all other sayntes for he was euer meke wythout ony malyce so that all the people preysed hym for his meke lyuynge here ¶ Also he was made bysshop of the Cyte of Myrre by a voys whiche come from heuen For whan the bysshop was dede all the bysshops of the countrey come to gyder to châ—se another thenne come a voys to one off them and bad hym ryse erly on the morowe and goo to the chirche dore and make hym bysshop that ye fynde there that is called Nycolas And so on the morow he come to the chirche dore and there he fonde Nycolas and thenne he sayd thus to hym Quale nomen habes tu ¶ what is thy name and lowtynge wyth his hede answerde mekely
into pryson thenne he wepte sore And with that hee fyll aslepe and whanne he awoke he was in his faders churche ¶ De concepcione beate marie virginis gOode men and wymen suche a daye ye shall haue the Concepcion of oure lady the whiche day feste holy churche maketh mynde meÌ„cion of the conception of oure lady for thre speciall causes The firste is for her fader holynesse The secounde for her moders godnesse And the thrid for her mekenesse She hadde a fader that was called Ioachim that was so holy a man that whan he was but xv yere of age he departed all his godes in to thre partes And one parte he dealed to wydowes and to faderlesse children The secounde parte he gaue to pore nedy The thridde parte he kepte to him selue and to his householde And whan he was xxxii yere of age for the grete godenesse of anne he weddyd her And whan they were wedded they were to gydder xxii yere In the whiche tyme. anne neuir displeased him with no maner thinge nother night nor daye For she was so gentyll to him and they were bothe good and holy yet god sente theym no frute of their bodies but were barrâ—yn wherfore they made a vowe to god that if he wolde sende theim a childe they wold offre it vnto him vp to the temple for to serue god both nyghte and daye ¶ Thenne on a daye as Ioachim wente with his nyghboures to the temple to doo his offrynges The busshop that highte Isachar rebuked him openly bifore all the people said Ioachym it falleth nat for the that art barrayne and hast no frute to do offriÌ„ges with other people that god hath seÌ„te frute in Ierusalem Thenne was ioachim sore dismayde and astonyed with this rebuke Thenne he went hoome wepynge and tooke his shepeherd preuely with his shepe and wente forth in to a ferre countrey amonge monteyns and hylles and purposed to haue ben there all his lyf and neuir more to coÌ„me home to Anne his wyf ¶ Than whanne Ioachim was gon Anne was sory and prayed to god and said Lorde that me is woo I am barreyne and I may haue no frute And nowe more ouir my husbonde is gone away from me and I know nat whether he is gone Lorde haue mercy on me TheÌ„ne as she prayed thus an aungell coÌ„me doune and comforted her and saide Anne be of good comforte for thou shalt haue a childe in thyn olde age there was neuir noon suche ne neuir shal be ¶ Thenne was Anne aferd of this angellys wordes and of the sight of hym and laye alwaye in her prayers as she hadde be dede Thenne went the same aungell to Ioachim saide these wordes and badde Ioachim take a lambe and offre it in sacrifice to god and soo he dyd whan he had don so fro mydday to euensong tyme he ley on the groÌ„de in his prayers thankynge god with al his hert TheÌ„ne on the morow as the aungell badde he wente homwarde to anne his wyf with his shepe whan he caÌ„me nygh home the aungell caÌ„me to anne and badde her goo to the yate that was called the golden yate and abyde her husbonde there tyll he coÌ„me Thenne was she glad toke 〈◊〉 maydynes with her and went to the gate there she mette with Ioachim and said Lord I thanke for I was a wedowe now I am a wyf I was barrayn and nowe I shall bere a childe I was wo and wepinge and nowe I shall be in ioye likynge And soone after anne conceyued oure lady and whan she was borne she was called Mary as the auÌ„gell badde bifore Thanne after that she was wenyd she was brought to the teÌ„ple and lefte there emong other virgynes to serue god bothe nyght and day Thenne was she so meke emonge all other virgynes in all her lyuynge that all virgynes called her quene of virgynes Soo she is mekest of al the saintes that be in heuyn and moost redyest to helpe all theym that call to her in any nede ¶ Narracio ¶ we rede in holy wrytte a myracle of oure lady There was a lordes man that hadde gadred moche good of his lordes for he was his 〈◊〉 gadred went to bere it to his lothe Thenne was ther theuys that sette for to robbe hym â–ª by the waye in the wode there as he muste nedes goo through Soo whanne be come into the wode he bethoughte hym that he hadde not saide our lady saulter as he was wonte to do and he knelyd doune and began to saye Then come our lady lyke a fair mayden and set a garlonde on his hede and at eche Aue maria she sette a rose in the garlond that was soo brighte that all the woode shone therof and whan he had done he kyssed the erthe and wente his waye Thenne come the theues and toke hym and ladde hym to her mayster the whiche had seen all thyse doynges Thenne sayd to hym what woman was that that set the garlonde on the hede and he sayd syre for sothe I see ne woman ne garlonde thenne sayde the mayster thefe I wote well thou arte a lordys man and hast moche good wyth the But I wolde fayn wyte what womaÌ„ that it was that come to the. and why thou knelest downe And he sayd whaÌ„ I see you I was aferde And also I bethoughte me that I hadde not sayde oure lady faulter and kneled doune to say it prayng our lady to helpe me at my nede Thenne sayd he for her loue goo thy waye and praye to her for vs And soo he went his waye sauf and founde by helpe and socour of our dere lady ¶ But now ye shall here how this fest was first founde There was a kynge in Englonde that hyght wyllyam conquerour he sente thabbot off Ramsey to the kynge of denmarke on his message And whan he come in to the see there come a tempest and a derkenesse that he and all that were wyth hym wende to haue be drowned And euery man prayed besely vnto god to our lady for socour and helpe And other dyuerse sayntes and this abbot prâ—yed to god and to our lady full deuoutly Thenne come to theym a fayr woman and sayd to theym yf ye wyl haue the concepcioÌ„ of our lady in worshyp that is ii daye after saynt nycolas day she wyll be redy to helpe â— socour you at this tyme. And thenne this abbot sayd ye wyth good wyll I wyst what shold be the seruyce off of the fest Thenne sayde she the same that is in my Natiuyte â—auâ— torne the natyuite in to my concepcion and thabbot said it shold be done with full good wyll Thenne anone the teÌ„peste ceased and all was well And they sayled forth and thabbot dyd his message and come ayen sauf and souÌ„de and 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 it was alowed in all holy chirche ¶ Narracio Also we fynde that there was a seculer chanon that on a tyme wente ouer a water to haue doo avowtry wyth a woman And as he was aboute to begynne to saye oure lady maâ—yns and as he was at the Inuytatory that is Aue maria Ther wyth the fende caste hym downe and drowned hym wolde haue had hym to helle Thenne come our lady and sayd why hast thou take this man the fende sayde for we fynde hym in our seruyce goyng to do avowtry Thenne sayd our lady he was in my seruice and anone restored hym to lyf ayen And bad hym do no more synne and bad hym halow her concepcion soo he dyde was a good man euer after all his lyf ¶ Narracio ¶ Also there was a clerke that euery day vsed to say the seruice of our lady Then it hapned by counseyll of hys frendes he sholde haue a wyf whan he shulde ben weddyd he bethoughte him that he hadde nat saide oure lady seruyce Thenne he made all the peple to go oute of the churche while he sayd his seruyce And theÌ„ne he knelyd a doune and saide his seruyce tyll he caÌ„me to an antem of oure lady Quam pulcra es amica mea Thenne oure lady apperyd vnto hym and saide why sayste thou that I am faire and honest why wyll thou than leue me and take a nother Thenne saide he vnto oure lady what wylte thou that I shall doo Thenne saide our lady If thou wylt leue thy flesshly wyf and serue my sone and me I shall be thy spouse and thou shalte haue with me a crowne of euirlastinge lyf in the kingdome of heuyn the whiche god his blessed modre sainte mary and all holy saintes of heuyn brynge vs al the dre nowe and euir Amen Sequitur sermo breuis de sancto thoma gOode men and wymen suche a daye ye shall haue saint thomas day he was cristes appostel and ye shall faste the euyn and do him worshippe specially for thre causes The firste is for the preuynge of oure byleue and for grete woundres in his waye and grete miracles in his day This holy appostyll preuyd so oure faythe that he lefte no trouble For whan the discyples saide that our lord was rysen fro dethe to lyue And they haue seen him and spoke with him Thomas said he wolde nat byleue it tyll he hadde pull his honde into his side into the wound that the spere hadde made Thenne viii daies after whan all the disciples were to giddre and thomas with them theÌ„ne oure lorde iesu criste come bodily to theym and saide Pay vobis Peas be with you and thanne oure lorde sayde to thomas of ynde Mitte manuÌ„ tuaÌ„ in latus menÌ„ Putte thy honde into my syde in to the wounde that was made with the spere that smote me to the herte Et noli esse meredulus And be no lengre out of beleue but be stedfaste in the fayth TheÌ„ne whan Thomas hadde doon so anone he cryed and sayd for grete wondre Dominus meus et deus meus My lorde and my god I beleue that thou arte very god and man Then our lorde saide to him thus BtiÌ„ qui credideruÌ„t noÌ„ videruÌ„t Blessed be they that beleue and se nat For thou that haste seen thou byleueste But yet the taryenge of thomas brought vs to fadder beleue and to the blessinge of oure iesu criste Of this speketh sainte Gregory and sayth Thomas of ynde thou haste holpe more to the fayth that woldest nat beleue tyll thou haddest felyd his woundes thenne mary mawdeleyn that dyd beleue at the firste sighte Minus est enim in maria magdalena que cicius credidit quaÌ„ thomas qui diu dubitauit Thus Thomas preuyd oure feyth beleue that we nede neuir to varye ne to be in doubte ¶ Also thomas dyd from deth to lyf tolde to the kynge yâ— he had seen his palâ—yse in paradyse many merueylles and grete wondres that were in his dayes ¶ Narracio Hit happed that a kynge of ynde sende his messenger Abbanê° indie requireÌ„s artificeÌ„ To seke some crafty men in to the contrey of cesar to seke a carpeÌ„ter that coude make hym a palays to his plesaunce Thenne our lorde IhuÌ„ criste met wyth this Abbanus sente wyth hym thomas in to ynde Also whan thomas abbanus were passed the see they com to a cyte there as the kyngis doughter was wedded the same daye wherfore all maner of peple were commaunded to mete So amonge al other people thomas abbanus come in And were set to mete But thomas ete not for his thoughte was euere off god had no luste to ete Thenne come a boteler to thomas smote thomas on the cheke and badde hym ete thenne sayd thomas to hym Non hunc surgam donec manus que me percussit a canibê° aufertur I shall not ryse from this place tyll the honde that smote me be brought wyth a dogge Thenne anone after the boteler went after water and a lion met with hym and slew hym dranke his blode and ete of his body and thenne come a blacke dogge caught that honde that smote thomas and brought it in to the hall in the syghte of all the people layd it downe byfore thomas Thenne was there a woman that vnderstode thomas wordes anone â—neled dowâ—ne to thomas and cryed and said thoâ— arte god or elles one of his disciples For ryght as thou wylt soo it is TheÌ„ne the kynge prayed to thomas to blesse his doughter and her husbande theÌ„ne thomas was glad therof ¶ Cepit ergo predicare beatus Thomas Therfore the blessed thomas began to preche and tolde them of our lord ihesu crist that he tourned the man that was wedded the same daye from his wyff a none and made hym bisshop of the same Cite his wyff anon and they were martirs after for crystis sake TheÌ„ne wente thomas forth in to ynde to the kynge to make hym a paleys to his plesaunce Soo whan Thomas was come to the kynge he was gladde ¶ And delyuered thomas a grete soÌ„me of gold to make a palays wyth Thenne rode the king forth in the meane tyme. And whan thomas sholde haue made this paleyse hym thought it was better to make a paleyse in heuen than in erthe and deled his golde amoÌ„ge poure peple and conuerted them to the feyth Thenne come the kynge home and went that his paleyse had be redy And whan he herde how Thomas and abbanus had done he wold haue put them to deth But it happed that his owne brother was dede the same time ¶ And therfore he putte theym bothe in to pryson in to the tyme that he had buryed his brother ¶ Thenne as god wold whan his brother had laye longe dede he rose
that Thomas had made for hym and prayed the kynge that he myghte haue it and he wolde gyue hym as moche gold as he toke thomas TheÌ„ne the kinge toke his couÌ„seyl and said nay I wil haue it my self Lete hym make the another for his broder had seen the paleyce in paradyse made wyth gold and arayed wyth precyous stones and clothe of golde ¶ Thenne the kynge toke crystendome and many a thousande wyth hym and whan the bysshop saw that the kynge and soo moche other peple forsoke her lawes and tourned to Cristendome they were sore wrothe wyth thomas the one of theym sayde he wolde venge his god and wyth a spere smote thomas thorugh the body and slewe hym Thenne Cristen peple buryed hym in a tombe of Crystall And there god wrought many myracles for hym For the honde that was in Crystis syde wold neuer come in to the tombe but euer laye wythout Also in his prechyng and techyng he taught Duodecim gradus virtutum assignare Primus est vt in deum crederent qui est vnus in essencia et trinus in personis Dedit eis triplex exemplum sensibile quomodo sint in diuidenci a vna tres persone Primum eÌ„ quia vnum est in homine sapiencia et de vna procedit intellectus Memoria et in genium memoria est vt non obliuiscaris intellectum vt intelligas que ostendi possunt veldoceri ingenium eÌ„ vt quod didiceris inuenias Secundum est quia in vna vinea tria sunt lignum folium et fructus Et hec omnia tria sunt vinea Tercium eÌ„ quia capud nostrum eâ— quatuor sensibus constat In vno autem capite sunt Visus auditus Adoratus et gustus Et hec plura sunt et tamen vnum capud Secundus gradus est vt baptismum suscipiat Tercius gradus est vt a fornicatione abstineat Quartus vt se ab auaricia teÌ„peret Quintus vt gulaÌ„ distringeret Sextus vt penitenciaÌ„ teneret Septiê° vt in hiis perseuerareÌ„t Octauus vt hospitalitatem a marent Nonus vt voluntateÌ„ dei requirant Decimus est vt facienda quererent Vndecimê° vt caritatem amicis et mimicis impenderent Duodecimê° est vt custodiant â—iis vigilem curam exhiberent Item appostolus Omnes qui oderant deuÌ„ de tribê° breuiter instruxit scilicet vt ecclesiaÌ„ diligerent Sacerdotes honorareÌ„t Er assidue ad verbuÌ„ dei coÌ„uenirent Also there ben many merueyles woÌ„derful thinges done on this day for on that day al the countrey cometh theder to take pardonoff that hond that lyeth ¶ oute of the Tombe in theyr vse â–ª the bisshop of the cite that goth to masse And whan he hath said Confiteor thenne he taketh a braunce of vyne putteth it in to thomas honde that is oute of the tombe and thenne he gooth forth to masse and the brenche burgeneth out grapes and by that tyme that the gospell be sayd the grapes ben rype thenne the bysshop taketh the grapes and wryngeth the wyne in the chalyâ—e and so singeth wyth the same wyne and houseleth the people And whaÌ„ ony man or womaÌ„ cometh that is not worthy to receyue this housell anone the honde closeth to gyder and wyl not open tyll he be shryuen and thenne it wyll open Also yf ony people be in debate they shall be brought to thomas tombe and there the cause shall be rehersed thenne wyll the honde torne to hym that is in the right and so they be made at one Thus thomas preueth oure byleue and dyde many woÌ„dres in his dayes ¶ Also Iohan grisâ—stomus saith that Thomas come in to the countrey there as the thre kynges of coleyn were and thomas cristened them For they had worship god in his byrthe And therfore Thomas come to theym And taught theym the feyth the byleue of criste to that byleue that we maye be saued god brynge vs all ¶ De Natiuitate dnÌ„i nostri Ihesu cristi GOod men and wymmen as ye here and see all holy chirche maketh mynde and mencioÌ„ of the greate myrthe and melodye of the blessed birth of our lorde Ihesu criste very god and man that was this day borne of his moder mary in socour off all mankynde but in especyall form causes First to gyue peas to man off good wyll and to lyghte hem that were derke in synne And for to drawe vâ— wyth loue to hym Thenne as to the first cause he was borne to gyue men peas of good wyll I maye well preue this for whan he was borne angelles songe thus Gloria in excelsis deo Ioye be to god in heuen peas in erthe to mankynde of good wyl At mydnyghte our lord was borne for by kynde al thynge was in peas and rest in shewyng that he was and is Princeps pacis Prynce of peas come to make peas bytwyx god and man and bytwene the angell and maÌ„ and betwyx man and man And for to be trewe medyatour bytwyx god and man He toke nature and kynde of bothe And was bothe very god and man by his mediacion he knytte the loue of god to man Soo sadly that the fader of heuen spared not hym that is his owne sone But sende hym in to this worlde to bye mankinde wyth his precyous blode thrugh his gret mekenesse to ioye of paradyse that man had lost by couetyse of vnbuxsumnesse Thus he made peas bytwyx god and man and man and man For whan angellâ—s saw her mayster wrothe with man for his vnbuxsumnesse For it is a sinne that angellis haten gretly Therfore they kepte the gates of paradyse and wolde lete noo soule come in tyll they sawe her lord borne of mankynde ¶ Thenne anone for loue of oure lord thangellis dyde mankynde worshyp spake goodly to mankynde as to the shepherdes that kepten her shepe in the countre by They badde hem go to the cite of Bethlem and there they shold fynde a child borne and layd in a â—ratche bad hem do hym worshyp and so they dyden and euer syn angellis haue ben frendely to man and lowly haue done reuerence to mankynde for thyncarnacion of our lord Ihesu crist Thus he made peas bitwene angellis and man Also he made peas betwene man and man for ayenst the time that our lord wolde be borne he made soo grete peas that in all the world there as kyngdomes and countrees were in debate and werred eche wyth other Vnto the tyme of oure lordis byrth Thenne there was so grete peas that a man that was called Octauian Emperour of Rome and he had the gouernaunce of the world For all the worlde was subget to Rome and it dured xxx yere in soo moche that ther was a maundement sent oute from Rome in to all the world commaundynge that all maner of people shold goo to the Cite that he drew lygnage of and lay a peny vpon his hede and soo
But whanne thomas herde the knyghtes armed and wolde come into the chirche and might nat he wente to the dore and vnbaryd it and tooke one of the knyghtes by the honde and saide It besemeth nat to make a castell of holy churche and tooke them by the hondes and saide Come in my children in goddes name Thenne for it was derke that they might nat se nor knowe Thomas they saide where is the tratoure Naye saide thomas no traitoure but arsshebissop Thenne one saide Flee for thou arte dede TheÌ„ne saide Thomas I come nat to flee butt to abyde Ego pro deo mori paratus suÌ„ et pro defensione iusticie et ecclesie liberate I am redy to dye for the loue of god for the right of holy churche TheÌ„ne Raynolde with his swerde poynte put of thomas cappe and smote at his hede cutte of his crowne that it henge bye like a disshe Thenne smote another att hym and smote it all of thenne fyll he downe to the grounde on his knees and elbowes and saide God in to thy hondes I putte my cause and the righte of holy churche and so dyed theÌ„the thridde knyghte smote and half his stroke fyll vpon his clerkes arme that helde thomas crosse bifore him and so the swerde fyll downe to the grounde and brake of the poynte and he said go we hens he is dede And whenne they were at the dore goynge oute Roberte Broke went agayne and sett his foote to Thomas necke and thruste oute the brayne vpon the pauemente Thus for the right of holy churche and the lawe of the londe thomas tooke his deth ¶ Thenne howe this martirdome was knowen in Ierusalem â–ª ye shall here There was an abbey of Monkes in the whiche that same day and 〈◊〉 me tyme that thomas dyed A monke lay at the dethe Thenne for he was a goode holy man of liuynge his abbote badde him If it were nat to goddes displeasure whanne he were dede he shoulde coÌ„me ayen and tell him howe he ferde and soo whanne he was dede he caÌ„me ayen and tolde his abbot whaÌ„ he dyed an aungell brought him bifore god and as he stode there â–ª he sawe a bisshoppe coÌ„me with a greate come any of aungellys and other saintes And he stode bifore god at his iugemeÌ„t and his hede dropped downe of blood of woundes that he had Thenne saide our lord to him â–ª thê° it besemyâ—h a man to come to his lordes courte And anone oure lorde sette a crowne on his hede and saide thus to him Asmoche as I haue gyue to Petyr and Poule so moche ioye I graunte the. and the monke saide Hereby I knowe well that this is the gretest busshop in Englonde â–ª and is slayne for goddes sake And weâ—e â—e well that I goo to euirlastinge blâ—sâ—e This tolde the Patryarke of IerusaleÌ„ sone after that thomas dyede â–ª there caÌ„me into Englonde after peple to fight agayn the hethen men ¶ Narracio ¶ Also there was a byrde that was taughte to speke and coude saye saint thomas as she herde other pilgrymes speke moche of sainte thomas And it hapnyd on a tyme this byrde satt without his cage and there caÌ„me a sparhawke and wolde haue slayn him and anon the byrde cryed on sainte Thomas helpe anoon the sparhauke fel downe dede Then saint thomas of his grete graâ—e and godenesse herde the byrde wist nat what she ment Moche more he wolde haue herde a cristen man or a cristen woman that cryed hertly to him for helpe and socoure ¶ Narracio ¶ Also we rede there was a man that thomas loued passinge well in his lyue And it fyll so that this man fell â–ª seke on a tym and coÌ„me to saint thomas â—ombe praynge him of socoure and helpe and anone he was hole But after â—e bethoughte him that his sekenesse was encreasinge to his soules helthe and so wente agayn prayenge thomas that if it were more mede to his soule to be seke than hole that he might be seke ayen so he was thaÌ„ked god seint thomas Then whan the kinge herde how god wroughte so many miracles for saynt Thomas he went to Caunterbury barefote and wolwarde and almoost naked saue a feble cote to binde his body in goyng in the feÌ„ne and in the lake as he hadde been a pore man in this londe prayenge to saint Thomas of forgyuenesse of his trespasse and at the tombe he made al the couente to gyue disciplyne by and by on his bare bodye with a rodde And there he dampned all sory customes and false lawes that was cause of the debate bitwene Thomas and the kinge bifore and graunted the churche her fredome ayen wente his way ¶ Thenne these foure knyghteâ— whan they herde howe god had wroughte for Thomas they were full sory of their cursed dedes cursed the tym that euir it hapnyd so with theym and lefte all their londes and wente to Ierusalem into the holy londe to were on goddes ennemyes But william Tracy was letted by the waye and fyll seke and roted all his body In somoche that him selue with his owne hondes caste awaye his owne flesshe lomp mele and so died an horrible deth And the other thre also dyed a pytous deth sone after And thus within thre yeres after Thomas dethe they dyed all foure But as longe as they lyued they cried euir mercy to god and to saint thomas and so I hope they hadde De circumcisione domini gOode frendes suche a daye is called neweyeres daye and is the firste daye of the begynnyng of the newe yere that is cuÌ„myng and is the laste daye of the yere that is gone And therfore this daye ye shall coÌ„me to god and holy churche to here youre diuyne seruyce for this yere For lyke as a godâ— seruaunte that hath a good maister makâ—th his couenaunte but ones but holdeth forth from yer to yere hauing ful truste in his maister that he woll for his gode seruice gyf him agode reward in his grete nede at his last ende In the same wyse goddes seruauntes maken couenaunte with him but ones that is at the cristenynge at the fonte and ther he maketh couenaunte to be goddes seruaunt hauynge full truste in god that at his grete nede that is at the daye of dome wyll quyte him for his seruyce in euirlastinge blisse of heuyn And so wyll he do to all that be good true seruauntes Thus this day is called new yeres daye Also it is called Circumcisio domini The circumcision of oure lorde Alsoo this daye is called Neweyeres day for this daye is the firste daye of the CaleÌ„der and the yere gooth moche by the calender therfore it is called neweyeres daye Saint Austyn sayth this daye this nyghte hethen peple vse many false opyniones and witche crafte false byleue the whiche been nat to tell emoÌ„ge cristen people lest they turne to that vse wherfore ye that
daye xii monthe he turned water into wyne at the weddinge at Chane galilee But the feste maketh mooste mynde mencion of the iii. kinges offryng and therfore lete vs folowe the fourme of holy churche and ye shall here howe it fyll of their offringe to oure lorde iesu criste very god and man Thus iii. kynges wer of the lignage that prophecyed howe a sterre sholde shyne of Iacob But they were no iewes kynd but they hadde herde by prophecy of this wherfore they hadde greate desire luste to see it And so often tymes whaÌ„ne they might coÌ„me to giddre vpon certeyne high hylles thenne they wolde dispute emonge theym of this sterre Soo it hapned vpon cristemasse nighte the same tyme as oure lorde was borne they were to gyddre and were disputyng of this sterre Super montem Vpon the hyll Dominus enim erat natus Oure lorde was borne Eâ— apperuit illis And apperyd to theym in the sterre as a faire childe and vnder his hede a brâ—kâ—â—â— â–ª crosse of golde and saide thus to them Goo ye anoon in all the haste that ye maye into the londe of Iury and take with you gold myrre and ensence and offre these thre thinges to him that ye shal fynde there now borne kinge of iewes very god man And I shal be youre gyde and lede you to the way Then anoon for grete haste they toke bestâ—â— that ben called Dromedaries that ben of suche kynde they be so swyfte that they wyll tenne further in one day thaÌ„ne any other beest wyll tenne or go in thre daies And so they caÌ„me to Ierusalem that was the cheif cyte of all Iury hopynge that they shulde here there some tydinges where that this child was borne But as sone as they turnyd into the cyte of Ierusalem thenne they loste the sighte of the sterre that lad theâ—◠¶ euyr the waye tyll that they come thyder bryghter than the sonne theÌ„ne wheÌ„ they com to the cyte of iherusâ—leÌ„ they rode to kyng Herode for he was there the same tyme sayd to heÌ„ Vbi eÌ„ qui natus eÌ„ rex iudeoruÌ„ ¶ where is he that is borne that is kynge of iewes Vidimus enim stellam eius in oriente we sawe his sterre in the Este Venimus adorare eum we be come to worshyp hym Thenne kynge herode was troubled and all the cyte wyth hym but more for flaterynge of him thenne for ony loue that they had to hym Thenne kynge Herode asked his clerkis where this child sholde be borne and they sayd in bethelem â—nde thenne kyng herode asked the kingis preuely of the sterre and bad hem goo in Bethelem and worship the childe â–ª and come ayen by hym telle hym where he myghte fynde the chylde that he myght goo worshyp hym Thenne whan the kyngis were passed towardes Bethelem anone the sterre apered to them And whan thei sawe the sterre was come ayen they were glad in their hertes and as it is in many place painted the kynge that is in the myddel for gret ioye of the sterre he loked bacwarde to his felowe behynde hym and wyth his fynger shewed him the sterre that is the cause that the middel king loked bacward ¶ And thus the sterre broughte them to bethelem and whan the sterre come ouer the hous there as Our Lord was in it stode styll Thenne the kynges lighted downe and wente in to the hous and wyth al the reuerence that they coude knelynge â— downe offird eche of theÌ„ thise iii. thinges Aurum thus et mirram Golde cence and myâ—â—e knowlechyng by the golde that he was kynge of all kynges And by the 〈◊〉 that he was very god and by the myrre that he waâ— very man and shold be dede and layd in graue wythout rotynge For gold is cheef of al mettallis Encence is breÌ„te in holy chirche in worship to god Myrre is an oynemeÌ„te that kepeth the bodyes from rotynge Thus whan the kyngis had done theyr offrynge by techinge of the angell Per aliam viam reuersi sunt iÌ„ regionem suam By another waye they wente toward theyr owne londis And lefte kynge he rode and the sterre vanysshed awaye fro them ¶ Thenne as syant Bernard sayth Ioseph kept of this golde as moche as hym neded to his tribute that he shold paye to the emperour And also more to kepe our lady wyth whyle she laye in chylde bed And the remenaunt he deled to poure people suche as had grete nede therto The cence he brente to put awaye the stenche of the stable there as she laye in and wyth the myrre Oure lady anoynted her chyld to kepe hym from wormes and dysease But what befel of the kyngis after I fynde no thyng in certeyn but some peple haue an oppynyon how the saynt thomas of Inde cristened theym whan he come in to that cuntrey of Inde ¶ And thenne as the sterre lyghtened theym to crystis birth Soo the holy ¶ goost lyghtened them in theyr soule and â—aught them the parfyghte waye of the byleue And also of parfyghte and gracious lyuinge In soo moche that they lefte all theyr kingedom and wente forth on pylgrâ—mages that is to saye to Iherusalâ—m to many other places And soo they come forthe to Myllayne and there they deyed all thre And soo after that they were translated to Coleyne and there they ben yet now haue ye herde bi thyse thre kynges How Oure Lorde Ihesu Criste was this daye shewed verey god and man wherfore lyke as they offred wyth deuocyon So shold ye doo your offrynges whan ye come to holy chirche knelynge downe wyth all reuerence that ye canne or may not on your one knee as to a temporal lorde but on bothe your knees And doo worshyp hym wyth good prayers Thenne offre ye precious golde For there is noo golde soo precyous as is the good prayer deuoute And thenne hold vp your hondes to hym wyth all the reuerence that ye can and wyth a deuoute herte praye to hym and shewe hym all the loue of your hertes And thenne offre ye to hym ensence For there is noo ensence sauour that is so swete brennyng in the fyre as doth good prayers that is deuoutely said· wyth a brennyng loue in clene charyte And if thou doo thus thenne thou offrest knelyng on thy knees Make a crosse on therthe and kysse it and thynke well thou art but etthe theÌ„ne muste ye offre myrre For right as myrre kepeth a body from rotyng soo the mynde of deth kepeth a mannis soule from dedely synne in this wyse do ye your offâ—nâ—â—e And thenne shall ye haue as moche mede as had thyse thre kynges Also he was shewed bothe god and man atte his cristenyng For he come to the water of flom Iordan he wente in to the water and halowed it for right as he was circumcised to conferme the new lawe and for noo nede that he hadde therto For he was clene wythout
whan saint wolstone visited his busshopriche the people brought a man bifore him that dyd his neyghboures moche disease wold neuyr be in peas praynge the busshop to chastice him whan the busshop hade prechyd to this man he was euir leâ—gre the worse Then the busshop and al the peple prayed to saint mathye to shewe some myracle by this maÌ„ what he was worthy to haue Then anoon in sighte of all the peple there came oute of the erthe ii fendes with brennynge hokes and plucked this quycke man doune to hell And whan he was gone the people were releuyd and had reste and peas euyr after Amen De annunciacione beate marie virginis gOode frendes suche a daye ye shall haue an highe and a solempne feste in holy churche thannuÌ„ciacion of oure lady he that hath auowed or ioyned in penaunce must faste the euyn ¶ ye shall vnderstonde that it is called thannuÌ„ciacion for this cause For the fad of heuyn sent his angel gabriel Missus est angelus gabriel a deo in ciuitateÌ„ cui nomen Nazaret In the cyte that was called Nazareth to oure lady that was newe weded by the byddynge of god and reuelacion of the holy ghooste to a man called Iosephe And as she was in her chambre in her praiers the angell gabriell come to her said Oure lorde is with the Then was she gretly astonyed of this gretynge For there was in the countre a man that coud moche wichcraft so with helpe of fendes he made hym self lyâ— an angel came to dyuerse maydens said he was sente from god to theym on his message so ofte tymes laye by hem dyde hem grete vylonye thenne whaÌ„ our lady herde telle of that man she was a drad lest it had be he For she had spoke wyth noo angell before nor ther were no suche wordes ne suche gretinges made neuer none to her before Thenne gabriell the angell comforted her and saide ¶ Ne timeas maria inuenisti graciam apud dnÌ„m Drede not mary forsoth thou hast fouÌ„de grace at our lord For amonge al the wymen our lord hath chosen the for to be moder of his sone And hym thou shal coÌ„ceyue by feyth by loue of the holy goost wythout ony dede of maÌ„ that shal shadow the. quenche al flesshely lust tende the lyght of goostely loue that thou shalt coÌ„ceyue the sone of the hyghe god And thus thou shal be moder mayde so was neuer none before Thenne anone our lady herde thise wordes and anone therwyth come a spirituel swetenesse ioye in her herte that anone or ony erthely man cowde telle it so wyth al the reuereÌ„ce of mekenesse that she cowde She answerde thus ayen and sayde Ecce ancilla domini fiat michi secundum verbum tuum Lo here goddis own mayd redy to goddis wyl prayng it may be to me ryght as thou sayst Thus that blissed body coÌ„ceyued our lord Ihesu cryst in euerlastyng ioye to al the world Thus I ma eye lykeÌ„ our lady to a precioê° stone called onyx it is as clere as ony cristall shal of kynde whan the sonne shyneth hote on hym he openeth and receyueth a droppe of the dewe of heuen in to hym and closed ayen tyl ix monethes after thenne it openeth and falleth out a stone of the same kinde and so closeth ayen as euer it was â–ª and neuer openeth after Thus our lady was as clene as ony cristal for the hote loue of the holy goost at the ix monethis ende she was delyuered of her sone our lord Ihesu criste and was after as clene mayden as she was to fore Thenne whan the angell had done hâ—s message he wente his waye to heuen â–ª And our lady wente to her cosyn elysabeth that was grete wyth châ—ld with Saynt Iohan baptist And when she come to Elysabeth she grete her mâ—kely And assone as our lady spake to Elysabeth the childe in elysabethis woÌ„be pleyde and made grete ioye For he sawe that our lord had take mankynde and was come to saue hem that was lorn Thenne our lady dwelled there wyth Elysabeth her cosyn tyll the tyme that saynt Iohan was borne and was mydwyfe to Elysabeth and toke saynt Iohan from therthe and ther she lerned all that her neded for to knowe ayenst the tyme that her sone shold be borne And was parfyte ynough therof Thenne mekely she toke her leue and wente home ayen to Nazareth Thenne thoughte Ioseph he wold go loke how his wyf dyde and wente towarde her And whan our Lady herde of his comynge she wente ayenst hym and grete hym full mekely But whaÌ„ Ioseph sawe her grete wyth childe he merueyled gretely how that myght be For well he wyste it was not his for he had neuer part of her body in that degree For he knewe well that she had made a vowe before that she wold neuer haue parte of mannys body And thought how that he was made to wedde her by the byddynge of the holy gooste and grete myracle shewynge thought right in his herte he was not worthy to dwelle in her companye thoughte in his herte to haue gone home ayen and to leue her there Thenne come an angell to hym and sayd be not aferde to take mary thy wyf to thy kepyng for it is of the holy gooste that is quycke in her body For thou shalt be kepar and norissher to her child whaÌ„ it is borne calle it Ihesus For he shall be sauyour to all the world Thenne ye shall vnderstonde that for iiii causes As saynt Ambrosius saith Oure lady was wedded to this olde man Ioseph The firste was yf she had conceyued wythout wedlocke the iewes wolde haue said that she had be an euyll woman of her body and soo haue stoned her to deth The second cause was for she was soo shame faste that and she had herde ony haue put ony defam to her she wold haue deyed for sorowe The thirde cause was for Ioseph sholde bere wytnesse of her maydenhode The fourth cause for Ioseph sholde helpe her at her byrthe and brynge her to Bethelem and after in to Egypte and so ayen in to her own countrey For thise four causes she was wedded to this olde man Ioseph and also to begyle the fende that he shold not knowe hym fro another childe Now haue ye herde of the AnnunciacioÌ„ There be some people that aske a question why there stondeth a wyne potte wyth lilyes betwene our Lady and gabriell the angell at her salutacion This is the cause For our Lady at her salutacion conceyued by feyth ¶ Narracio ¶ It befell thus vpon a cristmas day that a Cristen man and a Iewe satte to gyder and spake of the Concepcion of our lady and as they were there stode a wyne pot to fore them with a lilie therin Thenne sayde the cristen man we byleue that our lady conceyued lyke as this lylye conceyued coloure of grene
forsake her synne and doo nomore therfore the teeres of a man or a woman that is sory for his synne in this maner quenchen the fyre of helle Of thyse teeres speketh Iohn grisostome and saith ¶ O thou teere that art mekely lete in oryson and prayer wyth good deuocion thy myghte is soo grete that thou goest to heuen and takest the worde of the Iewes mouth making hym to torne the to saluacion that before were in weye off dampnacion Also thou makest thy aâ— cusare dombe the fendes· and so thou quenchest the fyre of helle that fendes made redy ayenst thy comyng and thê° god hangeth vpon waters Thenne for saynt Barthylmewe was goddys sone as all ben that seruyth hym he was hangyng vp in four wayes in deuocion of holy orysons prayeng and in feythful monicion in suffryng off passion he was hangyng to godward in deuoute orysons for that he sayd wyth his mouthe he thoughte in his herte Soo that his herte was alwaye hangyng vp toward god both in worde and in dede as the preste sayhe in the masse Sursum corda Holde vp your hertes to god Thus this holy man saynt barthylmew had euer his herte to god for grete deuocion ¶ We fynde wreten of hym thus that he kneled a C. tymes on the daye and C. tymes on the nyght for a grete deuoucion that he had to god· But for he shold not be wery of the traueyle God sente an angell euer more to shewe hym and kept hym thus hanged he vp in holy orysons prayeng ¶ He was also hanged vp by the feythfull monycion in this wyse For god gaue hym soo grete power ouer all fendes that by his holy monycion he suspended hem whether they were in man or woman And also in other mawmentis we fynde wreten of saynt Barthylmewe how he come into yndâ— in the temple In the whiche temple was aâ— ymage there in was a fende a mawment that was called aâ—tarâ—th and this ymage was made of gold thenne the fende that was therin and spake to hym and dyde hym worshyp And by suche wordes as he spake he made the people byleue that he was god and yet to make hem the more to byleue he heled many syke men and wymmen bothe blynde and lame and of many dyuerse sykenesse that he had caste vpon hem to fore hym self And so semynge to them that they were heled by hym but suche sikenesse as god sente vpon hem he cowde not hele Thenne was the temple full of syke people that were brought to this mawment to be hole but assone as Barthylmewe come to the temple he suspended the fendes power that he myght he le noo man Now ther was another god called baruth and they asked hym why her god gaue hem none answere He sayd barthylmew the appostle of god hath bouÌ„de hym soo sore that he dare not ones speke nor â—rake Thenne he tolde hym the fetures of Barthylmew and sayd he knoweth euery worde that we spek now for he hath an angel of god with hym and telleth hym all thynges that euer was sayd or done by hym And moreouer though ye seke hym ye shall not fynde him but yf he wyll hymself ¶ Thenne wente they home ayen and sought Barthylmew and myghte not fynde hym Thenne as barthylmewe walked amonge the people a mad maÌ„ that had a fende wythin hym anone cryed barthylmewe goddis own appostle thy prayers bynde me so sore bren me also Then said barthylmewe holde thy peas thou fende go oute of with the worde the fende went his way and lefte the man and anon he was hole Then it hapnyd that the king of that cyte had a doughter that was madde and sore bounde with cheynes For harme that she dyd emonge the people And whan the kinge herde how this man was helyd he sent to Bar 〈…〉 mewâ— prayeng him that he wolde heale his doughter and so he dyd Thenne Barthelmewe prechyd soo to the king that he turnyd the kinge to be cristâ—ed And then anon he coÌ„maunded to drawe downe the mawmentes that wer in the temple Thenne the people tyed ropes aboute the ymages neckes wold haue drawen downe the mawmentes but they myght nat for the fendes ware stronge in them Then Barthelmewe coÌ„maunded the fendes to come out of ymages and to pull theym to pouder and so they dyd for they hadde no power to withstande his coÌ„maundmente And so they al to brake theym and for the temples were so full of seke peple Barthelmewe praied god that they myghte be hole and anoon they were ¶ Then the knigâ— â–ª his wyfe his doughter and all his menye and moch other people turned to the feyth of crist and thenne Bherthelmewe cristenyd â–ª theym all ¶ Thus Barthelmewe hangith by feâ—thfull monycion For he suspendyd the fendes power that they myghte do no thynge ¶ He was also haÌ„gyd vp by suffring of passion For whanne the Busshop of the temple sawe that the people wer almooste turned to the cristen feyth â— â—ftâ— the fendes mawmentry he wente vnto the Cite there as a kyng was called Astrages and brother to the kyng Polunyes and compleined to hym sore And sayd there was a man come to hem that was called Barthylmew that had tourned his broder and al the people to the feyth that they set not by her goddis but had draw hem downe and all to broke hem and halowed the temple oonly to criste for this cause he preyed hym of helpe Thenne sent the kinge a thousande men after Barthylmewe Thenne whan barthylmewe was come he asked hym why he had tourned his broder and made hym byleue on a dede man that was hanged on the Crosse Thenne sayd Barthylmewe I haue bounde that god that thy brother byleued on and shewed that fende And yf thou or he maye doo soo to my god thenne wyll I byleue os thou dooste Thenne the kynge commaunded to hange barthylmew on a crosse and longe to torment hym theron and after toke hym downe and fleye hym quycke and thenne to smyte of his hede Thenne come crysten people buryed hym wyth grete reuerence worshyp And thus he was hanged vp by grete compassion suffryng we rede in gestis romanorum That whan frederycke themperour had destroyed a grete Cite And therin was a fair chirche of saynt Barthylmew and other moo of dyuerse sayntes And as a good holy man come by the cyte and he sawe a grete companye of men stondyng to gyder Thenne had this man grete merueyle of hem and asked what they were and what was theyr counseyll Thenne sayd they that iâ— was sayâ—â— Barthylmew and other sayntes that had chirches in that cyte that were dystroyed and there they toke her counseil what they myght doo wyth the empeperour And they were in full purpose that he shold come before god and answere for his dedes And soo the Emperour deyed a fowle dethe and was damned And also it is wreten in the lyf of saynt
fight for hem all and bothe the endes of the brydge shulde be drawen vp And whiche of theym that hadde the victory sholde haue bothe the kyngdomes Thenne was eraclius so full in feyth of the crosse trustyd in the prayer of the people that he ouircome his enmy Thenne cosdres people by strengith of the holy gooste turned to the feyth by free wyll of hem selue And whanne they were all criste nyd then went Eraclius with both the ostes to the olde kynge cosdre as he satt in his trone and saide to him thus For by cause thou haste doo worshyp to the holy crosse thou shal chose if thou wil be crystned and haue thy kyngdome ayen for a lytell trybute in reste and peas or els to be dede and he forsoke to be cristned Thenne anoon Eraclius smote of his hede and made a crye that his treasoure sholde be dealyd emong his men and precious stones and other Iewelles sholde be kepte to restore the churches that were distroyed and bare the crosse to Ierusalem And whan he came to the mounte of olyuete toward the cyte of Ierusalem rydynge on a traped horse he wolde haue ryden into the cyte of Ierusalem but sodenly the gates fell to gydder was a playn wal Thenne he was gretely astonyed and marueyled gretly of that vengeaunce and made a grete mone Thenne come an aungell and stode vpon the gates sayde Quando rex noster whan the kynge of heuyn come this way thrugh this gates towarde his passion he rode on no trapped horse nor in no clothe of golde but mekely on a symple â—sâ—e gyuynge ensample of mekenesse to al peple Thenne the aungell went his way then the kinge with all the deuocion that he coude or myghte doo anoon dyd of his clothes to his sherte and went bare foot and bare legged Then the gate opnyd he wente in to the cyte so to the temple and offred the crosse ayen as it was to fore Thenne for the grete ioye that the people hadde of that crosse and for the grete miracles that god shewed it was more worshypped after thanne it was to fore and the worshyp of the croce that was cast downe after was lyft vp ¶ wherfore this day is called they altacion of the crosse For as saint Austyn sayth the crosse was firste of grete spyte and vilany nowe it is of so grete worshyp that emperoures kynges worshippe it ¶ Narracio ¶ we rede in legenda aurea that a iew come to a churche and for defaute that no man was in the churche he went to the rode and for greate enuye that he had to criste he cutte the rodes throte and anone the bloode stert out on his clothes and so his clothes were all rede blood and thenne he hyd the rode in a pâ—â—uye place And as he wente home a cristen man met him and saide to him Thou haste slayn some man where hast thou done him and he sayd nay and the cristen man saide thy clothes been all blody of him Thenne this iew kneled downe and saide Forsoth the god that these cristen people byleue vpon is of greate vertue tolde him howe he had done and cryed mercy with al his hert and soo he was cristenyd a holy maÌ„ after and so went to euirlastynge ioy and blysse to the whiche god bring vs all Amen De quatuor temporum gOde frendes this weke ye shal haue ymbre daies that is wednesday fridaye and saturday the whiche Câ—lâ—xt the pope ordeyned iiii tymes in the yere to al that be of couenable age to faste For certayn causes as ye shall here Oure olde faders fastyd foure tymes in the yere ayenste foure hye and solempne festes if we wol shewe vs gode children we must fast folowe the same rule that they vsed therfore we faste iiii tymes First in marche The seconde at wytsontyde The thridde bitwene heruest and seed tyme and the iiii bifore cristmasse Marche is a tyme that it dryeth vp the moistre that is in the erthe wherfore we faste that tyme to drye the erthe of oure body of the humoures that be nedefull to the body and to the soule for that tyme the humoures of lechery temteth a man moost of any tyme of the. yere Also we fast at wytsontide for to gete grace of the the holy goste that we may be in loue and charite to god and to all the worlde Caritas cooperit multitudinem pecâ—atorum Charite couereth the multitude of synnes Also we fast for to haue mekenesse in our hertes and to putte awaye all pryde that reyneth within vs Also we faste bitwene heruest sedetyme for to haue grace to gader frutes of gode werâ—is into the house of oure conscience and so by ensample of gode lyuynge emong the people that we be comen with both ryche and pore Also we faste in wynter for to slee all stynkynge wedes of synne and of foule erthe of flesshely lustes that make good aungelles and good people to withdrawe theym fro vs. For right as the nettyll brenneth roses and other floures that growe nye him In the same wyse a vicious man or woman stereth setteth on fyre theym that be in their company And for these causes we fast foure tymes in the yere and euery tyme thre daies that betoken thre speciall vertues that helpe a man to grace that is fastynge deuoute prayenge and almessededys doyng And by opunion of moche people these dayes be called ymbre daies bycause that oure elder faders wold on these daies ete no brede but cakes made vndre asshes so by the etyng of that they reduced into their mynde that they were but asshes and so sholde turne ayen wyst natt how sone by that they turned away from all delyciouse metes and drynkes toke non hede but that they had easy sustenaunce This caused theym to thynke on deth that wyll cause a maÌ„ to desire no more than he nedeth and absteyne him selue fro all maner of bodily lustes And to encrese in vertues by the whiche we may come to euirlastynge blysse Amen De sancto Matheo gOode frendes suche a daye ye shall haue saint Mathewes daye whiche was cristes appostyl and ye shall faste the euyn come to god and holy church in the worshyp of god and saint mathewe He is gretely comeÌ„ded in holy churche for certeyne holy vertues that he hadde He was obedieÌ„t to criste at the firste calling the gospell he preched without faynynge he suffred passion withoute any denyenge Firste he was obedient to criste at the firste callynge for he satte at a certeyn place besy to gete good and crist come that waye and loked on him and bad him come and goo with him Thenne he caste soo greate loue to criste that he lefte all his godes that he hadde sued criste forth full symple and ful pore Also he fedde criste gladly for on a daye he prayed criste to ete with hym and made
tyme and place be redy to thy deth A nother is for encreasyng of thy synne For synne that is nat anon done awaye by shryfte he draweth another to him as saith saint Austyne And so as thou encresist thy syn right so thou encresist thy peyne Another is for drede of turnynge ayen For the ferther that thou gost fro god by thy long abydyng in syn the harder it is to the after to turne agayn to thy good lyf And also in grete sekenesse thy peyn is somtyme so grete that thou must natt be very repentaunt It must also be hole nat some to one and some to a nother This is a greate spyce of ypocresye and thus vse moch people And all for they wolde be hold holy and bettre thanne they be Saint bernard sayth that ther is noo confessioun but it be in trouthe of thy mouthe profytable and clenes of thy hert if thou be seke and swete in al partes of thy body it is a token of lyf and if it be particuler it is a token of dethe Right so and thou tell all thy synnes it is token of saluacion as whan criste helyd the man that the gospel speketh of He made him nat half hole but all hole So whenne he foryeueth he foryeueth all or neuir a dele Therfore heeld oute thyne herte to fore thy lorde god as water nat as oyll left the faâ—nes abyde Or as mylke leste the whytnesse appere ne as wyne left the â—auoure abide Thou heldest oute thy hert as oyle that shryuest the of thy small synnes and leuyst the grete the farre within the. Thou heldest oute as mâ—lâ— that by coloure of excusacion makeste thy synnes whyte As adam dyd by the woman and the woman by the serpent Thou beldest it oute also as wyne that after the leuynge of thy synne thou kepyst the sauoure within the therof as whanne thou delytest the in lycherouse wordes or hast ioye to se vanyties or auantyste the of lewdnesse doon to fore and that is a synne that moost greuyth god Therfore held out thyn herte as water that neyther fatnes coloure ne sauour abyde after with al the circumstances As in what maner what place what cause what tyme. what age what state howe moche howe longe why and where and all suche that agree ¶ Thy synne also it must be naked nat made by a messangere ne lettre but with thyne owne mouth ne in gay termys but in suche wyse be it neuir so foull that thy confessoure may knowe thy menyng doo it wylfully as the theef that hynge on the crosse And nat as achor it muste also be feythfull that thou haue full hope of foryeuenes of thy synne by the mercy of god or thou goo thens accusynge thy self and noon other saynge with Iosue and Dauyd I am he that synned I am he that dyd amys nat excusing the by custome felaushyp or frailtye as some doon Do it also in good entent for no vaynglory ne drede of peyne But specially for the offense doon withoute any faynynge For dyuerse causes is confession profytable Firste for the peryll of synne that thy confessoure there shewyth the. Also for the shame that thou hast there in thy coÌ„fession whiche is a greate relece of thy payne A nother for it sheweth in thy coÌ„science a sikernesse of foryeuenes By confession also god is glorifyed and the deuyll confounded For who so vseth ofte tyme to be coÌ„fessed in what temptacion he be He shall nat be ouir coÌ„me with the deuyll Saynte Austyn saith that the oftener that thou arte confessed of thy synne in hope of foryeuenesse the lightliar saith he thou shalt haue grace and foryeuenes of thy synnes Onys a yere it â—â— spedefull to the. to make thy confession generall specially in the poynt of deth and the shame therof shal be there to the a grete parte of thy satisfaccion De satisfaccione ¶ The thridde parte of penaunce as I sayd to fore is satisfaccion This is grounded in the wordes of the prophete that where he sayd to Naman Go and wasshe the seuyn tymes in iordan and thou shal be clensed of that thou haste be defaced with spottes of synne Though it be sokyd with bytter sorowe of thyn hert and clerly rubbed with confession yet must it haue many diuerse rensynges after with satisfaccion tyll â–ª it be so clerly purgyd here or in purgatorye that it may clerely appere after in the sight of oure lorde If thy contricion be greate here thy penaunce may be the lesse there And if it be lytell thy peynes muste nedes bee the greter And soo grete it may be here that it suffiseth to thy saluacion Satisfaccion after diuerse doctoures is a puttyng away of the cause of syn nat takynge hede of their suggestiones It is also an obligacion doon of godâ— werkes to god with mekenesse lowenes of herte after the qualyte quantyte of thy synne ¶ This satisfaccion muste be do wylfully without grudgyng And it muste be plener and generall for euery synne reasonably As pryuy penaunce for pryuy synne open penaunce for opyn synne Thre principall werkys ther be of satisfacion almes prayer and fastynge These thre oure lorde fulfylled in hys passion for redempcion of oure synne Therfore what almes is and howe it sholde be doon I shall tell Almes is a lowynge of thyn hert with a wylfull compassion to them that be in nede and it is a dede of mercy by coÌ„passion of neyghboures myscheyf There be thre maner of almes One is in the contricion of thyn hert for the synne that thou offeryst thy selue with to god A nother by geuyng of bodilye treasoure with thyn honde The thrid in pyte and compassion hauyng of thy neyghboures myscheyf Temporal almes thou maist somtyme yeue of godes vntruly goten That is to say wheÌ„ thou knowest nat to whome thou shalt restore it and yet it muste be doone by counceyll of thy goostly fader and tythe nat of that thou getyst by thyft for some tyme it is chalengyd and theÌ„ne he that delyuered it shall aske it ayen And somtyme it is chaunged shall nat be askyd agayne as whan it turneth nat to the taker bicause they come by thefte or robbrye raueyn symonye or vsuâ—ye And so of theym shall noo almes be gyuen For they must be restored agayn But whanne the hauynge is chaunged and shall nat be asked agayn as gyftes of comen wymen and Iogelers or suche other Thenne shal they be gyuen in almes Also if thou fynde a thynge of any value after tyme thou haste doon thy besynes to wyâ—e duly who owyd it Thou shalt speÌ„d it in almes by counceyll of thy gostlye fader to all that haue nede Also thou shalt gyue thyn almes to gode and badde frende and ennemye if thou be of power Oure lorde sayth yeue to euery man that asketh the turn nat awaye thy face from any pore maÌ„ sayth Toby yet it is saide yeue the gode man and resceyue nat
besely to god for them on erth that he sholde haue mercy on hem This is the cause that this feste was first founde and therfore lete vs come to chirche worshyp god and all halowen that they maye praye for vs that we maye atte our laste ende be af the nombre that shal worshyp god that the boke speketh of and sayth thus Vidi turbam magnam quâ—m nemo dinumerare poterat ¶ For they ben so many that no man can nombre hem And all they praye for vs euermore that we may 〈◊〉 to that blysse that they ben in A◠¶ In die Aninâ—aruâ—â— GOod frendis suche a daye ye shall haue all soules daye the daye of the soules in purgatory there abydyng the mercy of god and haue moche nede to helpe And ryght as holy chirche worshyppeth all sayntes to be holpen by the prayers of hem ryght soo holy chirche ordeynyth this daye to synge and rede And to do almysdedes hauynge full byleue to relese them that ben in purgatori of their peines wherfor god wyll that crysten people to theyr power this daye releue hem For the lest prayer or almysdede that is done gretly releueth theym ¶ ye shall vnderstnnde that there ben foure thynges that gretly helpen soules that ben in purgatory that ben thyse Fideliun amicorum oracoÌ„ elâ— mosinarum largicio salutaris hostia ieiuniorum obseruacio ¶ That is prayers of frendes deuoutly sayd and almysdede doynge And masses syngyng abstynence in fastynge prayers helpen moche a soule For lyke as a lord that hath a man in pryson or in ony dystresse and atte the prayers of hym that he loueth he releseth in party or all ¶ And that is shewed by ensample ¶ Narracio ¶ we fynde wreten in legenda aurea how that there was a man that hadde his house fast by a chircheyaâ—â—e syde And that his dore opened to the chirche and he vsed by custome as ofte as he come or wente to â—ayâ— euery tyme Deprofâ—dis for all cristen soules Thenne it happed soo on a tyme that he was pursued wyth enemyes as he wente homewardes But whan he come in to the chirche yarde he kneled downe and thoug◠〈◊〉 saye Deprofundis And this enâ—â—â—es come after Anone the dede bodyes rose euerychone wyth suche Instrumentis as they wroughte wyth by her lyues and anone they droue awaye his enemyes But whan they sawe that they cryed god mercy and this man and euer after prayed and dede almesdedes for theym that were in peine Thus ye may well proue that deuoute prayers helpen maye a soule that ben in purgatory Also almesdedes helpen many a soule Sicut aqua extinguit ignem ita elemosina extinguit pctmÌ„ ¶ Right as water quencheth fyre soo almesdede quencheth the synne that brenneth them in purgatory yf they ben in good lyff in parfyghte charyte that done it And yf almesse dede be done for them that ben in ioye and haue no nede therto It is put to the tresour off holy chirche And as goddes wyll is soo it is deled and releueth theym that haue most nede therto and so god assygneth it to them And thenne the soules that ben holpeÌ„ therwyth thanke the soule that this was done for Thus ye may knowe well that almesdedes helpen gretly soules that is done fore ben in purgatory For ofte holy men haue herde fendes crye â–ª and make grete sorowe For wyth almesdedes soules were taken from them ¶ Narracio ¶ we rede in olde tyme gode peple wolde on all halowyn daye bake brede dele it for all crysten soules And yet there ben some that vsen it but all to fewe ¶ we fynde in legenda aurea of a knyght that shold goo to a batayle and had a cosyn that he loued passyng well And said to hym thus if he were sleyn in the batayle he shold selle his horse deale the valure to pour people in almesse to praye for all cristen soules Soo it happed that he was slayne and his cosyn loued well the horse and toke hym to his owne vse â–ª Thenne soone after this knyght appered to his cosyn and said thus to hym thyse viii dayes for my horse thou haste made me to brenne in purgatory And therfore god wyll take vengeauÌ„ce on the. Forsothe quod he this daye thy soule shal be in helle wyth the fende Et ego purgatus vado iÌ„ regnuÌ„ dei And I am purged shal go to the kingedom of heuen anone an horryble noyse was herde in thayre of fendes caught this man bare hym awaye The thirde that helpeth is the masse for whan ony soule appereth to ony man to haue ony helpe he desyreth masses prayeth to haue masses songeÌ„ for hym Ryght as mete and drynke comforteth a man whan he is feble so the sacramente of the awter comforteth the soules that the masses ben done for It is wreten in legenda aurea how a bishop suspended a preest for he cowde saye none other masse but of requiem but he songe euery daye deuoutly after his connyng Thenne on a daye as the bysshop wente toward matens it semed to hym that dede bodyes rosen rome a bowte hym And sayde thou hast said noo masse for vs. and more ouer thou hast taken our preste away from vs· Loke that this be amended â–ª or elles god wyll in shorte tyme take vengeaunce on the for our sake Thenne was the bysshop gretely a ferd and anone he bad the prest synge masse off requyem â–ª as he dyde to fore and soo he dyde os ofte as he myghte ¶ Narracio ¶ Also we fynde that fisshers sette her nettes in heruest to fysshe and they toke vp a grete pese of yse and that it was the coldest yse that euer they felte And it wolde not melte for the sonne Thenne brought they that yse to the bysshop For he had a grete brennyg hete in his fote and it was the coldest that euer he felte thenne spake there a voys to hym out of the yse and sayd I am a soule that suffre my penauÌ„ce here in this yse for I haue noo frendes that wyll doo masses for me I shal be delyuered out of my penaunce and thou shalt be hole of thy sykenesse yf thou wylt saye masse for me And he said he wold singe for hym and bad telle hym his name and euer whyle he was at masse he layed the yse vnder his fet and euer as he said masse the yse melte awaye And soo wythin a whyle the yse was molten and the soule from peyn And the bysshop was hole of his sykenesse ¶ Thenne the soule appered to hym wyth moche ioye â–ª and sayde wyth thy masses syngyng I am holpen oute off peyne in to euerlastynge blysse And he tolde the bisshop that he shold deye soone after and come to euerlastynge ioye wythout ende to the whiche god brynge vs all Amen ¶ De festo sctiÌ„ Maâ—â—â—iÌ„ GOod frendis suche a daye ye shall haue saynt Martens daye whan