to god and by obedyence to his maistre and this is the treble maner of musyke whiche is reported to the treble difference of thoffyce of the chirche For thoffyce of the chirche is made in psalmes in lessons and in songe The first maner of musyke is made by touchyng of fyngres as in the sawtrye and semblable instrumentis The second is the songe as of the voys and that aparteyneth to the lessons And therof saith Synge ye to hym in deportyng your voys The thirde that is by blowyng apparteyneth to the songe of a trompe And herof saith dauid Prayse ye hym in the sowne of the trompe The temple or the chirche is halowed for fyue reasons The first is by cause that the deuyl and all his power be put oute Wherof saynt gregorye recounteth in his dialogue that as a chirche of theretyques Arryens was yelden to good crysten men And they halowed it and had brought in reliques of seynt fabyen and sebastyen and of saynt agathe alle the peple were there assembled and they herde sodenly an hogge crye renne hyther and thyder emonge their feet sechyng the doores of the chirche And he myght not be seen of noman wherof the peple had grete meruaylle But our lord shewed to them that it was the foule spiryte that dwellyd to fore in that place And that nyght was a grete noyse vpon the coueryng of the chirche lyke as they had ronne vpon it ¶ And the second nyght was yet a gretter noyse And the thirde nyght was so ferdful and so horrible agrete noyse as that the chirche shold haue be thorwen doun vnto the fouÌdemeÌt And thenne the wicked spirytes departed and cam nomore there The hydows sowne signefyed that for certayn the fânde yssued by constraynt the whiche he had longe holden Secondly it is halowed by cause that they that flee to the chirche shold be sauf wherof somme chirches after the dedicacion be preuyleged of prynces that they that ben culpable fle to the chirche that they may be sauf wherof the Canone saith The chirche defendeth the culpables fro blood that they ne lese lyf ne meÌbre And therfore Ioab fledde to the tabernacle toke the aulter Thirdly it is halowed by cause that the orysons be enhaunsed there And it is signefyed in the book of kynges the viij chapitre whan the temple was dedicate Salomon saide who someuer shal praye in this place thou shalt here hym lord in heuene And whan thou hast herde hym thou shalt be to hym debonayr And we worshippe god in the chirches toward the cest for thre reasons after that danyel saith in the fourth book the first chapitre First by cause that we shewe that we requyre our peas Secondly that we beholde Ihesu crist crucyfyed Thirdly that we shewe that we abyde hym a Iuge to come And danyel saith God plaÌted paradys in the hous of the eest Fro the whiche he exyled man by cause he brake his comandement and made hym to dwelle to fore paradys toward thoccydent er he wente ony other part and therfore we loke now in the chirche toward thoryent And our lorde crucyfyed beheld toward thoccydeÌt And thus loke we worshyppyng hym toward thoryent he was born an hye and so worshippe hym thappostles ¶ And so shal he come as they sawe hym gooyng to heuene And so worshippe we hym toward thoryent in abydyng tyl he come Fourthly the chirche is halowed by cause that there lou ynges and preysynges be rendred and gyuen to god ¶ And this is doone atte vij tymes or houres canonycalls at matyns at pryme at tierce and so atte other And how be it that god is to be preysed in all the houres of the daye but by cause our infirmyte suffyseth not therto it is ordeyned that at thise houres we prayse god specyally by cause that thies houres in som thynge ben more preuyleged than the other for at mydnyght whan matyns ben songen IhÌu cryst was born also was taken despysed of the Iewes And atte same hour he despoylled helle takyng mydnyght largely that is to saye afore day he aroos fro deth to lif And he appiered atte hour of pryme it is said that he shal come to the dome at mydnyght wherof saynt Iherome saith I wene that tho thynges that thappostles haue said shal be by fore day For the day of the vygylle of ester byfore mydnyght it hehoueth not to leue matynes For the people abyde the comyng of IhÌu cryst And whan this tyme shal come men ought to haue surete that all men make feste that daye And we synge at that hour praysynges by cause that we yeue hym thankynges for his natyuyte for his takyng of the delyuerauÌce of the holy apostlis so that we may besyly abyde his comyng and the lawdes ben adiousted to the matynes by cause that in the morow tyde he drowned thegypciens in the see and created the world and aroos at this hour late vs gyue thaÌkynges to god that we be not drowned in the see of this world with the egipciens And that We rendre louynges to god for our âracion and for his resurrection Atte our of pryme Ihesu crist cam in to the temple and the people asseÌbled there to hym as lucas saith the xxj chapitre he was at that hour psented to pylate And at this hour after he was rysen he appiered first to the wymeÌ this is the first hour of the day And therfore late vs reÌdre our thaÌkynges to god and praysyng by cause that we may folowe IhÌu cryst that we may yelde to hym the first fruyt of alle our werkis At the hour of tierce Ihesu cryst was crucifyed in the tongues of the Iewes and was bounde to a stake and beten to fore pilate And as it is said the stake or pyler that he was bouÌde to shewyth yet his blood And this same houre was the holy ghoost sente to thappostles In the syxte houre he was naylled to the crosse derknesses were thurgh out all the world so that the sonne bywept the deth of his lord couerid hym with black in suche wyse that he gaf no lyght to them that crucyfyed his lord And at this hour was he atte dyner the day of his ascencion with his disciples Atte hour of none IhÌu cryst gaf vp his spyrite and the knyght percyd his syde And the companye of thappostles had a custome for tassemble thenne for to praye And Ihesu cryst ascended that hour in to heuene And for thise honours prayse we our lord at alle oures At euensonge tyme IhÌu cryst made the sacrement of his body and of his blood to gydre he weesshe the feet of his appostles and disciples he was taken doun of the crosse and born to the sepulcre he manyfested and shewed hym self vnto his disciples in habyte of a pylgryme And for thyes thynges the chirche gyueth thankynges to god at this hour Atte complyn IhÌu Crist swette water
to the my lord all that he hath spoken good of the hath constytued the duke vpon Israhel late this not be in thy thought ne scropule in thy herte that thou sholdest shede blood not gylty ne be thou not now auengid And whan our lord god hath don wel to the my lord haue thou ramembrauÌce on me thy handmayde doo wel to me And dauid said to abygayl Blessid be god of Israhel that sente the this day to mete me And blessyd be thy speche And blessid be thou that hast withdraweÌ me fro blood shedyng that I auengyd me not on myn enemye with my hande Elles by the lyuyng lord god of Israhel yf thou haddest not comen vnto me ther shold not haue blyuen vnto nabal to morn in the mornyng one pyssyng ayenst a walle Thenne dauid receyuyd alle that she brouht and said to her Goo pesibly in to thy hous Loo I haue herde thy voys I haue honoured thy visage and so abygail cam vnto nabal dauid retorned in to the place he caÌ fro Nabal made a grete feste in his hows lyke the feste of a kynge And the herte of Nabal was Iocunde he was dronken And Abygail his wyf told to hym no worde tyl on the morn lytyl ne moche On the morn whan Nabal had dygestid the wyn his wyf told hym alle thyse wordes And his herte was mortefyed wythin hym and he was deed lyke a stone For the tenthe day after our lord smote hym and he deyde And whan Dauid herde that he was deed he said Blessyd be the good lord that hath Iuged the cause of myn obprobrye fro the hand of Nabal and hath kepte me his seruaunt from harme And our lord hath yolden the malyce of Nabal on his owen heed Thenne Dauid sente to Abygayl for to haue her to his wyf And she humbled her self and said she his handmayde was redy to wasshe the feet of his seruauntes And she aroos and toke with her fyue maydens whiche wente a foote by her and she rood vpon an asse and folowed the messagers and was made wyf to dauid and Dauid also toke another wyf called Achynoem of Iesrahel And bothe two were hys wyues After this Saul alway sought Dauid for to slee hym And the peple called Zyphei told to Saul that Dauid was hyd in the hille of Achylle whiche was on the after part of the wyldernes ¶ And Saul toke with hym thre thousand chosen men and folowed and sought Dauid Dauid whan he herde of the comyng of Saul wente in to the place where as Saul was And whan he was a slepe he toke one with hym and wente in to the tente where Saul slepte and Abner with hym and alle his peple ¶ Thenne said Abysay to Dauid God hath put thyn enemye this day in thy handes Now I shal goo and smyte hym thurgh with my spere and thenne after that we shal haue no nede to drede hym And Dauid said to Abysay Slee hym not who may extende his hande in to the enoynted kyng of god and be InnoceÌt dauid said yet more by the lyuyng god but yf god smyte hym or the dayes come that he shal deye or perisshe in batayl god be mercyful to me as I shal not leye my hond on hym that is enoynted of our lord Now take the spere that stondeth at his heed and the cuppe of watir and late vs goo ¶ Dauid toke the spere and the cuppe and departed thens and ther was not one that sawe them ne awaked For they slepte alle Thenne whan Dauid was on the hylle fer from hem Dauid cryed to the peple and to abner saieng Abner shal not thou answere And abner answerd who art thou that cryest and wakest the kynge And Dauid said to abner Art not thou a man and ther is none lyke the in Israhel why hast not thou therfor kepte thy lord the kynge Ther is one of the peple goon in to slee the kynge thy lord by the lyuyng lord it is not good that ye doo but ye be worthy to dye by cause ye haue not kepte your lord enoynted of our lord Now loke see where the kynges spere is and the cuppe of water that stodâ at his heed Saul knewe the voys of Dauid and said Is not this thy voys my sone Dauid and Dauid said it is my voys my lord kynge For what cause doost thou my lord pursyewe me thy seruaunt what thyng haue I don and what euyl haue I coÌmysed with my hand Thou seest wel I myght haue slayn the yf I wold god Iuge bytwene the and me And Saul saide I haue synned Retorne my sone I shalle neuer herafter doo the harme ne euyl For thy soule is precious in my sight this day hit apâperith Now that I haue don folily and am IgnourauÌt in many thynges thenne said dauid lo here is the spere of the kynge late a chyld come fetche it Our lord shal reward to euery man after his Iustice and faith Our lord hath this day brought the in to my handes And yet I wold not leye myn honde on hym that is enoynted of our lord And lyke as thy sowle is magnyfyed this day in my syght So be my sowle magnefyed in the sight of god and delyuer me from all anguysse Saul said thenne to dauid Blessyd be thou my sone dauid dauid wente thenne his waye and Saul retorned home agayn dauid said in his herte SoÌtyme it myght happe me to falle come in to the haÌdes of saul it is better I flee fro hym and saue me in the londe of the phylysteis And wente thens with vjC men and cam to Achis kynge of geth and dwellyd there ¶ And whan Saul vnderstode that he was with Achis he cessed to seche hym And Achis delyueryd to dauid a toun to dwelle in named Sychelech ¶ After this the philisteis gadred and assembled moche peple ayenst Israhel And Saul assemblid alle Israhel and cam vnto gelboe And whan Saul sawe alle thoost of the phylysteis his herte dredde and faynted sore he cryed for to haue couÌseylle of our lord And our lord answerd hym not ne by sweuenes ne by preestis ne by prophetes Thenne said Saul to his seruantes Fetche to me a woman hauyng a phiton other wyse callyd a phytonesse or witche And they said that ther was suche a woman in end or Saul thenne changed his habyte and clothyng and dyde on other clothyng and wente and two men with hem and cam to the woman by nyght and made her by her crafte to reyse Samuel And Samuel said to Saul why hast thou put me fro my reste for to aryse And Saul said I am coarted therto For the phylysteis fighte ayenst me and god is goon fro me and wyl not here me neyther by prophetes ne by sweuenes And Samuel said what axest thou of me whan god is gon fro the and goon vnto dauid God shal doo to the as he hath said
goodes that he hath lente vs For we haue nothyng propre but Ihesu Cryst hath lente to vs all that we haue theÌne it is wel reason that we doo gyue for hym to the poure of suche goodes as be his For we ben but seruauntes And we ought to gy ue to the hungry mete to the dursty drynke to the naked clotyng vysyte the seke And to fore al thynges to loue god and after our neyghebours as our sylf And despoylle our self fro synne And clothe vs with good werkes and vertues And folowe the co mandement of Ihesu Cryst And in this manere we shal fulfyll the wyll of our fader Ihesu Cryst yf we ben so purged and thus circumcised Thenne late vs pray vnto the lord of heuene that saith that he cam not to breke the lawe but to fulfyll it that he gyue vs grace In suche maner to fulfyll the lawe and his wyll in thys world that we may come in to his holy blysse in heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the fest of the circumcision of oure lord Here foloweth the fest of the Epiphanie ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã the thre kynges THe fest of thepiphanye of our lord is aourned of foure myracles after them it hath foure names On this day the kynges worshipped Ihesu Cryst And saynt IohnÌ baptyst baptysed hym And Ihesu Cryste chaunged this day water in to wyn And he fedde fyue thousand men with fyue loues of brede Whan Ihesu cryst was in the age of xiij dayes the thre kynges cam to hym the way lyke as the sterre ledde them And therfore this day is callyd Epiphanye or the tiephanye in comyn langage And is said of this terme ephi whiche is as moche to saye as aboue And of this terme phanes whiche is as moche to say as apparicion For thenne the sterre appierede aloue them in thayer where the same Ihesus by the sterre that was seen aboue them shewde hym to the kynges And that day xxix yere passed that whas at thentre of xxx yere For he had xxix yere and xiij dayes and began the xxx yere as saith seynt luc Or after this that Bede saith he had xxx yere complete as the chirche of Rome holdeth And thenne he was baptysed in the flood or ryuer of Iordan therfore it is callyd thiephanie said of theos whiche is as moche to saie as god phanes Apparicion For thenne god that is the trynyte appierede god the fader in voys god the sone in flessh humayne god the holy goost in lykenes of a douue After this that same day a yere whan he was xxxj yere old and xiij dayes he torned water in to wyn therfore it is called bethania sayd of beth that is to saie an hows and phanes that is apparicion And this myracle was doon of the wyne in an hows by whiche he shewde hym very god and this same day â yere after that was xxxij yere he fedde fyue thousand men with fyue loues lyke as bede saith And is also songen in an hympne wiche begynneth Illuminans altissimus And therfor it is called phagiphania of phage that is to saye mete And of this fourth myracle some doubte yf it were don on this day For it is not wreton of bede expressely And by cause that in the gospell of saynt IohnÌ is red that it was don nyghe vnto paske Therfore the foure apparicions were sette on this day The first by the sterre vnto the crebbe or racke The second by the voys of the fader on floâ Iordan The thirde of the water in to wyne at the hows of archedeclyn ¶ The fourth by the multiplicacion of fyue loues in deserte Of the first apparicion we make solempnyte on this day pryncipally And therfore poursiewe we thistorye suche as it is whan our lord was âorn the thre kynges cam in to Iherusalem of whome the names ben wreton in ebrewe That is to wete Appelyus Ameryus and Dâmascus ¶ And in greke Galagalath Magalath and Tharath And in latyn Iaspar Melchior and Baltasar ¶ And it is to wete that this name Magus hath thre significacions It is said illuseur or deceyuour Enchaunteur and wyse They ben sayd illuseurs and deceyuours by cause they deceyued herodes For they retorned not by hym whan they departed fro the place where they had honoured and offred to Ihesus but retorned by another way in to theire coÌtre ¶ Magus also is said enchaunteur And herof ben said thenchauntours of pharao Magi whiche by their malefice made their merueylles by theÌ chauntyng of the craft of the deuyl And saynt IohÌn Grisostom calleth this kynges magos as wycked and euyldoers For fyrst they were ful of malefices but after they were conuerted to whoÌ god wold shewe his natyuyte and bryng them to hym to th ende that to synners he wold doo pardon Item ¶ Magus is said wise For Magus in hebrewe is said doctour in greke philosopher and in latyn wyse wherof they be sayd magi that is to saye grete in wisedom And thies thre cam in to Iherusalem with a grete companye and grete estate But wherfore cam they to Iherusalem whan the chyld was not born there Seynt remyge assygneth foure reeasons ¶ The first reson is that the kynges had knouleghe of the natyuyte of the chyld that was born of the virgyne marye â But not of the place And by cause that Iherusalem was the most cyte Ryall And there was the See of the souerayn preest they thought that so noble a chyld so nobly shewd â ought to be born in the most noble cyte that was ryalle The seconde cause was For in Iherusalem were the doctours and the wyse men by whome they myght knowe where the sayd chyld was born The third cause was to th ende that the Iewes shold haue none excusacion For they myght haue sayd that they had knowleche of the place where he shold be born but the tyme knewe they not therfore they myght saye wââeleue it not â And the kynges shewde to them the tyme and the Iewes shewde the place The fourth to the doubte of the Iewes their curiosite for thise kynges byleued one only prophete And the Iewes byleued not many They sought a straunge kynge And the Iewes sought not their owne kynge Thise kynges cam fro ferre contrees And the Iewes were neghbourâ fast by These kynges were successours of balaam â And cam at the visyon and sight of the sterre by the prophesie of their fader whiche said that a sterre shal be ãâã or sprynge out of Iacob and a man shal arise of the lignage of Israhel â That other cause that meueth theym to come to Iherusalem putteth saynt IohnÌ Crisostome whiche saith That ther were somme that affermeden for trouthe that there were grete clerkes that curiously studyed to knowe the secretes of heuen And after they chosen xij of them to take hede And yf ony of thyem deyede his sone or next kynnesman shold be sette in his place
And thise xij euery yere ascended vpon a montayne whiche was called victoryal and thre dayes they abode there and weesshe them clene and prayed our lord that he wold shewe to theym the sterre that balaam had sayd and prophesyed be forn Now it hapened on a tyme that they were there the day of the natyuyte of Ihesu Cryst and asterre cam ouer theym vpon this moÌtayne whiche had the fourme of aright fayr child vnder his âede was a shynyng crosse whiche spack to thise iij kynges sayeng Goo ye hastely in to the londe of Iudee And there ye shal fynde the kynge that ye sâche whiche is born of a virgyne Another cause putteth seynt Austyn For it myght wel be that the angele of heuene appiered to theym whiche sayde the sterre that ye see is Ihesu Cryst Goo ye anone and worshippe hym Another cause putteth seynt lyon that by the sterre whiche appiered to theym whiche was more resplendis shyng shynyng than the other that it shewde the souerayn kynge to be born on therthe Thenne anon departed they for to come to that place Now may it be demanded how in so lytil space of xiij dayes they myght come from so ferre as fro the eest vnto Iherusalem whiche is in the myddle of the world whiche is a grete space and longe way Therto answerith seynt remyge the doctour and saith that the chyld tho whom they wente myght well make them to goo somoche way in that while Or after this that saynt Iherome saith that they cam opoÌdromedaries whiche ben beestis that may goo as moche in one day as an horse in thre dayes And whan they cam in to Iherusalem they demaunded in what place the kynge of Iewes was born And they demauÌded not yf he was born For they byleuyd it fermly that he was born And yf ony had demaunded of them wher by knowe ye that he is born they wold haue answerd we haue seeÌ his sterre in thoryent And therfore we come to worsshippe hym This is to vnderstond we beyng in the oryent sawe his sterre that shewde that he was born in Iudee And we be come to worship hym And therfore saith this doctour Remyge that they confessid this child veray man veray kynge and veray god veray man whan they said where is he that is born veray kynge whan they said kynge of Iewes veray god whan we be comen to worshippe hym For ther was a comaundement that none shold be worshipped but god And thus as saith saint Iohan Crisostome they confessyd the chlyd veray god by worde by dede And by yeftes of their tresours that they offred to hym and whan herode hade herd this he was moche troubled And all Iherusalem with hym herode was troubled for thre causes Fyrst by cause he dredde that the Iewes wold resseyue the chyld born for thier kyng And reffuse hym as a strauÌger wherof saith saynt IohnÌ crisostoÌe in suche wise as the bowes of a tree that ben hye be soone moeuyd ⪠with the wynde so they that ben in hye estate of the world a lyght renomee troubthle them Secondly lest he shold be blamed of the Româynes yf ony were kyng but yf he were ordeyned by themperour For so had the Romayns ordeyned that none shold be callyd lorde ne kynge but yf it were by the coÌmandement of themperour ¶ Thirdly he was angry as saynt gregory saith whan the kynge of henen was born the kynge of therthe was troubled and not without cause For the erthely lordshyp is counfounded whan the hyenes of heuene is declared and perceyued And all the contree of Ierusalem was troubled with hym for thre causes Fyrst by cause that the euyll enioye them not of the presence ne the comyng of the ryghtfull and iuste Secondly for adulacion and flateryng that they were sory of his angre Thirdly for lyke as the wyndes that ben contrarye in the see as longe as the wawes be moeued In lyke wyse the contraryte of prynces and wrath falleth on the people And therfore they doubted and feered leste they shold be tormented ¶ Thenne herode called alle the prestes of the lawe and doctours and demaunded of theym where Ihesu Cryst shold be born And whan he had vnderstonde of theym that he shold be born in bethleem the Cyte of Iuda he called the thre kynges a parte and demaunded of theym dylygently the tyme that the sterre appiered to theym For to knowe what he shold doo yf the kynges retorned not agayn to hym And he said to theym assone as ye shal haue founden the chyld and haue worshipped hym that they shold retorne and shewe it to hym In faynyng that he wold worshippe also hym ¶ And thought that he wold goo sle hym ¶ And it is to wyte that assone as they were entred in to IhrlÌm the sight of the sterre was taken froÌ theÌ and for thre causes First that they shold be coÌstreyned to seche that place of his natyuyte lyke as they were certefyed by the appieryng of the sterre And bye the prophesye of the place of his byrthe and so it was don Secondly that they that sought the helpe and the world had deserued to lese the ayde dyuyne The iij. by cause that the signes by gyuen to mescreauntes And prophesyes to them that byleue well lyke as thappostle saith And therfore the signe whiche was gyuen to the thre kynges whiche yet were paynems ought not tappere to them as longe as they were with the Iewes and whan they were yssued of Iherusalem the sterre appered to them wiche wente to fore them and brought them til it cam aboue the place were the chyld was ye ought to knowe that ther ben thre opynyons of this sterre whiche Remyge the doc doctour putteth sayeng that some saie that it was the holy goost whiche appiered to the thre kynges in the fourme of a sterre whiche after appiered vpon the hedeof Ihesu Cryst in the lykenes of a douue Other saye lyke to saynt IohnÌ Crysostom that it was an angele that apperyd to the shepherdes and after appered to the kynges but to the shepherdes Iewes as to them that vse reason in fourme of a resonable creature And to the paynems as to vnresonable in lyknesse of nature vnresonable that is to saye of a sterre Other say more resonable and more veritable that it was a ster newe created made of god that whiche whaÌ he had don his offyce was brought agayn in to the mater wherof it was first fourmed And this sterre was this that fulgencius saith it differenced fro the other sterres in thre thinges First in situacion for it was not fyxed in the firmament but it henge in thayer nygh to therthe Secondly in clerenes for it was shynyng more than the other it appiered so that the clerenes of the soÌne myghy not hurte ne appale hir light but at playn mydday it had right grete light and clerenes ¶ Thirdly in moeuyng for it went
the voys of syngyng whan he approchâd to them he sawe the Calf and the instrumentis of myrthe and he was so wroth that he threwe doun the tables brake them atte fote of the hylle ran and raught doun the Calf that they had made and brente and smote it al to pouldre whiche he caste in to water and gaf it to drynke to the chyldren of Israhel Thenne said Moyses to Aaron What hath this peple don to the that thou hast made to synne greuously to whom he answerd late not my lord take none indignacion at me Thou knowest wel that this peple is prone and redy to synne They said to me Make to vs goddes that may goo tofore vs We knowe not what is fallen to this Moyses that lad vs out of egypte To whom I said who of you that hath gold geue it me they toke and gaf it to me And I Caste it in to the fire and therof cam out this Calf And thenne said moises Alle they that ben of goddis parte and haue not synned in this Calf late hem Ioyne to me And the chyldren of leui Ioyned to hym and bade eche maÌ take a swerd on his side and take vengeance and slee euerych his brother his frende and neygbour that haue trespaced And so the chyldren of leui wente and slewe xxxiijM of the children of Israhel And thenne said Moyses ye haue halowed this day your handes vnto our lord And ye shal be therfore blessyd The second day moyses spack to the peple and said ye haue commysed and don the grettest synne that may be I shal ascende vnto our lord agayn and shal praye hym for your synne Thenne Moyses ascended agayn and receyuyd afterward two tables agayn whiche our lord had hym make And therin our lord wrote the comandements And after our lord comanded hym to make an arke and a tabernacle In whiche arke was kepte thre thinges ¶ First the Rodde with whiche he dide meruaillis A potte ful of manna and the .ij. tables with the comandementis And thenne after Moyses taught hem the lawe how eche man shold behaue hym ayenst other and what he shold doo and what he shold not doo And departed them in xij tribus ¶ And comanded that euery man shold brynge a Rodde in to the tabernacle ¶ And Moyses wrote eche name on the Rodde And Moyses shytte fast the tabernacle And on the morn ther was founde one of the roddes that burgeyned bare leuys and fruyt And was of on almonde tree that Rodde fyl to Aaron And after thys longe tyme the chyldren desireden to ete flesshe remembrid of the flesshe that they ete in egypte And grudchyd agayn Moyses And wold haue ordeyned to them a duc for to haue retorned in to egypte Wherfore Moyses was so woo that he desired of our lord to delyure hym fro this lyf by cause he sawe them so vnkynde ayenst god thenne god sente to them so grete plente of curlews that two dayes and one nyght they flewe so thycke by the ground that they toke gete nombre For they flewhe but the heyhgt of two cubytes and they had so many that they dreyde hem hangyng on their tabernacles and tentes yet were they not content but euer grutchyng Wherfore god smote them toke vengeauÌce on hem by a grete plaghe And many deyde and were buryed there And thenne fro thens they wente in to Aseroth and dwellyd After this Maria and Aaron brother and suster of moyses began to speke agayn moyses by cause of his wif whiche was of ethyope and said god hath not spoken only by Moyses hath he not also spokeÌ to vs wherfore our lord was wroth Moyses was the humblest and mekest man that was in all the world Anone thenne our lord said to hym to Aaron and to marye Goo ye thre only vnto the tabernacle And there our lord said that ther was none lyke to Moyses to whom he had spoken mouth to mouth and repreuyd aaron and maria by cause they spack so to Moyses And beyng wroth departed fro them And anone maria was smeton and made lepre and whyte lyke snowe And whan Aaron behelde her and sawe her smeton with lepre he said to moyses I beseche the lord that thou sette not this synne on vs whiche we haue commysed folyly And late not this our suster be as a deed womaÌ or as born out of tyme caste away from her moder beholde and see half her flesshe is deuoured of the lepre Thenne Moyses cryed vnto our lord sayeng I beseche the lord that thou hele her to whom our lord said yf her fader had spytte in her face shold she not be put to shame and Rebuke vij dayes late her departe out of the castellis vij dayes and after she shal be callyd in agayn So maria was shytte out of the castellis vij dayes the peple remeuyd not fro the place tyl she was callyd agayn After this our lord coÌmanded Moyses to sende men in to the londe of canaan that he shold gyue theÌ charge for see and considere the goodnes therof And that of euery trybe he shold sende somÌe Moyses dyde soo as our lord had comaunded whiche wente in brought of the fruytee wyth hem and they brought a braunche with one clustre of grapes as moche as two meÌ myght bere bytwene them vpon a colestaf whan they had seen the contre consydered by the space of xl dayes thei retorned and tolde the commodytees of the londe but somÌe said that the peple were stronge and many kynges and gyauntes in suche wyse that they said it was imprenable and that the peple were moche strenger than they were wherfore the peple anon were aferde and murmured agayn moyses and wold retorne agayn in to egypte Thenne Iosue Chaleph whiche were two of them that had consydered the loÌde said to the peple why grutche ye and wherof be ye aferd we haue wel seen the contrey and it is good to wynne the contrey floweth ful of mylke and hony be not rebelle ayenst god he shal gyue it vs be ye not aferd Thenne alle the peple cryed ayenst hem and whan they wold haue taken stones and stoned hem our lord in his glorye apperyd in a clowde vpon the coueryng of the tabernacle and said to Moyses thys peple byleueth not the sygnes and wondres that I haue shewd and don to hem I shal destroye them alle by pestylence And I shal make the a prynce vpon peple gretter strenger than this is Thenne prayd Moyses to our lord for the peple that he wold haue pyte on them and not destroye them but to haue mercy on them after the magnytude of his mercy And our lord at his request forgaf them Neuertheles our lord said that all tho men that had seen his mageste and the sygnes and meruaylles that he dyde in Egypte and in deserte and haue tempted hym ten tymes and not obeyed vnto his voys
the handes of all the kynges that were your enemyes pursyewed you and ye haue forsaken our lord god that hath only delyuryd you from all your euyll trybulacions haue said Ordeyne vpon vs a kynge wherfor now staÌde euerich in his tribe we shal lote who shal be our kyng the lotte fylle on the tribe of beniamyn in that trybe the lotte fylle vpon saul the sone of Cys And they souht hym coude not fynde hym it was told hem that he was hyd in his hous at home the peple ran thyder fette hym sette hym amyddes all the peple And he was heyer than ony of alle the peple fro the sholdre vpward Thenne samuel saide to the peple nowe ye see beholde whoÌ our lord hath chosen For ther is none lyke hym of all the peple And thenne all the peple cryed viuat Rex lyue the kynge Samuel wrote the lawe of the Royame to the peple in a book put it to fore our lord Thus was saul made the first kynge in Israhel And anon had moche warre For an all sides mân warrid on the chyldren of Israhel he defended them And saul had dyuerse bataylles had victorye samuel cam on a tyme to saul said god comanded hym to fight agaynst Amalech that he shold slee destroye man woman chyld Oxe cowe camel asse sheep spare nothyng Thenne Saul assemblyd hys peple had ijCM footmen xxM meÌ of the tribe of Iuda weÌte forth fought ayeÌst Amalech and slewe them sauf he sauyd Agag the kynge of Amalech alyue alle other he slewe but he spared the best flockes of sheep of other beestis also good clothis wethers all that was good he spared what someuer was fowle he destroyed And this was shewd to Samuel by our lord sayeng Me forthynketh that I haue ordeyned saul kynge vpon Israhel For he hath forsaken me not fulfylled my comandements Samuel was sory here fore waylled all the nyght On the morn he roos cam to Saul and Saul offrid sacrefise vnto our lord of the pyllage that he had taken And samuel demauÌded of saul what noyse tâat was that he herde of sheep beestis And he saide that they were of the beestis that the peple had brouht fro Amalech to offre vnto our lord And the residue were slayn They haue spared the best fattest for to doo sacrefyse with vnto thy lord god Thenne said samuel to saul Remembrest thou not that where thou were leste emong the trybus of Israhel thow were made vpperist and our lord enoynted the and made the kynge And he said to the goo and slee the synners of Amalech and leue none alyue man ne beest why hast thou not obeyed the comandement of our lord And hast ronâe to Roberye And don euyl in the sight of god ¶ And thenne said Saul to Samuel I haue taken Agag kynge of Amalech and brought hym wyth me but I haue slayn Amalech the peple haue taken of the sheep and beestis of the beste for to offre vnto our lord god And thenne said Samuel ârowest thou that our lord wold Rather haue sacrefise and offrynges then not toleye his comandements Better is obedyence than sacrefise and better it is to take ââde to doo after thy lord than to offre the fatte kedeneys of the weders For it is a synne to withstande and to repugne ayenst his lord lyke the synne of ydolatrye And by cause thou hast not obeyed our lord and caste awaye his worde Our lord hath caste the away that thou shalt not be kynge TheÌne said saul to samuel I haue synned for I haue not obeyed the word of god thy wordes but haue dredde the peple obeyed to theiâ request but I pray the to bere my synne trespaas retorne with me that I may worshipe our lord samuel answerd I shal not retorne with the And so sammuel departed yet er he departed he dyde do sle Agag the kyng And Samuel sawe neuer Saul after vnto his deth Thenne our lord bad Samuel to goo and enoynte one of the sones of ysay otherwise called Iesse to be kynge of Israhel And so he cam in to bethleem vnto Iesse and bad hym brynge his sones to fore hym This Iesse had viij sones he brought to fore Samuel vij of them And Samuel said ther was not he that he wold haue Thenne he said that ther was no moo sauf one whiche was yongest and yet a chyld and kept sheep in the felde And Samuel said sende for hym For I shal ete no brede tyl he come And so he was sente for and brought he was rough and fayr of vysage and wel fauoured And samuel aroos and toke an horne with oyle and enoynted hym in the myddle of his brethern And forthwyth the spyryte of our lord caÌ directly in hym that same day euer after Thenne Samuel departed cam in to Ramatha the spyryte of our lord weÌte away fro saul an euyl spirite ofte vexid hym TheÌne his seruants said to hym Thou aft orte vexid with an euyl spirite it were good to haue one that coude harpe to be with the whaÌ the spirite vexeth the thou shalt bere it the lyghter And he said to his seruauÌtes prouyde ye to me suche one and theÌne one said I saw one of ysayes sones pleye on a harpe a fayr chyld strong wyse in hys talkyng our lord is with hym TheÌne Saul sente messagers to ysaye for dauid ysaye sente dauid his sone with a presente of brede wyn a kydde to saul and alway whan the euyl spyryte vexid saul dauid harped to fore hym anon he was easyd the euyl spyryte weÌte his waye After this the philisteis gadred theÌ in to grete hoostes to make warre agaynst Saul the chyldren of Israhel And Saul gadred the children of Israhel to gidre caÌ agayn theÌ in the vale of therebinthi The philisteis stode vpoÌ the hille on the one parte Israhel stode vpoÌ the hille on the other parte the valeye was bytwene them And ther caÌ out of the hoost of the philisteis a grete geauÌt named golye of Geth he was vj cubytes hye a palme a helme of brasse on his heed was cladde in a habergeon The weight of of his habergeon was of vM sicles of weight of metal he had botes of brasse in his cartes his sholdre were couerid with plates of brasse his glayue was as a grete colestaf ther was the roÌ vj sicles of yroÌ his squyer weÌte to for hym cryde ayenst theÌ of Israhel and said that they shold chefe a man to fight a synguler batail ayeÌst golyas yf he were ouercomeÌ the philisteis shold be seruauÌtes to Israhel yf he preuaile ouercome his enemye they of Israhel shold serue the phylisteis thus
peple and entrid in to Iherusalem in to his faders hows and laye by his fadres concubynes And after pursyewid his fader to depose hym and dauid ordeyned his peple and batayll ayenst hym and sente Ioab prynce of his hoost ayenst Absalon and deuyded hys hoost in to thre partyes and wold haue gooÌ with them but Ioab counceyllid that he shold not goo to the batayll what someuer happid And thenne dauid badde them to saue his sone Absalon And they wente forth and fought And AbsaloÌ with his hoost was ouer throwen and put to flyght And as Absalon fledde vpon his mule he cam vnder an Ooke and his heere flewe aboute a bowhe of the tre and helde so fast that absalon henge by his heer and the mule ran forth ther cam one to Ioab and told hym how that Absalon henge by his heer on a bowhe of an oke And Ioab said why hast thou not slayn hym The man said god forbede that I shold sette hoÌde on the kynges sone I herde the kynge saye kepe my sone Absalon a lyue and slee hym not Thenne Ioab wente and toke thre speres and fyxed them in the herte of absalon as he heÌge on the tree by his heer And yet after this x yong men squyes of Ioab ranne and slewe hym theÌne Ioab tromped and blewe the retrayt And reteyned the peple that they shold not pursyewe the peple fleyng And they toke the body of absalon and caste it in a grete pytte And leyde on hym a grete stone And whan dauid knewe that his sone was slayn he made grete sorow said O my sone absalon my sone Absalon who shal graunte to me that I may dye for the my sone absalon Absalon my sone It was told to Ioab that the kynge wepte sorowed the deth of his sone Absalon and all their vyctorye was torned in to sorowe and wayllyng in so moche that the peple eschewed to entre in to the cyte thenne Ioab entrid to the kynge said thou hast this day discoraged the chere of alle thy seruauntes by cause they haue sauyd thy lyf and the lyues of thy sones and doughtres of thy wyues and of thy cancubynes thou louest them that hate the And hatest them that loue the And shewyst wel thys day that thou settyst lityl by thy dukes and seruauntes and truly I knowe now wel that yf Absalon had lyuâd and alle we thy seruauntes had ben slayn thou haddest ben plesyd Therfor aryse now and come forth and satisfye the peple or ellis I swere to the by the good lord that ther shal not one of thy seruauntes abyde with the tyl to morow And that shal be worse to the than all the harmes and euylles that euer yet fylle to the Thenne dauid the kynge aroos and satte in the yate And anoÌ it was shewd to all the peple that the kyng satte in the yate And thenne all the peple cam in to fore the kyng And they of Israhel that had ben with Absalon fledde in to their tabernacles And after cam agayn vnto dauid whaÌ they knewe that Absalon was deed And after one Siba a cursid man rebellyd and gadred peple ayenst dauid Ayenst whom Ioab with the hoost of Dauid pursyewed and drof hym vnto a cyte whiche he byseged and by the meane of a woman of the same cyte Sibas heed was smeton of and delyured to Ioab ouer the walle And so the cyte was saued and Ioab plesid After this dauid callid Ioab bad hym nombre the peple of Israhel And so Ioab walked thurgh alle the tribus of Israhel fro dan to bersabee And ouer Iordan and all the contre And ther were founden in Israhel viijCM strong men that were able to fight and to drawe swerd And of the tribe of Iuda fyfty thousand fyghtyng men And after that the peple was nombred the herte of dauid was smeton by our lord and was heuy said I haue synned gretly in this dede but I praye the lord to take away the wickednes of thy seruauÌt for I haue don folyly Dauid was on the morn erly and the word of our lord cam to Gad the prophete sayeng that he shold goo to Dauid and bidde hym ãâã one of thre thyngis that he shold ãâã to hym Whan god cam to dauid âe said that he shold câse whether he wold haue vij yere hungre in his londe or thre monthes he shold flee his aduersaryes enemyes or to haue thre dayes pestylence Of this thre god biddeth the chese whiche thou wylt Now auyse the and conclude what I shal answere to our lord Dauid said to Gad I am constrayned to a grete thyng but it is better for me to put me in the haÌdes of our lord for his mercy is moche more than in men And so he chees pestylence Thenne our lord sente pestylence the tyme constytute And ther deyed of the peple fro dan to bersabee lxxM men And whan the angele extended his hond vpon Iherusalem for to destroye it Our lord was mercyful vpon thaffliction and said to the Angele so smytyng It suffiseth nowe withdrawe thyn hand Dauid said to our lord whan he sawe thangele smytyng the peple I am he that haue synned and don wickedly what haue thyse sheep don I beseche the that thy hand torne vpon me and vpon the hows of my fader Thenne cam god to dauid and bad hym make an awter in the same place where he sawe thaungel and bought the place and made the aulter And offred sacrefises vnto our lord And our lord was mercyful and the plaghe cessed in Israhel Dauid was old and feble and sawe that his deth approched and ordeyned that his sone Salomon shold regne and be kynge after hym how be it that Adonyas hys sone toke on hym to be kynge duryng dauids lyf For whiche cause bersabee and Nathan cam to dauid and to fore them he said that Salomon shold be kynge and ordeyned that he shold be sette on his mule by hys prophetes Nathan Sadoch the preest and Banayas and brought in to Syon And ther sadoch the preest and Nathan the prophete enoynted hym in kynge vpon Israhel blewe in a trompe and saide lyue the kynge Salomon And fro thens they brought hym in to Iherusalem and sette hym vpon his faders sete in his fadres trone And dauid worshipped hym in his bedde and said Blessid be the lord god of Israhel that hath suffred me to see my sone in my trone sete And theÌne Adonyas and all they that were with hym were aferd and dredyng Salomon ran away and so cessed Adonyas The dayes of dauid approched faste that he shold deye and dyde do calle Salomon to fore hym ther he comanded hym to kepe the comaÌdementis of our lord walke in his wayes to obserue his cerymonyes his preceptes and his Iugementis as it is wreton in the lawe of Moyses And said our lord conferme the in thy Regne And sende to the wysedom to
Yf my fader hath leyed on you an heuy burthen I shal adde and put more to your burthen my fader bete you with scorgis and I shal bete you with scorpions ¶ The thyrde day after Iheroboam and alle the peple cam to Roboas to haue theyr answere And Roboas lefte the counseyl of the olde men and saide to them lyke as the yong men had counseylled hym And anon the peple of Israhel forsoke Roboas And of xij trybus ther abode with hym no moo but the trybe of Iuda and of beniamyn And the other ten trybus departed and made Iheroboam theyr kynge and neuer retorned vnto the hows of dauid after vnto thys day And thus for synne of salomon And by cause Roboas wold not doo after the counseyl of the old men but was counseylled by yong men the ten tribus of Israhel forsoke hym and departed fro Iherusalem seruyd Iheroboam and ordeyned hym kynge vpon Israhel Anon after thys Iheroboas fylle to ydolatrye and grete deuysyon was euer after bytwene the kynges of Iuda and the kynges of Israhel ¶ And so regned dyuerse kynges eche after other in Iherusalem after Roboas And in Israhel after Iheroboam And here I leue alle thystorye and make an ende of booke of kynges for thys tyme cÌ For ye that lyste to knowe how euery kyng regned aftââ other ye may fynde it in the fyrst chapytre of saynt Mathew whyche is redde on Crystemas day in the mornyng to fore Te deum whyche is the genelagye of our lady Here foloweth Thystorye of Iob red on the first sonday of Septembre THer was a man in the londe of hus named Iob And this maÌ was symple rightful dredyng god and goyng from all euyll he had vij sones and thre doughtres And his possessyon was vij M sheep iijM camellis vC yok of oxen vC asses hys famylye and houshold passyng moche grete he was a grete man and riche emong all the men of the oryent And his sones weÌte dayly eche to other hows makyng grete festes euerich as his day cam they sente for their thre susters for to ete drynke with hem whan they had thus fested eche other ofte Iob sente to them blessyd sanctefyed theÌ rysynge euery day erly he offred sacrefyses for theÌ all sayeng leste my chyldren synne and blesse not god in theyr hertes And thus dyde Iob euery daye On a daye whan the sones of god were to fore our lord Sathan cam and was emonge them to whom our lord saide whens comest thou whiche answerd I haue goon round aboute the erthe and thurgh walked it Our lord saide to hym hast thou not consyderyd my seruaunt Iob that ther is none lyke vnto hym in the erthe A man symple rightful dredyng god and gooyng from euyl To whom Sathan answerd doth not Iob drede god ydelly yf so were that thou ouerthrewest hym hys hows and alle hys substaunce rounde aboute he shold sone forsake the Thou hast blessyd the werkes of hys handes and hys possessyon is encrecyd moche in therthe but stratche out thy hond a lytyl towche all that he hath in possessyon and he shal soone grutche and not blesse the Thenne sayd our lord to Sathan loo all that whiche he oweth and hath in possession I wyl it be in thy hand and power but on hys persone ne body sette not thy hand Sathan departed wente fro the face of our lord On a day as hys sones and doughtres ete dronke wyn in the hows of the oldest brother ther cam a messager to Iob whiche said The oxen erid in the ploughe and the asse pastured in the pasture by them And the men of Sabây ran on them and smeten thy seruauntes and slewe them with swerd and I only escaped for to come to shewe it to the And whyles he spack ther cam an other and saide The fyre of god fylle doun from heuen and hath brente thy sheep and seruauntes and consumed them and I only escaped for to come and shewe it to the And yet whylys he spack cam another and sayd the chaldeys made thre hoostes and haue enuayhed thy camels and taken them and hath slayn thy seruaÌtes with swerd and I only escaped for to brynge the word And yet he spekyng another entryd in and said Thy sones and doughtres drynkyng wyn in the hows of thy first begoten sone sodenly cam a vehemente wynde fro the regyon of deserte and smote the iiij corners of the hows whiche fallyng oppressyd thy chyldren and ben all deed and I only fledde for to telle to the TheÌne Iob aroos cutte his kote and dyde do shaue his heed and fallyng doun to the ground worshipped adowred god sayeng I am comeÌ out naked fro the wombe of my moder And naked shal retorne agayn therto Our lord hath gyuen and our lord hath taken away as it hath plesid our lord so is it don The name of our lord be blessyd In all thyse thynges Iob synned not with hys lippes ne spack nothyng folyly ayenst our lord but toke it all pacyeÌtly After thys it was soo that on a certayn day whan the children of god stood to fore our lord sathan cam and stode emong them and god said to hym whens comest thou to whom Sathan answerd I haue gon rounde the erthe and walked thurgh it And god said to Sathan hast thou not consydered my seruaunt Iob that ther is noman lyke hym in therthe a man symple ryghtful dredyng god and goyng fro euyl And yet reteynyng hys Innocencye Thou hast meuyd me ayenst hym that I shold put hym to afflyction without cause To whom Sathan said Skynne for skynne and all that euer a man hath he shal gyue for hys sowle Neuertheles stratche thyn hande towche his mouth and hys flesshe and thou shalt see that he shal not blesse the Thenne said god to sathan I wyl well that hys body be in thyn hande but saue hys sowle and hys lyf Thenne sathan departed fro the face of our lord and smote Iob with the worst botchys blaynes fro the plante of hys foot vnto the toppe of hys heed whiche was made lyke a lazar and was caste out satte on the dongehyll Thenne cam hys wif to hym and said yet thou abydest in thy symplenes Forsake thy god and blesse hym nomore And goo deye Thenne Iob said to her Thou hast spoken lyke a folissh woman yf we haue receyuyd and taken good thyngis of the hande of our lord why shal we not susteyne and suffre euyll thynges In all thyse thynges Iob synned not with his lippes Thenne thre men that were frendes of Iob heeryng what harme was happed and comen to Iob camen euerich fro hys place to hym that one was named Eliphas themanytes Another Baldad scintes And the thyrde Sophar naamathites And whan they sawe hym fro fer they knewe hym not And cryeng they wepte they cam for to conforte hym and whan they
bysshopriches to somÌe vertuous men And anon the kynge grauÌted to hym hys desire ordeyned one maistre Roger bysshop of wyncestre and th erle of glouceters sone bisshop of londoÌ named sire Robert And anone after saynt thomas halowed thabbey of Redyng whiche the first henry fonÌded And that same yere he translated saynt edward kynge coÌfessour at westmestre where he was leyd in a riche shryne And in short tyme after by thentycement of the deuyl fil grete debate variaunce stryf bytwene the kyng saynt Thomas the kynge sent for alle the bysshopes to appere to fore hym at westmestre at a certayn day at whyche day they assemblyd to fore hym whom he welcomed after said to them how that tharchebysshop wold destroye hys lawe not suffre hym tenioye suche thynges as his predecessours had vsed to fore hym wherto saynt Thomas answerd that he neuer entended to do thyng that shold displese the kyng als ferre as it touched not the fraunchyse and lyberteâ of holy chyrche Thenne the kynge reherced how he wold not suffre ãâã that were theuys haue thexecucion of the lawâ to which saynt thomas sayd that he ought not execute theÌ but they longeth to the correction of holy chyrche â other dyuerse poyntes to which seynt Thomas wold not agree To the which the kyng said now I see wel yuâholdest fordoâ the lawes of this lonâ whiche haue ben vsed in the dayes of my predecessours but it shal not lye in thy power And so the kyng beyng wroth departed TheÌne the bysshoppis all couÌceylled saynt thomas to folowe the kynges entente or ellis the lond shold be in grete trouble And in lyke wise the lordes teÌporell that were his frendes couÌseylled hym the same And saynt Thomas said I take god to record it was neuer myne entente to displese the kyng or to taake ony thyng that longeth to his right or honour And theÌne the lordes were glad brought hym to the kynge to Oxenford and the kyng dayned not to speke to hym And theÌne the kyng callid alle the lordes spuÌel temporelle to fore hym and said he wold haue alle the lawes of his fornfaders there new coÌfermed there they were confermed by all the lordes spuÌel temporell And after this the kyng charged them for to come to hym to Claryndon to his parlameÌt atte a certayn day assigned on payne to renne in his IndignacioÌ and at that tyme so departed And this parlamÌt was holden at claryndon the xj yere of the kynges regne the yere of our lord xjClxiiij at this parlemÌt were many lordes which all were ayenst saynt Thomas And theÌne the kynge sittyng in his parlemÌt in the presence of all his lordes demanded them yf they wold abyde kepe the lawes that had ben vsed in his forfaders dayes TheÌne saynt Thomas spacke for the ête of holy chirche saide All olde lawes that be good rightful and not ayenst our moder holy chirche I grauÌte with good will to kepe theÌ And theÌne the kynge saide that he wolde not leue one poynt of his lawe and waxid wroth with saynt Thomas And theÌne certayn bysshoppis requyred saynt thomas to obeye to the kynges desire wyll And saynt Thomas desyred respyte to knowe the lawes thenne to gyue hym an answere And whan he vnrdâstode theÌ all to somÌe he consented but many he denyed wold neuer be agreable to them wherfor the kyng was wroth and said he wold holde kepe them lyke as his predecessours had doon byfore hym wold not mynusshe one poynt of them Thenne saynt thomas said to the kyng with ful grete sorow heuy chyere Now my most dere lord and gracious kynge haue pyte on vs of holy chirche your bede men and gyue to vs respyte for a certayn tyme And thus departed eche man and saynt Thomas wente to wynchestre And there prayd our lord deuoutly for holy chyrche and to yeue hym ayde and strength for to defende it For vtterly he determyned to abyde by the lybertees and fraunchyse And fyl doun on hys knees said ful sore wepyng O good lord I knowleche that I haue offended and for myn offence and trespaas thys trouble cometh to holy chyrche I purpose good lord to goo to Rome for to be assoylled of myn offensis And departed toward Caunterburye And anon the kyng sente hys offycers to hys manoyrs and despoylled them by cause he wold not obeye the kynges statutes And the kynge comanded to seasâ alle hys londes and goodes in to hys hondes And thenne hys seruauntes departed from hym And he wente to the see side for to haue goon ouer see but the wynde was ayenst hym and so thryes he toke hys shyppe and myght not passe And theÌne he knewe that it was not our lordes wyll that he shold yet departe and retorned secretely to Caunterbury of whos comyng hys meyne made grete Ioye And on the morn cam the kynges offycers for to haue seased all hys goodes For the noyse was that saynt Thomas had fledde the londe wherfor they had dispoylled all his manoyrs seasid theÌ in to the kynges hoÌde And whan they cam they fonde hym at Caunterbury wherof they were sore abasshed and retorned to the kyng enformyng hym that he was yet at cauÌterbury anon after saynt thomas cam to the kyng to wodestoke for âo pray hym to be better disposed toward âoly chyrche And thenne said the kynge to hym in skorne May not we two dwelle bothe in this londe art thou of so sturdy and hard of herte to whom saynt Thomas answerd sire that was neuer my thoughte but I ãâã fayne plese you doo all that ãâã desire so that ye hurte not the libertees of holy chirche For them will I mayntene whyle I lyue euer to my power wyth whiche wordes the kynge was sore meuyd swore that he wold haue theÌ kept in especial yf a clerke were a theef he shold be Iuged executed by the kynges lawe by no spirituel lawe said he wold neuer suffre a clerke to be hys maister in his owne londe And chargid saynt thomas tappere to fore hym at Norhampton to brynge all the bisshops of this londe with hym and so departid Saynt thomas besought god of helpe socoure For the bysshoppis whiche ought to be with hym were most ayenst hym And after this saynt Thomas wente to norhampton where the kyng helde thenne his grete counseylle in the castell wyth all his lordes And whaÌ he cam to fore the kyng he said I am comen to obeye your comandemÌt but by fore this tyme was neuer bysshop of Canuterbury thus entreted For I am heed of the chyrche of englond And am to you sir kyng your ghoostly fader and it was neuer goddes lawe that the sone shold destroye hys fader which hath charge of hys soule And by your styryng haue made all the bysshops
departed she satte on hir knets and was al the nyght in orysons and in teerys in requyryng helpe of god to perfourme this werke and on the morne erlye alle mate and trauaylled of wakyng she wente to genese a good preest and prayed hym that he wold do his payne and laboure that the chyrche myght be edefyed and tolde hym tydynges of the lyme whan genese herde thys he was alle ameruaylled and fyl doun to hyr feet and promysed to hyr that nyght and day he wold doo hys laboure to accomplysshe hyr commaundemente By the helpe of god and of saynt Geneuefe and of the people of parys the sayd chirche was begonne in the honoure of the blessyd marters Saynt denys Saynt Rustyque and saynt Eleuthere which now is callyd saynt denys de lestree There ben yet the holy bodyes where our lord sheweth fayr myracles For as the werkemen entendyd to make the edefyce eche after hys crafte It happed that theyr drynke fayled and was doon And genese the preest sayd to geneuefe whiche knewe not herof that she shold talke with the werkemen so longe that he myght goo to parys fetche drynke whan she herde thys she demaunded for the vessel that they had empted and it was brought to hyr she maad them to departe fro hyr Thenne she knelyd doun on hyr knees prayed god wyth warme teerys to helpe hyr and whan she felte that our lord had herde hyr prayer She aroos vp and maad the sygne of the crosse vpon the said vessel and a meruayllous thynge happed For the vessel was ful the werkmen dranke her bely ful and as ofte as they wolde vnto the tyme that the chirche was parâytely made wherof they thanked our lord The holy vyrgyne had deuocyon to wake the nyght that our lord rose fro deth to lyf after the custome and statutes of auncient faders It happed on a tyme that she put her on the waye tofore day to goo to the sayd chyrche of saynt denye and made to bere a candyl brennyng tofore hyr The nyght was derke the wynde grete and it rayned faste whyche quenched the lyght of the candel The maydens that were in hyr companye were sore troubled She asked after the candell and assone as she had hit in hyr hande hit was lyghted by goddes wylle ageyn and so she bare it brennyng vnto the chyrche Another tyme whan she had endyd hir prayer a candel that she helde light in hyr hande by the grace of god Semblably in hyr celle on a tyme was a candel lyght in hir hande wythout ony fyre of thys world of whiche candel many seek folke by their feyth and reuerence haue ben helyd That tapre is kepte yet at nostre dame de parys A woman whyche by the temptacyon of the deuyl whyche to his power alwey deâeyueth the good stale aweye hir shoes but assone as she was at home she loste hyr syght whan she sawe that our lord had auengyd the wronge that she had doon to the vyrgyne She dyd hyr to be ledde to hyr wyth the thefte when she came tofore the holy vyrgyn she fyl doun to hyr feet and requyred hyr of foryeuenes and restoryng of hyr syght Geneuefe that was right debonair toke hyr vp fro the grounde and in smylyng gaue to hyr the syght ageyn of hyr eyen The holy vyrgyn on a tyme wente to laon and the peple of the towne wente out ageynste hyr Emonge whome were the fader and moder of a mayde that had ben ix yere so paralatyke that none myght shewe the ioynture of hyr membrys They besought and reâuyred saynt geneuefe that she wold vysyte the seek mayde She wente and sawe hir and sythe made hir prayer as she was acustomed and after handled the membrys of the mayde and commaunded hyr to doo on hir clothes and hosen and shoes Incontynente she aroos in good helthe in suche wyse that she wente vnto the chyrche wyth the peple The folke that sawe thys blessyd our lord that had gyuen suche grace to hys damoysel geneuefe and whan she retorned they conueyed hyr syngyng with grete ioye The kyng of fraunce chyldryke how be it he was a paynym hâlde hir in grete reuerence soo dyd also the barons of fraunce for the fayr myracles that she dyd in the name of our lord Ihesu cryste wherof it happed on a tyme that the sayd kynge helde certeyn prysonners Iuged to dethe but by cause geneuefe shold not demaunde them he yssued out of paris and made to shytte the yates after hym the holy virgyn knewe hit anone and wente hastely after hym for to helpe to delyuer theym As sone as she came to the yates they openyd without keye seyng al the peple which thought it a grete wonder She pursewed the kynge and obteyned grace for the prysonners In the partyes of the oryent beyânde Antyoche was a good man named Symeon whiche had despysed this world and was of meruaylus holy lyf whiche demaunded of saynt geneuefe of the marchauntes that wente in to tho patryes And by them he salewyd hyr moche honourably And recommaunded hym vnto hyr prayers hit was a grete meruayle that the holy man which had neuer seen ne herde speke of hir dyd do grete hyr by hir name verayly the frendes of god that knowe his wylle do therafter haue tydynges that one fro that other by admynystracion of the holy ghoost they shal neuer be seperate ne departed as Saynt ambrose beyng at melan knewe of the deth of saynt martyn at tours At meaux was a noble damoysel which was a med by hir propre name celyne which whan she had herde of the grace that god had gyuen to saynt genouefe she requyred hir to chaunge hir habyte a yonge man had fyauÌced trouthed hir which had grete Indygnacion whaÌ he herde of those tydynges and came to meaux in a grete Ire where the ij vyrgyns dwellyd whan they knewe of his comyng they fledde vnto the chirche there happed a fayr myracle For as they came to the chirche dore whyche was locked fast shette the dore that was soo locked opened by his gree by hym self thus saynt geneuefe delyuerd saynt celyne fro peryl fro the contagyon of the world the which êseuerid in abstynence in chastyte to hyr ende In this tyme the said celyne offred to saynt geneuefe one hir chamberer whiche had leyen seek ij yere myght not goo the holy vyrgyne handled hyr membrys with hir worthy handes anone she was hool in good poynte Ther were brought to hir xij men that were wood byset with deuyls vnto parys which were ouer harde bystad tormented of thenemye the virgyn had grete pyte went to prayer orisons in requyryng our lord with salte teris that by his grace goodnes he wold delyuer them of this pestylence as she perseuerid in hir prayers they were hanged in the ayer in suche manere as they touched no thynge she aroos fro hir prayer said
those contryes seynt kenelm was kyng wynchecombe that tyme was chyef cite of alle thyse shyres and in that tyme were in englond vj kynges And byfore that Oswold had ben kyng of alle englond And after hym it was departed in seynt kenelmes dayes kenulf hys fader was a ful holy man And dornemyld and queÌdrede were susters of seynt kenelme and kenulf his fader deyde the yere of our lord viij Cxix Thenne was kenelme made kyng whan he was vij yere of age And his suster dornemild louyd hym moche and they lyuyd holyly to gydre to theyr lyues ende but quyndrede that other suster torned hyr to wyckednes and had grete enuye at her brother kenelme by cause he was so riche aboue her and laboured wyth alle her power to destroye hym by cause she wold be quene and regne after hym and lete make a strong poyson and gaf it to hir brother But god kepte hym that it neuer greuyd hym whan she sawe that she coude not preuayle ayenst the kyng in that maner She laboured to Askeberd whiche was chief ruler aboute the kyng and promysed to hym a grete somme of money and also her body at his wylle yf he wold slee this yong kyng her brother And anone they accorded in this treson And iij this while that same tyme this yong holy kyng was a slepe and dremed a meruellous dreme For hym semed that he sawe a tree stonde by hys beddes syde and that the heyght therof touched heuen and it shyned as bright as gold and had fayr braunches ful of blosmes and fruyte And on euery braunche of thys tree were tapers of waxe brennyng and lampes lyght whiche was a glorious sight to beholde and hym thought that he clymed vpon this tree And askeberd his gouernour stode bynethe and hewe doun this tree that he stode on And whan thys tree was fallen doun this holy yong kyng was heuy sorouful hym thought ther cam a fayr byrd whiche flewgh vp to heuen wyth grete Ioye And anon after thys dreme he awoke and was alle abasshid of thys dreme whyche anon after he tolde to his norice named wolwelyne And whan he had tolde to her alle hys dreme She was ful heuy and tolde to hym what hit mente And sayd his suster and the trayter askaberde had falsely conspired his deth For she sayd to hym that he had êmysed to quendrede to slee the And that signefyeth that he smyteth doun the tree that stode by thy beddes syde And the byrd that thou sawest flee vp to heuen signefyeth thy soule that angellys shal bere vp to heuen after thy martirdom And anon after thys askaberde desired the kyng that he shold goo disporte hym by the wodes side named Clent and as he walkid the yong kyng was al heuy and leyd hym doun to slepe thenne this fals traytour purposed to haue slayn the kyng and began to make the pyt to bury hym in But anon as god wold the kyng awoke sayd to thys askaberd that he laboured in vayn ffor god wyl not that I dye in thys place But take this smalle rodde and there as thou shalt sette it in the erthe there shal I be martred And thenne they went forth to gydre a good way thens tyl they cam to an hawthorn And there he pyght the rodde in therthe and forthwith incontynent it bare grene leuys and sodenly it wexe to a grete asshe tree the whiche stondeth there yet vnto thys day and is called kenelms asshe and there this askaberd smote of thys holy yong kynges hede And anon his soule was born vp in to heuen in lykenes of a white douue and thenne the wyckid traytour drewe the body in to a grete valey betwene ij hylles and there he made a depe pitte cast the body therin and leyde the hede vpon it And whyles he was aboute to smyte of the hede The holy kyng knelyng on his knees sayd thys holy cantycle Te deum laudamus tyl he cam to this veers Te martirum candi datus And therwyth he yaf vp hys spyryte to our lord Ihesu cryst in lykenes of a douue as afore is sayd TheÌne anon this wicked man askaberd went to quendrede and told to hir alle alonge how he had don wherof she was ful glad And anon after toke on hir to be quene and charged on payn of deth that no man shold speke of kenelme And after that she abandouÌned her body to wretchyd lyuyng of her fflessh in lecherye brought her owen men to wretchyd lyuyng And thys holy body lay long tyme after in that wode called Clent For no man durst fetche hym thens to bury hym in halowed place for fere of the quene quene drede it was so that a poure wydow by whiche had a white Cowe whiche euery day was dryuen in to the wode of clent And anon as she was there she wold departe and goo in to the valeye where kenelme was buryed and there reste alle the day syttyng by the corps wythout mete And euery nyght come home wyth other bestes fatter and gaf more mylke than ony of the other kyen And so contynwed certeyn yeres wherof the peple merueyled that she euer was in so good poynt and ete no mete That valey where as seynt kenelmes body laye is called Coubage After on a tyme as the pope song masse at rome in Seynt Peters chirche Sodenly ther cam a whyte douue and lete falle a scrowe on the aulter wheron the pope sayd hys masse And thyse wordes were wreton therin in lettres of gold In Clent in Coubage kenelme kyng barn lyeth vnder a thorn his hede of shorn And whan the pope had said his masse He shewed the scrowe to alle the peple But there was none that coude telle what it mente tyll atte last there cam an englyssh man And he told it openly tofore all the peple what it ment And thenne the pope wyth alle the peple gaf laude and praysyng to oure lord and kepte that skrowe for a relyque And the fest of seynt kenelme was halowed that day solempnly thorough alle rome And anon after the pope sent hys messagers in to englond to the archebysshop of caunterbury named wylfryde And bad hym wyth hys bysshops goo and seke the place where the holy body lyeth whiche is named Cowbage in the wode of clent And thenne this place was sone knowen by cause of the myracle that was shewd by the white cowe and whan tharchebisshop with other bisshoppis many other peple cam theder and fonde the place anon they lete dygge vp the body and toke it vp wyth grete solemnyte And forth wyth sprang vp in the same place where as the body had leyn a fayre welle whiche is called Seynt kenelmes welle vnto thys day where moche peple haue ben heled of diuers sekenes and maladyes And whan the body was aboue therth ther fyl a stryf bytwene them of
by cause they go to fore we ben ashamed to folowe them And thenne he ranne in to a gardyn And as he sayth hym self he cast hym self doune vnder a fygge tree wepte right bytterly and gaf oute wepyng vois by cause he hadde taryed soo long fro day to day and fro tyme to tyme And was gretely tormentid soo that he had no maner in hym self for sorow of his long taryeng lyke as he wryteth in the booke of his Confessions sayde Alas lord how thou arte hyghe in hyghe thynges and depe in depenes And departest not ne goost oute of the wey And vnnethe we come to the A lord he sayd calle me moeue me chauÌge me and enlumyne me rauysshe me and make swete and softe al myn enpesshementes and lettynges as hit apperteyneth for I drede them sore I haue loued the ouer late thou beaulte soo olde and soo newe I ouer late haue loued the thow were within and I was withoute and there I sought the And in the beaulte and fayrenes that thou haste I fylle all defourmed and fowle thou were with me but I was not with the Thou hast called and cryed and hast broken my deefnes Thou hast enlumyned clered and haste put awaye my blyndenes Thou haste replenisshed me with fragraunt odours and I haste me to come to the I haue tasted the and am hongry and desyre the Thou hast touched me and I am brent in the voys of leuyng thy pees and as he wept thus bitterly he herde a voys sayeng Take and rede and anone he opened the booke of thappostle and cast his eyen on the first chapytre and redde clothe ye you in our lord Ihesu crist and anone alle the doubtes of derkenes Were extynct in hym and in the mene tyme he began to be so gretely tormented With tooth ache that almoost he saith he was brought to byleue thoppynyon of Cornelys the Philosopher whiche putteth that the souerayne wele of the sowle is in wysdom and the souerayne wele of the body is in suffryng no payne ne sorowe And his payne was soo grete and vehement that he had lost his speche wherfore as he wryteth in the book of his Confessions he wrote in tables of waxe that al men shold praye for hym that oure lord shold aswage his payne And he hym self kneled doune with the other And so denly he felt hym self hoole And thenne he sygnyfyed by lettres to the hooly man saynt Ambrose that he wold sende to hym word whiche of the bookes of hooly wrytte apperteyned best to rede in for to be made moost couenable to the Crysten feythe And he sente to hym answere ysaye the prophete by cause that he was sene to be the shewer and pronouncer of the gospell and of callyng of men And whan Augustyn vnderstode not alle the begynnyng and supposed al the remenaunt to be other wyse than it was to rede he differred to rede them tylle he were more connyng in holy wrytte And whan the day of Eester cam And Austyn was xxx yere old he and hys sone whiche was named a de o datus a childe of noble wytte and vnderstondyng whome he had goten in his youthe whan he was a paynym a philosopher with Alyppe his frende by the merytes of his moder and by prechyng of saynt Ambrose receyued baptysme of saynt Ambrose ¶ And thenne as it is redde saynt Ambrose sayde The deum laudamus And saynt Austyn sayd Te dominum confitemur And soo they two to geder ordeyned made this ympne and songe hit vnto the ende And soo wytnessyth it Honorius in his booke whiche is named the myrrour of the Chirche And in some other old bookes the tytle of this ympne or psalme is intytled the Cantykle of Ambrose and of Augustyn And anone he was merueylously confermed in the faythe Catholyke And forsoke all the hope that he had in the world And renounced the scoles that he rewled And he sheweth in his book of confessions how he was fro thens forthe achauffed in the loue of god sayeng lord thou hast thorugh perâed myn hert with thy charyte And I haue borne thy wordes fixed in myn entraylles And thensamples of thy maners whiche thou hast made of blacke whyte shynyng and of deed lyuyng And of corrupte thoughtes thou makest fayre and hyghe vnderstandyng in heueÌly thynges I mounted vp in to the hylle of wepyng and thou gauest to me syngyng the cantycle of grees shape arowes and cooles wastyng ne I was not in tho dayes fulfylled in thy merueylous swetenes for to considere the heyght of the dyuyne counceylle vp on the helthe of the lygnage humayne How moche haue I wepte in thy ynâpnes and cantycles swetely sownynnge And by the vois of thy chirche I haue ben moeued egrely The voyses haue ronnen in myn eres And thy trouthe hath dropped in myn herte and thenne teres haue ronnen doune and I was wel eased with them Thenne these thynges were establysshed to be songen in the chirche of Melan And I cryed With an hyghe crye of myn herte O in pace O in idipsum O thou that sayst I shalle slepe in that same and take rest thou arte the same For thou arte not chauÌged and in the is reste forgetyng all labours I redde al that psalme And I brenned whiche somtyme had ben a barker bytter and blynde ayenst the lettres honyed with the swetenes of heuen and enlumyned with thy lighte And vppon suche scriptures I helde my pees and spack not O Ihesu crist my helper how swete is it sodenly made to me to lacke the swetnesses of iââffes and Iapes which Were fer fro me to leue and forsake and now to leue forsake them is to me grete ioye Thou hast cast them oute fro me And thou Whiche arte souerayne swetenes hast entryd in to me for them whiche aâte swetter than ony swetnes or delyces more clere than ony syght and more secrete than ony secrete counceylles more hyghe than al honour And ther is none more hyghe than thou And after this he tooke Nebrydyon Euodyon and his moder and retorned ageyne in to Auffryke But whannâ But whanne they cam to hostyberyn his swete moder deyde And after her deâh Austyn retorned vnto his propre herytage there entended wyth them that lode with him in fastinges in prayers He wrote bokes taught them that were not wyse And the fame and renomme of hym spradde ouer all And in alle his bookes and werkes he was holden merueylous he reffused to come to ony Cyte where as was no bisshop leste he shold be lette by that offyce And in that tyme was in yponence a man full of grete vertues whiche sente to Augustyn that yf he wold come to hym that he myghte here the good of his mouthe he wold renounce the world And whanne saint Augustyn knewe it he wente hastely thyder And whanne Valeryen Bisshop of yponence herd his renommee fame he ordeyned hym a preest
blessyd Euse be the pope and dwellyd there fyue yere And heled two lame men and two blynde men And thenne the Angel appered to her in her slepe and sayd to her what is this that thow dost that hast lefte thy Rychesses and lyuest here in delyces Aryse and dyne And after goo in to the cyte of Trecane that thow maist fynde there thy brother And thenne she sayd to her chambryere It behoueth vs no lenger to abyte here And she sayd lady whyder wylle ye goâ Alle the peple here loue yow well And wylle ye go dye in a place where as the peple knowe yow not And she sayd god shalle purueye for vs And thenne she tooke a loof of barly breed and wente vnto the Cyte of Rauenne and entryd in to the hows of a ryche man whos doughter was bewayled as deed And she requyred the mayde of the hows that she myght be lodged there And she sayd how mayst thou be lodged here whan the doughter of hârin is deed and alle be sorowfull And she sayd to her For me she shalle not deye and thenne she entrid in and took the haÌd of the mayde and reysed her vp al hole And the moder wold haue reteyned her there but she in no wyse wold agre therto but departed And the doughter lyued and aroos on the morne And whanne Sauyne with her chambryere arryued a myle nyghe vnto trecane she sayd to her Chambryere that she wold there reste a lytel And there cam a noble man fro the Cite named Lyceryen and demaunded them sayeng Of whens be ye To whome Sauyne seyde I am of this Cyte And he sayd Why lyest thow when thy speche sheweth the to be a pylgrym And she sayd Verayly I am a pylgrym and feche Sauyen my broder whome I haue long loste And he sayd to her that man for whome thou demaundest was but late slayne for the name of Ihesu Cryste and is buryed in suche a place And thenne she put hyr in prayeng and sayd lord which hast alwey kept me in chastyte suffre me thenne nomore to trauayle by these hard and wery Iourneyes ne my body to be remâued oute of this place And lord I recommaunde to the my chambryere whiche hath suffred soo moche payne for me and for my broder whome I may not here see I byseche the to make me worthy to se hym in thy regne And whanne she had fynysshed her prayer she passed oute of this world and wente to oure lord whanne her chambryere sawe that her maystresse was deed she beganne to wepe by cause she had nothyng necessary to bury her with The sayd man thenne sente a cryat thorugh the Cyte that all grete and smale shold come see the strauÌge woman that was there deed And incontynent alle the peple ranne and she was buryed honourably And this same day is the feste of saynt Sauyne that was wyf of saynt Valentyn knyght whiche was byheded vnder Adryan themperour by cause he wold not sacryfyse to thydollys Thus enden the liues of saint Samen martir and of Sainne his sustir Here foloweth the lif of seine Lowe And first of thinterpretacion of his name EOwe or Lupe is somme sekenes in the legge whiche behoueth a medycyne For hit is a maladye that regneth and vseth the flesshe And also hit is sayd a maner of fysshe that is on the water and on the londe And it may not drowne by no force of water And thus maye be expowned saynt Lowe For he vsed and strayned his propre flesshe by penaunce For he was lyke the lupe of the water and of the erth For he duellyd in the waters of dâlyâes of rychesses and of temptacions and myght not drowne among these waters in no wyse ¶ Of saynt Lupe or Lowe SAynt Lupe or Lowe was borne at OrleauÌce And was of the ryal lygnage And by the resplendysshour of his grete and many myracles and vertues He was made Archebisshop of Sense And gaf alle that he hadde to poure peple And on a day whanne all was gyuen It happed that he hadde boden many men to dyne with hym And thenne his mynystres sayd that there was not wyn half ynough for the dyner And he answerd to them he that fedeth the byrdes of heuen shall performe hisâ haryte of wyne And anone after come a messager to the yate that sayd to them that there were a reyued to fore the yate an honderd Mâes of wyne On a tyme they of the Courte sayd euylle of hym by cause that he had with hym a vyrgyn of oure lord whiche was doughter of his predecessour And as they sayd he loued âeramour and spake moche despytously and ouer dysatemperately And whanne he herd these thynges he tooke the vyrgyne and kyssed her to fore alle the detractours and euylle sayers and sayde that no straunge ne euyll wordes ennoye ne hurte no man whanne his owne conscyence defoylleth hym not And by cause he knewe well that she loued well Ihesu Cryste and purely therfor this hooly man louyd her with a ryght pure thought On a tyme whanne the kyng Clotayre was kyng of Fraunce and entred in to Burgoyne he sente his styward ageynst them of sens for to assyege the Cyte ¶ Thenne Lupe entred in to the chirche and beganne to rynge the clock And whanne thenemyes herd it they had so grete drede that they supposed neuer to haue escaped fro thennes but that they shold haue deyde alle but yf they fledde and at the laste the stywarde of Burgoyne was taken â And whanne he was taken ther was another styward sente in to Burgoyne cam to Sens And by cause saynt lupe had gyuen to hym no gyftes he had grete despyte And diffamed hym to the kyng so that the kynge sente hym in to exyle And there he shone by myracles and vertues And in the mene whyle they of Sens slewe a Bisshop whiche had taken the place of saynt lupe ¶ And after they impetred of the kyng that saynt Lupe retorned fro exyle And whanne the kyng sawe that he was wrongly doo to he was chauÌged by the grace of god that he knelyd to fore the saynt and requyred pardon And restablysshed hym ageyne in his chirche and gaf to hym many fayr yeftes On a tyme as he cam to parys a grete coÌpanye of prysoners cam ageynste hym theyr bondes broken And alle the dores of the pryson open On a sonday as he songe masse A precious stone fylle doune fro heuen in to his chalyce the whiche he gaf to the kynge whiche he helde for a noble relyque On a tyme the kyng Clotayre herd saye that the Clockes of saynt Steuân of Sens had a merueylous swetenes in theyr sowne And sente for them and tooke them fro thens and dyde doo brynge them to Parys by cause he wold here the sown of them but it displeased moche to saynt Lupe And as sone as they were oute of the Cyte they lost
demaunded hym who he was he sayde that he was Luk that cam fro Antyoche where our lord had assemblyd the chyualrye of Heuene and his appostles for to fyghte for his pilgryms ageynst the Turkes Thenne the Cristen men enhardyed them self and disconfyted alle the hooste of the Turkes ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Luke theuangelist Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Crisaunt And first of his name And of saint Daria And of her name CRysaunt is saide as growen and multyplyed of god For whan his Fader naturelle wold haue made hym to sacrefyce vnto thydolles God gaf to hym force and power to contrarye and gaynsaye his fader and yelde hym self to god Daria is sayd of dare to gyue and of dya whiche is as moche to saye as tweyne For she gaf her to two thynges Fyrst wylle to do euyll whan she hadde wylle to drawe Crysaunt to sacrefyse thydolles And after she gaf her to good wylle whan Crysaunt had conuertid her to God ¶ Of saint Crisaunt and Seynt Daria CRisaunt was sone of a ryght noble man that was named Polyme when the fader sawe that his sone was taught in the fayth of Ihesu cryst And that he couth not withdrawe hym ther fro and make hym doo sacryfyce to thydolles he commaunded that he shold be closed in a stronge holde and put to hym fyue maydens for to wyth drawe hym with blaundysshyng and fayre Wordes And thenne he prayd god that he shold not be surmounted with no flesshely desyre of these euylle bestes and anone these maydens were soo ouercome with slepe that they myght not take neither mete ne drynke as long as they were there but assone as they were oute they took bothe mete and drynke And one Daria a noble and a wyse virgyne of the goddesse vesta arayed her nobly with clothes as she had ben a goddesse And prayd that she myght be laten entre in to crysaunt And that she wold restore hym to thydolles and to his fader And whanne she was comen in Crysaunt repreuyd her of the pryde of her vesture And she answerd that she had not done it for pryde but for to drawe hym to doo sacryfyce to thydolles and restore hym to his fader And thenne Crysaunt repreuyd her by cause she worshiped them as goddes For they had ben in their tymes euyll and synners and haunted comyn wymmen And Daria answerd the philosophres felte thelementes by the names of men and Crysaunt saide to her yf one worshipe therthe as a goddesse And another ere and laboure the erthe as a Chorle or a plough man To whome gyueth the erthe most It is preuyd that it gyueth more to the ploughman than to him that worshipeth it And in lyke wyse he sayd of the see and of other elementes And thenne Crysaunt and Daria conuertid of hym coupled them to gydre by the grace of the holy ghoost fayned to be ioyned by carnal maryage and conuertid many other to ouâe lord For claudyen whiche had ben tormentour of them they conuertid to the faythe of oure lord with his wyf and Children and many other knyghtes after this Crysaunt was enclosed in a stynkynge pryson by the commaundement of Numeryne but the stenche was anone torned in to a ryght swete odour and sauoure And Daria was brought to the bordel but a lyon that was in the Amphyatre cam and kepte the dore of the bordelle And thenne ther was sente thyder a man to defloure and corrumpe the vyrgyne but anon he was taken of the lyon And the lyon beganne to loke on the vyrgyne lyke as he demaunded what he shold do with the caytyf And the vyrgyne comanded that he shold not mysdo hym but late hym go And anone he was conuertid and ranne thorugh the cyte And beganne to crye that Daria was a goddesse And thenne hunters were sente thyder for to take the lyon And they anone fylle doune to the feet of the vyrgyne and were conuertid by her And thenne the prouost commaunded to make a grete fyre within thentre of the bordell soo that the lyon shold be brente with Daria And the lyon consyderynge well this thyng dredde and wrynge took lycence of the vyrgyne and went whyder he wold withoute hurtynge of ony body And whan the prouoste had done to Crysaunt and daria many dyuerse tormentes myght not greue theym at the last they beyng maryed withoute corrupcion were put in a depe pytte and throwen on them erthe and stones And so were conseââate martirs of Cryste Thus endeth the lyf of saint Crisaunt And of Daria ¶ Here foloweth the passion of enleuen thousand vyrgyns THe passion of enleuen thousand vyrgyns was halowed in this manere In Brytayn was a cristen kyng named Notus or Maurus whiche engendryd a doughter named Vrsula This doughter shone full of merueylous honeste wysedome and beaute And her fame and renoÌmee was born al aboute And the kyng of Englond whiche thenne was ryght myghty And subdued many nacions to his empyre herd the renommee of her and sayde that he shold be well happy yf this vyrgyne myght be coupled to his sone by maryage And the yong man had grete desyre and wyll to haue her And there was a solempne embassade to the fader of vrsula and promysed greete promesses and sayd many fayre wordes for to haue her and also made many manaces yf they retourned vaynly to their lord And thenne the kyng of Brytayne beganne to be moche anguysshous by cause that she that was ennoblysshed in the faythe of Ihesu Criste shold be wedded to hym that adoured ydolles by cause that he wyst well she wold not consente in no manere And also by cause he doubted moche the cruelte of the kyng And she that was dyuynely inspyred dyd soo moche to her fader that she consented to the maryage by suche a condycion that for to solace her he shold sende to her fader x vyrgyns And to her self and to them ten other virgyns he shold sende to eche a thousand vyrgyns and sholde gyue to her space of thre yere for to dedycate her vyrgynyte And the yonge man shold be baptysed and in these thre yere he shold be enformed in the faith sufficiently soo that by wyse counceylle and by vertue of the condycyon made he shold withdrawe fro her his courage but this yonglyng receyued this condicyon gladly and hasted his fader and was baptysed And commaunded alle that vrsula had requyred shold be done And the fader of the vyrgyne ordeyned that his doughter whome he moost louyd and the other that had nede of comforte of men and seruyse ordeyned in their company good men for to serue them Thenne virgynes cam fro alle partyes and men cam for to see this grete companye And many Bisshops cam for to goo with them in theyr pylgremage Emonge whome was pantulus Bisshop of Basyâe whiche wente with them to rome And retorned fro thens with them and receyued martirdome Saynt
said to hym yf thou wylt consente to the prynce I shal spare the and gyue to the medecyne To whome Iames sayd haste not thou seen the strock of the vygne that whan the braunches been cutte of the knotte that remayneth in his tyme whan the erthe achauffeth It germeth and bryngeth forth newe buddes in al the places of the cuttyng thenne yf the vygne be cutte by cause he shold burgyne brynge forth fruyte in his tyme how moche more ought a man burgyne more plenteuously in the feyth that he suffreth for the loue of Ihesu cryste whyche is the veray vygne and thenne the boucher cutte of the forfyngre Thenne sayd Saynt Iames lord receyue two braunches whiche thy ryght honde hath planted he cutte of the thyrd and Iames sayd I am delyuerd fro thre temptacions I shal blysse the fader the sone and the holy ghoost and lord I shal confesse thâ with the thre chyldren that thou sauedest fro the chymney of fyre and Ihesu cryste I shal synge to thy name in the quere of marters thenne the fourth was cutte of and saynt Iames sayd O protectour of the chyldren of Israhel whiche in the fourthe blessyng were pronounced receyue of thy seruaunte the confessyon of the fourthe fyngre lyke as the benedyccion was in Iuda and thenne the fyfthe fyngre was cutte of and he sayd my ioye is accomplisshed and thenne the bouchers said to hym spare thy lyf that thou perysshe not and angre the not though thou hast loste one hande for there ben many that haue but one hande that haue moche honour and rychesses And the blessyd Iames sayd to them whan the shepeherdes shere theyr sheep they take not onely the ryght syde ãâã also the lyfte syde thenne yf the lamââ whiche is but a brute beest wyl lese his flese for his mayster how moche more thenne I that am a man resonable ouÈt to be smyton in pyeces for the loue of god and thenne the felonne bouchers wente to that other hande and cutte of fyrst the lytel fyngre and saynt Iames sayd lord whan thou were grete thou woldest be made lytel for us and therfore I yelde to the body and sowle whiche thou madest and redemyst wyth thy propre blood Thenne the seuenth fyngre was cutte of and he sayd lord I haue said to the seuen tymes in the tyme preysynges Thenne they cutte the viij fyngre and he sayd Ihesu cryste was circumcysed the eyght day and thebrewes were circumcised the eyght day for to accomplysshe the commaundementes cerymonyalles of the feythe and lord lete the mynde of thy seruaunte goo fro thyse Incircumcysed and that I may haue the prepucye vndefouled that I may come and beholde thy face lord Thenne the nynthe fyngre was cutte of and he sayd the nynthe houre Ihesu cryste rendryd his spyryte in the crosse to his fader and therfore lord I confesse me to the in the sorowe of the ix fyngre and thanke the Thenne the tenthe fyngre was cutte of and he sayd the tenthe nombre is in the commaundementes of the lawe Thenne somme of them that were there sayden right dere frende confesse thou our goddes tofore our prynce soo that thou mayst lyue how be it that thy handes be cutte of there ben right wyse leches that shal wel hele the and ease the of thy payne To whome saynt Iames sayd god forbede that in me shold be ony false dyssymylacion no man that put his honde to the ploughe loketh bacwarde is not couenable to come to the kyngdom of heuen Thenne the bouchyers hauyng despyte and cutte of the grete too of the ryght foot and saynt Iames sayd the foot of Ihesu cryste was persyd and blood yssued out The second was cutte of and he sayd this day is grete to me tofore all other dayes this day I conuerted shal goo sothely to the stronge god thenne they cutte the thyrd and threwen it tofore hym and saynt Iames sayd smylyng goo thou thyrd too to thy felowes for lyke as the grayne of whete rendryth moche fruyte so shalte thou do wyth thy felawes and shalt reste in the last day The fourth was thenne cutte of and he said my sowle wherfore arte thou sorowful and why troublest me hope in god for I shal confesse to hym that is the helthe of my chere and my god The fyfthe was cutte of and he sayd I shal now begynne to say to our lord dygne praysyng for he hath made me worthy felawe to his seruauntes Thenne they came to his lyfte foot and cutte of the lytel too and saynt Iames sayd lytel too be comforte for the grete and lytel shal haue one resurrexyon an heer of the heed shal not perisshe and thou shalte not departe fro thy felawes And after they cutte of the seconde too and he sayd destroye ye the olde hows for a more noble is maad redy The thyrd was cutte of and he sayd by suche kuttynges shal I be pourged fro vyces and they cutte of the fourth too and he sayd comforte me god of trouthe for my sowle trusteth in the Thenne the fyfthe was cutte of and he sayd O lord loo I offre and sacrefyse to the twenty tymes and thenne they cutte of his right fote and saynt Iames sayd Now I shal offre a yefte to god for whos loue I suffre this Thenne they cutte of the lyfte fote he sayd thou arte he lord that makest meruaylles here thou me lord and saue me They cutte of after his right hande and he sayd lord thy mercyes helpe me they cutte of his lifte hande and he sayd lord thou arte he that louest the ryghtful and they cutte of the ryght arme and he sayd my sowle prayse the our lord I shal gyue lawde to our lord in my lyf and shal synge to hym as longe as I shal lyue and thenne they cutte of the lyfte arme and he sayd the sorowes of dethe haue enuyronned me and I shal thynke ageynst them thenne they cutte of the ryght legge to the thye Thenne saynt Iames was greued in grete payne and sayd lord Ihesu cryste helpe me for the wayllynges of deth come about me and he sayd to the bouchyers our lord shal clothe me wyth newe flesshe so that your wouÌdes shal neuer appere in me and thenne the bouchyers began to fayle and were wery fro the first houre of the day vnto the nynthe they had swette in cuttyng his membyrs and after they came to them self and cutte of the lyfte legge vnto the thye and thenne the blessyd Iames escryed and sayd o good lord here me halfe a lyue thou lord of lyuyng men and dede lord I haue no fyngres to lyfte vp to the ne handes that I may enhaunce to the my feet be cutte of and my knees soo that I may not knele to the and am lyke to an hows fallen of whome the pylers ben taken aweye by whiche the hows was born vp and susteyned here me lord Ihesu cryste
allway to fore the kynges in maner of one goyng in the way ne it had none tornyng as a cercle tourneth but in suche maner as a êsone gooth in the way And whan the kynges were yssued out of Iherusalem and sette in their waye they sawe the sterre wherof they had lost the sight And were gretly enioyed And we ought to note that ther ben v maners of sterres that thise kynges sawe The first is material The seconde spirituel The thirde Intellectuel The fourth resonnable The fyfthe substancyall The first that is material they sawe in theest The seconde that is spirituell They sawe in hert and that is in the faith For yf this faith had not be in their hertes that had lighted theym they had neuer seen the sterre materiall they had fayth of thumanyte whan they said where is he that is born and of his Ryall dignyte whan they called hym kyng of Iewes And of his deite whan they said they wente to worshippe hym The thirde Intellectuell wiche is that the aungele that they sawe in vysion whan it was by thangele shewde to theym that they shold not retorne by herode how be it that after one glose it was our lorde that warned theym The fourthe that was resonable that was the vyrgyne marye whom they sawe in the stable holdyng her chyld The fyft that is substancyal that is to saye that he had substance aboue all other singuler And that was IhuÌ Cryst whoÌ they sawe in the crybbe And herof is it said in the gospel that they entred in to the hous and fonde the chyld wyth marie his moder And thenne they worshippid hym ¶ And whan they were re entred in to the hows secretely And had founden the chylde they kneled and offred to hym thies thre yeftes that is to wete Gold Encence And myrre And this saith seynt Austyn O infancia cui astra subduntur et cetera O infancie or chyldhode to whom the sterres ben subgette to whos clothes Angellis bowe the sterres gyuen vertue the kynges Ioyen And the folowers of wysedom bowen theyr knees O blessyd tygurye or lytyl hows O holy sete of god And saynt Iherome saith this is an heuene whâre is no light but the sterre O palays celestyall in whiche thou dwellest not as a kynge âourned with precyous stones but encorporat to whom for a softe bedde was duresse hard cribb For curteyns of gold and sylke the fume stenche of donge but the sterre of heuene was clerely embelysshed I am abasshed whan I beholde thise clothes and see the heuene the herte brenneth me for hete whan I see hym in the cryb be a poure mendiuauÌt and ouer hym the sterres I see hym ryght cleer ryght noble and right riche ¶ O ye kynges what doo ye ye worshippe the child in a lytyl foul hous wrapped in foule clowtes is he thenne not god ye offre to hym gold and wherof is he kynge where is his ryall halle where is his trone where is his court ryall frequented vsed wyth nobles The stable is that not his hall ¶ And his trone that racke or crybbe They that frequente this court is it not Ioseph and marye they ben as vnwetyng to th ende that they become wyse of whom saith hillarye in his seconde boke that he made of the trynyte the virgyne hath born a chylde but this that she hath chylded is of god the chyld is lyeng in the racke and thangeles ben herd syngynge and preysyng hym the clothes be foul and god is worshiped The dygnyte of his puissaunce is not take awey though thumy lite of his flesshe is declared lo how in this child Ihesus were not onely the humble and smale thynges but also the riche the noble and the hye thynges and herof saith saynt Iherome vpon the epystle ad hebreos Thou beholdest the âake of Ihesu Cryst See also the heuen Thou seest also the chyld lyeng in the crybbe but take hede also how the aungelles synge and preyse god herode is persecuted And the kynges worsshippe the chyld The pharysees knewe hym not but the sterre shewde hym he is baptysed of his seruauÌte but the voys of the fader is herd aboue thondryng he is plonged in the water but the holy goost descended vpon hym in lyknes of a douue and the cause wherfore thise kynges offred thise yeftes many reasons be assygned One of the cause is as saith Remyge the doctour that thauÌcyent ordenaunce was that nomaÌ shold come to god ne to the kynge with a voyd hand but that he brought hym some yefte And they of caldee were acoustomed to offre suche yeftes They as scolastica historia saith cam from th end of perse fro the caldeyens where as is the flood of saba of whiche flood the regyon of saba is named The seconde reason is of saynt bernarde For they offred to marye the moder of the chyld gold for to releue her pouerte Encence ayenst the stenche of the stable and euyl ayer ¶ Mirre for to comforte the tendre membres of the chyld and to putte away vermine The thirde reason was that they offred gold for to paye the trybute ¶ Thencence for to make sacrefice the myrre for the sepulture of dede men The fourth for the gold sygnefyeth dilection or loue Thencence oroyson or prayer ¶ The myrre of the flesshe mortyfycacyon And thies thre thinges ought we offre to god Te fyfthe by cause by these thre ben sygnefyed thre thinges that ben in Ihesu cryst The precyous deyte The soule full of holynes And thentier flessh alle pure and withoute corrupcion ¶ And thise iij thinges be signefyed that were in tharke of moyses The Rodde whiche florisshid that was the flessh of Ihesu cryst that Roos fro deth to lyf The tables wherin the comandementis were wreton that is the sowle wherin ben all the tresours of sapience and scyence of god hydde The manna signefyeth the godhede whiche hath all swetenes of suauite By the gold whiche is most precyous of alle metallis is vnderstand the deyte by thencence the sowle right deuoute For thencence signifieth deuocion oroyson by the myrre wiche preserueth fro corrupcion is vnderstonde the flesshe whiche was without corrupcion And the kynges whan they were admonested and warned by reuelacion in theyr slepe that they shold not retorne by herode and by an other way they shold retorne in to their contre lo here thenne how they cam and wente in their Iourneye For they cam to adoure and worshippe the kynge of kynges in their propre personnes by the sterre that led them and the prophete that enseygned taught them And by the warnyng of thangele retorned And rested at their deth in Ihesu Cryst of whom the bodyes were brought to melane where as now is the conuente of the freres prechoââs And now ben at coloyne in seynt peters chirche whiche is the cathedrall and see of tharchebisshop Then ne late vs pray vnto almyghty god
obligacion she leyde it for pledge ¶ And the vsure is augmented and grewe vnto alle the remenaunt of the lignage ¶ Thenne toke Eue of the fende synne whaÌ ayenst the comandement she consented to hym She wrote thobligacion whan she put hâr hande to the tree ayenst the deffeÌce of god She delyuerd pledge whan she made Adam to consente to the synne And thus thusure grewe and augmentid vnto the remayne of alle the lignage Ayenst them that retche nothyng of this redempcioÌ Seynt bernard saith in the êsone of IhÌu cryst My peple saith IhÌu what myght I haue don for the that I haue not doÌ to the what cause is ther that ye serue sonner the deuyll our aduersary than me For he hath not created ne hath nourisshid you but this semeth a lytyl thyng to them that be ful of Ingratitude I haue redemed you and not he and for what prys not with gold ne siluer ne of the sonne ne of the mone ne with ony of the angellis but with my propre blood And after Considere yf of right for so many benefices ye ought to chese to haue my companye And yf ye will alle leue me atte lest come wyth me for to wynne a peny a day And by cause they delyuerd Ihesu cryst to deth that is to wete Iudas for auarice the Iewes for enuye And pylate for drede And therfore it is to see what payne was delyuerd to them of god for this synne But of the payne and of the birthe of Iudas thou shalt fynde in the legende of saynt mathye Of the payne and ruine of the Iewes in the legende of saynt Iames the lasse And of the payne of pylate and his byrthe thou shalt fynde in one apocryfum where as it is said in this manere Ther was a kyng callyd tyrus whyche knewe carnelly a mayde called pilam whiche was doughter of a myllar named atus And of this doughter he engendrid a sone she toke her name and the name of her fader whiche was callid Atus and composed thus of their names one name to her sone and named hym pilatus And whan he was thre yere old she sente hym to the kynge And the kynge had a sone of the quene whiche semed to be of the age of pylate And thise two sones whan they were of age of discrescion ofte they fought to gydre and with the slynge they pleyed oft And the kynges sone also which was legytyme was more noble And in all feates he knewe more and more was sette by by cause of his birthe And pylatâ seeyng this was moeued of enuye and wrath and pryuely slewe his brother the whiche thyng the kyng herd saye and was moche angry And demaunded of his counseyll what he myght doo and make of this trespaas and homycyde ¶ The whiche all with one voys said that he was worthy to suffre deth ¶ And the kynge wold not double the payne and pugnycion but by cause he ought to the romayns yerly a trybute he sente hym in hostage to the Romayns as well for to be quyte of the deth of his sone and that he shold not be constrayned to put hym to deth as wel as for to be quyte of the trybute that he ought to Rome In this tyme was at Rome one of the sones of the kynge of fraunce whiche also was sente for trewage ¶ And whan pylate sawe hym he anon accompanyed with hym ¶ And sawe that he was preysed to fore hym for the wytte and for the maners that were in hym pylate slewe hym also And whan the Romayns demaÌded what shold be doon in this matere They answerd that he whiche had slayn his brother And estraunglyd hym that was in hostage yf he mygt lyue shold be yet moche prouffytable to the comyn wele And shold daunte the neckes of theÌ that were cruel and wood And thenne sayd the Romaynes that syth he was worthy to dye he shold be sente in to an yle of the see named ponthus to them that wyll suffre no Iuge ouer them to th ende that his wyckednes may ouercome and Iuge them or ellys that he suffre of hem lyke as he hath deseruyd Thenne was pylate sente to this cruelle peple wylde whiche tofore had slayn their Iuge And it was told to hym to what peple he was sent And that he shold considere how his lyf was hongyng And in grete Ieopardye he wente consyderyng his lyf thought to kepe it dyde so moche what by menaces and promesses of torment as by yeftes that he subdued them alle and put them in subiection And by cause he had victorye of this cruel pepâe he was named of this yle of pontos pounce pilate And whan herode herde his Inyquytees and his fraudes he had grete Ioye therof And by cause he was wycked hym self he ld wo haue wycked with hym And sente for hym by messagers and by promyse of yeftes that he cam to hym And gaf hym the power vpon the Royame of Iudee Iherusalem whan he had asseÌbled gadred to gydre moche moneye he wente to rome with out knowyng of herode offred right grete sommes of moneye to themperour for to gete to hym self that whiche herode so helde And so he gate it And for this cause herode pilate were enemyes vnto the tyme of the passioÌ of Ihesu cryst whom pilate sente to herode Another cause of enemyte is assigned in scolastica historia Ther was one that sayd hym self to be god and had deceyued many of galylee and brought the peple in to garizain where he had said that he wold goo vp to heuen And pilate cam vpon them And whan he hath knowleche of the dede he slewe hym all his peple by cause he doubted that he wold haue deceyued them of Iudee And therfore were they enemyes to gydre For herode regned in galylee And whan pilate had delyuerd Ihesu Cryst to the Iewes for to be crucyfyed he doubted themperour that he shold be reproued of that whiche he had Iuged an Innocent And sente a frende of his for texcuse hym and in this whyle Tyberius theÌperour fyl in to a greuous maladye ¶ And it was told to hym that there was one in Iherusalem that cured al maner maladyes ¶ And he knewe not that pilate and the Iewes had slayn hym he said to volusien whiche was secrete with hym Goo in to the parties ouer see And saye to pylate that he sende to me the leche or maistre in medecyne for to hele me of my maladye And whan he was come to pylate And had said his message pylate was moche abasshyd and demaunded xiiij dayes of dylacion with in whiche tyme volusien fonde an old woman named veronica whiche had be famylyer and deuoute with Ihesu Cryst he demauÌded of her where he myght fynde hym that he sought She thenne escryed and sayd Alas lord god my lord my god was he that ye axe fore whom pylate dampned to deth and
sobrely and in contynence and after at ester had receyued theyr sauyour After they disordred them in etyng in drynkyng in playes and in lecherye nd A therfore our lord was meuyd ayenst them and sente to them a grete pestelence whiche was called the botche of impedymye and that was cruell sodayne and caused peple to dye in goyng by the waye in playeng in beyng atte table and in spekyng one with another sodeynly they deyed In this manere somtyme fnesyng they deyed so that whaÌ ony persone was herd fnesyng anone they that were by said to hym god helpe you Or Cryst helpe and yet endureth the custoÌme And also whan he fneseth or gapeth he maketh to fore his face the signe of the crosse and blessith hym And yet endureth this custome And how that pestelence begaÌ it is founde in the lyf of saynt gregorye Secondly this letanye is said procession of seuen ordres by cause that whan they were made seynt gregorye ordeyned them by vij ordynances For in the first ordre was all the clergye in the second were the monkes and relygyous men In the thirde were alle the nonnes In the fourth alle the children In the fyfthe all the laye peple In the sixthe alle the wydowes And in the vij alle they that were maryed But by cause that nowe we may not fulfylle in nombre of personnes we ought to fulfylle it in noÌbre of letanyes For it ought to be said vij tymes or the procession be left Thirdly this letanye is said the black crosse For thenne in signe of pestylence of wepyng and of penaunce they cladde them wyth black clothes And parauenture for that same cause they couerd the crosse and the aulters wyth blessyd hayres And thus we shold take on vs clothyng of penauÌce Ther is an other letanye whiche is called the lasse letanye the whiche is made the thre dayes tofore thasceÌcion And this Instituted seynt Mamertyn bisshop of vyane in the tyme of themperour lyon whiche regned the yere of our lord iijClviij to fore the Institucion of the first And is said the letanye the lasse the rogacions and processions For it is The lasse letanye to the difference of the first by cause that this lasse letanye was Institued of a lasse whiche was a symple bisshop in a lasse place and for lasse maladye And the cause of the institucion was this For thenne at vyane were grete erthe quaues of whiche fyl doun many chirches and many houses and ther was herde grete sownes and grete clamours by nyght And thenne happed a terrible thyng on ester day For fyre descended fro heuen that brente the kynges palays yet happed more merueyllous thyng For lyke as the fendes had entred in to the hogges right so by the suffraunce of god for the synnes of the peple the fendes entred in to wulues and other wylde bestes whiche euerych doubted and they wente not only by the wayes ne by the feldes but also by the cytees ronnen openly And deuoure den the chyldren olde men and wymen And whan the bisshop sawe that euery day happed suche sorouful aduentures he coÌmanded and ordeyned that the peple shold faste thre dayes And he instituted the letanyes and thenne the tribulacioÌ ceassed And fro than forth on the chirche hath ordeyned confermed that this letanye shold be kept and obserued ouer all It is said also Rogacions For thenne we praye and demaunde the suffrages of alle the sayntes and we thus haue good cause for to kepe this ordenauÌce and faste in thise dayes And for many reasons it is institued Fyrst by cause it appeaseth the bataylles that comynly begynne in prymtemps SecoÌdly by cause that the fruytes whiche be theÌne tendre that god will multeplye Thirdly by cause that euery man shold mortefye in hym self the moeuynges of hys flessh whiche in that tyme boylle Fourtly by cause that euerich dispose hym self to receyue the holy goost For by fastynges by orysons and by deuocion is one more able and more worthy But two other reasoÌs assigneth maistre willÌm dancerre by cause than whan IhÌu cryst wold ascende vnto heuen he sayde Aske ye duely and ye shal haue And we may the more faithfully demaunde whan we haue the promesse of god Secondly by cause the holy chirche fasteth prayeth that she haue but lytil flessh that is to make the body lene by abstynence and to gete wynges by prayer For prayer is the wynge of the sowle by whiche she fleeth to heuen to th ende that she may folowe IhÌu cryste asceÌdyng vp to fore vs to shewe vs the waye And knowe ye that the foule that haboundeth in plente of flessh and hath but fewe pennes or fethers he may not wel flee Thus this letanye is called procession For thenne the chirche maketh generall procession And in this procession the crosse is born the clockes and belles ben sowned and rongen the ba ners ben born And in somme chirche a dragon with a grete taylle is born And ayde and helpe is demaunded of alle seyntes ¶ And the cause why the crosse is born and the belles rongen is for to make the feÌdes and euyll spyrites aferd and to flee For lyke as the kynges haue in bataylles tokenes and signes royall as her trompes and baners right so the kynge of heuen perdurable hath hys signes mylytaunt in the chirche he hath belles for busynes and for troÌpes he hath the crosse for baners And lyke as a tyraunt and a malefactour shold moche doubte whan he shal here the busynes and trompes of a myghty kynge in his lande and shal see his baners In lyke wyse the enemyes the euyll spyrites that ben in the regioÌ of thayer doubte moche whan they here the trompes of god whiche ben the belles rongen And whan they see the baners born on hye And this is the cause why the belles be rongeÌ whan it thondreth and whan grete tempestes and oultrages of wether happen to th ende that the fendes and wicked spyrites shold be abasshed and flee and ceasse of the moeuyng of tempest how be it also that ther is another cause ther with that is for to warne the crysten peple that they put them in deuocion and in prayer for to praye god that the tempest may ceasse Ther is also the baner of the kynge that is the crosse whiche the enemyes dred moche and doubte For they drede the staf with whiche they haue ben hurte And this is the reason wherfore in somme chirche in the tyme of tempest and of thondre they sette out the crosse ayenst the tempest to th ende that the wycked spyrites see the baner of the souerayn kynge for drede therof that they flee And therfore in procession the crosse is born And the belles rongeÌ for to chace and hunde away the fendes beyng in thayer and to th ende that they leue to tempest vs The crosse is born for to represente the victorye of the resurrectioÌ
londe sawe anon louyd and rauysshed and slepte wyth her oppressyng her by strengthe And was assotted on her in suche wyse as he wente to his fader Emor and said gyue me this damoyselle in maryage that she may be my wyf whiche whan Iacob knewe herde how his doughter was rauyssed his sones thenne beyng absente in occupacion of fedyng of theyr beestis in the felde he helde it secrete til they retorned thenne Emor wente for to speke of this mater to Iacob and that tyme his sones cam fro the felde and herde what was happend and don were passyng wroth and angry by cause he had so defowled theyr suster Thenne said Emor to them Sychem my sone louyth your doughter gyue her to hym in maryage and late vs alye eche wyth other late our doughters be gyuen to you and youris to vs and duelle ye with vs Alle the contre is in your power exercise and occupye it bye and selle and take ye it ¶ Thenne said Sichem to his fader and brethern what someuer ye ordeyne I wyl doo and what ye demande yeftes or dower I shal gladly gyue it so I may haue this damoyselle vnto my wif Thenne answerd the sones of Iacob to sichem and his fader in gyle dissymilyng as they had not knowen the rauysshement of theyr suster we may not doo that ye desyre ne gyue our suster to a man incircumsiced it is a thyng vnlauful and grete synne to vs yf ye wyl be circumsiced in euery man emong you and man child and be lyke as we be we shal take your doughtres ye ouris and shal dwelle to gydre and ben one peple yf ye wyl not be circuÌsiced we shal take our suster and goo hens This offre plesed to Emor and Sychem his sone and ther was no yong man but anon was agreed to that they asked he loued somoche the damoyselle that anon he wente in to the cyte and told al this to the peple that these men were pesible peple wille dwelle emong vs and that ther was no lette but that we be not circuÌsiced as they be to whiche they assented and forth with were circumsiced And the thirde day after whaÌ the most payne of the wouÌdes greued them Thenne tweyne of Iacobs sones Symeon and Leui brethern of Dyna drewe out their swerdis entred in to the cyte hardely and slewe alle the men both Emor and Sychem and toke Dyna theyr suster with them fro Sychems hows and this don the other sones of Iacob fylle on the remenauÌt and slewe all that they fond in auengyng the shame and Rauysshement of theyr suster wastyng oxen and sheep asses other beestis And toke theyr wyues chyldren in to captyuyte whiche thyngis thus don Iacob saide to Symeon and Leui ye haue troubled me and haue made me hateful to the cananees phereseis dwellars in this contre we ben but a fewe they shal gadre them to gydre destroye me and my hows They answerd shold we suffre our suster to be holden as a comyn womaÌ After this our lord apperid to Iacob and said Aryse and goo vp to Bethel dwelle there and make there an awter to the lord that apperid to the in the way whan thou fleddest fro thy broder Esau Iacob thenne called alle them of his hows and sayde Caste away fro yow alle your straunge goddes that ben emonge yow and make yow clene and change your clothes Arise and late vs go in to bethel and make we there an awter to our lord that herde me in the day of my tribulacion and was felaw of my Iourney Theenne they gaf to hym alle their straunge goddes and the golde that henge on their eeris And he dalfe a pit behynde the cyte of Sichem and threwe hem therin And whan they departed alle the contrees thrr aboute were aferd durste not pursiewe them Thenne Iacob cam to a place called luza whiche is in the londe of Canaan all the peple with hym whiche otherwise is called bethel he edefyed there an awter to our lord and named that place the hows of god Our lord apperid to hym in that place whan he fledde fro his broder Esau that same tyme deyde delbora the noryce of Rebecca and was buryed at the Rote of Bethel vnder an Oke Our lord apperid agayn to Iacob after that he was retorned fro mesopotamye of Syrye and was come in to Bethel and blessyd hym sayeng Thou shalt nomore be called Iacob but Israhel shal be thy name and called hym Israhel and said to hym I am god almyghty growe and multeplye Folkes and peples of nacion shal come of the Kynges shal come of thy lendes the londe that I gaf to abraham and Isaac I shal gyue to the and thy seed And vanysshed away fro hym he thenne reysed a stone for a remembrauÌce in the place where god spack to hym and enoynted it with oyle Callyng the name of the place Bethel He wente thens cam in veer tyme vnto the londe that goth to effratam in which place Rachel trauaylled and began for cause of chyldyng to deye the mydwyf said to her be not aferd for thou shalt haue a sonne And the deth drawyng nere she named hym bennom whiche is as moche to saye as the sone of my sorowe The fader called hym Bemamin that is saye the sone of the right hand Ther Rachel deyde and was buryed in the way toward Effratam that is Bethleem Iacob reysid a tytle vpon her tombe this is the tytle of the monumeÌte of Rachel vnto this present day Iacob wente thens And cam to ysaac his fader in to Mambre cyte of arbee that is ebron In whiche dwellyd Abraham ysaac all the dayes of ysaac were complete whiche were an honderd foure score yere And he consumed deyd in good mynde and Esau and Iacob his sones beryed hym Thus endeth thystorye of ysaac and his two sones Esau and Iacob Hyer begynneth thystorye of Ioseph and his brethern whiche is red the thirde sonday in Lente IOseph whan he was xvj yere old began to kepe and fede the flock with his brethern he beyng yet a child And was accompanyed with the sones of bala and zelpha wyues of his fader Ioseph coÌplayned on his brethern and accused them to their fader of the most euylle synne Israhel louyd Ioseph aboue all his sones for as moche as he had goten hym in his old age And made for hym a motley cote his brethern theÌne seeyng that he was byloued of his fader more thaÌ they were hated hym myght not speke to hym a pesyble worde It happed on a tyme that Ioseph dremed sawe a sweuene told it to his brethern whiche caused hem to hate hym the more Ioseph saide to his brethern here ye my dreme that I had Me thought that we bonde sheuys in the felde And my sheef stoode vp youres stoÌdyng rouÌde aboute worshipe my sheef
his brethern answerde Shalt thou be our kyng And shal we be subgette obey thy comandement Therfor this cause of dremes of thyse wordes mynystred the more fume of hate and enuye Ioseph sawe another sweuene and told to his fader and brethern Me thought I sawe in my sleep the sonne the mone and xj sterres worshipe me whiche whan his fader and his brothern had herd the fader blamed hym and said what may betokene this dreme that thou sawest Trowest thou that I. thy moder and thy brethern shal worshipe the vpon therthe his brethern had grete enuye here at The fader thought and consydered a thynge secretly in hym self ¶ On a tyme whan hys brethern kepte theyr flockes of sheep in Sichem Israhel said to Ioseph Thy brethern fede their sheep in Sichem Come and I shal sende the to them Whiche answerd I am redy and he saide goo and see yf all thynge be wel and prosperous at thy brethern and beestis and come agayn and telle me what they doo He wente fro the vale of Ebron and cam vnto Sichem there was a man fonde hym erryng in the felde and axed hym what he sought And he answerd I seche my brthern telle me were they fede their flockes The man said to hym They ben departed fro this place I herde them saye late vs goo in to Dothaim whiche thenne whan his brethern sawe hym come fro ferre to fore he approched to them they thoughte to slee hym and spack to gydre sayeng Loo see the dremer cometh Come and lete vs slee hym and put hym in to this olde cisterne And we shal saye that som wilde euyl beest hath deuoured hym And thenne shal appere what his dremes shalle proufyte hym Ruben heeryng this thought for to delyuer hym fro their handes and said Late vs not sle hym ne shâde his blood but kepe your hondes vndefowled This he said willyng to kepe hym fro theyr handes and rendre hym agayn to his fader Anon thenne as he cam they toke of his motley cote and sette hym in to an olde cisterne that had no water As they satte for to ete brede they sawe ysmaelites come fro Galaad and theyr camels bryngyng spyces and Reysyus in to egypte Thenne said Iudas to his brethern What shold it prââffyte vs yf we ãâã our brother and shedde his blood ãâã better that he be sold to ãâã and our handes be not ãâã he is our brother and our flessh ãâã brethern agreed to his wordes And drewe hym out of the cysterne solde hym to the Madyanytes marchantes passyng forth by to Ismalytes for xxx pecis of syluer whiche âad hym in to egypte At this tyme whan he was sold Ruben was not there but was in another felde with his beestis And whan he retorned cam vnto the cysterne and fonde not Ioseph he taâe his clothes for sorow and cam to his brethern and said the chyld is not yonder whyther shal I goo to seche hym he had supposed his brethern had slayn hym in his absence they told hym what they had don and toke his cote and besprenklid it wyth the blood of a kyd which they slowe and sente it to their fader sayeng See whether this be the cote of thy sone or not this we haue fouÌden whiche anon as the fader sawe it saide This is my sones cote an euyl wylde beeste haue deuouryd hym SoÌme beste hath eten hym reÌte his clothis dyde on hym a sacke cloth bewayllyng sorowyng his sone a long tyme Alle his sones gadred them to gyder for to comforte their fader and aswage his sorowe but he wold take no comforte but saide I shal descende to my sone in to âelle for to bewaylle hym there ¶ And thus he abydyng in sorow the madianytes caryed Ioseph in to egypte solde hym to putiphar eunuche of pharao maister of his knyghtes thus was Ioseph ledde in to egypte putiphar prynce of the oost of pharao an egypcian bought hym of the handes of Ismaelites Our lord god was alway with Ioseph and he was wyse redy prosperous in alle maner thynges he dwellyd in hys bordes hous plesed so wel his lord that he stode in his grace that he made hym vpperist aboue all other betoke hym the rule gouernauÌce of alle his hows which wel wysely gouerned the houshold alle that he had charge of Our lord blessyd the hows of egypte for Iosephs sake multeplyed as wel in beestis as in feldes all his substauÌce Ioseph was fair of vysage wel fauoured after many dayes the lady his maisters wyf behelde caste her eyen on Ioseph said to Ioseph come slepe with me which anon refused that wold not attende ne listeÌ vnto her wordes ne wold not consente to so synful awerke said to her Lo hath not my lord delyueryd to me all that he hath in his hous he knoweth not what he hath ther is nothyng therin but that it is in my power at my coÌmandemÌt exepte the which art his wyf how may I doo this euyl synne to my lorde suche maner or seÌblable wordes he saide dayly to her and the womaÌ was the more desirous greuous to the yong maÌ he alway forsoke refused the synne hit happed on a day that Ioseph eÌtred in to the chaÌbre aboute certayn nedes that he had to doo she caught hym by hys mantel helde it faste said to hym come lye with me who anon wold not agree to her but fledde forth out of the doores lefte hys maÌtel behynde hym in her haÌde and whan the lady sawe that she was refused his mantel in her hande She cryed called the meÌ of the hous said to heÌ Loo this ebrewe is comen to my chaÌbre wold haue enforced haue leyn by me whan I cryed he fledde out of the chaÌbre and lefte for hast his mantel that I helde behynde hym in to witnes of trouthe she shewde to her husbond the mantel whan he cam home saide Thy seruauÌt hebrew whom thou hast brought in to this hous is entred in to my chaÌbre for to haue leyn by me And whan I cryde he lefte his maÌtel that I held fledde away whan the lord herde this anon he gaf faith byleuyd hys wyf And beyng sore wroth sette Ioseph in pryson where as the prysoners of the kyng were kept he was ther faste sette in Our lord god was with Ioseph had mercy on hym and made hym in the fauour grace of the chief kepar of the pryson in so moche that he delyueryd to Ioseph the kepyng of all the prysoners what he dyde was doon the chyef gayler was plesid with all Our lord was with hym directed all his werkis After this it fylle so that ij offycers of the kynges trespaced vnto their lord wherfor he was wroth with hem comanded theÌ
hym knelyng lowe to the grounde worshippid hym and sayd we ben thy seruauntes To whom he answerd be ye nothyng aferd ne drede you not wene ye that we may resiste goddes wyll ye thought to haue don to me euyl but god hath Torned it in to good and hath exalted me as ye see and knowe that he shold saue moche peple Be ye nothyng aferde I shal fede you and your children And conforted them with fair wordes and spack frendely and Ioyously to them And he abode and duellyd stylle in egypte with alle the hous of his fader And lyuyd an hondred ten yere And sawe the sones of Effraym in to the thirde generation After thyse thynges he said to his brethern After my deth god shal vysyte you and shal doo you departe fro this londe vnto the londe that he promysed to Abraham Ysaac and Iacob whan that tyme shal come take my bones lede them with you fro this place and thenne deyde whos body was enbamed with swete spyces and aromatikes And leyde in a chest in egypte Thus endeth thystorye of Ioseph and his brethern Hyer next foloweth thystorye of moyses whiche is redde in the chirche on mydleÌte sonday THyse ben the names of the children of Israhel that entryd in to egipt with Iacob And eche entrid with their houshold and meyne Ruben Symeon Leuy Iudas Ysachar Zabulon Beniamyn Dan Neptalyn Gad Aser they were alle in nombre that entred lxx Ioseph was to fore in egypte And whan he was deed and all his brethern and kynred the chyldren of Israhel grewe and multeplyed gretly and fylled the erthe Thenne was ther a newe kynge vpon egypte whiche knewe nothyng Ioseph and said to his peple Loo see the peple of the children of Israhel is grete and strenger than we be Come and late vs wysely oppresse them leste they multeplye gyue vs bataylle and fyght with vs and dryue vs out of our londe Thenne he ordeyned prouostes and maystres ouer them to sette them awerke and put them to affliction of burthens They bylded to pharao two tones phiton and Ramesses how moche more they oppressid them so moche more they encreced and multeplyed The egypcyens hated the chyldren of israhel and put them to affliction scornyng and hauyng enuye at them oppressyd bytterly theyr lyf wyth hard and sore labours of tyle and claye and greuyd alle them in suche werkis The kynge of egypte said to the mydwyues of the hebrews of whom that one was callyd Sephora and that other phua and comanded whan so is that the tyme of burth is and that ye shal doo your offyce in helpyng in the burthe of chyldren yf it be a maÌ chyld slee hym yf it be a maid childe kepe it and late it lyue The mydwyues dredde god and dyde not as the kyng comanded them but reseruyd and kepte the men chyldren For whom the kynge sente said what is the cause that ye reserue and kepte the men chyldren they answerd Ther ben of thebrewys wymen that can the crafte of mydwyuys as wel as we and er we come the chyldren be born God dyde wel herfore vnto the mydwyues And the peple grewe and were gretly comforted And by cause the mydwyues dredde god they edefyed to them howses Thenne Pharao coÌmanded to his peple sayeng whatsomeuer is born of males Caste ye in to the Ryuer what of wymen kepe ye them and late ye theÌ lyue After this was a man of the hows of leui wente out and toke a wyf of hys kynrede whiche conceyuyd and brought forth a sone and he sawe hym elegaunt and fayr hydde hym thre monethes And whan he myght no lenger hyde hym toke a lytyl krybbe of rysshes and wykers and pitchid it with glewe pitche and put therin the chylde and sette it on the Ryuer And lete it dryue donn in the streme and the suster of the chyld stondyng aferre consyderyng what shold falle therof and it happed that same tyme the doughter of kynge pharao descended doun to the Ryuer for to wasshe her in the water and her maydens wente by the brynke whiche thenne whan she sawe the lytyl crybbe or fiscelle she sente one of her maydens to fetche and take it vp whyche so fette and brought to her she sawe therm lyeng a fayr chyld and she hauyng pyte on it said This is one of the chyldren of the ebrewis To whom anon spack the suster of the chyld wilt thou said she that I goo calle the a woman of thebrews that shal and may norysshe this childe She answerd Go thy waye The mayde wente and called his moder To whom pharaos doughter saide ¶ Take this chylde and norysshe hym to me and I shal gyue to the thy mede and rewarde The moder toke her chyld and norysshid it And whan it was wened and coude goo she delyured it to the doughter of kyng pharao Whom se receyuyd and adopted in stede of a sone and named hym Moyses sayeng that I toke hym out of the water And he ther grewe and wexe a praty chyld And as Iosephus antyquitatuÌ saith this douhgter of pharao whiche was named termuthe louyd wel moyses reputed hym as her sone by adopcion and on a day brought hym to her fader who for his beaute toke hym in hys armes and made moche of hym And sette his dyademe on his heed wherin was his ydole And moyses anon toke it and caste it vnder his feet and trade on it wherfore the kyng was wroth and demanded of the grete doctours and magyciens what shold falle of this child And they kalked on his natyuyte and said this is he that shal destroye thy Regne and put it vnder foote and shal Rewle and gouerne thebrews wherfore the kynge anon decreed that he shold be put to deth but other said that moyses dyde it of chyldhood and ought not to dye therfor conceyled to make therof a preef and so they dyde they sette to fore hym a plater ful of coles brennyng and a plater ful of cheryes and bad hym ete and he toke and put the hoote coles in his mouth and brenned his tongue whiche letted his speche euer after thus he escaped the deth Iosephus said that whan pharao wold haue slayn hym Thermuthe his doughter plucked hym away and sauyd hym Thenne on a tyme as moyses was ful growen he wente to his brethern and sawe the affliction of them and a man of egypte smytyng one of the hebrews his brethern And he loked hether theder sawe nomam he smote thegypcien slewe hym and hyd hym in the sonde And another day he wente out and fonde two of the hebrews braulyng syghtyng to gydre thenne he said to hym that dyde wronge why smytest thou thy neyhbour whiche answerd who hath ordeyned the prince and Iuge vpon vs wilt thou slee me as thou slewest that other day an egypcyen Moyses was aferde and said to hym self
the childreÌ of Israhel songe this soÌge to our lord CaÌtemê° dnÌo magnificatus est Late vs synge to our lord he is magnefied he hath ouerthrowen the horsmen carre men in the see marie the suster of aaron a êphetesse toke a tympane in her haÌde de and alle the wymen folowed her with tympanes and cordes and she weÌte to fore syngyng Cantemus domino Thenne moyses brought the chyldren of Israhel fro the see in to the deserte of Sur And walked with them iij dayes and iij nyghtes and fonde no water and cam in to marath and the waters there were so bytter that they myght not drynke therof Thenne the peple grutched ayenst Moyses sayeng what shal we drynke And he cryde vnto our lord whiche shewd to hym a tre whiche he toke and put in to the water and anon they were torned in to swetnes There our lord ordeyned comandementis and Iugements And ther he tempted hym sayeng Yf thou herest the voys of thy lord god and that thou doo that is rightful to fore hym and obeyest his comandements and kepe his preceptis I shal not brynge none of the langours no sorowes vpon the that I dyde in egypte I am lord thy sauyour Thenne the chyldren of Israhel cam in to helym where as were xij fontaynes of waters and lxx palme trees And they abode by tho watres Thenne fro thens wente alle the multytude of the chyldren of Israhel in to the deserte of syn whiche is bytwene helym Synay and grutched ayenst Moyses and Aaron in that wildernes and said wold god we had duellyd stylle in egypte where as we satte and hath plente of brede and flesshe why haue ye brought vs in to the deserte for to slee alle this multytude by hungre Our lord said thenne to moyses I shal Rayne brede to you fro heuen late the peple goo out and gadre euery day that I may proue theÌ whether they walke in my lawe or none The sixte day late them gadre doble as moche as they gadred in one day of the other Thenne said Moyses Aaron to all the chyldren of Israhel At euyn ye shal knowe that god hath brought you fro the londe of egypte to morn ye shal see the glorye of our lord I haue wel herd your murmour ayenst our lord what haue ye mused ayenst vs what be we and yet said moyses Our lord shal gyue you at euen flesshe for to ete to morn brede vnto your fylle for as moche as ye haue murmured ayenst hym what be we your murmour is not ayenst vs but ayenst our lord As Aaron spack to all the companye of the chyldren of Israhel they beheld toward the wyldernes and our lord spack to moyses in a clowde said I haue herd the grutchynges of the chyldren of Israhel saye to them at eueÌ ye shal ete flessh to morn ye shal be fyllyd wyth brede ye shal knowe that I am your lord god And whan the euen was come ther cam so many curlews that it couerid all their lodgyngis And on the morn ther laye lyke dewe all aboute in their circuyte which whan they sawe cam for to gadre it was smal white lyke to Colyandre And they wondred on it and said Mauhu that is as moche to saye what is this To whom moyses sayd this is the brede that god hath sente you to ete god comandeth that euery man shold gadre as moche for euery heed as is the mesur of gomor And late notyng be left tyl on the morn And the syxthe day gadre ye doble so moche that is two mesures of gomor And kepe that one mesure for the sabate whiche god hath sanctefyed and comandeth you to halowe it yet somÌe of them brake goddes comandement and gadred more than they ete and kept it tyl on the morn And theÌne it began to putrefye and be ful of wormes And that they kept for the sabate day was good and putrefyed not And thus our lord fedde the chyldren of Israhel xl yere in deserte And it was called manna moyses toke one gomor therof put it in the tabernacle for to be kept for a perpetuel memorye remeÌbrauÌce TheÌne wente they forth alle the multytude of the chyldren of Israhel in the deserte of syn in her maÌsyons cam in to Raphydym where as they had no water theÌne alle grutchyng they said to moyses gyue vs water for to drynke To whoÌ moyses answerd what grutche ye ayenst me why teÌpte ye our lord the peple thirsted sore for lacke penurye of water sayeng why hast thou brought vs out of egipte for to sle vs our chyldreÌ and beestis ¶ Thenne moyses cryde vnto our lord sayeng what shal I doo to this peple I trowe within a whyle they shal stone me to deth TheÌne our lord said to Moyses Goo to fore the peple and take with the the oldremeÌ and senyors of Israhel take the rodde that thou smotest with the flood in thy hand I shal stonde to fore vpon the stone of Oreb And smyte thou the stone with the Rodde And the waters shal come out therof that the peple may drynke Moyses dyde so to fore the senyors of Israhel and callyd that place Temptacion by cause of the grutche of the chyldreÌ of Israhel said is god with vs or not TheÌne caÌ Amalech fought ayenst the chyldren of Israhel in Raphidim Moyses said theÌne to Iosue Chese to the men goo out fyght ayenst Amalech to morow I shal stande on the toppe of the hylle hauyng the rodde of god in my hand Iosue dyde as moyses comanded hym faught ayenst Amalech Moyses Aaron hur asceÌded in to the hylle whan moyses helde vp his haÌdes Israhel wan ouercam their enemyes whan he leyd theÌ doun thenne Amalech had the better The haÌdes of moyses were heuy Aaron and hur toke theÌne a stone and put it vnder hem And they susteyned his handes on eyther syde so his handes were not wery vnto the goyng douÌ of the sonne so Iosue made Amalech to flee and his peple by strength of his swerd Our lord said to moyses wryte this for a remembrauÌce in a book delyure it to the ceris of Iosue I shal destroye put awaye the memorye of Amalech vnder heueÌ Moyses theÌne edefied an aulter vnto our lord callyd there on the name of our lord the lord is myn exultacion sayeng for this is the hand only of god And the batayll of god shal be ayenst Amalech fro generacion to generacioÌ whan Ietro the prest of madyan whiche was cosyn of Moyses herd saye what our lord had don to moyses to the chyldren of Israhel his peple ¶ Toke sephora the wyf of moyses his ij sones gersam elyazar cam with them to hym in to deserte whom Moyses receyuyd wyth worship kyssyd hym whan they were to gydre Moyses told hym all
he dyde crye xl dayes long saul the childreÌ of Israhel were sore aferd dauid was at this tyme in bethleem with his fader kept sheep iij of his brethern were in the hoost with saul To whom ysay said dauid take this potage x loues of breed x cheses goo renne vnto the hoost to thy brethern see how they doo lerne how they ben arayed dauid delyueryd his sheep to one to kepe them bare thise thynges vnto the hoost and whaÌ he cam thether he herde a grete crye And he demaunded after his brethern And that same tyme cam forth that geaunt Golyas and said as he had doon to fore And dauid herde hym speke Alle they of Israhel fledde for fere of hym And dauid demaunded what he was And it was told hym that he was comen to destroye Israhel and also that what man that myght slee hym the kyng shold enriche hym with grete Rychessis And shal gyue to hym his doughter And shal make the hous of hys fader withoute trybute And dauid said what is this incircumcised that hath despysed the hoost of the god of Israhel And what reward shal he haue that shal slee hym and the peple said as afore is said And whan his oldest brother herde hym speke to the peple he was wroth with hym said wherfor art thou comen hether hast lefte the fewe sheep in deserte I knowe wel thy pryde thou art comeÌ for to see the bataille dauid said what haue I doo is it not as the peple haue said I dar fight wel with this geaunt And declyned fro hys brother to other of the peple And all this was shewd to saul and dauid was brouht to hym said to saul I thy seruauÌt shal fight ayenst this geauÌt yf thou wylt And saul said to hym Thou maist not withstonde this phyliste ne fight ayenst hym for thou art but a chyld This geauÌt hath ben a fightar fro his chyldehod Dauid said to saul I thy seruauÌt kept my faders sheep ther cam a lyon a bere token away a weder fro the myddle of my flocke I pursiewed after toke it agayn fro their mouthes and they aroose wold haue deuouryd me And I caught them by the Iawes slewe them I thy seruaunt slewe the lyon and the bere Therfor this phyliste incircumcised shal be as one of them I shal now goo and delyure Israhel fro this oprobrye and shame how is this phyliste incircumcised so hardy to curse the hoost of the lyuyng god And yet said dauid ¶ The lord that kept me fro the myght of the lyon fro the strengthe of the bere he shal wel delyure me fro the power of this pilistee Saul said thenne to dauid Goo and our lord be with the saul dyde do arme hym with his armour and gyrd his swerd about hym And whaÌ he was armed dauid said I may not ne can not fight thus for I am not acustomed ne vsid vnarmed hym and toke his staff that he had in his hond chase to hym v good rouÌd stones fro the brook put theÌ in his bagge toke a slyng in his honde and wente forth ayenst the geauÌt and whan Golye sawe hym come he despised hym said wenest thou thut I am a houÌde that comest with thy staf to me and he cursid dauid by his goddes said to dauid Come hether I shal gyue thy flessh to the fowles of heueÌ to the beestis of therthe Dauid said vnto golye ¶ Thou comest to me with thy swerd glayue I come to the in the name of the lord god of thoost of Israhel which thou hast this day despised And that lord shal gyue the in my hââde I shal slee the smyte of thy heed And I shal gyue this daye the bodyes of the men of warre of the philisteis to the fowles of heueÌ to the beestis of therthe Thenne Golye roos hyed toward dauid dauid on that other syde hyed toke a stone leyde it in his sâynge threwe it at the geaunt smote hym in the forhede in suche wyse that the stone was fyxed ther in that he fyl doun on his vysage thus preuaylled dauid ayenst the phylistee with his slynge stone smote hym and slewe hym And he had no swerd but he weÌte toke golyes owen swerd therwith smote of his heed and theÌne the phylisteis seeyng this geauÌt thus slayn fledde thysrahelytes after folowed slewe many of them retorned agayn cam in to the tentes pauilloÌs lodgynges of the phylistees toke all the pyllage dauid toke the heed of Golye and brought it in to IherusaleÌ And his armes he brought in to his tabernacle And Abner brought dauid hauyng the heed of golye in hys hand to fore Saul And Saul demanded of hym of what kynred that he was and he said that he was sone of ysay of bethleem And forthwith that same tyme Ionathas the sone of Saul louyd dauid as his owen sowle Saul thenne wold not gyue hym licence to retorne to his fader And Ionathas he were confederid and swore eche of theÌ to be true to other For Ionathas gaf hys cote that he was cladd with all and alle his other garmentis vnto his swerd spere vnto dauid And dauid dyde alle that euer Saul bad hym doo wysely and prudently And whan he retorned fro the bataylle and Golye was slayn The wymen camen out fro euery toun syngyng wyth choris tympanes ayenst the comyng of Saul with grete Ioye gladnesse sayeng Saul hath slayn a thousand And dauid hath slayn ten thousand And this sayeng dysplesyd moche to Saul whiche said They haue gyuen to dauid ten thousand and to me one thousand What may he more haue sauf the Royame and to be kynge For this cause Saul neuer louyd dauid after that day ne neuer lokyd on hym frendly but euer sought menes afterward to destroye dauid For he dredde that dauid shold be lord with hym put hym from hym And dauid was wise kente hym wel ãâã hym And after this he wedded ãâ¦ã doughter of saul Ionathas made âââtymes peas bytwene saul dauid yet saul kepte no promyse but euer laye in awayte to slee dauid and Ionathas warned dauid therof dauid gate hym a coÌpanye of men of warre to the nombre of iiijC kept hym in the montaynes ¶ And on a tyme dauid was at home with his wif mychol Saul sente theder meÌ of warre to slee hym in his hous in the mornyng and whan mychol herd herof she said to dauid but yf thou saue thy self this nyght to moâne thou shalt dye and she lete hym out by a wyndowe by which he escaped saued hym self Mychol toke an ymage leyd in his bedde a Rowhe skynne of a ghoot on the heed of the ymage couerd it with
toke other by the heed and roof their swerdes in to eche other sydes and were alle ther slayn And ther aroose a grete batayll And Abner and his felawship were put to flight by the men of dauid And emoÌge all other ther was Asahel one of the brothern of Ioab was the swiftest rennar that myght be and pursiewed abner and abner loked behynde hym And bad hym declyne on the right side or on the lyft side and take one of the yong men his harnoys and come not at me Asahel wold not leue hym yet abner said to hym Goo fro me and folowe not me lest I be coÌpellyd to slee the and thenne I may not make my pees with Ioab thy brother whiche wold not here Abner but despysed hym And Abner thenne torned and slewe hym in the same place And anon the sonne wente doun and they withdrewe ther were slayn of the chyldren of Dauid xix men of theÌ of beniamyn iijClx were slayn And thus ther was longe stryf and contencioÌ bytwene the hows of dauid and the hous of Isboseth After this Abner toke a concubyne of Saul and helde her wherfor hisboseth repreuyd hym of it And abner was wroth gretly therof and caÌ to dauid and made frendship with hym Ioab was not there whan abner made his pees with dauid but whan he knewe it he cam to abner with a fayr semblaunt and spack fayr to hym by dissimylacion and slew hym for to auenge the deth of asahel his brother and whan dauid herde how Ioab had slayn abner he cursed hym and bewaylled gretly the deth of abner and dyde do burye hym honourably and dauid folowid the bere hym self And whan hisboseth the sone of Saul herde that abner was deed he was alle abasshed and alle Israhel sore trobled ther were two pryncee of theues with hisboseth named Banaa and Rechab whiche cam on a day in to hisboseth where he laye and slepte and ther they slewe hym and toke pryuely his heed and brought it to dauid in to hebron and said lo here is the heed of thyn enemye Isboseth that sought to sle the this day god hath gyuen to the my lord vengeaunce of Saul and of his seed dauid answerd to them By the lyuyng god that hath delyuerd me fro all anguysshe hym that told me that he had slayn Saul and had thought to haue had a reward of me I dyde doo slee how moche more ye that be so wicked to slee hym that is not gylty in his hows vpon his bedde shal I not aske his blood of your hondes and throwe you out of this world yes certaynly and Dauid comaunded to his seruantes to slee them and so they were slayn and cutte of their handes and feet henge them on the pyscene in ebron and toke the heed of hysboseth and buryed it in the sepulcre of abner and thenne cam all the tribus of Israhel to dauid in ebron sayeng we ben thy mouth thy flesshe whan Saul lyued and was kynge on vs and regned thou were comyng and goynge and by cause god hath said thou shalt regne vpon my peple and be theyr gouernour therfore we shal obeye the And alle the senyors of Israhel cam and dyde homage to dauid in hebron enoytend hym kynge ouer them Dauid was xxx yere old whan he began to regne ¶ And he regned xl yere He regned in hebron vpon Iuda vij yer and vj monethis And in Iherusalem he regned xxxiij yere vpon all Israhel Iuda Dauid thenne made hym a dwellyng place in the hylle of syon in Iherusalem And after this the philisteis made warre agayn hym but he ofte ouerthrewe hem and slewe many of them and made them trybutarye to hym And after brought the arke of god in Iherusalem and sette it in his hows After this yet the phylisteis made warre agayn vnto hym and other kynges were aydyng and helpyng them ayenst Dauid whom dauid ouercome and slewe and put vnder and on a tyme whan Ioab was out with his men of warre lyeng at a syege to fore a cyte dauid was at home and walkid in his chambre and as he looked out at a wyndow he sawe a fair woman wasshe her bayne her in her chambre whiche stode ayenst his hows and demanded of his seruantes who she was and they said she was vries wyf he sente for her and laye by her and gate her with chylde and whan Dauid vnderstode that she was with chyld he sente lettres to Ioab and bad hym to sende home to hym vrye and Ioab sente vrye to Dauid and dauid demaunded how the hoost was rewlid and after bad hym goo home to his hows wasshe his feet and vrye wente thens and the kynge sente to hym his disshe with mete vrye wold not goo home but laye to fore the yate of the kynges hous with other seruauntes of the kynges and hit was told to the kynge that vryas wente not home and thenne dauid said to vrye thou comest fro a farre waye why goste not home and vrye said to dauid the arke of god and Israhel and Iuda ben in the pauylions my lord Ioab and the seruauntes of the my lord lye on the ground and wold ye that I shold goo to my hous and ete and drynke and slepe with my wyf By thy helthe and by the helthe of my sowle I shal not doo soo thenne Dauid said to vrye abyde here thenne this nyght and to morow I shal delyure the vrye abode there that day and the next and dauid made hym ete to fore hym made hym dronke yet for alle that he wold not goo home but laye wyth the seruauntes of dauid Thenne on the morn dauid wrote a lettre to Ioab that he shold sette vrye in the weykest place of the batayl and where most Ieopardye was and that he shold be lefte there that he myght be slayn and vrye bare this lettre to Ioab and it was so don as Dauid had wreton and vrye was so slayn in the batayll And Ioab sente worde to dauid how they had foughten and how vrye was slayn deed whan vryes wyf herd that her husbond was deed she morned waylled hym and after the mornyng Dauid sente for her and wedded her And she bare hym a sone and this that Dauid had commysed in vrye displeysyd gretly our lord Thenne our lord sente Nathan the prophete vnto Dauid whiche whan he cam said to hym Ther were two men dwellyng in a cyte that one Ryche the other poure The Ryche man hadde sheep oxen right many the poure maÌ hadde but one lytyl sheep whiche he bought nourisshid grewe with his chyldren etyng of hye brede and drynkyng of his cuppe and slepte in his bosom She was to hym as a doughter and on a tyme whan a certayn pylgryme cam to the riche man he sparyng his owen sheep and oxen to make a feste to the pylgrym that was comen to hym
Rewle it wel And whan dauid had thus counceyllyd and comanded hym to do Iustise and kepe goddes lawe he blessid hym and deyde and was buryed with his fadres This dauid was an holy man and made the holy psawter whiche is an holy booke and is conteyned therin the olde lawe and newe lawe he was a grete prophete for he prophecyed the comyng of cryst his Natyuyte his Passyon and resurrection and also his ascencion and was grete with god yet god wold not suffre hym to bylde a temple for hym For he had shedde mans blood but god said to hym his sone that shold regne after hym shold be a man pesyble and he shold bylde the temple to god And whan Dauid had regned xl yere kynge of Iherusalem ouer Iuda and Israhel he deyed in good mynde and was buryed with his faders in the cyte of dauid Thus endeth the lyf of Dauid seconde kynge of Israhel After Dauid regned Salomon his sone whiche was in the begynnyng a good man and walked in the wayes lawes of god And all the kynges aboute hym made pees with hym And was kynge confermed obeyed and pesible in his possession And acordyng to hys faders comandemeÌt dyde Iustice First on Ioab that had ben prynce of his faders hoost by cause he slewe two good men by trayson and gyle that was Abner the sone of Ner and Amasa the sone of gether And Ioab was aferd and dredde Salomon and fledde in to the tabernacle of our lord and helde the ende of the aulter And Salomon sente Banayas and sâewe hym there and after buryed hym in his hows in deserte And after this on a nyght as he laye in his bedde after that he had sacrefyed to our lord in gabaon our lord apperid to hym in his sleepe sayeng to hym Aske and demaunde what thou wilt that I may gyue to the And Salomon saide lord thou hast don to my fader grete mercy by cause he walked in thy wayes in trouthe Iustyce and in a rightful herte thou hast alwaye kepte for hym thy grete mercy And hast gyuen to hym a sone syttyng vpon his trone as it is this daye And now lord thou hast made me thy seruaunt to regne for my fader dauid I am a lytyl chyilde and knowe not my goyng out and entryng in And I thy seruaunt am sette in the myddle of the peple that thou hast chosen whiche ben Infynyte may not be nombred for multytude Therfor lord gyue to me thy seruaunt a herte docyle and taught in wysdom that may Iuge thy peple and dyscerne bytwene good and euyl who may Iuge this peple thy peple that ben here so many Thys requâât and demande plesyd moche vnto god that Salomon had asked suche a thynge And god said to Salomon By cause thou hast requyred and axed this and hast not axed longe lyf ne Rychesses ne the sowles of thy enemyes but hast askyd sapyence wysâoom to discerne dome and Iugement I haue gyuen to the after thy desyre and request Anâ I haue gyuen to the a âyse herâ ãâã vnderstandyng in so moche that ãâã was neuer none such to âore ne neuer after shal be And also tho thynges that thou hast not asked I haue gyuen also to the that is to saye rychesse and glorye that noman shal be lyke to the emong alle the kynges that shal be after thy dayes yf thou walke in my wayes and kepe my preceptes and obserue my comaÌdemeÌts as thy fader walked I shal make thy dayes longe After this Salomon awoke And cam to Iherusalem And stode to fore the Arke of our lord and offred sacryfises and victymes vnto our lord and made a grete feste vnto alle his seruantes and houshold TheÌne cam to fore hym two comyn wymen of whiche that one said I beseche the my lord here me this woman I dwellyd to gydre in one hows and I was delyueryd of a chyld in my cubycle and the thyrde day after she bare a chyld and was also delyueryd and we were to gydre and none other in the hows but we tweyne it was so that this womans sone was deed in the nyght For she slepyng ouerlaye and oppressid hym And she aroos in the derkest of the nyght pryuyly toke my sone for the syde of me thy seruant and layd hym by her her sone that was deed she leyde by me whan I aroos in the mornyng for to gyue mylke to my sone it apperid deed whom I toke beholdyng hym dylygeÌtly in the clere lyght vnderstode wel anon that it was not my sone that I had born The other woman answerd and said it was not so as thou saist but my sone lyueth and thyn is deed And contrarye that other said thou lyest my sone lyueth and thyn is deed Thus in this wyse they stroof to fore the kynge TheÌne the kynge said This woman saith my sone lyueth and thyn is deed And this answerth nay but thy sone is deed and myn lyueth thenne the kynge said Brynge to me here a swerd whaÌ they had brouht forth a swerd the kynge said dyuyde ye said he the lyuyng chyld in two partyes and gyue that one half to that one and that other half to that other Thenne said the woman that was moder of the lyuyng child to the kynge For all her membris bowellis were meuyd vpon her sone I beseche and praye the my lord kynge gyue to her the chyld a lyue and slee hym not and contrarye said that other woman late it not be gyuen to me ne to the but late it be deuided The kynge theÌne answerd said gyue the lyuyng chylde to this woman and late it not be slayn this is veryly the moder Alle Israhel herd how wysely the kynge had gyuen this sentence and dredde hym seeyng that the wysedom of god was in hym in demyng of rightful domes ¶ After this Salomon sente his messagers to dyuerse kynges for cedre trees and for werkmen for to make bylde a temple vnto our lord salamon was Ryche and gloryous And all the Royames fro the Ryuer of the endes of the phylisteis vnto th ende of egypte were acorded with hym and offryd to hym yeftes to serue hym all the dayes of his lyf Salomon had dayly for the mete of hys houshod xxx mesures named chores of corn and lx of mele x fatte oxen and xx oxen of pasture and hondred wethers without veneson that was taken as hertes ghotes bubals and other fleyng fowles byrdes he obteyned all the regyon that was fro tapsa vnto gazam and had pees with alle the kynges of alle the Royames that were in euery parte rouÌde aboute hym In that tyme Israhel Iuda dwellyd wythout fere and drede euerich vnder his vyne and fygge tre fro dan vnto bersabee And Salamon had xlM Rackes for the horses of his cartes chares and curres and xijM for horse to ryde on by whyche prefectes brought necessarye thyngis for the table
had not be deed Man had neuer be made mmortal And thenne said Egeas Telle to thy dyscyples suche vanytees And obeye thou to me make sacrefise vnto the goddes almyghty And thenne said saynt Andrewe I offre euery day vnto god almyghty a lambe wythout spotte And after that he is receyuyd of alle the peple so lyueth he and is all hole Thenne demandeth Egeas how that myght be And Andrewe saide take the forme for to be a dyscyple thou shal knowe it wel I shal demande the said Egeas by turmentis Thenne he beyng alle angry comanded that he shold be enclosed in pryson And on the morne he cam to Iugement And the blessyd saynt Andrewe vnto the sacrefyse of the ydolles And Egeas comanded to be said to hym yf thou obeye not to me I shal doo hange the on the crosse For so moche as thou hast praysed it And thus as he menaced hym of many turmentis seynt Andrewe said to hym Thynke what turment that is most greuous that thou mayst doo to me and the more I suffre the more I shal be agreable to my kynge by cause I shal be most ferme in the turmentis payne Thenne comanded Egeas that he shold be beten of xxj men And that he shold be so beten bounden by the feet and handes vnto the crosse to th ende that hys payne shold endure the lenger And whan he was ledde vnto the crosse ther ran moche peple theder sayeng The blode of thynnocent is dampned without cause And thappostle prayd them that they shold not empesshe ne lette hys turment ne martirdom And whan he sawe the crosse fro ferre he salewed it and sayd Alle hayl crosse whyche art dedycate in the body of Ihesu cryst and were aourned with the meÌbres of hym as of precious stones To fore that our lord Ascended on the thou were the power erthly Now thou art the loue of heuen Thou shalt receyue me by my desyre I come to the surely gladly so that thou receyue me gladly as dyscyple of hym that henge in the For I haue alway worshyppid the and haue desyre the tembrace O thou crosse whyche hast receyued beaute and noblesse of the membres of our lord whoÌ I haue so longe desyred and curiously loued and whom my corage hath so moche desyred and coueyted take me fro hens and yeld me to my mayster to th ende that he receyue me by the that redemyd me by the And in thys sayenge he dyspoylled and vnclad hym and gaf hys clothys vnto the bochyers And thenne they henge hym in the crosse lyke as to them was comanded And there he lyuyd two dayes and prechyd to twenty thousand men that there were Thenne all the company swore the deth of egeas and said The holy man and debounayre ought not to suffre thys Thenne cam theder egeas for to take hym doun of the crosse And whan andrewe sawe hym he said wherfore arte thou come to me Egeas yf it be for penaunce thou shalt haue it And yf it be for to take me doun knowe thou for certayn thou shalt not take me herof alyue For I see nowe my lord and kynge that abideth for me therwith they wold haue vnbounden hym And they myght in noo wyse touche hym For theyr armes were bynomen and of no power And the holy saynt Andrew sawe that the world wolde haue taken hym doun of the crosse he made thys oryson hangyng on the crosse as saynt Austyn saith in the boke of penaunce Syre suffre me not desceÌde fro this crosse a lyue For it is tyme that thou comande my body to the erthe For I haue born longe the charge And haue so moche watched vpoÌ that which was comanded to me and haue so longe traueyllyd that I wold now be delyuerd of thys obedyence and be taken away fro thys agreable charge I remeÌbre that it is moche greuous in prowd beryng in doubtyng vnstedfast in nouryssyng And haue gladly laboured in the refraynyng of them Syre thou knowest how ofte the world hath entented to withdrawe me fro the purete of contemplacion how ofte he hath entended to awake me fro the slepe of my swete reste how moche and how ofte tymes he hath made me to sorowe And as moche as I haue had myght I haue resysted it ryght debonayrly in fyghtyng ayenst it And haue by thy werke and ayde surmounted it And I requyre of the Iuste and debonayr gwerdon and reward And that thou comaÌde that I not goo agayn therto but I yelde to the that whyche thou hast delyuerd me Comande it to another and empesshe me nomore but kepe me in the resurrection so that I may receyue the meryte of my labour Comande my body vnto the erthe so that it behoueth nomore to wake but late it be stratched frely to the whiche art fontayne of Ioye neuer fayllyng ¶ And whan he had said thys ther cam fro heuen a ryght grete shynyng lyght whiche enuyroned hym by the space of half an our in suche wyse that noman myght see hym And whan this light departed he yelded and rendryd therwith hys spyryte And maximilla the wyf of Egeas toke away the body of thappostle and buried it honnourably And or that Egeas was comen agayn to hys hows he was rauysshyd with a deuyl by the waye and deyed to fore them alle and it is said that out of hys sepulcre cometh manna lyke vnto mele And oylle whyche hath a right swete sauour and odour And by that is shewed to the peple of the contrey whan ther shal be plente of goodes For whan ther cometh but lytyl of manna Therthe shal brynge forth but lytyl fruyt And whan it cometh habundantly The erthe bryngeth forth fruyt plentyuously And thys myght wel happen of olde tyme For the body of hym was transported in to Constantynoble ¶ Ther was a bysshop that ledde an holy and relygyous lyf And louyd saynt Andrewe by grete deuocion and worshypyd hym aboue all other sayntes so that in alle hys werkys he remembryd hym euery day and sayd certayn prayers in thonour of god saynt Andrewe in suche wyse that thenemye had enuye on hym and sette hym for to deceyue hym with alle hys malyce ¶ And transfourmed hym in to the fourme of a ryght fayr woman And cam to the palays of the bysshop and sayd that she wold be confessyd to hym And the bysshop bad her to goo confesse her to hys penytauÌcer which had playn power of hym And she sente hym word agayn that she wold not releue ne shewe the secretes of her confessyoÌ to none but to hym And so the bysshop comanded her to come And she said to hym Syre I praye the that thou haue mercy on me I am so as ye see in the yeres of my yongthe and a mayde and was delycyously nourisshed fro my Infancye and born of ryal lygnage but I am come allone in strange habyte For my fader whyche is a ryght
it vp remysed it the thyrde tyme vpon the aulter And it was throweÌ agayn ferther than to fore of which thyng all they that were there merueylled men caÌ for to see thys thyng And anon the chyld that had fallen in the water in the see cam agayn prestly to fore them alle brought in hys hondes the first cuppe and recounted to the people that anon as he was fallen in the see the blessyd saynt Nicholas cam kept hym that he had none harme And thus hys fader was glad offrid to saynt Nicholas bothe the two cuppes ¶ Ther was another riche man that by the merites of saynt Nicholas had a sone and callid hym deus dedit god gaf And this riche man dyde do make a chapel of saynt Nicholas in hys dwellyng place and dyd do halowe euery yere the feste of saynt Nicholas And thys manoyr was sette by the londe of Agariens thys chylde was taken prysoner and deputed to serue the kynge The yere folowyng and the day that hys fader helde deuoutly the fest of saynt Nicholas the chylde helde a precious cuppe to fore the kynge And remembrid his pryse the sorowe of hys frendes and the ioye that that day was made in the hous of hys fader And began for to sighe sore hye And the kynge demaunded hym what hym eyled and the cause of hys sighyng And he tolde to hym euery word hoolly ¶ And whan the kynge knewe it he said to hym what someuer thy Nicholas doo or doo not thou shalt abyde here wyth vs And sodaynly ther blewe a moche stronge wynde that made alle the hows to tremble And the chyld was rauysshyd wyth the cuppe and was sette to fore the yate where hys fader helde the solempnyte of saynt Nycholas in suche wyse that alle they demened grete Ioye And somÌe saye that this chyld was of Normandye and wente ouer see and was taken by the sowdan whiche made hym ofte to be beten to fore hym And as he was beten on a saynt Nicholas day and was after sette in pryson he prayd to saynt Nicholas as wel for hys betyng that he suffred as for the grete Ioye that he was wonte to haue on that day of saynt Nicholas ¶ And whan he had long prayed and syghed he fyl a slepe And whan he awoke he fonde hym self in the chappel of hys fader where as was moche Ioye made for hym ¶ Late vs thenne praye to thys blessyd saynt that he wyl praye for vs to oure lord Ihesu cryst whyche is blessyd in secula seculorum Amen Here endeth the lyf of saynt Nicholas Here foloweth the Concepcion of our blessid lady Of the Fest of the Concepcion of our blessyd lady MAria inuemsci graciam apud dominum Luce primo capitulo Whan the Aungel gabriel had grete our lady for to shewe to her the blessyd concepcion of our lord For to take from her alle doubtes and dredes he comforted her in sayeng the wordes aforsaid Marie thou hast founden grace at the lord Ther ben foure maner of peple of whiche the ij ben good And the two ben euyll For somÌe ther ben that seche not god ne hys grace as peple out of the byleue Of whom may be said as it is wreten who that byleueth not on his lord god shal deye perpetuelly And other ther ben that seche god hys grace but they fynde it not For they seche it not as they ought to doo as Coueytous men that sette alle their loue in hauoyr and in solace of the world ¶ Suche peple ben lykened to them that seche flowres in wynter wel seche they flowres in wynter that seche god and hys grace in the couetise of the world which is so colde of alle vertues that it quenchyth alle the deuocion of the loue of god ¶ And wel is callyd the world wynter in holy scripture For hys euyllis and vices make synners and colde to serue god And therfore saith the holy ghoost to the sowle that is amerouse Canticorum primo capitulo Arise vp thou my fayr sowle the wynter is passed ¶ Iam enim hyemps transiit For thou hast vaynquysshyd the temptacions of the world whiche kele my loue and therfore come in to my Royame where thou shalt fynde deduyte of alle flowres of the somer there as the synners may not come by cause they seche not god as they ought to doo by uery repentauÌce of herte ¶ And therfor sayth our lord Iohannis vij capitulo Queritis et non inuenietis Item Iohannis octauo capitulo ãâã voâ queritis me et in peccato moriemmj Ye seche me and fynde me not Item Lo ye seche me and in synne ye shal deye ¶ The thyrde maner of peple that seche not god And yet neuertheles they fynde hym They ben chyldren that deye in their Innocencie and ben purged by lapâesme Of whom god said by hys prophete Ysaye lxiiij capitulo Inuenerunt qui non quesierunt me I am founden of them that sought me not And that is for defaulte of Age ¶ The fourth maner of peple that seche god and fynde hym ben they that sette alle theyr desyre to serue god and loue hym lyke as the blessyd vyrgyne marye that sith she was in her enfancye she put her euer in the seruyce of god and loue of hym and vowed to hym chastete afore alle other wymen And therfore with right myght the Aungel wel saye to her Maria inuenisti graciam apud dominum Marye thou hast founden grace at god our lord We fynde in the scripture that thys gloriouse virgyne marye hath founden grace in thre maners For her comyng was longe afore prophecied And her byrthe anunciat and shewd by thaungel And in the wombe of her moder er she was born sanctefyed and halowed Fyrst her comyng was shewd and prophecied in many maners and by many fygures For Balaam prophesyed Numeri vicesimoquarto Capitulo Orietur stella ex Iacob et consurget virga de Israhel That is to saye that the virgyne marye shal be born of the lignage of Iacob patriarke it is a custome whaÌ folke wyl preyse a persone they wylle compare hym to a valyant man lyke as it said comunely of an hardy man Thys is a right alisaundre And of a symple man Thys is a right Iob Thus Balaam the prophete compared our lady to a sterre for thre causes First for she is aourned and gyueth beaute to alle humayne creature lyke as the sterre doth on the firmament For she hath opened to vs the yate of êradis like as it is songe in holy chirche paradisi porta ê âuaÌ cuÌctis claâsa â et per beatam virginem mariam iterum patefacta est The yate of paradys whyche by eue was closed fro all men is now opened by the blessyd vyrgyne marye Secondly lyke as the sterre enlumyneth the nyght by hys clerenes In lyke wyse the gloryous lady enlumyneth by her lyf all holy chirche
maners in that he is gloryous gloryfyeng and to be gloryfyed And after he excused hym of the blame in moyses in praysyng hym moche and especyally in thre thynges that is to wyte of feruour of loue For he slewe thegypcien that smote thebriew And of the myracles that he dyde in egypte or deserte And of the famyliaryte of god whan he spack to hym many tymes amyably And after thys he excused hym of the thyrde blame that was in the lawe in preysyng the lawe in thre maners Fyrst by cause of the gyuer that was god the seconde of the mynystre which was moyses that was a grete prophete And the thyrde by cause of th ende For it gyueth lyf perdurable And after he purged hym of the blame of the tabernacle and of the temple In preisyng the tabernacle in iiij maners one was by cause he was comanded of god to make it And was shewd in vision it was accomplysshed by moyses and that the arke of wytnes was therin he said that the temple succeded tabernacle And the blessyd Stephen purgyd hym of that whyche was âyde to hym of whyche the Iewes sawe that they myght not ouercome hym in that manere And theÌne they toke the thirde bataylle ayenst hym that they shold surmounte hym by tormentis And whan the blessyd saynt stephen sawe thys he wold kepe the comandement of our lord and enforced hym to refrayne them in thre maners that was by shame by drede and by loue Fyrst by shame in blamyng the hardnes of theyr hertes And said to them ye coÌtrarye alleway the holy goost by your harde heedes and hertes not pyteous lyke as your fadres that persecuted the prophetes and slewe them that shewde the comyng of god And the glose saith that in thre maners they were malycyous The first that they contrarye den to the holy ghoost The seconde that they persecuted the prophetes The thyrde that by theyr euyl malyco they slewe Iesu cryst but by cause they were lyke the comyn woman they coude haue no shame to leue theyr malyce but whan they had herd thyse thynges they wythsayde it in theyr hertes and grennyd theyr teeth ayenst hym After thys he corrected them by drede by cause that he said that he sawe IhÌu cryst on the right syde of god lyke as redy to helpe hym and condempne his aduersaryes For saynt stephen which was ful of the holy ghoost loked vp and byheld the heuen and sawe the glorye of god And said loo I see the heuenes opene and the sone of the mayde stondyng on the right syde of the vertue of god how be it that he corrected theÌ by shame by drede yet they left not their malice but were more werse thaÌ to fore and stopped their eeris to th eÌde that they wold not here hym wherof he blamed them And they cryed with an hye voys and made a grete assault ayenst hym and caste hym out of the cyte all to gydre and stoned hym And they supposed to haue doon after theyr lawe as a blasphemour in comandyng that he shold be stoned out of the castellis And thyes ij false witnessis which after theyr lawe ought to cast the first stone toke of theyr clothes by cause that they shold not be touched of god and to th ende that they myght better lyghtlyer bywelde them to stone hym and they lefte them atte feet of a child that theÌne was callid saulus and after he was called paule And thus he kept the clothes of them that stoned hym And he was stoned of them alle And whan he myght not withdrawe them fro their malice ne by shame ne by drede he toke the thyrde maner so that he wold withdrawe them by loue and the loue that he shewed them was not lytyl whan he prayd for hym for them that hys passyon myght not be dyffered And that the synne shold not be Imputed do them that stoned hym and sayeng lord Ihesu cryst receyue my spyrite And whan he was on hys knees he cryed with an hye voys and said lord establysshe not to theym thys synne And thys was a meruayllous loue whan he prayd on hys knees for theym that stoned hym lyke as yf he had prayd more for them than for hym sylf For he desyred to be more empesshed for theÌ than for hym self And as the glose saith he knelyd for by cause he ought the more humbly to praye for them of whom thynyquyte was grete And in thys he dyde as dyde Ihesu cryste For in hys passyon he prayd for hym self And said Fader I comande my spyryte in to thyn hondes and he said for them that stoned hym Fader foryeuene it theym And whan saynt stephen had so said he slepte in our lord and was not deed For he suffred sacrefyse of dylection And after slepte in hope of resurrection And the stonyng of saynt stephen was made in the same yere that our lord ascended vp in to heuen in the next moneth of august the thirde day entrynâ And saynt Gamalyel and Nycodemus whych were emong the connseyllys of the Iewes for the crysten men buryed hym in the felde of gamalyel made grete wepyng for hym and theÌne was grete persecucioÌ of crysten meÌ that were in IhrlÌm For whan the blessyd saynt stephen whyche was one of the prynces was slayn they began to persecute alle the crysten meÌ in so moche that thappostles whiche were strenger than other in the faith departed out of all the prouynce of the Iewes after that whiche our lord had comaunded to theÌ yf they persecute you in one cyte flee you in to another And the blessyd doctour saynt austyn reherceth that the blessyd saynt stephen was noblysshid by many myracles For he reysed by hys merytes sixe dede bodyes and heled many that were seeke of dyuerse maladyes languors And without this recounteth he other myracles worthy dygne to be remembrid For as he saith in the xxiiij book of the cyte of god the floures that were put on the aultre of saynt stephen were put on the seek men anon they were cured heled And the clothes taken fro the aulter leyde on theÌ that were seek were a medecyne to many For as it is said in the xxiiij chapytre of the cronycles of god thyse floures taken vpon the aulter of saynt stephen were leyd on the eyen of a womaÌ that was blynde and anon she had agayn her sight And also said he in the same book that a man that was maistre of a cyte was named marcial was a paynem wold not be coÌuerted it happed that he was strongly seke and his sone in lawe that was a right good man cam in to the chirche of saynt stephen toke of the flowres leyd vnder the heed of his lord and anon whaÌ he had slepte therupon on the mornyg he cryed that the bysshop shold be brought to hym the bysshop was not in the
alle he gaf to theÌ to drynke the venym whiche men assone as they had dronken it incontynent deyed Thenne saynt IohÌn toke the cuppe with the venym And blessyd it with the signe of the crosse and dranke it of euerydele And had ne felte none hurte ne harme wherfore alle the peple gaf laude and preysyng to god Aristodemus sayde yet haue I a doubte but and yf thou reyse to lyf agayn the dede men that dranke the venym wythout doubte thenne shal I byleue Thenne thappostle delyueryd hym hys cote to whoÌ he said why gyuest thou to me thy cote and saynt IohÌn said by cause that thou asshamed and confused shalt goo fro and forsake thyn Infydelite To whom he seid Trowest thou that thy cote shal make me byleue and thappostle said goo and leye it vpon the bodyes of the dede men sayeng Thappostle of Crist hath sent me to you that ye aryse in the name of crist whyche whan he had doon anon they aroos fro deth to lyf Thenne thappostle baptysed the bysshop and the proconsul byleuyng in cryst wyth all theyr kynne frendes which anon brake all their symylacres And in the same place edefyed a chyrche in the worshyp of god and of saynt Iohan The holy saynt clement reherceth in the fourth book of historia ecclesiastica that one a tyme saynt IohÌn theuangelist conuerted to the fayth a goodly yong man wel fauoured and stronge And comanded hym vnto the kepyng rule and gouernaunce of a bysshop And within a lytyl whyle after thys yong man forsoke the bysshop and fylle in to euyl companye emong theuys And by cam and was made maister and prynce of them Anon after thappostle cam to the bysshop and demanded for thys yong man And the bysshop was sore abasshed whan saynt Iohan sawe hys contenaunce he demanded more besilier after hym And where he had lefte hym For I aske hym of the whom I delyuerid to the and gaf the so grete charge with hym Thenne said the bysshop to hym Fader truly he is deed in hys sowle And is in yonder montayn wyth theuys and is theyr mayster and prynce And whan he herd that for sorowe he rente hys clothis and said to the bysshop thou art a feble kepar for to suffre thy brother to lese hys sowle Anone he made an hors to be made redy for hym and rode faste to the montayn And whan the yong man espyed and knewe hym he was so sore ashamed that he fled from hym Thenne thappostle forgate hys age and prykyd after and cryed after hym that fledde My most swete sone why fleest thou fro thy fader feble and olde Be thou not aferd sone For I shal yelde acountes for the to Ihesu cryst And truly I shal gladly deye for the lyke as Ihesu cryst deyed for vs Torne agayn my sone torne agayn Ihesu cryst hath sente me to the And he herd hym thus speke he abode with an heuy chyer and wepte repentyng hym bytterly and fylle doun to the feet of thappostle and for penauÌce kyst hys hand And thappostle fasted and prayed to god for hym and gate for hym remyssyon of hys synnes and foryeuenes And lyued so vertuously after that saynt IohÌn ordeyned hym to be a bysshop ¶ Also it is redde in the same hystorye that saynt IohÌn on a tyme entred in to a bath for to wasshe hym and ther he fonde cheryntuÌ an heretyke whome assone as he sawe he eschewed and wente out of it sayeng Late vs flee and goo hens leeft the bayne falle vpon vs in whyche cheryntus thenemye of trouthe wassheth hym And assone as he was out the bayne fylle doun Cassiodor saith that a man had gyuen to saynt IohÌn a partrych lyuyng And he helde it in hys honde strokyng and playeng with it other whyle for hys recreacion And on a tyme a yong man passyd by wyth hys felawshyp and sawe hym playe wyth hys byrde whyche sayd to hys felaws lawhyng See how the yonder old man playeth wyth a byrd lyke a chyld whyche saynt IohÌn knewe anon by tholy ghoost what he had said and callyd the yong man to hym and demanded hym what he held in hys hond and he said a bowe what dost thou with all said saynt IohÌn And the yong man said we shote byrdes and bestes therwith to whom thappostle demaunded how and in what maner Thenne the yong man bente hys bowe and helde it in hys honde bente And whan thappostle said no more to hym he vnbente hys bowe agayn Thenne said thappostle to hym why hast thou vnbente thy bowe and he said by cause yf it shold be long bente it shold be the weyker for to shete with it Thenne said thappostle Soo sone it fareth by maÌkynde and by freylte in contemplacion yf it shold be alway be bente it shold be to weyke And therfor otherwhyle it is expedient to haue recreacion The eygle is the byrde that fleeth hyest and most clerly beholdeth the sonne And yet by necessyte of nature hym behoueth to descende lowe Ryght soo whan mankynde withdraweth hym a lytil fro contemplacion he after putteth hym self heyer by a renewed strengthe and he brenneth thenne more feruently in heuenly thynges Saynt IohÌn wrote his gospellis after the other euangelistes the yere after thascencion of our lord lxvj after this that the venerable bede saith And whaÌ he was requyred and prayd of the bysshops of the contre of ephese to write them saynt IohÌn prayd also to them that they shold faste praye in their dyosices iij dayes for hym to th ende that he myght truly wryte them Saynt Iherome saith of this glorious appostle saynt IohÌn that whan he was so olde so feble and so vnmyghty that hys dysciples susteyned and bare hym in goyng to chirche and as of tymes as he restid he said to his dysciples Fayre chyldren loue ye to gydre and eche of you loue other And thenne hys disciples demanded why and wherfore he said to them so ofte suche werdes he answerd to them and said our lord had so comanded And who someuer accomplisshed wel this comandemeÌt it shold suffyse hym for to be saued And fynably after that he had founded many chyrches and had ordeyned bysshops and prestes in them and confermed them by hys predycacion in the crysten fayth the yere lxviij after the resurrection of Iesu cryst For he was xxxj yere old whan our lord was crucyfyed And lyued after lxviij yere and thus was all hys age lxxxxix yere TheÌne cam our lord with hys dyscyples to hym and said Come my frende to me For it is tyme that thâu come ete and be fed atte my table with thy bretâern Thenne saynt IohÌn aroos vp and said to our lord IhÌu cryst that he had desired it longe tyme And began to goo Thenne said our lord to hym On sonday next comyng thou shalt come to me That sonday the peple came alle to the chyrehe whiche was founded in hys name
hym the Royame of Iherusalem Thenne lost the Iewes kynge of their lygnage And thenne was shâwed the prophecye of the byrthe of our lord Thys herode Ascolomer had vj sones Antipater Alexander Aristobolus Aâchâlous herode Antipas and phelippe Of thies chyldren herode sente alâxandre and Aristobolus to sââle to Rome And alixander becam a wyse and a subtyl aduocate And whan they were comen fro scole agayn they began to entre in to wordes ayenst herode theyr fader to whom he wold leue his royame after hym wherfor their fader was angry with them and put to fore them Antipater theyr brother for to come to the Royame vpon that incontynent they treated of the deth of theyr fader wherfore theyr fader enchaced them away And they wente agayn to Rome and complayned of theyr fader to themperour Anon after thys cam the thre kynges in to Iherusalem and demanded where the kynge of Iewes was that was new born herode whan he herd thys he had grete drede leest ony were born of the trewe lynage of the kynges of Iewes and that he were the very trewe heyer and of whom he myggt be chaced out of the Royame And whan he had demanded of the thre kynges how they had had knowleche of the newe kynge they answerd by a sterre beyng in thayer whyche was not naturelly fyxed in the heuene as the other were Thenne he prayd theÌ that they wold retorne to hym after that they had worshypped and seen thys newe kynge that he myght goo and after worshyppe the chyld Thys said he fraudelently For he thought to slee hym After that the thre kynges were goon wythout bryngyng hym ony tydynges he thoughte that anone he wold doo slee all the chyldren newly born in bethleem and there aboutes emong whom he thoughte to slee Ihesu cryst but hys thought was enpesshed and lette For themperour sent to hym a cytacion that he shold come to Rome for tanswere to the accusacion that Aristobolus and alixander hys two sones had made ayenst hym And therfore he durste not put theÌne the chyldren to deth to th ende that he shold not be accused of so cruel a dede wyth hys other trespaces So he was in goyng to Rome and abydyng there and in comyng more than half a yere And in that whyle Iesus was born in to egypte whan herodes cam to rome theÌperour ordeyned that hys sones sholde doo hym honour and obeye hym And he shold leue hys Royame after hys deth where it best plesed hym Vpon thys whan he was comen agayn and felte hym self confermed of the Royame he was more hardy to slee the chyldren than he had to fore thought Thenne he sente in to bethleem and dyde doo slee all the children that were of the age of two yere by cause it was passed more than a yere that the thre kynges had tolde hym tydynges of the kynge of Iewes newe born But wherfor thenne dyde doo slee the chyldren he that were but one nyght olde Herto saynt Austyn sayth that herode doubted that Ihesus to whom the sterres serued myht make hym self some yonger than he was After thys cam vpon herode a right vengeance For lyke as he desseuered many moders fro theyr chyldren in lyke wyse was he desseuered fro hys chyldren It happed that he had suspection vpon hys ij sones Alixandre and Aristobolus for one of hys seruaunts said to hym that alisaundre had promysed to hym grete yeftes yf he wold gyue to hys fader to drynke poyson or venym And the barbour said to the kynge that he had promysed hym a grete thyng yf whan he made the kynges berde wold cutte hys throte And for thys cause herode dyde doo slee them bothe and ordeyned in hys testament that Antipater his sone shold be kyng after hym Vpon thys Antipater hys sone had hrete desire to come to the Royame and was accused that he had made redy venyme for tenpoysonne hys fader For a mayde a seruaunt afterward shewd the same venyme to the kynge wherfore he dyde do put his sone Antypater in pryson whan Augustus themperour of Rome herd saye that herode rulyd thus hys chyldren he thenne said I hadde leuer be the swyne or hogge of herodes than hys sone For he whyche is straunge in hys lyuyng spareth his swyne and he put to deth hys sones Herode whan he was lxx yere olde he fyll in a greuous maladye by right vengeaÌce of god For a stronge feuer âoke hym within wythoute he had hys flessh hote and drye chauffed his feet swelled and becam of a pale colour The plantes of hys feet vnder beganne to rote in suche wyse that vermyne yssued out And a stenche yssued so grete out of hys breeth and of hys membres wythout forth that none persone myght suffre it On that other syde he had grete greef and annoye of the angre that he had for hys sones whan the maistres and physicieÌs sawe that he myght not be holpen by no medecyne thenne they said that thys maladye was a vengeance of god and for as moche as he herd saye that the Iewes were glad of hys maladye and sekenes Therfor he dide do assemble the most noble of the Iewes out of the good townes and dyde do put them in pryson And said to Salome hys suster and to Alyxandre her hustbond I knowe wel that the Iewes shal be glad of my deth but yf ye wyll doo my counseyl and obeye to me I shal mowe haue grete playnte and wayllyng of many that shal bywepe my deth in thys wyse that I shal shewe yow Anon as I shal be deed doo ye to be slayn all the noble Iewes that ben in pryson And thus shal be no hows of the Iewes but that they shal ayenst theyr wyll bywepe my deth And he had a custome to ete an apple laste after mete On a tyme he demanded a knyf for to pare thappelle and one delyueryd hym a knyf And shortly he toke it as all dyspayred and wold haue slayn hym self but anon Aciabus hys neyghbour caught hys hand and cryde lowde that it was supposed that the kynge had deyed Antipater hys sone whyche was in pryson had herd the crye and wende hys fader had ben deed he was glad and promysed to the kepars of the pryson grete yeftes for to lete hym out whan herode knewe thys by hys seruaunt he traueylled the more gre uously by cause hys sone was more glad of hys deth than of hys sekenes And anon dyde do slee hym and ordeyned in hys testament Archelaus to be kynge after hym And he lyued but v dayes after And deyed in grete myserye of Annoye Salome hys suster dyde not hys comandement of the Iewes that were in pryson but lete them goo out And Archelaus becam kynge after herode hys fader whyche as to strauÌgers in the bataylle he was fortunate and happy but as to hys owne peple he was right vnhappy Thenne I retorne agayn after
the man fyl doun anon to the ground by cause he mocqued the holy and man deyde anon A knyght that was vexed with the deuyl was brought to saynt benet for to be heled And saynt benet put hym out and after sayde to the knyght Goo and fro hensforth ete nomore flessh and goo nomore to none ordre For what day thou goost takest ordres the deuyl shal reentre in to the Thys knyght helde hym longe tyme wythout takyng ony tyl atte laste he sawe yonger than he that wente to ordres And had forgete the wordes of saynt benet and toke ordres And anon the deuyl entryd in to hys body and tormented hym tyl he deyde Ther was a man that sente to saynt benet ij flagons of wyn but he that bare them hydde that one And presented that other wythout more whaÌ saynt benet had receyued the presente he thanked hym moche and sayd to hym Fayr brother take good hede how thou shalt doo wyth that whyche thou hast hyd and drynke not therof For thou knowest not what is therin Thenne he was asshamed and so confused wente from hym And whan he cam to the place where he had hyd it he wold wyte what was therin lyke as saynt benet had told to hym and bowed it a lytyl and anon a serpent yssued out ¶ It happed on a tyme that saynt benet ete and a yong man whyche was sone to a grete lord helde to hym a candel and began to thynke in hys herte who is thys that I serue I am sone vnto a grete man hyt apperteyneth not that one so gentyl a man as I am be seruant to hym whan saynt benet sawe by experience the pryde that aroos in thys monke he called another monke and made hym to holde the candell And after sayd to hym what is that thou hast blesse thy herte brother blesse it god forgyue it the Now thou shalt serue me nomore goo in to thy cloystre and reste the there Ther was a man of the kyng of gothes whyche was named Zallas which tormented ouer cruelly the crysten men by cause he was of the secte of tharryeÌs in suche wise that where he fonde clerkes or monkes he slewe them Thenne it happed on a day that he tormented a uylayn or a carle for the couetyse of hys good whan the carle sawe that he wold take all he gaf all that euer he had to saynt benet Thenne left Zallas to tormente hym a lytyl but he bonde hym wyth the reynes of hys brydell droof hym to fore and he rode after tyl that he cam to thabbaye of saynt benet and bad hym that he shold shewe to hym this benet whan he cam theder he saw saynt benet stonde to fore the gate allone studyed in a book theÌne sayd the vylayne to the trauÌt Loo ther is benet that thou demaundest after whan Zallas had loked on hym cruelly lyke he had ben acustomed he had supposed to haue delt wyth hym lyke as he had doo wyth other crysten men And sayd to saynt benet Aryse vp anone and delyuer to me the goodes of thys carle whyche thou hast by the whan saynt benet herde he lyft vp a lytyl hys eyen and beââlde the carle that was to fore hym And anon by grete meruaylle hys armes were vnbounden And whan the carle sawe hym self vnbounden he stode to fore the tyrant Appertely wythout drede And anon Zallas fyl doun to the feet of saynt benet and recomanded hym to hys prayers And neuer for al thys left saynt benet to rede on hys book but called hys monkes and comaÌded that his mete shold be brought to hym and the monkes dyde so And sith bare it away Thenne admonested saynt Benet the tyraunt and sayd to hym that he shold leue hys cruelte and hys wodenes And he deêted neuer after that day he demanded of vylayn ony good ne of the man that saynt benet had vnbouÌden only by his sight ¶ It happed ouer alle champayne where as he dwellyd that so grete famyne was in the contre that moch peple deyed for hungre thenne alle the breed of thabbaye faylled and ther was wythin but v loues for all the couent whan saynt benet sawe that they were abasshyd he began debonairly to chastyse warne them that they shold haue theyr hertes on hye to god and sayd to them Wherfore are ye in so grete mesease for brede yf ye haue no ne thys day ye shal haue to morn now it happed that on the morn they fonde at theyr yate two honderd muddes of mele whyche were proprely sente fro god For neuer man wyst fro whens they cam whan the monkes sawe that they thanked god and lerned that they ought not doubte ne of habundaunce ne of pouerte ¶ It happed on a tyme that saynt benet sente hys monkes for to edefye an abbaye and sayd that at a certayn day he wold come see them and shewe them what they shold doo Thenne the nyght to fore that he had sayd to come he appyered to the maystre and to hys monkes and shewed to them alle the places that they shold bylde but they byleuyd not thye vysion and supposed it had be but a dreme Thenne whan they sawe that he cam not they retorned and sayd to hym Fayr fader we haue abyden that thou sholdest haue comen to vs lyke as thou promysest vs thenne answerd he what is that ye saye remembre not ye that I appyeryd to you that nyght that I promysed you enseygned and told how ye shold doo Goo your way and doo in suche wyse as I deuysed to you in the vysion ¶ Ther were two nonnes nyghe vnto hys monasterye whyche were of moche noble lygnage whyche were moche talkatyf and restrayned not wel theyr tongues but tormented ouermoche hym that gouerned them ¶ And whan he had shewed this to saynt benet he sente them word that they shold better kepe scilence and rule theyr tongues or he wold curse them but they for alle that wold not leue it And so anon after they deyde and were buryed in the chyrche And whan the deken cryed in th ende of the masse that they that were acursed shald goo out of the chyrche the nourisse that had nourisshed them and that euery day had offred for them byhelde and sawe that whan the deken sange so they yssued out of theyr sepulcres and wente out of the chyrche ¶ And whan saynt benet knewe herof he offred for them hym self and assoylled them Thenne after that whan the deken said so as a fore they neuer yssued out after as theyr noucices had seen them ¶ Ther was a monke goon out for to see hys fader and moder wythout lycence and blessyng of hys abbotte And the day after he cam theder he deyd And whan he was buryed in therthe therthe caste hym out agayn And so it dyde twyes thenne cam the fader and moder to saynt benet and told hym how
gafe to them Thenne it happed that one of the arryens was out of his mynde sayd thus be they alle tormented as I am that consente not to saynt ambrâse and therfore the other arryens drowned hym in a depe pyscyne or pytte There was another heretyke and an arryen a sharpe and so harde that he was Inconuertyble by cause no man myght conuerte hym to the faythe On a tyme he herde saynt ambrose preche and he sawe at his ere an aungel that tolde hym al that he prechyd and whan he had apperceyued this he began to susteyn the feythe to whiche he had ben contrarye After this it happed that one enchauntour called deuyls to hym sente them to saynt ambrose for to ennoye greue hym but the deuyls retorned and sayd that they might not approche to his yate by cause ther was a grete fyre al about his hows and this enchauntour after Whan he was tormented of the prouost for certeyn trespaces he cryed and said that he was tormeÌted of saynt ambrose There was a man that had a deuyll wythin hym And after wente to melane and anone as he entred the cytee the deuyl lefte hym and assone as he wente out of the cytee the deuyl reentred in hym ageyn thenne he demaunded hym why he dyd so he answerd by cause he was aferde of ambrose after it happed that a man beyng conducte hyred of Iustyn themperesse came to the beddes syde of saynt ambrose Wold haue put ryuen his swerde thorugh his body but anone his arme was dryed vp Another was vexed With a deuyl said that saynt ambrose tormented hym but saynt ambrose made hym to be stylle for ambrose tormenteth none but that doth thennye of the for thou seest men asseÌde fro whâns thou art fallen And that is it whiche tormenteth the For ambrose can not be so blowen and wo llen as thou arte Thenne was he stylle and spake not whan saynt ambrose wente in the towne he sawe a man laughe by cause he sawe another falle thenne said ambrose to hym thou that laughest beware that thou falle not also and after he fylle and thus was he taughte that he shold not mocque his felawe On a tyme Saynt Ambrose wente vnto the paleys for to praye for a poure man but the Iuge made to close the gate that he myght not entre in Thenne saint ambrose said thou shalt come for to entre in to the chyrche but thou shalt not entre and yet shal the yates be opene And so it happed that after the Iuge doubted his enemyes wente to the chyrche but he myght not entre in and yet the yates were opene Saynt ambrose was of so grete abstyence that he fasted euery day saufe the sonday or a solempne feste he was of so grete largesse that he gaue alle to poure people and reteyned no thynge for hym self he was of so grete compassyoÌ that whan ony confessid to hym his synne he wepte so bytterly that he wold make the synnar to wepe He was of so grete doubte that whan hyt was tolde to hym of the dethe of ony bysshop he wold wepe soo sore that vnnethe he myght be comforted And whan it was demaunded hym why he wepte for the dethe of good men For he oughte better to make ioye by cause they wente to heuen thenne he answerd I wepe not bycause they goo tofore me but bycause that vnnethe and wyth grete payne may ony be fouÌde for to doo wel suche offyces he was of soo grete stedfanesse and so establysshed in hys purpoos that he wold not leue for drede ne for greef that myght be doon to hym to repreue themperour ne the other grete men whan they dyd thynges that they ought not to doo ne he wold flatre no man There was broughte ones tofore hym a man whiche was greuously mysmade Thenne sayd saynt ambrose the body must be delyuerd to the deuyll And that the flesshe goo to the dethe by whyche the spyrite may be saued vnnethe was the worde out of hys mowthe but the deuyl began to tormente hym After as it is sayd on a tyme he wente to rome whan he was on a tyme by the waye herberowed wyth a ryche man Saynt ambrose began to demaunde hym of his estate that ryche man answerd Syr myn estate is happy ynough and gloryous For I haue rychesses ynough seruauntes varlettes chyldren neuewes cosyns frendes and kynnysmen whiche serue me and al my werkes and besoynyes come to my wylle ne I haue neuer thynge that may angre ne trowble me Thenne sayd saynt Ambrose to them that were wyth hym Flee we hens for our lord god is not here haste you fayre chyldren haste you and lete vs abyde here no lengyr leste the vengeaunce of god take vs that we be not wrapped in the synnes of these peple They departed fledde anone but they were not goon ferre but that the erthe opened swolowed in alle the hows of this ryche man there abode not as moche as the steppe of hym self ne of al that euer he had Thenne said saynt ambrose be holde faâe chyldren how grete pyte how grete mercy god dothe to them that haue aduersyte in thys world how wrothe he is to them that haue the welthe and rychesses of thys world Of whyche thynge apyereth yet the pytte or fâsse Whiche endureth in to thys day in wytnesse of thys aduenture whan Saynt ambrose behelde that auaryce whyche is rote of all euylles grewe more more in moche peple and specyally in grete men and in them that were in moste grete estate whiche solde al for money and wyth the mynystres of the chirche he sawe symonye reygne he began to praye to god that he wold take hym aweye fro the myseryes of thys world And he Impetred that which he desyred Thenne he called his felawshyp sayd to them in ioyeng that he shold abyde with them vnto the resurrexyon of our lord and a lytel tofore that he laye seke as he expownded to hys notarye the xliiij psalme Sodaynlye in the presence sight of his notary a fyre in the manere of a shelde couerd his heed and entryd in to his mouthe Thenne became his face as wghyte as ony snowe anone after hit came ageyn to his fyrst fourme And that day he lefte his wrytyng and endytyng Thenne began his maladye to greue hym and the erle of ytalye whyche was thenne at mylane called the gentyl men of the contree sayd to them that yf so grete and good a man shold goo fro them it shold be grete pyte grete parelle to alle ytalye and sayd to them that they alle shold goo with hym to thys holy man and praye hym that he wold gete graunte of our lord of space and lenger lyf whan saynt ambrose had herde theyr requeste He answerd fayre sones I haue not so lyued emonge you that I am ashamed to lyue
sanctoruÌ wherin thys holy saynt dunston had grete ioye he had a special grace of our lord that suche heuenly ioyes and thynges were shewed to hym in thys wretchyd world for his grete comforte and after this he became alle seek and feâle and vpon holy thorsday he sente for al his brethern and asked of them foryeuenesse and also forgaue them alle trespaces ând assoyled them of al theyr synnes aâd the thyrd day after he passed out of this world to god ful of vertues the yere ãâã our lord ix hândred lxxxviij and hys sowle was borne vp to heuen with ãâã songe of aungels al the peple heryââ that were at his dethe and his ââdy lyeth at caunterburye in a worshypââl shryne where as our lord sheweth ãâã his seruaunt saynt dunston many ãâã and grete myracles wherfore our lord be praysed world wythouten ende amen Here endeth the lyf of Sayât dunston Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Aldelme SAynt aldelme the confessour was borne in englond his fader hyght kenton he was broder vnto Iue kyng of this londe and whan kyng Iue was dede kenton was made kynge after hym and thenne this holy chylde aldelme was sette to scole in the hows of malmesburye where afterward he was maad abbot And thenne he dyd there grete ceste in byldyng and dyd doo make there a ful ryal abbey and whan the ãâã herde of his grete holynesse he sent for hym to come to rome whan he was there the ãâã welcomed hym was moche glad of his good lyuyng and tâere he abode longe tyme with the pope and gate ful grete pryuyleges and lybertees to the hows of malmesburye in suche wyse that no bysshop in englond shold uysyte ne haue to doo there ne the kynge to lette them of theyr free elââcion but chese theyr abbot emonge the couent them self and whan he had goten alle this of the pope he was full glad and ioyeful and lyuyd there ful holyly longe tyme And on a day as he said masse in the chirche of saynt Iohan latrans and whan masse was doon there was no man that wold take his chesyble fro hym at the ende of the masse and thenne he sawe the sonne beme shyne thorugh the glasse wyndowe henge his chesybâ theron wherof al the peple merueyled greteââ of that myracle and the same châsââle is yet at malmesburye the câlour therof is purple and within shorte tyme after he came ageyn in to englond brought with hym many preuylegys vnder the ãâã seal which after kyng ãâã confermed alle that the pope had gââunted to the hows of malmesbury Tâis was aboute the yere of our lord seuen hondred and vj â And that tyme thâre fyl a grete varyaunce emonge the bysshoppes of this loÌde for the holâyng of ester day but saynt aldelme mâad a book that alle men shold knoââ for euer whan estern day shall ãâã the whiche book is yet at malmesburye And that abbay he dyd do make in the worshyp of our blessyd lady And brightwold that was archebysshop of caunterburye herde of aldelmus holy lyuyng and he sente for hym to be his counceyllour and they lyued to gyder ful holyly longe tyme and eche was ful glad and ioyeful of other And on a day as they stood at the sâe syde by douer castel they sawe a shyp laden with marchaundyse not ferre fro them and saynt aldelme callyd to them to wyte yf they had ony ornament longyng to holy chirche within theyr shyp to selle but the marchauntes had dysdaygne of hym and thoughte he was not of power to bye suche thynges as they had to selle and departed from the holy man but anone fyl on them soo grete a tempest that they were in paryl for to perysshe and thenne one of hem said we suffre this trouble bycause we had dysdayne of the wordes of yonder holy man and therfore lete vs all mekely desyre hym to praye for vs to our lord Ihesu cryste they dyd so and anone the tempest cesed and theÌne they came to this holy man and brought to hym a ful fayre byble the whiche is yet at malmesbury vnto this day and foure yere before his deth he was maad bysshop of dorset by the archebysshop of caunterburye and by other bysshoppes but within shorte tyme after he deyed and lyeth buryed at malmesburye there as he was abbot And after that saynt egewyn came to offre ãâã his tombe feteryd with chaynes of yron faste locked fro thens he wente so to rome to the pope alwey weryng tho feteris whiche was to hym grete payne god rewarde hym his mede ¶ And Saynt Aldelme or he deyed cursed alle them that dyd ony wronge in brekyng of the preuyleges of the sayd abbey of malmesburye and them that helpe the hows to mayntene goddes seruyce shall haue goddes blessyng and his And whan he had layen longe in the erthe he was translated and layed in a ful ryche shryne where as our lord sheweth dayly for hys holy seruaunte many fayre myraclâs Thenne lete vs praye saynt Aldelme to praye for vs vnto our lord god that we may in thys wretchyd ãâã of âhis world soo bewayle our synnes and amende our lyuyng that we may come to euerlastyng lyf in heuen amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Aldelme Of Saynt austyn that brouÈt crystendom in to englond SAynt austyn was an holy monke and sente in to englond to preche the faythe of our lord Ihesu cryste by saynt gregory thennâ kyng pope of rome the whyche had a grete zele and loue vnto englond as is reberced alle alonge in his legende hâw that he sawe children of englond in the marlet of rome for to be solde whiche we ãâã fayre of vysage for whiche cause he demaunded lycence and opteyned to goo in to Englond for to conuerte the peple therof to crysten feythe And he beyng on the weye the pope deyed and he was chosen pope was countremaunded came ageyn to rome And after whan he was sacred in to the papacye he remembryd the royame of englond and sente saynt Austyn as heed and chyef other holy monkes preestes with hym to the nombre of xl persones vnto the royame of englond as they came toward englond they came in the prouynce of Andegauence purposyng to haue restyd alle nyght at a place called pounte Say a myle fro the cyte and ryuer of ligerym but the wymmen scorned and were so noyous to them that they droof theym out of the towne and they came vnto a fayre brode elme and purposyd to haue restyd there that nyght but one of the wymmen which was more cruel than the other purposed to dryue them thens came so nyghe them that they myght not reste there that nyght And thenne Saynt Austyn toke hys staffe for to remeue fro that place and sodeynly his staffe sprange out of hys honde with a grete vyolence the space of thre furlonges thens and there styked faste
in the erthe and whan saynt austyn came to his staffe and pulled hit out of the erthe in contynente by the myght of our lord sourded sprange there a fayre welle or fontayn of clere water whiche refresshyd hym wel and al his felawshyp aboute that welle they restyd alle that nyght and they that dwellyd there by sawe alle that nyght ouer that place a grete lyght comyng fro heuen which couerd all that place where these holy men laye And on the morne saynt austyn wrote in therthe with his staffe besyde the welle these wordes folowyng here had austyn the seruaunte of the seruauntes of god hospytalite whome saynt gregory the pope hath sente to conuerte englond On the morne whan the holy men the dwellers of the coostes therby whyche sawe the lyght in the nyÈt tofore came thyder and fonde there a fayre welle of the whiche they merueyled gretely And whan they sawe the scrypture wreton in the erthe thenne they were gretely abasshed by cause of theyr vnkyndenesse and repented them ful sore of that they had mocked them the day before and after they edefyed there a fayre chyrche in the same place in the worshyp of saynt austyn the whyche the bysshop of andegaueuse halowed And to the halowyng therof came soo grete multitude of peple that they trad the corne in the feldes doun al playne lyke vnto a flore clene swepte For there was no sparyng of hit Not wythstondyng at the tyme of repyng that grounde so troden bare more corne better thenne ony other feeldes besyde not troden dyd And the hyghe aulter of that chyrche standeth ouer the place where saynt austyn wrote wyth his staffe by the welle and yet vnto this day may no woman come in to that chyrche but there was a noble woman that sayd that she was not gylty in offendyng saynt Austyn and toke a tapre in hir honde and went for to offre hit in the said chyrche but the sentence of almyghty god may not be reuoked for as soone as she entryd the chyrche hir bowellys and synowes began to shrynke and she fyl doun dede in ensaumple of alle other wymmen Wherby we may vnderstonde that Iniurye doon ageynste a saynt dysploseth gretely almyghty god and fro thens saynt austyn and his felawshyp came in to englond and arryued in the yle of thanet in este kente and kyng athelberte regned that tyme in kente which was a noble man and a myghty To whome saynt austyn sente shewyng the entente of hys comyng from the courte of rome and sayd that he had broughte to hym right ioyeful and plesaunt tydynges And sayd that yf he wold obeye and do after his prechyng that he shold haue euerlastyng ioye in the blysse of heuen shold regne with almyghty god in his kyngdom And thenne kynge adelston heeryng this coÌmauÌded that they shold abyde and tarye in the same yle And that al thynges shold be mynystred to them that were necessarye vnto the tyme that he were otherwyse aduysed And sone after the kynge came to them in the same yle and he beyng in the felde saynt austyn with his felowshyp came and spake with hym hauyng tofore them the sygne of the crosse syngyng by the weye the letanye besechyng god deuoutely to strengthe them and helpe and the kyng receyued hym and hys felawshyp in the same place saynt austyn preched a glorious sermone declared there to the kynge the crysten feythe openlye and the grete meryte auayle that shold come therof in tyme comyng and whan he had ended hys sermon the kyng sayd to hym your promyses ben ful fayre that ye brynge but by cause they be newe haue not ben herde here before we may not yet gyue consente therto Neuerthelesse by ceuse ye be come as pylgryms fro ferre contres we wyl not be greuous ne harde to you but we wyl receyue you mekely mynystre to you suche thynges as ben necessarye neyther we wyl forbede you but as many as ye can conuerte to your feythe and relygyon by your prechyng ye shal haue lycence to baptyse them and to accompanye them to your lawe And thenne the kynge gaue to them a mancion in the cyte of dorobernence whiche now is called caunterburye And whan they drewe nye the cyte they came in wyth a crosse of syluer and with processyon syngyng the letanye prayeng almyghty god of socour helpe that he wold take aweye his wrathe fro the cytee and tenflawme the hertes of the peple to receyue hys doctryne And thenne saynt austyn and hys felawshyp began to preche there the word of god aboute there in the prouynce and suche peple as were wel dyspysed anon were conuerted and folowed this holy man and by the holy conuersacion and myracles that they dyd moche pâople were conuerted and grete fame aroos in the contre And whan it came to his ere anone he came to the presence of saint austyn desyred hym to preche ageyn and thenne the word of god soo enflamed hym that Incontynente assone as the sermone was ended the kânge fyl doun to the feet of Saynt austyn and sayd soroufully alas woo is me that I haue erryd so longe and knowe not of hym that thou spekest of Thy promesses ben so delectable that I thynke it alle to longe tyl I be crystened wherfore holy fader I requyre the to mynystre to me the sacramente of baptesme And thenne saynt austyn seyng the grete mekenesse and obedyence of the kynge that he had to be crystened he toke hym vp wiâh wepyng teerys and baptysed hym wyh alle his howsholde meyne enforââd them dyligently in the cristen ââythe with grete ioye and gladnesse and whan alle thys was doon saynt austyn desyryng the helthe of the peple of englond wente forthe on fote to yorke and whan he came nyghe the cyte there mette wyth hym a blynde man which sayd to hym O thou holy austyn helpe me that am ful nedy To whome saynt austyn sayd I haue no syluer but suche as I haue I gyue the In the name of IhÌu cryste aryse and be alle hole and with that worde he receyued his syght and bylonyd in our lorde and was baptysed And vpon crystemas day he baptysed in the ryuer named swale x thousand men wythout wymmen and chyldren And there was a grete multitude of peple resortyng to the sayd ryuer whiche was so depe that no man myght passe ouer on foot and yet by myracle of our lord there was neyther man woman ne chylde drowned But they that were seek were maad ho ole bothe in body and in sowle and in the same place they bylded a chyrche in the worshyp of god and saynt austyn And whan Saynt Austyn had preched the feythe to the peple and bad confermed them stedfastly therin he retorned ageyn fro yorke and by the weye he mette a lepre askyng helpe and whan saynt austyn had sayd these wordes to hym
was for the dethe of this saynt Edwarde And alle the poure peple of this londe sorowed gretely for this good kynges dethe and in especyal by cause they coude not knowe where he was buryed For they wold burye hym moche worshypfully yf they myght fynde hym And in a tyme as god wolde men of warham and of the contre be goon for to seke this holy body of saynt edward with grete deuocion prayeng our lord that they myght haue knowleche where the holy body was and sone after one of them that soo soughte sawe a grete lyght in a desolate place of the wode in liknes of a pyler of fyre stratchyng fro heuen euen vnto the graue where the holy body laye in And thenne the people ful reuerently dygged vp the body and brought it wyth solempne processyon to the chirche of warham and they buryed this holy body in the chyrche yerde at the este ende of the chyrche for they durst not doo otherwyse for dysplesure of the quene But now ouer that graue is bylded a fayre chapel of our lady and in the place where he was first buryed is now a right fayre welle whyche is callyd saynt edwardes welle where our lord sheweth many myracles for his holy marter saynt edward And in lyke wyse in the chapel at warham where as his holy body laye longe our lord sheweth also myracles but longe tyme after by the laboure of the erle alphere whiche moche louyd saynt edwarde the bysshoppes clergye by the counceyl of saynt wylfryde and saynt edythe susters of Saynt edwarde and nonnes at wylton the holy body was take out of the chapel of warham and broughte wyth grete solempnyte vnto the nonnerye of shaftesburye And by the waye as men bare thys holy body two creples were made al hole and folowed the holy body wyth grete ioye and myrthe thankyng god and the holy saynt of theyr helthe whan they came to shaftesburye they layed thys holy body in the walle by the hye aulter right worshypfully where our bord shewyd many myracles for hym and whan the quene his stepmoder herde telle what myracles god shewed for hym thenne she repented hir ful sore and cryed god mercy and the holy saynt for hyr trespaas and purposyd to ryde thyder to doo worshyp to the holy body and there to aske foryeuenes of the deth that she had coÌmysed to be doon in hym but whan she wolde haue ryden thyderward hir hors wolde not goo forth in no wyse for betyng ne drawyng and thenne she lyghte doun and wente thyder ful mekely on hir feet and ofte in hir iourney she repentyd hyr of that cursed dede That she had caused to be doon to thys holy saynt Edward and whan she came to shaftesburye where as thys holy body was buryed she dyd full grete reuerence therto and cryed god mercy and the holy saynt for hir grete offence and after this she became a ful good woman and had grete repentaunce therof vnto hir lyues ende and after whan the holy body had restyd in the walle certeyn yeris Saynt edward apperyd to an holy religyous man bad hym goo to dame althrede abbesse of that place and say to hyr that she purueye that his body shold be layed in a more worshypful place And thenne she wente to saynt dunston to praye hym of his helpe in this matere and sone after saynt dunston came wyth a multitude of bisshoppes abbottes pryours and of the clergye And toke vp this holy body layed it in a worshypful shryne whiche the abbesse and other wel dysposed people had ordeyned for hit And whan his body was take out of the walle there came out of the graue a flauour like a smoke of frankencence smellyng so swete that alle the peple were gretely comforted therby and thus this holy kynge and marter was translated in the yere of our lord a thousand and somwhat more and whan kyng etheldrede was deed edward hys sone regned after hym whiche was an holy and glorious kynge and confessour And lyeth buryed at westmestre and worshypfully shryned where as our lord hath shewed many a grete myracle for hym Thenne lete vs praye to this holy marter saynt Edward kynge to saynt Edward kynge and confessour that they praye to our lord for vs that we may in thys wretchyd world so ameÌde and repente vs of our wretchyd lyf that whan we shal departe hens we may come to hys euerlastyng lyf in heuen amen Here endeth the lyf of Saint Edward kynge and marter Here foloweth the lyf of saint Albone and of saint amphiabel AFter that Iulyus Cezar the first emperour of rome had deuyded the londe of fraunce he made a shyppynge in to grete brytaygne whiche now is called englond in the tyme of cassybelan kynge of the brytons and twyes he was dryuen out and the thyrd tyme by the helpe of one androgeus duc of kente he had vyctorye and conqueryd the royame and subdued it to Rome and made it to paye yerely trybute ordeyned stablisshed certeyn statutes in this londe whiche were longe obseruyd and kepte Emonge whyche he ordeyned that none of thys londe shold receyue the ordre of knyghthode but onely at rome by the handes of the emperour lest perauenture the rude peple and vnworthy wold take vpon them that ordre vnworthely whiche is of grete dygnyte and also they shold make an othe neuer to rebelle ne bere armes ageynste the emperour whyche statutes were vsed in al places obedyent to rome and vnder theyr subieccion Thenne regned in the londe of britayne which now is called englond a kynge named seuerus whiche for to plese the emperour Dyoclesyan sente his sone that hyght bassyan wyth many other lordes sones of cornewayl walys scotlond and yrelond vnto the nombre of a thousand fyue hondred and xl Emonge which was a prynces sone of walys in grete araye whyche hyght amphyable a goodly yonge man and wel lernyd in latyn frensshe greke hebrewe Also there was in his felawshyp a lordes sone of the the cyte of verolamye named albone whyche was a wel disposed and semely yonge man and dyscrete in his gouernaunce And al thys felawshyp came prosperouslye to rome In the tyme whan Zephyrus was pope of rome whyche sawe the grete bewtee of thys yonge companye and had compassyon that they were not crysten And laboured as moche as he myght to conuerte them to the feythe of Ihesu cryste emonge al other he conuerted the prynces sone of wales amphyabele and baptysed hym and enformed hym secretely in the feythe and thenne thys holy amphyabel forsoke the pompe and glorye of the worlde and toke on hym wylful pouerte for the loue of Ihesu cryste and euer after contynued his lyf in perfeccion Also there were many other conuertyd at that tyme whome dyoclesyan dyd do seke but none coude he fynde Thenne he ordeyned a day in whiche thyse yonge men shold receyue thordre of
ansuerd he lyeth wythoute the towne wyth one of his felawes and his visage is couerd with thy keuerchief and she answerd sayd I haue now seen peter and paul entre in to the cyte clad with right noble vestementis and also they had ryght fair crownes vpon theyr hedes more cleer and more shynyng than the sonne And hath brought agayn my keuerchyef alle blody whiche he hath deliuerd me For whiche thyng and werk many beleued in our lord and wer baptised And this is that seynt dyonyse sayth And whan Nero herd saye this thyng he doubted hym and began to speke of al these thynges with his phylosophres and with his frendes as they spake to gydre of thys mater paule cam in and the yates shitte and stode tofore Cezar and sayd Cezar loo here is tofore the poul the knyght of the kyng perdurable and not vaynauysshed Now bileue thenne certeynly that I am not deed but alyue But thou Chaytyf shalt deye of an euyl deth By cause thou hast sleyne the seruauntes of god And whan he had sayde thus he vanysshyd awaye And nero what for drede and what for angre he was nygh out of his witte and wist not what to doo Thenne by the counseyl of his frendes he vnbonde patrocle and barnabe and lete them goo where they wold And the other knyghtes longynus mayster of the knyghtes and aggestus cam on the morn to the sepulcre of poul and ther they found two men prayeng that were luke and titus And bytwene them was poule And whan luke titus sawe them they were abasshyd began to flee anon poul vanyshyd awaye and the knyghtes cryed after them and sayd we come not to greue you but know ye for trouth that we come for to be baptised of yow Lyke as paul hath said whom we sawe now prayeng with you whan they herde that they retorned and baptysed them with grete Ioye The hede of seynt paul was cast in a valey And for the grete multitude of other hedes of men that Wer there slayn and throwen there it coude not be knowen which it was It is redde in thepystle of seynt Dyonyse that on a tyme the valey shold be made clene And the hede of seynt poul was cast out with thother hedes And a shepherde that kept sheep toke it with his staffe and sette it vp by the place where his shepe grased he sawe by iij nyghtes contynuelly and his lord also a ryght grete lyght shyne vpon the sayd heed Thenne they went and tolde it to the bisshop to other good cristen men whiche anon sayde truly that is the hede of seynt poule And thenne the bisshop wyth a grete multitude of cristen men toke that hede wyth grete reuerence sette it in a tablette of gold and putte it to the body for to Ioyne it therto thenne the patriarke answerd we knowe wel that many holy men ben slayn and theyr hedes ben desperpled in that place Yet I doubte whether this be the hede of poul or noo but late vs sette this hede atte feet of the body and praye we vnto almyghty god that yf it be his hede that the body may torn and Ioyne it to the hede whiche plesed wel to them alle and they sette the hede atte feete of the body of poul And thenne alle they prayed And the body torned hym in his place Ioyned hym to the hede thenne alle they blessyd god and thus knewe verily that that was the hede of seynt paul this sayth seynt dionyse And seynt Gregory telleth that there was a man that fylle in despayre in the tyme of Iustyn themperour And made redy a corde to hang hym self alwaye he cryed on seynt poul sayeng Seynt paul helpe me Thenne cam ther a black shadowe sayeng to hym Hye the good man make an ende of that thou hast begonne And he allewaye made redy the corde sayeng most bussyd paule helpe me And whan alle was redy there cam another shadowe as it had ben of a man sayd to hym that stired hym Fle hens thou moste wretche For paul the aduocate is comeÌ Thenne the foule shadowe vanysshed a waye and the man comyng agayn to hym self and castyng awaye the corde toke condigne penaunce for his offence and trespas In the same epistle a for sayd seynt denyse bewayleth the deth of his mayster paule with mylde wordes sayeng who shal yeue teres to myn eyen and to my browes a fountayn of water that I may wepe day and nyght that the lyght of the chirche is extyncte And who is he that shall not wepe wayle and clothe hym wyth clothes of mornyng and sorowe And in hys mynde be gretly abasshid Loo Peter the foundament of the chirche glorye of seyntes and holy appostles is goon fro vs And hath lefte vs orphaÌns Paule also the techer and comfortoure of the peple is fayled to vs and shalle nomore be found whiche was fader of faders doctour of doctours pastour of pastours profoundnesse of wysedom a tromp sounyng hye thynges And a prechour of trouthe I say verily paul to be moste noble of thappostles neuer wery of prechyng of the worde of god he was an erthly angelle an heuenly man ymage and symylytude of dyuynyte and hath vs alle forsaken âedy and vnworthy in thys dyspysed world And is goon vnto cryst hys god his lord and frende Alas my brother thymothee best byloued of my soule where is thy mayster thy fader and louer Fro whens shal he grete the ony more loo thou art made an orphane and remaynest allone Now he shal nomore wryte to the wyth hys owne hond my derest sonne woo to me my brother thymothee what is happed to vs of heuynes of derknes harme By cause we be made orphanes Now come not his epistles to the In whiche he wrote paule the lytel seruaunte of Iesu crist Now he shal no more write to the citees sayeng receyue ye my welbelouyd sonne Shette my brother the bokes of the prophetes and clapse them For we now haue none enterpretour of the parablys ne paradygmes ne theyr dictes Dauyd the prophete bewayled his sonne and sayd wo to me who shal graunte me to deye for the my sonne wo to me And I may say woo to me mayster myn veryly wo to me Nou the concourse of thy dysciples comyng to rome and sechyng cesseth and fayleth Now no man sayth late vs goo and see our doctours and aske we them how vs behoueth to rule the chirches to vs commysed And shalle enterprete and expoune to vs the seyenges of our lord Iesu cryst and of the prophetes veryly wo to thyse sonnes my brother thymothee that ben depryued of thayr spirituel fader And also to vs that ben depriued of our spirytuel maysters whiche gadred to gyder vnderstondyng and scyence of the olde and newe lawe And put theym in theyr epistlis where is now the renewyng of paule and the labour of hys
suffrest the pour peple of our lord to deye for hungre for colde And she doubted and was aferd to shewe thys vysion to her lord And thenne the seconde nyght she appered to her agayn and seyd in lyke wyse and adiousted therto menaces yf she warned not her husbond for to comforte the poure and nedy And yet she said nothyng therof to her husbond And theÌne she appered to her the third nyght whan it was derke and to her husbond also with a frownyng angri visage lyke fire lyke as al the hous had brennyd And sayd thou tyraunt membre of thy fader the deuyl with that serpent thy wyf that wil not saye to the my wordes thou restest now enemy of the crosse whiche hast filled thy bely by glotonye wyth dyuers maner of metes and suffrest to perisshe for hungre the holy Seyntes of our lord Lyest thou not in a paleys wrapped with clothes of sylke And thou seest hem wythout herberough descomforted And goost forth and takest no regarde to them Thou shalt not escape so ne departe wythout punysshement thou tyraunt and felon bycause thou hast so long taryed And whan marie magdalene had sayd thus she departed awaye Thenne the lady awoke and sighed And the husbond syghed strongly also for the same cause and trembled And thenne she sayde sir hast thou seen the sweuen that I haue seen I haue seen sayd he that I am gretly amerueylled of And am sore afferde what we shalle doo And hys wyf sayde It is more prouffytable for vs to obey her Thenne to renne in to the yre of her god whom she prechyth For whyche cause they receyued them in to theyer hous and mynystred to them alle that was necessarie and nedeful to them Thenne as Marie magdelene prechyd on a tyme The sayde prynce sayd to her wenest thou that thou mayst defende the lawe that thou prechest And she answerd Certaynly I am redy to defende it as she that is confermed euery day by myracles and by the predycacion of our mayster seynt peter whiche now sitteth in the see at rome To whom thenne the prynce sayde I and my wyf ben redy to obey the in alle thynges yf thou mayst gete of thy god whom thou prechest that we myght haue a chylde And thenne marie magdalene sayde that it shold not be left therfor And thenne prayed vnto our lord that he wold vouchesauf of his grace to yeue to them a sone And our lord herd her prayers And the lady conceyued Thenne her husbond wold goo to seynt peter for to wyte yf it were trewe that marie magdalene had prechyd of Ihesu cryste Thenne hys wyf sayde to hym What wyll ye doo sir wene ye to goo wyth out me nay whan thou shalt departe I shalle departe with the and whan thou shalt retorne agayn I shal retorne and whan thou shal reste and tary I shal rest tary To whom her husbond answerd and sayde dame it shal not be soo For thou art grete and the perylles of the see ben wythout nombre thou myghtest lyghtely perysshe thou shalt abyde at home take hede to our posessyons And this lady for no thyng wold not chauÌge her put poos But fyl doun on her knees at hys feet sore wepyng requyryng hym to take her wyth hym And so atte laste he consented and graunted her request thenne marie magdalene sette the signe of the crosse on theyr sholdres to th ende that the fende shold not enpesshe ne lette them in thayer Iourney Thenne charged they a shyppe habundantly of alle that was necessarye to them And left alle theyr thynges in the kepyng of marie magdalene And went forth on theyr pilgrymage And whan they had made theyr cours and sayled a day and a nyght ther arros a grete tempest and orage And the wynde encresed and grewe ouer hidouse in suchâ wise that this lady which was grete and nygh the tyme of her chyldyng began to wex feble had grete anguysshes for the grete wawes and troublyng of the see and sone after bygan to traueyle and was delyuerd of a fair sone by accasyon of the storme and tempest And in her chyldyng deyed and whan the chyld was born he cryed for to haue comforte of the tetes of his moder and made a pyteous noyse Alas what sârowe was thys to the fader to haue a sone born whiche was cause of the deth of his moder And he myght not lyue for ther was none to norisshe hym Alas what shal thys pylgrym doo that sceth his wyf dede and hys sone cryeng after the brest of his moder And the pylgrym wept strongly and sayd Alas caytyf alas what shal I doo I desired to haue asone and I haue lost both the moder and the sone and the maroÌners thenne said this dede body must be cast in to the see or ellis we al shal perysshe for as long as she shal abyde with vs thys tempest shal not cesse And whan they had taken the body for to caste it in to the see the husbond sayde abyde suffre a litil and yf he wil not spare to me my wyf yet atte lest spare the lityl chylde that cryeth I praye you to tary a whyle for to knowe yf the moder be a swowne of the payne and that she myght reuyue and whiles he thus spacke to them the shypmen espyed a montayn not fer fro the shyppe And thenne they said that it was best to set the shippe toward the lond and to burye it there and so to saue it fro deuouryng of the fysshes of the see and the good man dyd so moche with the maronners what for prayers and for money that they brought the body to the montayn and whan they shold haue dygged for to make a pytte to lay the body in they fond it so hard a Roche that they myght not entre for hardnes of the stone they left the body theer lyeng couerd it with a mantel and the fader leyde his lityl sone atte brest of the deed moder sayd wepyng O marie magdalene why camest thou to marsele to my grete losse euyl aduenture why haue I at thyn InstauÌce entreprysed this Iourney hast thou requyred of god that my wyf shold conceyue and shold deye at the chyldyng of her sone for now it behoueth that the childe that she hath conceyued and born perysshe bycause it hath no norice Thys haue I had by thy prayer and to the I commaunde them to whom I haue commendyd alle my goodes And also I commende to thy god yf he be myghty that he remembre the soule of the moder That he by thy prayer haue pyte on the chyld that he perysshe not Thenne couerd he the body alle about wyth the mantel and the chyld also And thenne retorned to the shyppe And helde forth hys Iourney And whan he cam to Seint peter seynt peter cam ayenst hym And whan he sawe the signe of the crosse vpon hys sholdre He
bronde in her honde and lyghted the tapers and lampes and as eche of them called other by theyr name Crist cam to them sayeng come my welbelouyd hostesse For where I am thou shalte be with me Thou hast receyued me in thyn herberugh and I shal receyue the in myn heuen and all them that calle vpon the I shal here them for thy loue Thenne the hour of her deth approchyng she commaunded that she shold be born out of the hous that she myght be holde and loke vp in to heuen and to lâye her on the erthe and to holde the sigâe of the crosse to fore her and sayeng thyse wordes she prayed My swete ghâste I beseche the to kepe me thy pour creature And lyke as thou hast vouched sauf to be lodged with me so I beseche the to receyue me in to thyn heueÌly herberugh And thenne she had that the passyon after luke shold be redde tofore her And whan this was said Pater in manus tuas comendo spiritum meum she gaf vp her spirite and deyed in our lord The next day folowyng that was the sonday whyles they said laudes aboute her body and dyd her obsequyâ and aboute the hour of tierââ at petogoriâe our lord appered to the blessid ffrancone syngyng masse whiche after thepystle slepte in his chayre and said to hym my welbelouyd ffrancone yf thou wilt fulfille that thou behyghtest long sithe to my hostesse martha arise anon and folowe me whos commaundement he obeyed sodenly both cam to tharascone And syngyng thoffyce aboute the body And the other answeryng they with ther owen hondes leyd the body into tâe sepulture And trouth it was that at petogorike whan they had songen in the chore and the deken shold goo rede the gospel and receyue the benediction they awoke the bysshop demaundyng the benediction Thenne the bysshop awoke and sayd why haue ye awakend me my brethern Our lord Ihesu Crist hath ledde me to his hostesse martha And we haue leyed her in her sepulture Now sende thyder messagers for to felche our rynge of gold and our gloues whiche whiles I made me redy to burye her I delyuerd them to the sextayne and I haue forgoten them there by cause ye awoke me so soone Thenne were messagers sent forth as the bysshop sayde they fond his rynge and one gloue whiche they brought agayn and that other the sextayn reteyned for a wytnes and memorie And the blessyd ffrancone added therto sayeng that after her sepulture a brother of the same place a lerned man in the lawe demaunded of our lord what was his name To whom he ansuerd not but shewed a boke open in his honde in Whiche was wreton thys versycle In euerlastyng memorye shal be my rightful hoostesse and she shal drede non euyl in the last day and whan he shold torne the leues of the boke in euery leef he fonde that same wreton where afterward many myracles were shewd and don at her tombe ¶ Thenne Clodoneus kyng of ffraunce was after thys made a cristen man and baptised of seynt remyge And suffred grete payne in his mynes cam to her tombe and there receyued very helth For whyche cause he enryched that place And the space of iij myle way about on both sides of the ryuer of Roon as wel townes as castellys he gaf to the same place and that place he made free Marcilla her seruaunt wrote her lyf whiche afterward went in to sclauonye And there prechyd the gospel of cryst after x yere fro the deth of martha she restid in our lord Thenne late vs praye to this blessyd martha hostesse of our lord that after this shorte lyf we may be herberowed in heuen wyth our blessyd lord Ihesu crist to whom he yeue Ioye laude and preysyng world without ende Amen Thus endeth the lyf of the blessyd Seynt martha And here folowen the lyues of Abdon and Sennen ABdon is sayde of Absein in greek which is as moche to saye as cutte in latyn dolos Whiche is to saye as seeyng He was cutte hewen in his body and sawe god by martirdom Sennen is sayde of senos in greek Whyche is as moche to saye as Wytte and en that is in And therof is sennen as in witte or sennes as olde As who sayth he was olde in wytte Of seyntes Abdon and sennen ABdon and sennen suffred martirdom vnder decyen the emperour whaÌ decius themperour had surmounted babilone the other prouynces he fond somme cristen men within the cite And brought them wyth hym bounden to the cyte of Cordule And made them there to dye by dyuers tormentys And thenne Abdon sennen whyche were as gouernours of the contray toke the bodyes and buryed them Thenne were they accused and brought to decyen and he dyd do lede them wyth hym bounden in chaynes to rome thenne were they brought tofore decien and tofore the senatours thenne was it commaunded that they shold doo sacrefyse And they shold haue al theyr thynges frely Or ellys they shold be deuoured by bytynges of wyld beestes But they dyspyseden to make sacrefyse and spytten ayenste the fals ydollys and statues thenne were they drawen to the place of martirdome and made to be brought to them two lyone and ij berys whiche dyde to them non harme ne touched them not But rather kepte them fro harme Thenne began they to cast speres and swerdes at them and atte last they were alle to hewen wyth swerdis and thenne they were bouÌden by the feet and drawen thrugh the toun vnto thydolle of the sonne And whan they had leyn there iij dayes quyryne subdeken toke the bodyes vp and buryed them in his hous And they suffred deth aboute the yere of our lord two hondred liij Thus endeth the lyues of Abdon and Sennen Here foloweth the lyl of seynt Germayne and first of hys name GErmayne is sayde of germe and ana that is hye thys is to saye souerayn germe Thre thynges ben fouÌden in seed germynyng that is to wete natural hete humour nutrimental and reson of seed Thenne the holy Seynt Germayn is sayd as seed germynyng For in hym was hete by brennyng of loue humour by fatnesse of deuocion and reson of the seed by vertu of predycacion by whiche he engeÌdryd moche peple to the fayth And in good maners And constance the preest wrote his lyf to seynt seueryn bysshop of Anserre ¶ Of Seynt Germayne GErmayn was of moche noble lygnage born in the cite ancerre And was taught and enformed wel in the artes lyberalle And after he went to rome For to lerne the scyence of the decretees droytes lawe And there receyued he so moche of dygnyte that the senate sent hym vnto ffraunce for to haue and obtayne the dygnyte of the duchy of alle burgoyne And thus as he gouerned the cyte more dylygently than al the other ther was in the myddes of the cite a tre whiche
of spirituel bondes And the fyrst cause whyche is in remembraunce of saynt peter ffor as it is said in thistorie scolastyque that herode agrippe went to rome and was right famylier with gayus neuewe of tyberius Emperour And on a day as herode was in a chariote brought with gayen he lyfte vp his handes in to heuen And sayd I wold gladly see the deth of this olde felawe Peter and the lord of alle the world and the chariot man herd this word sayd of herode And anon tolde it to tyberyus wherfor Tyberyus sette herode in pryson And as he Was there he behelde on a day by hym a tree and sawe vpon the braunches of this tree an owle whiche satte theron and another prysonner whyche was with hym that vnderstode well dyuynacions sayde to hym Thou shalt be anon delyuerd and shalt be enhaunsed to be a kyng In suche wyse that thy frendes shalle haue enuye at the and thou shalt dye in that prosperyte And knowe thou for trouthe That whan thou shalt see the Owle ouer at the ende of fyue dayes after thou shalt dye for certayn And anon after Tyberyus deyed And Gayus was Emperour whiche delyuerd heroude out of pryson and enhaunsed hym gloryously and sent hym as kyng in to Iudee and anon as he cam he sent hys puyssaunce and sette hand to For to put somme of the chyrche to affliction and dyd doo slee Iames brother of seynt Iohan theuangelyst with a swerde byfore the day of ester And bycause it was a thyng agreable and plesed the Iewes He toke Peter on ester day and enclosed hym fast in pryson And wold after ester bryng hym forth and shewe hym to the peple and slee hym but thangel cam merueyllously and vnbond hym and losed his chaynes and sent hym forth alle quyt to the seruyse of prechyng the word of god And the felonny of this kyng suffred not tabyde ony discicion of vengyance For the next day folowyng he made to come the kepars For to begynne to tormente them with dyuers paynes for the fleyng of Peter but he was lette to doo that that the delyueraunce greued theÌ not For he went hastely to Cezarie And there was smeton of an angelle and deyed Thus reherceth Iosephus in the booke of antyquyte For whan he rode cam in to Cezaree alle the men wymmen of that prouynce cam to hym And whan the day cam that he shold goo in Iugement and take possessyon of the contray He went and cladde hym with a vestment of tyssue merueylously shynyng of golde and siluer And whan the sonne smote and shone on it It was more shynyng than the sonne For it was so bryght that no man myght beholde it And the brightenes was lyke rede metal and gaf fere and drede to them that loked theron and therfor the pryde of hym was so grete that he better semed a man made by crafte than by nature humayn And thenne the peple began to crye say we haue seen the tyl now lyke a man But now we confesse that thou art aboue nature humayn And thus as he was flatred with honours and reffused not dyuyne worshippes he beyng there sette he sawe aboue his hede an owle syttyng whiche was messager of his hasty deth And whan he had apperceyued the owle And byheld the peple that were there assembled and comen at his commaundement he sayd to them certayn I that am youre lord shalle deye wythin fyue dayes For he knewe it well bycause the deuynour had told hym that he shold deye within fyue dayes that he had see the owle syttyng aboue hym And Incontynent after this thyng thus accomplisshed he was smeten sodanly in suche wise that wormes ete his bowels and on the fyfte day deyed And this sayth Iosephus And bycause thenne in remembraunce of the delyueraunce of Seynt Peter prynce of thappostles fro the cruel vengaunce of the cruel tyraunt whyche assone as he was enhaunsed to be kyng went to pursewe and destroye the chirche therfor the chyrche haloweth the feste of Seynt Peter advincula And the epystle is songen in the masse in whyche thys delyueraunce is witnessed here to be doon The second cause of thestablyssyng of thys feste was by cause Alysaunder the pope whiche was the vj after Peter And hermes prouost of rome whiche was conuerted to the fayth by the same Alexander were holden in dyuerse places in the pryson of quyryn the Iuge whiche Iuge sayd to hermes the prouost I merueylle of the that art so wyse a man that thou wilt leue the grete worldly honours that thou hast and the grete richesses that thou receyuest of thy prouostye And wylt leue alle thyse thynges for dremyng of an other lyf To whom hermes sayd to fore thys tyme I despreysed and scorned ¶ And wend there had ben none other lyf than this Quyrynus answerd Make prouf to me that there is an other lyf anon I shalle applye me to thy fayth To whom hermes sayd Allexander whom thou holdest in thy pryson shalle enforme the better than I Thenne quyryn cursyd Alexander And sayde to hym I wyll that thou shalt make proef of thys thyng to me and thou sendest me to Alexander whom I hold bounden in chaynes for his euyll dedes Truly I shalle double the pryson vpon the and alexander and I shalle sette watche vpon you And yf I fynd the with hym or hym with the I shal verely gyue fayth to thyn and his wordes And thenne he doubted theyr kepars And shewed this to Alexander and thenne alexander prayed to god And an angelle cam to hym and brought hym in to the pryson to hermes And whan quyryn cam to the pryson He fond them both to gydre wherof he was moche admerueylled thenne hermes recounted to quyryn how Alexander had heled his sonne and reysed hym fro deth And quiryn thenne sayd to Alexander I haue a doughter named balbyne wyiche is seek of the goute yf thou mayst hele her I promyse the that I shal receyue thy fayth yf thou mayst gete for her helthe To whom alexander sayd Goo anon and bryng her to me in to my pryson And quyryne sayd to hym how may I fynd the in thy pryson and art here And Alexander sayd goo thy waye anon For he that brought me hyther shalle sone bryng me theder And Quyryn went thenne and fette hys doughter And brought her in to the pryson where Alexander was fonde hym there and thenne knelyd doun to hys feet And his doughter began to kysse the chaynes with whyche seint Alexander was bounden hopyng therby to receyue her helth And Seynt Alexander sayd to her Doughter kysse not my chaynes But seke the chaynes of seynt Peter and kysse them wyth deuocion And thou shalt receyue thy helthe And anon Quyryn dyd do seche the chaynes of Seynt Peter and they were founden And Alexander dyd the doughter do kysse them And anon as she had kyssed them she receyued her
helth and was alle hool Thenne Quyryn demaunded pardon foryeuenes And delyuerd Alexander out of pryson and receyued the holy bapteme he and alle hys meyne and many other Thenne Alexander establysshed this feste to be halowed alleway the first day of august And dyd doo make a chyrche in thonour of seint peter where as he sette the chaynes And named it seynt peter ad vincula and to that chyrche come moche peple at that solempnyte and the peple kyssed there the bondes and chaynes of seynt peter The thyrde cause of thys establisshement after bede is this â Antoyne and Octauyan were so conioyned to gydre by affynyte that they departed bytwene them two th empyre of the world Octouyen had in thoceydent ytalye ffraunce and spayne And Antoyne had in the eest Asye Ponte and affrique Anthoyne was wylde Ioly and rybauldus and had the suster of Octauyen to his wyf And left her and toke cleopatra which was quene of egypt and for this cause Octauyen had hym in grete despyte And went wyth force of armes ayenst Anthoyne in Asye And ouercam hym in alle thynges Thenne Anthoyne and Cleopatra fledde as vaynquysshed And slewe them self by grete sorowe And octauyen destroyed entierly the royame of Egypte and made be vnder the Romayns ¶ And fro thens he went in alle the hast he myght in to Alexandrye And despoyled it of alle rychesses and brought them to Rome And encreased so the comyn prouffyt of Rome That there was gyuen for one peny that whyche to fore was sold for foure And bycause the batayles of the peple had wasted and destroyed the cyte of Rome he renewed it sayeng I fond it couerd wyth tyles And I shalle leue it now couerd wyth marble And for thyse causes he was made emperour And the fyrst that euer was callyd Auguste And of hym ben alle other that come after hym called Augustes Lyke as after his vncle Iulyus Cezar they ben called Cezariens Also thys moneth of Auguste whyche tofore was called Sextilys The peple entituled it to hys name callyd it Angustus in thonour and rememberaunce of the victoryâe of the Emperour that he had the first day of thys monthe In so moche that alle the Romayns made that day grete solempnyte vnto the tyme of Theodosye themperour whyche began to regne the yere of our lord CCCCxxvj Thenne Eudosie doughter of the sayde Theodosyen Emperour and wyf of valente went by a bowe to Iherusalem And there a Iewe gaf to her for grete loue a grete yefte ¶ And they were the bondes that is to wete the ij chaynes wyth whiche Seynt Peter vnder herode was bounden wyth Wherof she was moche Ioyous And whan she retorned to rome she sawe that the Romayns halowed the fyrst day of august in thonour of an Emperour Paynem whyche was deed thenne was she moche sorouful by cause they dyd so moche honour to a man dampned And thought that they myght not lyghtely be wythdrawen fro thys custome But yf she myght so moche doo she wold not leue it thus But that it shold be made in thonour of Seynt Peter And that alle the peple shold name that day the day of Seynt Peter ad vincula And herof she had collacoÌn with seynt Pelagyen the pope And brought them wyth fayre wordes to that that the remembraunce of the prynce of paynems was forgoten And the memorye of the prynce of thappostles was halowed And it plesed ryght well to alle the people Thenne she brought forth the chaynes whyche she had brought fro Iherusalem And shewed them to alle the peple And the pope brought forth the chayne wyth whiche he had be bounden vnder Nero ¶ And assone as that chayne touched that other alle thre by myracle were but one lyke as they had be neuer but one Thenne the pope and the quene establysshed that the folisshe relygyon of the peple makyng solempnyte of a Paynem were chaunged in to better And was made of Seynt Peter prynce of thappostles And the pope and the quene sette the chaynes in the chyrche of seynt Peter ad vyncula And were gyuen of the quene to the sayd chyrche ryght grete yeftes and ryght fayre preuyleges and it was establysshed that day to be halowed ouer alle ¶ And thys is that lede sayth And Sygybert also sayth the same of thys thyng And of what grete vertue thys chayne is It apperyth wel in the yere of our lord foure hondred and xl iiij There was an erle whiche was nyghe to the Emperour Octone that was so cruelly vexyd and tormented with the deuyll to fore alle the peple that wyth his owen trethe he bote and tare hym self And by the commaundement of themperour he was ledde to pope IohÌn for to put the chayns aboute hys necke And there was a nother put aboute hys necke of thys wode man and demonyake â And it dyd hym none alegement By cause it had no vertu And atte last the very chayne of Seynt Peter was broughte and put aboute the necke of the sayde man Demonyake But it was of suche vertue that the deuyl myght not bere it But departed and went out cryeng tofore them alle Thenne Theodoryke bysshop of Mets toke that chayne and said he wold not departe fro it in no maner but yf his hand were cut of for this cause was grete descorde bytwene the pope and the bysshop and the other clerkes And atte laste the Emperour appeased the noyse And gate of the pope that he had a lynke of the chayne â And he kepte it moche Worthely in grete deuocion Mylet also recompteth in his cronyque And is wreton in thystorie tripertite that in that tyme there was a grete horryble dragon whiche apperyd at empyrum And the bysshop donatâ spytte in his mouth and kylled hym forthwith but that bysshop made tofore the signe of the crosse with his fyngres vpon the dragon For he was so grete that there behoued seuen cople oxen to drawe hym thens out of the toune in to a place where he was brent for by cause the stenche of hym shold not corupt the ayer yet sayth the same mylet also it is sayd in thystorye tripertite that the deuyl apperyd in a toune named creta in the semblaunce of moyses And this creta is nygh to a montayne whiche is nygh to the see assembled a grete multitude of Iewes of alle places And brought them to the toppe and hyest of the montayne promysed them to lede them and to goo drye foot with them vppon the see in to the londe of promyssyon And there he assembled peple wythout nombre And some byleue that the deuyl had despyte of the Iewe that had gyuen this chayne to the quene by whyche the feste of Octauyen cessed to be made And whan the deuyl sawe that he had there of the Iewes wythout nombre aboue the grete montayne He made many falle doun from the toppe to the ground bynethe
And made of them wythout nombre to be drowned in the see And thus the deuyll aduenged hym on them And many of them that escaped bycam cristen ffor whan they wold haue goon vp on the montayne wyth the other they myght not go vp so sharpe roches in suche wyse that they that went vp were alle to cutte with the stones And the other were drowned in the see and weren alle deed And whan the other wolde haue doon the same and tarryed by cause they wyst not what was happed of the other certayn fysshers goyng by them told what was fallen of the other and thus they that myght escape retorned and wente not after the other And al thise thynges ben conteyned in the said historye The fourth cause of the Instytucion of this feste may be assygned here in this wyse â For our lord delyuerd seynt Peter out of his chaynes by myracle And gaf hym power to bynde and vnbynde ffor we be holden and bounden vnto the londe of synne and haue nede to be assoyled Therfor we worship the solempnyte of the chaynes afor sayd For as he deserued to be vnbounde of the bondes of his chaynes so receyued he power of our lord IhÌu crist to assoyle vs And thys last reson may be lyghtly apperceyued For thou seest that thepystle accordeth thabsolucoÌn and losyng of the chaynes made to thappostle And the gospell recordeth the power that was gyuen to hym for tassoyle And thoryson of the dethe requyreth that absolucion be made to vs And thys that somtyme he gyueth absolucion And assoylleth the dampned otherwhyle by the power of the kayes whiche he receyued It apperyth in a myracle of the blessid virgyne marrie On a tyme there was a monke a scolyer whiche was in the cyte of coloyne in the monastery of seynt peter whiche monke was synful and whan this monke was supprysed with sodeyn dethe the deuyllis accused hym and cryed on hym that he had don alle maner synnes That one sayd I am couetyse whiche so oft thou hast coueyted ayenst the commaundement of god And another sayd I am vayne glorye of whyche thou hast enioyed the in makyng a vaunte emong men And another sayde I am thy lesyng in whiche thou oft synâedest in lyeng And other in lyke wyse And contrarye to them some good werkys that he had don excused hym sayeng I am obedyence whyche thou dydest to thyn elders and soueraynes Another sayd I am the song of psalmes that thou hast songen to god moche ardantly seint peter to whom he was a monke went to god for to pray for hym and our lord ansuerde to hym hath not the prophete sayd by my Inspyracion OneÌ quis hitabit in tabernaculo tuo lord who shal dwell in thy tabernacle or who shal reste in thy hye holy montayn he that shall be wythout spotte of synne how may this man thenne be saued whiche is not entred wythout spotte Ne hath doon no rightwisnesse And yet peter prayed for hym with the blessid virgyne moder of god Thenne our lord gaf vpon hym this sentence that the soule shold retorne agayn to the body and that he shold doo penaunce And thenne seynt peter with the kay that he held in his hond fered the deuyllis and made them to flee and after delyuerd the soule to a monke of the same monastery and commaunded hym that he shold bryng it to the body and he bare it to hym and requyred of hym for his rewarde that he had brought it agayn that he shold say euery day for hym the psalme Miserere mei deus and that he shold of te swepe his sepulture kepe it clene And thus he reuyued fro the deth and cam agayn to the world and dyde hys penaunce and recompted to alle the peple this that had happed to hym Thenne late vs praye this gloryous appostle seynt peter to be our aduocate to our lord Ihesu cryste that we may by the power of the kayes gyuen to hym haue very absolucion of oure synnes that after the accomplysshemeÌt of this short transitory lyf we may come to euer lastyng lyf in heuen amen Thus endeth thistorye of seint Peter ad vincula Here foloweth the lyf of seynt Stephen the Pope WHan seynt stephen the pope had conuerted many of the paynems vnto the cristen fayth both by word and by example and had also buryed many bodyes of the marters in the yere of our lord two hondred lx he was sought by grete studye of valeryen and of galyen thenne empereurs For by cause that he and his clerkes shold doo sacrefyse vnto theyr ydolles or ellis to be slayne by dyuers tormentis and the sayd emperours made ordynaunce that who someuer broughte them he shold haue all theyr substauÌce and for that cause x of his clerkes were taken and brought forth and anon wythout audyence were byheded And the day folowyng seynt Stephen the pope was taken and brought to the temple of mars theyr god to th ende that he shold adoure and doo honour to thydolle or ellys he shold haue sentence to be byheded But whan he was entred in to the temple he prayed to our lord IhÌu cryst that he wold destroy the temple and anon a grete party of the temple fylle And alle they that were there ffledde for drede that they had and thenne he went to the Cymetoyre of seynt luke and whan valerien herd that he sent to hym mo knyghtes than he dyd tofore and whan they cam they fond hym syngyng masse And anon he fynysshed deuoutly that which he had begonne And that doon theâ byheded hym in his seete ¶ Thus endeth the passyon of seynt Stephen the pope Here foloweth thynuencion of seynt Stephen prothomartir THe Inuencion of the holy body of seynt Stephen prothomartir was made in the yere of our lord iiijCxvij in the xvij yere of honorius themperour The Inuencion of hym the translacion and the coniunction were made by ordre For a prest named lucyen of the contray of IhÌrlm Of whom gerard recompteth emong the noble men and wryteth thus that on a fryday Whan he was in his ledde rested and vnnethe awoke He sawe an auncient man of noble stature wyth a long berd wyth a semely vysage enuyronned in a Whyte mantel In whiche there were litil ouches crosses of gold tissued he was hosed wyth hosen browdred with gold aboue which helde in his honde a rodde of gold wyth whiche he touched hym and sayd Goo and with grete dylygence opene our tombes For We ben leyde in a place dyshonest and of despyte Goo thou therfor vnto IohÌn the bysshop of Iherusalem and say to hym that he lay vs in a more honourable place And by cause that drought and tribulacion is thrugh the world God hath ordeyned to be debonayr and merciful to the world by our suffragyes and prayers And lucian sayd to hym Syre who art thou I am sayd he gamaliel which norisshed thappostle poule enseygned hym
waylyng But many doubte yf he suffred deth vnder this decian For it is red in the Cronycle that Sixte was long after decian Eutropius neuertheles affermeth and sayth that decian meuynge persecucyon ageynst crysten men among other he slewe the blessid laurence dekeÌ and martir And it is said in a Cronyke autentyke ynough that it was not vnder this decyan emperour that succeded to phelyp but vnder another decyan yonger whiche was Cezar and not emperour he suffred martirdome For bytwene Decyan themperour and this decyan the yonger vnder whome it is said that laurence was martryd ther were many emperours and popes Also it is said that gallus and Volusianus his sone succeded decyan And after them Valeryen with galren his sone helde th empyre And they made decyan the yonger Cezar and not emperour For auncyently whan ony was made Cezar neuerthemore he was Augustus ne emperour as it is redde in the cronycles that Dyoclesyan made maxymyan Cezar And after fro Cezar he was made Augustus and emperour ¶ In the tyme of these emperours valeryen and galyan Sixt helde the see of Rome And this Decyan was called Cezar and not emperour but decyan Cezar only And he martred the blessid Fabyan And cornely succeded after Fabyan whiche was martred vnder Valeryan and galyan whiche regned xv yere And lucyan succeded Cornely And Stephen the pope succeded lucyan And Denys succeded Stephen And Sixte succeded Denys And this is conteyned in that Cronycle And yf this be trewe that whiche mayster Iohan beleth putteth maye be trewe And it is redde in an other cronycle that the said galyan had two names and was called galyan and Decyan and vnder hym Sixte Laurence suffred martirdom about the yere of oure lord twoo honderd and thre score Godefroy in his booke that is called antheonydes affermeth that galyan was called by another name Decyan Seynt gregory sayth in hys Dyaloges that ther was a nonne in Sabyne whiche held hyr contynent of her flesshe but she eschewed not the Ianglerye of her tonge and she was buryed in the chirch of saynt laurence the holy martir And was leyd to fore the aulter of the martir and was taken of the deuyls and departed and so wen a sondre and that one parte was brente and that other parte remayned hoole so that on the mornyng the brennyng appered vysybly Gregory of Tours sayth that whan a certeyne preest repayred the chirch of saynt laurence And one of the bemes was ouer short and requyred saynt laurence that he whiche had norysshed poure men wold helpe his pouerte And the beme grew so sodenly that ther remayned a grete parte And the preest cut that part in to smal pyeces and cured and heled ther with many maledyes And this wytnesseth seynt fortunate It happed at Bryoras a castell in ytaly that a man was sore vexed with tooth ache And he atouched this wode And anone the ache was gone Seynt gregory telleth in his book of dyaloges that a preest named sanctyne repayred a chirche of saynt laurence whiche had be brente of lumbardes and hyred many werkmen And one tyme he had nothyng to sette to fore them And thenne he made his prayers and after loked in his paner and there he fonde a moch whyte loof of breed but hym semed that hit suffysed not for one dyner for thre persones Seynt Laurence whiche wolde not fayle his werkmen dyd doo multyplye that his werkmen were susteyned therby ten dayes ¶ In the chirch of saynt laurence at melan was a chalyce of crystall merueylously clere And as the deken bare it on a day of solempnyte to the aulter it fylle oute of his hondes to the ground and was all to broken And thenne the deken wepyng gadered to gyder the pyeces And leyd them on the aulter And prayd the holy martir seynt laurence that the chalyce broken myght be made hoole ageyne And thenne anone it was founden al hool It is redde inthe book of the myracles of oure blessid lady saynt Marye that a Iuge named Stephen was at rome and tooke gladly yeftes and peruerted the IugemeÌtes And this Iuge tooke aweye by force thre howses that were longyng to the chirche of saynt laurence And a gardyn of saynt Agnes And posseded them wrongfully It happed that the Iuge deyed and was brouÈt to Iugement to fore god And whan saynt laurence sawe hym he wente to hym in grete despyte And strayned hym thre tymes by the arme right hard And tormented hym by grete payne And saynt Agnes other Vyrgyns dayned not to loke on hym but torned their vysages awey fro hym And theÌne the Iuge gyuyng sentence ageynst hym said by cause he hath withdrawen other mennes thynges and hath taken yeftes and solde trouthe that he shold be put in the place of Iudas the traytour And saynt Proiecte whome the sayd Stephen had moche louyd in his lif cam to the blessid laurence and to saynt Agnes and cryed them mercy for hym Thenne the blessid vyrgyn Mary and they prayd to god for hym And thenne it was graunted to them that the sowle of hym sholde goo ageyn to the body and there sholde do his penaunce thyrty dayes And oure blessid lady commaunded hym that as longe as he lyued he sholde say the psalme Beati inmaculati And when the soule cam to the body ageyn his arme was lyke as it had be brent lyke as he had suffred that hurte in his body And that token and signe was in hym as longe as he lyued Thenne rendryd ãâã that whiche he had taken and dyde ãâã penaunce And atte xxx day he passed oute of this world to oure lord It is redde in the lyf of saynt Henry themperour that he and kunegonde his wyf were vyrgyns to geder by thatysement of the deuyll he had his wyf suspecte of a knyghte And he made his wyf goo barfoote vppon brennyng asshes fyften paas And whan she asceÌded vppon them she said thus As I am not corrupte ne defowled of Harry ne of al other so Ihesu criste helpe me Thenne Henry themperour was ashamed and yafe her a buffet on the cââke and a voys said the Vyrgyn Mary hath delyuerd the Vyrgyn and she weÌt without ony hurt vppon the brennyng asshes when theÌperour was deed there wente a grete multitude of deuyls to fore the celle of an heremyte and he opened the wyndowe and demaunded atte last what they were and one answerde a legyon of deuyls we be that goo to the deth of themperour yf parauenture we may fynde ony thyng in hym He adiured hym that he sholde come ageyne to hym whiche retornyng sayde we haue prouffyted no thyng For whan this fals suspecion of hys wyf and alle the good thynges and euylle thynges were leyd in a balauÌce this brente and bruled laurence brought forthe a pot of gold of moche grete weyght And whan we supposed to haue surmounted he caste that pot in the balaunce on that other syde
nyght with the body he made there a chirche in thonour of hym And thus was brought to pauye with grete ioye And was leid honourably in the chirche of saynt peter whiche is called Cioldoree or heuen of gold in Englysshe Seynt Bernard on a nyÈt as he was at matyns he slombryd a lytel and the lessons of saynt Augustyn were redde And thenne he sawe a ryght fayr yong man stondyng before hym And soo grete habundaunce of water comyng oute of his mouthe that hym semed alle the chirche was full therof And thenne he awoke and wyst wel that it was saynt Augustyn whiche hadde fulfylled that chirche with his doctryne Ther was a man whiche had grete deuocion to saynt augustyn gafe grete good to a Monke that kepte the body of saynt Augustyn for to haue a fynger of the gloryous saynt And this Monke tooke this money and delyuerd to hym the fyngre of another dede man wrapped in sylke and fayned that it was the fyngre of the gloryous saynt Austyn And the good man receyued it moche honourably in grete reuerence and honoured hit euery day deuoutely and touched with all his eyen and his mouthe and oft enbraced it ageynst his brest And god by his mercy that byholdeth alle thyng and the fayth of this man gaf to hym for that fyngre the very propre fyngre of saynt Augustyn And whan he cam in to his countreye ther were many myracles shewed ther by The renomme and fame therof cam to pauye of this fyngre And the MoÌke afore sayd affermed alwey that it was the fyngre of another dede maÌ The sepulcre was opened for to know the trouthe and hit was fouÌde that ther lacked one of the fyngres of the gloryous saynt And whan thabbotte had knowlege of this thynge he putt oute the Monke of that offyce And tormented and punysshed hym sore Many other myracles hath god shewed by his lyfe and also after his deth whiche were ouer longe to wryte in this booke For they wold I suppose conteyne a book as moche as al this and more but among other correction I wylle sette here in one myracle whiche I haue sene paynted on an aulter of saynt Austyn at the blacke Freres at Andwerpe how be it I fynde hit not in the legende myn exampler neyther in Englysshe Frensshe ne in latyn It was soo that this gloryous Doctor made and compyled many volumes as a fore is sayd among whome he made a book of the Trynyte In whiche he studyed and mused sore in his mynde soo ferforthe that on a tyme as he wente by the see syde in Auffryke studyeng on the Trynyte he fonde by the see syde a lytel childe whiche hadde made a lytel pytte in the sonde and in his honde a lytel spone And wyth the spone he tooke oute water of the large See and poured hit in to the pytte ¶ And whanne saynt Augustyn behelde hym he merueyled and demaunded hym what he dyde ¶ And he answerd and sayde I wylle lade oute and brynge alle this water of this See in to thys pytte what sayd he hit is Impossyble How maye hit be done sythe the See is soo greete and large and thy pytte and spone soo lytylle yes forsothe sayd he I shalle lyghtlyer and sonner drawe alle the water of the See And brynge hit in to this pytte than thow shalt brynge the mysterye of the Trynyte and his dyuynyte in to thy lytel vnderstandynge as to the regard therof For the mysterye of the Trynyte is greter and larger to the comparyson of thy wytte and brayne than is this grete see vnto this lytel pytte And therwyth the childe vanysshed awey Thenne here may euery man take ensample that no man and specially symple lettred men ne vnlerned presume to entermete ne to muse on hyghe thynges of the godhede ferther than we be enfourmed by our faythe For our only feyth shalle suffyse vs Thenne here with I make an ende of the lyf of this gloryous Doctor saynt Austyn to whome late vs deuoutely praye that he be a medyatour and aduocate vnto the blessyd Trynyte that we maye amende oure synful lyfe in this transytorye world that whan we shalle departe we may come to euerlastyng blysse in heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the lif of saynt Augustyn doctour Here foloweth the decollacion of saynt Iohan Baptist AT is redde that the decollacion of saynt Iohan baptist was establysshed for four causes lyke as it is fouÌdein the book of office First for his decollacion Secondly for the brennyng and gaderynge to geder of his bones Thyrdly for the Inuencion and fyndyng of his heede And fourthly for the translacion of his fyngre and dedycacion of the chirche And after somme peple this feste is named dyuersly that is to saye decollacion Collection Inuencion and dedicacion First this feste is halowed for his decollacion whiche was made in this maner For as hit is had in historia scolastica Herodes Antipa sone of the grete Herode wente to Rome passed by the hows of philip his broder began to loue the wyfe of his broder whiche was named Herodyane wyf of the same philip his broder after that Iosephus sayth she was suster of Herode Agryppa And whan he retourned he refused and repudyed his owne wyf and secretely wedded her to his wyf the whiche thynge his wyf knewe wel that he had wedded his broders Wyfe And this fyrste wyfe of Herode was doughter of Areth kyng of damaske And therfor she abode not the comyng home of her husbond but wente to her fader as sone as she myght And when Herode retorned he took awey the wyf of phelyp his broder and wedded her and left his owne And ther moeued ageynst hym therfore Herode Agryppe And the kyng of Arethe and Phelyp bycam his enemyes And saynt IohÌn sayd to hym that he had not done well to doo soo by cause after the lawe hit apperteyned not to hym to haue holde the wyf of his broder lyuyng And Herode sawe that Iohan repreuyd hym of this thyng soo cruelly as Iosephus sayth by cause he repreued hym of blame he assembled grete peple for to please his wyf And dyd do bynde and putte saynt Iohan in pryson but he wold not slee hym for doubte of the peple whiche moche loued Iohan and folowed hym for his predicacion and Herode and Herodyan couetyng occasyon ageynste saynt Iohan how they myght make hym to dye ordeyned bytwene them secretetely that whanne Herode sholde make the Feste of his Natyuyte the doughter of Herodyane shold demaunde a yefte of Herode for daunsyng and spryngyng at the feste to fore the pryncipal prynces of his royamme And he shold swere to her by his othe that he shalle graunte hit her And she shold axe the hede of saynt Iohan and he wold yeue it to her for kepyng of his othe but he shold fayne as he were angry by cause of makynge of the othe And it is redde in thystorye
scolastyk that he had this tricherye and grete fantasye in hym where it is sayd thus It is to be byleuyd that Herode treated first secretely with his wyf of the dethe of saynt Iohan And vnder this occasion sayth Iherom in the glose And therfore he sware for to fynde occasion to slee hym For yf she had requyred the dethe of his fader or moder he had not gyuen it to her ne consented it And whan the feste was assembled the mayde was there spryngyng and daunsyng to fore them all in suche wyse that hit plesyd moche to alle And thenne sware the kyng that he wold gyue to her what someuer she requyred though she demaunded half his kyngdome And thenne she warned by her moder demaunded the hede of saynt Iohan baptist Neuerthelesse herood by euylle courage fayned that he was angry by cause of his oth And as Rabanus saith that he hadde sworn folyly that he must nedes doo But he made no signe of sorowe saufe in the vysage For ãâã was ioyous in his herte he excused the felonye of his othe shewyng that he dyd it vnder the occacion of pyte Thenne the hang maÌ cam and smote of his heede and delyuerd it to the mayde the whiche she leyd in a plater and presented hit atte dyner to hir meschyuous moder And thenne Herode was moche abasshed whan he sawe hit And saynt Austyn reherceth in a Sermon that thoccasion of the decollacion was the sweryng that ther was an Innocent man and a trewe whiche had lente certayne money to another man whiche denyed it hym whan he axed it And the good man was meued and constrayned hym by his othe to swere whether he ought hym or no And he sware that he ought hym nought And soo the creditor loste that he had lente and theÌne he sayth that in the next day folowyng the creditor was rauysshed and brought to fore the Iugement and hit was asked hym why callest thou that man for to be byleuyd by his othe he sayd by cause he denyed my dette the Iuge sayd it had ben better to the to lese thy dette than he shold lese his sowle by makyng of a fals othe as he dyde And thenne this man was taken and greu ously beten so that whan he awoke the tokenes of his woundes appered on his back but he was pardoned and forgeuen And after this Austyn sayth that saynt Iohan was not byheded on this day whan the feste of his decollacion is halowed but the yere to fore aboute the feste of Eester And by cause of the passion of Ihesu Cryst and of the sacrament of our lord hit is differred vnto this day For the lasse ought to gyue place to the more gretter And of that saynt Iohan saynt Iohan Crysostom sayth Iohan the baptist byheded is bicome mayster of the scole of vertues and of lyf the fourme of holynes the Rewle of Iustyce the myrrour of vyrgynyte the ensample of chastyte the weye of penaunce pardon of synne and disciplyne of fayth Iohan is gretter than man peere vnto the Aungels souerayne holynes of the lawe of the gospell the voys of thappostles the scylence of the prophetes the lanterne of the world the forgoer of the Iuge and moyen of alle the Trynyte And this soo grete a man was put to martirdom and gaf his hede to the aduoultrer and delyuerd to the spryngyng mayde Herode thenne wente not awey al vnpunysshed but he was dampned in to exyle For as it is conteyned in thystory Scolastyke Herode Agryppe was a noble man but he was poure And for his ouer moche pouerte he was in despayre and entryd in to a certeyne toure for to suffre dethe ther by famyne and hongre But whan Herodyane his suster herde therof she prayd Herode tetrarche that he wold brynge hym thens and mynystre to hym And whanne he hadde done soo they dyned to gyder And Herodes Tetrarcha begaÌ to chauffe hym by the wyn whiche he had dronken And beganne to repreue Herode Agryppe of the bienfettes that he had done to hym And that other sorowed sore and wente to Rome and was receyued in to the grace of Gaius themperour and gafe to hym two lord shippes that is to saye of lusayne and Abylyne and crowned hym and sent hym kyng in to the Iewrye And whan Herodyane saw her broder haue the name of a kyng she prayd her husbond with grete wepynges that he shold goo to Rome and bye hym the name of a kyng he habunded gretely in Rychesses and entendyd not to her desyre For he had leuer be ydle in reste than to haue honour laboryous But at the last he was ouercomen by her besy prayers and wente to Rome wyth her And whan Herode Agryppe knewe it he sente lettres to the Cezar that Herode Antipas or thetrarcha had made frendship with the kyng of perces and alyaunce and that he wold rebelle ageynst th empyre of Rome And in token of this thyng he signyfyed to hym that he had in his garnysons armours ynowe for to garnysshe with seuen thousand men And when themperour had redde these lettres he was moche glad and beganne to speke of other thynges first a ferre fro his purpose And amonge other thynges he demaunded hym yf he had in his Cytees grete habundaunce of armures as he herd saye and he denyed hit not to hym Thenne themperour byleuyd well that whiche Herode hadde sente hym in wrytyng and was angry toward hym and sente hym in to exyle And by cause his wyf was suster to Herode Agryppe whome he moche loued gaf to her leue to retorne to her Countreye but she wold goo with her husbond in exyle and sayd that he had ben in grete prosptryte she sholde not leue hym in his aduersytees And thenne were they brought to lyons And there ended theyr lyues myserably This is in thystory Scolastyke Secondly this feste was establysshed and halowed for the brennyng of his bones and gaderyng to gyder on thys day lyke as somme saye they were were brente and were gadryd vp of good Crysten men And thenne suffrid he the second martirdome when his bones were brente And therfor the Chirche haloweth this feste also as his second martirdome as it is redde in thystorye Scolastyke For when his disciples had borne his body in to the Cyte of Sebasten palestyne they buryed hit bytwene Helyzee and Abdyas And at his tombe many myracles were shewed Thenne Iulyan thappostata commaunded that his bones shold be brent And they cessed not to doo theyr woodenes theÌne they tooke them and brent them in to poudre and wynewed them in the feldes And Bede sayth in his Cronycles that when they hâd gadred his bones they drewe them a ferre that one fro that other And by this wyse he suffred the second martirdome But they saye that knâwen it not that the day of his natyuite his bones were gadryd all aboute and Were brente And whiles they
Englisshe and Egidius in latyn And it is sayd of E that is withoute and geos that is erthe and dya that is cleer oâ godly he was withoute erthe by despisyng of erthely thynges Cleere by enlumynyng of scyence Dyuyne or godly by loue whiche assembleth the loueâ to hym that is loued ¶ Of saint Gile SAynt Gyle was borne in Athenes and was of noble lygnage and ryall kynrede And in his childehode he was enformed in holy lettâure And on a daye as he wente to the chirche he fonde a seke man whiche lay all seke in the waye and demaunded almesse of saynt Gyle whiche gaf hym his cote And as soone as he cladde hym with all he receyued full and entyer helthe And after that anon his fader and his moder deyd and rested in our lord And thenne saynt Gyle made Ihesu Cryste heyr of his herytage On a tyme as he went to the chirche a man was smeton with a serpent and deyde And Gyles cam ageynst this serpent and made his oryson and chaced oute of hym al the venym Ther was a man whiche wâs demonyake in the monasterye with other peple and troubled them that herde the seruyce of god Thenne Gyles coniured the deuylle that was in hâs body And anone he yssued oute and anone he was al hoole Thenne Gyles doubted the parylle of the world and wente secretely to the Ryuaââ of the see And sawe there marynas in grete peryll and lyke to ãâã in the see And he made his prayer and anone the tempest cessed and anone the maronners cam to bonde and thanked god And he vnderstode by them that they wente to Rome And he desyred to go with them whome they receyued in to theyr shippe gladly And sayd they wold brynge hym thyder without ony freyght or huyr And thenne he cam to Arelete and abode there two yere with saynt Cezaryen Bisshop of that Cyte And there he heled a man that hadde ben seke of the feuers thre yere And after he desyred to goo in to deserte departed couertly and dwellyd there long with an Heremyte that was an holy man And there by his merytes he chaced awey the sterylyte and bareynes that was in that Countre caused grete plente of goodes And whan he had done this myracle he doubted the perylle of the glorye humayne and lefte that place and entred ferther in to deserte And there fonde a pytte and a lytel welle and a fayr hynde which without doubte was purueyed of god for to norysshe hym And at certayne houres mynystred her mylke to hym And on a tyme seruauÌtes of the kyng roode on hontyng moche peple many houÌdes with them It happed that they espyed this hynde they thouÈte that she was soo fayre that they folowed her with houÌdes whan she was fore constrayned she fled for socour to the feet of saynt Gyles whome she nourysshed theÌne he was moch abasshed whan he saw her so chauffed more thaÌ she was wonte to be theÌne he spraÌg vp espyed the huÌters TheÌne he praid to oure lord Ihesu criste that like as he sente hir to hym for to be nourisshed by her that he wold saue her TheÌne the houÌdes durst not approche her by the space of a stone cast but they howled to gyder retorned to the hunters thenne the nyÈt cam they retorned home ageyne and tooke no thynge whan the kynge herd saye of this thyng he had suspection what it myght be and wente and waâned the bisshop And bothe wente thyder with grete multitude af huÌters whan the hâuÌdes were on the place where as the hynd was ââen durst not go forth as they dyde before but thenne they alle enuyronned the busshe for to see what there was but that busshe was so thyck that no manne beest myght entre therin for the breÌbles and thornes that were there And thenne one of the knyghtes drewe vp an arowe folyly for to make it aferd and sprynge oute but he wounded and hurte the hooly man whiche cessed not to praye for the fayr hynde And after this the hunters made weye wyth their swerdes and wente vnto the pytte And sawe there this auÌcient man whiche was clothed in thabyte of a Monk of a ryght honourable fygure and parure and the hynde lyeng by hym And the kynge and the Bisshop wente allone to hym and demaunded hym fro whens he was and what he was and why he had taken so grete a thycknesse of deserte and of whome he was soo hurte And he answerd ryght honestly to euery demauÌde And when they had herd hym speke they thought that he was an holy man and requyred hym humbly pardon And they sente to hym maystres and surgyens to hele his wounde of fryd hym many yeftes but he wold neuer ley medycyne to his wounde ne receyue their yeftes but refused them And he prayd our lord that he myght neuer be hole therof in his lyf For he knewe wel that vertu shold prouffyte to hym in Infyrmyte And the kyng vysyted hym ofte and receyued of hym the pasture of helthe And the kyng offryd to hym many grete Rychesses but he reffused all And after he admonested the kyng that he shold doo make a monasterye where as the disciplyue of thordre of Monkes shold be And whan he had doo make it Gyles reffused many tymes to take the charge and the Croce And at the laste he was vaynquysshed by prayers of the kynge and toke hit And thenne kynge charles herd speke of the renommee of hym and impetred that he myght see hym And he receyued hym moche honourably And he prayd hym to praye for hym amonge other thynges by cause he had done a synne soo foul and vylaynous that he durst not be shryuen therof to hym ne to none other And on the sonday after as saynt Gyles sayd masse and prayd for the kyng the Aungel of our lord appyeryd to hym and leyd a Cedule vpon the aulter where the synne of the kyng was wryton in by ordre and that it was pardonned hym by the prayers of saynt Gyles soo that he were therof repentaunt and absteyned hym fro doynge it ony more and hit was adioyned to th ende that who that requyred saynt giles for ony synne that he had done yf he left it that it shold be pardonned to hym And after the holy man deliuerd the cedule to the kyng And he confessyd his synne and requyred pardon humbly Thenne saynt Gyles retorned thens with honoure whan he cam to the Cyte of Verence he reysed the sone of a prnyce that was deed And a lytel whyle after he denounced that his monasterye shold be destroyed of enemyes of the faythe And after he wente to Rome and gate pryueleges of the pope to his chirche And two dores of Cypresse In whiche were the ymages of saynt Peter and Powle And he threwe them in to the Tybre at Rome and recommaunde them to god for to gouerne
And whan he retorned to his Monasterye he made a lame man to goo and fonde the two dores of Cypres at the yate of his monasterye wherof he thanked god that had kepte them without brekyng in soo many aduentures as they hadde ben and sythe he sette them at the yates of the chirche For the beaute of them and for the grace that the chirche of Rome hadde done therto And at the laste our lord shewed to hym his departyng oute of this world And he sayd it to his bretheren and admonested them to praye for hym soo he slepte and deyde goodly in oure lord And many wytnesse that they herd the company of angels beryng the sowl of hym in to heuen And he flouryd aboute the yere of our lord vijC Thus endeth the lyf of seint Gyles Here foloweth the natyuyte of our blessid lady THe natiuyte of the blessyd and gloryous vyrgyne marye of the lignage of Iuda and of the Rial kynrede of dauyd tooke her Orygynalle begynnyng Mathewe and Luke desceyue not the generacion of Marye but of Ioseph whiche was ferre fro the concepcion of Cryste but the customme of wrytyng was of suche ordynannce that the generacion of wymmen is not shewed but of the men And veryly the blessyd Vyrgyne descended of the lygnage of Dauyd And it is certayne that Ihesu Cryste was borne of this only vyrgyne It is certayne that he cam of the lygnage of Dauyd and of Nathan For Dauyd had two sones Nathan and Salamon among alle his other sones And as Iohan damascenne wytnesseth that of Nathan descended leuy Leuy engendryd Melchy and Panthere Panther engendryd Barpanthere Barpanthere engendryd Ioachym Ioachym engendryd the vyrgyne marye which was of the lygnage of Salamon For Nathan had a wyf Of whome he engendryd Iacob And whanne Nathan was deed Melchy whiche was sone of leuy and broder of panther wedded the wyf of Nathan moder of Iacob And on her he engendryd Hely And so Iacob and Hely were brethehen of one moder but not of one fader For Iacob was of the lygne of Salamon And hely of the lygne of Nathan And thenne Hely of the lygne of Nathan deyde wythoute Chyldren And Iacob hys brother whiche was of the lygne of Salamon tooke a wyfe And engendryd and reysed the seede of his brother and engendryd Ioseph Ioseph thenne by nature is sone of Iacob by descente of Salamon That is to wyte Ioseph is the sone of Iacob after the lawe he is sone of Hely whiche descended of Nathan For the sone that was borne was by nature his that engendryd hym by the lawe he was sone of hym that was dede lyke as it is sayd in thystorye scolastyke And Bede wytnessyth in his Cronycle that whanne alle the generacions of thebrewes and other straungers were kepte in the mooste secrete chestes of the Temple Herode commaÌded them to be brente wenynge therby to make hym self noble among the other yf the preues of the lignages were fayled he shold make them byleue that his lygnage apperteyned to them of Israel And there were somme that were callyd domynykes for by cause that they were soo nygh to Ihesu Cryste and were of Nazareth and they had lerned thordre of generacion of our lord a parte of their grauÌtsirs faders and a parte by somme bookes that they had in their howses and taught them forth as moche as they myghte Ioachym spoused Anne whiche had a suster named Hysmerye And Hysmerye had a doughter named Elyzabeth and Eliud Elyzabeth was moder to Iohan baptist And Elyud engendryd Emynen And of Emynen came saynt Seruace whoos body lyeth in Mastreyght vppon the Ryuer of the Mase in the bisshopryche of lyege And Anne had thre husbondes Ioachym Cleophe and Salome And of the fyrste she had a doughter named Marye the moder of god the whiche was gyuen to Ioseph in maryage And she childed our lord Ihesu crist And whanne Ioachym was deed she took Cleophas the broder of Ioseph And had by hym another doughter named Marye also And she was maryed to Alphee And Alphee her husbond had by her four sones that was Iames the lesse Ioseph the Iuste other wyse named barsabee Symon Iude ¶ Thenne the second husbond beyng deed Anne maryed the thyrdde named Salome and had by hym another doughter whiche yet also was called Marye And she was maryed to Zebedee And this Marye had of Zebedee two sones that is to wyte Iames the more and Iohan theuauÌglyst And herof ben made these verses Anna solet dici tres concepisse marias Quas genuere viri Ioachym Clephas Salomeque Has duxere viri Ioseph Alpheus Zebedeus Prima parit Cristum Iacobumque secunda minorem Et Ioseph Iustum peperit cum Simone Iudam Tercia maiorem Iacobum Volucremque Iohannem But it is merueylous for to see hoâ the blessyd vyrgyn Marye myghte be Cosyn of Elyzabeth as it is to fore sayd It is certeyne that Elyzabeth was Zacharyes wyf which was of the lignage of leuy And after the lawe eche ought to wedde a wyf of his owne lignage And she was of the doughters of Aaron as saynt Luke wytnessyth And Anne was of Bethlehem as saynt Ieromme sayth and was of the Trybe of Iuda ¶ And thenne they of the lygne of leuy wedded wyues of the ligne of Iuda soo that the lygne Royal and the lygne of the prestes were alweye ioyned to gydre by cosynage So that as Bede sayth This Cosynage myght be made sythe the fyrst tyme And thus to be norysshyd fro lygnage to lygnage And thus shold it be certeyne that the blessyd Vyrgyne Marye descended of the Ryall lygne and hadde cosynage of the preestes And oure blessyd lady was of bothe lygnages And so oure lord wold that these two lygnages shold entresemble to gyders for greete mysterye For hit apperteyneth that he shold be borne and offryd for vs very god and ãâã kyng and very preest and shold gouerne his trewe crysten men fyghtyng in the Chyualrye of this lyf and to crowne them after theyr vyctorye the whiche thyng apperith of the name of Cryste For Cryste is as moche to saye as enoynted For in tholde lawe ther was none enoynted but preestes and kynges And we ben sayd Crysten of Criste and ben callyd the lygnage chosen of kynges preestes but by cause it is sayd that the man took wyues of theyr lignage only that was by cause the distribucion of the sortes shold not be confounded For the trybe of leuy hadde not his sorte with the other therfore myght they wel marye them with the wymmen of the tribe or where they wold like as seint Ierom reherceth in his prologue whaÌ he was a child he had a litil book of thystory of the natyuyte of the vyrgyn Marye but as he remembryd a long tyme after he translated hit by the prayer of somme persones And fonde that Ioachym whiche was of galylee of the Cyte of Nazareth espoused saynt Anne
he sayd I haue ben in suche a prouynce and haue moeued greete warres and made many trybulacions and haue shedde moche blood and am come to telle it to the And Sathan sayd to hym in what tyme hast thow done this And he sayd in thyrtty dayes And Sathan sayde why hast thow be soo longe there aboutes and sayd to them that stode by hym goo ye and bete hym and all to lasshe hym Thenne cam the second and worshiped hym sayde Syre I haue ben in the see and haue moeued grete wyndes and tormentes drowned many shippes slayn many men And Sathan sayde how longe hast thow ben aboute thys he sayd xxij dayes Sathan sayd hast thow done nomore in this tyme comaÌded that he shold be beten the third cam said I haue ben in a Cyte haue meuyd stryues and debate in a weddynge haue shed moche blood haue slayne the husbond am come to telle the sathan axyd in what tyme hast thou done this he said in ten dayes he sayd hast thou done nomore in that tyme comaÌded them that were aboute hym to bete hym also Thenne cam the fourthe sayd I haue ben in the wyldernes fourty yere haue laboured aboute a Monke vnnethe att the laste I haue throwen made hym falle in the synne of the flessh when satan herd that he aroos fro his sete kyssed hym took his crowne of his hede set it on his hede made hym to sytte with hym saide thou hast done a grete thynge hast laboured more than all thother this may be the maner of the vysyon that saynt gregorye leueth whan eche had sayd one sterte vp in the myddle of them alle seyd he hadde meuyd Andrewe ageynste the nonne had meuyd the fourth part of his flesshe ayenst her in temptacion therto that yesterday he drouÈ so moch his mynde on her that in the hour of euen songe he gaf to her in Iapyng a buffe seid pleynly that she myÈt here it that he wold synne with her theÌne the maister comaÌded hym that he shold performe that he had begonne for to make hym to synne he shold haue a singuler vyctory and reward among alle the other And thenne commaunded he that they shold goo loke who that was that laye in the Temple And they wente loked And anone they were ware that he was marked with the signe of the crosse And they beynge aferd escryed and sayd Veryly this is an empty vessel alas alas he is marked And with this voys alle the company of the wykked spyrytes vanysshed awaye And thenne the Iewe al amoeuyd cam to the bisshop and told to hym aâl by ordre what was happend And whan the bisshoppe herd this he wepte strongly and made to voyde all the wymmen oute of his hows And thenne he baptysed the Iewe Seynt Gregory reherceth in his dyalogues that a nonne entryd in to a gardyne and sawe a letuse and coueyted that and forgate to make the signe of the crosse and bote it glotonesly And anone fylle douue and was rauysshed of a deuylle And ther cam to her saint Equycyen And the deuylle beganne to crye and to saye what haue I doo I satte vppon a lettuse and she cam and bote me and anone the deuylle yssued oute by the commaundement of the holy man of god It is redde in thystorye Scolastyke that the paynyms had peynted on a walle the armes of Serapis And Theodosyen dide doo putt them oute and made to be paynted in the same place the signe of the Crosse And when the paynyms preestes of thy dolles sawe that anone they dyde them to be baptysed sayenge that it was gyuen them to vnderstonde of their olders that tho armes shold endure tyll that suche a signe were made there in whiche were lyf And they haue a lettre of whiche they vse that they calle holy a had a forme that they said it exposed and signyfyed lyf perdurable Thus endeth the exaltacion of the holy Crosse Here foloweth the lyf of saint Iohan Crisostome IOhan Crisostome was of Antyoche And was borne of noble kynrede of whome the lyf the lygnage the conuersacion and the persecucion is more playnly conteyned in thystorye trypertyte when he hadde ben in the studye of philosophye he left hit and yaf hym self to the seruyce of god and was made a preest And for the loue of chastyte he was reputed old For he entendyd more to the brennynge loue of god than to vtteward debonayrâe And for the rightwysnes of his lyf he entended most to the thynges to come and was demed proude of them that knewe hym not He was noble in techynge he was wyse in expounynge and ryght good in refraynyng of vayne maners Archadyen and Honoryen regned thenne in th empyre And Damasce sat thenne in the See of Rome And whanne Crysostome was made Bisshop of Constantynople he beganne to correcte hastely the lyf of Clerkes And therfore alle they were moeued and styred to hate hym and eschewed hym as he hadde ben a madde man And spacke euylle of hym And by cause he wolde not bydde them to dyne and ete with hym Ne wolde not ete wyth them they sayde that he dyde hyt by cause he ete his mete so fowle And the other sayde that hit was for the excellence and noblesse of hys metes And the trouthe was by cause that his stomacke was ofte sore and greuyd Wherfore he eschewed the grete dyners and the festes And the peuple louyd hym moche for the good Sermons that he made to them and sette lytell by that his enemyes sayde Thenne Crysostome began to repreue somme of the barons And therfor the enuye was the more ageynst hym And yet he dyd other thynge that moeued yet more ¶ For Eutrope prouost of th empyre whiche had the dignyte of consul wold haue auengyd hym on somme that fled to the chirche for socour And studyed that a lawe shold be ordeyned by theÌperour that none shold flee to the chirche And they that had ben therin to fore shold be drawe oute And a lytel whyle after Eutrope had trespaced to themperour and fled anone to the chirche And whanne the Bisshop herd therof he cam to hym whiche was hydde vnder th aulter And made an Omelye ageynst hym in the whiche he repreuyd hym ryght sharply And therfor many were wrothe by cause he wold do no mercy to that cursyd man And yet he dyd no thyng but chyde And whanne themperour sawe hys wylle he made Eutrope to be borne out of the chirche and dyd doo smyte of his heede And he repreuyd sharpely many men for dyuerse causes And therfor he was hateful to many And Theophyle Bisshop of AleaÌndrye wolde haue deposed Iohan Crysostome wolde haue sette in his syege ysydore the preest And therfor he sought dyly gently cause to depose hym And the peple that were fedde
and made the sowne And they torned hastely soo that the whele brente the mayster of the werke and kepte Eufemye without hurte syttyng vpon the whele And the pareÌtes of thartyllour wepte and putte the fyre vnder the whele and wold haue brent Eufemye with the whele but the whele was brent and Eufemye was vnbounden by the aungel of god and was sene stonde all hoole vnhurte in an hyhe place And thenne Apulyen sayd to the Iuge the vertue of Crysten peuple maye not be ouercomen but by yron therfore I counceylle the to doo smyte of her hede Thenne they sette vp laddres and as one wold haue sette hond on her he was anon smeton with a palasye and was borne thens half dede And another named softnes wente vp on hyhe but anone he was chaunged in his corage and repentyd hym and requyred her humbly pardon And whanne he had his swerd drawen he cryed to the Iuge that he had leuer slee hym self than touche her whome the angels deffended At the last whanne she was taken thens the Iuge sayd to his chauÌceller that he shold sende to her alle the yonge men that were Ioly for tenforce and to make her do theyr wylle tyl she shold fayle and deye And thenne he entryd in and sawe with her many fayre vyrgyns prayenge with her And she made hym to be crystend wyth her admonestementes And thenne the Iuge dyde do take the vyrgyne by the heer and henge her therby And she euer abode Constaunt and vnmeuable And thenne he dyd doo shytte her in pryson withoute mete seuen dayes and pressyd her there bytwene foure greete stones as who shold presse olyues but she was euery daye fedde with an Angel And whanne she was bytwene those two hard stones she made her prayers And the stones were conuertid in to ryght softe asshes Thenne the Iuge was ashamed for to be vaynquysshed of a mayde And thenne he made her to be throwen in to a pytte where as cruel bestes were whiche deuoured euery man that cam therin swalowed them in And anone they ranne to this hooly vyrgyne in fawnynge her and ioyned theyr taylles togyder And made of them a chayer for her to sytte on And whanne the Iuge sawe that he was moche confounded soo that almoost he deyde for anguysshe and sorowe Thenne the Boucher cam for tauenge thyniurye of his lord and smote his swerde in to her syde al to hewe her and made her there the martir of Ihesu Cryste oure lord And the Iuge clad hym with clothys of sylke and henge on hym owches brochys of gold But when he shold haue yssued oute of the pytte he was rauysshed of the beestes and all deuoured anon And thenne his peple souÈt hym longe and vnnethe fonde they a lytel of his bones with his clothe of sylke and his ouches of gold And thenne the Iuge ete hym self for madnes and soo was fonde dede wretchydly And Eufemye was buryed in calcedoine and by her merytes alle the Iewes and paynyms of calcedoine byleuyd in Ihesu Cryst And she suffryd deth aboute the yere of our lord ijC lxxx And saynt Ambrose sayth of this vyrgyne thus The hooly vyrgyn tryumphaunt in vyrgynyte reteynyng the mytre deseruyd to be clad with the crowne by whos merytes the wycked enemy is vaynquysshed and Prysais her aduersary and Iuge is ouercomen The vyrgyne is saued fro the fornaye of fyre hard stones ben conuertid in to pouldre whiche beestes ben made meke and tame and enclyne doune theyr ueckes and all maner of paynes and tormentes by her oracions and prayers ben ouercome And at the laste smeton with a swerd she left the cloistre of her flesshe and is ioyned to the celestyall company gladde and ioyous And blessyd lord this blessyd Vyrgyne commaundeth to the thy chirche And good lord lete her praye to the for vs synnars and this vyrgyne withoute corrupcion flourysshyng gete vnto vs that oure desyres maye be graunted of the Thus endeth the lyf of saint Eufemye Here begynneth the lyf of saint Lambert And first of thynterpretacion of his name LAmbert is said of lampos in greke whiche is as moche to saye as brennyng And of thus that is encence That is to saye encence brennynge to god Or he may be sayd of lampas a lampe whiche gyueth lyght in the chirche he was encence brennynge to god by distresse of conscyence and for to kepe obedyence And he was lyght in the chirche by noble predicacion and by ensample of good operacion ¶ Of saint Lambert TAmbert was of a noble lygnage but he was more noble by holynes And was enformed in lettrure in his first age so for his holynesse he was louyd of all the peple in suche wise that after his maister The obarde he deseruyd to be promoted to be bisshop of Trecht whom Chylderik kynge of Fraunce loued moche And had hym alweye dere before other bisshops But whanne the malyce of the Iewes grewe the felons put hym out of his honour withoute cause and sett Ferramund in his chayer And lambert entryd in to a monasterye and was there and conuersyd seuen yere goodly On a nyght whanne he aroos fro prayer he ââte wynde goo behynde by ignoraunce And whanne thabbott herd it he sayd he that hath done that late hym go oute to the crosse barefote And anone Lamberte wente oute to the crosse barfote in his haire and was there and wente in the snowe and in the froste whanne the bretheren chauffed them after matynes And the abbot demaunded where Lamberte was And a broder sayde that he was gone to the crosse by his commaundement he dyde doo calle hym And thenne the abbot and his Monkes requyred hym to pardone them but he not only pardonned them but also prechyd to them the vertue of pacyence And after vij yere Ferramond was putt oute And saynt Lambert was brought ageyne by the commaundement of pepyn to his fyrst see And there he shone by worde and by ensample in all vertue Thenne two wicked men adressyd them ageynst hym and beganne to rebuke and blame hym strongly And the frendes of the same bisshop slewe them In that tyme Lambert beganne to blame strongly pypyn for a comyn womaÌ that he helde And Dodo a Cosyn of them that had be slayne and brother of the same cemyn woman and offycer of the kynges halle assemblyd a grete felaushippe and assyeged al aboute the bisshops place And wolde auenge the dethe of his Cosyns on saynt Lambert And whanne a child cam to saynt Lambert whiche was in his prayers and told hym therof he trustynge wel in oure lord thought he shold well vaynquysshe them And toke a swerde And whanne he had remembryd hym self he threwe aweys his swerde And Iuged hym self better to vaynquysshe in suffrynge of deth than to leye his hooly hondes in the blood of the felons And this hooly man warned his peple that they sholde confesse theyr synnes and suffre pacyently
slayne lefte theyr ydolatrye and submytted them anone to the Crysten faythe The second vyctory of saynt Mychell was whan he put out of heuen the dragon Lucyfer with all his folowers Of whiche is sayd in thapocalyps Factum est prelium magnum Apocalipsis dnodecimo For whanne Lucifer coueyted to be lyke to god tharchaungel whiche bare the baner of the celistyall hoost cam and chaced Lucifer out of heuen with alle them that folowed hym hath enclosed them in derke ayer vnto the day of dome For they be not suffred to duelle in heuen neyther in the vpper ãâã of thayer by cause that place is ãâã and delectable ne yet to be in erthe with vs to th ende that they shold not ouermoche tempte ne tormeÌte vs But they ben in thayer bitwene heuen and erthe soo that whan they loke vpward they maye beholde the ioye that they haue loste and haue therof grete sorowe And whan they loke donnward they may see the men mounte vp to heuen fro whens they fylle Notwithstondynge by the dyuyne dispensacion they descende ofte vnto vs in erthe As lyke hit hath be shewed to somme hooly men they flee aboute vs as flyes they ben Innumerable And lyke flyes they fylle thayer withoute nombre wherof sayth Haymo as the philosophers sayden and doctours haue oppynyon This ayer is also full of deuyls and of wycked spyrytes as the sonne bemes ben full of smale motâs whiche is smal dust or pouldre And how wel that they be soo many Neuer theles after the sentence of Orygene theyr power ne strengthe is but righte lytel and that we may ouercome them here And yf ony of them ben ouercomen of ony hooly man he may neuer after tempte a man of that vyce Of whiche he is ouercomen The thyrd vyctory is that Aungels haue euery day of the deuyls whanne they fyght for vs ageynst them And delyuer vs fro their temptacions and they delyuer vs in thre maners Fyrst in refreynynge the power of the deuyl lyke as it is sayd Appcalypsis visesâo of the angel that bonde the deuylle And sente hym in to Abisme that is the pytte of helle And Thobye whiche fayth that the Aungel Raphael bonde the deuylle in the ouerest deserde And this byndynge is none other thynge but the refraynynge of his puyssaunce myght Secondly he delyuereth vs in refraynyng our couetyse the whiche thyng is in genesis the xxxij chapitre there where he sayth that thangell took the synew of Iacob anone it dryed vp Thirdly in empressyng in our hertes the memorye of the passion of oure lord this is signefyed appcalipsis vij where it is sayd Ne woylle ye not greue ne noye in therthe ne in the see ne the trees till we haue marked them Ezechyel saith the signe of thau be in the forhedes of the peple Thau is made lyke an hedeles Crosse And they that ben marked ther with dreede not thangel smytynge wherof is sayd vp on whome ye see thau slee them not The fourth victory is that that tharchangel mychell shalle haue of Antecryst when he shal slee hym thenne mychael the grete prynce shalle aryse as it is sayd danielis xij he shal aryse for them that ben chosen as an helpar and a protectour shalle strongly stande ageynst Antecryst after as the glose sayth Antecryste shal fayne hym to be deed and shal hyde hym thre dayes after he shalle appiere sayeng that he is rysen fro deth to lyf the deuyls shall bere hym by arte magyke shal mouÌte vp in to thayer al the peple shalle meruayle worshipe hym atte last he shalle mounte vp on the mount of olyuete whan he shal be in a pauyllon in his syege entryd in to that place where our lord ascended Mychel shal come shal slee hym of whiche vyctorye is vnderstonden after saynt gregorye that whiche is sayd in thapocalipsis the batayll is made in heuen This worde of the treble bataylle in heuen is expowned of the batayll that he had with Lucifer whan he expulsid hym oute of heuen and of the batayll that he had with the deuyls that tormente vs And of this last solempnyte is said dedycacion by cause on this daye the sayd place in the Mount gargan was dedycate halowed of hym by reuelacion For whanne they of Syponte were retorned fro thoccision of theyr aduersaryes had so noble vyctorye yet doubted they to entre in to the said place halowe it to tharchaungel Thenne the bisshop wente axed counseylle of pope pelagyen And he ansuerd yf the chirche ought to be dedycate that ought to be on that day that the vyctorye was done And yf it plese other wyse to saynt Mychael men ought to requyre his wylle therof thenne thepope the bisshop men of the cyte fasted thre dayes saynt Mychel appiered to the bisshop and said It is no nede to yow to dedye halowe that I haue halowed commanded that he sholde entre in to that place the next daye with the people shold frequente hit with prayers and they shold fele that he shold be a specyal patrone to them he gaf to them a sygne of consecracion that was that they shold goo vp therto by a posterne toward the eest they shold fynde there the steppes of a maÌ impressyd in a marble stone theÌne the bisshop on the morn moche grete peple cam to the place entryd in fonde a grete caue thre aultres of whiche two were sette toward the southe and the thyrd towarde the eest moche honourably was couerd al aboute with a rede mantel whan the solempnytees of the masses were done the peple had taken hooly communyon al retorned to their propre places the bisshop lefte there prestes clerkes for to synge say goodly the dyuyne offyce within the said chirche sourdeth clere water swete whiche the comyn peple drynketh ben heled therby of many dyuerse maladyes And whanne the pope herd these thynges he establysshed to halowe this day in thonoure of saynt Mychel of alle the hooly Aungels and to be kepte hooly thorugh alle the world ¶ Fourthly this solempnyte is sayd the Memorye of saynt Mychael how well that we alle solempnyse this feest in the honoure of alle the Archaungellys of oure Lord We doo the Memorye and the honoures generally And hit apperteyneth and is behoeffull to vs to gyue to them lawde praysynge and honour by manyfold reasons experte that is to wete For they ben our kepars oure mynystres oure bretheren our neyghbours the berars of our sowles in to heuen and representers of our prayers vnto god Ryght noble knyghtes of the kynge of heuen And perdurable comfortours of them that ben in heuynes and trybulacions And fyrst we ought to honoure them For they ben oure kepars wherfor we ought to worshipe them To euery man ben gyuen two Aungels One euylle for
meruayled of hym For they that demed hym an Heretik were madde he was al in lessons all in bookes he ne rested day ne nyghte but alway redde or wrote Hec Seuerus And lyke as it apperyth by these wordes And also he wytnessyth hym self He suffred many persecutours detractours whiche persecucions he suffred pacyently and goodly as it apperid in an Epystle that he sente to asselle I yeue thankynges to oure lord god that I am worthy that the world hate me And that wycked men and Ianglers holde me for euylle For I knowe wel that men come to heuen by the dyffame of wycked men more than by good renommee And I wold that the companye of myscreauntes shold pursewe and persecute me for the name and ryght of oure lord My wylle is that the repreef of the world aryse more feruently ageynst me soo that I myghte deserue to be preysed of our lord and that I may hope the reward of his promesse Temptacyon is desyrous and agreable whoos merite in resystynge is to be hoped reward of Cryste in heuen Ne the cursynge ne malediction is not greuous whiche is chaunged in to dyuyne laude and praysynge He deyed aboute the yere of our lord CCC lxxx and eyghte ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Iheromme Here foloweth the lyf of seint Remyge And first of his name REmyge is said of Remige that is a boteman or a rower Or hit is sayd of Remys whiche ben Instrumentes by whiche the shippe is rowed and conduyted and of gyon âhat is to saye wrastlynge He gouerned the Chirche and kepte it fro paryll of wrake and brought it to the porte of heuen And for the chirche he wrastlyd ageynst the assaultes of the deuylle Of saint Remyge SAint Remyge conuertid to the fayth the kynge the peuple of Fraunce The kynge had a wyf named Rotilde whiche was Crysten And she enforced her moche to conuerte her husbond to the Crysten fayth but she myght not And whan she hadde a childe She wold haue Crystened hym But the kynge deffended it to her And she rested not til at the last the kyng grauÌted that it shold be crysten And after that it was cristened it deyde anone Thenne said the kynge Now hit apperith well that Cryst is a vyle god for by cause he may not kepe hym whiche in his faythe shold haue ben enhauÌced in my kyngdome after me And she said to hym Now fele I wel that I am louyd of my god by cause he hath receyued the fyrst fruyte of my wombe he hath enhaunced to a better kyngdom my sone and to regne perpetuelly with outen ende whiche is moche better than thy kyngdome is And sooâe after she conceyued ageyne and had a fayr sone whome with grete prayers she baptysed as she dyd the fyrste but anone after he was seke soo that they hadde none hope of his lyf And thenne the kynge sayd to his wyf Certeynly this is a feble god whiche may not coÌserue ne kepe none that is baptysed in his name And yf thou haddest a thousand and dydest them to be baptysed al shold perisshe yet neuertheles the child reuyued was hole so that he regned after his fader And the faythful quene enforced her to brynge her husbond to the faythe but he reffused it in alle maners It is sayed in that other feste whiche is after thepyphanye how the kynge was conuertid to the fayth And the forsayd kynge Clouys when he was crystened sayd that he wold gyue to saynt Remige for tendowe his chirche as moche lond as he myght go aboute whyles he slepte at mydday And soo it was done but ther was a man whiche had a mylne within the circuyte whiche saynt Remyge hadde closed And as saynt Remyge wente aboute it the Mylnar putted hym out with indignacion and grete despyte And saynt Remyge sayd to hym frende haue no desdayne and late it not be to harde yf we haue also this Mylne with that other Neuertheles the Mylnar put hym out And anone the whele of the Mylne beganne to torne contrarye And thenne the Mylnar cryed after saynt Remyge and sayde Seruaunt of god come and late vs haue the mylle to gydre And saynt Remyge sayd nay hit shalle neyther be myn ne âhyn And anone the erthe opened and swolewed in all the mylle And saynt Remyge knewe by the spyrite of prophecye and by the wylle of god that a grete famyne shold come And assembled in a Towne grete plente of whete And the dronken Vylayns of the Towne mocqued and scorned hym of his prouydence And sett the garners a fyre And when he knewe hit he cam thyder And by cause he was cold for age and his last tyme approchyd fast he satte doune by the fyre and warmed hym and sayd with a peasyble herte the fyre is alwey good Neuertheles they that made that fyre and alle the men of theyr lygnage were broken in her membres And the wymmen gowty And this endured in the same Towne vnto the tyme of Charles whiche chaced and maade them goo theyr waye and soo disperplyd them And it is to be knowen that the feste of saynt Remyge that is halowed in Ianyuer is the feste of his blessyd deth and deposicion and thys is the feste of the translacion of hys blessyd body For when after his deth the hooly body shold have be broughte to the chirche of saynt Thymothe and Appollynare with the shryne and cam nyghe vnto the chirche of saynt Cristofre it beganne to weye soo moche that they myght not meue hit fro thens in no manere At the last they prayd our lord that he wold vouchesauf to shewe them yf it were his wylle that the body shold be buryed in that chirche where as no relyques reste And thenne anone they took vp the body lyghtely ynowe and buryed hym there honourably And many myracles were ther shewed soo that they enlarged and made the chirche more ample and large And thenne they made an oratoyre behynde the aulter and wold haue do lââen for to haue leyd the body in that oratoyre but they couthe not meue hit in no manere Thenne they watched and prayd vnto oure lord and att mydnyght they fylle all a slepe And on the morne they fonde the sepulcre with the body in the place whiche aungels had borne thider whyle they slepte And this was the k lendes of octobre whiche afterward by long tyme on the same daye it was translated in to a feretre or shryne of syluer he flowrid about the yeres of our lord CCCC four score and ten ¶ Thus endeth the translacion of saint Remyge Here foloweth the lyf of seint Logier And first of his name LOgier is said of leos that is to saye peple and of ganos that is to saye angell Logyer was aungel of the peple For an angel is propyrly lyght And is a messagyer for to shewe the peuple good werkes And soo he shewed to the peple to fore the
dede hou he and Ebronyen shold fynysshe theyr lyues ¶ Of saint Logyer LOgyer whan he shone and resplendyd in al vertu he deserued to be Bisshop of Aduense Clotayre was deed he was moche greued for the cure and charge of the Royamme And by the wylle of god and couÌseyll of the princes he crowned Childryck yet yonge to be kynge But Ebronyen wold haue made Theoderyck broder of Childryck kyng not for the prouffyte of the Royamme but by cause he was put oute of his power and was hated of alle the peple And doubted the Ire of the kynge and of the prynces And therfore he requyred of the kynge lycence for to entre in to Relygyon And the kynge graunted it to hym Thenne the kynge dyd hold his broder the oderich in garde that he shold machyne nothynge ageynste the Royamme And by the holynes and prouydence of the good Bisshop Logyer alle the peple were in ioye and in pees And soone after the kynge beynge enpayred by euylle counceylle was meuyd in wrath ageynst this hooly Bisshop seruaunt of god And sought menes ententyfly how he myght couenably putt hym to deth But Logyer suffred all goodly and reputed his enemyes lyke as his frendes and dyde so moche toward the kynge that on eester day he shold synge masse in the cyte wherof he was a bisshop And that day it was told to hym that the kynge shold performe that nyght all that he had treted for his deth but he ne doubted nothynge but dyned that day with the kyng at his owne table And thenne he fledde his persecutour in suche maner that he wente to the monasterye of Lucon ther seruynge oure lord in whiche Ebronyen ther was hyd in thabyte of a ãâã And also seruyd hym in grete charyte And a whyle after the kynge deyde And Theoderyche was enhaunced in to the regne For which thyng the blessyd saynt Logyer meued by the wepynges and teeres of the people and constrayned by the commaundemente of his abbot retourned vnto his see in his Cyte But Ebronyen anon renouÌced his relygyon And was ordeyned steward of the kynge And how be it that he was euylle to fore yet he was worse after And studyed how he myght brynge Logyer to deth And sente knyghtes for to take hym And whan the blessyd Logyer knewe it he wold haue escaped fro theyr woodenes and malyce And as he yssued out of thâ Towne in thabyte of a Bisshop He was taken of the knyghtes whiche anone put oute his eyen And thenne two yere after saynt Logyer with guâryn his broder whom Ebronyen hadde exyled were brought vnto the palays of the kynge And as Ebronyen mocqued the bisshop they answerd wysely and peasybly Not wythstondynge that wycked man Ebronyen sente guâryn for to be stoned to deth with stones And made the Bisshop to be ladde all the nyght bare foote vppon sharp stones on whiche the water ranne faste And whanne he herd that he preysed god in his tormentes he made to cutte oute the tonge of his heede and after to kepe in pryson for to make hym suffre newe tormentes But for all that he lost neuer his speche but entended to preche and to exhortacion as wel as he myght And sayd to fore how he Ebronyen shold deye and whan Thenne a grete lyghte in maner of a crowne enuyronned his heede whiche moche peple sawe And somme demauÌded hym what thynge hit was And he kneled doune and made his prayers yeldynge graces to god And admonested alle them that were there that they shold chaunge theyr lyf in to a better And whanne Ebronyen herd that he had grete enuye at hym And sente four men for to smyte of his hede And whanne they ledde hym forthe he sayd to them It is no nede to yow to laboure ony more but fulfylle ye here the desyre of hym that sente yow And thenne thre of them had so grete pyte of hym that they kneled doune and requyred pardon And the fourth smote of his hede whiche anone was rauysshed of the deuylle and throwen in the fyre ended his lyf myserably Thenne two yere after Ebronyen herd that god shewed many myracles for his blessyd saynt and the renomme of it shone ouer all and was tormentid with cursyd enuye and sente thyder a knyght to wete the trouthe and to retorne and telle to hym And whan the knyght cam thyder he prowdly smote the tombe with his foote and sayd an euylle dethe mote he haue that sayth byleueth that this dede body maye doo myracles And anone he was rauysshed of the deuylle and deyde sodenly And the saynt was the more worshyped by his deth And whanne Ebronyen herd this he was thenne more tormentid wyth malyce of enuye and enforced to quenche the fame of the holy saynt but after the sayenge to fore of the saynt he felonnously slewe hym self with a swerd And this holy bisshop saynt Logyer suffred deth aboute the yere of our lord vjC lxxx in the tyme of Constantyn the fourthe ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Logier Here foloweth the lyf of saint Fraunceis first begynner of the Freres mynours And first of his name FRaunceis was first named Iohan but after his name was chaunged and was called Fraunceys The cause of chaungynge of his name was manyfold Fyrst for the reason of his merueylous chaungynge For it is knowen that he receyued of God by myracle the frensshe tongue And it is sayd in his legende that whanne he was replenysshed of the grace of god and of thardoure of the hooly ghooste he pronounced oute brennynge wordes in Frensshe Secondly by the reason to publysshe his offyce wherof is sayd in his legende that the dyuyne prouyden gaf to hym that name by cause of hym synguler And is acustomed name thoppynyon of this mysterye was knowen thorugh oute alle the world Thyrdly by reason of his offyce in effect wheruppon was gyuen to vnderstonde that by hym and by his sones he shold make many seruauntes of the deuylle and bonde to synne free Fourthly by reason of grete courage and magnanymyte of herte For frensshe men ben sayd of fyersnes For in them is naturell fyersnes and grete cârage of herte Fyftly by reason of the vertuosyte in spekynge For his word keruyd awaye the vyces lyke an axe Sixtely by reason that he chaced awey comnnely the deuyls Seuenthly by reason of honeste in his conuersacyon of perfection of werke And it is said that somme signes that were brought to Rome to fore the Consuls whiche were in terrour of the peple and in worship were callyd Franciscas ¶ Of saint Fraunceis FRaunceis seruaunt frende of Almyghty god was borne in the Cyte of Assyse and was maade a Marchaunt vnto the xxv yere of his age and wasted his tyme by lyuyng vaynly whome our lord corrected by the scorge of sekenes and sodenly chauÌged hym in to another man soo that he beganne to shyne by the spyryte of prophecye
seke man tasted and reuyued anone helthe And also dyd many other myracles And when his laste dayes aporochyd And was greuyd by longe infyrmyte thenne he made hym self to be leyd vpon the bare ground And dyd doo calle alle the Freres that were there And whanne they were alle present he blessyd them And lyke as oure lord fedde his disciples at souper in sherthursdaye he gaf to eche of them a morselle of breed And warned them as he was woned to doo to gyue lawde to theyr maker And the very dethe whiche is to alle men horryble and hatefulle he admonested them to preyse it And also he warned and admonested deth to come to hym and sayd Deth my suster welcome be thou And whanne he cam at the laste houre he slepte in our lord Of whome a Frere sawe the soule in maner of a sterre lyke to the mone in quantyte and to the sonne in clerenes There was a Frere named Augustyn whiche was mynystre and seruaunte in the londe of laboure of the erthe And as he was in his last ende and had lost his speche he escryed sodaynly and sayde abyde me Fader abyde I shalle goo with the Thenne the Freres demaunded hym what he sayd And he sayd See ye not oure Fader Fraunceys that goth vnto heuen And anone he slepte in pees and folowed his holy fader ¶ A lady which hadde be deuoute to the blessyd FrauÌceys deyed and the Clerkes prestes were at the byere for to synge thexequyes of her she aroos vp sodenly of the biere and called one of the preestes that were there sayd fader I wold confesse me I was deed and shold haue be put in a cruelle pryson by cause I hadde not shryuen me of a synne that I shalle saye But saynt Fraunceys prayd for me that this confessyd and shewed I shalle haue foryeuenesse And anone as I shalle haue seyd and confessyd hit to the I shalle reste in pees to fore yow alle And thenne she was confessyd and assoylled and rested anone in our lord The Freres of Vyterbe wold haue borowed a carte of a man And he answerd in despyte I had leuer see two of yow flayn with saynt Fraunceys than I shold leue yow my carte but he cam ageyne to hym self and repreuyd hym self and repentyd hym of the blame that he had sayd and doubted the Ire of god And anone hys sone was seke and deyde And whan he sawe his sone deed he slepte on the erthe wepyng and called saynt FrauÌceis and sayd I am he that synned thou sholdest haue beten me gyue ayene to me hooly saynt prayenge dâuoutely to the whome thow hast taken away fro me blamynge the and blasphemynge wyckedly And anone his sone reuyued and sayde whanne I was deed seynt Fraunceys ladde me by a longe way and derke And atte laste he brought me vnto a ryght faire grene And after sayd to me Retorne to thy fader I wylle no lenger holde the ¶ There was a poure man whiche ought vnto a certayne Ryche man a quantyte of moneye· And prayd hym for the loue of saynt Fraunceys he wold prolonge the terme of payment To whome he answerd prowdely I shalle sette the in suche a place that neyther Fraunceys ne none other shalle helpe the And anone he took bonde hym and sette hym in a derke pryson And anone after saynt FrauÌceis cam thyder and bracke vp the pryson and losed his bondes and brouÈt the man al saufly to his owne hows Ther was a knyghte whiche detracted the werkes and myracles of saynt fraunceys and on a tyme as he played at the dyes he beynge alle araged and full of woodenes and cruelnes sayd to theym that stoode by hym yf saynt Fraunceis be a saynt late come eyghten on the dyes And anone cam in thre dyes in eche of hem sixe and soo it apperyd nyne tymes at euery tyme thre sixes at eche caste And thenne he adioustyng woodenes to wodenes he sayd ysit be trewe that frauÌceis be a seynt late a swerd ryue me thurgh my body this day And yf he be no saynt that it escape saufly And whan the playenge at dyes was ended by cause he hadde made that prayer in synne he sayd Iniurye to his neuewe And he tooke his swerd and stack it thurgh belye slewe hym anone ¶ There was a man that hade loste his thye that he couthe not moeue hit And cryed to saynt Fraunââis thus sayenge helpe me saynt fraceis remembre the of the deuocion and of the seruyse that I haue done to the For I caryed the vppon myn asse and kyssed thy feet and thy hondes And now I deye for payne of thys ryght hard tormente Thenne the hooly man appyeryd to hym with a litille staf that he helde whiche hadde the signe of thau and touchyd therwith the place of his payne and the postume bracke and receyued anone ful helthe but the signe of thau abode alwey in the same place with that signe saynt Fraunceys was wonte alwaye to signe his lettres There was a mayde whiche duellyd in the Montaynes of puylle in a castel and her fader moder ne had but only this doughter And she deyde And her moder was moche deuout toward saynt fraunceis But thenne she was full of heuynes And saynt Fraunceys appyeryd to her and sayd wepe nomore for the lyght of thy lanterne is quenchyd And it apperteyneth not that I yelde her ageyne to the by thy prayer But yet the moder had affyaunce and trust in the saynt And wold not suffre to bere awey the body but in callynge saynt Fraunceis she took her doughter that was deed and reysed her vp alyue and hoole Ther was a lytel childe in Rome fallen oute of a wyndowe to the ground and deyde forthwythe And they called to saynt Fraunceys for help and he was anone restored to lyf In a cyte of Swetse hit hapned that an hows fylle and slewe a child And whanne they had putt the corps in a chyste for to berye the moder callyd on saynt Fraunceys with all her deuocion And aboute mydnyght the chyld cowhyd and aroos all hoole And beganne to preyse god Frere Iames of Reaten had passyd a floode in a vesselle with other Freres whiche were sette a lond and he hasted so sore after to goo oute by cause he was laste and the shyppe recuyeled backward in to the water soo that he fylle doune in to the deppest of the flood And thenne alle the Freres prayde saynt Fraunceys for hym And he hym self as he myght with lyke deuocion callid the hooly saynt vnto his ayde and helpe in his herte And that same Frere beganne to goo in the bottom of the water as drye as he had gone on the erthe and caught the bote whyche was drowned and brought hit to the banke and cam vp withoute wetynge of his clothes that he ware Ne nener drope of water touchyd his cote ne wette no thynge on hym Thenne
late vs deuoutely praye this hooly fader saynt Fraunceis to be oure socoure and ayde in our aduersytees and peryllys and helpe that by his merytes we maye after this short lyf come in to euerlastynge lyf in heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Fraunceis Here foloweth the lyf of saint Pelagyeune And first of hir name PElagyenne is said of pelagus whiche is as moch to saye as the see For in the See alle waters habounde In lyke wyse habounded she in the See of this world of alle Rychesses and of delyces She was the See of Inyquyte and the flood of synnes but she plonged after in the See of teeres And weesshe her in the Flood of baptysme Of saint Pelagienne PElagyenne was the formest and noblest of the wymmen of Antyoche fulle of Rychesses in all thynges She was ryght fayr of body noble of habyte vayne and varyable of courage and not chaste of body On a tyme as she wente thorugh the Cyte with grete pryde and ambycion that ther was no thynge sene on her but gold and syluer and precious stones And oueral where as she wente she fylled thayer with dyuerse odours and swete smellys And to fore and after her wente a grete multitude of yonge men and maydens whiche were also clad with ryght noble vesture and ryche And an hooly fader whiche was named âonnon bisshop of leopoleos whiche now is called daunete passyd thorugh the Cyte and sawe her Thenne he beganne to wepe ryght bytterly by cause she hadde more cure to plese the world than she hadde to plese god And thenne fylle doune vpon the pamente and smote therthe wyth his vysage and wette it with his tâerys and sayde O moost hyhe god haue pyte on me synnar the adournemeÌt and araye of one comyn woman hath surmounted in one day alle the wysedome of all my lyf O lorde late not tharray of one woman of folye coÌfouÌde me tofore the syght of thy dredefull mageste She hath arayed her self wyth hyhe studye and alle her myght for erthely thynges And I had purposed lord to haue pleased the but I haue not accomplysshyd it by cause of my neclygence Thenne he sayd to them that were with hym In trouthe I saye to yow that god shalle sette this woman in wytnes ageynst vs in the dome by cause that she soo besyly paynteth her for to plese worldly frendes louers ¶ And whanne we ben neclygent for to please the heuenly spouse oure lorde god And whanne he hadde sayd these or semblable wordes He fylle sodanly a slepe And hym semed that a foule douue or black culuer flewhe about hym whyles he was at masse at aulter And whanne he commaunded that they that were not baptysed shold departe and goo their way this douue departed anone and cam ageyne after the masse and was plungyd in a vessel ful of water wente out all clene and whyte and flewhe vp soo hyghe that she myght not be sene And thenne he awoke ¶ On a tyme whanne he prechyd in a chirche Pelagyenne was present She thenne becam so repentaunt that she sente hym a lettre by a messager thus sayenge To the hooly Bisshop of Ihesu Cryst Pelagyenne disciple of the deuylle et cetera yf thow art veryly the disciple of Ihesu Cryste the whiche as I haue herd sayd descended from heuen for the synners Vouchesauf to receyue me repentaunt synful woman To whome the Bisshop sente ageyne I praye the not to tempte my humylyte For I am a synfulle man yf thow desyrest to be saued thow mayst not see me allone but among other men thow shalt see me Thenne she cam to hym to fore many and tooke his feete And moost bytterly wepynge she sayd I am Pelagyenne the See of Inyquyte Flood of synnes the Swalowe of perdycyon And the deuourer of sowles I haue deceyued many by deceytes whiche now alle I abhorre ¶ Thenne the Bisshoppe demaunded her sayenge what is thy name She sayd I haue be called fro my byrthe Pelagyenne But for the pompe of my clothynge men calle me Margaryte Thenne the Bisshop receyued her benyngnly and enioyned to her helthfull penaunce And enformed her in the drede of god dylygently And Regenered her by hooly baptysme The deuylle thenne cryed there sayenge O what vyolence I suffre of this old seruaunt of God O vyolence O euylle old age acursyd be the day in whiche thow were born contrary to me For thow hast taken aweye my grettest hope On a nyght whyles Pelagyenne slepte the deuylle cam to her and awoke her and sayd Lady Margaryte what harme dyde I euer to the haue I not aourned the in alle Rychesses and in alle glorye I praye the telle me wherynne I haue angryd the and I shalle amende it anone I requyre the leue me not leste I be made reproche vnto the Crysten peple thenne she blessid her blew on hym And the deuylle vanysshed away And the third day after she assembled alle the goodes that she had and gaf hit to the poure peple for the the loue of god And a lytell whyle after she fled awey by nyght without knowlege of ony persone and tooke thabyte of an heremyte and set her self in a lytell celle and there seruyd our lord in moche grete abstynence and was of moche grete and good renommee vnto alle the people and ladde a ryght hooly lyf and good And was called broder Pelagyen After a Deken of the same bisshop that had baptysed her wente to Iherusalem for to vysyte there the hooly places Thenne that bisshop sayd to hym that after the vysytacion of the hooly places he shold see he a Monke that was named pelagyen and that he sholde vysyte hym For he shold fynde there the trewe seruaunt of our lord And soo he dyd And anone she knewe hym but he knewe her not for the grete lenesse that she had And Pelagyen demaunded hym haue ye a bisshop And he sayd ye lady And she sayd to hym Say to hym that he praye for me For truly he is thappostle of Ihesu cryste And thenne the preest departid and came ageyne the thyrdde day But whanne he cam he knockyd atte dore of the celle and anone answerd he opened the wyndowe and sawe that she was deed Thenne he cam and told hit to the bisshop thenne the Bisshop and the clergye and all the monkes assemblyd for to doo thexequyes for this holy man And whanne they hadde taken the body oute of the celle they fonde that she was a woman And thenne they merueyled gretely And gaf thankynges vnto god and buryed the body moche honourably the eyght day of October the yere of oure lord two honderd and foure score Thus endeth the lyf of saint Pelagien Here foloweth of saint Margarite saide Pelagyen â And first of her name THis virgyne Margaryte hadde tweyne names She was called Margaryte and Pelagyen In soo moche as she was named Margaryte she is alwey
supposid that they had yet lyuyd and merueyled why he so reherced their names in the canone And they so wondryng ther appyered vppon the Crosse of the aulter thre dounes syttynge whiche hadde the names of the sayntes marked and wreton on their brestes with blood whiche dylygently beholdyng vnderstode well that the sayntes were departed oute of this world And ygnarus Bisshop of Reynes sayth in a pistse whiche he sente to Charles that this denys that was sent in to Fraunce was denyse Ariopagita as afore is sayd And the same sayth Iohannes scotus in a pystle to charles lest by the reason of the countynge of the tyme shold be sayd ageynst as somme wolde obiecte Aboute the yere of our lord eyght honderd xxxij in the tyme of lowys kynge of Fraunce the Messagyers of Mychael emperour of Constantinople amonge other thynges brought to Lâwys sone of Charles le graunt the bookes of saynt denys of the gerarchye of the aungels translated oute of greke in to latyn and were receyued with grete ioye And that same nyght were nynten seke men heled in his chirche Aboute the yere of oure lord sixe honderd and thre and fourty lyke as hit is conteyned in a Cronycle Dagobert kynge of Fraunce whiche regned longe to fore pyppyn beganne to haue fro his childehode grete reuerence to saynt Denys For whanne he douted in that tyme the Ire of his fader Clotayre he fledde anone to the Chirch of saynt Denys And whanne thys holy kynge was deed it was shewed in a vysyon vnto an hooly man that the sowle of hym was rauysshed to iugement and that many sayntes accused hym that he hadde despoylled theyr chirches And as the wycked Aungels wold haue had hym to the paynes the blessyd Denys cam thyder by hym he was delyuerd at his comynge and escaped fro the paynes And peraduenture the sowle retorned to the body and dyd penaunce Clouys kynge discouered the body of saynt Denys not dewely and brake the bone of his arme and rauysshed it awey coueytously And anone he becam oute of his mynde Thenne late vs worshipe almyghty god in his seyntes that we by their merytes maye amende our self in this wretchyd lyf that we may after this lyf come vnto his sempyternal blysse in heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Denyse Here foloweth of saint Calixt pope And first of his name CAlixte is said of caleo cales that is to say eschauffe or to make warme For he was hoote and brennynge Fyrst in the loue of god And after he was hoote and brennynge in gâtynge and purchacyng sowles and thyrdly he was hoote in destroyeng the false ydolles and also in shewynge the paynes for synne Of saint Calyxte CAlixte the pope was martryd the yere of our lord two honderd and two and twenty vnder Alysander the Emperour And by the werkes of the sayd emperoure the mooste apparaunt partye of Rome was thenne brent by vengeaunce of god And the lyfte arme of thydolle Iupyter whiche was of fyne gold was molten And thenne alle the prestes of thydolles wente to themperour Alysander and requyred hym that the goddes that were angry myght be appeased by sacryfyses And as they sacryfysed on a thursday by the morne the ayer beynge al clere foure of the preestes of thydolles were smeton to deth with one stroke of thondre And the aulter of Iupiter was brente soo that alle the peple fled out of the walles of Rome And whan Palmachyen Consul knewe that Câlyxt with his clerkes hydde hym ouer the water of Tybre requyred that the Crysten men by whom this euyll was happed and comen shold be putte oute for to purge and clense the cyte And whanne he hadde receyued power for to doo soo he hasted hym incontynent wyth his knyghtes taccomplysshe hit And anone they were al made blynde And thenne palmachyen was aferd And shewed this vnto Alysandre And thenne themperour commaunded that the wednesday alle the peple shold assemble and sacryfye to Mercurye that they myghte haue answere vpon these thynges And as they sacryfyed a mayde of the temple whiche was named Iulyane was rauysshed of the deuylle and beganne to crye The God of Calyxte is very trewe and lyuyng whiche is wrothe and hath indignacion of our ordures And whanne palmachyen herd that he wente ouer Tybre vnto the Cyte of Rauenne vnto seynt Calixte and was baptysed of him he his wyf and alle his meyny And when themperour herd that he dyd do calle hym and delyuerd hym to Symply cyen Senatour for to warne and treate hym by fayr wordes by cause he was moche prouffitable for the comune And Palmachyen perseueryd in fastynges and in prayers Thenne cam to hym a man whiche promysed to hym that yf he heled his wyf whiche hadde the palseye that he wold bileue in god anone And whan Palmachien had adourid and praid the woman that was seke aroos and was al hole And ran to Palmachyen sayenge Baptise me in the name of Ihesu crist whiche hath taken me by the hand and lifte me vp Thenne cam Calixte and baptised her and her husbond and symplycyen and many other And when themperour herd herof he sente to smyte of the hedes of all them that were baptised And made Calixte to lyue fyue dayes in the prison withoute mete and drynke And after he sawe that calixt was the more comforted and gladde And commaunded that he shold euery daye be beten with staues And after he made a grete stone to be bounden to his neck and to be throwen doun from an hihe out of a wyndowe in to a pitte And Asteryen his preest took vp the body oute of the pytte And after buryed the body in the Cymytorye of Calipodyen Thus endeth the lyf of saint Calixte ¶ Here foloweth the lyf of seint Edward kynge and confessour IN old tyme the Royamme of Englond was gretely troublyd wyth the Danes So that in many kynges dayes there couthe no pees be maade But contynuelly werre And the Danes preuayled ageynste Englond And they brought it vnder their subiection for their cruelte and tyrannye was soo grete that withoute sparynge of ony thyng brent and destroyed But at the last it plesyd almyghty god that this tyrannye shold cease And sente of his grace vnto this Royame of Englond a peasible kyng named Edgar In whos byrth angels songen that pees shal be in his tyme so in his dayes was no werre in englond saynt edward kyng martir his sone regned not long after hym For his stepmoder dyde do slee hym in his yonge age by cause her sone Ethelrede shold regne saynt Dunston baptysed Ethelrede and saide by cause he defowled the fontstone that he shold lyue in grete trouble so he dyde for the danes warryd alle his tyme thys Etheldrede wedded Erle Goodwyns doughter on whome he gate Edmond yronsyde And after the deth of that quene he wedded the doughter of Rychard duke of Normandy which hiÈt Emme by whome
he had two sones Alurede and Edward whiche was a saynt and Confessour of whome we purpose to speke whan kyng Etheldrede was falle in age he made a parlement whiche of his two sones shold be kynge after hym And thenne by the prouysyon of god it was concluded that Edward whiche was not thenne borne in his moders bely shold be kyng and excluded Edmond yrensyde Alfrede whiche were the kynges older sones And whan the kyng had consented therto a generall othe was made to performe the same in tyme comynge And after whan this child was borne Alle the londe enioyed in his byrthe hopyng to be gretely releiud by hym yet alweye the cruelte of the danes was soo grete whiche the kyng so moche doubted that he sente the quene and his two sones â Alfrede Edward in to Normandy took his oldest sone edmond with hym to batayll to fyght ageynst the danes the sorow was thenne grete in Englond for moche peple torned to the danes ageynst theyre owne kyng withoute pyte dyd brenne and slee their owne Countre wyth the danes among whome was slayne saynt Alphey Archebisshop of caunterbury at grenewyche and many other good men some bisshops prestes men of Relygyon fledde in to secrete places and desertes where they deuoutely praid vnto almyÈty god for to haue very pees in this lond but this werre contynued alle the lyf of Etheldrede accordyng to the prophecye of saynt Dunston And after Etheldrede regned Edmond yrensyde his sone in ful grete trouble for in his dayes no man durst truste other ne open his courage to his neyghbour for that tyme eche man appechyd other of treason to then tente that he myght haue his good And they that were not of power to ouercome their neyghbour torned vnto the danes ageynst their owen neyghbours so by the helpe of the danes they fulfylled theyr cursyd purpoos so ther was moche extorcion And moche peple slayne in dyuerse places in howses feeldys wayes that the people vnneches durst burye them Also in that tyme was grete tyranny murthre oporessyng of wymmen as wyues wydowes and maydens ageynst their wylles And in this persecucion Englysshmen were nyghe destroyed and grete desolacion was in holy chirche For monasteryes Chirches howses of Relygyon were brente destroyed whiche caused many to flee in to wyldernes among whome the good bisshop of wynchestre bryghtwold fledde in to thabbay of glastenbury where he dayly prayd vnto almyghty god for pees of this Royamme of Englond Our blessyd lord seynge his mekenes shewed to hym a vysyon by which he was grely comforted For in a nyght as he was in his oratorye he fylle in a swete slombre sawe the gloryous Appostle saynt Peter with bryght shynyng clothes appieryng in an hyhe place of dygnyte with hym a semely yonge man rychely arrayed in clothyng of a kyng whome saynt peter dyde consecrate and enoynte in to a kynge commendyng his chastite gretely his clene lyuyng it was shewed to this bisshop many yeres to fore that this edward shold regne in this londe the bisshop beyng abasshed of this vision desyred of seint peter to knowe the vision therof to whom saint peter seid thestate of this royam told that the furye wodenes of the danes shold cease sone after said that al this punysshement was for the synnes of the peple god shold purueye for a peasible kynge whiche shalle fynysshe alle the woodenes of his enemyes the danes In whoos tyme shalle be plente of pees bothe to the chirche and to the londe and grete haboundaunce of corn and fruyte And this Royamme shall be prosperous in alle thynges And the peple shal be of suche condicions That other londes shal bothe loue and drede them the kynges name shalle be Edward whiche shal rule all maner thynges to the plesyng of god And shal ende his lyf in the loue of our lord graciously And whan this holy bisshop awoke he knelyd doune and maade his prayers with shedyng of teres And though that pees was not yet reformed Neuertheles he thanked almyghty god that he was certayne that by goddes grace he shold see hit in his dayes wherfor he wente aboute and prechid to the peple for to doo penaunce And our lord shold shewe to vs mercy and gyue to vs pees and alle thynges plentyuous And in this werre was the kyng slayne by treason And he was buryed at glastenbury Thenne bothe his sones were broughte to kynge Canutus the dane to doo with them what he wold And whan he sawe them he myght not for pyte slee them but sente them oâer the see to be slayne there soo that he myght regne in Englond peasybly whan the ryghtfull blood were destroyed Notwithstondyng they were preseruyd kepte alyue and were conueyed to the Emperour of Rome the whiche kepte them tyll saynt Edward was maade kyng of Englond thenne he maryed tholdest of them to a cosyn of his by cause of the loue that they had to kyng Edward whiche was vncle to them Thenne hadde kyng Canute the rewle of Englond by strong honde Alle lawe good rewle set a syde For in his dayes was full moche trouble and robberye with other grete oppressions and Importable charges among the comonte For he drad no man excepte the ij sones of the kyng that were thenne with themperour wherfor his counceyl wold that he shold wedde the moder of them named Emme to make the more allyaunce bytwene them And sone after Alfrede cam in to Englond for to speke to his moder And anone as he was come ouer the see in to this lond Erle goodwyn cam and welcomyd hym And anone after slewe hym by treason er he cam to the presence of his moder For whos dethe saynt Edward made grete sorowe whyle this holy child saynt Edward was in Normandy he vsyd a full good lyf hauntyng oftymes holy Chirche And louyd and conuersyd many âymes with the company of hooly Relygyous men and specially among holy monkes And vsyd to praye ayd saye in this maner O good lord I haue none helpe but the only my frendes ben gone fro me And they ben become myn aduersaryes Myn fader is deed My bretheren ben slayne My moder is wedded to my moost enemy And I am left allone And daily they seke the moyens to slee me but to the lord I am left poure I beseche the lord to helpe me that am a faderles child for thou somtyme helpedest merueylously Edwyn and Oswold whiche were exyled and ordeyned for to deye Thow defendest them only from deth but also thou good lord restoredest them ageyne to their owne kyngdomes O good lord I beseke the and pray the to kepe me sauf and brynge me in to the kyngdome of my fader Thou shalt be my god And saynt Peter the Appostle my patrone The relyques of whome by the grace of god I purpose to vysyte and to
honoure in the same place where they now reste yf thow lord sende to me lâf helthe oportunyte and space And whan kyng Canute had regned in Englond xx yere hauyng two sones by the said Emme that is to wete Harold hardeknoute he deyde when his fyrst sone had regned four yere he exyled his owne moder and deyde sone after And after hym regned his broder a lytell tyme deyde also as oure lord had ordeyned thenne was Englond delyuerd fro the greuous tribute of thraldom of the danes theÌne the lordes the comyns of Englond remembrid the othe that they maade in the parlement whiche sware that Edward whiche was thenne in his moders wombe shold be their kyng And anone sente in to Normandye for this hooly child Edward And the lordes and the comyns receyued hym with grete gladnes And thenne the archebisshop of Caunterbury and tharchebisshop of yorke with other bisshops dyde consecrate hym enoynted and crowned hym kyng of Englond O good lord what ioye and gladnes was thenne in Englond For whanne the old felycyte of this lond was almost despayred theÌne it was kyndeled ageyn by the comynge of this blessyd kyng saynt Edward TheÌne had the comyns reste pees the lordes gentil men reste honour And thenne holy chirche receyued alle her lybertees ageyne Thenne was the sunne lyfte vp and the mone sette in his ordre that is saye preestes shyned in wysedome in holynes The monasteryes flouryd in deuocion by holy relygyon The Clerkes gaf lyght prosperyd in their offices to the plesure of god The comyn peple were content and were ioyefull in their degree and in this kynges dayes ther was no venym that myght thenne corrupte the erthe with pestylence and in the see none outragyous tempestes the londe plentyuous of all maner of fruytes And in the Clergye nothynge inordynate and amonge the comyng peple was no grutchyng And the renomee and fame of this holy kyng saynt Edward sprange so merueyllously aboute to other nacions in suche wyse that alle Crysten kynges desyred to haue pees with hym The kynge of Fraunce whiche was nyghe of his kyn made with hym a generalle pees soo that it myght be sayd of hym as it was sayd of Salamon Alle the kynges of therthe desyred to see his face and to here his wysedome excepte only denmarke Whiche yet conspyred ageynste this Royamme of englond And what fylle therof it shal be declared here after more openly for this holy kynge Edward was euer full of mekenes and of vertue And neuer lyft vp by vayne glorye but euer he remembryd the wordes of oure lord that sayth I haue sette the prynce of the peple but be not therfore lyfte vp in vayne glorye but be thou amonge them as one of them He was amonge his houshold men egall and famylyer among preestes meke and debonayre to his peple amyable chyerful To wretchis and nedy men ful of compassion and large of almesse yeuynge He was also moche deuoute in the seruyse of god And dylygent to repayre and reedefye Chirches that were destroyed by the danes And in Iugement fulle discrete consideryng no mans persone but only the weyght of his cause as well to the riche as to the poure and he hadde rychesse ynough And his tresour semed comyn to alle poure men his wordes were sad discrete medlyd with myrthe spekyng ofte of Ihesu Cryst the second persone in the Trynyte And of oure blessyd lady his moder And somtyme he spak sharply as he sawe nede correctyng trespassours gentyl swete to good men He was neuer elate ne enhaunced in pryde no dishonest by glotonye He wolde not be compellyd by wrathe ne enclyne for yefte He despysed rychesse and was neuer sory for losse of worldly goodes and rychesses ne the more gladde for wynnynge therof in suche wyse that alle men merueyled of the sadnes of hym And aboute the kyng were dyuerse coueitous men whiche said to the kyng how his tresoure wastyd faste And yf the danes come ageyne he hadde not where with to defende hym wherfor they counceiled hym to reyse an ayde amonge his comyns lyke as kynge Canute hadde done dyuerse tymes An ayde was thenne cleped the dane ghelte And they counceiled to doo in lyke wyse And he said nay And he wold not agree therto Notwithstondynge they dayly cryed vpon hym when he sawe them so importune shewed so grete peryls thenne at the laste he saide to them to preue them late vs see how ye wyll do And whan they herd that of his owen mouthe were ryght gladde sente out commyssiones for to gadre it spared no countrey but made them paye in the largest wyse whan this money was leueyed brought in to the kynges tresorye thenne they brought the kyng thyder for to see it The kyng theÌne standyng a fer fro it sawe the deuyll in lykenes of an ape sittyng vpon the tresour And sayd what haue ye done what money haue ye broughte to me Forsoth there shalle not one peny be spente to myn vse but I charge yow for to delyuer to eche man his money ageyne but therto they were moche lothe saide that they myght spende it in dedes of charyte Thenne the kyng saydâ god forbede that I shold spende the goodes of other men For what almesse shold I make with the godes of poure comyns lauborers see ye not how the deuyll sytteth vpon the hepe of money maketh grete ioye that he hath taken vs in his snare wherfor I charge you on paine of dethe that ye delyuer this money ageyne there as ye had it euery peny Thenne they obeyed the kyng and repaid it vnto them of whome they had receyued it and durst neuer after moeue the kyng to suche maters ne in none other lyke so that all the dayes of saint Edward was neyther taske ne tayllage leueyed amoÌge his comyns whiche was a grete ioye to the royame In a tyme the kynge was seke lyeng in his bedde And ther stode in his chaÌbre a cheste open full of gold syluer And a clerke cam in supposynge the kynge had slepte and took oute of it a certayne somme of money wente his way And soone after he cam agayne wold haue taken more thenne the kyng said Forsothe now thow arte vnwyse to come ageyne For thou haddest suffycyently ynow to fore therfore beware For yf the tresorer come fynde the thou arte lyke to deye therfore wherfor yf thow loue thy lyf flee fast awey with that that thow hast And anone after cam the tresorer and fond hou of the tresour was born aweye a grete parte And sought and enquyred dylygently for the theef that stale hit And the kyng seyng the grete trouble and sorowe of the tresorer demaunded hym the cause of his heuynes And whan he had told to the kyng the kyng sayd to hym sorowe no more therfore For
assoylled hym of his auowe of which he sent to hym a bulle vnder leed And enioyned hym in penaunce to yeue the goodes that he shold haue spente in his pylgremage to dedes of charyte and to reedyfye som chirche of saynt peter and endowe hit with sufficient lyuelode And thenne the messagers receyued the popes blessynge And retorned in to Englond cam vnto the kyng at westmestre and whan the kyng vnderstode how he was assoylled of his auowe And how they had spedde he was glad thanked almyghty god our hooly fader the pope There was an hooly man a recluse in the dyocyse of worceter whiche knewe no thynge of the counceyll assemblyd vpon the gouernaunce of the lande ne of tha uowe of the kynge ne of the message sente to Rome To whome saint Peter appyerid in a nyght said to hym how kynge Edward had sente to Rome to be assoylled of the auowe that he made when he was beyonde the see and he hath grete conscyence by cause his counceylle wol not suffre hym taccomplysshe hit in goyng in his propre persone to Rome wherfor thow shalt wryte to hym in my name gyue hym knowlege that he is assoylled by myn auctoryte fro the bonde of his auowe And how he shall haue in commaundement of the pope for his penaunce to yeue suche goodes as he hath ordeygned for his exspensis to poure men and to make a newe Abbay in thonour of saynt Peter or to repayre an old one and tendewe it suffyciently and wryte to hym that by the same token that he chaas me somtyme to his patrone in Normandy that he repayre the Abbaye called Thorney in the west syde of the Cyte of london whiche somtyme I halowed my self And late hym sette therin Monkes of good conuersacyon For fro that place shall be a ladder stratchyng in to heuen And Aungels descendynge and ascendynge berynge vp to heuen to oure lord the prayers of meke and deuoute men ¶ And to him that ascendeth by that ladder I shalle opene the yates of heuen lyke as our lord hath enioyned me by myn offyce and I shal lose them that ben bounden and receyue them that ben vnbounde Alle this that thow hast herd of me thow shalt wryte it and sende it to kynge Edward whiche thenne was many a myle thens And the Messager that cam fro this Anker or recluse cam to the presence of the kynge the same tyme that the Bisshops cam fro Rome And when the kynge hadde receyued the lettres that cam fro Rome with grete reuerence and redde them he thanked God that he was soo clerely releced of the bonde of his auowe And thenne he commaunded the lettres of the Recluse to be redde And when they were redde and sawe they were acordynge to the lettres that cam fro Rome he humbly thanked god saynt peter his patrone and Incontynent disposid hym to fulfille his penaunce And began to repayre thabbaye that he was assigned to repayre by the glorious appostle saint peter and yaf largely almesse to poure peple fraunchysed al Englond of the trybute that was vsyd yerely to be payd to the danes for euermore On a tyme when kyng Edward was at westmynstre ther cam to hym a Crepyl born in Irlond whiche was named Gylemychell And this Crepyl had no feet but wente vpon his handes knees hauyng in either hand a lytel stole to go with His legges were bothe bent backward and cleuyd to his thyes and his toes grewe fast to his buttokkes This Crepyl entrid boldly in to the kynges palais and cam to the kynges chambre dore And one Hulyn the kynges chamberlayn demaunded hym shurply what he dyde there To whome the crepil seid lette me not I pray you for I must nedes speke to the kynge For I haue be out of this londe sixe tymes to vysyte the hooly Relyques of the holy appostle seint peter to th entent for to be heled and saynt peter denyed me not but badde me goo in to englond late the kyng bere me on his back in to the Chirche of saynt Peter theÌne I shal be made parfyghtly hoole which thynge was tolde to the kyng by the same Hulyn anone the kyng had pyte on the poure man and desdeygned not but took hym on his sholdres bare hym whom the crypel beclypped with his fowle skabby hondes armes soo in the beryng his synewes losed were retchyd oute And of kyrnellys botches of his face of scurffys ther ranne grete plente of blood and atter on the kynges clothes whiche was tolde to the kynge also that he was al hoole but the kyng took none hede therto but bare hym to the hyhe aulter and ther he was sette doune on his feet was made parfyghtely hoole to ryde or go whyder he wold but the kyng wold in no wyse haue this myracle ascrybed to hym but yaf to hym a reward bad hym go to rome thanke god his holy appostle saint peter In the tyme of kynge Athelberte whiche regned in kent And Sygebert in myddelsex whiche were conuertid to the faythe of Cryst by saynt Austyn whiche Athelbert made in london within the Cyte a noble ryall chirche in thonoure of seynt Powle in whiche saynt Austyn ordeyned saynt Mellyte to be bisshop of that Cyte whiche thynge was not satisfyed with that good dede but thought And also did do make another chirche in the west ende of the Cyte whiche theÌne was called Thorney now is named westmynstre whiche chirche he prayd Mellyte for to halowe in thonour of saynt Peter and the nyght before that he had purposed to halowe it saynt Peter appyered to a fisshar in Temse bad hym set hym ouer fro stangate to westmynstre And he prayd the fysshar to abyde hym there tyll he come ageyne he wold well rewarde hym for his labour And soone after the fysshar sawe saint Peter entre in to the Chirche with a grete lyght whiche lyght endured contynuelly as longe as he was in the chirche And a certeyne space after he retorned to the fysshar axynge hym yf he hadde ony mete to ete And the fysshar was soo gretely abasshed of the lyght that yssued oute of the chirche with hym that he durste not speke to hym To whome soynt Peter sayde Broder drede the not I am a man as thow art hast thow take ony fysshe he sayd nay For I haue awayted on yow alle this nyght whyle ye haue ben in the chirche And thenne they entryd in to the bote And saynt Peter commaunded hym to caste out his nette And whanne he had so done there cam soo grete a multitude of grete fysshys in to his nette that vnnethe they myght drawe vp the nette for brekynge And whan they were come to lond Seynt Peter deuyded the fysshes and âadde the fysshar bere the grettest vnto Mellyte Bisshop of London and delyuer it to hym And telle to hym
haue a Childe by her husbond For she hadde ben long bareyne And the kynge promysed her so to doo And thenne she retorned ioyously home to her husbond And sone after conceyued and had a childe wherof she thanked god that she was heled of bothe her dyseases Seynt Powle wryteth that the hooly ghoost yeueth graces dyuersly to some he yeueth wysedome to some connynge And to somme grace to hele and to cure seke peple But this blessyd kynge saynt Edward hadde a special grace aboue other in gyuyng syght to blynd men Ther was a blynd man wel knowen whiche herd a voys in his slepe that yf he myÈt haue of the water that the kynge wesshe his handes in and wasshe his eyen therwith he sholde haue his syght ageyne Thenne the next day after this blynde man wente in to the kynges palais And told his vysyon to the kynges Chamberlayne And the Chamberlayne tolde it to the kynge Thenne the kynge sayd that it myght be well an Illusyon or a dreme whiche is not alwey trewe for it hath not be sene that fowle water of a synners hondes sholde yeue syght to blynd men Thenne said the chamberlayn that many tymes dremes haue ben founden trewe as the dremes of Ioseph Pharao Danyel and many other Thenne the kynge in grete humylyte wente in to the chirche on a solempne day with a basyne of water And commaunded the blynde man to be brought to hym And as the kynge weshe the face of the blynd man his eyen were opened and had his syght and stode all abasshyd lokyng on the peple as he hadde newely comen in to this world And thenne the people wepte for ioye to see the holynes of the kynge And theÌne he was demaunded yf he myght see clerely And he sayd ye forsothe And the kyng knelyd doune before the aulter sayenge this verse with grete drede and mekenes Non nobis domine non nobis sed nomini tuo da gloriam That is to say Not to vs lord not to vs but vnto thy name be yeuen glorye After this the holynes and fame of saint Edward sprange aboute so that a Cytezeyne of Lyncolne whiche had be blynde thre yere cam to the kynges palais to haue of the water that the kynge hadde wasshen his handes in For he bileuyd that it wold hele hym And as he had goten of that water by one of the kynges offycers he weshe his face and his eyen ther with And anone he was restored to his syghte and was parfyghtely made hole and soo ioyefully retorned home magnyfyenge god and saynt Edward that he had his syght ageyne In a tyme ther were gadrid to gydre certayne werkemen to hewe doune tre es to the kynges palais at Bruhamand after their labour they leyd theym doune to slepe in the shadowe And a yong man of that felauship that heyÈts wylwyne whan he shold ryse he opened his eyen myght not see he weshe his face rubbed his eyen but he myght no thynge see wherfore he was full of heuynesse Thenne one of his felawes ladde hym home to his hows and abode soo blynde eyghten yere And at the laste a worshipfulle woman cam to vysyte and comforte hym And whanne she knewe how he was made blynde she badde hym be of good chere and sayd yf he wold vysyte lx chirches with good deuocion and thenne to haue the water that the kynge had wasshe his hondes in and wasshe his eyen with al he shold haue his fyght ageyne Thenne he was gretely comforted and gate hym a gyde and wente and visyted thre score chirches with grete deuocion and cam to the kynges palays and cryed for helpe And they that herd hym· bad hym cease of his cryenge but for all that he cryed more more And when the kynge vnderstode it âhe callyd hym to hym And sayd why shold I not set my hondes to helpe this poure man though I be vnworthy yf it please god to releue hym and to yeue to hym his syghte And by cause he wold not be founden disobedyent to god ne presumptuous he toke water and wesshe his eyen ful mekely And anone he was restored to his sight and sawe as clerely as euer he dyde Also ther was a fayre myracle of thre blynde men And the fourthe had but one eye whiche camen to the kynges palais And thenne cam one of the kynges seruauntes whiche had pyte on them he gate of the water that the kyng had wesshen his hondes in when he hadde heled that other blynde man And he brought this water to the gate and told these poure men how the kynge a lytell hefore had helyd a blynd man with the same water And sayd to them yf they wold wesshen their eyen with good deuocion they myght be heled by goddes grace with the same water And thenne they kneled doune with grete deuocion and praide this man to wesshe theire eyen ther with And thenne he made a crosse with the water vpon eche of theyr eyen besoÈt almyÈty god to open their eyen And they alle there receyued theyre parfyght syght And retorned in gyuynge lawde and praysynge God of their syght yeuen to them by the merytes of saynt Edward As the kynge on a tyme sat at the table with the quene and her fader Erle Goodwyn and sawe how Harold Tostyne the two sones of Goodwyn plaid to fore the kyng but at the last the game torned in to ernest they beganne to fyghte And Harold took his broder by the heer and threwe hym to the erthe And fylle vpon hym in grete angre and wold haue stranglâd hym but yf he hadde ben lette Thenne the kynge demaunded Goodwyn yf he vnderstood ony thyng therby And he saide nay forsothe Thenne the kynge sayd ye shalle see when they come to maÌnes age that one of them shalle slee that other yf he can And Harold whiche is the strenger shalle put that other oute of his londe Thenne shalle his broder Tostyn come ageyne with the kynge of Norwey and holde a bataylle ageynst Harold his broder in Englond In the whiche bothe the kynge of norwey and Tostyne shalle be slayne al their hooste sauf a fewe that shalle escape And the same Harold shall yeue hym self to penaunce for the deth of his broder and so escape or els he shal be put oute of his kyngdome and deye wretchydly The kynge was many tymes moeued and displesyd with Goodwyn For he mysused the kynges power and attempted the kyng in many thyngis that were vnleefull And in al that he myghte he labouryd to brynge oute of consayte the kynges cosyns and frendes that cam to hym out of Normandye to th entent that he myght haue alle the rewle aboute the kynge as wel secretely as out ward And the kynge vnderstondynge his falsenes sayd but lytell But in a tyme as the kyng sat at his dyner wyth dyuerse lordes and gentils about hym One of
of heuen there to receyue the ioye whiche is promysed to alle trewe Crysten men put ye awey your wepyng spede forth my iourney with prayers with holy psalmes· and wyth almesse dedes For though myn enemy the feÌde may not ouercome me in my faithe yet ther is none founden so parfiÈte but he wyll assaye tempte to lette or to feer hym And thenne he commaunded the quene to her broder in commendynge her vertues vnto his lordes and declared to them their pure chastyte For she was to hym in open places as his wyf and in secrete places as his suster And he commaunded also that her dowayre shold be made sure to her And they that come with hym oute of Normandye shold be put to theyr chois whether they wold abyde stylle in Englond and to be endowed wyth lyuelode after their degree or els to retorne ageyne in to NormaÌdy with a suffycyent reward And he chaas his place for his sepulture in the chirche of seynt Peter whiche he had newe bylded And sayde he sholde not longe abyde in this world And whanne he behelde the quene and sawe hir wepe syghe amonge he said to her oftymes My doughter wepe not for I shal not dye but I shall lyue shalle departe fro the lond of deth And byleue to see the goodnes of god in the londe of lyf And thenne he sette his mynde al in god and yaf hym self hooly to the faythe of the Chirche in the hope and promyses of Cryst vnder the sacramentis of the chirche And amonge these wordes of praysynge he yelded vp his spyryte vnto god In the yere of our lord M lxvj whan he hadde regned in this londe xxiij yere and sixe monethes and xxvij dayes the fourthe day of Ianyuer And as his Cosyns and his louers stode aboute this holy body whan the spyryte was passed they sawe a merueylous beaute an heuenly sighte in his face And whan they loked on his naked body they sawe it shyne with a merueylous brightnesse for the clernes of his vyrgynyte And thenne they wrapped the holy body in pallys And beryed it with grete reuerence and worship and largely almesse was gyuen for hym And all the lordes spyrytuell and temporel were present at the beryeng of hym than kynge god of the grete benefaittes that he shewed in this lond duryng the lyf of the hooly saynt and kynge saynt Edward wherfor lawde glorye and honour be gyuen to almyÈty god world withoute ende Amen The eyght day after his beryeng ther cam a crepil to his Tombe to be holpen of his grete dysease whiche many tymes afore had receyued almesse of the kynges honde And he had be wasshen of the kynges honde on cenethursdaye Notwythstondyng the myracle of his curynge was prolonged by the prouysyon of god and not shewed in his lyf tyme by cause that many myracles god shewed for hym In lyke wyse he wold shewe after his deth This Crepyl was called Rauf And was a norman borne and the synewes of his arme were shronken to gyder that his feet were drawe vp to his buttokkis that he myght not goo neyther on his feet ne on his knees but sat on an holowe vessel in maner of a basyn drawyng his body after hym with his hondes And whan he cam to the Tombe he besought almyghty god and saynt Edward deuoutely that he myght be cured and heled of his dysease whiche in his lyf tyme had mooste lyuyd by his almesse And whanne he had contynued a whyle in his prayers other peuple that had compassion of hym praid for hym also And atte last he lyft hym self vp and felte his synewes losed And thenne he arose vp and stode on his feet and felt hym self made parfyghtely hole for to doo what he shold We haue redde of the vertues that saint Edward had in helyng blynde men in his lyuyng whiche our lord hath not withdrawe from hym after his dethe It happed that thyrtty dayes after his beryeng ther cam to his Tombe a man whiche had but one eye ledyng after hym sixe blynde men eche of them helde other by the skyrte And all they deuoutely prayd to god and to saynt Edward that they myght haue their sight and to be delyuerd of the grete myserye that they stode in And moche peple cam thyder for to see what shold befalle of this thyng And whan they sawe how hertely these blynde men prayde thenne alle the peple beynge moeuyd wyth pyte knelyd doune deuoutely and prayd for them to god and to this hooly seynt And anone as they had endyd their prayers Alle they receyued parfyghtely theire sight And thenne eche of them that had ben blynde lokyd fast on eche other And thought it a newe world with them and eche enquyred of other yf they myght see and they said ye And alle knelyd doune thankyng god ful hertely that by the meryces of saynt Edward had restored to them their siÈt parfyghtly And also to theyr leder whiche had but one eye at his comyng And had syght of the blynde eye also And soo alle had their parfyght syght And after they retourned home eche in to his Countrey gyuynge lawde and thankynges to god and this holly kynge After this Harold Arphage kyng of Norwey and Tostyn broder of kynge Harold of Englonde cam with a grete nauye and a grete hoost and arryued in humbre and there made werre entendynge to conquere this londe how be it the peple beganne to resyste them but they were not of power to ouercome them And when Harold vnderstode this he reysed a grete multitude of peple to withstonde them Thenne saynt Edward on a nyght appyered to an holy Monke whiche was Abbot of Rammesey And bad hym go and telle to Harold that he shold ouercome his enemyes the which entended to destroye and consume this Royamme of Englond And saye to hym that he drede not For I shal so conduyte hym and his hoost that he shall haue vyctorye For I maye not see ne suffre this Royamme of Englonde to be destroyed And whan thou hast tolde to hym this he wyâle not byleue the wherfor thow shalt proue thy vision in this maner late hym thynke and set his mynde on what thyng he wille And thow shalt telle hym what he thynketh For god shalle shewe that to the And thenne he shalle yeue credence to thy wordes On the morn the abbot of Rammesey named Alexis went to kyng harold and told to hym this visionn And how he shold by the aide of saint Edward ouercome his enemyes And when he herde hit fyrste he supoosed hit had ben a fantasye And when he shewed to hym his preuy thought thenne he gaf faith therto And wente to the bataille how be it he was thenne seke in his grynde of a pestilence botche And slewe Tostyne his brother and Harold Harfage And right fewe or none escaped a lyue fro the bataille Wherfor the Englisshmen thanked god and saynt Edward of their
saynt Bernard thre thynges ther ben that ordeyne a man ryght well as touchynge hym self and maketh hym holy that is to lyue sobyrly and ryghtful labour and a debonayr wytte And after saynt Bernard eche of these thre is deuyded in to thre that is to lyue sobyrly yf we haue compaynably contynently and humbly Ryghtfull werke is yf he be ryghtfull discrete fruytfull Ryghtfull by good entencion Discrete by mesure and fruytfulle by edyfycacion The wytte is debonayre whan oure fayth feleth god to be souerayne good So that by his puyssaunce we byleue that our Infyrmyte be holpen by his power our ygnoraunce be corrected by his wysedome And that oure wickednes be diffaced by his bounte And thus sayth Bernard In all these thynges was saynt Luke well ordeyned He hadde fyrst sobre lyuynge in treble manere For he lyued contynently ¶ For as saynt Iheromme wytnessith of hym in the prolologue vpon Luke he hadde neuer wyfne chyldren he lyued compaynably that is signefyed of hym where it is sayd of hym and Cleophas in thoppynyon afore sayd Two disciples wente that same day et cetera Felauship is signyfyed in that he saith two disciples that is to saye well manerd Thyrdly he lyued humbly of whiche humylyte is shewed of that he expressyd the name of his felawe Cleophas and spak not of his owne name And after thoppynyon of some Luke named not his name for mekenes Secondly he had ryghtful werke and dede and his werke was ryghtfull by Intencion And that is sygnefyed in his collecte where hit is sayd Carnis mortificacionem ingiter in corpore suo pro tui nominis amore portauit he bare in his body mortificacion of his flesshe for the loue of thy name he was discrete by at temperaunce And therfor he was fygured in the forme of an oxe whiche hath the foote clouen by whiche the vertu of discrecion is expressyd he was also fruytful by edificacion he was soo fruytfull to his neyghbours that he was holden moost dere of all men Wherfor ad Colocenses quarto He was callyd of thoppostle moost derest Luke the leche saleweth yow Thyrdly he had a meke wytte For he byleuyd and confessyd in his gospel god to be soueraynly myghty soueraynly wyse soueraynly good Of two the fyrst it is said in the iiij chappytre They all were abasshed in his doctryne For the word of hym was in his power And of the thirde it appyerith in the xviij chapytre where he saith ther is none good but god allone Fourthly and last he was ryght wel ordeyned as touchyng his offyce the whiche was to wryte the gospel and in this appierith that he was ordeyned by cause that the said gospell is enoblysshed with moche trouthe hit is ful of moche prouffyte hit is embelysshed with moche honeste And auctorysed by grete auctoryte It is fyrste ennoblysshed with moche trouthe For ther ben thre trouthes that is of lyf of ryghtwysnes and of doctryne Trouthe of lyf is concordaunce of the honde to the tongue Trouthe of ryghtwysnes is concordaunce of the sentence to the cause And trouthe of doctryne is concordaunce of the thyng to the vnderstandyng And the gospell is ennoblysshed by this treble veryte And that this treble veryte is shewed in the gospel luke sheweth that Ihesu Cryste had in hym this treble veryte And that he taught it to other and sheweth that god hadde this trouthe by the wytnes of his aduersaryes And that sayth he in the xxvij Chappytre Mayster we knowe well that thou arte trewe and techest and saiste ryghtfully that is the veryte of the doctryne but thow techest in trouthe the way of god that is the trouthe of lyf For good lyf is the waye of god Secondly he sheweth in his Gospelle that Ihesu Criste taught this treble trouthe Fyrste he taught the trouth of lyf the whiche is in kepynge the commaundementes of god wherof hit is sayd thou shalt loue thy lord God Doo that And thou shalt lyue And whanne a pharysee demaunded oure lord what shalle I doo for to possede the euerlastyng lyf· And he sayd knowest thou not the commaundementes Thow shalt not slee thow shalt do no thefte ne thou shalt doo no aduoultry Secondly there is taughte the veryte of doctryne wherfor he sayd to somme that peruertid this trouth the enleueÌth chapytre Woo be to yow pharisees that tythe the peple et cetera and passe ouer the Iugement and charite of God Also in the same woo be to yow wysemen of lawe whiche haue taken the keye of scyence Thirdly is taught the trouthe of ryghtwysnes where hit is sayd yelde ye that longeth to themperour And that ye owe to god to god And he seyth the xix Chapytre They that ben myn enemyes and wyl not that I regne vpon them bryng them hether and slee them to fore me And he saithe in the thyrtenthe chapytre where he speketh of the dome that he shal saye to them that ben repreuyd departe fro me ye that haue done wyckednes Secondly his gospel is ful of moche prouffite wherof Powle and hym self wryte that he was a leche or a phisicyen wherfore in his gospel hit is signyfyed that he made redy for vs medycyne moost prouffytable Ther is treble medycyne Curyng preseruyng and amendynge And this treble medycyne sheweth saynt Luke in his gospelle that the leche celestyall hath made redy The medycyn curynge is that whiche cureth the maladye and that is penaunce whiche taketh awey alle maladyes spyrytuell And thys nedycyne sayth he that the celestyall leche hath made redy for vs whan he sayth Hele ye them that be contryte of herte And preche ye to the caytyues the remyssion of synnes And in the fyfthe chapytre he sayth I am not come to calle the Iuste and trewe men but the synners to penaunce ¶ The Medycyne amendyng is that encreaceth helthe And that is the obseruacion of counseylle For good counceyll maketh a man better and more parfyghte This Medecyne sheweth vs the heuenly leche whan he saith in the eyghtenth chapytre Selle all that euer thou hast and gyue to poure men The medecyne preseruatyf is that whiche preserueth fro fallyng And thys is theschewyng of thoccasions to synne and fro euylle companye And this medecyne sheweth to vs the heuenly leche whan he sayth in the twellfth chappytre kepe yow fro the mete of the pharysees there he techeth vs teschewe the companyes of shrewes and euylle men Or it may be sayd that the sayd Gospel is replenysshed with moche prouffyte by cause that all vertue is contyened therin And herof sayth saynt Ambrose luke compryseth in his Gospell alle the vertues of wysedome in hystorye he enseigned the natyuyte whan he shewed thyncarnacion of our lord to haue be made of the hooly ghost But Dauyd enseygned naturell wysedome when he sayd Sende oute the holy ghoost and they shalle be created And whan he enseygned derkenes made in the tyme of the passion of Ihesu Cryst
messager of oure lord Ihesu Cryste whiche hadde promysed to sende hym one And Abagar sawe in the vysage of thadee a merueylous godly bryghtnes And whan he hadde sene it he was all abasshed and aferd and worshipped our lord sayeng Veryly thow arte the disciple of Ihesu Cryst sone of god whiche sente to me word that he wold sende to me somme one of his disciples that shold hele me and gyue to me lyf To whom Thaddee sayde yf thou byleuest in the sone of god thow shalt haue alle the desyres of thyn herte And Abagar sayde I byleue on hym veryly And tho Iewes that slewe hym I shold gladly slee them yf hit were possible to me had power how be it that thauctoryte letteth hit And as it is redde in some places and bookes that Abagar was lepre And thaddee took the epystle of oure sauyour and rubbed and froted ther with the visage of Abagar And anone he receyued full helthe Iudas prechyd first in Mesopptamye in ponto And Symon prechyd in Egypte And fro thens cam they in to Perse And fonde there two Enchaunteurs Zaroes and Arphaxat whome saynt Mathewe had dryuen oute of Ethyope And fonde also there waradach a duke of the kynges of Babyloyne whiche shold go in bataill ayenst them of ynde And coude haue none answer of his goddes And thenne they wente to a Temple nyghe to the Cyte And there they had answere that by cause that thappostles that were comen they myght not answere Thenne the duk dyde enquyre for them and fonde them And demaunded them wherfor they were comen And what they were whiche answerd yf thow demaunde of oure lygnage we ben Hebrewes and yf thow demaunde of oure condycyon we ben seruauntes of Ihesu Crist and yf thow demaunde wherfor we ben comen we ben for your helthe To whom the duk answerd when I shal retorne Ioyously fro the betayll I shall here yow To whome thappostles sayde It is more couenable to the to knowe hym now by whome thou mayst ouercome and appese them that ben rebell to the And the duk answerd I see yow more myghty than oure goddes I praye yow to saye to vs to fore th ende of the bataylle And thappostles sayden by cause that thow knowest thy goddes to be lyers we commaunde them that they gyue answer to that thow demaundest by cause that whanne they haue we shall preue that they haue lyed thenne thydolles sayde that the batayll sholde be grete And that moche peple sholde be ouerthrowen on bothe sydes And thenne the Apposâles beganne to lawhe And the duk sayd to them I am aferd and ye lawhe And thappostles sayden doubte ye no thyng For pees shall be made amoÌg yow to morne at the hour of tierce the messagyers of the medes shalle come and shall submytte them to thy puyssance with pees And thenne the Bisshops of thydollys maade a grete laughter and sayd to the duk These men here wold assure the here to th ende that thow sholdest by leue folysshly And that thou sholdest be bitaken of thyn aduersaryes And thappostles sayde we saye not Abyde a moueth but one day only And thow shalt be vaynquysshour al in pees Thenne the duk maade to be kepte that one and that other that they that sayde the trouthe shold be honoured and the lyars punysshed Thenne on the morn lyke as thappostles had sayd it happed And thenne the duke wold haue brente the Bisshops of thydolles but the Appostles lettyd hym that he shold not slee them For they were not come for to slee but for to quyken the dede And thenne the duk moche merueylled that they wold not that they shold be slayn ne receyue none of their goodes And brought them to the kyng saide These ben goddes hyd in fourme of men And whanne he had told all to hym in the presence of his enchaunteurs Thenchaunteurs beynge moeued of enuy sayde that they were malycious and wycked men purposed somme malyce ageynst the royamme subtylly Thenne the duke said to them Now yf ye dare assaye ye and dispute with them And thenchaunteurs sayde yf thou wylt thou shalle see that they shall not mowe speke we beynge present Make men to come hyder that ben eloquent and can well speke And yf they dare speke to fore vs despyse ye vs And saye we ben fooles And theÌne were brought to fore them many aduocates And anone they were made doâbe to fore the enchaunteurs so that by sygnes they myghte not shewe that they myghte not speke ¶ Thenne sayd thenchaunteurs to the kyng to th ende that thou knowe that we be goddes we shalle suffre them to speke but they shall not mowe go And thenne we shall gyue to them theyr goynge And shall take awey theyr sighte And yet shall theire eyen be open And whan they had done al these thynges the duke brought the Aduocates al confused vnto thappostles And whanne thaduocates sawe thappostles so euyll clothed they had of them grete despyte in their courage· To whowhome Symon sayde Oftymes it happeth that amonge Coffrys of gold wrought with precious stones ben ryÈt vyle thynges enclosed And within Coffres of tree ben leyd gold rynges and precious stones Promyse ye that ye wylle forsake the ydolles and wyll worshype one only god Inuysyble we shall make the signe of the Crosse in your forhedes And ye shall thenne mowe confounde these enchaunteurs And whanne these Aduocates hadde renounced thydolles and were marked in the forhedes with the signe of the Crosse they entryd ageyne to the kynge to fore the enchaunteurs Thenne myght they not be ouercomen of the enchaunteurs but confounded them openly bifore the kynge and alle the peple ThenchauÌteurs were thenne angry And made to come a grete multitude of Serpentes Thenne thappostles cam anone by the commaundement of the kynge and fylled theyr mauntellyâ with the serpentes and threwe them ageynst thenchaunteurs sayeng Moeue ye not in the name of oure lord Ihesu Crist but be ye to torne and byten so that ye crye and braye in shewyng what sorow and payne ye suffre And thenne whan the serpente bote and ete the flesshe of thenchaunteurs they cryed and houled lyke wulues And the kyng and the other prayd thappostles that they wold suffre them to deye with the Serpentes And thappostles answerde that they were sente for to brynge men fro dethe to lyf and not fro lyf to deth Thenne made they their prayers and commaunded the serpentes that they shold take fro them ageyne the venym that they had shedde And retorne ageyne to the places that they cam fro And thenchaunteurs felte greter payne whanne they drewe out theyre venym ageyne than they dyd the fyrst tyme whan they bote them And thappostles sayde to them ye shall fele thys payne thre dayes And at the third day ye shall be hool so that ye departe fro your malyce And whan they hadde ben
fledde awey by nyght al naked And by cause they doubted shame they fledde in to Egypte And alle his grete possession cam to by rauayne of wycked peple Thenne the kynge and alle the Senatours sorowed moche for the maister of the Chyualrye whiche was so noble by cause they myght here no tydynges of hym And as they wente they approched the see and fonde a shippe and entryd in to hit for to passe And the maistre of the shyp saw the wyf of Eustace was ryght fayre And desyred moche for to haue her And whan they were passed ouer he demaunded his reward for their freyÈt And they had not wherof to paye soo that the mayster of the shyp commaunded that the wyf shold be holden and reteyned for his hyre And wolde haue her with hym And when Eustace herde that he gaynsayd hit longe thenne the mayster of the ship commaunded hys maronners to caste hym in to the See so that he myght haue his wyf And whanne Eustace sawe that he lefte his wyf moche sorowfully and toke his two children and went wepynge and sayde Alas wo ain I for yow for your moder is delyuerd to a strauÌge husbond And thus sorowynge he and his children cam to a ryuer and for the grete habondaunce of water he durste not passe that Ryuer with his bothe sones attones whiche were thenne yonge But at the laste he lefte one of them on the brynke of the Ryuer And bare ouer that other on his sholders And whanne he hadde passed the Ryuer He sette doune on the grounde the childe that he hadde borne ouer And hasted hym for to fetche that other that he hadde leffte on that on that other syde of the Ryuer And whan he was in the myddes of the water ther cam a wulf and took the childe that he hadde borne ouer and fledde with al to the woode And he thenne all despeyred of hym wente for to fetche that other and as he wente there cam a grete lyon and bare awey that other chyld so that he myght not reteyne hym For he was in the myddle of the Ryuer And thenne he beganne to wepe and drawe his heer And wold haue drowned hym self in the water yf the dyuyne purueaunce had not letted hym And the herdmen and plowemen sawe the lyon beryng the child al alyue and they folowed hym wyth their dogges soo that by dyuyne grace the lyon left the child al sauf without hurte And other plowemen cryed and folowed the wulf and with their staues and fauchons delyuerd the child hoole and sound fro his teeth without hurte And soo bothe the herdmen and plowemen were of one vyllage and nourysshed these children among them And Eustace knewe no thyng therof but wepynge and sorowyng sayenge to hym self Alas wo is me For to fore this myshappe I shone in greete welthe lyke a tree but now I am naked of alle thynges Alas I was a customed to be acompanyed with a grete multitude of knyghtes And I am now allone and am not suffred to haue my sones O lord I remembre me that thou saidest to me the behoueth to be tempted as Iob was but I see that in me is more done to than was to Iob For he loste alle his possessions but he had a donghylle to sytte on but to me is no thynge lefte he had frendes whiche had pyte on hym and I haue no ne but wylde beestes whiche haue borne awey my sones To hym was his wyf left and my wyf is taken fro me and delyuerd to another O good lord gyue thou reste to my trybulacions and kepe thow so my mouth that myn herte declyne not in to wordes of malyce and be caste fro thy vysage And thus sayenge and wayllyng in grete wepyng went in to a strete of the toune and there was hyred for to kepe the feldes of the men of that towne and so kept them xv yere his sones were nourysshed in another towne and knewe not that they were bretheren and oure lord kepte the wyf of Eustace so that the strauÌge maÌ had not to do wyth her ne touched her but deyde and ended his lyf In that tyme themperour and the peple were moche tormentid of theyr enemyes And thenne they remembryd of placidas how he many tymes had foughten nobly ageynst them for whome themperour was moche sorowfull and sente oute in to dyuerse partyes many knyghtes to seche hym and promysed to them that fonde hym moche rychesses and grete honour And two knyghtes whiche had ben vnder hym in chyualrye cam in to the same strete where he duellyd And anone as placydas sawe them he knewe them And thenne he remembryd his fyrst dignyte and beganne to be heuy and sayde Lord I byseche the to graunte to me that I maye somtyme see my wyf for as for my sones I knowe well that they be deuoured of wylde beestes and thenne a voys cam to hym and sayde Eustace haue thow good affyaunce For anone thow shalt recouer thyn honoure and shalt haue thy wyf and thy Children and anone he mette with these knyghtes and they knewe hym not but demaunded of hym yf he knewe ony straunge man named placidas And had a wyf and two chyldren and he sayd nay yet he had them home to his hostel and he serued them And whan he remembryd of his fyrst estate he myght not holde hym fro wepyng Thenne he wente oute and wesshe his face and retorned for to serue them And they consydered and sayd that one to that other how that this man resembleth moche vnto hym that we seche And that other answerd certaynly he is lyke vnto hym Now late vs see yf he haue a wounde in his hede that he gate in a bataylle Thenne they behelde and sawe the signe of the wounde And thenne they wyst well it was he that they soughte Thenne they arose and kyssed hym and demaunded of his wyf and chyldren And he sayd that his sones were deed and his wyf was taken awey fro hym And thenne the neyghbours ranne for to here thys thynge by cause the knyghtes told recounted his fyrste glory and his vertue And they said to hym the comandement of themperour And clad hym with noble vestymentes Thenne after the iourneye of fyften dayes they brought hym to themperour And whan he herd of his comynge he ranne anone ageynst hym And whan he sawe hym he kyssed hym Thenne Eustace recouÌted to fore them alle by ordre that whiche had hapned to hym And he was restablysshed vnto thoffyce to be ageyn mayster of the chyualrye And was constrayned to doo thoffyce as he dyde to fore And thenne he compted how many knyghtes ther were and sawe that ther were but fewe as to the regard of their enemyes And commanded that alle the yonge men shold be gadred in the cytees and townes and it happed that the countrey where hys sones were nonrysshed shold make and send two men of armes Thenne al the Inhabitants of that
Rome lyke as in shewyng that hit departed fro the seygnourye of Rome And thenne anone the Romayns wold brynge grete puyssaunce in to that prouynce And there subdued it to their seygnourye And yet it suffysed not to the Romayns that they hadde in theire seignorye alle the false ymages of the prouynces but maade to eche of tho false goddes a Temple lyke as tho goddes hadde maade them lordes and vaynqueurs of alle the prouynces And by cause that alle the ydolles myght not be in that Temple They made a gretter Temple more merueylous and hyhe than alle the other And for to shewe the more their wodenesse They dedyed this Temple in thonour of alle theyr goddes And more for to deceyue the peple the Bisshops of thydolles fayned that it had ben commaunded to them of Cybele a goddesse that is called moder of the goddes And they called this Temple Pantheon whiche is as moche to saye as alle goddes of pan that is all and theos that is god And by cause they wold haue victory of alle the people therfore they made a grete Temple to alle the sones of Cybele And the fouÌdament of this Temple was cast round by a spere that by that forme the perdurablete of theire Goddes sholde be shewed And for as moche as the grete quantite of the erthe whiche was within semed not susteynable to be voyded and that the werke was a lytel sene aboue the erthe they fylled the creuyses within the erthe and medled penyes with therthe And dyd alwey so tylle the sayd Temple was fully accomplysshed And thenne they gaf lycence that who someuer wold take awey the erthe that all the money that he fonde with therthe shold be his Thenne cam hastely grete companye of peple and voyded anone the Temple And at the last the Romayns maade a pyne of copper and gylt and set it in a ryght hyhe place And it is sayd alle the prouynces were entaylled and grauen merueylously within that pyne So that alle they that come to Rome myght see in that pyne in what parte his prouynce was And this pyne after longe tyme fylle and remayned in the ouerest parte of the Temple And in the tyme of Focas themperour what tyme Rome had receyued the faythe Boneface the fourthe ãâã fro saynt gregory about the yere of our lord six honderd and fyue gate of Focas the said Temple And dyd doo take awey and enface alle the ordure of alle tho ydolles And the fourthe kalendes of Maye he halowed it in thonour of our lady saynt Marye and of alle the martirs And called it saint Marye at martres whiche now is called sancta Maria rotunda that is saint Marye the round For thenne was made no solempnite of the Confessours And by cause ther assembled grete multitude of peple at his feest And there myght not be found haboundaunce of vitaylle for the peple that cam ãâã Gregory establysshed this feste to be in the kalendes of Nouembre For thenne oughte to be gretter habondaunce of vytaylle whanne the corne is had in and wyne made And establisshed this daye to be halowed thorugh the world in the honour of alle sayntes And thus the Temple that had be made for alle thydolles is now dedycate and halowed to alle the sayntes And where as the worshippynge of ydolles was vsed ther is now the praysyng of all sayntes Scondely it is ordeyned for the supplement of thynges offendyd and trespaced that is to saye for to accomplysshe suche as we haue ouerpassed For we haue lefte and ouerpassed many sayntes of whom we haue made no feste ne may not halowe the fest of euery saynt by hym self as wel for the grete multitude whiche ben Infynyte as for our Infyrmyte For we ben feble and weyke and maye not suffyse for the shortnesse of tyme For the tyme may not suffyse therto And as saynt Ierome sayth in a pystle whiche is in the begynnynge of his kalender ther is no day except the fyrst daye of Ianyuer but that there may be foundeh euery day mo than fyue thousand martirs And therfor by cause we maye not syngulerly make feest of euery saynt saynt Gregory thâ ãâã hath ordeyned and establysshed that we shall on one daye honoure them generally to gydre And Mayster Wylliam of Ancerre putteth sixe resons in the somme of the offyce wherfore hit was establysshed that we shold here in thys world make solempnyte of the sayntes The fyrste is for the honoure of the dyuyne mageste For whan we doo worship to the saynte or sayntes we worshipe god in his sayntes and say that he is merueylous in them For who that dothe honoure to sayntes he honoureth hym specyally which hath sanctyfyed them The second is to haue ayde in our Infyrmyte For by oure self we may haue none helthe therfor haue we nede of the prayers of sayntes And therfore we ought to honoure them that we may deserue that they ayde and helpe vs It is redde in the thyrdde book of kynges of the fyrst chapytre that bersabee is as moche to saye as the pytte of fyllynge whiche is to saye the Chirche tryumphaunt sayenge to her sone that is to saye that to the Chirche tryumphaunt he had obteyned the regne by his prayers The thyrdde cause is for thaugmentacion of oure surete that is to saye for the glorye that is purposed in vs in their solempnyte oure hope and surete ben augmented and encreaced And yf mortal men and dede myght thus be enhaunced by theire merytes it is trouthe that the myghte and puyssaunce shalle no thyng there by be mynuysshed ne lassed The fourth for thensample of vs folowynge For when the feste is remembryd we ben called tensiewe and folowe them soo that by thensample of them we despyse alle erthely thynges And desyre celestyall thynges ¶ The fyfthe is for the dette of entrechaungynge neyghbourhede For the sayntes make of vs feste in heuene For thaungels of god and the holy sowles haue ioye and make feste in heuene of a synnar that dothe penaunce And therfor it is ryght whanne they make of vs feste in heuen that we make feste of them in erthe The sixthe is for the procuracion of our honour For whanne we honoure the sayntes We procure our honour For their solempnyte is our dignyte For whan we worshipe oure bretheren we worshippe our self For charyte maketh al to be comyn And our thynges ben celestyall erthely and perdurable And aboue these reasons Iohan damascene putteth thre reasons in his fourthe boke the seuenth Chapytre why wherfore the sayntes and theire Relyques ought to be honoured of whiche some ben preysed for their dygnytees and somme for the preciousytees of their bodyes And the dygnyte of them is in four maners For they ben frendes of god Sones of god heyres of god and oure dukes and ledars And saynt Iohan putteth these auctorytees Iohannis decimo tercio For the first Iam non
whiche Thobye shewed And chastyte of wydowhed in yongth of whiche Ioseph vsed in Egypte And after gregory also this is treble martirdom withoute shedyng of blood that is pacyence in aduersite wherof it is sayd we may he martirs without yron yf we kepe veryly pacyence in oure courage Compassion of them that ben in affliction and tormentis wherof it is sayd who that hath compassyon of ony that is in necessyte he bereth the Crosse in his thought And he that suffreth vylonny and loueth his enemy is a martir secretely in his mynde Secondly they suffrid martirdome prouffitably whiche prouffyt on the parte of the martirs is remyssion of all synnes hepyng and hauynge plente of merytes and receyuynge of Ioye perdurable And these thynges haue they bouzt with their precious blood And therfor it is sayd their blood is precious that is to say full of pryce And of the fyrst and second saynt Augustyn sayth in the book of the Cyte of god what thyng is more precious than deth by whiche synnes ben pardonned and the merites encreaced And the same vpon Iohan sayth the blood of Ihesu Crist is precious withoute synne And yet made he the blood of his saintes precious For whom he gaf his precious blood For yf he had not made the blode of his sayntes precious hit shold not be sayd that the dethe of saintes is precious in the syghte of oure lord And Ciprian saith that martirdom is th ende of synne terme of perylle ledar of helthe mayster of pacyence and hows of lyf Of the third saynt Bernard sayth Thre thynges ther be that make the deth of saintes precious reste of trauayll Ioye of nouelte surete of perdurabylyte And as touchyng to vs the prouffyte is double For they be gyuen to vs for an example to fyght wherof saynt Iohan Crysostome saith to vs thou Crysten man art a knyght delycate yf thou wene to haue victorye withoute fyghtyng tryumphe withoute batayll excercyse thy strength myÈtely and fyght thou cruelly in this bataylle Considere the couenaunt vnderstonde the condicion knowe the noble Chyualrye knowe the couenaunt that thou hast made and promysed the condycion that thow hast taken the Chyualrye to whome thou hast gyuen the name For by that couenaunt all men fyghte And by that condicion all haue vaynquysshed and by that chyualrye This saith Crisostom Secondly they be gyuen to vs patrons for to ayde and helpe vs they ayde vs by their merites and by their orysons Of the fyrst saith saint Augustyn O the vnmesured pyte of oure lord whiche wylle that the merites of the martirs be our aydes and suffrages He examyneth them for to enseigne and teche vs He breketh them for to gadre vs. he wyll that their tormentes ben oure prouffitees Of the second sayth saynt Iheromme ayenst vygilancyen yf thappostles and martirs when they were yet in their bodyes alyue myghte pray for other and were therin diligente how moche more thenne oughte they to do after their crownes victory and triumphes Of whome Moyses one only man gate pardon for sixe Thousand men armed And saint Stephen praid for his enemyes And sith they be now with god Shold they do lasse Thirdly the martirs haue suffred constantly Saint Augustin sayth that the soule of a martir is the glayue resplendisshaunt by charite sharp by verite brandisshed by the vertue of god fyghtyng that whiche hath surmouÌted the coÌpanye of gaynsayeng them in repreuyng them She hath smeton the wicked and throwen doune them that were contrary to her And Crisostom saith that the martirs tormentid were strenger than the tormentours And the torn membres vaynquysshed the rentynge yrons The thirdde difference is of the confessours Of whom the dignyte and excellence is manyfested by cause they confessid god in thre maners by herte by mouthe and by werk The Confession of herte suffyseth not withoute confession of mouthe lyke as Iohan Crisostom saith preueth it in four maners And as to the fyrste he saith thus The Rote of confession is faith of the herte And as long as the Rote is a lyue quycke in the erthe it is necessary that she brynge forth bowes and leeuys And yf if it bryng none forth it is to vnderstonde that it is dryed in therthe And all in lyke wyse whan the Rote of fayth is hole in the herte she bryngeth forth alwey Confession in the mouthe And yf the confession of the herte appiereth not in the mouthe vnderstonde withoute doubte that the fayth of the herte is dryed vp As to the second he sayth yf it suffyseth to byleue in the herte and not to confesse it to fore men thenne thou art vntrewe and an ypocryte For how be hit that he byleueth not at the herte yet hit prouffiteth hym to confesse with his mouthe And yf it prouffyteth not to hym that confessyth withoute byleue It prouffited not to hym that byleueth without Confession And as to the thyrdde he saith yf it suffyse to Ihesu Cryst that thow knowe hym how be hit that thou confesse hym not to fore men thenne hit suffyseth to the also that thow knowe hym And yf thou confesse Ihesu crist to fore god And yf his cognoyssaunce suffyseth not to the nomore suffyseth to the thy faithe ¶ As to the fourthe he sayth yf only the faythe of thy herte shold suffyse to the god wolde thenne haue created to the but only the herte but god hath created both the herte and the mouthe For to byleue with thy herte and to confesse it with thy mouth Thyrdly they confessid god by werke And saynt Iheromme sheweth how god is confessid by werke or renyed and sayth Ihesu Cryst is sapyence Rightwysnes trouthe holynes and strengthe Sapyence is denyed by folye Ryghtwysnes by Inyquyte trouthe by lesynges holynes by fylthe And strengthe by feble courage And as ofte as we ben ouercomen by vyces and by synnes we renye god Also in the contrarye as ofte as we done ony good we confesse god The fourth difference is of the vyrgyns of whom the excellence and dignyte is shewed and manyfested First in that they ben the spouses of the eternal kynge And herof sayth saynt Ambrose who may esteme more gretter beaulte than the beaute of her that is loued of the kynge Approuued of the Iuge dedycate of god alwey an espouse and alweye withoute corrupcion Secondly by cause she is compared to angels vyrgynyte surmounteth all condicion of nature humayne by whiche men ben associate to Aungels And the vyctory of vyrgyns is more than of Angels Thangels lyuen withoute flesshe And vyrgyns lyuyng in theire flesshe tryuÌphen Thyrdly for by cause they be more noble than other Crysten people wherof Cypryan saith virgynyte is the floure of the seed of the Chirche beaute and aournement of spyrituel grace a glad Ioye of lawde and honoure werke en tiere and incorrupte ymage of God And yet more noble as to the holynes of god and porcion of the flock of Ihesu Cryst ¶
of leos that is peple and of nardus that is an herbe swete smellynge For by the odour of good fame he drewe the peple to hym by thodour of good renommee Or Leonard may be said as gaderynge hyhe thynges Or hit is said of lyon the lyon hath in hym self four thynges The fyrst is force or strengthe And as Isydre sayth hit is in the brest and in the hede And so the blessyd saynt Leonard had strengthe in his brest by the refraynyng of euyl thoughtes in the heede by contemplacion of souerayne thynges Secondly the lyon hath subtilyte in two thyngis For he hath his eyen open whanne he slepeth And diffaceth his traces when he fleeth And thus Leonard waked by labour of good werke and in wakynge he slepeth by rest of contemplacion And diffaceth in hym self the trace of alle worldly affection Thyrdly the lyon hath myght in his voys For by his voys he reyseth the thirdde daye his whelpe that is dede borne And maketh alle other beestes by hym to be in pees and reste And in lyke wyse Leonard reysed many that were dede in synne and many that lyued bestyally he fixed them in good werkes and prouffitable Fourthly the lyon hath drede in his herte after that ysydore sayth He doubteth two thynges that is the noyse of wheles of chariottes or cartes fyre brennyng In lyke wyse Leonard doubted and in doubtyng he eschewed all the noyse of the world And therfor he fledde in to the deserte And he eschewed the fyre of couetyse and therfor he reffused the tresours that were of fryd to hym ¶ Of saynt Leonard AT is said that leonard was aboute the yere of oure lord vC And he was baptysed in the holy fount of saynt Remyge Archebisshop of Raynes And was Instructe of hym and enduced in holy disciplynes of helthe And the parentes and kynnesmen of saynt Leonard were chyef and hyest in the palays of the kynge of Fraunce This Leonard gate so moche grace of the kynge that alle the prysonners that he vysyted were anone delyuerd And whanne the renommee of his holynes grewe and encreaced the kyng constrayned hym for to dwelle with hym long tyme tyll that he hadde tyme couenable and gaf to hym a Bisshopryche And he reffused it and left al desyrynge to be in deserte And wente to Orleaunce prechynge there with his broder Lieffart And there lyued a lytel whyle in a Couente And thenne Lyeffart had desyre to dwelle allone in a deserte vpon the Ryuer of Loyre And Leonard was warned by tholy ghoost to preche in guyan And thenne they kyssyd to gyder and departed Thenne Leonard prechyd there and dyd many myracles and dwellyd in a forest nyghe to the Cyte of Lymoges In whiche forest the kyng had do made an halle or a lodge whiche was ordeyned for hym whan he shold go hunte And hit happed on a daye that the kyng wente for to hunte in that forest And the quene whiche was gone thyder with hym for her recreacion whiche thenne was grete with child beganne to trauayll of child And the trauayll endured longe and was in poynt to perysshe so that the kynge and al the meyny wepte for the peryl of the quene And thenne Leonard passyd thorugh the forest and herd the vois of them that wepte and was moeued with pyte and wente thyder And the kyng called hym And demaunded hym what he was and he sayd that he was a disciple of saynt Remyge And thenne the kynge had good hope by cause he hadde ben enformed of a good maistre And brought hym to the quene prayd hym that he wold praye for her and for the fruyt that she bare that she myght gete of god double ioye And anone as he hadde made his prayer he gate of god that he requyred Thenne the kynge offryd to hym moche gold and syluer but he reffused al and desyred hym to gyue hit to poure men sayd I haue no nede of no suche thynges It suffyseth me to despyse the Rychesses of the world and to serue god in this wode and that is that I desyre And thenne the kynge wold haue gyuen to hym alle the wode I wylle not haue all but as moche as I maye go aboute with myn asse in a nyght I desyre whiche the kyng gladly graunted to hym And there was made a monastery In whiche he lyued longe in abstynence and two monkes with hym And theire water was a myle fro them wherfore he dyde do make a pytte alle drye the whiche he fylled with water by his prayers And called that place noble by cause he hadde receyued it of a noble kynge And he shone there by soo grete myracles that who that was in pryson and called his name in ayde anon his bondes feters were broken and wente awey withoute ony gaynsayeng frely And cam presentyng to hym their chaines or yrons And many of them that were soo delyuerd dwellyd stylle wyth hym and seruyd there our lord And there were seuen of his noble lygnage whiche folde awey alle their goodes duelleden wyth hym And he delyuerd to eche of them a parte of that woode And by his holy ensample he drewe many to hym And at the laste thys holy man beynge endowed with many vertues the eyghte ydus of Nouembre departed oute of this world slept in oure lord wherafterward for the many myracles that god shewed there it was shewed to the clerkes of the Chirche that by cause that place was ouer lytil for the grete multitude of peple that cam thyder that they shold do make in another place another Chirche And bere therin the body of saynt Leonard honourably And thenne the Clerkes and the peuple weââ alle thre dayes in fastynges and in prayers ¶ And on the third day they sawe alle the countreye couerd with snowe sauf only the place wherin saynt Leonard wold reste whiche was alle voyde And thyder was the body transported And the Chirche made And the grete multitude of yrons of dyuerse maners witnesse well how many myracles oure lord hath shewed for hym And specially to prysoners of whome the feters and yrons hange to fore his tombe The vycounte of lymoges had do make a grete chayne for to fere with alle the malefactours and commaunded that it shold be fastned vnto a tronke in his Toure And who someuer was bounden with this chayne to that tronke ther as it was sette he myght see no lyght And hit was a place ryght derke And who soo deyde there deyde not of one dethe only but more than of a thousand tormentes And it happed that one of the seruauÌtes of Seynt Leonard was bounden with this Chayne withoute deseruyng Soo that almost he gaf ouer his spyrit And thenne as he myght in his courage he auowed to Seynt Leonard And prayd hym that sythe he delyuerd other that he wold haue pyte on his seruaunt ¶ And anone saynte Leonard appierid to hym in a whyte
wold see them And thanked god and saint Clare that she had her child ageyne rendryd to her Ther was a mayde of the Castel conuary whiche satte on a tyme in a feld And another woman hadde leyd her hede in her lappe And in the mene whyle there cam a wulf whiche was acustomed to renne on the peple And cam to this mayde swalowed the vysage all the mouth And so ranne with her toward the wode And the good woman that rested in her lappe whan she sawe it was moche abasshed and beganne to calle on saynt Clare And sayd helpe helpe saynt Clare and socoure vs I recommaÌde to the at this tyme this mayde And she whome the wulf bare sayd vnto the wulf Arte not thou aferd to bere me ony ferther that am recommaunded to so grete and worthy lady And with that word that the mayde sayd the wulf al confused and shamed sette softely the mayde doune and fled aweye lyke a theef And soo she was delyuerd Thenne late vs pray vnto thys glorious vyrgyn saynt Clare to be our Aduocate in all our nedes And by the merytes of her we maye so amende our lyf in this world that we may come vnto euerlastynge lyf and blysse in heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Clare ¶ Here begynnneth the lyf of saint barbara IN the tyme that maxymyen reygned there was a ryche man a paynym whiche adoured and worshypped the ydolles whiche man was named dyoscorus thys dyoscorus had a yonge doughter whiche was named barbara for whome he dyd doo make an hyghe and stronge toure in which he dyd to kepe and close thys Brbara to the ende that no man shold see hyr by cause of hyr grete beaulte Thenne came many prynces vnto the sayd dyoscorus for to treate with hym for the maryage of hys doughter Whiche wente anone vnto hir sayd my douggter certeyn prynces be comen to me whiche requyre me for to haue the in maryage wherfore telle to me thyn entente and what wylle ye haue to doo Thenne saynt barbara retorned al angrye toward hyr fader and sayd my fader I praye you that ye wyl not constreyne me to marye for therto I haue no wylle ne thoughte After thys he departed fro hir went in to the towne where there was one makyng a cysterne or a pyscyne For he had many werkmen for to perfourme thys werke And also he had tofore ordeyned how he shold paye vnto eche of theym theyr salayre and after this he departed thens and wente in to a ferre contreye where he longe soiourned Thenne saynt barbara the an lle of our lord Ihesu cryste descended fro the toure for to come see the werke of hyr fader and anone she perceyurd that there were but two wyndowes onelye That one ageynste the southe that other ageynste the northe wherof she Was moche abasshed admeruaylled and demaunded of the werkmen why they had not made no moo wyndowes and they answerd that hyr fader had so commaunded and ordeyned ¶ Thenne saynt barbara sayd to them make me here another wyndowe They answerd dame we fere and drede to angre your fader whiche commaunded vs to make no moo ne we dar not therfore make no moo e The blessyd mayde sayd do and make that I commaunde you and I shal contente my fader shal excuse you ageynst hym Thenne dyd they that she commaunded to them by the manere that she enseygned and shewed them whan the holy saynt barbara walked and came vnto the cysterne she made wyth hir fyngre toward thorryent a crosse wyth hyr thombe in the stone of marble the whiche crosse is there yet vnto thys day Whych euery man may see that cometh thyder by deuocyon whan she came vnto the syde where as the water descended in to the sayd cysterne she blessyd it made the signe of the crosse and Incontynente the water was halowed in Whiche al they that Were seek receyued helthe yf they had parfyte byleue in god in the blessed mayde In thys same cysterne was this holy mayde baptysed of an holy man and lyued there certeyn space of tyme in takyng onelye for hyr refeccion hony socles and locustes folowyng the holy precursour of our lord Saynt Iohan baptyste thys cysterne or pyscyne is semblable to the fontayn of Syloe in whyche he that was borne blynde recouerd there hys syght ¶ Hyt is also lyke to the pisyne named robatyca In whyche thympotente by the worde of god was made hole Thyse pyssynes or pecynes ben fontaynes perpetuelles in whiche al manere seek men in what someuer maladye they were greuyd or tormented that wente therin receyued fully theyr helthe In thys fontaygne is lyuyng water and it is the water that the samarytane requyred of our lord to haue of the holy pecyne On a tyme thys blessyd mayde wente vp vpon the toure and there she behelde the ydolles to whiche hir fader sacrefyed and worshypped and sodeynlye she receyued the holy ghoost and became meruayllously subtyl and clere in the loue of Ihesu cryste For she was enuyronned wyth the grace of god almyghty of souereyn glorye and of pure chastyte Thys holy mayde Barbara aourrned wyth feythe surmounted the deuyl for whan she behelde thydolles she cratched them in theyr vysages in despysyng them alle and sayenge alle they ben made lyke vnto you whyche haue made you to erre and alle them that haue affyaunce in you thenne she wente in to the toure and worshepped our lord and whanne the werke was ful parfourmed hyr fader retorned from hys vyage whan he sawe there thre wyndowes he demaunded of the werkemen wherfore haue ye made thre wyndowes they answerd your doughter hath commauÌded so Thenne he made his doughter to come afore hym and demaunded hyr why she had do make thre wyndowes and she answerd to hym and sayd I haue doon them to be maad by cause thre wyndowes lyghten alle the world and alle creatures but ij make derkenesse ¶ Thenne hyr fader toke hyr wente doun in to the pyscyne demaundyng hir how thre Wyndowes gyue more lyght thenne two saynt Barbara answerd Thyse thre fenestres or wyndowes betokene clerely the fader the sone and the holy ghoost the whyche ben thre persones one veray god on whome we oughte to byleue and worshyppe Thenne he beyng replenysshed wyth furour Incontynente drewe hys swerde to haue slayne hyr but the holy vyrgyn made hyr prayer and thenne meruayllously she was taken in a stone and borne in to a montaygne on whiche two shepherdes kepte theyr sheep the whiche sawe hyr flee and thenne hir fader Whyche pursewed after hyr wente vnto the sheepherdes and demaunded after hyr And that one whiche wolde haue preserued hyr sayd that he had not seen hyr but that other whyche was an euyl man shewed and poynted hyr wyth his fyngre whome the holy saynt barbara cursyd and anone hys sheep
the mene tyme tydynges came to rome how that grete brytaygne whiche now is called englond rebellyd ageynst the empyre wherfore by the aduys of the consulate it was concluded that constancius kynge of ermonye shold goo in to brytaygne to subdue them whiche adressyd hym thyder in shorte tyme after he entryd in to the londe by his prowesse and wysdom he appeasyd the royame and subdued it ageyn to the empyre of Rome And also he was so acceptable to the kynge of brytayne named coel that he maryed his doughter heleyne whyche afterward fonde the holy crosse And in shorte tyme he gate on hir constantyn whyche after was Emperour And thenne sone after deyed constancyus and constantyn after the dethe of kynge Coel by his moder was crowned kynge of brytaygne And costus the fyrste sone of constancyus wedded the kynges doughter of cypre whyche was heyre of whom as shal be here after was engendred Saynt katheryne whiche came of the lignage of constancyus Now foloweth the lyf of saint Katheryne IN the yere of our lord two hondred regned in cypre a noble and prudent kynge named costus which was a noble semely man ryche and of good condycyons and had to his wyf a quene lyke to hym self in vertuous gouernaunce whiche lyued to gyder prosperously but after the lawe of paynyms and worshypped ydolles Thys kynge by cause he loued renommâe wold haue his name spradde thorugh the world he founded a cyte in whyche he edefyed a temple of his false goddes named that cyte after his name costy whiche after to encrece his fame the peple named it fama costi and yet in to thys day is called famagous in whiche cytee he and the quene lyued in grete welthe and prosperyte and lyke as the fayr rose spryngeth emonge the brerys and thornes Right soo betwene thyse two paynyms was brought forth thys blessyd vyrgyn saynt katheryne and whan this holy virgyn was borne she was so fayr of vysage and so wel formed in hir membrys that alle the peple enioyed in hir beaute and whan she came to vij yere of age anone after she was sette to scole where she prouffyted moche more thenne ony other of hir age and was enformed in the artes lyberal wherin she dranke plenteuously of the welle of wysdom for she was chosen to be a techer enformer of euerlastyng wysdom The kynge costus hir fader had soo grete ioye of the grete towardnes and wysdom of his doughter that he lete ordeyne a toure in hys paleys with dyuers studyes and chambres in which she myght be at hir plesure and also at hir wylle and also he ordeyned for to wayte on hir seuen the best maisters and wysest in connyng that myght be goten as in tho partyes and wythin a whyle they that came to teche hir they after that lerned of hyr and became hir dyscyples and whan thys vyrgyne came to the age of xiiij yere hir fader kynge cosâus deyed thenne she was lefte as quene heyre after hym and thenne the estates of the londe came to this yonge lady katheryne and desyred hir to make a parlemente in whiche she myght be crowned and receyue the homage of hyr subgettes and that suche rule myghte be sette in hir begynnyng that pees prosperyte myght ensyewe in hir royame and thys yonge mayde grauÌted to them theyr askynge and whan the parlamente was assemblyd and the yonge quene crowned with grete solempnyte and she syttyng on a day in hir parlamente and hyr moder by hir with al the lordes eche in his place a lord aroos by thassente of hir moder the other lordes and comyns knelid doun tofore hir sayeng thyse wordes Ryght hyghe and myghty pryncesse and our moste souerayn lady please it you to wyte that I am commaunded by the quene your moder by alle the lordes comyns of thys your royame to requyre your hyenes that it may plese you to graunte to them that they myght prouyde soÌme noble kyng or prynce to marye you to th ende that he myght rule and deffende your royame and subgettes lyke as your fader dyd before you and also that of you myght procede noble lygnage whyche after you may reygne vpon vs whiche thynge we moste desyre and herof we desyre your good answer This yonge quene katheryne heeryng thys request was abasshed troubled in hir corage how she myght answer to contente hir moder the lordes and hir subgettes and to kepe hyr self chaste For she had concluded to kepe hir virgynyte and rather to suffre deth than to defoule it and thenne wyth a sadde chere and meke loke she answeryd in thys wyse Cosyn I haue wel vnderstonde your requeste and thanke my moder the lordes and my subgettys of the greâe loue that they alle haue to me to my royame as touchyng my maryage I truste verayly there may be no peryll consyderyng the grete wysedom of my lady my moder and of the lordes wyth the good obeysauÌce of the comyns trustyng in their good contynuaunce wherfore we nede not to seke a straunger for to rule vs and our royame for wyth your good assystaunce and ayde we hope to rule gouerne kepe this our royame in good Iustyce pees and reste in lyke wyse as the kynge my fader helde you in Wherfore at thys tyme I praye you to be contente and to cesse of thys matere and lete vs procede to suche maters as ben requesyte for the rule gouernauÌce and vnyuersal wele of thys royame and whan this yonge quene katheryn had achyeued hir answer The quene hir moder and al the lordes were abasshed of hir wordes and wyst not what to say for they consyderyd wel by hyr wordes that she had no wylle to be maryed and thenne there aroos stood vp a duc whiche was hir vncle and with due reuerence sayd to hir in thys wyse My souerayn lady sauyng your hygh and noble dyscrescion this answer is ful heuy to my lady your moder and to vs al your humble lyege men wythout ye take better aduys to your noble corage wherfore I shal moeue to you of four notable thynges that the grete god hath endowed you before al other creatures that we know which thynges ought to cause you to take a lord to your husbond to th ende that tho plentyuous yeftes of nature and grace may sprynge of you by geeracion whiche may sucorde by ryght lygne to reygne vpon vs to the grete comforte and ioye of alle your peple subgettes the contrarye shold torne to grete sorowe and heuynesse Now good vncle sayd she what been thyse iiij notable thynges that so ye repute in vs madame sayd he the fyrst is this that we be acerteyned that ye be comen of the moste noble blode in the world the second that ye be a grete enherytour and the grettest that lyueth of woman to our knowleche the third that is that ye in science connyng and
and whan he sawe them he was abasshed enquyred what them ayled and his seruauntes sayd thyse ben passyons that comen to men and he demaunded yf tho passyons comen to all men and they sayd nay Thenne said he ben they knowen which men shal suffre thyse passyons without dyffynycion and they answerd who is he that may knowe thaduentures of men and he began to be moche anguysshous for the Incustomable thynge herof another tyme he fonde a man moche aged whiche had his chere frounced his teth fallen was al croked for age wherof he was abasshed and said he desyred to knowe the myracle of thys vysyon and whan he knewe that thys was by cause he had lyued many yerys and thenne he demaunded what shold be the ende and they sayd dethe and he sayd is thenne the dethe the ende of alle men or of somme and they sayd for certeyn that alle men must deye And whan he knewe that alle shold deye he demaunded them in how many yerys that shold happene and they sayd in olde age of four score yere or an hondred and after that age the dethe foloweth and thys yonge man remembryd ofte in his herte thyse thynges and was in grete dyscomforte but he shewyd hym moche glad tofore his fader and he desyred moche to be enformed and taughte in thyse thynges And thenne there was a monke of parfyte lyf and good opynyon that dwellyd in the deserte of the londe of Sennaar named balaam And thys monke knewe by the holy ghoost what was done aboute this kynges sone and toke the abbyte of a marchaunte and came vnto the cytee and spake to the gretest gouernour of the kynges sone and sayd to hym I am a marchaunte and haue a precyous stone to selle whyche gyueth syght to blynde men heryng to deef men Hyt maketh the dombe to speke and gyueth wysedom to fooles and therfore brynge me to the kynges sone and I shal delyuer it to hym To whome he sayd thou semest a man of prudente nature but thy wordes accorde no thynge to wysedom Neuerthelesse yf I had knowleche of that stone shewe it me and yf it be suche as thou sayest and so proued thou shalt haue right grete honoures of the kynges sone To whome balaam sayd my stone hath yet suche vertue that he that seeth it and hath none hool syght and kepeth not entyer chastyte yf he happelye sawe it the vertue vysyble that he hath he shold lese it and I that am a physycyen see wel that thou hast not thy syght hoole but I vnderstonde that the kynges sone is chaste and hath ryght fayre eyen and hoole And thenne the man sayd yf it be so shewe it not to me For myn eyen ben not hoole and am foule of synne and balaam sayd thys thynge apperteyneth to the kynges sone and therfore brynge me to hym anone and he anone tolde this to the kynges sone and broughte hym anone in And he receyued hym honourably and thenne balaam sayd to hym thou hast doon wel for thou hast not taken hede of my lytelnesse that apperyth wythoutforth but thou hast doon lyke vnto a noble kynge whyche whan he rood in his chaâr cladde wyth clothes of gold and mette wyth poure men whiche were câadde wyth torne clothes And anone he sprange out of his chare and fyl doun to their feet and worshypped theym And after aroos and kyssed theym and his barons toke thys euyl and were aferde to repreue hym therof but they sayd to hys brother how the kynge had doon thynge ageynst hys ryal magestee and hys brother repreuyd hym therof and the kynge had suche a custome that whan one sholde be delyuerd to deth the kynge sholde sende his cryar wyth hys trompe that was ordeyned therto And on the euen he sente the cryar wyth the trompe tofore hys brothers gate and made to sowne the trompe and whan the kynges brother herde thys He was in dyspayr of sauyng of hys lyf and coude not slepe of all the nyght and made hys testamente and on the morne erlye he cladde hym in blacke and came wepyng wyth his wyf and chyldren to the kynges paleys and the kynge made hym come tofore hym and sayd to hym a fool that thou arte yf thou haste herde the messager of thy brother to whom thou knowest wel thou hast not trespaced and doubtest soo moche How ought not I thenne doubte the messagers of our lord ageynst whome I haue soo ofte synned whyche sygnefyed vnto me more clerely the dethe thenne the trompe and shewed to me hoârible comyng of the Iuge after this he dyd doo make foure chestys and dyd doo couer two of them with golde wythout forthe and dyd doo fylle them wyth boones of deed men and of fylthe And the other two he dyd doo pytche And dyd doo fylle theym wyth precyous stones and ryche gemmys And after thys the kyng dyd doo calle his grete barons by cause he knew wel that they compleyned of hym to his brother and dyd doo sette thyse foure chestys tofore them and demaunded of them which were moste precious and they sayd that the two that were gylte were moost of valewe Thenne the kyng commaunded that they shold be opened and anone a grete stenche yssued out of them and the kynge sayd they be lyke them that be clothed wyth precyous vestementes and been ful wythinforth of ordure of synne and after he made opene the other and there yssued a meruayllous swete odour and after the kyng sayd thyse ben semblable to the poure men that I mette and honoured for though they be cladde of foule vestymetens yet shyne they wythinforth wyth good odour of good vertues and ye take none hede but to that wythoutforthe and consydere not what is wythin and thou hast doon to me like as that kyng dyd For thou haste wel receyued me and after thys balaam beganne to telle to hym a longe sermone of the creacyon of the world and of the day of Iugemente and of the rewarde of good and euyl and began strongelye to blame them that worshyp ydolles and tolde to hym of theyr folye suche an exaumple as foloweth sayeng That an archer toke a lytel byrde callyd a nyghtyngale and whan he wold haue slayne this nyghtyngale there was a voys gyuen to the nyghtyngale whyche sayd O thou man what shold it auayle the yf thou slee me thou mayste not fylle thy bely wyth me but and yf thou wylte lete me goo I shal teche the thre wysedoms that yf thou kepe them dylygentely thou mayst haue grete prouffyte therby Thenne he was abasshed of his wordes and promysed that he wold lete hym goo yf he wold telle hym his wysdoms Thenne the byrde sayd studye neuer to take that thynge that thou mayst not take of thynge loste whiche may not be recoueryd sorowe neuer therfore ne byleue neuer thynge that is Incredyble kepe wel thyse thre thynges and thou
thou knowest wel how thou haste taughte me and yf thou deffende the feyth that I haue lerned of the I shal abyde in thy doctryne to the ende of my lyf and yf thou be ouercomen I shal auenge me anone on the myn Iniurye and shall plucke out the tonge out of thyn heed wyth myn handes gyue it to dogges to th ende that thou be not so hardy to put a kynges sone in errour And whan nachor herde that he was in grete fere and sawe wel that yf he sayd contrarye he were but dede and that he was taken in his owne snare and thenne he aduysed that it were better to take and holde wyth the sone thenne wyth the fader For to eschewe the perylle of deth For the kynge had sayd to hym tofore them all that he shold deffende the feythe hardelye without drede thenne one of the maysters sayd to hym thou arte balaam whiche hast deceyued the sone of the kynge and he sayd I am Balaam whyche haue not put the kynges sone in ony errour but I haue broughte hym out of errour and thenne the mayster sayd to hym right noble and mearuyllous men haue worshypped our goddes how darest thou thenne adresse the ageynst them and he answerd they of caldee of egypte and of greâe haue erryd and sayden that the creatures were goddes the chaldees supposeden that the elementes had ben goddes whiche were created to the prouffyte of men and the grekes supposed that cursyd men and tyrauntes had be goddes as saturne whom they sayd ete his sone and Iubyter whiche as they say gheldyd his fader threwe his membrys in to the see wherof grewe venus and Iubyter to be kynge of the other goddes by cause he transformed ofte hym self in lykenesse of a beest for to accomplysshe his aduoultrye and also they saye that venus is goddesse of aduoultrye and somtyme mars is hyr husbond and somtyme adonydes The egypcyens worshyppe the beestys that is to wete a sheep a calfe a swyne or suche other and the crysten men worshyppe the sone of the ryght hyghe kynge that descended fro heuen and toke nature humayne And thenne nachor beganne clerelye to deffende the lawe of crysten men garnysshed hym wyth many resons so that the maysters were al abasshed and wyste not what to answere and thenne Iosaphat had grete ioye of that whiche our lord had deffended the trouthe by hym that was enemye of trouthe and thenne the kynge was ful of wodenesse and commaunded that the counceyl shold departe lyke as he wold haue tretyd ageyn on the morne of the same fayte Thenne Iosaphat sayd to his fader lete my mayster be wyth me thys nyght to the ende that we may make our collacion to gyder for to make to morowe our answeres and thou shalt lede thy maysters wyth the and shal take counceyl wyth them yf thou lede my mayster wyth the thou doest me no ryghte wherfore he graunted to hym nachor by cause he hoped that he shold deceyue hym and whan the kynges sone was comen to his chambre and nachor with hym Iosaphat sayd to nachor Ne wenest thou not that I knowe the I wote wel that thou arte not balaam but thou arte nachor the astronomyen and Iosaphat prechyd thenne to hym the waye of helthe and conuertyd hym to the feythe and on the morne sente hym in to deserte and there was baptysed and ledde the lyf of an hermyte Thenne there was an enchauntour named theodas whan he herde of this thynge he came to the kyng and sayd that he shold make his sone retorne and byleue in hys goddes And the kyng said to hym yf thou do so I shal make to the an ymage of golde and offre sacrefyses therto lyke as to my goddes and he sayd take aweye al them that ben aboute thy sone and put to hym fayre wymmen and wel aourned and commaunde them alle waye to abyde by hym and after I shal sende a wycked spyryte that shal enflamme hym to luxurye and there is noo thynge that may so sone deceyue the yonge men as the beaulte of wymmen and he sayd yet more there was a kynge whyche had wyth grete payne a sone the wyse maysters sayden that yf he sawe sonne or mone wythin ten yere he shold lose the syghte of his eyen Thenne hit was ordeyned that thys chylde shold be nourisshed wythin a pytte made in a grete roche and whan the ten yere were passyd The kynge commmaunded that hys sone shold be brought forth and that all thynges shold be broughte tofore hym by cause he shold knowe the names and tho thynges and thenne they brought to fore hym Iewelles horses and beestys of al maners and also golde syluer precyous stones all other thynges and whan he had demauÌded the names of euery thynge and that the mynystres had tolde hym he sette nought therby and whan his fader saw that he retched not of suche thynges theÌne the kynge made to be broughte tofore hym wymmen quayntely arayed and he demaunded what they were For they wold not soo lyghtly telle hym wherof he was anoyed and after the mayster squyer of the kyng sayd iapyng that they were deuylles that deceyue men Thenne the kynge demaunded hym what he lyeuest had of al that he had seen and he answeryd fader my soule coueyteth noo thynge so moche as the deuylles that deceyue men and therfore I suppose that none other thynge shal surmounte thy sone but wymmen whiche moeue men alle waye to lecherye thenne the kynge put out alle his mynystres and sette therin to be about his sone rizt noble fayre maydens whyche alweye hym admonested to playe and there were none other that myght speke ne serue hym and anone the enchauntour sent to hym the deuyl for to enflame hym whiche brennyd the yonge man wythinforth the maydens wythoutforth and whan he felte hym soo strongelye trauaylled he was moche angry and recommaunded hym self alle to god and he receyued deuyne comforte in suche wyse that al temptacyon departed from hym after this that the kynge sawe that the deuyl had don no thynge he sente to hym a fayre mayden a kynges doughter whyche was faderles To whome this man of god prechyd and she answerd yf thou wylte saue me and take me aweye fro worshyppyng of thydolles conioyne the vnto me by couplyng of maryage for the patryarkes prophetes and peter the appostle had wyues and he sayd to hir woman thyse wordes sayest thou now for nought It apperteyneth wel to crysten men to wedde wyues but not to them that haue promysed to our lord to kepe vyrgynyte And she sayd to hym now be it as thou wylte but yf thou wylte saue my sowle graunte to me a lytel requeste lye wyth me onelye this nyght and I promyse to the that to morne I shal be made crysten For as ye say the aungels haue more ioye in heuen of one synnar doyng penaunce
of them al was made archebysshop al the entencion of saint laudry whiles that he lyued in this world was tacomplisshe myseriâorde and he hym self departed or dalte the almoses to the poure at al tymes we haue seen knowen that a man which men called Raoulgracaâd was smyton sodaynlye had the heed moche grete swollen was so rede in the face of hym that al folke that sawe hym demed helde hym for a leper which man with grete haste cam to the presence of saint laudri there he confessyd hyn moche deuoutlye receyung benygnelye his penaunce after he came to the sudayr of the saynt with grete deuocion kyssed it whan he had done his offryng and vowe with moche grete feyth hope he retourned vnnethe he was comen to his hows whan he became as hole as euer be was be therfore the name of god preysed who for his good frende saynt laudry he helyd so promptelye the forsaid pacient Vpon a nother tyme a squyer ful of paâsye so moche that he coude not helpe hym self wyth foot ne with handes his frendes seyng hym so oppressyd of this seeknesse made a bargeyn with a physicyen for to helpe hym It happed so that on a day as this poure saw hym self soo oppressyd wyth the said sekenesse noo remedye myÈt be founde to it he beganne for to wepe and to reclame saynt laudry sayng o blessyd saynt laudry vouchesaufe to beholde on my myserye and thenne he prayed to his frendes that they wolde bere hym vnto the sepulcre of Saynt laudry whiche dyd as he prayed them Thenne the bysshop of Parys named mauryce that was there seeyng the deuocyon of the sayd seek man prayed to saynt laudry that helthe he wold Impetre vnto god for hym by his gloryous merytes and wyth one of the teeth of the saynt touched the places on hys body that moste greuyd hym makyng the sygne of the crosse and anone he became al hoole Item it is redde of a knyght named gyberte that had a thorne wythin hys knee wherto he founde no remedye by no manere of medecyne and was as dysperate not onelye for the doloure and payne that he suffred but also for fawte of hope to be heelyd The which knyght made hym to be borne in to the chyrche of saynt laudry and with his sudarye dyd to be made ouer hym the sygne of the crosse and anone after the thorne yssued oute fro hys knee Was al hoole helyd by the merytes of the saynt whome we beseche to praye god for vs AMEN Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Laudry Here foloweth the lyf of saynt mellonyn IN the tyme of the emperour valeryen saynt Mellonyn whiche was borne in the grete bretayn cam to rome to paye the trybute of his londe for to serue the emperour whan he came thyder so as of custome was he wente in to the temple of mars for to sacrefye wyth his felowes he than herde the pope stephen with a fewe cristen folke to whome he preched the feythe of crâst theuangylle he tended openyd his cerys to vnder stonde his wordes anone he byleued on god requyred to be baptysed this mellonyn thenne was baptysed by the pope stephen also taughte in the catholyke feyth anone he solde aweye al suche good as he had gafe al to the poure for the loue of god The pope promoted hym in to al the degrees of the ordre of preesthode in so moche that he hym self made saynt melonyn preest so as in prayers in watchyng and in fastynges he perseueryd on a tyme as he said his masse bothe the pope he to gyder saw at the right syce of th aulter an aungel that toke to hym a staffe pastoral sayeng in this maner melonyn take this staffe vnder the whyche thou shalt rewle gouerne the citee of Roen For al the peple ther is of god al redy to thy seruyce commaundemente notwithstondyng that hyt is ferre from hens that the waye is to the right greuable by cause that thou knowest not the contreye neuerthelesse thou oughtese not to doubte no thynge for Ihesu crist shal euer kepe the vnder the shadowe of his wynges thenne after these wordes he took receyued the popes blessyng went on his waye whan the euen came helde the said staffe in his honde he mette wyth a man that was hurte in his fote which was slyt a sonder this holy man made his prayer anone he helyd hym Fro thens he came to roen where he accomplisshed wel holyly his offyce and made there many vertues myracles the which glorious saynt restyd in pees the xj day of the kalendes of the moueth of nouembre to the honour of god that lyueth regneth in finiâa secula Amen Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Mellonyn Here foloweth of Saynt yues SAint yues was borne in litel britayn in the dyocyse of Triguyer engendryd or begoten of parentes noble and catholyke and was reuelyd to his moder in hyr slepe that he shold be sayntefyed In his fyrst eage he was of ryghte good condycyons and right humbly deuoutelye frequented the chyrches Heeryng ententyfly the masses and the sermons Moche of hys tyme he employed to studye bysyly the holy letters and redde moche curyously the lyf of the sayntes peyned hym selfe moche withal his power for tensyewe them the whiche by processe of tyme was aourned of ryght grete wysedom and renommed ful of grete scyence bothe in ryght cyuyl and in Cannon and also in theologye wel letterd as it apperyd sythe as wel in contempâions Iugemente as gyuyng counceyll to the sowles vpon the fayte of theyr conscyence For after that he had ocupyed and excerced moche holyly and deuoutelye the fayte of aduocacye in the bysshoppes courte of Tryguyer euer pletyng wythoute takyng ony salarye the causes of the myserable poure persones exposyng hym self to it with his good gree not requyred by them for to deffende theyr questyons and dyfferences he was chosen in to the offyce of the offycial fyrste in the courte of the archedeaken of Resnes and afterward in the sayd courte of the bysshop of Tryguyer whiche lawfully Iustlye and dylygentlye accomplysshed alle suche thynges that been parteynyng to the sayd offyce He socoured them that were oppressyd and that had wronge to euerichone rendryd his owne by right wythoute ony accepcion or takyng of money nor none other god The whyche thenne called to the gouernemente and gydyng of soules bare euer with hym the byble his breuyary or portoes and soo he made ordeyned in the ordre of preesthode celebred as euery day and herde moche humbly deuoutelye dyligently the confessyons of his parysshens he vysyted the seek folke without dyfference recomforted them right wysely taught to them the waye of their saiuacion deuoutelye admynystred vnto them the precyous blessyd body of our
merueylle it is how we knowe of none Therfore we shal praye to our lord Ihesu cryste ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Morante ¶ Here folowe the lyf of saint Lowys kynge of Fraunce SAynt Lowes somtyme the noble kyng of fraunce had to his fader a kyng ryght cristen named lowys this lowys fader bataylled foughte ageynst the heretykes and ablygoys and of the contre of tholouse and extyrped their heresye ye and as he retourned in to Fraunce he passyd vnto our Lord Thenne the chylde of holy chyldehode faderlesse abode and dwellyd vnder the kepyng of the quene blaunche his moder somtyme doughter to the kynge of castylle and as she that louyd hym tenderlye betoke hym for to be lernyd and taughte vnder the cure and gouernaunce of a special maister in condycyons and in lettres and he also as the yonge salamon chylde wyse and dysposed to haue a good sowle prouffyted right gretelye in al thynges more than ony childe of his age of whiche good lyf and chyldehode his debonayr moder enioysyng hir self sayd ofte tymes to hym in thys manere Ryghte deresone rather I wold see the deth comyng on the thenne to see the falle in to a dedely synne ageynste thy creatour the whiche worde the deuoute chylde took and shette it soo wythin hys courage that by the grace of god which deffended and kepte hym it is not founde that euer he felte ony aâouchemente âatche or spotte of mortal crysme In the ende by the pourueaunce of his moder and of the barons of the londe to th ende that so noble a royaulme ne shold not faylle of sucâessyon ryalle the holy man took a wyf of the which he receyued and gate on hyr fayr chyldren whyche by souerayn cure le made to be nourysshed endoctrined taught to the loue of god and despyte of the world and to knowe them selfe by holy admonestyng and ensaumples and whan he myght tende secretelye to them vysytyng them and requyryng of theyr prouffyte as the auncyente thobye gaue to them admonestyng of salut techyng them ouer alle thynges to drede god and to kepe absteyne them assyduelly from alle synne Garlondes made of Roses of other floures he forbade and deffended them to were on the fryday for the crowne of thorne that was on suche a day put on the heed of our lord and by cause that he wyste wel and knewe that chastytâe in delyces pyte in rychees humnlyte in honour often peryshen betoke and gaue his courage to sobryete and good dyete to humylite and my sericorde kepyng hym self ryght curyously fro the pryckyng sawtes and watche of the world the flesshe and the deuyll chastysed hys body and brought it to seruytude by the ensaumple of the appostles he forced hym self to serue his spyryte by dyuers castygacion or chastysyng he vsed the hayre many tymes nexte hys flesshe whan he lefte it for cause of ouer feblenesse of his body at the Instaunce of hys owne confessour he ordeyned the said confessour to gyue to the poure folke as for recompensacion of euery day that he faylled of hit fourty shyllynges he fastyd alweye the fryday and namelye in tyme of lente and aduentes he absteyned hym in tho dayes from al maner of fysshe and fro fruytes and contynuelly trauayllâd and paynyd his body by watchynges orysons and other secretes abstynences and dyscyplynes humylite beaute of all vertues resplendysshed so stronge in hym that the more better he wexyd so as dauyd the more he shewyd hym self meke humble and more foule he reputed hym before god For he was acustomed on euery satyrday to wosshe with his owne handes in a secrete place the feet of somme poure folke and after dryed them wyth a fayre towel and kyssed moche humbly and semblahly theyr handes dystrybuyng or desyng to euery one of them a certeyn of syluer also to seuen score poure men whiche dayly came to his courte he admynystred mete and drynke wyth hys owne handes and were fedde habonndantlye on the vygyles solempne and on somme certeyn dayes in the yere to two hondred poure before that he ete or dranke with his owne handes admynystred and seruyd theym bothe of mete and of drynke He euer had bothe at his dyuer and sowper thre auncyente poure whiche ete nyghe to hym to whome he charytably sente of suche metes as were broughte before hym and somtyme the dysshes and metes that the poure of our Lord had touched wyth theyr handes and specialle the soppes of whiche he fayne ete made theyr remenaunte or relyef to be brought before hym to the ende that he shold ete it and yet ageyn to honour and worshyp the name of our Lord on the poure folke he was not ashamed to ete theyr relyef Also he Wold not vse scarlate ne gownes of ryche clothe ne also furryng of ouer grete pryse and coste and namelye sythe he came fro the partyes of beyonde see the fyrste tyme ageyn he coueytyd by grete desire the growyng vp of the feyth wherfore he as veray louer of the feyth and couetous for to enhaunce it as he yet that of late conâallesshed and yssued out of a greuous seeknesse lyeng at pontoyse toke the crosse with grete deuocyon fro the hande of the bysshop of parys ledde with hym thre of hys brethern wyth the grettest lordes and barons in hys royalme and many a knyght other peple with hym applykd on his waye and with ryght grete hoost arryued in to egypte the whyche settyng foot on grounde ocupyed took by force of men of armes that same cytee renommed whiche is called damette and alle the regyon aboute Thenne after the crysten oost esprysed and bete with a moche grete and wonderful sekenesse by the Iuste Iugemente of god many crysten men deyed there in soo moche that of the nombre of two and thyrty thousand fyghtyng men ne was there lefte on lyue but syx thousand men god fader of myserycorde wyllyng hym self shewed wonderful and meruaylable on his saynt gafe betoke the sayd kyng champyon or deffensour of the feythe in to the handes of the euyl paynyms to th ende that he shold appere more meruaylable and as the debonayr kynge myght haue scaped by the nexte shyppe nygh thens alwayes he yelded hym self with his good gree to th ende that he myght delyuer hys peple thorugh the encheson of hym He was put to grete raunsom whiche payed wold yet abyde prysonner for the payemente or raunsom of other hys lordes and barons and thenne after he put and lefte so as Ioseph oute of the chartre or pryson of egypte not as fleeyng or dredeful retorned anone vnto the propre or owne partyes but fyrst abode contynuelly by the space of fyue yere in syrye where he conuertysed many paynyms to the feythe and he beyng there the crysten out of the paynyms handes dyched and fortefyed many townes castellys with stronge walles ¶ He founde thenne aboute sydoyne many dede bodyes
and durst nomore come drawe hym awaye And fro than forthon he abode in prayer contynued therin Of the xij abbeyes that saynt benet had founded thre of them stoode on hye Roches so that they myght haue no water but by grete labour Thenne cam the monkes to hym prayd hym that he wold sette thyse abbeyes in somÌe other place by cause they had grete defaute of water Thenne wente saynt benet aboute the montayne made hys orysons prayers moche deuoutly and whan he had longe prayd he sawe thre stones in a place for a signe And on the morn whan the monkes cam for to praye he said to them goo ye to suche a place where ye shal fynde thre stones and there dygge a lityl ye shal fynde water Our lord can wel prouyde for you water And they wente and fonde the montaygne all swetyng where as the thre stones were And there they digged anon they fonde water so grete habundaunce that it suffysed to them and ran doun fro the toppe of the hille vnto bynethe in to the valeye It happed on a tyme that a man hewe buysshes thornes aboute the monasterye And hys axe or instrument of yron that he hewe sprang out of the helue fyll in to a depe water thenne the man cryed and sorowed for hys tool and saynt benet sawe that he was ouer anguysshid therfore toke the helue threwe it after in to the pytte And anon the yron cam vp bygaÌ to sâymÌe tyl that it entred in to the helue In thabbaye of saynt benet was a chyld named placidus whyche wente to the Ryuer for to drawe water And hys foot slode so that he fyl in to the Ryuer whyche was moche deep and anon the Ryuer bare hym forth more than a bowe shote And whan saynt benet whyche was in hys studye knew it he called to saynt maure and sayd that ther was a chyld whyche was a monke that was aboute to be drowned and bad hym go to helpe hym And anon saynt maure ranne vpon the water lyke as it had ben on drye ground and hys feet drye ¶ And toke vp the chyld by the heer And drewe hym to londe And after whan he cam to saynt benet he sayd that it was not by hys meryte but by the vertue of hys obedyence Ther was a preest named florentyn whyche had enuye on saynt benet and he sente to hym a loof of bred enuenymed After whan saynt benet had thys loof he knewe by the Inspiracion that it was enuenymed he gaf it to a rauen that was wonte to take hys fedyng of saynt benettes hand And comaunded hym to bere it vnto suche a place that nomaÌ shold fynde it Thenne the rauen made semblaunt for tobeye to the comandement of saynt benet but he durste not touche it for the venym and fledde aboute it howlyng and cryeng Saynt benet sayd to hym take thys brede hardyly and bere it away Atte laste the rauen bare it awaye in to suche a place that ther was neuer herd tydynges therof after And cam agayn the thyrde day after and toke hys refection of saynt benettes hand as he was wonte to doo to fore whan thys preest Florentyn sawe that he coude not slee saynt benet he enforced hym to slee spyrytuelly the sowles of hys dyscyples he toke seuen maydens all naked sente them in to the gardyn to daunse to carolle for to meue the monkes to temptacion whan saynt benet sawe the malyce of florentyn he had fere of hys dyscyples and sente hem out of that place whan florentyn sawe that saynt benet and hys monkes wente out he demened grete Ioye and made grete feste And anoÌ the soler fyl vpon hym and slewe hym sodenly whan saynt maure sawe that florentyn was deed he ranne after saynt benet and called hym sayeng come agayn for florentyn that hath don so moche harme to you is deed whan saynt benet herde thys he was sory for the perryllous deth of florentyn by cause saynt maure was glad for the deth of hys enemye as hym semed he enioyned hym penaunce therfor After thys he wente to mount Cassyn where he had another grete aduesarye For in the place where that appolyn was adoured he made an oratorye of saynt Iohan baptyst and conuerted alle the contre aboute to the crysten fayth wherof the deuyl was so tormented that he appyered to saynt benet alle blacke and ranne vpon hym wyth open mouth and throte And had hys eyen alle enflammed And sayd to hym Benet Benet And saynt Benet answerd not the deuyl sayd Cursid and not blessyd why haue I so moche persecucion ¶ Hyt happed on a tyme that as the monkes shold lyft a stone for a werke of an edefyce they myght not meue it thenne ther assembled a grete multitude of peple and yet they alle myght not lyfte it But anone as saynt Benet had blessyd it they lift it a non Thenne apparceyued they that the deuyl was vpon it and caused it to be so heuy And whan they had a lytyl made the walle hye the deuyll appyerid to saynt Benet and bad hym goo see them that edeffyed thenne saynt Benet sente to hys monkes comanded that they shold kepe them wel For the deuyll wente to destroye them but er the messager cam to them the deuyl had throwen doun a parte of the wall and had therwith slayn a yong monke Thenne they brought the monke alle to brused in a sack to saynt Benet And anon saynt benet made vpon hym the signe of the crosse and blessyd hym and reysed hym to lyf and sente hym to the werke agayn A laye man of honest lyf had acustome ones in the yere to come to saynt benet all fastyng on a tyme as he cam ther was one that bare mete accompayned wyth hym And desired that he wold ete with hym but he refused it After he prayd hym the second tyme and yet he refused it and sayd he wold ete no mete tyl he cam to saynt benet At the third tyme he fonde a fayr fontayne and a moche delytable place And began sore to desire hym to ete wyth hym And atte laste he consented and ete And whan he cam to saynt benet he said to hym where hast thou eten which answerd I haue eten a lytyl O fayr brother the deuyl hath deceyued the but he coude not deceyue the fyrst ne the second tyme but the thyrd tyme he hath surmounted the thenne the good man kneled doun to the feet of saynt benet and confessyd hym of hys trespaas Attila the kyng of gothes wold ones preue yf saynt benet had the sperite of prophecye and sente to hym hys seruaunt and dyde do araye hym with precious robes and delyuerd to hym a grete companye as he had ben the kyng hym self whan saynt benet sawe hym come he sayd to hym fayr sone doo of that thou werest it is not thyn