thy trespas is for yeuen the Amen Sequitur â—â—â—uis sermo de saÌ„rto stephano GOod men and wymmen soche a day ye shall haue an hyghe day and a hooly feste in the churche of seint Stephen the martyr the whiche was the firste martyr that suffered dethe for goddis sake after cristes ascension Than for to stere youre deuocion the more to this hooly martyr I wyll tell yow somme what that he suffered for cristes sake as the boke of apostlys tellyth Post ascensionem domini after the ascension of oure lord that he was styedâ—vp in heuen the apostlys labour was all to preche and to teche the word of god to cristen people And for they where to fewe to serue all the people that rome ther come so many to tourne to the feyth there for they chose .vi. holy men and good lyuers for to helpe hem in goddis seruice of the whiche seint stephen was one of hem and the firste and the wyseste and was so full of grace and myght of the hooly goste that he did many miracles and meruelous amonge the people But thoughe a man be neuer so hooly â—it he shall haue enemyes wherfore of diuerse countreys that hadde enmyte to stephene and come ayene hym and disputed with hym for to haue ouer come hym with disputacion and for they myghte not they broughte false wyttenesse ayenst hym to putte hym to deth But whanne seynte Stephene sawe and knowe her malice anone he thoughte to sese hem be on of these thre weyes othir be shamyng in disputacion or be drede of reuolacion or be preyours of hooly orysones But firste he seyd be shamyngm disputacione For whanne they be gonne to dispute with hym he was so full of the hooly goste that they hadde no poure nor no myghte for to a gayn sey hym And so he ouer come hem in all her maters and preued all her maters false that they seyde ayenste And ther for he seyd he was redy to take the dethe in very fiyng of all that he seyd And so putte hem that where grete clerkes and knewe the lawe and the prophecie to grete shame and velonye But yit they wolde not leue but alwey ayene stode hym But he was so full of the hooly goste that he preued that he seyd be grete reson and trouthe yit wolde not they be leue it for all that the hooly goste spake in herte and yit for all that wold not they beleue in theyr concience that they dede a mysse and there as they seyne the coÌ„mynte turne to the feyth for wordys and miracles that god shewed in her sight yit they ayen stode hym and sette goddis miracles at noughte be malyce and enmyte of her cursed hertes and by none othir reson of scripture And so they fretid her hertis withyn hym selfe and grugged with her tethe for anger and how that they myght ouer come hym with disputacion Than they soughte yf they myghte haue take hym with som worde of Cristes dethe where by they myghte haue made them a cause to haue putte hym to dethe Thanne seynte stephene knewe her malice and lyfte vp his eyen into heuen Et vidit celos apertos And he saw heuyn opyn and oure lord ihe su criste sittyng on his fadyr ryght hande redy to helpe hym And there with his face shone as bryghte as it hadde be an angell of heuen But whan they herde hym speke thaÌ„ where they fayne and stoped her erys as though they hadde herde him speke false sclaundre of god and so a none drow hym oute of the cite to stone hym to dethe as for adisclaunderer Thanne they toke .ij. yonge men that cowde beste hurle stones and toke of his clothis and leyde hym at the fete of a yonge man that hight Saule and after was seynt paule Than whan seynt stephen sawe that he myghte not sese her malyce be reuelacione shewyng he turned to deuoute oryson preyng and yit hit wolde not be And than they hurled stones at hym and smote oute his brayne and thanne he cryed to god and seyd Domine iâ—e su suscipe spmÌ„ meuÌ„ O thou lord take my spiryte for he wolde prey more deâ—outly for his enemyes than for him selfe he knelyd down to the grouÌ„de and seyde Pater ig nosce illis quia nesciunt quid faciunt Fadyr for geue hem for they wote not what they do and anone he slepte in god Now take he de what brennyng loue he hadde in his herte to god that preyde more deuoutly for his enemys thanne for hym selfe In this he gaue an ensample to all cristen people to be in charite echon with othir and to prey for his enemyes and hem that pursewe hym and do hym dissese â—niâ—ersa delicta cooperiit caritas Charite hidith euery trespas for he yâ— preyth for his enemyes that martyr hym with any dissese and sufferyth paciently he is a martyr be fore god For there is â–ª iij. maner of martyrdomeâ— The firste is be passion and wyll ther to be wyll with oute passione be passione with oute wyll The first is shewid by seynt stephene that is sette nexte the birthe of criste for he sufferyth passione and had wyll there to seynt Iohan the euan geliste he hadde wyll but no passione The innocentes they suffered passion and no wyll ther to but not ayenst wyll Thus may a man be a martyr thoughe he shede not his blode that is whan he suffered grete wrong of cursed people and thankyth god ther of and takyth hit with good wyll and preyth for his enemyes deuoutly in clene charite Now take hede and ye shall se how these .iij. where in perâ—ite loue and charite Seint stephen whan he shulde dye he knelyd downe and preyde for his enemyes Seint Iohan whanne he wente to war dys his ende he seyd ofte to hem that ladde hym children loue to gedyr foâ— charite is now to saluacioÌ„ The innocentes for they were so yonge that they cowde not speke yit they shewde loue be signes for the dede laughe and pleyde with her hondes whan they sawe the knyghtes come with her brighte sâ—erdâ—s to sle hem than for seint stephyn was so glorious a martyr god shewde many fayre miracles for hym Narracio There was an honest man that had vij sones and iij. doughtres but in mysse happe on a day all they wrathyd the modir at ones and in a grete angre she cursed hem all at ones a none there â—ill grete vengeauÌ„ce vpon hem for there come soche a sikenesse one her preuy membres that they were so for gnawyn that they myghte nethir a byde for woo but walkithe vp downe in the countrey like mased bestis that all the people that sawe hem had grete â—ite of hem Thanne happid hit so that one of the breshereâ— that highte paule and a sustyr highte palida come in to churche of seint stephyn and there they herde people tell how deuoutly seint stephen preyde for his enemyes yâ— martred hym
in the wey a yense his comyng And somme sprade her clothis in the wey and songe Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini Blessyd be he that comythe in the name of oure lord kyng of israhel where for hooly churche makyth this day solempne procession in mynde of the procession that was made ayense crist also ioye myrthe of oure resing froÌ„ deth to lyue that hath leyne all this yere in dedly syn now y truste to god that they be resyd to god leuyng And for angeles of heueÌ„ make moch ioye of your rising out of syn And thus we take palme and flowres in procession as they did and go in procession knelyng to the crosse in the worshiâ— and mynde of hym that was done one the crosse worshippyng and wel comyng hym with songe in to the chirche as the people ded oure lord in to the cite of iherusalem Thanne iohan bellet askithe a question seith that criste had the grettest worshippe rydyng one the asse that euer he had in this worlde ThaÌ„ why worshippe we the crosse and not the asse to this question he answerithe hym selfe and seyth that the worship of this world as Salamon seyd All is but a vanite and noughte and makithe to for gete a man his god and hym selfe Ther as grete tribulacione dissese and heuynesse causithe a man to thynke of god â—rye to hym for socoure and helpe and to know hym selfe And ther foâ— all cristen people shulde putte a wey all worldely vanitees that bryngythe moche peple to grete my scheue and many to euer lastyng peyne we worshippe the crosse foâ— hyt was cause of oure redemption and saluacion and to brynge vs to euer lastyng ioye and blysse that we hopyn all to come to Thanne anone whan criste was come to the cite of iherusalem he wente to the temple and droue oute all byers and sellers that he fonnde ther in seyde Domus mea do mus oracionia vocabitur My house is a house of preyouris and ye make hit a den of theuys Thus oure lord yafe all cristen people en sample to leue byyng sellyng on the holy day and in specyall in churche A nothir hit is why hit is callid palme sonday for be cause that palme be tokenythe victory where all cristeÌ„ peple shulde bere palme in processione in tokenyng that he hadde foughten with the fende and hath the victorye of hym be shryfte of mouthe satisfactione with dede mekely done his penaunce with grete contricione in his herte and in this wyse ouercome his gostly enemy the fende we rede in the gestis of romayns yâ— it was the maner summe tyme. that yf there were any loÌ„de that were rebell a yense the Emperour a none the Emperour wolde sende summe worthy knyghte with grete pissaâ—â—â— of people to that lond and putte hem downe make hem sogettys to the Emperour of rome And whanne this knyghte hadde done so than shulde he be sette in a châ— re â—rayâ—d with clothys of golde in the beste wyse and a branche of palme in his honde in tokenyng that he had the victory and with gret worshippe broughte in to rome but whanne he come in to any worthy cite thaÌ„ ther shulde stonde one by hym and bete hym in the mouthe with a branche of olyue sayng thus Anotholites this is to sey kowe thy selfe that is to vnderstonde thoughâ— thou be grete nowe aud haue the victorye make not to moche of thy selfe for hit may fortuue a nothir tyme thou maiste haue the worse and tourne to moche vylony more than now to worshippe where for â—e not now to proude of thy selfe Thus shulde ye bete youre selfe in the mouthe of youre soule with the branche of olyne that ys with the vertu of mekenesse and so bolde yowe in loue and meke in her te and euer more dreding and feryng lefte he fall a yene in to synne And so leue the worshipâ— that ye haue now For truste this trewly â—â—â—knesse is that vertu that moste so â—este ouer cometh youre gostely enemy the fende and souneste gaderithe a man to vertuos leuyng that we may haue thys vertu of mekenesse pacience and charite to ouer come oure gostly enemy now and euer Amen GOod frendis ye shall vnderstond that hooly churche vsid these thre dayes and seythe seruice in the euyntyde that is mekenesse where for we call hit tenables But hooly churche callid hit tenebras Than why this seruice is thus done in mekeuesse hooly fadres tellithe for thre causis One is the nyghte before that oure lord ihesu crist was take he wente vn to the mounte of olyuete and preyde thus Pater misipassibile est transeat a me calix iste My fadyr yf it be possible that this bitter passion may passe fro me yf it were the fader is will and else not And for drede fere of that bitter passion that he felde in his sperit he swete bothe blode and watyr A nothir cause is this that a noÌ„ aftir myd nyghte come iudas with â— knyghtis and moche othir people to take criste and for hit was myrke and they coude not well knowe hym frome seynte iames he was so like criste there for judas seyde Quem osculatus â—â—ero ipsum emÌ„ tenete For sothe quod he him that I shall kysse it is take ye him for seint iames was so like criste that moche people callid hym cristus brothir and thus iudas be trayed his mastyr and thus was criste take in mekenesse with all the spite that thei cowde do to hym beting hym and spetyng in â—his face The thrydde cause is whan criste was naked on the crosse fete hande hangyng thre ow rys frome vnderyn tyll none Thanne the sonne with drowe her lighte was â—erâ—e thourghe alle the worlde shewyng that the makyr of lyght was at that tyme payned to dethe for these thre causis the seruice in the nyghte is done in myrkenesse the whiche seruice makyth mynde how iudas betrayed criste and how iewes come as preuely as they â—oude for dre de of the comyn people where for to the seruice is no bell ronge but a sounde made of tre where all cristen pÌ„eple may haue knoweliche to come to this seruice preuely with oute makyng of any noyse all that the people shuld speke of comyng and goyng shulde sounde of the tree that is the crosse that oure lord was done vpon and of his passion and of the wordys that ourâ— lord spake haÌ„gyng on the crosse and howshe seyde to his modyr Mulier ecce filins tuns wâ—man see thy sonne and how he coÌ„maunded his modyr to seint iohan the euangelist in kepyng and what seyde the these that hyng by hym and seyd thus Domine â—nanâ—o vâ—neris in regâ—um tuum memento meâ— Lord whanne thou comyste to thy kyngdome haue mynde of me and a none oure lord seyd to hym Hodie meâ—umeris in paradiso This day thonshalte be with me in paradyse and
to the quere syngyng the latanye preyng all the seyntys of heuen to prey to god to yeue to all that be cristyn to kepe that worthy sacrameÌ„t to goddis plesaunce and the couenaunte that they haue made in her cristonyng Than the preste gothe to the masse for criste that is hede of all holy church is not reson kyrieleysou is seyde for iâ— euery preyoure in especiall in the masse it is grete nede to aske helpe and so cour of god to kepe vs from all maner of temptaciones that the fende puttith in vs and namely in goddis seruice Gloria in excelsia is seid for the fadyr of heuyne hathe grete ioye to be holde the people that his so ne hathe boughte with his passione and to see hem in reste pese and charite echone with othir The greyle is not seyde for tho that be fewe cristoned be not yit perfite to walke in grace of â—tuous Alleluya is seyd for it is grete ioye to angeles to se be cristonyng the nombre of hem restored a yene Aftyr alleluya a tracte is seyde hey songen for though be cristonyng they be wasche from synyit muste the trauell besely to kepe hem from coÌ„beraunce of the fende that they fall not in dedly syn The offertory is seyde for the wymeÌ„n that comeÌ„ with oyntementys to offer to cristis body they founde hym not in his toÌ„ be Agnus dei is seyde but no pax yeue for criste that is hede of pes is not yit reson The poste comyn is not seyde for tho that be newe cristoned shuld not be hoseled this day but on the morow for in olde tyme there come to cristonyng people of grete age Than a shorte euynsonge is done for the children that were not cristoned where of gretely they where noyed with sekenesse of colde of longe seruice thanne is endid vndir a shorte Colet of all the sacrament of cristonyng is endid in the passione of Criste by the whiche all cristen people were restored to euer lastyng blysse to the whiche god brynge vs all to Amen In die paraschene GOod frendis this day is callid god fryday for al that oure lord ihe su criste suffered this day tourned vs to grete ioye for this day he suffered passione vndyr pounce pylate fore oure sake Hit is an olde say that a fowle be gynuyng hathe a fowle endyng Now se how this pylat be ganne cursidly endyd full wrechidly for as seynte Austen seythe cursed leuyng furste askith a cursed ende aftyr he that for getith hym selfe here in his leuyng is full lyke to for gete hymselfe in his laste ende This pylat was a knyghtes sone that was callid Tyrus that gate hym of a woman that hyghte Pyle and this woman nes fadyr hyghte atte so whanne this childe was borne they sette the moderys name and the gruÌ„de fadyr after and so by bothe names callid hym Pylat Than after whan he was of .iij. yere of age his modyr broughte hym in to the knyghtes court to his fadyr Than had the knyghte a nothir sone ny lyke to pylates age but for this knyghtys so ne was in all his reule more gentillere more manfully more godly more belouyd than this pylate so for hate and for enuyâ— there of this pylat one a day slewe this knyghtys sone than was the knyghte wondyr sory but yit he wolde not sle pylat aut sente hym to rome to be there in hostage for a tribute that the knyÈt shulde pay to the emperoure Thanne hit happid that the kyng of fraunce had sente his sone thedir for the same cause Thanne for be cause whan pylate saw that he was more beloued and cherisched than this pilate slew him Than for he was so cursid the emperour be couÌ„sell of the romaynes sente pylate in to a countre that was callid pounce where that the people of that countre were so cursid that they slewe any that come to be maystre ouer hem So whan this pilate come thethir he applyed hym to her maneres so what with wyles and sotilte he ouercome hem aud had the maystry and gate his name and was callid pylate of pounce and had grete domynacion power Thanne the kyng of iherusalem sente aftyr hym and made hym leue tenaunt vndyr hym of the londâ—â— of iury And for pilate lyked well the office preuely he sente to the Emperour and had his office confermed of him vnwetyng to the kyng herode kyng that tyme where fore whan kyng herode herde what he had done he was so wrothe they were enemyes vn to the tyme that oure lord ihesu criste was take and thanne they be come fren disayene and fill bothe in to one assent of cristis dethe Thanne happyd hit aftyrwarde that the Emperour fill sike and sente aftyr criste fore to hele hym for hit was tolde hym that criste helid all that euer wolde come to hym of all manere of sykenesse what somme euer sykenesse hit had be But thanne hadde pylate done hym to dethe or the messengere come Than whanne the Emperoure vnderstonde that he sente for pylate and made hym come to hym and whanne pilate herdâ— this he was sore a ferde and toke one Cristus coteâ— â–ª And so whanne he come to rome to the Emperour All tho that were in presente made pylate good chere all the whyle that he hadde on Cristus cote Aâ—d the emperour swore be fore that he shulde be dede Than toke they of the cote and a none as the cote was of the Emperour was so wâ—othe with pilate that he putte hym in to a pryson till he hadde take couÌ„sell what dethe that he shulde dye on Than as sone as pylate woste and vnderstonde that he shulde be dede he toke his owne knyfe and slewe hymselfe with alle And whanne the Emperour herde there of and vnderstonde that he hadde slayne hym selfe and thanne a none he made to teye a grete stone a bowte pylates necke and to caste hym in to a watyr that is callid Tybir thanne whan he was caste in there the fendis made soche a noyse ther a boute that all the Cite of rome was sore a freyed of hem Thanne whan the Emperour sawe this he made to take hym vp ayene and than was he caste in to a watyr that was betwixe to hye hilles and sollonge tyme astyr there was in the watyr many horrible sightes sayne a bowte that cursed man Thus oure lord ihrsu criste suffered passion and dethe for all maÌ„kynde and furste whanne he was take they did buffete hym and stripyd hym naked and bete him with stourgis A vertice capitia vsâ—Ê’ ad plantis pedmn non fuit in eo sanitas that fro the highheste place of his he de to the sole of the fete was no thyng lefte hole one hym but all rawe aftyr made a croune of thornys set hit on his hede and bete hit down with stâ—â—ys of reede that hit perischyd his brayne and whan they had
quicke and the dede euery man aftir his deseruyng So this perfite beleue all cristen people shall be armed and made stronge to withstoÌ„de the fendes that wol come and a sayle at the departyng betwene the body and the soule for thaÌ„ne fendes come besely to brynge hym oute of the beleue thaÌ„ne shall the sacrament that a maÌ„ hath resceyued in his lyffe make him myghty strong that he shall sette all the fendes at noughte so ouer come hem A nothir skyll that the sacrament is broughte to a maÌ„ to aske mercy of criste remission of his synnes hauyng full truste beleue that criste is euer redy to for yeue all them yâ— woll aske mercy with â— meke herte As Dauid seythe Cor contrituÌ„ et bumiliatuÌ„ deus non despicies A contrite hert a meke oure lord shall neuer despise that we may see ensample whan he hunge vpon the crosse betwene ij theuys that were men of cursid leuyng And therefor they where ordeyned to be dede and that one askid mercy with a meke herte ad seyde Domine dum veneria in regnum tumn memento mei Lorde qd he whan thon comyste in to thy kyngdome haue mynde on me and anon at his firste askyng he yaue hym mercy more ouer he seyd to him thus Hodie mecum eria in paradiso This day thou shalt be with me in paradise And that othyr theffewolde aske no mercy in no wyse for pryde â— he had in his herte and therfor he was dampned in to hell Thus oure lord â—hesu criste shedde his blode on the crosse in helthe to all mankynde so in the masse euery day he shewith his blode in grete socour helpe and saluacion to all mankynde and the same flescht and blode is shewid euery day in the masse for we shulde beleue stedefastely ther one And he that beleuyth not ther on verily that it is so shall not be sauid at the day of dome Narracio Therefor I tell yow this ensample that is in the lyffe of wode the bishope of canterbury this bishoppe had with him clerkys that beleuyth not perfitly in the sacrameÌ„t of the auter seyde they myght not beleue that the body blode of Criste myghte be ministret in the masse Thanne was this bishoppe sory and prayde to god besely for her amendement And so on a day whan he was at the masse hadde made the fractione he sawe the blode drope from the oste in to the chalyse thaÌ„ he made a signe vn to heÌ„ that beleued not to come neâ—â— him to se and whaÌ„ they sawe his fingeris blody the blode raÌ„ne from the oste in to the chalisse a none for grete fere they cryde seyde O thou blessid maÌ„ that haste this grace to holde cristus body in thyne hondis that dropped blode in to the chalisse we beleue verely ther vpon we besech the to prey to him for vs that thou haste in thy hondis that he take no vengeaunce on vs â–ª for oure missebeleue and we crye mekely mercy And a none the oste tourned in to the forme of brede as hit was be fore thaÌ„ they wer perfite men of beleue eueraftir Anothir skille is that the sacrament is made in the Auter to make a maÌ„ be oftyn sighte there of the soner to haue mynde on cristes passion to haue it in mynde for hit is the beste defence a yenst tamptacion of the fende For seint Austyn seyth the minde of cristus passion puttith awey all temptaciones the power of all wickid spiritis And for this cause rodiâ— and ymag â— be sette on high in the churches for as sone as a man comythe in to the churche he shulde se hit haue hit in his myde thinke on cristus passion where for crosses othir ymages be full necessary nedefull what somme euer these â—ollers seyne for hit hadde not be full profitable holy faderis wolde haue destroyed hem may yeris a gone For righte as the people do worshippÌ„ to the kinges seal not for louâ— of the seale but for reuerence of the kynge that it comythe fro So rodis and ymages be sâ—â—â—e for the kinges seale of heueÌ„ and othir semtes in the same wyse for Images belewde people is â—okâ—â— And â–ª as â—ohan bellet seyth ther be many thou sandes of people that cannot ymagyn in her hâ—â—tis how criste was done on the crosse but as they â–ª se by ymages in chirches and in othir places theras they be And to haue the betyr mynde on cristus passion I tell yowe this ensample Narracio Ther was a cristen man of Englond that wente in to the hooly loÌ„de and hyred an hethyn man to be his gyde and as he come in to a fayre foreste and sawe many fayre thynges but this cristen man meruelyd gretely that he herde no noyse of byrddus and there of he hadde grete meruayle and seyde to this hethyn maÌ„ I meruayle moche that ther is no songe of byrddus in this wode than seyde this he thyn maÌ„ this is the woke that ye calle passioÌ„ woke that youre grete prophete dyed yâ—â—â— where for on sonday that laste was that ye calle palme sonday all the fowles of this wode dye for sorow and all this woke shall lye as dede But on sonday nexte comyth that ye calle Estyr day they quicke a yene and all the yere aftyr make melodye where for loke vp in to the trees and see than he sawe euery bowe of the treeslye full of birdus as fladde as they had be sprede on the crosse Thanne sethe birddus haue mynde one cristus passion and make â—oche mornyng sorowe moâ—hâ— more cause hathe maÌ„ kynde that were boughte from euer lastyng dampnacion to euer lastyng saluacion by his passione The thridde cause is why the sacrameÌ„t is vsidin the auter for a maÌ„ shulde by the sighte there of thynke on oure lord ihe sulcriste fadyr of heuene that hathe but oon sone that he louithe passyng all thyng but he sparid not to sende hym downe in to this worlde to suffre passion and dethe and to shede his precious blode for maÌ„knde to by him oute of the fendes boundes and to write a chartour with his owne precious blode of fredome for euer more to all man kynde so that a man forfete not his chartour by dedely synne but he that louithe god woll kepe his chartour for god askithe of a man but loue where he seythe thus Damichi cor tuum et sufficit michi Sone yeue me thy herte and hit is y now for me Thanne take hede of this ensample Narracio There was an Erle of venys was callid syre Ambryghte that louyd the sacrament in the autâ—r passyng wele and did hit all the worshippe and reuerence that he cowde and myghte So whan that he lay syke and shulde be dede he myghte not resceyue the sacrameÌ„t forcastyng than was he sory and made dole and thaune he lette
moche more he wold haue herd moche sonner he wold here a cristeÌ„ man or cristen woman that cryed hertely to him â–ª for helpe socour Narracio Also there was a man that thomas loued passing well in his lyffe hit fill so that this maÌ„ fill sike on a tyme come to seint thomas tombe preyng him of socoure and helpe a non he was hole but aftir he be though tâ— him â— his sikenes was encresid to his soulis he le so wente a yene preyng thomas that yf it were more mede to his soule to be sike thaÌ„ hole that he myghte be sike a yene so he was thankyd god seint thomas thaÌ„ whanne the kyng herd howe god wroughte so many miracles for seinte thomas he wente to cauÌ„terbury barefote wolwarde all moste nakid saue a feble cote to bynde his body ynne goyng in the fenne in the lake as he had ben a pore man in this londe preyng to seinte Thomas of foryeuenesse of his trespace at the tombe he made all the couent by and by to yeue displyne on his barâ— body with a yerde there he dampned all sory custumes and false lawes that was cause of the debate betwene thomas the kyng be fore grauÌ„ted the churche her fredome a yene and wente his wey Thanue these iiij knyghtes whan they herde howe god hadde wrought for thomas they were full fory of her cursed dedis and cursed the tyme that euer it happid so with hem and lefte all her londes and wente to ihe rusalem in to the hooly londe to werre on goddis enemyes But william tracy was lettyd by the wey and fill sike and rotyd all his body in so moche that hym sel fe with his owne hondis caste a wey his owne flesche lompe melâ— and so dyede an horryble dethe And the othir thre also dyede in a piteuous deth sone aftyr And thus with ynne iij. yere aftyr thomas dethe they dyed all foure but as longe as they leuyd they cryde euer mercy to god and seinte thomas and so I hope they hadde De circumcisioÌ„e domini GOod frendis so che a day is callid new yeris day and is the firste day of the begynnyng of the Newe yere that is comyng and is the laste day of the yere that is gone And there fore this day ye shall come to god and hooly churche to here youre deuyne seruice forthe this yere For like as a good seruaunt that hathe a good mastir makithe his comenaunt but ones but holdithe forthe from yere to yere hauing full truste in his maistre that he woll for his good seruice yeffe hym a good towarde in his grete nede at his laste ende In the same wyse goddis seruauntis makythe comenaunte with hym ones that is at cristonyng at the founte and there he makythe comenaunte to be goddis seruaunt hauyng full truste in god that at his grete nede that is atte the day of dome quyte hym for his seruice in euer lastyng blysse of heuene and so woll he doo to all that be good trewe seruauÌ„tes Thus this day is callâ—d new yeris day Also hit is callid Circumcisiâ—â—â—mini the circumcision â—â— our lord Also this day is callid new yeris day for this day is the firste day of the ka lendyr the yere gothe moche he kalendyr there for his is callid new yeris day Seinte Austein seith this day this nyghte he thyn people vse many false opynions wyche craftys and false be leue the whiche be not to telle among cristen people les te they tourned to that vse where fore ye that be cristeÌ„ people be well were lefte ye be desceyued be any false soâ—ery as be takyng counsell of on maÌ„ be fore a nothir or in beyng or sellyng or in borowyng or senyng in the whiche somme haue diuerse opimons And yf they be well shreuyn they be worthy for to haue grete penauÌ„ce for ther misse beleue for that comythe of the fende and not of god This day is callid the circumcisione of oure lord for as holy chuche tellith this day he was circumsised blede his blode for oure sake for whan the flesche was cutte he blede faste was full â—ore for he was but yong and tendyr and but viij dayes olde there fore he blede the more Thanne ye shall vnderstonde that he bledde v. tymes fore vs. â—niâ—â—â— enim â—i ciâ—â—a saâ—guinâ— sâ—â— pro nobiâ— effâ—dit The firste tyme that he shedde his blode was as this day whan he was circumcised A nothir was for fer of his passione for righte as a childe wepith for fere whaÌ„ he seethe the rodde hathe no harme so the flesche of our lord swede blode for drede of a strenger passion that was comyng The thridde tyme was in his flagella cion â–ª whan he was betyn with stourges so that all his body ranne on redde blode The fourthe tyme was whaÌ„ he was nay led honde fote on the crosse The fifte tyme was whaÌ„ that longinus perisched his herte with a spere that watyr blode come oute of his wouÌ„des And than they toke vp the crosse with the body lifte hit vp on highe with a sodeyne fall they lette the crosse fall doune in to the mortesse that all the senowis vâ—ynes and ioyntes braste a two and blode watyr come out of euery wounde this he suffered for vs ThaÌ„ne seethe criste was cicumcised and shedde his blode thus for vs yâ— was with outyn synne circumcision is for synne remedy helpe why wolde he be circumcised that did no synne Sanctus augu stiuua dicit â—ropterquatâ—or causaâ— Seint Austeyn seâ—th hit was for foure causes the firste was to make a seethe with the iewes for else they wolde myghte haue seyde that he hade be of her lawe where for they wolde not resceyue him consente to his techyng this was to disceyue the fende For right as the fende disceyued a dam Eue and so all mankynde was dampned So hit fill to criste to disceyue the fende where thourghe all mankynde myghte be saued than whau the fende saw that he was circumcised as a noâ—â—ir childe he wende yâ— he hadde take that penauÌ„ce in remedy of originall synne and so he knowe hym not frome a nothir childe for yf he had know hym verely that he had rome to haue bought maÌ„kynde he wolde neuer haue tysed the iewes to haue putte criste to dethe And this was all the cause that our lady was weddid to Joseph for to disceyue the fende for the fende shulde wende that Joseph had be his fadir and not consceyued of the holy goste The thrydde cause why he was circuÌ„cised that was in confermyng the olde lawe in grete comforte to the olde fadres yâ— were of the olde testament fore yf he hadde be cristoned and not circumcised hit had be a grete discomforte to all that were be fore the incarnation of
of ThaÌ„ mekely she toke her leue wente home a yeue to Nasareth Than thoughte Ioseph he wold go â—oke how his wyffe dede wente towardes her whan oure lady herde of his comyng sche wente agaynâ— hym grete hym full mekâ—ly But whan ioseph sawe her gret with childe he meruâ—yled gretely how that myght be for well he wyste hit was not his fore he hadde neuer parte of her body in that degre fore he knowe well that she had made a vowe before she wold neuer haue parte of mannes body thought how he was made to wedde her by the byddyng of the holy goste grete miracle shewyng thoughte right in his herte he was not worthy to dwelle in her company and thoÌ„ght in his herte to haue gone home aÈene and to leue her there Thene come an angell to hym sayd be not aferd to take mari thy wyfe to thy kepyng fore it is of the holy goste that is quicke in her body for thow shall be her keper and norse to her chyld and whanne â–ª hit is borne call it ihesus for he shall be sauiour to all the world Than ye shall vnderstond that for iiij causes as seynte Ambrose seyth oure lady was weddid to this olde maÌ„ Ioseph The firste was yf she hadde conceyued with oute wedloke the iewes wolde haue seid that she had be an euyll woman of her body so haue stoned her to dethe The secouÌ„de cause was fore she was so shamefast that she had herde any haue putte any defame to her she wolde haue dyede fore sorow The thrydde cause was for ioseph shulde bere wittenesse of her maydenhode The fourthe cause fore ioseph shulde helpe her at her birth brynge her to bethleem and aftyr in to Egipte so ayene in to her owne countre fore these iiij causes she was weddid to this olde man Ioseph And also to be gyle the fende that he shulde not knowe hym from a nothir â–ª childe Nowe haue ye herde of the Annunciacion There be somme people that aske a question why there stondithe a wyne potte with lyllyus betwene oure lady Gabriell the Angell at her salutacion This is the cause fore oure lady atte her salutacion conceyued be feythe Narracio Hit be fill thus vpon a cristemasse day that a cristen man and â— iewe sate to gedyr and spake of the concepcion of oâ—re lady and as they were there stode a wyne potte to fore he in with a lyly there ynne Thanne seyd the cristen man we be leue that oure lady conceyued lyke as this lyly conceyuythe colour of grene and aftyr bryngiâ—h forth a whyte floure with oute crafte of man or any pay ryng to the stalke right so oure lady conceyued of the hooly goste and aftyr broughte her sone oure lord ihesu criste withoute any wemme of her body that is floure and chefe of all wymmen Thanne seyde the iewe whan I see a lyly sprynge oute of the dethe stalke that stondith in this potte thanne wolle I beleue that thow seyste hit is trew and a none there with sprange a white lyly oute of the dede stocke that stode in that same wyne potte And whan this Iewe sawe that a none he fill downe vn to the grounde vppon his knees and seyde thus lady nowe I see well that thowe conceyued with the hooly goste oure lorde Ihesu criste goddys sone of heuen And thou were clene mayden bothe be fore the birthe and also aftyr the birthe And so a none he was cristoned and so aftir he was a full hooly man And this is the cause where so that the potte with the lylyus is sette betwene oure lady the Angell for righte as the iewe disputid with the cristen man of the maner of the concepcion So oure lady disputid with the Angell of the maner howe she shulde conceyue and be bothe modir and mayde or she consentid ther to Thanne ye that woll faste the v. euâ—â—ys of oure lady in worshippe of her v. ioyes that she had of her sone The firste was whan she conceyued of the holy goste know that sche was modir to goddis sone of heuen The secounde was on cristemasse day whan she was delyuered of her so ne with oute any payne of her body for as she coÌ„ceyued with oute luste of her body also she was delyuered withoute peyne of her body The iij. ioye was one Estyr day whan her sone rose from dethe to lyue come to her kyssed her made her more ioyefull of his â—prysing than she was sory of his dethe The fourthe ioye was whann heâ—sâ—yed vp to heuen on holy thurday in the same flesche blode that he toke in her body The v ioye was in her assumpcion whan she sawe her sone come with grete multitude of angelis semtis to fette her to heuen and crowned her quene of heuen Emperes of hell and lady of the world so all that be in heueÌ„ shall do her reuerence and worshippe and all bethe in erthe shall do her seruice These be the v. ioyes that oure lady hadde of her sone and ye shall vnderstoÌ„de that he that woll grete oure lady with v. aueys shall neuer come in to the payne of hell Narracio we finde wreton of an hooly mayden that was deuoute in oure lady seruice and euery day grete her with v. ioyes Than hit happened so on a day that she fill sike and felte her selfe welle that sche shulde be dede and for fere she â—ighed wonder sore and made grete mone for be cause she wysce not whetâ—r she shulde go afher dethe Thanne come oure lady to her and seid why arte thow so sory yâ— hast made me so ofte glad gretyng me with ioyes that I hadde of my sone there fore be not sory but knowe thou well that yâ— shalte go with me in to euer lastyng blysse ioye euer with oute ende Narracio we fynde of seint Gilbert that one a tyme he was nye dede of the quincy whaÌ„ his throte was so grete wâ—ll nye dede â— he myghte vnnethe take brethe oure lady come to hym seyde to hym gilbert my seruaunt hit were euyll do that thy throte shulde suffer penaunce that hathe so oftyn tymes gladid me with my ioyes a none she toke her feyre pappe mylâ—yd on his throte and wente her wey a none there with he was hole thankyd oure lady euer aftyr De saÌ„cto georgio martire GOod frendis soche a day ye shall haue seynt Gorges day the holy martyr hit is wreton in his lyffe that there was an horrible dragon be side a Cite that was callid Cirme of the whiche dragon meÌ„ of the Cite were sore a ferde in so moch that be couÌ„sell of the kyng euery day they gaffe hym a childe a shepe to ete fore fere lefte he wolde haue come in to the Cite Than whan alle the children shep were nye eton for because that the
But iâ— â–ª fedyng criste all his coÌ„pauy for he fedde all that wolde come for cristns sake for moche people sewed crist where that euer he wente Secuti sunt eum turhe multe For diuerse causes many folowed him sommto be helid of her soreâ— of diuerse sikenes And somme to se miracles yâ— criste did somme to the to drynke with him somme that were his enemyes that were lerned in the lawe yf they myghte haue takyn him with any worde where by they my gâ—te haue accusid him somme to be reformed in vertues and to here his doctryne and teching as the apostles and many othir â—nde nersua Moribus signa cibua blasphemia doctrina fuere Causa â—um dominum turba secuta fuit And when mathew had fedde â—â—ist thus all that come hym criste made him on of his disciples and gaffe him knowyng to preche the be leue goddes worde so boldely euer aftyr yâ— he spared nothir fore loue nothir for drede Soo this mathew apostell como on a tyme in to a cite prechid that was callid Nadabar there he founde moche people taughte be the fendes crafte in nigransy taughte so many thynges so meruelous that hit was grete woundre to here to many mannes wytte and all for the people shulde be leue in hem and do hem worshippe Thanne mathewe a none delyuerid her nigramansy so that all the people knew openly that hit was the fendes crafte where for this people that be leued on this nigramansy made dragones by the fendes craft to spitte fyre and breune so that the stenche of hem slew moche people and they broughte this dragones to haue deuoured seinte mathew whanne mathewe herde there of he made a crosse be fore him wente a yense hem and a none the dragones fill downe dede be fore hym Than seyde mathew to the people yf ye haue any myghte reyse hem a yene to lyue but they had no power Than seyde mathew yf I were not god dis seruaunt I wold make hem to doo yow that as ye purposed to do to me But hit is the techyng of my maystre ihesu criste to do good a yense euyll where fore I bid yow dragons a ryse and go to soche a place as ye shall neuer greue maÌ„ nor beste and a none they rose wente her wey thus mathew tourned moche people that come to se that sight thanneâ— he prechid the people and tolde hem of the ioye of paradyse There he seyde is day neuer nyght the â—â— is euer youthe neuer age there is euer helthe neuer sikenesse there is roses lylyes flowree with oâ—â—tewel owyng ther bâ— popyngaeys nyghtyngales diuerse briddes euer singyng loue reste and pese with euer lasting charite So they that leuyth in criste do aftyr his coÌ„maundement shall come the thir be there withoute endyng Thus he prechid in a cite where cursed people were they toke hym put oute his eyon caste him in to pryson till they toke a visement what dethe he shulde dye But there come an angell thanne to seint Andrew as he prechid in a ferre countrey broughte him ouer the se ther as seint mathew was whan Andrew saw mathew so fowle done a non Andrew wepte preyde to god for him And a none god restorid mathew his sight a yene and Andrew wente a yen in to his owne countrey to â—reche there as he cÌ„ome fro whan mathew was oute of pryson he wente prechid in the cite of Nadabar in the whiche the kynges sone dyed Than sente the kyng aftir mathew â—preyde him to restore his sone to lyfe a yene so he did where for the kyng his wyffe his doughter that was callid eufagema toke cristendome and the moste parte of the people for god had chosyn this eu fagema to be an holy woman mathew blessid her gaffe her the vayle of chastite charitâ— and so was aftyr an holy womoÌ„ was keper of many othir virgines than dyed her fadir Thanne come there a kyng that was callid hertagus that loued this mayden Eufageme preyde matheco to helpe him that he myghte haue her ThaÌ„ seyde mathew that myght not be fore she was weddid to the kyng of heuene mÌ„yght flot breke that spouse hode thâ— was her tacus wrothe bad sle mathew so as he stode seyde masse at the Auter there come on be hynde him slew him cristen people beried the body in the same churche Than bad the kyng sette fuyre on eufagema house that on euery syde to haue brende her there in Than mathew apperid to her bad her be a good there a none tourned the fuyre from her house in to the kyngis palyse lefte there no thing saue the kyng a yong childe with him and the kyng was smetyn with meselry so fowle that fore grete peyne wo he slew him selfe so the vengeauÌ„ce fill on him selfe that he wold haue do to othir Now ye may well se by this gret miracles that he was an holy man therfore late vs serue him and he wolle prey for vs alle Amen De festo saÌ„cti michaelia GOod frendis suche a day ye shall haue seint michaeâ—â— day the archaÌ„gell that day all holy churche makithe mynde mencion of all angelis for the grete socoure comforte helpe that mankynde had of angelis specialy of seint michaell And for iij. pÌ„rogatiuis that he had for he is wouÌ„drefull in apperyng meruelous in miracles worchyng victorious in fightyng he is woundrefull in appering for as seint Gregory seith whanne almyghty god woll worâ—he any woundrefull dede than he sente for michaell his seruaunt as for his banerer fore he berith a shelde a signe of his armes where fore he was sente with moyses Aaron to egipte to woâ—che meruelis for though the signe were in moyses the worchyng was done by michaell For he de â–ª partid the rede see kepte the water in ij parties while the people of israell wente thourghe and so passid and ladde hem forthe to flom iordan kept the water like an hill of eche syde hem while they passid saue sounde to the londe of be heâ—tâ— Also michael is keper of paradyse takith in soules that bithe sente the dir Also he shall sle antecrist in the mounte of olyuete he shall bid all the dede a ryse come to the dome othir angelis with him shall brynge alle the instrumentes of his passion the crosse the crowne spere nayles hamer sponge eysell gâ—all scorges and all othir thyngis that was at cristus passion to shew hem that shall be dampned that sette nought ne beleue not in his passion thus it apperith wouÌ„drely Also he worchid miracles meruelously for appolia is an highe hill that is callid gargus and is nyghe a grete cite there dwellid a riche man of