that they shold goo to saynt denys the wode men answerd that they myght not but she vnbonde them the virgyn which was for them in grete sorowe commaūded them that they shold goo thenne anone they suffred them to be ledde secretely theyr handes bounde behynde their backes she wente after them whan she was in the chirche of saynt denys she stratched hir self on the grounde in orisons in wepynges Thus as she perseueryd in prayers and wepynges the wode men cryed with an hygh voys that they approched whome the vyrgyn callyd in to their helpe none ought to doubte that the enemye that sawe that he must nedys yssue goo out signefyed by the mowthe of the demonyaks that the appostles marters other sayntes that the holy virgyn callyd came vnto hyr helpe by the yefte of god which is redy to do the wylle of them that drede hym calle hym in trouthe whan the holy vyrgyn herde this that they said She aroos vp and blessyd eche after other with the sygne of the crosse anone they were delyuerd of the enemyes They that were presente felte soo grete stenche that they doubted no thynge but tho sowles were delyuerd fro the vexacion of the deuyl blessyd our lord for this myracle There was at bourges a damoysel which herde speke of the grete renomee of this holy saynt came to parys for to speke to hir she had ben sacred but after the consecracion she had loste hir vyrgynyte the holy genouefe demaunded of hir yf she was a vyrgyn nonne or wyf or a wydowe She answerd that she was a vyrgyn sacred Geneuefe sayd nay tellyng to hir the place tyme of hir defloracion the man that had done the feyte Whan she sawe that it was for nought that she sayd she was a vyrgyne her conscience remorsed hir and fyl doun to hir feet in requyryng pardon In semblable wyse the holy genouefe dyscouerd to many the secretes of theyr consciences whiche ben not here wryton by cause it were ouer noyous longe to wryte A woman whome the holy vyrgyn had helyd had a chylde of the age of foure yere whiche fyl in a pyt he was therin the space of thre houres the moder came and drewe it out and bare it al deed vnto the saynt in rendyng hyr heyre and betyng hir breste and pappes and wepyng bytterly and layed the chylde dede at hyr feet The holy vyrgyn couerd hit with hyr mantel and after she fyl doun in hyr prayers and wepte and anone after whan she cesyd of hyr wepyng our lord shewyd a fayre myracle for the chylde that was deed reuyued the whiche was baptysed at ester after was named celonyer by cause she was reysed in the celle of saynt Genouefe There came fro meaux a man to thys holy vyrgyne whyche had hys hande dryed vnto the wreste and she handled his ioyntes and fyngres and maad theron the sygne of the crosse and anone the hande became alle hool Geneuefe that knewe wel that our lord Ihesu cryste was baptysed the day of epyphanye and after wente in to deserte in gyuyng enseygnement to them that ben regenerate in the sacramente of baptesme to faste wake and adoure besely and to accomplysshe by werke the grace that they haue taken in the baptesme by the ensaumple of swete Ihesu cryste Thenne entryd the holy vyrgyn in to hyr celle the sonday tofore the sayd feste and abode there as recluse vnto the thursday absolute in wakyng in prayers in fastynges and orysons Thyder came a woman to see hir more for curyosyte than for good feythe And therfore god punysshed hyr Far assone as she approched the dore of the celle she loste hyr syght and became blynde But the holy mayde by hir debonayrte by hir prayer gate hir syght ageyn and by the sygne of the holy crosse whan she yssued out of hyr celle in the ende of lente ¶ In the tyme that the cyte of parys was assyegyd by the terme of ten yere lyke as thauncyent hystoryes reherce that there folowed so grete famyne and hungre that many deyed for hungre The holy vyrgyne that pyte constrayned hir wente to the sayne for to goo fetche at name somme vytaylles whan she came vnto a place of sayne where as of custome shyppes were wonte to perysshe She made the shyppe to be drawen to the ryuage and commaunded to cutte doun a tree that was in the water and she sette hyr to prayer Thenne as the shyppes shold haue smyton vpon the tree hit fyl doun And two wylde heedys graye and horryble yssued therout which stanke so sore that the peple there were enuenymed by the space of two houres and neuer after perysshed shyp there thāke be to god and to hys holy saynt Vnto arcy the castel wente thys holy vyrgyne and there came ageyn hyr a grete lord whiche requyred hir that she wold vysyte his wyf whyche had had longe tyme the palseye The holy vyrgyn wente and uysyted hyr which had ben longe seek wyth prayers and orysons and after blessyd hyr wyth the sygne of the crosse commaunded hyr that she shold aryse She thenne that had ben four yere seek myght not helpe hyr self aroos seyng alle the people whyche thanked our lord Fro arcy she wente to troyes in champayn the peple came to mete with hir and offred to hir grete multitude of seek people wythout nombre She blessyd them and sygned them wyth the sygne of the crosse Incontynente they were helyd in the syght of al the people whiche meruayled moche and rendryd thankynges to our lord There was brought to hyr a man whiche by the pugnycion of god was made blynde by cause he wrought on the sonday and a blynde mayde also the holy vyrgyne blessyd them in the name of the fader and sone and of the holy ghoost and anone theyr syght was restored to them There was a subdeken presente and sawe thys he wente and fette a chylde whyche had ben seke x yere of the febres right sore the holy vyrgyn dyd do brynge holy water and blessyd it and gaue hym drynke and that doon by the grace of god the chylde was in good helthe In this tyme many toke of the cuttynges of hir vesture by deuocyon wherof many seek were helyd and many vexyd by spyrytes were delyuerd remysed in to theyr good mynde Fro arcy retorned the holy vyrgyne to parys wyth xj shyppes charged wyth vytayl wynde tempeste orage assayled them soo strongely that they wende to haue perysshed without remedye the holy vyrgyn lyfte vp hyr handes to heuen requyryng helpe of our lord and anone the tempeste cessed Thēne bessus a preest that was present and sawe it whiche tofore had tremblid for fere began to synge for ioye cantemus domino gloriose Al that there were thanked our lord that had saued them by the prayer of the damoysel geneuefe whan the goodes came to parys
Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Grysogone and fyrste of hys name GRysogone may be sayd of gonos in Greke whiche is as moche to say as aungel For he was wythout aungel of worldly malyce or he is sayd of gonos whiche is as moche to saye as a lâ—der For he ledde moche people to the waye of a trouthe by hys ensaumple ¶ Of saynt grisogone GRisogone was taken and sette in pryson by the commaundemente of Dyoclesyan saynt anastase fedde hym and gaue to hym mete and drynke to lyue by wherfore hir husbond was put in to a strayte pryson she sente to grysogone whiche had enformed hyr in the feythe of Ihesu crist in wrytyng thys that foloweth To the holy confessour of cryste Grysogone I anastasâ— haue taken the yoke of a wycked husbond by the mercy of god I haue eschewed his bedde by fayned and dyssymyled Infyrmyte haue nyght and day embraced the stappes of our lord Ihesu cryste my husbond hath taken aweye my patrymonye of whiche he is ennoblysshed and setteth it on fowle ydolles and hath put me in pryson as a cursed enchaunteresse for to make me to lese my lyf temporel So there bleueth nomore but I that am seruaunte to the spyrite may lye doun and deye In whiche dethe I glorefye my self but I am gretely troubelyd in my mynde that my rychessls whiche I had ordeyned to god been wasted and spente in fowle thynges fare wel seruaunte of god remembre me To whome saynt grysogone answerde ageyn by wrytyng see that thou be not angred ne troubled for ony thynge that is doon to the foloneslye in thy lyf though it be contrarye vnto the thou mayste not be dysceyued yf thou be preuyd a tyme paysyble shal come to the anon for after this derknes thou shalt see anone she florysshed light of god after this colde tyme of froste and yce there shal come to the the softe swete tyme Fare wel be wyth god and praye for me and as thys blessyd anastase was thus constreyned in suche wise that vnnethe ony brede was gyuen to hyr in foure dayes and that she supposed she shold haue deyed She wrote a pystle to hym in thys wyse To the confessour of crist grysogone anastase the ende of my tyme is comen remembre me So that whan the sowle shal departe from me that he receyue it for whos loue I suffre thyse thynges whyche thou shalt here by the mowthe of this olde woman To whome he wrote ageyn It apperteyneth alwey that derkenes goo tofore the lyght In lyke wyse after sekenes and Infyrmyte helth shal retorne and lyf is promysed after deth Alle aduersytees and prosperytees of thys world been enclosed by one ende by cause desperacion shold haue no domynacyon on the sorowful ne elacyon ne pryde shold not domyne on theym that been glad and ioyeful There is but one see in whych the shyp of our lady saylleth and our sowles vse the offyse of maronners vnder the gouernaunce of the body the shippes whiche ben fastenyd and bounden wyth stronge chaynes passen wel wythout ony brekyng thorugh the stronge wawes of the see and somme shyppes there been that haue brutyl and feble ioyntures of trees and falle ofte in peryll to be drowned but thou handmayde of Ihesu cryste haue in thy mynde the vyctorye of the crosse and make the redy to the werke of god and thenne dyoclesyan whiche was in the partyes of aquyle and slewe other crysten men commaunded that grysogone shold be broughte tofore hym to whom he sayd Take the power of the prouoste and the consulate of thy lygnage and doo sacrefyse to the goddes And he answerd I adoure worshyp one onely god of heuen and I despyse thy dygnytees as fylthe or myre and thenne sentence was gyuen vpon hym and was brought in to a place where he was byheded aboute the yere of our lord two hondred lxxx and seuen whos body saynt Zeyle the preest buryed and the heed also Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Grisogone Here foloweth the lyf of saint Katheryne virgyn and marter And first of hir name KAtheryne is said of catha that is al ruyna that is fallyng for alle the edefyce of the deuyl fyl al fro hir for the edefyce of pryde fyl fro hyr by humylyte that she had and thedefyce of flesshly desyre fyl fro hir by hir virgynyte worldly couetyse for she despysed al worldly thynges Or katheryne may be sayd as a lytel chayne for she made a chayne of good werkys by whiche she mounted in to heuen and this chayne or ladder had foure grees or stappes whiche been Innocence of werke clennesse of body despysyng of vanyte and sayeng of trouthe whiche the prophete putteth by ordre where he sayth Quis ascendet in mon tem domini Innocens manibus Who shal ascende in to the montayn of our lord that is heuen he answereth The Innocence of his handes he that is clene in his herte he that hath not taken in vayne his sowle and he that hath not sworen in fraude and deceyte to his neyghbour And it apperyth in hyr legende how thyse four degrees were in hyr KAtheryn by discent of lyne was of the noble lygnage of themperours of Rome as it shal be declared more playnelye herafter by a notable cronycle whos moste blessyd lyf and conuersacyon wrote the solempne doctour anathasius whiche knewe hir lygnage hyr lyf For he was one of hir maysters in hir tender age or she was conuerted to the cristen feythe and after the sayd anathasius by hir prechyng meruaillous werkys of our lord was conuerted also Whiche after hir marterdom was made bysshop of Alysaunder And a gloryous pyler of the chirche by the grace of god and merytes of Saynt katheryne And as we fynde by credyble cronycles In the tyme of dyoclesyan and maxymyen was grete cruel tyrannye shewyd in al the world as wel to crysten men as to paynyms Soo that many that were subgette to Rome put aweye the yocke of seruage and rebellyd openlye ageynst th empyre Emonge whome the royame of armonye was one that wythstood most the trybute of the romayns wherfore they of Rome deputed a noble man of dygnyte named constancius whiche was tofore other a valyaunt man in armes dyscrete and vertuous the which lord after he came in to ermonye anone subdued them by his dyscrete prudence deseruyd to haue the loue and fauour of his enemyes in so moche that he was desyred to marye the doughter of the kynge whiche was sole heyre of the royame and he consentyd and maryed hir sone after the kynge hir fader deyed and thenne constancius was enhaunced and crowned kynge whyche sone after had a sone by his wyf named costus at the byrthe of whome his moder deyed after the dethe of whome constancius retorned to rome to see the emperour and to knowe how his lord shyppes were gouerned in tho partyes and in
laus honor sit tibi rex xpeÌ„ and the emperour was presente and hit plesyd so mâ—che to themperour that he toke hym out of prison and restablysshed hym in to hys see The messagers of mychel themperour of constantynople brought yeftes to lowys the sone of charles and emonge al other they brouÈt the bookes of saynt denys of the Ierarchye of aungellys translated out of greek in to latyn and he receyued them wyth grete ioye And thenne were there aboute a twenty seek men of dyuers maladyes whiche al were helyd that nyght in the chyrche of saynt denys And whan lowys was dede Lothayr helde th empyre and lowys charles his brethern made a bataylle ageynste hym where there was so grete occysion of one and other that there had neuer tofore ben suche in no tyme in fraunce atte laste it was accorded that charles shold regne in fraunce Lowys in almayne and lothayr in ytalye and in the parte of fraunce whyche is named Lorayne and after that he lefte the empyre to Lowys hys sone whiche was emperour after hym and he took the habyte of a monke And it is sayd in a cronycle that serge was thenne pope whych tofore was named os porcy that is to saye the mowth of aswyn but his name was chaunged and was called Sergyus and fro than forthon it was ordeyned that alle the popes shold chaunge their names by cause our lord chaunged the name of hym that he chaas to be prynce of thappostles For as they be chaunged in name soo shold they be chaunged in perfeccion of lyf and by cause that thys man was chosen in to a noble offyce he shold not be defouled by a dyshoneste name In the tyme of this lowys in the yere of our lord viij hondred and xvj as it is sayd in a cronycle in the paroche of magonce a wycked spyrite smote on the walles of the howses as it had be wyth hamers and spake openlye in sowyng dyscordes and tormented so the peple that in what hows he entrid anone the hows brennyd and whan the preestes sayd the letanyes he caste at them stones and greuyd them cruelly and atte laste he confessyd that whan holy water was caste he hydde hym vnder the cope of a certeyn preest as his famylyar accusyng hym that he had synned wyth the doughter of the procurour In that tyme the kyng of bulgarys was conuerted vnto the feythe was of so grete perfectyon that he made his oldest sone kyng and he hym self toke thabyte of a monke but his sone gouerned hym so yongely the he toke ageyn the ryte and lawe of the paynyms thenne his fader reprised his knyghthode pursyewyd his sone toke hym put hym in prison and thenne he ordeyned his other sone to be kynge reprised his habyte ageyn It was sayd that in ytalye that tyme in the cyte of bryxe it rayned blood thre dayes that same tyme cam in to fraunce brezes or locustes Innumerable whiche had vj wynges syxe longe feet two teeth harder than ony stone fledde by companyes as armed men by the space of a day iourneye stratchyng a four myle or fyue myle brode they deuoured al thyng that was grene in trees and in herbys and came vnto the see of brytaygne but in th ende they were drowned in the see by force of the wynde but the hete of thoccean see threwe them to the ryuage and the ayer was corumped of their rotyng and therof ensewed a grete famyne and grete mortalyte that almoste the thyrd parte of the peple perysshed and deyed And after thys the fyrste otto was emperour in the yere of our lord ixC and xxxviij and as thys otto on an ester day had ordeyned a grete feste to his prynces tofore they were sette a sone of one of the prynces in the maner of a chylde toke one of the messys of mete fro the borde the keruar smote the chylde with his fyste and slewe hym And he that had the chylde in kepyng sawe that and slewe hym anone that had slayne the chylde and whan themperour wold haue dampned hym without audyence he toke themperour and threwe hym to the grounde and wold haue strangled hym and with grete payne he was taken from his handes and after themperour made hym to be kepte and sayd that he hym self was culpable and to blame and for the honour of the feste he lete the man goo frely his waye after thys fyrst otto the second otto succeded whan the ytalyens had ofte tymes broken the pees bytwene them and the romayns he came and made a grete comune feste to al the barons bysshoppes and grete lordes and whan they were al sette at dyner he enuyronned them al wyth men of armes and thenne he made his compleynte and dyd doo name them that were culpable by wrytyng and anone dyd doo smyte of her heedes there And vnto alle the other be made good chere and moche honoured theym And Otto the thyrd came after hym the yere of our Lord ix hondred foure score and ten And he had to surname the meruaylle of the world And as it is sayd in a cronycle he had a wyf whyche wold haue been loue or lemman vnto an erle And he wold not consente to hyr Wherfore she had soo grete malyce vnto hym that she dyffamed hym in suche wyse vnto hyr husbond the Emperour that he commaunded to smyte of hys heed wythout hauyng ony audyence But tofore he was byheded he prayed his good wyf that she sholde shewe hym Innocent not gylty by the preef of hote yren and thenne after came a day that the emperour shold do right to wydowes and to orphanes And thenne thys wydowe came and brought the heed of hir husbond bytwene hyr armes and demaunded of what dethe he ought to haue that had slayne a man wrongefully And he sayd that he ought to haue hys heed smyton of and thenne she sayd thou arte he that hast slayne my husbonde by the false entysemente of thy wyf Innocentlye and that I shal preue that I sawe trouthe by the beryng of thys brennyng yron And whan the emperour sawe that he was al abasshed and gaue hym self to be punysshed in to the handes of the woman Neuerthelesse by the prayer of the bysshoppes and of the barons the emperour took terme of ten dayes and after of viij and after of seuen and after of vj tyl the cause was examyned the trouthe knowen Thenne themperour the cause examyned and the trouthe knowen dyd doo brenne his wyf al quycke gaue to the wydowe foure castellys for hys redempcyon whyche castellys been in the bysshopryche of lymencis and been callyd the termys of the dayes And after this emperour reygned Henry which was duc of lauyer in the yere a M ij and gaue his suster named Geysyle to the kynge of hungarye in maryage that same kyng al hys peple she conuerted to
and esprysed in the loue of the holy goost They be fasted also in Septembre to fore mychelmas And thise be the thirde fastynges by cause that in this tyme the fruytes ben gadred we shold rendre to god the fruytes of good werkes In decembre they ben also And they ben the fourth fastynges and in this tyme the herbes deyen And we ought to be mortefyed to the world The thirde reason is fore tensiewe the Iewes For the Iewes fasted foure tymes in the yere that is to wete to fore ester to fore whitsontyde to fore the set tyng of the tabernacle in the temple in septembre And to fore the dedicacion of the temple in decembre The fourth reason is by cause the man is composed of iiij elementis touchyng the body and of thre vertues or powers in his sowle that is to wete the vnderstondyng the wyll the mynde To this thenne that this fastyng may attempre in vs iiij tymes in the yere at eche tyme we faste thre dayes to th ende that the nombre of foure may be reported to the body and the nombre of thre to the sowle Thise ben the reasons of maister beleth The v reason as saith IohnÌ„ damascenus in marche and in prymtemps the blode groweth and augmenteth in somer colere In septembre melancolye And in wynter flewme thenne we faste in marche for tattempre and depresse the blode of concupiscence disordynate for sanguyne of hys nature is ful of flesshly coÌ„cupiscence In somer we faste by cause that colere shold be lessed and refreyned of whiche cometh wrath And thenne is he ful naturelly of yre In heruest we fast for to refrayne melancolye the melancolyous man naturelly is cold couetous and heuy In wynter we faste for to daunte and to make feble the flewme of lyghtnes and forgetyng For suche is he that is fleumatyke The sixte reason is for the prymtemps is lykened to the ayer the somer to fyre the heruest to therthe and the wynter to water Thenne we faste in marche to th ende that the ayer of pryde be attemperat to vs In somer the fyre of concupiscence of auaryce In septembre the erthe of coldenesse and of the derknes of Ignorance In wynter the water of lightnes and Inconstaunce The vij reson is by cause that marche is reported to Infancye Somer to yongthe Septembre to stedfast age vertuous And wynter to auncyente or olde age We faste thenne in marche that we may be in thynfancye of Innocencye In somer for to be yonge by vertu and constaÌ„ce In heruest that we may be ripe by at teÌ„peraunce in wynter that we may be auncient old by prudence honeste lyf or atte leste that we satysfye to god of that whiche in thise iiij seasons we haue offended hym The viij reson is of maystre guylliam dancerre We fast saith he in thise iiij tymes of the yere to th ende that we make amendes for all that we haue faylled in all thise iiij tymes and they be don in thre dayes eche tyme to th ende that we satisfye in one day that whiche we haue faylled in a moneth that whiche is the fourth day that is wednesday is the day in whiche our lord was betrayed of Iudas the fryday by cause our lord was crucifyed the saterday by cause he lay in the sepulcre thappostles were for of herte and grete sorowe Thus endeth the ymbre dayes THe Passyon of our lord was bytter for the sorowe that he suffred in derysions despituous And of many fylthes fructuous The sorowe was cause of fyue thynges The first by cause it was shamefulle for the place of the mount of caluarye where as malefactours and crymynel persones were put to execucion And he was there put to deth right foull the crosse was the tormente of theues And yf the crosse was thenne of shame and of vylonye she is now of glorye and of honour wherof saith saynt Austyn Crux latronum qui erat supplicium cÌ„ The crosse whiche was the Iustice of theuys is now become the sygne of glorye in the forhedes or frontes of emperours And yf he had suche honour at his tormente what dyde he to hys seruant for the shameful felawshp that he dyde to hym for he was sette with malefactours but the one of them was conuerted whiche was called dysmas lyke as it is said in the gospell of Nychodemus And he was on the ryght syde of our lord And that other on the lyfte sâ—de was dampned whiche was callid gesmas To that one thenne he gaf the royame of heuene and to that other helle wherof saith saynt Ambrose Auctor pietatis in cruce cÌ„ he saith the auctour of pyte hangyng on the crosse deuyded offyces of pâ—te in scculyer erandes that is to saye The persecucion to thapostles peas to his disciples hys body to the Iewes hys spyryte to the fader to the vyrgyne the messages of the weddyng of the souerayn espouse To the theef peradys To synners helle And to the Crysten penytent he comanded the crosse Loo this is the testament that Ihesu cryst made hangyng in the crosse Secondly the sorow was caused Iniustly For none iniquite was founde in hym And pryncypally Iniustly they accused hym of thre thynges The first was they said that he deffended to paye the trewage and for he said that he was a kynge and he said hym to be the sone of god ¶ And ayenst thyse thre accusacions we saye on the good fryday thre excusacions in the persone of Ihesu crist Whan we synge popule meus Where Ihesu crist repreued them of thre benefetes that he dyde and gaf to them that is to wete the delyueraunce of them fro Egypt the sustentacion and the gouernauÌ„ce in deserte And the plantacion of the vigne in a londe propyce lyke as Iesu cryst wold saye thhou accusest me by cause that I deffende to paye thy trewage And thou oughtest more to thaÌ„ke me of that I haue delyuerd the fro the trewage and fro the scruytude of pharao and of Egypte Thou accusest me that I calle my self kynge and thou oughtest better to yelde me thankynges of that whiche I gouerned the in deserte with mete royalle Thou accusest me of this that I saye me to be the sone of god And thou oughtest more to thank me that I haue chosen the to be in my vygne yerde and in a ryght good place I haue planted them The thirde cause is by cause he was despyted forsaken of his frendes whiche semed a thyng more tollerable to be suffred of his enemyes than of them whom he helde to be his freÌ„des And alleway he suffred deth for his frendes and hys neyghbours that is of theÌ„ of whos lignage he was born Thys said he by the mouth of dauid Amici mei proximi cÌ„ My frendes my neyghbours haue approcheed ayenst me and so haue contynued wherof said Iob capitlÌ„o xxx Noti mei quasi aliem
holy ghoost is he that gyueth lyf Fourthly he was shewed in the lyknes of fyre Fyftly in lyknes of tongues And the cause for whyche he appiered in thyes two maners I shal here after saye As to the thirde pryncypal in whiche tyme he was sent he was on the fyfty daye sent after ester for to gyue to vs knowleche that the holy ghoost cam And it is the perfection of the lawe the remuneracioÌ„ perdurable and the remyssion of synnes it appiereth of the perfection of the lawe For fro the daye that the laÌ„be was sacrefied in that old lawe the lawe was delyuerd the fyfty day after that as the chirche saith in fyre And also in the newe testameÌ„t fyfty dayes after ester descended the holy ghoost on the mount of syon in lyknes of fyre lyke as the lawe was gyue in the hyest of the mount of Synay so the holy ghoost in the solier where the soupper of Ihesu cryst and of his appostles was made ¶ In this appiereth that the holy ghoost is the perfection of all the lawe ¶ For in that is the plenytude of dilection Secondly the perdurable remuneracion is in the holy ghoost wherof the glose saith thus that the fourty dayes in whiche our lord conuersed with his disciples signfeye the holy chirche also the fyfty day on whiche the holy ghoost was gyuen expressheth the peny of the last retrybucion and reward perdurable ¶ Thirdly of the holy ghoost is the remyssyon of synnes as saith the glose Therfore it was gyuen in the fyfty day by cause in the fyfty yere was the Iubylee and alle thyng pardonned And by the holy ghoost the synnes ben pardonned ¶ And it foloweth in the glose In the Iubylee spyrytuel the prysonners ben delyuerd the debtes ben quyted the exyled ben repelled and called home therytages ben rendryd And the bonde men ben rendred from theyr seruytud and made free And the gylty of deth ben made quyte and delyuerd wherof saith scynt poul The lawe of the spyryte of lyf in Ihesu Cryst hath delyuerd me fro the lawe of synne and of deth ¶ After the dettes of synne be left for charyte couerith quenchith grete multytude of synnes The exiled men ben callyd home And the prophete saith Spiritus tuus bonus cÌ„ Lord thy good spirite hath brought me in to the right londe of my contree that is in to heuen The herytage lost is rendrid wherof saith saynt poul The holy ghoost had gyuen wytnes to our spyryte that we ben the sones of god ¶ And yf we be sones we be heyres whiche were seruauntes to synne we be made free to god For where the holy ghoost is there is fraunchyse and lyberte As touchyng the fourthe how ofte he was sente to thappostles after that the glose saith he was gyuen to them by thre tymes that is to wete to fore the passion of Ihesu cryste after the resurrection and after thascencion Fyrst â—o doo myracles Secondly to relece the synnes And thyrdly to conferme the hertres Fyrst whan he sente them to preche and to caste fendes out of bodyes and to hele the seke malades he gaf to them the puissaunce ¶ And thise meruaylles dyde they by the holy ghoost Neuertheles it is not consequent that who som euer haue the holy ghoost doo myracles For saynt gregory saith the myracles maketh not a man holy but shewe hym holy ne also euery man that doth myracles hath not the holy ghoost For euyl peple auaunte them to haue don myracles sayeng lord lord saye they haue not wel prophesyed in thy name thou hast gyuen to vs the spyryte of prophesye God doth myracles by his angellys by mater amyable that they haue And the fendes by vertues naturall whiche ben in thynges created naturelly And thenchaunter by helpe of fendes The good crysten man by Iustyce publyque The euyl crysten man by signes of Iustyce Secondly they had the holy ghoost whan he brethed on theÌ„ sayeng take ye the holy goost in to you to whome ye loose their synnes they shal be loosed and of whome ye reteyne they shal be reteyned Neuertheles none sauf god may foryeue synnes as to the synne that is in the soule and whiche is thobligaciion to payne pardurable or as to th offence of god the whiche is only foryeuen by the Infusion of the grace of god and by the force and vertue of câ—ntricion neuertheles we saye that the preest assoylleth of synnes as for that he is Insynued or sheweth that the synner is assoylled of god as to that that the payne that shold be perpetuel he chauÌ„geth in to temporal of purgatorye and also for that the payne temporal is dewe he releceth partye Thyrdly the holy ghoost was gyueÌ„ to them on this day whan he confermed so theyr hertes that they dredde no tormente by the vertue of the hooly ghoost whiche all ouercometh wherof saith saynt Austyn Suche is the grace of the holy ghoost that yf he fynde heuynesse in the herte he breketh it yf he fynde desyre of euyll he destroyeth it yf he fynde vayne drede he caste it out And Saynt lyon the pope saith the holy ghoost was hoped of thappostles not for theÌ„ fyrste he had enhabited in them but by cause that the hertes to hym sacred and dedyed more shold vysite them and more habundantly by grace shold abyde in encreacyng his yeftes not thenne bygon of whiche he was not newly shewyng his operacion For hys largesse passed all habondaunce As to the fyfthe that is to wite how he was sente it is to be knowen that he was sente wyth grete sowne in tongues of fyre the whiche tongues appiered syttyng And the sowne was sodeyn fro heuen vehement and shynyng It was sodeyn For he had no nede of space temporell It was fro heuen For he made them celestyall that he reâ—lenesshyd vehement For he gaf drede of loue or for that that he toke away the sorow perdurable whiche is malediction or for that that he bare the herte out of carnall loue also he was replenesshyng Foâ— he fulfyled all thappostles as saith saynt luc Repleti sunt omnes spiritu sancto And it is to wete that ther ben iij signes of replenyssyng that were in thappostles The first is that the place where he is yeueth no sowne lyke a tonne of wyn that is full to this purpoos spekyth Iob Shal not the oxe crye and rore whan the racke is ful The oxe shall not bowe ne crye whan the crybbe shal be full lyke as he wold saye WhaÌ„ the herte is ful of grace hym ought not grudche by impacience This signe had thappostles For in the tribulacion that they had they resowned not ne grudched by Impacience but Ioyously wente to the presence of the tyrauntes to pryson and to tormentes The seconde signe is that he may receyue nomore ellis he were not full In this maner he that is all fylled demandeth nomore In lyke wyse the sayntes that haue plenytude of grace may
hym an helper lyke to hym selfe for to brynge forth children Adam supposed that somme helpar to hym had ben emōg the beestis whiche had ben lyke to hym ¶ Therfore god brought to Adam alle lyuyng beestis of the erthe ayer In whicle ben vnderstande thē of the water also whiche with one comandement alle cam to fore hym they were brought for two causes One was by cause man shold gyue to eche of them a name by whiche they shold knowe that he shold domyne ouer them And the second cause was by cause adā shold knowe that there was none of thē lyke to hym And he named hem in he brews tonge whiche was only the langage and none other atte begynnyng And so none beyng founde lyke vnto hym god sente in Adam a luste to slepe whiche was no dreme but as is supposed in a extasi or in a traunse in whiche was shewd to hym the celestial courte wherfore whan he awoke he prophecyed of the coniunction of crist to his chirche And of the flode that was to come And of the dome and destruction of the world by fyre he knewe whiche afterward he told to his chyldren Whiles that adam slepte god toke 〈◊〉 of his Ribbes both flesshe and bone and made that a woman And sette her to fore Adam whiche thenne saide this is is now a bone of my bones and flessh of my flessh And Adam gaf here a name lyke as her lord and said she shal be called virago whiche is as moche to saye as made of a man And is a name taken of aman And anon the name gyuyng he prophecied sayeng by cause she is taken of the syde of aman therfor a man shall forsake and leue fader and moder and abyde and be adherent vnto his wif and they shal be two in one flesshe And thaugh they be two persone yet in matrymony and wedlok they be but one flesshe and in other thyngis tweyne for why neyther of them hath power of his owne flessle They were bothe naked and were not asshamed they felte nothyng of meuyng of theyr flessh ne to refrayne them as we now doo For they stode bothe in the state of Innocensye Thenne the serpente whiche was hotter than ony beste of therthe naturelly deceyuable for he was ful of the deuyll lucifer whiche was deiecte and caste out of heuen had grete enuye to man that was bodyly in paradys and knewe wel yf he myght make hym to trespace and breke gods commandement that he shold be cast out also yet he was aferd to be taken or espied of the man he wente to the woman not so prudent and more prone to slyde and bowe in the forme of the serpente for thenne the serpente was erecte as a man Bede saith that he chace a serpente hauyng a maydens chere For lyke ofte aplye to lyke and spake by the tonge of the serpente to Eue and said why cōmanded you god that ye shold not ete of alle the trees of paradys this he said to fynde occasyon to saye that he was come fore Thenne the woman answerde and said Ne forte moriamur leste happely we dye whiche she saide doubtyng For lightly she was flexible to euery parte wher vnto anon he answerd Nay in no wyse ye shal dye but god wold not that ye shold be lyke hym in science and knowyng that whan ye ete of this tre ye shal be as goddes knowyng good euyll he as enuyous forbade you And anon the woman elate in pryde willyng be lyke to god accorded therto And byleuyd hym The woman sawe that the tree was fayr to loke on and clene and swete of sauour toke and ete therof And gaf vnto Adam of the same happyly desiryng hym by fayr wordes but Adam anon agreed for whan he sawe the woman not deed he supposed that god hath said that they shold dye to fere hem with And thenne ete of the fruyt forboden ¶ And anon theyr sight was opened that they sawe theyr nakydnes ¶ And thēne anon they vnderstode that they had trespaced For anon their flesshe began to meue and stire to concupiscence for to fore that they had eten of the forboden fruyt tho meuynges were repressed and closed as in yong children And thenne after they had synned they were opend lyke spryngys of water and began to meue and then they were experte and knewe them And lyke as they were inobedyent to theyr superyor ryght soo theyr membres began to meue ayenst theyr superior whiche is reson they felte theyr first meuyng in theyr preuy membres and therof they were asshamed And thus they knewe then that they were naked And they toke figge leuis and sewed them to gyder for to couere theyr membres in maner of brechis And anon after they herde the voys of our lord god walkyng and anon they hyd them Our lord called the man and said Adam where art thou callyng hym in blamyng hym and not as not knowyng where he was but as who said Adam see in what myserye thou art whiche answerd I haue hydde me lorde for I am naked our lord said who tolde the that thou were naked but that thou hast eten of the tree forboden he thenne not mekely confessyng his trespas but leyde the fawte in his wyf and in hym as gyuer of the woman to hym and saide ¶ The woman whom thou gauyst to me as a felawe gaf to me of the tree and I ete therof And thenne our lord soid to the woman why dydyst thou soo Neyther she accused her self but leyd the synne on the serpente and pryuely she leyd the faute in the maker of hym The serpente was not demanded For he dyde it not of hym self but the deuyl by hym And our lord cursyng thē began at the serpente kepyng an ordre congrue nombre of curses The serpente was the first and synned most for he synned in iij thyngis The woman next and synned lesse than he but more than the man for she synned in two thyngis The man synned last and leest for he synned but in one ¶ The serpente had enuye he lyed and deceyued For thyse thre he had thre curses by cause he had enuye at thexcellence of man it was sayd to hym thou shalt goo and crepe on thy breste by cause he lyed he is punysshid in his mouth whan it was said thou shalt ete erthe alle the dayes of thy lyf Also he toke away his voys and put venym in hys mouth And by cause he deceyued it was said I shal put enemyte bytweyne the and woman and thy seed and her seed She shal breke thy heede c̄ In two thyngis the woman synned In pryde and etyng the fruyte by cause she synnyd in pryde he meked her seyeng Thou shalt be vnder the power of man And I shal haue lordship ouer the and I shal put the to affliction ¶ Now is she subiecte to a man by condicion and drede whiche to
contynued in theyr synnne and wickednes Thenne whan the Arcke was parfyghtly maad god bad hym to take in to it of all the beestis of therthe and also of the fowles of thayer of eche two male and female that they may lyue and also of all the metes of therthe that ben comestible that they may serue and fede the and them And Noe dyde all that our lord commaÌ„ded hym Thenne said our lord to Noe entre thou and all thy houshold in to the Arke that is to saye thou and thy wyf and thy thre sones theyr thre wiuys I haue seen that thou art rightful in this generacion Of all beestis that ben clene thou shalt take seuen and of vnclene beestis but only two And of the byrdes seuen and seuen male and female that they may be saued on the face of therthe Yet after vij dayes I shal rayne vpon therthe xl dayes and xl nyghtis and shal destroye all the substance that I made on the erthe And Noe dyde all thyng that our lord comaÌ„ded hym he was vjC yere old whan the flod began on the erthe And thenne Noe entryd in and his sones his wyf and the wyues of his sones all in to the arke teschewe the watres of the flood Of all the beestis and the fowles and of all that meuyd and had lyf on erthe male and female Noe toke in to hym as our lord had boden And seuen dayes after they were entred the water began tencrete The welles of the abysmes were broken And the cataractes of heuen were opened that is to saye the clowdes and it rayned on therthe xl dayes and xl nyghtes And the arke was eleuate and born vpon the watres on height aboue the moÌ„taynes and hylles For the water was growen hyer xv cubites aboue all the moÌ„taynes that it shold purge and wasshe the fylthe of thayer Thenne was consumed all that was on therthe lyuyng maÌ„ woman and beest and byrdes And alle that euer bare lyf so that nothyng abode vpon therthe for the water was xv cubytes oboue the hyest montayne of therthe And whan Noe was entrid he shitte the dore fast without forth and lymed it with glewe And so the watres abode eleuate in highte an Cl dayes fro the daye that Noe entred in And our lord thenne remembred Noe and all theÌ„ that were in the arke with hym and also on the beestis and fowles and cessed the watres And the welles and catharactes were closid And the raynes were prohybyted and forboden to rayne nomore The vij moneth the xxvij day of the moneth the arke rested on the hylles of Armenye ¶ The x moneth the first day of the moneth the toppes of the hylles appiered first After thise xl dayes after the lassyng of the watres Noe opened the wyndowe And desired sore to haue tydynges of cessyng of the flood And sente out a Rauen for to haue tydynges And whan she was goon retorned nomore agayn For parauentushe fonde somme dede carayne of a beest swymmyng on the water and lighted theron to fede her and was lefte there After this he sente out a douue whiche flewhe out And whan she coude fynde no place to reste ne sette her foot on she retorned vnto Noe And he toke hâ—r in yet thenne were not the toppes of the hillis bare And vij dayes after he sente here out agayn whiche at eueÌ„ retorned beryng a braunche of an olyue tree burgyng in her mouth ¶ And after other vij dayes he sente her agayn whiche cam nomore agayne Thenne in the yere of Noe vjC·j the first day of the moneth Noe opened the coueryng of the arke and sawe that the erthe was drye but he durst not goo out but abode the commandement of our lord The second moneth the xxvij day of the moneth our lord said to Noe Goo oute of the arke thou and thy wyf thy sones and the wyues of thy sones he coÌ„manded them to goo coniunctly out whiche disiunctly entred And late goo out with the alle the beestis and fowles lyuyng and all the reptyle euerich after his kynde and gendre to whom our lord saide growe ye and multiplye vpon therthe Thenne Noe yssued out and his wyf his sones with their wyues and all the beestis the same day a yere after they entryd in euerich after his gendre Noe thenne edefyeed an awter to our lord and toke of all the beestis that were clene and offrid sacrefise vnto our lord And our lord smellyd the swetenes of the sacrefise and said to Noe from hens forth I shal not curse the erthe for man for he is prone and redy to fall fro the begynnyng of his yougthe I shal nomore destroye man by suche vengeance And thenne our lord blessid hem and said growe ye and multeplye the erthe And be ye lordes of all the beestis of therthe of the fowles of thayer and of the fisshes I haue gyuen alle thynges to you but ete not flessh with the blood I commande you to slee noman ne to shede nomans blood I haue made man after myn ymage who som euer shedeth his broders blood his blood shal be shedde Go ye forth and growe and multeplye and fylle the erthe this said our lord to Noe and his sones Lo I haue made a couenaunt with yow and with them that shal come after yow that I shal nomore brynge suche a flood to slee alle peple And in token therof I haue sette my rayne bowe in the clowdes of heuen For who that trespaceth I shal doo Iustice otherwyse on hym Noe lyuyd after the flood iijCl yere Fro the tyme of Adam vnto after Noes flood the tyme And season was alle way grene and tempryd And alle that tyme men etâ— no flesshe For therbes and fruytes were thenne of grete strengthe and effecte they were pure and norisshyng But after the flood the erthe was weyker broght not forth so good fruyte wherfore fflesshe â—as ordeyned to be eten And theÌ„ne 〈◊〉 began te laboure for his lyfelode with his sones and began to tyllye therthe destroye breris and thornys And to plante vignes And so on a tyme noe had dronke so moche of the wyne that he was dronke and laye and slepte And his prevy meÌ„bree laye bare and open Cham his myddelest sone espied it and lowhe and stornyd his fader and called his brethern to see whiche cam hackward for to couure her fader and wold not â—â—ke on hit and rebuked cham of his folye and synne whan Noe was couured with the mantel anon he awoke whan he vnderstode how cham his sone had scorned hym he cursid hym And also his sone Canaan And blessyd Sem and Iaphet by cause they couerd hym Alle the dayes of Noe were ixC.l. yere And thenne deyed And after his deth his sones deled alle the world bytwene hem Sem had all asye Cham affryke And Iaphet all Europe Thus was it departed Asye is the best part and is as moche as the
verely god is in this place and I wist not of it And he said dredyngly how terryble is this place None other thynge is here but the hows of god and the yate of heuen thenne Iacob arose erly and toke the stone that laye vnder his heed and reysed it for wytnes pouryng oyle theron And callid the name of the place betel whiche tofore was callid luza ¶ And there he made a vowe to our lord sayeng yf god be wyth me and kepe me in the waye that I walke and gyue me brede to ete and clothes to couer me and may retorne prosperously in to the hows of my fader the lord shal be my god and this stone that I haue reysed in wytnes this shal be called the hows of god And good of all thynges that thou gyuest to me I shal offre to the the tythes and teenth part Thenne Iacob wente forth in to the eest and sawe a pytte in a felde and thre flockes of sheep lyeng by it For of that pytte were the beestis watred And the mouth therof was sheâ—te and closed with a grete stone For the custom was whan alle the sheep were gadred they rolled away the stone and whan they had dronken they leyde the stone agayn at the pitte mouth and theÌ„ne he saide to the shepherdes Brethern whens ar ye whiche answerde of Aran TheÌ„ne he askyng them saide knowe ye not Laban sone of Nachor they saide we knowe hym well how farith he said he is he al hool he farith wel saide they And loo Rachel his doughter cometh there with her flocke Thenne saide Iacob it is yet fer to eueÌ„ it is yet tyme that the flockes be ledde to drynke and after be dryuen to pasture whiche answerd we may not so doo til alle the beestis be gadred and theÌ„ne we remeue the stone fro the mouth of the pitte and watre our beestis And as they talked Rachel cam with the flock of her fader For she kepte that tyme the beestes And whan Iacob sawe her and knewe that she was his emes doughter and that they were his emes sheep he remeuyd the stone fro the pittes mouth and whan her sheep had dronkeÌ„ he kissed her and wepyng he tolde her that he was brother to her fader and sone of Rebecca Thenne she hyed her and told it to her fader which whan he vnderstode that Iacob his suster sone was come he Ran ayenst hym and enbracyng kissed hym and lad hym in to his hows And whan he had herde the cause of his Iourney he said thou art my mouth and my flessh And whan he had ben there the space of a moneth he demaunded Iacob yf he wold gladly serue hym by cause he was his cosyn and what hyre and Reward he wold haue he had two doughters the more was named lya and the lasse was called Rachel but lya was blereyed and Rachel was fair of visage and wel fauoured whom Iacob loued and saide I shal serue the for Rachel thy yonger doughter vij yere Laban answerd it is better that I gyue her to the than to a straunge man dwelle and abyde with me and thou shalt haue her And so Iacob seruyd hym for Rachel vij yere and hym thought it but a lytil while by cause of the grete loue that he had to her And at th ende of vij yere Iacob said to laban gyue to me my wyf for the tyme is come that I shold haue her Thenne laban callid all his frendes and made a feste for the weddyng and at nyght he brought in lya the more doughter and delyuered to her an hand mayde named zelpha Thenne wenyng Iacob that it had ben Rachel wente to her as the maner is whan the mornyg cam sawe that it was lya he said to laban her fader what haste thou don haue I not seruid the for Rachel why hast thou brought lya to me laban answerd hit is not the vsage ne custome of our coÌ„tre to gyue the yonger first to be wedded but fulfylle and make an ende of this coplement and maryage this weke and theÌ„ne shal I gyue to the Rachel my doughther for other vij yer that thou shalt yet serue to me Iacob agreed gladly and whan that weke was passed he wed ded Rachel to his wyf To whom laban her fader gaf an handmayde named Bala Neuertheles whan the weddyng of the yonger was fynysshyd by cause of the grete loue that he had to her hym thought that the other vij yere were but shorte Our lord sawe that he despysed lya he lete lya conceyue and Rachel her suster abode bareyne whiche theÌ„ne lya bare a sone named hym Ruben sayeng Our lord god hath beholden myn humylite and mekenes Now shal myn husbonde loue me She conceyued yet and bare a nother sone and saide by cause our lord sawe me despysed he hath gyueÌ„ to me this sone And she called hym Symeon She conceyuyd the thyrd and brought forth another sone and said Now shal my husbonde be conpled to me by cause I haue born to hym thre sones And she called his name leuy She conceyuyd the fourth sone and was delyueryd of hym saide Now I shal knowleche me to our lord And therfor she named hym Iudas And thenne she cessed of beryng of chyldren Rachel â—â—yng her self bareyn had enuye to her suster and said to Iacob her husbond Make me with child or ellys I shal deye To whom Iacob was wroth and answerde what wenest thou that I were god and hath pryued fro the the fruyt of thy bely TheÌ„ne she said I haue my seruaunt bala Goo vnto her and late her conceyue of the on my knees that I may haue of her somme sones She gaf bala vnto her husbond to knowe her whiche whan Iacob had knowen she conceyued and bare a sone Thenne sayde Rachel Our lord hath herde my peticion gyvyng to me a sonne she named hym dan After that bala conceyued agayn and bare another sone For whom Rachel saide Our lord hath compared me to my suster haue a vayled and she named hym Neptalim Then de lya felyng that she conceyued nomore she gaf zelpha her handmaide to her husbonde whiche conceyued and bare a sone whom lya named Gad After Zelpha conceyved another sone For whom lya sayde This is for my blessidnes and certaynly alle generations shal saye that I am blessyd Therfor she called hym aser Hit happed that ruben wente out in harvest tyme in to the felde And toke there a mandrake whiche he brought and gaf to his moder Thenne Rachel said to her suster lya Gyue me somme parte of the mandrake of thy sone lya answerd is it not ynough ta take fro me my husbonde but that also thou wilt haue parte of the mandrake of my sone TheÌ„ne said Rachel he shal slepe with the this nyght for the mandrake of thy sone At euen whan Iacob cam home fro the felde lya wente ayenst hym said to hym
sorow and repreef to Anna by cause she had no chyldren and thus dyde euery yere and prouoked her to wrath but she wepte for sorow and ete no mete To whom helcana her husbond said Anna why wepest thou and wherfor etest thou not why is thyn herte put to afflyction Am I not better to the than ten sones Thenne anna aroose after she had eten and dronken in Sylo and wente to praye vnto our lord Hely that tyme satte to fore the postes of the hows of our lord And anna besought and prayd our lord makyng to hym a vowe yf that she myght haue a sone she shold offre hym to our lord And it was so that she prayd so hertely in her thought and mynde that her lyppes meuyd not wherfor hely bare her an hand that she was dronke And she said nay my lord I am a synful woman I haue dronken no wyn ne drynke that may cause me to be drōken but I haue made my prayers cast my sowle in the sight of almyghty god Repute me not as one of the doughters of Belial For the prayer that I haue made and spoken yet is of the multytude of the heuynes and sorow of my herte Thenne hely the preest said to her Goo in pees the god of Israhel gyue to the the peticion of thy herte For that thou hast prayd hym she said wold god that thy hand-seruaunt myght fynde that grace in thy syght And so she departed And on the morn they wente home agayn in to Ramatha After this our lord remembryd her ¶ And Hlcana knewe her And she conceyuyd at tyme acustomed brought forth and bare a fair sone named hym Samuel for somoche as she axed hym of our lord wherfor helcana her husbond wente offred a solompne sacrefyce and his vowe acomplysshyd but Anna ascended not with hym She said to her husbond that she wold not goo tyl her chyld were wened and taken fro the pappe ¶ And after whan samuel was wened and was an Infaunt The moder toke hym and iij caluys iij mesures of mele and a botel of wyn brought hym vnto the hows of our lord in Syl◠sacrefyed that calf offred the chylde to hely told to hely that she was the woman that prayd our lord for that chyld And there Anna worshyppid our lord and thankyd hym And ther made this psalme which is one of the canticles Exultauit cor meum in domino of exaltatum est cornu meum in deo meo and so forth all the remenaūt of that psalme And thenne helcana with his wif retorned home to his hows After this our lord vysyted Anna and she conceyuyd iij sones and two doughters whiche she brought forth And Samuel abode in the hows of our lord was mynyster in the syght of hely But the two sones of hely Ophny and Phynees were chyldren of belyal not knowyng our lord but dyde grete synnes ayenst the comandementis of god and our lord sente a prophete to hely because he corrected not his sones and said he wold take thoffice from hym from his hows and that ther shold not be an old mā in his hows kynrede but shold dye er they cam to mānes estate And that god shold reyse a preest that shold be faithful and after his herte Samuel seruyd and mynystred our lord in a surplys to fore hely And on a tyme as hely laye in his bedde his eyen were so dymmed that he myght not see the lanterne of god til it was quenchyd and put out Samuel slepte in the temple of our lord where as the Arke of god was And our lord callyd Samuel whiche answerd I am redy ran to hely and said I am here redy thou caldest me whiche said I callyd the not my sone retorne and slepe he retorned and slept And our lord callid hym the second tyme and he aroos and wente to hely and said lo I am here thou calledest me whiche answerd I callid the not Go thy waye and slepe Samuel knewe not the callyng of our lord yet ne ther was neuer reuelacion shewd to hym to fore And our lord callid Samuel the thirde tyme whiche aroos and cā to hely and said I am here For thou calledest me Thenne hely vnderstode that our lord had callyd hym and said to Samuel Goo and slepe And yf thou be callid agayn thou shalt saye Speke lord for thy seruaūt hereth the Samuel retorned and slepte in his place And our lord cam and callid hym Samuel Samuel And Samuel said Saye lord what it pleseth For thy seruaunt hereth And thenne our lord said to Samuel Loo I make my word to be knowen in Israhel that who so hereth his eeris shal rynge sowne therof In that day I shal reyse agayn hely all that I haue said opon his hows I shal begynne and accomplyssh hit I haue gyue hym in knowleche that I shal Iuge his hous for wyckednes for as moche as he knoweth his sones to doo wickedly and hath not corrected them Therfor I haue sworn to the hows of hely that the wickednes of his hows shal not be made clene with sacrefyses ne yeftes neuer Samuel slepte tyl on the morn And thenne he roos and opend the dores of the hous of our lord in his surplis And Samuel was aferd to shewe this vysyon vnto hely Hely callyd hym and axid what our lord hath said to hym and chargyd hym to telle hym alle And Samuel told to hym all that our lord hath said and hyd nothyng from hym And he said he is our lord what it plesith hym late hym doo Samuel grewe and our lord was with hym in all his werkis And it was knowen to all Israhel fro dan to bersabee that samuel was the trewe prophete of our lord After this it was so that the philisteis warryd ayenst the chyldren of Israhel agayn whom ther was a batayll the chyldrē of Israhel ouerthrowen put to flyght wherfor they assēblyd agayn And toke with them the Arke of god whiche Ophny and Phynees sones of hely bare And whan they cam with a grete multytude wyth the Arke the philisteis were aferd Notwythstōdyng they faught ayenst them manly slew xxxM fotemen of the chyldren of Israhel and token the arke of god and the two sones of hely were slayn Ophny and phynees And a man of the tribe of beniamyn Ran for to telle this vnto hely whyche satte abydyng som̄ tydynges of the batayll This man as sone as he entrid in to the toun told how the feld was lost the peple slayn how the arke was taken And ther was a grete sorow and crye And whan hely herd thys crye and wayllyng he demāded what this noyse was mened wherfor they so sorowed Thenne the man hyed and cam and told to hely Hely was at that tyde lxxx xviij yere old and his eyen were woxen blynde and myght not
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 emōge 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 cōpellyd 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 thē of beniamyn iijClx were slayn And thus ther was longe stryf and contenciō 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 cā 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 mā 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
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 â—yde to hym of whyche the Iewes sawe that they myght not ouercome hym in that manere And theÌ„ne 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 coÌ„trarye 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 IhÌ„u 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 eÌ„de 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 theÌ„ne 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 theÌ„ne was grete persecucioÌ„ of crysten meÌ„ that were in IhrlÌ„m 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 coÌ„uerted 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
and consecrate on that one side of Ephesee And fro mydnyght forth he ceassed not to preche to the people that they shold establysshe them and be stedfast in the crysten faith and obeyssaunt to the comandemens of god And after thys he said the masse and howselyd and comuned the peple and after that the messe was fynysshed he bad and dyde do make a pytte or a sepulture to fore the aulter And after that he had taken hys leue and comanded the peple to god he descended doun in to the pytte or sepulture And helde vp hys handes to heuen and said Swete lord Ihesu cryste I yelde me vnto thy desyre and thanke the that thou hast vouchedsauf to calle me to the yf it plaise the receyue me for to be with my brethern with whom thou hast somoned me Opene to me the yate of the lyf permanable And lede me to the feest of thy wel and best dressed metes thou art Cryst the sone of the lyuyng god whyche by the comandemÌ„t that of fader hast saued the world To the I rendre and yelde grace and thankynges world wythouten ende thou knowest wel that I haue desired the with al my herte After that he had made hys prayer moche amerously and pyteously anon cam vpon hym grete clerenes and light And so grete brightnes that none myght see hym And whan thys lyght and bryghtnes was goon and departed ther was nothyng founde in the pytte or graue but manna whiche cam spryngyng from vnder vpward lyke as fonde in a fontayn or spryngynge welle where moche peple haue ben delyuerd of many diseases sekenesses by the merytes prayers of thys gloryous saynt SomÌ„e saye and afferme that he deyed without payne of deth And that he was in that clerenes born in to heuen body and sowle wherof god knoweth the certaynte And we that ben yet here bynethe in this myserye ought to pray deuoutly to hym that he wold impetre and gete to vs the grace of our lord whiche is blessyd in secula seculorum Amen Ther was a kyng an holy Confessour and virgyne named seynt Edward whiche had a specyal deuocion vnto saynt IohÌ„n euangelist and it happed that thys holy kyng was atte halowyng of a chyrche dedycate in thonour of god and of this holy appostle and it was that saynt IohÌ„n in lyknes of a pylgryme cam to thys kynge and demaunded hys almesse in the name of saynt IohÌ„n And the kyng not hauyng his amoner by hym ne his chamberlayn of whom he myght haue somwhat to gyue hym but toke hys rynge whyche he bare on hys fyngre and gaf it to the pylgryme ¶ After thys many dayes it happened ij pylgryms of englond for to be in the holy londe And saynt IohÌ„n appiered to them And bad them to bere thys Rynge to theyr kynge and to grete hym wel in hys name And to telle hym that he gaf it to saynt IohÌ„n in lykenes of a pylgryme and that he shold make hym redy to departe out of thys world For he shold not longe abyde here but come in to euerlastyng blysse And so vanysshed fro them And anone as he was goon they had grete lust to slepe and leyd them doun and slepte and thys was in the holy land and whan they awoke they loked aboute them and knewe not where they were And they sawe flockes of sheep and shepherdes kepyng them to whom they wente to knowe the waye and to demaunde where that they were and whan they axed them they spack englyssh and said that they were in englond in kente on beram downe And thenne they thanked god and and saynt JohÌ„n for theyr good speed and cam to this holy kynge saynt Edward on Cristemas day and delyuered to hym the rynge and dyde their erand wherof the kynge was abasshyd and thanked god and the holy saynt that he had warnyng for to departe and on the vygyle of thepyphanye next after he deyde and departed holyly out of thys world And is buryed in thabbiye of westmestre by london where as is yet in to thys day the same rynge Ysidore in the book of the lyf and deth of holy sayntes and fadres sayth thys Saynt JohÌ„n theuaÌ„gelist transformed and torned roddes of trees in to fyn gold the stones and grauel of the see in to precious geÌ„mes and owches the smale broken pyeces of gemmes he reformed vnto their first nature he reysed a wydowe fro deth And brought agayn the sowle of a yong man in to hys body he dranke venym without hurte or peryll And them that had ben deed by the same he recouerid in to the state of lyf Here endeth the lyf of saynt Iohan theuangelist Here foloweth Thystorye of Thynnocentes THe Innocentis callyd Innocentis for iij reasons First by cause reason of lyf and by reason of payne and by reason of Innocence By reason of lyf they be sayd Innocentis by cause they had an Innocent lyf They greued no body neyther god by inobedyence ne their neyghbours by vntrouthe ne by conceyuyng of ony synne And therfor it is said in the psaulter Thynnocentes and rightwys haue Ioyned them to me Thynnoâ—â—ntis by theyr lyf rightwys in the faith by raison of payne For they suffred deth Innocently and wrongly wherof Dauid saith they haue shed the blood of Innocentes by reason of Innocencye that they had by cause that In thys martirdom they were haptysed and made clene of thorigynal synne of whiche Innocence is said in the psaulter kepe thou Innocencye of baptesme And see equyte of good werkes HOly chyrche maketh feste of the Innocentis whyche were put to deth by cause of our lord Ihesu cryst For herode Ascalomer for to fynde and pute to deth our lord which was born in bethleem he dyde doo slee alle the chyldren in bethleem and ther aboute fro the age of two yere and vnder vnto one day vnto the somÌ„e of an CxliiijM chyldren For to vnderstonde whyche herode it was that so cruelly dyde do put so many chyldren to deth It is to wyte that ther were thre herodes and all thre were cruel tyrauÌ„tes And were in their tyme of grete fame and moche renoÌ„med for their grete malyce The first was herode Ascolamer he regned in Iherusalem whan our lord was born The seconde was herodes Antipas to whom pylate sente IhÌ„u cryst in the tyme of hys pâ—ssiâ—n And he dyde do smyte of saynt JohÌ„n baptystes heed The thyrde was herodes agrippa whyche dyde do smyte of saynt Iames heed said in galyce sette saynt peter in pryson But now late vs come to thys fyrst herode that dyde do slee the Innocente chyldren hys fader was named Antipater as hystorye scolâ—styke sayth and was kynge of 〈◊〉 and paynem he toke a wif whiche was Niece to the kynge of arabe on whom he had iij sones a doughter of whome that one was named herode Ascalomer Thys herode seruyd so wel to Iulyen theÌ„perour of Rome that he gaf to
herd all this he was despayred as he that was taken in blynde loue and was ouer fore tormented in so moche that he laye doun seke in hys bedde for the grete sorowe that he had Thenne cam the fysiciens anon knewe hys maladye and sayd to hys fadre that he languysshid of carnal loue that he had to somÌ„e woman Thenne the fader enquyred and knewe that it was thys woman And dyde doo speke to seynt agnes for hys sone and said to her how hys sone languysshid for her loue seynt agnes answerd that in no wise she wold breke the faith of her first husbond vpon that the prouost demaÌ„ded who was her first husbond of whom she so moche auaunted and in hys power so moche trusted Thenne one of her seruauntes said that she was crysten and that she was so enchaunted that she said Ihesu cryste was her espowse And whan the prouoste herde that she was crysten the prouost was moche glad by cause to haue power on her For thenne the crysten peple were in the wylle of the lord yf they wold not renye theyr god and theyr byleue all theyr goodes shold be forfayted wherfore theÌ„ne the prouoste made saynt agnes to come in Iustice And he examyned her swetely and after cruelly by menaces Saynt agnes wel comforted sayd to hym doo what thou wylt For my purpoos shalt thou neuer chaunge whan she sawe hym nowe flateryng and now terrybly angry she scorned hym And the prouost said to her beyng all Angry One of two thyngis thou shalt chese eyther doo sacrefyse to our goddes wyth the vyrgyns of the goddes vesta or goo to the bordell to be abandonned to alle that thyder come to the grete shame and blame of alle thy lygnage Saynt Agnes answerd yf thou knewest who is my god thou woldest not saye to me suche wordes but for as moche as I know the vertue of my god I sette nothyng by thy menaces For I haue his angele which is kepar of my body Thenne the Iuge all araged made to take of her clothys and all nakyd to be ledde to the bordell And thus saynt agnes that refused to doo sacrefyse to thydollys was delyueryd nakyd to goo to the bordell but anon as she was vnclothed god gaf to her suche grace that the heeris of her heed bycam so longe that they couerd all her body to her feet so that her body was not seen And whan saynt agnes entred in to the bordell anon she fonde thangele of god redy for to defende her and enuyronned saynt agnes with a bryght clernes in suche wise that noman myht see her ne come to her There made she of the bordel her oratorye And in makyng her prayers to god she sawe to fore her a whyte vesture And anon therwith she clad her and saide I thanke the Ihesu cryst whyche accomptest me wyth thy virgyns and hast sente me thys vesture Alle they that entred made honour and reuerence to the grete clerenes that they sawe a boute saynt Agnes And cam oute more deuoute and more clene than they entred Atte laste cam the sone of the prouoste with a grete coÌ„panye for taccomplysshe his foule desires and lustes And whan he sawe hys felaws come out and yssue all abasshyd he mocqued them and callyd them cowardis And thenne he all araged entryd for taccomplyssh hys euyl wyll and whaÌ„ he cam to the clerenes he auaunced hym for to take the virgyne And anon the deuyl toke hym by the throte and strangled hym that he fyl doun deed And whan the prouoste herde thyse tidynges of his sone he ranne wepyng to the bordel and began cryeng to saye to saynt agnes O thou cruel woman why hast thou shewde thyn enchantemÌ„t on my sone and demaunded of her how hys sone was deed and by what cause To whom saynt agnes answerd he toke hym in to hys power to whom he had abaundonned hys wylle why ben not all they deed said he that entred here to fore hym For hys felawes sawe the myracle of the grete clernes and were aferd and wente theyr waye vnhurte For they dyde honour to my god whyche hath clad me wyth thyse vestement and hath kept my body but your vylaynous sone assone as he entred in to thys hows began to braye and crye and whan he wold haue leyde honde vpon me anon the deuyl slewe hym as thou seest yf thou maye reyse hym said he It may wel appere that thou hast not put hym to deth And saynt agnes answerd how wel that thy creance is not worthy to impetre ne gete that of our lord neuertheles by cause it is tyme that the vertue of god be shewed Goo ye all oute that I may make my prayer to god And whan she was in her prayers thangele cam and reysed hym to lyf And anon he wente out and bygan to crye wyth an hye voys that the god of crysten men was very god in heuen and in erthe and in the See And that thydolles were vayne that they worshypped whyche myght not helpe them self ne none other Thenne the bysshops of thydolles made a grete discorde emonge the peple so that alle they cryed Take away this sorceresse and witche that torned mennes myndes and alyeneth theyr wyttes whaÌ„ the prouoste sawe thyse merueylles he wold gladly haue delyuerd saynt agnes by cause she had reysed hys sone but he doubted to be banysshyd And sette in hys place a lyeutenauÌ„t named aspasius for to satisfye the peple and by cause he coude not delyuere her he departed soroufully Thys aspâ—sius dyde do make a grete fyre emong alle the peple and dyde do caste saynt Agnes therin Anon as thys was doon the flamme departed in to two partyes brente them that made the discordes she abode alle hole wythout felyng the fyre The peple wente that she had don all by enchauntement Thenne made saynt agnes her oryson to god thankyng hym that she was escaped fro the paryll to lese her virgynyte and also fro the brennyng of the flamme And whan she had made her oryson the fyre loste all hys hete and quenchyd it aspasius for the doubtance of the peple comanded to put a swerd in her body And so she was martred Anon cam the crysten men and the parentis of saynt Agnes and buryed her body but the hethen defended it and caste so stones at them that vnnethe they escaped She suffred martirdom in the tyme of constantyn the grete whyche began to regne the yere of our lord CCCix Emong them that buryed her body ther was one Emerenciana whyche had be felaw to saynt Agnes how be it she was not yet cristened but an holy virgyne she cam also to the sepulces of saynt agnes whyche constaÌ„tly repreued the gentyles and of theÌ„ she was stoned to deth and slayn Anon thenne cam a erthe quaue lightnyng and thondre that many of the paynems perisshed so that forâ—hon the
And they prayd hym that they myght destroye alle thydolles that they myght fynde And that they myght edefye chyrches eth whyche thyng themperour graunted them And wrote that all men shold obeye them and helpe them vpon payne to lose their hedes Now it happed that they edefyed a chirche and all men by the comandement of themperour obeyed and heelp them ¶ It happed that there were som̄e men that ladde a carte whyche shold passe by and thought how they myght doo and passe without arestyng for to helpe them they thoughte that one of thē shold lye on the carte as he were deed And therby they wold excuse them And so they dyde and bad hym that laye in the carte to holde his eyen cloos tyl they were passed the paas And whan they cam in the place where they edefyed the chyrche Iulien and Iulie his broder sayd to them my sones tarye a whyle and come helpe vs to werke they answerd that they myght not For they caryed a dede man Saynt Iulien said to them why lye ye so they answerd Syre we lye not it is soo as we saye to you And saynt Iulyen sayd to them so mote falle to you as ye saye And anon they droof forth theyr oxen and passed forth And whan they were passed a lytyl they called theyr felawe that he shold aryse and dryue forth the oxen for to goo the faster And he answerd not one word And they called hym agayn on hye and sayd art thou out of thy wytte aryse vp and dryue forth the beestys and he meued ne spack not one worde They wente vp and dyscoueryd hym and fonde hym dede as saynt Iulyen had sayd to them Thenne toke they suche drede and fere that after that they ne none otheer that herd of the myracle durste ly nomore to fore the holy seruaunt of god Another Iulyen ther was that slewe hys fader and moder by ygnouraūce And thys man was noble and yong and gladly wente for to hunte And one tyme emonge all other he fonde an herte whyche retorned to ward hym and said to hym thou huntest me that shalt slee thy fader moder herof was he moche abasshed and aferd And for drede that it shold not happen to hym that the herte had sayd to hym he wente pryuely away that noman knewe therof And fonde a prynce noble and grete to whome he put hym in seruyse And he preued so wel in bataylle and in seruices in hys palays that he was so moche in the prynces grace that he made hym knyght And gaf to hym a ryche wydowe of a Castell and for her doware he receyued the castell And whan hys fader and moder knewe that he was thus goon they put hem in the waye for to seke hym in many places And so longe they wente tyl they cam to the castel where he dwelled but thenne he was goon out and they fonde hys wyf And whan she sawe them she enquyred dylygently who they were And whan they had sayd and recounted what was happend of theyr sone she knewe veryly that they were the fader and moder of theyr husbonde And receyuyd them moche charytably And gaf to them her owne bedde And made another for her self And on the morn the wyf of Iulyen wente to the chyrche And her husbond come home whyles she was at chyrche And entred in to hys chambre for to awake his wyf And he sawe tweyne in his bedde And had wende that it had ben a man that had leyen wyth his wif And slewe them bothe wyth his swerd ¶ And after wente out and sawe his wyf comyng fro chyrche Thenne he was moche abasshed and demanded of his wyf who they were that laye in his bedde thenne she said that they were hys fader and hys moder whyche had longe sought hym And she had leyed them in hys bedde ¶ Thenne he swowned and was almost deed And began to wepe bytterly and crye Alas caytyf that I am what shal I doo that haue slayn my fader and moder Now it is happened that I supposed to haue eschewed And said to hys wyf Adieu And fare well my ryght dere loue I shal neuer reste tyl that I shal haue knwleche yf god wylle pardone and foryeue me thys that I haue don and that I shal haue worthy penaunce therfore And she answerd Ryght dere loue god forbede that ye shold goo wythout me lyke as I haue had Ioye wyth you so wyl I haue payne and heuynesse Thenne departed they and wente tyl they cam to a grete ryuer ouer whyche moche folk passed where they edeffyed an hospytall moche grete for to herberowe poure peple And ther doo theyr penaunce in beryng men ouer that wold passe After longe tyme saynt Iulyen slepte aboute mydnyght sore traueylled and it was frozn and moche colde And he herd a voys lamentyng and cryeng that said Iulien come and helpe vs ouer And anon he aroos and wente ouer and fonde one almost deed for colde and anon he toke hym and bare hym to the fyre and dyde grete laboure to chauffe and warme hym And whan he sawe that he coude not be chaufed ne warme he bare hym in to hys bedde and couerd hym the best wyse he myght And anon after he that was so seke and appiered as he had be meselle he sawe all shynyng assendyng in to heuen and said to saynt Iulien hys hoost Iulien oure lorde hath sente me to the and sendeth the worde that he hath accepted thy penaunce And a whyle after seynt Iulien hys wyf rendrid vnto god their soules departed out of this world Another Iulien ther was but he was no saynct but a cursed man and was called Iulianus apostata Thys Iulyen was first a monke and shewyng out ward signes of grete religion and of grete holynesse after that that mayster Iohan beleth reciteth Ther was a woman that had thre pottes ful of gold And by cause the gold shold not be seyn she had put in the mouth of the potte abouen asshes And delyuerd them to thys Iulien to fore other monkes for to kepe whom she reputed an holy man but she said not to hym that they were ful of gold whan he had thyse pottes he loked what was therin and he fond that it was gold and toke it out all And fylle them ful of asshes And fledde wyth all to Rome And dyde so moche that he was of the counceyllours and gouernours of Rome But the woman whan she wold haue a gayn her pottes she coude not preue that she had delyueryd to hym in kepyng gold For she made no mēcion therof to fore the monkes And therfor he reteyned it and procured wyth all thoffyce of a consul of the gouernaunce of Rome And after that he procured somoche that he was instytued emperour whylis he was yong he was taught in the arte of enchauntement and of thynuocacions of feendes And gladly he studyed and it plesed hym moche and had wyth hym dyuerse
thydolles Saynt Ignace shewd to them clerely that theyr goddes had ben theuys Rybauldes and men of abhomynable euyl lyf And that they were dampned in helle And that they had ben in grete errour in thys that of so cursid men they made theyr goddes and worshypped deuyllys and had forsake god whyche had made and created all the world And hys blessyd sone whyche in humayne nature had redemyd and sauyd the world Fynably after thys that he had be tormented by fyre by betyng pryson Themperour dyde sende for the romayns in a place and there dyde do sette saynt Ignace And dydde doo brynge theder two lyons for to deuoure hym but he had neuer drede for deth ne for other tormentes of whyche he had suffred many but was alleway cōforted for to deye for the loue of Ih̄u crist and he said atte laste I am wheete of Ihesu cryst whyche ought to be groūden bytwene the teeth of thyse bestes by whych I may be pure brede for to be presented to my lord And anon the lyons cā strangled hym wythout treryng of hys flessh or ony thyng hurtyng it wherfor traian had grete merueylle and departed fro the place It is redde that saynt Ignace in alle hys tormentes and alle the paynes of martirdom that he suffred that his tongue neuer ceassed to name the name of Ih̄us And whan they that tormented hym demanded hym wherfor he named this name so ofte he answerd knowe ye for certayn that I haue in my herte thys name wreton◠¶ And therfor I may not leue to name thys name ofte And by cause herof whan he was deed they that herd thyse wordes opened hys body drewe out his herte cut it open And they fonde wyth in the name of Ihesu wreton wyth fayr lettres of gold ¶ For whyche myracle many receyued the fayth of Ihesu cryst ¶ Of thys saynt sayth saynt bernard vpon the psalme Qui habitat Saynt Ignace martir of god gloryous is of grete meryte whyche was mynystre to the dyscyple that Ihesus so moche louyd And in hys epystles the whyche he sente to the gloryous vyrgyne marye he salewed her as moder that had born Ihesu cryst And she resalewed hym agayn in sygne that he was a persone of grete honour of grete dygnyte and of of grete Auctoryte The body of whom was honourably buryed of crysten mē to the worshyppe of Ihesu cryst which is blessyd in secula seculorum Amen Here endeth the lyf of saynt Ignacien And here foloweth the puryficacion of our lady POstquam impleti sunt dies purgacionis marie secundum legem moysi tulerunt Ihesum in Iherusalem luce secundo capitulo Th auncyent lawe had his cours vntil the tyme that god hath suffred deth for vs And whan he deyde on the crosse he sayd Iohannis nono capl̄o Consummatum est That is to saye alle thyng is fynysshed and ended that hath be wreton of me whyche lawe he kepte duryng hys lyf as it is wreton I am not comen for to breke the lawe In whych he gaf vs example of humylyte and of obedience lyke as saynt Poul saith In lyke wyse our lady for tobeye to the lawe bare her swete sone Ihesu Cryst vnto the temple of Iherusalem after the xl daye of hys byrthe for to offre hym to god and for to gyue offryng for hym suche as in the lawe was ordeyned that is to wete a payr turtellis or two douues was thoffryng of poure folke lyke as it is wreton Our lord whyche in alle caas cam to make our sauacion dayned not only to humble hym self and descende fro his royame and becam man mortall semblable to vs Also he dayned to be born of a poure woman And was poure for tenriche vs and drawe vs out of the myserye of thys world to the richesse permanable ¶ And we that ben poure by cause of our synnes and wythout Richesses of good vyrtues ¶ So worthyly shold we come and be atte feste of our lord we shold offre to hym that whyche by the offryng is signefyed The douue whiche is of her nature symple wyhout galle And the turtle naturelly chaste ¶ For whan she hath loste her make she wyl neuer haue other make And wyth that she taketh the wepyng for her songe we ought to offre to our lord in stede of ij douues one symple wyll and a good Intencion wythout reteynyng in our herte ony galle of angre or of hate toward our neyhbour For as our lord sayth yf thyn eye be symple all thy werkes shal be in light ¶ And herof sayth saynt Iohan theuangelist in thapocalipse The cyte nedeth no sonne ne mone to shyne in it For the clerenes of god shal enlumyne it And hys lanterne in lambes The lambe is the lyght by the lambe whyche is symple is signefyed to vs a symple conscience and ryghtwys whyche maketh true Iugement of thyntencion For all werkes ben good or euyl yf they be doon in euyl entencion or by ypocrysye they ben euyl and wythout prouffyt lyke as sayth Ihesu cryst yf thyn eye be euyll Alle thy body shal be derke by the eye is vnderstande thentencion with goodnes symple And debonairte signefieth by the douues we ought also to offre a payre of turtles to our lord that is to saye a chast lyf and a very entenciō to leue our synnes the whiche is signefyed to vs by the chasttete of the turtle ¶ And by her wepyng the contricion As Bede saith Contricion ought to begynne in drede and ende in loue For the sowle faithful whan she remembreth her synnes in her conscience ¶ She wepeth for the drede of the paynes of helle that she hath deseruyd and thus offreth she to god a turtle And whan she hath wepte ther cometh to her an hope to haue mercy and pardon of her synnes And thys hope conceyued of drede in hym a loue of god to serue and to be in hys companye So that that soule that ought to synge wepeth for loue whyche hath delyuerd her so sone fro the paryllis and myseryes of thys world and for to come to the swete companye of our lord And thus offreth she that other turtle in wepyng wyth dauid the prophete the longe pylgremage that she hath made in the myseryes of thys world sayeng Heu me quia incolatus meus prolongatus est For whan she begynneth to thynke after the Ioyous companye of Angellis and of the sowles that ben in heuene And what Ioye and deduyt that they haue in the ouerdesirous syght of our lord Thenne alle the world greueth them and desireth to be delyuerd fro the faytes of the body for to goo in to the companye of thyse holy sowlis And also that saynt Symeon which by reuelacion of the holy ghoost cam in to the temple of Iherusalem in the same houre that the blessyd virgyne brought her dere sone for to offre hym And the holy ghoost had shewd to hym that to fore that he
For he was moche debonayr humble and mercyful to riche and poure and to grete and smale wel may he apperceyue that redeth his wrytynges how ofte he complayned of thys grete charge that he was charged wyth alle to whyche he sayd he was not worthy therto and also he myght not here that ony shold preyse hym ne in lettres ne in wordes And alleway he was in grete humylite and acounted hym self more meke and lowe after that he was pope than to fore in so moche that he was the first of the popes that wrote seruus seruorum dei that is seruaūt of the seruantis of god he had grete cure and was besy to conuerte synnars he made and compyled many fayr bookes of whyche the chirche is gretly enlumyned he was neuer ydle how wel that he was alleway seke he conuerteth the englisshe peple to the crysten fayth by thre holy men and good clerkys that he sente thyder that is to wyte Augustyn mellitus and Ioh̄n for to preche the fayth And by cause the mortalyte cessyd not he ordeyned a procession in the whyche he dyde do bere an ymage of our lady which as is sayd saynt luke the euangelyste made whyche was a good payntour he had coruen it paynted after the lykenesse of the gloryouse virgyne marye And anon the mortalyte cessed and thayer becam pure and clere And aboute thymage was herd a voys of angellis that songen thys Antheme regina celi letare c̄ And saynt gregory put therto Ora pro nobis deum alleluya At the same tyme saynt gregory sawe an angele vpon a Castelle whyche made clene a swerd alle blody and put it in to the shethe And therby saynt gregory vnderstode that the pestylence of thys mortalite was passed and after that it was called the castell Angell Saynt gregory dyde euery day so grete almesse that many in the contre aboute were nourisshid by hym whom he had by name wreton And also the monkes that dwellyd in the mount Synay had of hym theyr sustenaunce Emonge alle other almesses that he dyde he gouerned thre thousand virgyns to whom he sente euery yere four score pound of gold and also he founded to them an abbeye in Iherusalem ¶ And sente to them that therin were suche thynge as they lacked Euery day had he poure men to dyner On a tyme it happed that he toke the lauour for to gyue water to a pylgrym for to wasshe hys hondes by grete humylite and anon the pylgrym vanysshyd a way wherof saynt gregory had merueylle The nyght after our lord appiered in a vysion and said to hym The other dayes thou hast receyued me in my membres but yesterday thou receyuedest me in my persone Another day saynt gregory comaunded to hys dyspenser that he shold brynge to dyner xij poure men And whan saynt gregory and the poure men were sette atte mete he tolde atte table syttyng xiij poure pylgryms And demaunded of hys dyspenser why he had don aboue hys comandement to brynge in moo than xij persones And anon the dyspenser all abasshyd wente and told the poure men and fonde but xij and sayd to saynt gregory holy fader ther be no moo but xij and so many shal ye fynd and nomoo Thenne considerid saynt gregorye that one of the pylgryms that sette next to hym ofte chaunged hys vysage For ofte he semed yong and after old And after dyner saynt gregory toke hym by the honde and brought hym in to hys chambre and prayd hym that he wold telle hym hys name And he answerd wherfor demādest thou my name which is merueyllous neuertheles knowe thou wel that I am the same poure maronner to whom thou gauest the dyssh◠of siluer in which thy moder was wonte to sente the potage And knowe for certayn that sith that day that thou dydyst to me that almesse god hath destyned the to be pope And sayd more ouer I am thangelle of god and he hath sente me hyther to the to be thy deffendour procurour of that whiche thou woldest demande and Impetre of hym And after this the angele vanysshed away And in that tyme ther was an heremyte an holy man whyche had lefte and forsaken all the goodes of the world for goddes sake and had reteyned nothyng but a catte wyth whyche he playde ofte and helde it in hys lappe delyciously On a day it happed that he prayd god deuoutly that he wold wouch◠sauf to shewe to hym to what saynt he shold be in lyke Ioye in heuen by cause for his loue he had left all the world and renounced vpon thys god shewd hym in a vysion that saynt gregory and he shold haue lyke Ioye in heuene And whan he vnder stode thys he syghed sore and preysid lytyl hys pouerte whyche he had longe suffred and born yf he shold haue lyke meryte whyche habounded so gretly in seculer Rychesse vpon this ther cam a voys to hym whyche said that the possession of richesse maketh not a man in this world riche but the ardour of couetyse Thenne be stille thou darest thou compare thy pouerte to the rychesse of saynt gregory whyche louest more thy catte with whom thou cessest not to stroke and playe than saynt gregory doth all his richesses for he seesseth neuer to gyue almesse for goddes sake Thenne theremyte thanked almyghty god and prayd that he myght haue hys meryte and reward with saynt gregory in the glorye of peradys On a day it happed that saynt gregory sange masse in the chyrche of saynt Marye Maior And whan he had said Pax dominj sit semper vobiscum Anone thangele sayd Et cum spiritu tuo and fro than forthon the pope ordeyned a stacion in that chyrche euery yere on ester day And whan thenne he sayd in hys masse Pax dominj c̄ none shal answere in remembraunce of this myracle In the tyme that Traian themperour regned one as a tyme he wēte toward abatayll out of Rome it happed that in his way as he shold ryde a woman a wydowe cam to hym wepyng and sayd I pray the sire that thou auēge the deth of one my sone whiche Innocently and wythout cause hath be slayn Themperour answerd yf I come agayn fro the bataylle hool and sounde thenne I shal doo Iustyce for the deth of thy sone Thenne said the wydowe Syre and yf thou deye in the bataylle who shal thenne auenge his deth And themperour sayde he that shal come after me And the wydowe sayd is it not better that thou do to me Iustyce and haue the meryte therof of god than another haue it for the Thenne had traian pyte and descended fro hys hors and dyde Iustice in auengyng the deth of her sone On a tyme saynt gregory wente by the market of Rome whyche is called the market of traian And thene he remembred of the Iustice and other good dedes of traian and how he had ben pyteous and debonayr and was moche sorowful
that he had ben a paynem And he torned to the chyrche of saynt peter wayllyng for thorrour of the mescreaunce of traian Thenne answerd a voys fro god sayeng I haue now herd thy prayer and haue spared traian fro the payne perpetuell By thys thus as som̄e saye the payne perpetuel due to traian as a mescreaunt was somdele take away but for al that was not he quyte fro the pryson of helle For the sowle may wel be in helle and fele ther no payne by the mercy of god And after it is sayd that the angele in hys answere sayd more to thus by cause thou hast prayd for a payneme god graunteth the to chese of ij thynges that one which thou wylt Or thou shalt be ij dayes in purgatorye in payne or ellis all the dayes of thy lyf thou shalt languysshe in sekenesse Thenne answerd saynt gregory that he had leuer to haue sekenesse all his lyf in this world than to fele by ij dayes the paynes of purgatorye And euer after he had contynuelly the feures or axces or the goute in hys feet And herof hym self maketh mencion in one hys epystle and sayth I am so moche tormented of the gowte in my feet and of other sekenesses that my lif is to me a grete payne euery day me semeth that I ought to deye And alleway I abyde the deth Som̄e tyme my payne is lityl somtyme right grete but it is not so lityl that it departeth fro me ne so grete that it bryngeth me to deth And thus it is that I that am alleway redy to deye am withdrawen fro deth It happed that a wydowe that was wonte euery sonday to brynge hoostes to synge masse wyth shold on a tyme be houselyd cōmuned And whan saynt gregory shold gyue to her the holy sacrament in sayeng Corpus dominj nostrj c̄ that is to saye the body of our lord Ih̄u cryst kepe the in to euerlastyng lyf Anone thys woman began to smyle to fore saynt gregorye And anon he wythdrewe hys honde and remysed the sacrament vpon th aulter And he demaunded her to fore the peple why she smyled And she sayd by cause that the brede that I haue made with my propre handes thou namest it the body of our lord Ihesu cryst Anone saynt gregory put hym self to prayer wyth the peple For to praye to god that herupō he wold shewe hys grace for to conferme our byleue And whan they were rysen fro prayer saynt gregorye sawe the holy sacrament in figure of a pyece of fhessh as grete as the lytil fynger of an honde And anone after by the prayers of saynt gregorye the flesshe of the sacrament torned in to semblaūce of breed as it had be to fore And therwyth he comuned and howseled the woman whiche after was more relygyous and the peple more ferme in the fayth Saynt gregorye made and ordeyned the songe of thoffyce of holy chirche and establysshed at Rome two scoles of songe that one beside the chyrche of saynt peter And that other by the chyrche of saynt Ioh̄n latian where the place is yet where he laye and taughte the scoliers and the rodde wyth whiche he menaced them And the anthyphoner on whyche he lerned them is yet there he put to the canon of the masse thse wordes Diesque nostros in tua pace disponamus atque ab eterna dampnacione nos eripias et in electorum tuorum iubeas grege numerari Atte laste whan saynt gregory had ben pope xiij yere vj monethis and x dayes he beyng ful of good werkes departed out of thys world in the yere of our lord vjCvj yere in the tyme whan foca was Emperour of rome Lete vs thēne praye to saynt gregory that he gete vs grace that we may amende so our self here in thys lif that we may come vnto euerlastyng lyf in heuen Amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Gregorye Here begynneth of saynt longius the lyf LOngius whyche was a puyssaūt knyght was wyth other knyghtes by the comandement of pylate on the side of the crosse of our lord and percyd the side of our lord wyth a spere And whan he sawe the myracles how the sonne lost his light and grete erthequauyng of therthe was whan our lord suffred deth and passion in the tre of the crosse Thenne byleued he in Ihesu cryst Som̄e saye that whan he smote our lord wyth the spere in the syde the precious blood aualed by the shafte of the spere vpon hys hondes And of auenture wyth hys hondes he touched hys eyen And anon he that had be to fore blynde sawe anon clerly wherfor he refused all cheualrye and abode wyth thappostles of whom he was taught and crystened and after he abandonned to lede an holy lyf in doyng almesses and in kepyng the lyf of a mōke aboute xxxviij yere in cesaree and in Capadoce And by hys wordes and hys example many men conuerted he to the fayth of cryste And whan thys cam to the knowleche of octouian the prouoste he toke hym and wold haue constrayned hym to do sacrefise to thydollis And saynt longius said Ther may noman serue two lordes whyche ben contrary to other Thyn ydollis ben lordes of thy malices corruptours of all good werkis and enemyes to chastyte humylite and to bounte And frendes to all ordure of luxurye of gloutonnye of ydelnesse of pryde and of Auaryce And my lord is lord of sobrenesse that bryngeth the peple to the euerlastyng lyf Thenne sayd the prouoste it is nought that thou saist Make sacrefice to thydollis And thy god shal forgyue the by cause of the comandement that is made to the longius said yf thou wylt becomē cristen god shal pardonne the thy trespaces Thenne the prouost was angry and made the teeth of saynt longius to be drawen out of hys mouth and dyde do cutte hys mouth open And yet for alle that longius lost not hys speche but toke an axe that he there fonde hewe and brake therwith thydollis and said now may we see yf they be very goddes or not And anon the deuyllis yssued out and entred in to the body of the prouoste amd hys felaws And they brayed lyke beestes and fyll doun to the feet of saynt longius and sayd we knowe wel that thou art seruaunt vnto the souerayn god And saynt longius demaunded of the deuylles why they dwellyd in thyse ydollis and they answerd we haue foūden place in thyse ydolles for vs For ouerall where Ihesu crist is not named ne hys signe is not shewd there dwelle we gladly and by cause whan thyse paynems come to thyse ydolles for to adoure and make sacrefise in the name of vs thenne we come and dwelle in thyes ydolles wherfor we pray the man of god that thou sende vs not in in thabysme of helle And saynt longius said to the peple that there were what saye ye wyll ye haue thyse deuylles for
sayntes were buryed in vlster in the cyte of Dunence as it were in a caue wyth thre chambres her bodyes were founden atte first comyng of kyng Iohan kyng harry the secondes sone in to yrelond vpon whos tombes thyse verses folowyng were wryton Hic iacent in duno qui tumilo tumilantur in vno Brigida Patricius atque columba pius Whyche is for to say in englysshe In duno thyse thre been buryed alle in one sepulture Bryde Patryke and Columba the mylde Men say that this holy bysshop Saynt Patryke dyd thre grete thynges One is that he droof with his staffe alle the venemous bestys out of yrelond The second that he had graunte of our lord god that none yrysshe man shal abyde the comyng of antecryst The iij wonder is redde of hys purgatorye whyche is more referred to the lasse saynt Patryk thabbot And this holy abbot by cause he founde the people of that londe rebelle he went out of yrlond came in to englond to the abbey of glastenberye where he deyed on a saynt bartylmewes day He flouryd about the yere of our lord viijCL the holy bysshoy deyed the yere of our lord foure hondred iiij score x in the hondred and xxij yere of his age to whome praye we that he praye for vs ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of Seynt patryke ¶ Of saynt benet thabbot And first the interpretacion of hys name BEnet is sayd by cause he blessyd moche peple or ellys bycause he had many benedyccions in this lyf Or for as moche as he deseruyd for to haue blessynges or benediccions perpetuel And the holy doctour Saynt gregory wrote his lyf ¶ Of saynt benet thabbot TAynt benet was borne of the prouynce of Nurcia And was sente to Rome for to studye but in hys Infancye he lefte the scoles and wente in to a deserte and his nouryce whych tenderly loued hym weÌ„t alweye wyth hym tyl they came to a place named offyde And there she borowed a vessel for to pourge or wyne we whete but the vessel fyl to therthe by neclygence and was broken in two peces And whan saynt Benet sawe his nouryce wepe he had grete pyte made his prayers to almyghty god after made hit also hole as it had been tofore Thenne they of the contre tooke hit and henge hit on the fronte of the chyrche in wytnesse of one soo fayre a myracle Thenne lefte saynt benet hys nourice and fledde secretely and came in to an hermytage where he was neuer knowen of no man but of a monke named romayn whiche mynystred to hym mete for to ete And bycause that there was no waye fro the monasterye of romayn vnto the pytte where Saynt Benet was he knytte the loof in a corde so lete hit doun to hym And bycause he shold here whaÌ„ romayn shold lete doun the breed he bonde a belle on the corde and by the sowne therof he receyued his breed But the deuyl hauyng enuye of the charitee of that one and of the refeccion of that other cast a stone and brake the belle but neuerthelesse Romayn lefte not to mynystre hym It happed that there was a preest on an estern day that had arayed his dyner for hym self and our lord appered to hym and sayd thou ordeynest for thy self delycious metes and my seruaunt deyeth for hunger in suche a pytte and named hym the place Thenne the preest aroos and bare his mete wyth hym sought soo longe that he fonde Saynt benet in grete payne whan he had founden hym he sayd to hym Aryse and take thy mete and refeccion For it is ester day He answerd I knowe wel that hit is the feste of paske bycause that I see the The preest sayd to hym Certeynly thys day is the day of ester and saynt benet wyst hyt not by cause he had dwellyd there so longe and so ferre fro people Thenne sayd they graces and made the benedyccion and toke theyr refeccyon It happed after thys that a blacke byrde that is called a merle came on a tyme to saynt benet and peckyd with his bylle at his vysage And greuyd and noyed hym so moche that he coude haue no reste for it and coude not put it from hym but assone as he had made the signe of the crosse anone the birde vanysshyd away And after that cam to hym a grete temptacioÌ„ of the flessh by the whyche the deuyl tempted hym in shewyng hym a womaÌ„ and brente sore and was enflamed in hys corage but anon he cam agayn to hym self and after he despoylled hym self all naked and wente emong thornes and walowed emong the nettels so that his body was torn and payned by whyche he heled the woundes of his herte Thenne after that tyme he felte nomore temptacion of hys flessh ¶ It happed that thabbot of a monastery was deed And for the good renomâ—e of thys holy man saynt benet All the monkes of thabbaye gaf theyr voys and electe saynt benet for theyr abbot But he accorded not therto ne agreed to them For he said that hys condicions and maners were not acordyng to theyres Notwythstondyng he was vaynquysshyd and so Instauntly requyred that atte laste he consented But whan he sawe they lyuyd not ne were not ruled acordyng to theyr religion and rewle he repreued and correctyd them vigorously And whan they sawe that they myght not doo their wylles vnder hym They gaf hym venym medlyd wyth wyn for to drynke but saynt benet made the signe of the crosse ouer it and blessyd it and anon the vessell brake in pieces whyche was of glasse whan saynt benet theÌ„ne knesoe that in that vesselle was mortal drynke whyche myght not abyde ne suffre the signe of the crosse he roos vp and sayd god haue mercy on you fair brethern I sayde to you wel atte begynnyng that my condicions and maners apparteyne not to youres Fro hensforth gete to you another fader For I may no lenger dwelle here Thenne wente he agayn to deserte where god shewed for hym many signes myracles and founded there two abbeyes Now it happed that in one of thyes two abbeyes was a monke that myght not endure longe in prayers And whan the other of hys felawys were in prayer he wold goo out of the chyrche Thenne thabbot of that abbaye shewd thys to saynt benet And anone he wente for to see yf it were trewe And whan he cam he sawe that the deuyl in lyknes of a lytyl blaâ—k chyâ—d drewe hym out of the chyrche by hys cowle Thenne sayd saynt benet to the abbot and to saynt maure See ye not hym that draweth hym out they sayd naye thenne sayd late vs praye to god that we may see hym whan they had made theyr prayers saynt maure sawe hym but the abbot myght not see hym The next day saynt benet toke a rodde and bete the monke And thenne he abode in prayer lyke as the deuyl had be beten
theder For he lyued there ful holyly in fastyng and grete penaunce doyng And atte last he had the gowte in hys knees whiche he had taken of cold in knelyng vpon the cold stones whan he said hys prayers in suche wyse that hys knee hegan to swelle And the synewys of hys legge were shronke that he myght neyther goo ne stratche out hys legge but euer he toke it ful paciently and sayd whan it plesith our lord it shal passe away And within a whyle after his brethern for to doo hym coÌ„fort bare hym in to the felde And there they mette wyth a knyght whyche sayd late me see and handle thys cuthbertis legge And thenne whan he had felt it wyth hys handes he bad them take the mylk of a cowe of one colour and the Iuse of smal plaÌ„tayn And fair whete flour And seethe them alle to gydre And make therof a playster leye it therto and it wyl make hym hool And assone as they had so doon he was perfightly hool And thenne he thanked our lord ful mekely And after he knewe by reuelacioÌ„ that it was an angele sente by our lord to hele hym of hys grete sekenes and dysease And thabbot of that place sente hym to aselle of theyres to be hosteler for to receyue there ghestes and do them confort And sone after our lord shewd there a fayr myracle for hys seruaunt seynt cuthberd For Angellis come to hym oftymes in liknes of other ghestis whom he receyued and seruyd dylygently wyth mete and drynke and other necessaryes On a tyme ther come ghestis to hym whom he receyued and wente in to the houses of offyce for to serue them And whan he cam agayn they were goon And wente after for to calle and coude not espye them ne knowe the stappes of theyr feet how wel that it was thenne a snowe and whan he retorned he fonde the table leide And theron thre fayr whyte loues of brede all hoot whiche were of meruayllous beaute and swetenes For alle the place smelled of the swete odour of them Thenne he knewe wel that the Angellis of our lord had ben there and rendryd thankynges to our lord that he had sente to hym hys angellys for to conforte hym and euery nyght whaÌ„ his brethern were a bedde he wold goo and stonde in the cold water al naked vp to the chyn tyl it were myd nyght And thenne he wold yssue out Anth whaÌ„ he come to londe he myght not stonde for feblenes and fayntnes but oft fyll doun to the ground And on a tyme as he laye thus ther cam ij otters whyche licked euery place of his body and thenne wente agayn to the water that they cam fro And thenne saynt cuthberd aroos all hool wente to hys celle agayn and wente to matyns wyth hys brethern but hys brethern knewe nothyng of hys stondyng thus euery nyght in the see to the chyn but atte laste one of hys brethern espyed it and knewe his doyng and told hym therof but saynt cuthberd charged hym to kepe it secrete and telle noman therof duryng his lyf And after thys within a whyle the bysshop of durham deyed And saynt cuthberd was electe sacred bysshop in his stede after hym And euer after he lyued full holyly vnto hys deth And by his prechyng ensample gyuyng he brought moche peple to good lyuyng And to fore hys deth he lefte his bysshopriche And wente in to the holy Iland where he lyuyd an holy and solytary lyf vnto that â—e beyng ful of vertues rendryd his soule vnto almyghty god And was buryed at durham And after translated and the body leyd in a fayr and honourable shryne where as yet dayly our lerd sheweth for hys seruaunt there many fair and grete myracles wherfore late vs pray vnto this holy saynt that he pray for vs Here foloweth the fest of the anunciacion or salutacion of thangel gabriel to our lady THe feste of thys day is called thanunciacion of our lady for on thys day thaungel gabriel shewed to the glorious virgyne marye the comyng of the blessyd sone of god That is to wete how he ought to come in to the gloryouse vyrgyne and take in her nature and flesshe humayne for to saue the world It was wel thyng resonable that than gel shold come to the glorious virgyn marye For lyke as Eue by thenhortyng of the deuyl gaf her cousente to doo the synne of Inobedyence to our perdicion Ryght so by the gretyng of thangel gabryel and by exhortyng the glorious virgyne marye gaf her consentyng to hys message by obedyence to our saluacion wherfor lyke as the first woman was cause of our dampnacion So was the blessyd virgyne marye begynnyng of our redempcion whan that thangel gabriel was sente for to shewe thyncarnacyon of our sauyour IhÌ„u crist he fonde her al one enclosed in her chambre lyke as saynt bernard sayth In whyche the maydens virgynes ought to abyde in theyr howses wythout rennyng abroode out openly And they ought also to flee the wordes of men of whyche theyr honour and good renomee myght be lassed or hurte And thangele said to the gloryous vyrgyne marye I salewe the ful of grace the lord is wyth the Ther is not founden in scripture in no ê‘te suche a salewyng And it was brought fro heuen vnto the glorious virgyne marye whyche was the first woman that euer in the world offrid to god first her virgynyte And thaungele said to her after Thou shalt be blessyd aboue alle other Wymen For thou shalt escape the malediction that all other wymen haue in chyldyng in synne and in sorowe and thou shal be moder of god and shal abyde a pure virgyne and clene and our blessyd lady was moche abasshid of thys salutacion and thought in her self the maner therof Thys was a good maner of a vyrgyne that so wysely held her stylle and spack not and shewyng example to virgynes whiche ought not lyghtly to speke ne without aduys ne manere to answere And whan thangele knewe that for thys salutacion she was tymerous and abasshed A none he repeased her sayeng Marye be nothyng aferd For thou hast founden sothly grace atte god For thou art chosen aboue alle wymen for to receyue his blessyd sone and be moder to god and moyen and aduocate for to sette peas bytwene god man for to destroye the deth and bryng the lyf O thou that arte a vyrgyne sayth saynt Ambrose lerne of marye to be manerd and fere ful to all men lerne to be stylle teschewe alle dssolucions Marye was aferd of the salutacion of thangel the whyche sayd Thou shalt conceyue and brynge forth a sone And thou shalt calle hys name Ihesus and he shal be callid the sone of god And marye sayd to the angele In what maner may thys be that thou sayst For I haue purposed in myn herte that I shal neuer know man And yet I neuer
knewe none how thenne shal I haue a chyld agayn the cours of nature and may abyde a vyrgyne Thenne the Angele enformed her and began to saye how her vyrgynyte shold be saued in the conceyuyng of the sone of god answerd to her in thys maner The holy ghoost shal come in to the whyche shal make the to conceyue the maner how thou shalt conceyue thou shalt knowe better than I shal conne saye For that shal be the werke of the holy ghoost which of thy blood and of thy flessh shal forme purely in the the body of the chyld that thou shalt bâ—re other werke to this concepcion shalt thou not doo And the vertue of god souerayne shal shadowe the in suche wyse that thou shalt neuer fele in the ony brennyng ne couetyse carnall and shal purge thyn herte fro all desires temporell and yet shal the holy ghoost shadowe wyth the mantel corporel that the blessyd sone of god shal be hydde in the and of the for to couere the right excellente clarte of hys dyuynyte so that by thys vmbre or shadowe may be knowen and seen hys dygnyte lyke as huge of saynt victor and saynt bernard saye After thangele said And for as moche as thou shalt conceyue of the holy ghoost and not of man the child that shal be born of the shal be called the sone of god yet of thys concepcion whyche is aboue nature the Angele sayd to her thys example Lo elyzabeth thy cosyne whyche is barayne hath conceyued a chyld in her age For ther is nothyng impossyble to god whyche is almyghty Thenne sayd the gloryouse virgyne marye to thangele the answere for whyche he was comen lo thandmayde of god he doo to me that he hath ordeyned after thy wordes She hath gyuen to vs example to be humble whan ê“speryte of hye Rychesse cometh to vs For the first word that she spack or said whan she was made moder of god and quene of heuen that was that she callid her self ancylle or handmayde and not lady moche peple is humble in lowe estate and but fewe in hye estate that is to wete in grete estates and therfore is humylyte more preysed in them that ben grete in estate Assone as she sayd loo here the handmayde of god late it ben doo to me after thy wordes Thomas in compendio In that same tyme that she had thus gyuen her assente to the angele She conceyued in her Ihesu cryst whyche in that same hour was in her parfight man and parfight god in one persone and as wyse as he was in heuen or whan he was xxx yere old Thys blessyd Anunciacion happened the xxv day of the moneth of marche On whyche day happend also as wel to fore as after thyse thynges that here after be named ¶ On that same day Adam the first man was created and fyl in to orygynal synne by inobedience and was put out of paradys terrestre After thangele shewed the concepcion of our lord to the gloryouse virgyne marye ¶ Also that same day of the moneth kaym slewe Abel hys broder Also melchesedech made offryng to god of brede and wyn in the presence of Abraham Also on the same day Abraham offrid ysaac hys sone That same day saynt Iohan baptyst was byheded And saynt peter was that day delyuerd out of pryson And saynt Iames the more that day byheded of herode And our lord Ihesu cryst was on that day crucyfyed wherfore that is a day of grete reuerence Of the salutacion that thangel brought to the gloryouse virgyne ¶ We rede an example of a noble knyght whyche for tameÌ„de hys lyf gaf and rendryd hym self in to an abbaye of cysteauls and for as moche as he was no clerke ther was assygned to hym a maystre for to teche hym and to be with the brethern clerkes but he coude nothyng lerne in long tyme that he was there sauf thyse two wordes Aue maria whyche wordes he had so sore enprynted in his herte that alleway he had them in his mouthe whersomeuer he was Atte last he deyde and was buryed in the chyrcheyerde of the brethern It happed after that vpon the buryels grewe a right fayr flourdelis And in euery flour was wreton in lettres of gold Aue maria of whyche myracle alle the brethern were amerueylled And they dyde open the sepulture and fonde that the rote of thys flour delis cam out of the mouth of the sayd knyght And anon they vnderstode that our lord wold haue hym honoured for the grete deuocion that he had to saye these wordes Aue maria ¶ Another knyght ther was that had a fayr place by side the hye waye where moche peple passed whom he robbed as moche as he myght and so he vsed hys lyf But he had a good custome For euery day he salewed the gloryouse vyrgyne marye in sayeng Aue maria And for no labour he left not to grete our lady as sayd is It happed that an holy man passed by hys hous whom he robbed and dyspoylled But that holy man prayd them that robbed hym that they wold brynge hym to theyr mayster for he had to speke wyth hym in hys hows of a secrete thyng for hys prouffyt and whan the robbers herde that they ladde hym to fore the knyght their lord And anon the holy man prayd hym that he wold doo come all hys meyney to fore hym And whan hys mayne by the comaÌ„dement of the knyght were assembled the holy man said yet ben they not all here ther is one yet to come Thenne one of them apperceyued that the chambreleyn of the lord was not comen And anon the knyght made hym to come And whan the holy man sawe hym come anon he said I coniure the by the vertue of Ihesu cryst our lord that thou saye to vs who thou art and for what cause thou art comen hether Anon the chambyrleyn answerd Alas now muste I saye knowleche my self I am noman but am a deuyl whyche am in the forme of a man and haue take it xiiij yere by whyche space I haue dwellyd with this knyght For my maystre hath sente me hether to th ende that I shold take hede nyght and day that yf this knyght cessed to saye the salutacion Aue maria For thenne I shold strangle hym with myn owen hand and bryng hym to helle by cause of the euyl lyf that he hath ledde and ledeth but by cause he sayeth euery day thys salutacion Aue maria I myght not haue hym and therfor I abode here so longe For ther passeth hym no day but that he saleweth our lady whan the knyght herd thys he was moche aferd And fyl doun to the feet of thys holy man and demaÌ„ded pardon of hys synnes After thys the holy man sayd to the deuyl I comaÌ„de the in the name of our lord that thou departe hens and goo in to another place where thou mayst greue ne annoye noman Thenne late
to symon my fader And my fader sayd to me at his dethe â—e wel ware that for no tormente that ye may suffre telle not where the crosse of Ihesu criste was leyde For after that hit shal be founden the Iewes shal reygne nomore but the crysten men that worshypped the crosse shall thenne reygne And verayly this Ihesus was the sone of god Thenne demaunded I my fader wherfore had they hanged hym on the crosse sythe it was knowen that he was the sone of god thenne he sayd to me fayre sone I neuer accorded therto But gayn said it al were but the pharisees dyd it bycause he repreuyd theyr vyces but he aroos on the thyrd day and his dysciples seeyng he ascended in to heuen Thenne by cause that stephen thy broder byleued in hym the Iewes stoned hym to dethe Thenne when Iudas had sayd thyse wordes to his felawes they answerd we neuer herde of suche thynges neuerthelesse kepe the wel yf the auene demaunde the therof that thou say nothynge to hyr whan the auene had called them and demaunded them the place where our lord Ihesu cryste had be crucefyed they wold neuer telle ne ensygne hyr Thenne commaunded she to brenne them alle but thenne they doubted and were aferde delyuerd Iudas to hyr and sayd lady thys man is the sone of a prophete and of a Iuste man and knoweth right wel the lawe can telle to you al thynge that ye shal demaunde hym Thenne the quene lete al the other goo and reteyned Iudas wythout moo Thenne she shewed to hym his lyfe dethe bad hym chese whyche he wold Shewe to me sayd she the place named golgata where our lord was crucefyed by cause and to the ende that we may fynde the crosse ¶ Thenne sayd Iudas it is two hondred yere passed more I was not thenne yet borne Thenne sayd to hym the lady by hym that was crucyfyed I shal make the perisshe for hungre yf thou telle not to me the trouthe Thenne made she hym to be caste in to a drye pytte and there tormented hym by hungre and euyl reste whan he had been seuen dayes in that pytte thenne sayd he yf I myght be drawen out he shold say the trouthe Thenne he was drawen out and whan he came to the place anone the erthe moeuyd and a fume of grete swettenesse was felte in suche wyse that Iudas smote his hondes to gyder for ioye and sayd in trouthe Ihesu cryste thou arte the sauyour of the world It was so that adryan the Emperour had doo make in the same place where the crosse laye a temple of a goddesse by cause that all they that came in that place shold adoure that goddesse But the quene dyd doo destroye the temple Thenne Iudas made hym redy and began to dygge and whan he came to xx paas depe he fonde thre crosses and broughte them to the quene And by cause he knewe not whiche was the crosse of our lord he leyed them in the myddel of the cyte and abode the demonstraunce of god and aboute the houre of none there was the corps of a yonge man brouhgte to be buryed Iudas reteyned the byere and layed vpon hit one of the crosses and after the second and whan he leyed on hit the third anone the body that was dede came ageyn to lyf Thenne cryed the deuyll in the eyre Iudas what hast thou doon thou hast doon the contrarye that thother Iudas dyd For by hym I haue wonne many sowles and by the I shal lose many by hym I reygned on the peple And by the I haue loste my royame neuerthelesse I shal yelde to the this bountee For I shal sende one that shal punysshe the and that was accomplysshed by Iulyan the appostata which tormented hym afterward whan he was bysshop of Iherusalem and whan Iudas herde hym he cursed the deuyl and sayd to hym Ihesu cryste dampne the in fyre pardurable After this Iudas was baptyzed and was named quyryache And after was made bysshop of Iherusalem ¶ Whan helayn had the crosse of Ihesu cryste and sawe she had not the nayles thrune she sente to the bysshop quyriache that he shold goo to the place and seke the nayles Thenne he dyd dygge in therthe so longe that he founde them shynyng as golde thenne bare he them to the quene and anone as she sawe them she worshypped them wyth grete reuererence Thenne gafe saynt helayn a parte of the crosse to hir sone And that other parte she lefte in Iherusalem closyd in golde syluer and precious stones And hyr sone bare the nayles to themperour And the emperour dyd do sette them in his brydel and in hys helme Whan he wente to batayle This reherceth Eusebe Whiche was bysshop of Cezayr how be it that other say other wyse Now it happed that Iulyan the appostata dyd doo slee quyriache that was bysshop of Iherusalem by cause he had founde the crosse for he hated hit soo moche that where someuer he founde the crosse he dyd hit to be destroyed For whan he wente in batayle ageynst them of perse he sente and commaunded quyriache to make sacrefyse to thydolles and Whan he wold not doo hit he dyd do smyte of his righte honde and sayd wyth this honde hast thou wryten many letters by whyche thou repellyd moche folke fro doyng sacrefyse to our goddes Quyriache sayd thou wood hounde thou hast doon to me grete prouffyte For thou hast cut of the hande wyth whiche I haue many tymes wreton to the synagoges that they shold not byleue in Ihesu cryste and now sythe I am cristen thou hast taken fro me that whiche noyed me thenne dyd Iulyan do melte leed cast it in his mowthe and after dyd doo brynge a bedde of yron and made quyriache to be layed and stratched theron and after leyed vnder brennyng cooles and threwe therin grece and salte for to tormente hym the more and whan quyryache moeuyd not Iulyan themperour said to hym outher thou shalt sacrefye our goddes or thou shalt say at the leste thou arte not crysten And whan he sawe he wold doo neuer neyther he dyd doo make a depe pytte ful of serpentes and venemous bestys and caste hym therin whan he entred anone the serpentes were al deed Thenne Iulyan put hym in a cawdron ful of boylyng oyle and whan he shold entre in to hit he blessyd it sayd Fayre lord torne thys bayne to baytym of marterdom ¶ Thenne was Iulyan moche angry commaunded and that he shold be ryuen thorugh his herte wyth a swerde and in this manere he fynysshed his lyf The vertue of the crosse is declared to vs by many myracles For it happed on a tyme that one enchauntour dysceyued had a notarye and broughte hym in to a place where he had assembled a grete companye of deuylles and promysed to hym that he wold make hym to haue moche rychesse and whan he came
shewed in the tyme of constantyn the grete whaÌ„ pees was in the chyrche by a mayde whyche had ben one of her chamberers that tho yet lyued and were had of al the people in grete deuocion They suffred marterdom aboute the yere of our lord CCC and thyrty vnder alysaunder Thus endeth the lyf of saynt quyryn his moder Iulitte Here foloweth the lyf nexte of saint maryne MAryne was a noble vyrgyn was one onely doughter to hir fader wythout broder or suster after the deth of hir moder hir fader entryd in to a monastery of religyon chauÌ„ged thabbyte of hys doughter so that she semed was taken for his sone not a woman theÌ„ne the fader prayed thabbot his brethern that they wold receyue his onely sone whome at his Instaunce they receyued for to be a monke was called of them al brother maryne he began to lyue right religyously to be moche obedyeÌ„t whan she Was xxvij yere hir fader approched toward the dethe he callyd his doughter to hym confermyng hir in hir good purpoos commaundyng hyr that in no wyse she shold shewe ne doo be knowen that she were a woman and thenne hir fader deyed she went oftymes to the wood wyth the carte to fetche home wood and by cause it was ferre fro the monasterye other whyle she lodged in a good mannes hows whos doughter had conceyued a chylde by a knyghte And whan it was perceyued she was therof examyned who had begoten that chylde and she sayd that it was the monke maryne had leyen by hir and goten it and thenne anone the fader and moder wente to the abbay and maad a grete compleynte and a grete clamour to thabbot for his monke maryne TheÌ„ne thabbot beyng herof sore abasshed sente for maryne and demauÌ„ded of hym why he had doon so horryble a synne And he mekely answerd and sayd holy fader I aske of our lord mercy for I haue synned Thenne the abbot heryng thys was moche angry for the sorowe and shame commaunded anone that he shold be put out of the hows And thenne this maryne ful paciently wente out of the monasterye dwellid at the yate thre yere lyued straytly wyth a morsel of breed a day and whan the chylde was wened fro the moders pappe it was sente to thabbot and he sente it to maryne bad hym kepe suche tresour as he had broughte forthe and thenne he toke mekelye pacyently the chylde and kepte it with hym there two yere Al thyse thynges he toke in grete pacyence in al thynges gaue to our lord thankynges atte last the brethern had pyte on hym consyderyd his humylyte pacyence dyd so moche to thabbot that he was taken in to the monasterye and al the offyces that were moste foule were enioyned to hym for to do he toke it all gladly and alle thynges he dyd pacyently and deuoutely and at the laste beyng ful of vertuous lyf she deyed and departed out of this world Whan they shold take vp the body and wasshe it for to dyspose hyt to be buryed they sawe that she was a woman alle they were astonyed and aferde and knowleched that they had trâ—spaced gretely in the seruaunte of god Thenne they ranne alle for to see the syght asked foryeuenes of theyr ygnoraunce and trespaas Thenne bare they the body of hyr in to the chyrche And there honourably they buryed it ¶ Thenne she that enfamed the seruaunte of god was taken and vexyd wyth a deuyl And knowlechyng hyr synne came to the sepulcre of the blessyd vyrgyne and there was delyuerd and made al hool To whos tombe the people oueral there aboute came and assemblyd there our lord shewyd many myracles for hys blessyd vyrgyn maryne she deyed the xiiij kalendys of Iuyl Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Maryne ¶ Here folowen the lyues of saint geruase and prothase and firste of the ynterpretacion of their names â—Eruase is sayd of gerar whiche is as moche to say as a vessel or holy or of gena that is to say strauÌ„ge and of syor that is lytel For he was holy by meryte of his lyf a vessayl for to receyue vertues in hym self straunge by despysyng of the world and he was lytel by despysyng of hym self Prothays is sayd of prothos why che is as moche to say as fyrst and of syon that is dyuyn Or prothas may be sayd of procul that is ferre and of stasis that is sette that is to say he was fyrst by dygnyte he was dyuyn by dyleccion and ferre sette fro worldly affecaon And Saynt Ambrose fonde theyr passyon wryten in a book founden in the sepulture at theyr heed Of saynt geruase prothase SAynt geruase and saynt prothase were brethern of one burthen of fader and moder theyr fader was saynt vytal and theyr moder the blessyd valerye which gaue all theyr goodes vnto the poure for the loue of god and dwellyd with saynt nazaryen whiche made a right fayr oratoyr in the cyte of hebredune And a chylde named celsus bare to hym the stones and yf nazaryen had thenne the childe celsus or none I wote neuer For the hystorye of nazaryen reherced that celsus was offryd to hym longe after and whan they were offryd and ladde to nero the emperour thys chylde celsus folowed them muche sore wepyng and one of the knyghtes buffeted and smote hym and nazaryen thenne blamyd hym Thenne the knyghtes in a grete angre bete defowleden nazaryen vnder theyr feet and after they put this celse wyth the other in pryson and after that they threwe hym in to the see and ladde geruase and prothase to melan And nazaryen was delyuerd by myracle and came to melan In that tyme there came thyder the erle astase whiche wente in batayle ageyn them of marcomannos whiche came ageynst hym Thenne the kepers of the ydolles came to hym said that theyr goddes wolde gyue none answer but yf geruase prothase shold fyrst offre to them and do sacrefyse ¶ Thenne anone were they broughte and ledde for to sacrefyse and thenne geruase sayd that all the ydolles were deef and dombe and that he shold requyre helpe of almyghty god ¶ Thenne the erle was wrothe and commauÌ„ded hym to be beten with scorges of leed so longe tyl he gaue vp his spyrite and so suffryd dethe Thenne he commaunded prothase to be brouÈt to hym to whome he said thou cursyd wretche now thynke to saue thy lyf and deye not an euyl dethe with thy broder To Whome prothase sayd who is a wretche I that drede the not or thou that dredest me To whome of tasyus sayd how shold I drede the wretche To whome prothase sayd In that thou dredest me that thou sholdest be hurte by me yf I made not sacrefyse to thy goddes yf thou dreddest not to be hurte of me thou woldest neuer compelle me to the sacrefyse of ydollys
the wordes of the aungel whiche he sayd to the for al thynges shal be performed that he hath sayd to the Of alle thyse thynges saynt elysabeth knewe no thynge whan our lady came ne yet our lady had no thynge sayd to hyr but the holy ghoost by the merites of hir holy chylde that she bare replepysshed hir and made hyr to prophecye TheÌ„ne answerd our lady made the holy psalme sayeng Magnificat aiaÌ„mea dominum alle the remenaunte Our lady abode wyth Saynt elysabeth thre monethes or there aboutes tyl she was delyuerd and layed a bedde and it is sayd that she dyd the offyce and seruyse to receyue Saynt Iohan Baptyst whan he was borne Whan thenne he was borne and the neyghbours and cosyns and frendys knewe the grace that our lord had done thyse holy folke noble of lygnage riche of goodes and of grete dygnyte to whome in the ende of theyr age he had gyuen an heyr male ayenst double or treble nature They maad grete ioye and feste wyth them whan the viij day came and the chylde shold be circumsyced they callyd hym after hys faders name Zacharyas The moder sayd that he shold be named Iohan and not Zacharye And they wente vnto the fader and sayd that there was none in that kynrede that soo was callyd And thenne the fader demaunded peÌ„ne and ynke and wrote Iohannes est nomen eius Iohan is hys name And alle they merueyled Anone after by the merytes of saynt Iohan his faders mowthe was openyd and had ageyn hys speche and spake glorefyeng our lord god And thyse tydynges of thys holy chylde thus borne were anone spradde alle aboute the contreye And eche man sayd in hys herte and withoutforth one to another what suppose ye shal be of thys chylde he shal be grete and a man of our lord For he is al redy now wyth hym and the hande the werke and the vertue of our lord is wyth hym The fader holy Zacharye replenysshed wyth the holy ghoost sayd and prophecyed and made thenne the holy psalme Benedictus dominus deus israhel which psalme is alwey songen in th ende of matyns It is sayd that holy zacharye dwellyd vpon the montayns two myle nyghe to Iherusalem and there Saynt Iohan baptyst was borne after that saynt Iohan was circumcysed he was nourisshed as a chylde of a noble and riche man and sone of grete dygnyte But whan he had vnderstondyng strength of body god our lord and the herte perfourmed the werke he yssued out of his faders hows and lefte richesses honours dygnytees noblesse and al the world and wente in to deserte on fâ—om iordan Somme say he wente in the eage of xv yere accomplisshed And other say he departed at xij yere of eage for to serue our lord without empesshement by whiche he kepte scilence bydwonge his lyf his sowle fro ydle wordes This holy saynt IohÌ„an dwellyng in deserte ware an heyr maad of the heyr of camellys Somme say that he ware the skynne of a camell in whiche he had maad an hole to put his heed in and gyrded it wyth a gyrdle of wulle or of lether cut out of an hyde or a bestys skynne He ete locustes not suche as we haue here that we calle hony sokellys Somme say that it is flesshe of somme beestys that habouÌ„de in deserte of Iudee where he baptysed wyth wylde hony he ete it That it was flesshe the legende of saynt austyn doth vs to vnderstonde whyche sayth that Saynt austyn ete flesshe by the exaumple of helye the prophete whiche ete the flessh that a crowe brought to hym and so saynt Iohan ete locustes somme saye that there ben rootes so callyd There seruyd he our lord solytarylye vpon the flome Iordan tyl that he was aboute xxix yere olde the aungel of our lord came to hym and sayd that he shold shewe the comyng of our lord and preche penaunce for to purge them that were baptysed in a customyng the baptesme of our lord Ihesu cryste This aungel sayd to saynt Iohan baptyste that Ihesu cryste saueour of the world shold come to hym for to be baptysed and it shold be he on whome the holy ghoost shold descende in semblaunce of a dowue Saynt Iohan drewe hym toward bethanye vpon the ryuer or deserte not fer fro Iherusalem there prechyd he and taughte baptysed them that wolde amende theyr lyf and sayd to them that the sauyour and helthe of the world was nyghe Thenne came to hym many and he sayd to somme religyous men of euyl lyf ye chyldren of serpentys who hath gyuen to you counceyl to eschewe the yre of our lord yf ye wyl be baptysed in sygne of penaunce do ye the werkes of penytentes leue the euyl humble you do the werke of mercy wene ye by cause ye be circumsysed and be the chyldren of abraham that ye shal be saued Our lord shal make of thyse stones yf it plese hym the chylde of abraham whyche wyth abraham shal be sauyd Saynt Iohan prechyd aboute a yere tofore that our lord came to hym for to be bapâ—ysed Whan the pharysees herde say that he baptysed they sente to knowe what he was and they demauÌ„ded yf he were cryste the grete prophete that was promysed in theyr lawe and he said nay they demaunded hem yf he were helpe and comen fro paradyse tereâ—stre He sayd nay They demaunded hym yf he was a prophâ—te he sayd nay They demaunded hym wherof he medlyd thenne to baptyse sythe he was neyther cryste ne helpe ne prophete Saye to vs sayd they who that thou arte that we may answer to them that haue sente vs hyther He answerd I am he of whome ysaye prophecyed I am the voys of the cryar in deserte Adresse ye and make redy the wayes to god and make ye right the pathes of our lord They sayd to hym wherfore baptysest thou thenne He answerd I baptyse and wasshe the body wyth water in sygne af penaunce but emonge you is he that ye knowe not whyche was tofore me came after me of whome I am not worthy to lose the latchet of hys shoo He shal gyue you baptesme in the vertu of the holy ghoost in water and fyre of penaunce whan Saynt Iohan alonge the flome Iordan had prechyd and baptysed aboute a yere Our Lord came vnto hym and wolde be baptysed of hym Saynt Iohan enlumyned of the holy ghoost knewe hym And dyd to hym reuerence as to hys god hys maker and lord He was so espyred that humayn nature whyche was pure in hym myght not susteyne so grete knowleche And he sayd ryght humbly Syr thou comest to me whyche arte pure and clene to be baptysed and wasshen of me that am foule and wasted whyche oughte to be baptysed of the and wasshen how dare I laye on the myn handes Our lord sayd to hym do thys that I say now For thus behoueth it to fulfylle alle Iustyce and to humâ—le and
was come and sawe that she wold not consente to do his wylle anon he made her heed to be smyten of Than the squyer that byheded her herde thangels synge that bare the sowle of the holy vyrgyne in to heuen with moche grete Ioye and sollempnyte anon he retorned vnto his maystre and tolde hym al that he had seen herde sythe fyl doun deed at his feet Thenne the duc and al his companye had moche grete drede and the duc hym self clad hym next his flessh in a sharp heyr hard for grete repentaunce and praid saint marcyal that he wold praye god that hit myght plese hym to reyse his squyer fro deth to lyf and he wold beleue in the fayth of Ihesu criste and be crystyned anone after that saynt marcyal had prayd our lord reysed thesquyer Thenne the duc and wel a xvMl persones in his companye were baptysed In this tyme the same duc by the commandement of the emperour Nero wente in to Italye with a grete companye of men of armes whan he had acomplysshyd the commandement of nero they wente to rome for to see saynt peter whom they fonde prechyng to the peple whiche peple were barefote and had clothed them wyth the heyr lyeng on the grounde tofore saynt peter in demaundyng hym pardon of theyr synnes whan Saynt peter sawe the duc and so moche fayre people in his companye he demaunded them what they were of what contre TheÌ„ne the duc tolde hym by ordre how he and his companye had ben conuerted and baptysed of saynt marcyal After whan they were departed from rome they thoughte that they wolde goo see saynt marcial tofore or they retorned in to theyr contrey Thus theÌ„ne as they were lodged nyghe by a ryuer and the sone of the erle of poytiers bayned hym in the sayd ryuer thenemye the deuyl drowned and smored hym to the dethe whan his fader knewe it he wente wepyng tenderly to Saynt marcyal and prayed hym to reyse his sone fro dethe to lyf Thenne Saynt marcyal wente to the place where he was drowned and commaunded to the fende to brynge the body out of the water and that he shold appere in a lykenes vysyble tofore theym alle Anone yssued out of the water thre fendes lyke ethyopyens more blacke than cooles and had terryble feet and eyen and grete heyr that couerd alle the body and caste out at theyr mowthes and nosethrilles fyre lyke sulphre and cryed lyke rauens whan they had tolde to saynt marcyal the harmes and euylles that they had doon He commaunded them that they shold departe and goo in to places deserte where as they myght neuer noye ne greue persone lyuyng Saynt marcial whiche had pyte and compassyon on them that wepte for the dede chylde reysed hym fro dethe to lyf thenne the chylde tolde tofore them alle that were there how the fende had drowned and smoldred hym and how they wold haue bounden hym with chaynes of yron brennyng but an aungel of heuen delyuerd hym and shewyd hym the fyre of purgatorye and fro thens ledde hym to the yate of paradys and as the fendes requyred to haue hym a voys came fro heuen and commaunded that he shold aryse ageyn that he shold lyue yet xxvj yere whan he had tolde al this he gaue hym self al ouer to saynt marcial and fro than forthon lyued in grete abstynence and holy lyf lyke as thaungel had taught hym Saynt marcyal dyd many myracles and vertues There was in that tyme a woman that had an husbond seke of the palseye to whiche woman saynt marcyal delyuerd hys burdon wyth whiche she touched a lytel hyr husbond and Incontynent he was hool Another tyme the fyre was so grete in the cyte of lourdews that alle was on a flame Saynt marcial helde vp his burdon ageynst the fyre and anone â—it was quenchyd Another tyme as he wold haue halowed a chyrche at lymoges the prynce aforsayd conueyed and sommoned al the peple poure and riche to come to the dedycacion of this chyrche And whan they were al assemblyd saynt marcial admonested and warned them to be in veray chastyte It happed emonge them whyles the masse was on sayeng that there was a knyght whyche he his wyf were sore vexyd troublyd wyth fendes as they were broughte tofore saynt marcyal he demaunded of the fendes why they vexed theym soo and they answerd to hym thou haste commaunded them that the peple shold mayntene chastite and thyse two haue al this nyght exposed them in lecherye and this is the cause that wherfore we ben entryd in to them saynt marcyal at the requeste of the prynce and peple heled them This same yere that is to say the xl yere after the passion of our lord Ihesu cryste the same our lord Ihesu cryste apperyd to hym shewyd how that hastely he shold departe fro thys world and be wyth hys other frendes in the royame of heuen Thenne he dyd doo assemble alle the crysten people that he had conuerted to them made a moche swete sermone in takyng leue of them Sone after he was seek of the feuers and thenne our lord apperyd to hym with a grete quantyte of aungellys whyche wyth moche ioye and gladnes bare the sowle of saynt marcyal in to heuen vbi est honor gloria in secula seculoruÌ„ amen This Saynt marcyal of whome we speke here was the same childe as soÌ„me say on whome our lord layed hys honde vpon his heed whan the contencyon and stryffe was emonge the appostles whiche of them shold be grettest in the royame of heuen and thenne our lord sette the chylde marcyal in the myddle of them layeng his honde vpon his heed as sayd is and said to them yâ— ye be not lytel and humble as this chylde is ye shal not entre in to heuen he that shal be leeste emonge you he shal be grettest in my royame as the gospel maketh more playne mencyon the whiche glorious saynt saynt marcial lete vs praye vnto that he procure vnto our sayd lord Ihesu cryste that all we may haue parte wyth hym in the ioye and glorye perdurable amen ¶ Here endeth the lyf of saynt marcial one of the disciples of our lord Ihesu cryste And foloweth the lyf of saynt Geneuefe THe noble saynt Geneuefe was borne at nauÌ„cerre besyde parys in the tyme of themperours honorius and theodosius the lasse was with hir fader moder vnto the tyme of themperour valentynyen anone after hir natyuyte the holy ghoost shewed vnto saynt germayn of ancerre how she shold serue god holyly virgynely the which thynge he tolde to many after she was sacred of the bysshop of chartres viliques came to dwelle at parys ful of vertues of myracles in the tyme of saynt nychase the marter whom the hongres marterd and after in the tyme of saynt re nyge vnder chyldrik kynge of fraunâ—â— and after vnder cloyus his
auenge the wronges and our enbracementis And Iames sayd to them lo here is phylete to fore you why take ye hym not they answerd we may not touche hym ne as moche as a flee that is in thy couche theÌ„ne sayd Iames to philete to th ende that thou doo good for euyl lyke as cryst bad vs vnbynd hym and thenne hermogenes was all confused And Iames sayd to hym goo thy waye frely where thou wylt For it apperteyneth not to our discyplyne that ony be conuerted ayenst hys wyll And hermogenes sayd to hym I knowe wel the yre of the deuyllis But yf thou gyue to me som what of thyn that I may haue with me they shalle slee me thenne seynt Iames gaf to hym his staffe Thenne he went and brought to thappostle al his bokes of hys fals craft and enchauntyng for to be brent But seynt Iames by cause that the odour of the brennyng myght do eueyl or harme to some foolis he made them to be cast in to the see after he had cast his bokes in to the see he retorned and holdyng his feet said O thou delyuerer of soules receyue me penytent and hym that hath susteyned tyl now myssayeng of the and thenne began he to be parfyght in the drede of god our lord so that many vertues were don by hym afterward and whan the Iewes sawe hermogenes conuerted they were alle moeuyd of enuye and went vnto Seynt Iames and blamed hym by cause â—hat he prechyd IhÌ„u cryst crucifyed And he approued clerly the comyng and the passyon of our lord IhÌ„u cryst in suche wyse that many byleuyd in our lord Abyathar whyche was bysshop that yere moeued the peple ayenst hym And thenne they put a corde aboute his necke And brought hym to herode agrippe and whan he was ladde for to be byheded by the commaundement of herode A man hauyng the palsey cryed to hym And he gaf hym helthe And sayde in the name of IhÌ„u crist for whom I am ladde to be by heded arise thou and be al hool And blesse our lord thy maker And anon he aroos and was alle hool A Scrybe named Iosias whiche put the corde aboute hys necke and drewe hym seyng thys myracle fyl doun to his feet and demaunded of hym forgyuenes that he myght be cristened and whan a byathar sawe that he made hym to be taken and sayd to hym but yf thou curse the name of Criste thou shalt be byheded wyth hym To whom Iosyas sayd be thou acursed and acursed be al thy goddes And the name of our lord IhÌ„u criste be blessyd world withouten ende Thenne abyathar commaunded to smyte hym on the mouth with fistes and sent a messager to herode and gate consent that he sholde be byheded wyth Iames And whan they shold be byheded bothe seynt Iames desired a potte ful of water of hym that shold smyte of theyr hedes therwyth he baptised Iosias thenne anon they were bothe byheded and suffred martirdom Seynt Iames was byheded the viij kalendes of Aprille on our lady day thanuÌ„ciacion and the viij kalendes of August he was translated to compostelle And the thred kalendes of Ianyuer he was buryed For the makyng of hys sepulcre was fro august vnto Ianyuer and therfor the chyrche hath established that his feste shal be halowed in the viij â–ª kaleÌ„des of august where as is most couenable tyme as maister IohÌ„n beleth sayth whiche made this translacion dyligently whan the blessyd seynt Iames was byheded his discyples toke the body away by nyght for fere of the Iewes and brought it in to a shippâ— commytted vnto the wyl of our lord the sepulture of it and went wyth all in to the shippe without sayle and rother And by the conduyte of thangelle of our lord they arryued in galyce in the Royame of lupa ¶ Ther was in spaygne a quene whiche had to name and also by deseruyng of her lyf lupa whiche is as moche to saye in englyssh as a she wulf And thenne the discyples of seynt Iames toke out his body and leyde it vpon a grete stone And anon the stone receyued the body in to it as it had be soft waxe and made to the body a stone as it were a sepulcre Thenne the desciples went to lupa the quene and sayd to her our lord Ihesu cryst hath sent to the The body of his dysciple so that hym that thou woldest not receyue alyue thou shalt receyuâ— deed and theÌ„ne they recited to her the myracle by ordre how they were comen wythout ony gouernayle of the shippe and requyred her place couenable for his holy sepulture and whan the quene herd this she sent them vnto a right cruel man by trycherye and by gyle as mayster beleth sayth and some saye it was to the kyng of spaygne For to haue his consent of this mater and he toke them and put them in prison and whan he was atte dyner The angelle of our lord opened the prison and lete them escape awaye alle free And whan he knewe it he sent hastely knyghtes after for to take them â—â—nd as thise knyghtes passed to go ouer a bridge the bridge brake and ouerthrewe and they fyl in the water and were drowned And whan he herd that he repented hym and doubted for hym self and for his peple and sent after them prayeng them for to retorne and that he wold doo lyke as they wold them self and thenne they retorned and conuerted the peple of that cite vnto the fayth of god ¶ And whan lupa the quene herd this she was moche sorouful and whan they cam agayn to her they told to her thagrement of the kyng She anssuerd take the oxen that I haue in yonder mountaygne and Ioyne ye and yoke them to my carte or chariote And bryng ye thenne the body of your mayster and bylde ye for hym suche a place as ye wyl and this she sayd to them in gyle and mockage For she knewe wel that there were non oxen but wyld bullis and supposed that they shold neuer Ioyne them to her charyot and yf they were so Ioyned and yoked to the chariote they wold renne hyther and thyder and shold breke the chariot and throwe doun the body slee them But there is no wysdom ayenst god And thenne they that knewe nothyng the euyl corage of the quene went vpon the mountayne and fond there a dragon castyng fyre at them and ranne on them and they made the signe of the crosse and he bracke on two pieces and thenne they made the signe of the crosse vpon the bulles and anon they were meke as lambes Thenne they toke them and yoked them to the charyot And toke the body of seynt Iames with the stone that they had leyde it on and leyde it in the chariot the wild bulles wythout gouernyng or dryuyng of ony body drewe it forth vnto the myddle of the paleys of the quene lupa And whan she
men shold goo out And thenne he made hys prayers to god And alle thydolles fyl doun and were broken and whan new herd that he commaunded to cast hym in to the see And yf it happed that he escaped they shold folowe and take hym and brenne hym shold take the ashes of hym cast it in to the see nazaryen thene the chyld Celse were put in a shyppe and brought in to the myddle of the see And were bothe cast in and anon about the shyppe aroos a grete tempeste and about them was grete calme and tranquylite whan they thenne that were in the shyppe were aferd to be perisshed and repented them of the harme and wyckednes that they had coÌ„mysed in the seyntes Nazaryen wyth the chyld celse walked vpon the see and apperid to them with a glad chere and entred in to the shyppe to them And thenne they beleuyng By his prayer the see was peasid and fro thens they sayled vjC paas and cam to a place besyde Iene where they long prechyd And after cam to melane where they fond geruase and prothase in the place where he had left them whan Anolynus the prouost herd that sent hym in exyle and Celse the chylde abode in the hous wyth a noble woman Nazaryen thenne cam to rome fond hys fader thenne olde and crysten and enquyred of hym how he was crystened whiche sayd that peter thappostle had appiered to hym and bad hym byleue as his wyf and his sone dyd thenne fro thens he was exyled of tho bisshoppes vnto melane agayn Fro whens tofore he was exyled to rome and was now compellyd agayn wyth wronge to goo to rome where he was presented to the prouost with the chyld Celse whiche thenne was ladde out of the yate of rome whiche is named thre wallis with the childe celse and there was byheded whos bodyes cristen men toke vp and by nyght buryed it in a gardyne and the next nyght they apperyd to an holy seynt named Ciriake sayeng that he shold burye theyr bodyes in his hous more depper for drede of nero To whom he sayd I praye you first my lordes that ye make my doughter hole of the palsey whiche anon whan she was hool he toke the bodyes and as they commaunded he dyd Long tyme after this god shewed theyr bodyes to seynt Ambrose and he lefte celse lyeng in his place and toke vp the body of nazarien with as fresshe blode as he had be buryed the same day smellyng a merueyllous swete odour Incorupte with his here and hys berde and brought it to the chirche of thappostles And there buried it honourably and after toke vp the body of celse and beryed it in the same chirche They suffred deth about the yere of our lord lvij Of this martir sayth Ambrose in his preface O thou holy noble champyon and blessyd martir shynyng by thy shedyng of thy blood thou hast deserued to haue the kyngdom of heuen whiche by the Innumerable assaultes of tormentis hast ouercomen the wodenes of the tyraunt by the constance of fayth And hast gadred to gydre a multitude of peple to euerlastyng lyf O thou martir of whos helth the chyrche Ioyeth more than the world Ioyed in his punysshyng O thou blessyd moder of her chyldren glorifyed wyth tormentis whiche ledde them not with waylyng ne sorowyng to helle But departyng hens folowed her with perpetuel laude vnto the heuenly kyngdoms All this more sayth Seynt Ambrose Thus enden the lyues of seint Nazaryen and Seynt Celse Here foloweth the lyf of seynt Felyx and first of his name FElyx is sayde of felicitate that is blessydnes Or ellys felix as beryng stryues and tribulacions of this worlde for euerlastyng lyf Or felix beryng lyhe or water to faythe whiche is to saye ledyng peple to the fayth Of seynt Felix FElyx was chosen pope in stede of liberie and was ordeyned sacred For by cause lybery the pope wold not consent to the heresy of tharryens he was sent in to exyle of constancyen sone of constantyn and there abode thre yere Wherfore alle the clergy of rome ordeyned Felix to be pope by the wyl and consent of liberie And thenne this Felix assembled a counseyl of xlviij bisshoppes And condempned Constancien Arryen and he retike and two prestes whiche fauoured and susteyned hym in his heresye For whiche thyng constancien was Wroth and chased Felix out of hys bisshopriche and called agayn liberien by this couenaunte that he shold be partener with hym and thother whom Felix had condempned and liberien whiche was tormented by the greuousnes of his exyle submytted hym vnto the euyl heresye and thus the persecucion grewe more In so moche that many prestes and clerkes were slayn wythin the chyrche wstthout that lyberien defended them and Felix whiche was cast out of his bysshopriche dwellyd in his owne heritage of whiche he was put out and was martred by smytyng of of his hede aboute the yere of our lord CCC and xl Thus endeth the lyf of seynt felix pope and Martir Here foloweth of the Seintes Simplicien Faustyn and Beatrice and first of their names SYmplicien is as moche to say as symple or Without ony plyte of falsehede He was symple by meknes and humylite For he humbled hym self to receyue martirdom he was knowyng For he knewe the cristen fayth and for the fayth he suffred martirdom â— Faustyn is as moche to say as fortunate Beatrice is to saye holdyng blessydnes or it is sayde of beata that is blessyd And of ares that is vertue whiche is a blessyd vertu And beatryce is sayd sorouful or beuy For she was sorouful of the passyon of her brethern and she was blessyd by her martirdom Of the Seintes Simplicien Faustyn and Beatrice SYmplicien ffaustyn brethern whan they wold not by no constraynt do sacrefyse to thydolles and refused it vtterly they suffred many tormentis at rome vnder dioclâ—sien and atte last sentence was gyuen ayenst them and were byheded theyre bodyes cast in to tyber the ryuer And Beatrice theyr suster toke vp the bodyes of them and buried them honourably Lucrete whiche was prouost of rome went on a tyme playeng aboute therytage of beatrice and sawe her and made her to be taken and commaunded her that she shold make sacrefyse to his goddes and she refused it And lucrete made his seruauntes to strangle her in a nyghte and lete her lye and lucyne the virgyne toke away the body and buried it with her brethern and after that lucrete entrid in to theyr heritage And thus as he assayled the martirs And dyd do make a grete feste to hys frendes And as he satte atte dyner A yong child that lay wounden in smale clowtes in hys moders lappe whiche yet souked sprange out of the lappe of his moder that helde hym and all men seyng escried and sayd O thou lucrete here and vndestande thou hast sleyne and
were becomen Crysten cam with their wyues to Iustyn the preest for to receyue baptysme Claudius the emperour whan Cyryll wold not doo sacryfyse dyde do cutt her throte dyde do byhede the other knyghtes And the bodyes were borne wyth the other in to the feld Verane and there buryed And it is to be noted here expressely that Claudyus succeded decyen whiche martred saynt laurence and saynt ypolyte but he succeded not decyan themperour For after the Cronykes Volusyan succeded decyan and galyen succeded volusian And claudius succeded galyen soo it behoueth that galyen had two names that is to wete galyan and decyan and so said Vyncent in his Cronyke and godeffroy in his booke Galyan called one vnto his helpe that was named decyan whome he made Cezar but not emperour so sayth Rychard in his cronyke Of thys martir sayth Ambrose in his preface The blessid martir Ypolyte considered that Ihesu criste was very duke and he wolde be his knyght and had leuer be his knyght than duke of knyghtes And he pursyewed not saynt laurence whiche was put vnder his kepyng but folowed hym soo that in suffryng martirdome he lefte the lawe of the tyraunt and cam and posseded the tresour of very rychesses which is the glorye of the kyng pardurable and perpetuel Ther was a carter named Peter whiche yoked his oxen in the carte in the feste of marye magdalene and folowed his oxen and beganne to curse them And anone the oxen and the cart were smyten with thonder And that same peter whiche had soo cursed was tormented of cruell tormentes For fire took hym so that he brente the senewes and the flessh fro his thye and the bone appered and that the thye legge fyll of thenne he wente to a chirche of oure lady and hyd his legge in an hoole of the chirche And prayd our lady with teres deuoutely for his delyueraunce And on a nyght the blessyd Vyrgyne with saynt Ypolyte cam to fore hym in a vysyon And she prayd to ypolyte that he wold restablysshe peter in his first helthe And anone saynt ypolyte tooke his legge in the hole and tooke and set it in his place like as on graffyth in a tree And he felte soo moche payne in that vysyon that he awoke and cryed so lowde that he awoke alle the meyne and they aroos and tooke lyght sawe that peter had two legges two thyes but they had supposed that it had be illusion they tasted yet yet efte ageyne and saw that he had veryly his membrys theÌ„ne they awoke hym demanded of hym hou it happed And he wende that they had mocked hym And whan he sawe it he was all abasshed yet neuertheles the newe thye was softer than the olde And myghte not wel susteyne his body therwith And by cause this myracle sholde be publysshed he halted an hoole yere And thenne the blessyd Vyrgyne apperyd to hym and saynt to saynt Ypolyte that he shold perfourme that whiche apperteyned to that cure And theÌ„ne he awoke and felt hym self al hool And thenne he entred in to a recluage To whome the deuylle apperid oftyme in the lykenes of a woman naked and ioyned to hym naked And the more he defended hym the more the deuylle approched ner in temptynge hym shamefully And whan he had ben shamefully trauayled of her he took the stole of a preestes necke and gyrd hym with hit And anon the deuyll departed And lefte lyeng there a stynkyng and roten careyne And so greete stenche yssued that ther was none that sawe it but said that it was the body of somme deed woman whiche the deuylle had taken ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt ypolyte ¶ Here foloweth the assumpcion of the glorious vyrgyne oure lady saynt Marye WE fynde in a book sente to saynt Iohan theuangelyst or elles the book whiche is sayd to be apocriphum is ascrybed to hym In what maner the Assumpcion of the blessid Vyrgyn saynt Marye was made Thappostles were departed and gone in to dyuerse Countrees of the world for cause of prechyng And the blessyd lady and Vyrgyne was in an hows by the mount of Syon And as long as she lyued she vysyted all the places of her sone with grete deuocion that is to say the place of his baptysme Of his fastyng of his passion of his sepulture of his resurection and of his ascencion And after that Epyphanes sayth she lyued four and twenty yere after thascencion of her sone And he sayth also whan our lady had conceyued Ihesu Cryste she was of the age of fourten yere And she was delyuerd in the xv yere And lyued and abode with hym thre and thyrty yere And after his dethe she lyued foure and twenty yere And by this acompt whan she departed oute of this world she was lxxij yere old but hit is more probable that whiche is red in another place that she lyued after the ascencion of hyr sone twelue yere And soo thenne she was lx yere old And on a day whan alle thappostles were sprad thurgh the world in prechyng the gloryous vyrgyne was gretely esprysed and embraced with desyre to be wyth her sone Ihesu Crist And her courage eschaufed was moued And grete habundaunce of teres ranne without forth by cause she had not egally the comfortes of her sone whiche were withdraweÌ„ from her for the tyme And an angell cam to fore her with grete lyght and salewed her honourably as the moder of his lord sayenge Al hayll blessid Mary receyuyng the blyssyng of hym that sente his blessyng to Iacob lo here a bowhe of palme of paradis lady whiche I haue brought to the whiche thou shalt commaunde to be born to fore thy bere For thy sowle shalle be taken fro thy body the thirdde day next folowyng And thy sone abydeth the his honourable moder To whome she answerd yf I haue founde grace to fore thyn eyen I pray the that thou vouchesauf to shewe to me thy name And yet I praye the more hertely that my sones and my bretheren thappostles may be assembled with me soo that to fore I deye I may see them with my bodely eyen And after to be buryed of them And they beyng here I maye yelde vp my ghoost to god And also yet I praye and requyre that my spyryte yssuyng oute of the body see not the horryble ne wycked spyryte ne fende And that no myght of the deuylle come ageynste me And thenne the Aungel sayd lady wherfor desyrest thow to knowe my name whiche is grete and merueylous All thappostles shall assemble this daye to the and shal make to the noble exequyes at thy passyng And in the presence of them thow shlat gyue vp thy spyryâ—â— For he that brought the prophete by an heer fro Iudee to Babylone may withoute doute sodenly in an hour bryng thappostles to the And wherfor doubtest thou to see the wycked spyrytes sythr thou haste broken vtterly his heed And
that the vyrgyn oure lady is assumpt in to heuen as wel in her body as in her sowle It is said in the same reuelacions that it was shewed to her that the xl day after the sowle departed fro her body she was so assumpt in to heuen also that when oure blessid lady spak to her she said After thascencion of our lorde an hole yere and as many dayes more as ben fro the assencion vnto her assumpcion she ouer lyued ¶ And also she sayd alle thappostles were at my departynge and buryed my body honourably And xl dayes after was reysed And thenne saynt Elyzabeth demaunded of her whether she shold hyde this thynge or that she shold manyfeste it and shewe it And she sayd It is not to be shewed to flesshely ne vnbyleuyng peuple ne it is not to be hyd to deuoute and crysten peple It is to be noted that the gloryous vyrgyne Marye was assumpt lyfte vp in to heuen entyerly Ioyously and gloryously She was receyued entyerly that is holly as the chirche byleueth debonayrly And that afferme many sayntes and enforce them to proue it by many reasons And the reason of saynt Bernard is suche he sayth that god hath made the body of saynt Peter and saynt Iames so gloryously to be honoured that he hath enhaunsed them by merueylous honour that to them is deputed place couenable for to be worshiped And alle the world goth to seke and offre to them Thenne yf the body of his blessid moder were on the erthe And not haunted by deuoute vysytacion of cristen men it shold be merueyll to here that god wold not haue done as moche worship to his moder and honoured as moche her body as the bodyes of other sayntes vpon the erthe Iherome sayth thus that the Vyrgyn Marye mounted in to heuen the xviij kalendas of septembre That he sayth this of thassumpcion of the body of Marye but the chirche wyl rather debonayrly byleue it than folysshly to doubte it And he preued it afterward that it is to be byleued that they that aroos with oure lord haue accomplysshyd their perdurable resurection wherfore shold not we say thenne that it is done in the blessid Vyrgyne Marye also many byleue that saynt IohÌ„n the euangelyst is gloryfyed in his flesshe with Ihesu crist And thenne moche more oure lady ought to be gloryfyed in heuen bothe body and sowle whiche sayth worshipe thy fader and moder And he cam not to breke the lawe but to fulfylle it And therfor he honoureth his moder aboue all other ¶ Seynt Austyn affermeth not thys only but he preueth it by thre reasons And the first reason is the vnyte and assemble of the flesshe of oure lord and of oure lady And sayth thus putrefaction and wormes is the reproche of condycion humayne whiche Ihesus neuer touched And the flesshe of Ihesu is out of this repreef the nature of marye is oute of therof For it is preued that Ihesu criste hath taken his flesshe of her ¶ The second reason is that the dygnyte of the body of her of whome hym self sayth this is the syege of god the chambre of oure lord of heuen and the tabernacle of crist she is worthy to be where he is soo precious a tresour is more worthy to be kepte in heuen than in erthe The thyrdde reason is parfyght entyernes of her vyrgynall flesshe and saith thus Enioye thou marye of honourable gladnes in body and in sowle In thy prppre sone And by thy propre sone thou oughtest to haue no harme of corrupcion where thou haddest none corrupcyon of vyrgynyte in chyldyng so grete a sone so thou whome he endewed with so grete glorye be alwey withoute corrupcyon and lyue entyerly whiche barest entyer hym that is parfyght of alle And that she be with hym whome she bare in her wombe and that she be at hym whome she chylded gaf sowke and norysshed Marye moder of Ilesu Crist admynystresse and seruaunt And by cause I may none other thyng fele I dare none other wyse say ne presume And herof sayth a noble Versyfyer thus Transit ad ethera virgo puerpera virgula Iesse Non sine corpore sed sine tempore tendit ad esse ¶ The vyrgyne that chylded mounted vnto heuen the lytel rodde of Iesse not withoute body but withoute tyme she entendeth to be there vyrgyne pure and uette ¶ Secondly she was assumpte and take vp gladly And herof sayth Gerard bisshop and martir in his Omelye The heuenes receyued this day the blessid vyrgyne The Angels were glad tharchangels enioyed The Thrones songen The domynacyons maden melodye The prynâ—ypates armonysed The potestateâ— harped Cherubyn and Seraphyn songen louynges and preysynges And bryngyng her with thankynges and laudes vnto the syege of the dyuyne and souerayne mageste Thyrdly she was lyfte vp in to heuen so honourably that Ihesu Crist hym self with al the strengthe of the heuenly company cam ayenst her Of whome saynt Ierome sayth Who is he that is suffysaunt to thynke how the gloryous quene of the world wente vp this day And how the multytude of the celestyall legyons cam ageynst her with grete talent of deuocion And with what songes she was brought vnto her sete And how she was receyued of her sone and embraced with peasyble chere and clere face And hou she was enhaunced aboue all other creatures And yet he sayth it is on thys day that the Chyualrye of heuen cam hastely for to mete with the moder of god and enuyronned her with greete lyght and brought her to her sete with preysynges and songes spyrytuel And thenne enioyed them the celestyall company of Ierusalem with soo greete gladnes that no man may recounte ne telle and made ioye and song alle enioyeng in charyte by cause that this feste is euery yere halowed of vs and made and contynued to all other And it is to byleue that the sauyoure hym self cam and met with her hastely And brought her with hym and sette her in her sete with greete ioye And how hadde he acomplysshed otherwyse that whiche he commaunded in the lawe sayeng honoure thy fader and moder ¶ Fourtly she was receyued excellently â— Seynt Ierom sayth this is the daye in whiche the Vyrgyn Mary not corrupte wente vnto the hyenes of the throne And she was there enhaunced in the heuenly kyngdome And honouryd gloryously syttyng next vnto Cryst And how she is enhaunsed in the heuenly glorye Gerard the bisshop reherceth in his Omelyes sayeng Oure lord Ihesu Crist may preyse this blessid Vyrgyne his moder as he dyd and magnefye soo that she be contynuelly preysed of that mageste and honoured And enuronned of the company of Angels enclosed with the turmes of Archangels posseded of the thrones gyrde about â—f the domynacions enuyronned with the seruyce of the potestates beclypped with thembracementes of the pryncipates enioyed with the honoures of the vertues obeyed with laudes and praysynges of the cherubyns and
auenture by the feldes he beheld gladly huntyng And whan he was at home he behelde oftymes the spyncoppes or spyders takynge flyes by the nettes of theyr Copwebbes herof he confessyd hym to oure lord For somtyme they toke fro hym good thoughtes and letted hym of somme good werkes And he accused hym of thappetyte of praysyng and of the mornyng of vayn glory sayeng that he wolde be preysed of men And thou blamest hym He shalle not be deffended of men whanne thow Iugest hym Ne be wythdrawen whanne thow shalt dampne hym For man is praysed for somme gyfte that thow hastâ— gyuen to hym Neuertheles he enioyeth more of that he is praysed thenne he doth of the yefte that thou hast gyuen We be tempted euery daye with these temptacions withoute ceassynge or cotidyan fornays is oure tonge humayne Neuerthelesse I wold wel that the name of euery good dede shold encrece by the help of a straunge mouth But the tongue encreceth hit not but blame mynuysseth hit I am sory somtyme of my praysynges whan they be praysed in me in whiche they displease me For so somme maners ben estemed better than they be This hooly man confounded ryght valyauntly the Heretykes in soo moche that they prechyd openly that it were no synne to slee augustyn and said that he ought to be slayn like a wolf and they affermed that god pardonned alle the synnes to them that slewe hym And was oftymes awaited of them And whanne he went in to ony places they sette espyes but by the grace of god they were deceyued of theyr vyage and myght not fynde hym He remembryd alwey the poure peple and socourâ—d them frely of that he myght haue And somtyme he commaunded to breke the vessels of the chirche for to gyue to the poure peple and dispende it among the nedy He wold neuer bye hows ne felde ne Towne And refused many herytages that were fallen to hym wherfore he sayd that they apperteyned to the children of the dede peple and to them that were next of theyr kynne And it suffysed hym ynough that whiche fill to hym by the chirche And yet he was not ententyf for the loue of suche goodes but day and nyght he thoughte in dyuyne scriptures he had neuer studye in newe fabrykes ne buyldynges but eschewed to sette theron his courage whiche euer he wold haue free fro alle bodyly greues so that he myght more frely entende and more contynuelly to the lesson Neuertheles he wold not forbede them that wold edyffye yf that he sawe them not doo it dysatemperatly he preysed them strongly that had desyre to deye and remembryd moche ofte there vppon the ensamples of thre bisshops For whanne Ambrose was at his ende he was prayd that he sholde gete lenger space of his lyf by his prayers he answerd I haue not lyued soo that I am ashamed to lyue amonge yow And I am not aferd to dye For I haue a good lord whiche answere Augustyn preysed merueylously And also he sayd of another Bisshop that it was said to hym that he was yet moche necessarye to the Chirche and that he shold praye to god for the delyueraunce of his sekenesse And he sayd yf I dyde neuer wel but selde wherfor shold he delyuer me now And of another Bisshop that he sayd that Cypryan tolde whan he was in greuous sekenes and prayd that god wold sende hym helthe A yonglyng appered to hym and loked sternly on hym and said to hym by desdayne thou doubtest to sâ—â—fre to yssue what shalle I doo to the He wold neuer haue that ony woman sholde dwelle with hym ne his owne susters ne the doughters of his broder whiche serued god to gyder For he sayd though of his suster ne of his nyeces myght none euylle suspecion growe Neuertheles by cause that suche persones myght not be wyth oute other that serued them And also other myght come to them of such myght the thoughtes be meued to temptacions or myght be diffamed by euyl suspecion of men he wold neuer speke allone with ony wymmen but yf hit were in secrete he gaf neuer no goodes to his kynne ne to his Cosyns ne he retched whether they habouÌ„ded or were nedy he wold neuer or selde pray for ony neyther by lettres ne by wordes remembryng a certayne philosopher to whome his frendes had not gyuen moche to in the tyme of his hongre Ofte the puyssaunt that is requyred yeueth Verayly whan he spack for his frende he attempred soo the maner of his dytee that he was not ouer hastyng hym self but the curtosye of the sayer deserued to be herd He wold gladlyer here causes of vnknowen men than of his frendes For bytwene them he myghte frely knowe the defaute and of them to make one his frende for whome by ryghte he myght gyue sentence And of his frendes he was sure to lese one that was hym ayenste whome he gaf the sentence he was desyred to preche the word of god in many chirches And there he prechyd and conuerted many fro errours whanne he prechyd he had a custom soÌ„tyme to departe him fro his purpoos and theÌ„ne he said that god had ordeyned that for the prouffyte of som ne persone As hit appered to a manychyen whiche in a sermon of Augustyn where as he departed fro his mater and prechyd ageynste the same errour And therby he was conuerted to the feythe In that tyme that the Gothes had taken Rome and that thydolatres and fals crysten men enioyed them therof Thenne made saynt Augustyn therfore the book of the Cyte of god in whiche he shewed fyrste that rightwys men were destroyed in this lyfe And the euylle men flowryd And the traytye of the two Cytees is Ierusalem and Babylone and of the kynges of them For the kynge of Iherusalem is Ihesu Cryste And he of Babylone is the deuylle the whiche two Cytees make two loues in hem For the cyte of the deuylle maketh a loue to hym self growyng the same vnto despyte of God And the cyte of god made a loue growyng vnto the despyte of hym In that tyme the wandales aboute the yere of oure lord foure honderd and fourty took alle the prouynce of Auffryke and wasted all And spared neyther man ne woman ne for ordre ne for age And after cam to the Cyte of yponense and assyeged hit wyth grete power And vnder that trybulacion Augustyn to fore al other ladde a bytter and ryght hooly lyf For the teres of his eyen were to hym brede daye and nyght whanne he sawe somme slayn other chaced awey the chirches with oute preestes and the Cytee wasted with the InhabytauÌ„ts And among thus many euylles by the sentence of a certayne wyseman he comforted hym self sayeng thou shalt not be greete in wenyng grete thynges by cause that the woodes and stones falle And they that ben mortal dye he called thenne his bretheren and sayd I haue praid our lord that eyther he take aweye fro vs these
were in gadryng as it is sayd in Scolastica historia there cam Monkes fro Ierusalem whiche couertly putt them among the gaderers and took a grete parte of them and bure them to Phelyp Bisshop of Ierusalem And he sente them afterward to athanayse bisshop of Allexandrye and longe tyme after Theophyle Bysshop of the same Cyte leide them in the Temple of Serapis when he had halowed and purged it fro fylthe and sacred it a chirche in thonoure of saynt Iohan Baptist and this is that thystorye scolastike sayth But now they be worshipped deuoutely at Iene lyke as alexander the thyrde and Innocent the fourthe wytnesseth for trouthe and approwe it by their pryuelegys And like as Herode which biheded hym was punysshed for his trespas soo Iulyan thappostata was smyten with dyuyne vengeaunce of god whos persecucion is conteyned in thystorye of saynt Iulyen to fore rehersed after the conuersion of saynt Poul Of this Iulyan appostata of his natyuyte of his empyre of his cruelte and of his dethe is sayd playnly in historia tripertita Thirdely this feste is halewed for the Inuencion of his heede or fyndynge therof For as somme saye his heede was founden on this day And as hit is redde in thystorye Scolastyke Iohan was bounden and enprysonned had his hede smyten of within the castel of Arabye that is named Macheâ—onte And Herodyane dyd do bere the hede in to Ierusalem and dyd do burye it secretely ther by where as herode dwellyd For she doubted that the prophete shold ryse ageyne yf his hede were buryed with the body And as hit is had in thystory Scolastyke in the tyme of Marcian the prynce which was the yere of our lord thre honderd and liij Iohan shewed his hede to two moÌ„kes that were comen to Ierusalem And thenne they wente to the palays whiche was longynge to herode and fonde the hede of saynt IohÌ„n wrapped in an hayre And as I supoose they were of the vestymentes that he ware in deserte And theÌ„ne they wente with the heede toward their propre places And as they wente on theyr wey a poure man whiche was of the Cyte of Emyssene cam and felaushipped with them And they delyuerd hym the bagge in whiche was the hooly heede Thenne this man was warned in the nyght that he shold goo his Waye flee fro them with the heede and soo he wente with the heede and brought hit in to the Cyte of Emyssene And there as long as he lyued he worshyped the heede in a caue and had alwey good prosperyte And whan he shold dye he told and shewed it to his suster chargynge her to telle it to no body by her faythe and she kepte it all her lyf lyke as he had done to fore long tyme After that long tyme the blessid IohÌ„n Baptiste made reuelacion of his hede to saynt Marcell Monke that dwellyd in that caue in this maner hym semed in his slepyng that many companyes syngyng wente thyder and sayd loo here is saynt Iohan baptist whome one lad on the ryght syde and another on the lyft syde and blessyd all them that wente with hym to whome whan Marcelle cam he reysed hym vp and tooke hym by the chynne and kyssed hym And Marcell demaunded hym sayd My lord fro whens arte thou come to vs And he sayd I am comen fro Sebasten And thenne whan Marcelle was awaked he merueyled moche of this vysyon And the nyght folowyng as he slepte ther cam a man to hym whiche awoke hym And whan he was awaked he sawe a right fayr sterre whiche shone amyddes of the câ—lle thorugh the hows And he arâ—â—s wold haue touched it and it torned sodenly on that other syde And he beganne to renne after hit tylle that the sterre abode in the place where the heede of saynt Iohan was and there he daâ—f and fonde a potte and the hooly heede therin And a Monke that wold not byleue that hit was the heede of saynt Iohan leyd his hande vpon the potte and forthwith his honde brenned and cleued soo to the potte that he couthe not withdrawe it ther fro in no manere and his felawes prayd for hym And thenne he drewe of his hande but it was not hoole And saynt Iohan appered to hym and sayd whan my heed shalle be sette in the chirche touche thou thenne the potte and thou shalt be hoole and soo he dyd and receyued his helthe and was hool as it was before Thenne Marcelle shewed this to Iulyane bisshop of the same cite and they bare it reuerently in to the cyte and shewed hit honourably And fro that tyme forthe the feste of his dâ—collacion was there halowed for it was founden the same day And after this it was transported in to the cite of Constantynople And as it is sayd in thystorye trypartyte that Valent themperour commaunded that it shold be leyd in a charyot for to be broughte to Constantinople And when it cam to Galcydone the charyot wold go no ferther how wel that they sette in moâ—estes to drawe it wherfor they must leue hit there but afterward theodofius wolde brynge it thennes And fonde a noble woman sette for to kepe it And he prayde her that she wolde suffre hym to bere awey the heede And she consented by cause that she supposed that lyke as valent myght not haue it thens that in lyke wyse he sholde not conne haue hit thennes Thenne themperour took it and enbraced in his armes moche swetely the holy hede And leyd it within his pourpre and bare it in to the Cyte of Constantynople and ediffyed there a right fayre chirche and set hit therin This sayth the Hystorye trypertyte After this in the tyme that the kynge Pyppyne regned hit was transported in Fraunce in Peytowe And there by his merytes many dede men were reised to lyf And in lyke wyse as Herodes was punysshed that byheded saynt Iohan And Iulyan appostata that brente his bones soo was Herodyane whiche counceylled her doughter to demaunde the hede of saynt Iohan And the mayde that requyred hit deyde ryght vngraciously and euylle And some saye that Herodyane was condempned in exyle but she was not ne she deyde not there but whan she helde the heede bytwene her handes she was moche ioyeful but by the wyll of god the heede blewh in in her vysage and she deyde forthwith This is sayd of somme but that whiche is sayd to fore that she Was sente in exyle wyth Herode and myserably ended her lyf This sayen sayntes in her Cronycles it is to be holden And as her doughter went vpon the water she was droâ—ned anone And it is sayd in another Cronycle that the erthe swalowed her in all quycke and may be vnderstonden as of the egypciaÌ„s that were drouned in the reede see so the erthe deuoured Fourthly this feste was halowed for the translacion of his fyngre and the dedycacion of his chirche For his fyngre with whiche he shewed
blessyd Euse be the pope and dwellyd there fyue yere And heled two lame men and two blynde men And thenne the Angel appered to her in her slepe and sayd to her what is this that thow dost that hast lefte thy Rychesses and lyuest here in delyces Aryse and dyne And after goo in to the cyte of Trecane that thow maist fynde there thy brother And thenne she sayd to her chambryere It behoueth vs no lenger to abyte here And she sayd lady whyder wylle ye goâ— Alle the peple here loue yow well And wylle ye go dye in a place where as the peple knowe yow not And she sayd god shalle purueye for vs And thenne she tooke a loof of barly breed and wente vnto the Cyte of Rauenne and entryd in to the hows of a ryche man whos doughter was bewayled as deed And she requyred the mayde of the hows that she myght be lodged there And she sayd how mayst thou be lodged here whan the doughter of hâ—rin is deed and alle be sorowfull And she sayd to her For me she shalle not deye and thenne she entrid in and took the haÌ„d of the mayde and reysed her vp al hole And the moder wold haue reteyned her there but she in no wyse wold agre therto but departed And the doughter lyued and aroos on the morne And whanne Sauyne with her chambryere arryued a myle nyghe vnto trecane she sayd to her Chambryere that she wold there reste a lytel And there cam a noble man fro the Cite named Lyceryen and demaunded them sayeng Of whens be ye To whome Sauyne seyde I am of this Cyte And he sayd Why lyest thow when thy speche sheweth the to be a pylgrym And she sayd Verayly I am a pylgrym and feche Sauyen my broder whome I haue long loste And he sayd to her that man for whome thou demaundest was but late slayne for the name of Ihesu Cryste and is buryed in suche a place And thenne she put hyr in prayeng and sayd lord which hast alwey kept me in chastyte suffre me thenne nomore to trauayle by these hard and wery Iourneyes ne my body to be remâ—ued oute of this place And lord I recommaunde to the my chambryere whiche hath suffred soo moche payne for me and for my broder whome I may not here see I byseche the to make me worthy to se hym in thy regne And whanne she had fynysshed her prayer she passed oute of this world and wente to oure lord whanne her chambryere sawe that her maystresse was deed she beganne to wepe by cause she had nothyng necessary to bury her with The sayd man thenne sente a cryat thorugh the Cyte that all grete and smale shold come see the strauÌ„ge woman that was there deed And incontynent alle the peple ranne and she was buryed honourably And this same day is the feste of saynt Sauyne that was wyf of saynt Valentyn knyght whiche was byheded vnder Adryan themperour by cause he wold not sacryfyse to thydollys Thus enden the liues of saint Samen martir and of Sainne his sustir Here foloweth the lif of seine Lowe And first of thinterpretacion of his name EOwe or Lupe is somme sekenes in the legge whiche behoueth a medycyne For hit is a maladye that regneth and vseth the flesshe And also hit is sayd a maner of fysshe that is on the water and on the londe And it may not drowne by no force of water And thus maye be expowned saynt Lowe For he vsed and strayned his propre flesshe by penaunce For he was lyke the lupe of the water and of the erth For he duellyd in the waters of dâ—lyâ—es of rychesses and of temptacions and myght not drowne among these waters in no wyse ¶ Of saynt Lupe or Lowe SAynt Lupe or Lowe was borne at OrleauÌ„ce And was of the ryal lygnage And by the resplendysshour of his grete and many myracles and vertues He was made Archebisshop of Sense And gaf alle that he hadde to poure peple And on a day whanne all was gyuen It happed that he hadde boden many men to dyne with hym And thenne his mynystres sayd that there was not wyn half ynough for the dyner And he answerd to them he that fedeth the byrdes of heuen shall performe hisâ— haryte of wyne And anone after come a messager to the yate that sayd to them that there were a reyued to fore the yate an honderd Mâ—es of wyne On a tyme they of the Courte sayd euylle of hym by cause that he had with hym a vyrgyn of oure lord whiche was doughter of his predecessour And as they sayd he loued â—eramour and spake moche despytously and ouer dysatemperately And whanne he herd these thynges he tooke the vyrgyne and kyssed her to fore alle the detractours and euylle sayers and sayde that no straunge ne euyll wordes ennoye ne hurte no man whanne his owne conscyence defoylleth hym not And by cause he knewe well that she loued well Ihesu Cryste and purely therfor this hooly man louyd her with a ryght pure thought On a tyme whanne the kyng Clotayre was kyng of Fraunce and entred in to Burgoyne he sente his styward ageynst them of sens for to assyege the Cyte ¶ Thenne Lupe entred in to the chirche and beganne to rynge the clock And whanne thenemyes herd it they had so grete drede that they supposed neuer to haue escaped fro thennes but that they shold haue deyde alle but yf they fledde and at the laste the stywarde of Burgoyne was taken â— And whanne he was taken ther was another styward sente in to Burgoyne cam to Sens And by cause saynt lupe had gyuen to hym no gyftes he had grete despyte And diffamed hym to the kyng so that the kynge sente hym in to exyle And there he shone by myracles and vertues And in the mene whyle they of Sens slewe a Bisshop whiche had taken the place of saynt lupe ¶ And after they impetred of the kyng that saynt Lupe retorned fro exyle And whanne the kyng sawe that he was wrongly doo to he was chauÌ„ged by the grace of god that he knelyd to fore the saynt and requyred pardon And restablysshed hym ageyne in his chirche and gaf to hym many fayr yeftes On a tyme as he cam to parys a grete coÌ„panye of prysoners cam ageynste hym theyr bondes broken And alle the dores of the pryson open On a sonday as he songe masse A precious stone fylle doune fro heuen in to his chalyce the whiche he gaf to the kynge whiche he helde for a noble relyque On a tyme the kyng Clotayre herd saye that the Clockes of saynt Steuâ—n of Sens had a merueylous swetenes in theyr sowne And sente for them and tooke them fro thens and dyde doo brynge them to Parys by cause he wold here the sown of them but it displeased moche to saynt Lupe And as sone as they were oute of the Cyte they lost
the rayes of the sonne at the Iugement his deth is coÌ„uerted in to perdurabylyte of lyf wherof it is sayd in the preface that fro whens that the dethe grewe From thens the lyf resourded And the stenche is torned in to swetenes caÌ„ticoruÌ„ j This exaltacion of the hooly crosse is solempnysed and halowed solempnly of the chirche For the faythe is in hit moche enhaunced For the yere of oure lord sixe honderd xv our lord suffred his people moche to be tormentyd by the cruelte of the paynyms And Cosdroe kynge of the Perceens subdued to his empyre alle the Royammes of the world And he cam in to Ierusalem and was aferd and adrad of the sepulcre of our lord retorned but he bare with hym the parte of the hooly Crosse that saynt Helene had left ther And thenne he wold be worshiped of alle the peple as a god dyd do make a tour of gold and of syluer wherâ— in precious stones shone and 〈◊〉 therin the ymages of the sonne and 〈◊〉 the mone and of the sterres and 〈◊〉 that by subtyle conduytes water to 〈◊〉 hydde and to come doune in maner of rayne And in the laste stage he made horses to drawe charyottes round aboute lyke as they had meuyd the boure made it to seme as it had thondreâ— and delyuerd his Royamme to his sone And thus this cursyd man abode in this Temple dyd doo sette the Crosse of our lord by hym and commauÌ„ded that he shold be callyd god of alle the peple And as it is redde in libro de mitraâ—â— officio The sayd Cosdroe resydent in his trone as a fader sette the tree of the Crosse on his ryght syde in stede of the sone and a cock on the lyft syde in stede of the hooly ghoost commaunded that he shold be called fader And thenne Heracle themperour assembled a greete hoost and cam for to fyght with the sonne of Cosdroe by the ryuer of danubye thenne hit pleasyd to eyther prynce that â—che of them shold fyght one ageynâ—â—e that other vpon the bridge he that shold vaynquysshe ouercome his aduersarye sholde be prynce of th empyre withâ—ute hurtyng eyther of bothe hostes so hit was ordeyned sworn that who someuer shold helpe his prynce shold haue forthwith his legges armes cut of to be plonged cast in to 〈◊〉 Ryuer And thenne Heracle commaunded hym all to god and to the hooly crosse with all the deuocion that he myght And thenne they fought longe And at the last our lord gaf the vyctory to Heracle and subdued hym to his empyre The hoost that was contrary and alle the peple of Cosdroe obeyed them to the Crysten faythe receyued the hooly baptysme And Cosdroe knewe not the ende of the batayll For he was adoured and worshiped of alle the peple as a god so that no man durst say nay to hym And theÌ„ne Heracle cam to hym and fonde hym syttynge in his syege of golde and sayd to hym For as moche as after the manere thou haste honoured the Tree of the crosse yf thou wilt receyue baptym and the faythe of Ihesu Cryst I shal gete it to the and yet shalt thow holde thy crowne and Royamme with lytel hostages And I shalle lete the haue thy lyf And yf thou wilt not I shal slee the wyth my swerd and shalle smyte of thyne heed And whanne he wold not acorde not therto he dyd anon do smyte of his hede and commaunded that he shold be buryed by cause he had be a kynge And he fonde with h 〈…〉 one his sone of the age of ten yere whome he dyde doo baptyse and lyft hym fro the fonte And lefte to hym the Royamme of his fader And thenne dyd doo breke that Towre And gaf the syluer to them of his hooste gaf the gold and precious stones for to repayre the chirches that the tyraunt had destroyed and tooke the hooly crosse and brought it ageyne to Ierusalem And as he descended fro the mount of Olyuete and wold haue entryd by the gate by whiche our sauyour wente to his passion on horsbacke aourned as a kynge sodenly the stones of the yates descended ioyned them to gyder in the gate lyke a wall alle the peple was abasshed thenne the Aungel of oure lord appyered vpon the gate holdyng the signe of the signe of the crosse in his honde and sayd whanne the kynge of heuen wente to his passion by this gate he was not arayed lyke a kynge ne on horsbacke but cam humbly vppon an asse in shewynge thexample of humylyte Which he left to them that honoure hym And when this was sayd he departed and vanysshed aweye Thenne themperour took of his hosen and shone hymself in wepynge and despoylled hym of alle his clothes in to his sherte and tooke the crosse of our lord and bare it moche humbly vnto the yate And anone the hardnes of the stones felte the celestyalle commaundement remeued anone and opened and gaf entree vnto them that entred Thenne the swete odour that was felt that day whanne the hooly Crosse was taken fro the Toure of Cosdroe and was brought ageyne to Iherusalem fro soo ferre couÌ„tre and so grete space of lond retourned in to Iherusalem in that moment and replenysshed it with al swetenes Thenne the ryght deuoute kyng beganne to saye the praysynges of the Crosse in this wyse O Crux splendidior et cetera O Crosse more shynynge than alle the sterres honoured of the world ryght holy and moche amyable to alle men whiche only were worthy to bere the raunson of the world Swete tree Swete nayles Swete yron swete spere berynge the swete burthens Saue thou this present company that is this daye assembled in thy lawde and praysynges And thus was the precious tree of the Crosse reestablysshed in his place And thauÌ„cyent myracles renewed For a deede man was reysed to lyf and four men taken wich the palsey were cured and heled lepres were made clene and fyften blynde receyued theyr syghte ageyn Deuylles were put out of men And moche peple and many were delyuerd of dyuerse sekenes and maladyes Thenne themperour dyd doo repayre the Chirches and gaf to them grete yeftes And after returned home to his Empyre And hit is sayd in the Cronycles that this was done other wyse For they saye that whanne Cosdroe hadde taken many Royammes he tooke Iherusalem and Zacharye the patriarke and bare awey the tree of the Crosse And as Heracle wold make pees with hym the kyng Cosdroe sware a grete othe that he wold neuer make pees with Crysten men and Romayns yf they renyed not hym that was crucyfyed and adoured the sonne And thenne Heracle whiche was armed wyth faythe broughte his hooste ageynst hym and destroyed and wasted the Persyens with many batayls that he made to them And made Cosdroe to flee vnto the Cyte of
Sophye in the moneth Ianyuer And alle the peple wente to mete with it and acompanyed it wyth torchys and lyghtes And thenne Theodosym worshiped deuoutely the hooly relyques and vysyted ofte his sepulture prayenge the hooly saynt to pardone Archadyen his fader and Eudoxia his moder and to foryeue them that they hadde done ignorauÌ„tly ayenst hym And they were dede longe to fore This emperoure was of soo grete debonayrte that he iuged noman to dethe that hadde offendyd hym And sayd that his wyâ—le was to calle the dede men to lyf ageyne yf he myghte It semed that his Courte was a monasterye For therin were sayd contynuelly matyns and lawdes he redde the bookes dyuyne And his wyf was called Eudochice he had also a doughter named Eudoxe whome he gaf to wyf to Valentynyen whom he made emperour ¶ And alle these thynges ben wreton more playnly in thystorye tripertite And this hooly man saynt Iohan Crysostome passed aboute the yere of our lord thre honderd four score ten ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Iohan Crisostome Here foloweth of saint Cornely the pope and martir And first thexposicion of his name And of saint Ciprian COrnely is expowned And is as moche to saye as entendynge in prayer And the garde in abydynge thynges outrageous Or Cornely is sayd of Cornu whiche is as moche to saye as stronge and of leos that is peple that is the strengthe of peple Cypryan is sayd of Cyprye that is oynture and Ana that is hyghe Thenne Cypryan is as moche to saye as oynture of hyghte For he had oynture of the grace souerayne and of vertues or Cipryan is sayd of Cyprys that is to saye heuynes or herytage For he hadde heuynes of his synnes and herytage of the heuenly Ioyes ¶ Of saint Cornely and saint Ciprian SAint Cornely succeded to Fabyan in the papacye And was sente in exyle of decian Cezar And his Clerkes with hym And there receyued lettres of comforte fro Ciprian Bisshop of cartage And atte laste he was brought ageyne from exyle And presented to Dicyen And whanne he sawe hym fast in the fayth he commaunded that he shold be beten with plomettys of lede And that he shold be broughte to the Temple of mars for to doo sacryfyse or els to haue his hede smyton of And as he was ledde a knyght prayd hym that he wold retorne to his hows by cause of saluste his wyf whiche had leyn seke fyue yere of the pallasye And she was heled by his prayers And one and twenty knyghtes with her byleuyd in god and were al broughte to the temple of Mars by the commaundemente of decyen And alle they spytte ayenst hit were all martred with Cornely And they suffred dethe aboute the yere of our lord ijC and liij And Cypryan bisshop of Cartage was present in the same cyte was brought to fore paterne the Consul And whanne he couthe not torne hym in no wyse fro the faythe of cryste he sente hym in exyle And fro 〈◊〉 he was called ageyne of Galeryen Consull whiche cam after paterne And receyned martirdome by smytyng of his hede ¶ And whanne the sentence was gyuen on hym he sayd graces thankynges be gyuen to god And whanne he cam to the place of his martirdome he commaunded his seruauntes to gyue to hym that shold smyte of his heede xxv pyeces of gold And thenne he tooke a lynen clothe and bonde his eyen with his owne handes And thus be exceyued the crowne of martirdome the yere of oure lord ijC and lvj Thus enden the lyues of saint Cornely and Cipriane Here foloweth the lyf of saint Eufemye And first of thynterpretacion of hir name EUfemia is said of eu that is good and of femme that is a woman as who sayth a good woman that is to wete a prouffitable honeste and delectable For in this treble maner she is sayd good She was prouffytable to other by conuersacyon Honeste by ordynaunce of maners And delectable to god Or Eufemye is sayd thus as swetenes of sowne Swete sowne is made in thre maners that is to wete by voys as in syngyng by touchynge as in an harpe and by blowynge as in pypes and organes Thus was the blessyd Eufemye swete sowne to god in voys of predicacion in touchynge of good werke and in blowynge of deuocion Of saint Eufemye EUfemye was doughter of a Senatour And sawe Cristen men in the tyme of Dyoclesyan so sore tormentid and al to rente by dyuerse tormentys she cam to the Iuge And confessyd her to be Crysten And she coÌ„forted by ensample the courages of other men and by her Constaunce And whanne the Iuge slâ—we the ceysten men the one to fore another And made other to be present by cause they shold be aferd of that they sawe the other soo cruelly tormentyd and broken And that they shold sacryfyse for drede and fore And whanne Eufemye sawe thus heuen to fore her the hooly sayntes she was the more constaunt by the stedfastnes of the martirs And sayd to the Iuge and sayd that she suffryd wronge of hym Thenne the Iuge was glad wenynge that she wolde haue consentyd to doo sacryfyse and whanne he demaunded her what wronge he had done to her she sayd to hym For sythe I am of noble sygnage why puttest thou to fore me the strauÌ„gers and vnknowen and makest them goo to Cryste to fore me For hit were my playsyr to goo thyder by martirdome to fore them And the Iuge sayd to her I had supposed that thow woldest haue retorned in thy thought and I was glad that thow haddest remembryd thy noblesse And thenne she was enclosed in the pryson And the daye folowynge withoute bondes was brought to fore the Iuge And thenne she complayned ryght greuously why ageynste the lawes of themperours she was allone spared for to be out of bondes And thenne she was longe beten with fystes and after sente apene to pryson And the Iuge folowed her and wold haue taken her by force for to haue accomplysshed his fowle luste but she deffended her forcybly and the vertu dyuyne made the hondes of the Iuge to be came And thenne the Iuge wende to haue hen enchaunted and sente to her the prouost of his hows for to promyse to her many thynges for to make her consente to hym buâ— he myght neuer opene the pryson whiche was shytte neyther with keye ne with axes tylle he was rauysshed with a deuylle cryenge and tretynge hym self that vnnethe he escaped And thenne she was drawen oute and sette vpon a whele full of brennynge coles And thartilloure that was mayster of the tormentys had gyuen a token to them to torne it that whan he shold make a sowne that they all shold tourne it And the fyre shold sprynge oute alle to breke and rende the body of the vyrgyne but by thordynaunce of god the yron that the artillour and mayster had in his honde fylle to the erthe
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 pareÌ„tes 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 chauÌ„celler 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 â—â—te 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
the loue of god withoute takynge of ony reward There was a lady whiche had spente al her goodes in medycyns and cam to these sayntes and anone was heled of her sekenesse and thenne she offrid a lytell yefte to saynt Damyan but he wold not receyue it And she sware and coniured hym by horryble othes that he graunted to receyue hit And not for couetyse of the yefte but for to obeye to the deuocion of her that offred it And that he wold not be sene to despyse the name of our lord of whiche he had be coniured And whanne saynt Cosme knewe hit he commaunded that his body shold not be leyd after his dethe with his broders And the nyght folowynge our lord apperyd to saynt Cosme and excused his broder And whanne Lysyas herd theyr renommee he made them to be callyd to foâ—e hym and demaunded their names and their countrey And thenne the holy martyrs sayd Our names ben Cosme and Damyan And we haue thre other bretheren whiche he named Antyne Leonce and Euprepye Our countreye is Arabye but Crysten men knowe not fortune Thenne the preconsul or Iuge commaunded them that they shold brynge forth theyr bretheren And that they shold alle togyder doo sacryfyse to the ydollys And whanne in no wyse they wold do sacryfyse but despysed thydollys he commaunded they shold be sore tormentid in the handes and feet And whanne they despysed his tormentys he commaunded them to be bounden with a chayne and throwen in to the See But they were anone delyuerd by thaungell of oure lord and taken oute of the See and cam ageyne to fore the Iuge And whan the Ingr sawe them he sayd ye ouercome our grete goddes by your enchauntementes ye despyse the tormentis and make the see peasyble Teche ye me your wytchecraft And in the name of the god Adryan I shall folowe yow And anone as he had said this two deuyls cam and bete hym gretely in the vysage And he cryeng sayd O ye good men I praye yow that ye pray for me to our lord And they thenne praid for hym And anon the deuyls departed Thenne the Iuge sayd Loo ye may see how the goddes had indignacion ageynst me by cause I thonght to haue forsaken them but I shal not suffre my goddes to be blasphemed And thenne he commaunded them to be cast in to a grete fyre But anone the flamme sprange ferre from them and slewe many of them that stode by And thenne they were commaunded to be puâ—te on a torment named Eculâ—e but they were kepte by the Aungel of our lord And the tormentours tormentid them aboue alle men And yet were they taken of with oute hurt on gryef and foo cam all hole to fore the Iuge Thenne the Iuge commaunded the thre to be put in pryson And made Cosme and Damyan to be crucyfyed and to be stoned of the peple but the stones retourned to them that threwe them and hurted wounded many of them Thenne the Iuge replenysshed with woodenesse made the thre bretheren to stande by the Crosse And commaunded that foure knyghtes shold shote arowes to Cosme and Damyan but the arowes retorned and hurted many and dyd no harme to the martirs And whan the Iuge sawe that he was confused in alle thynges he was anguysshous vnto the dethe and dyde doo byhede all fyue bretheren to gydre Thenne the crysten men doubted of the word that saynt cosme had sayd that his broder shold not be buryed wyth hym and as they thoughte theron there cam a voys whiche cryed and sayd they ben al of one substaunce berye them all to gydre in one place And they suffred deth vnder Dyoclesyan aboute the yere of oure lord two honderd four scorâ— and seuen It happend that an husbond man after that he had laboured in the felde aboute repynge of his corn he slepte With open mouthe in the feld And a serpent entryd in by his mouthe in to his body thenne he awoke felte no thynge and after retorned in to his hows And at euen he beganne to be tormented and cryed pytously and called vnto his helpe the holy sayntes of god cosme and damyan and whanne the payne and anguysshe encreced he wente to the chirche of the sayntes and fylle sodenly a slepe and thenne the serpent yssued oute of his mouthe lyke as it had entryd There was a man that shold haue gone a longe vyage and recommended his wyf to cosme and Damyan and lefte a token with her that yf he sente for her by that token she shold come to hym And the deuylle knewe well the token transfygured hym self in the fonrme of a man and brought to the woman the signe of her husbond sayd thyn husbonde hath sente me fro that cyte to the for to lede the to hym And yet she doubted for to goo wyth hym and sayd I knowe wel the token but by cause he lefte me in the kepynge of the sayntes cosme and Damyan Swere to me vpon theyr aulter that thou shalt brynge me to hym surely And thenne I shalle goo with the And he sware lyke as she hadde sayd Thenne she folewed hym And whan she cam in a secrete place the deuylle wolde haue throwen her doune of her hors for to haue slayne her And when she felte that she cryed to god and to the sayntes cosme and damyan for help And anone these sayntes were there with a grete multytude clothed inn whyte and delyuerd her and the deâ—ylle vanysshed away And they sayd to her we ben Cosme and Damyan To whoos othe thou byleuedest Therfore we haue hyed vs to come to shyn helpe Felyx the eyght pope after saynt gregory dyd doo make a noble chirche at Rome of the sayntes Cosme and Damyan and ther was a man whiche serued deuoutely the hooly martirs in that chirche whome a Canâ—â—e had consumed al his thye And as he slepte the hooly martirs Cosme and Damyan apperyd to hym theyr deuoute seruaunt bryngynge with them an Instrument and oynement of whome that one sayd to that other where shal we haue flesshe whan we hane cutte aweye the roten flesshe to fylle the voyde place Thenne that other sayd to hym Ther is an ethyopyen that this day is buryed in the chircheyerd of saynt peter ad vincula whiche is yet fresshe late vs bere this thyder and take we oute of that moryans flesshe and fâ—ll this place with all And soo they fette the thye of this dede man and cutte of the thye of the seke man and soo chaunged that one for that other and when the seke man awoke and felte no payne he put forthe his honde and felte his legge withoute hurte And thenne tooke a Candel and sawe wel that it was not his thye but that hit was another And when he was well come to hym self â—e sprange oute of his bedde for ioye and recounted to al the peple how hit was happed to hym and that
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 â—onnon 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 tâ—erys and sayde O moost hyhe god haue pyte on me synnar the adournemeÌ„t 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 coÌ„fouÌ„de 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
his seruauntes Was almooste ouerthrowen as he smote that one foâ—e with that other And yet the sadder foote sauyd al and kepte hym on his feet whiche thynge gaf occasion to the kynge to talke to his lordes And tho two feet were lykened to two bretheren that yf that one were ouer charged that other shold helpe and socoure hym Thenne sayd the kynge soo myght my broder haue ben an helpe to me and a supporter in tyme of nede yf he had not ben bytraid of goodwyn Thenne goodwyne herynge these wordes of the kynges mouthe was soore aferd sayde Syre ye deme that I shold bytraye your broder I pray god that this Morcelle of brede may choke me yf I consented to his deth Thenne the kyng blessyd the brede and badde hym ete hit And the morsell abode in his throte choked hym soo that his brethe was stopped and so deyde wretchydly Thene the kynge sayd drawe the traytour oute of my presence For now his traysone and falshede appyereth On an eester day whanne he had receyued our lord was sette at his dyner In the myddle of it whanne all was scylence he fylle in to a smylyng and after in to a sadnes wherfore alle that were there merueyled gretely but none durste axe of hym what he mente but after dyner duke harold folowed hym in to his chambre with a bisshop and an Abbot that were of his preuy counceylle and demaunded of hym the cause of that thynge Thenne the kyng sayde whanne I remembryd at my dyner the grete benefetes of worship dignyte of metes of drynkes of seruauntes of arraye and of alle Rychesses and Ryalte that I stoode in at that tyme And I referryd all that worship to almyghty god as my customme is thenne our lord opened myn eyen And I sawe the seuen slepers lyenge in a caue in the Mount Celyon besyde the Cyte of Ephesym in the same fourme and maner as though I hadde ben by them And I smyled whanne I sawe them tourne them fro the ryght syde to the lyft syde But whan I vnderstode what is sygnyfyed by the said tornynge I hadde no cause to lawghe but rather to morne The tornynge sygnefyeth that the prophecye be fulfylled that sayth Surget gens coÌ„tra gentem that is to saye peple shaâ—le aryse ageynste peple and a kyngdome ageynste another they haue leyn many yeres vpon their ryght syde And they shal lye yet on there lyft syde lxx yere In whiche tyme shalle be greete bataylles grete pestylence and greete moreyn grete erth quaues grete hongre and grete derthe thorugh alle the world of whiche sayenge of the kyng they gretely merueyled And anone they sente to the emperour to knowe yf ther were ony suche cyte or hylle in his londe in whiche suche seuen men sholde slepe Thenne the Emperour meruaylynge sente to the same hylle and there fonde the caue and the seuen martirs slepynge as they had ben deed lyenge on the lyft syde euerychone And thenne themperour was gretely abasshyd of that syght and commended gretely the holynes of saynt Edward the kynge of Englond whiche hadde the spyryte of prophecye For after his dethe beganne grete Insurrections thorugh al the world For the paynyms destroyed a grete parte of Syrye and threwe doune bothe monasteryes and chirches And what by pestylence and stroke of swerde stretes feldes and Townes lay ful of dede men the prynce of grece was slayne Themperour of Rome was slayne The kyng of Englond the kyng of Fraunce were slayne and alle the other Royames of the world were gretely troublyd with dyuerse diseases whan the blessyd kynge Edward had lyued many yeres and was falle in to grete age it happed he cam rydynge by a chirche in Essex called Clauerynge whiche was at that tyme in halowynge and shold be dedicate in thonour of our lord and saint Iohan theuangelyst wherfor the kynge for grete deuocion lyght doune and taryed whyle the chirche was in halowynge And in the tyme of procession A fayr old man cam to the kynge demaunded of hym almesse in the worship of god and saynt Iohan euangelyste Thenne the kynge fond nothynge redy to yeue ne his Amener was not presente but toke of the ryng fro his fyngre and yaue it vnto the poure man whome the poure man thaÌ„ked and departed And within certayne yeres after two pylgryms of Englond wente in to the hooly londe for to vysyte hooly places there And as they hadde lost their way and were gone fro their felauship and the nyghte approched and they sorowed gretely as they that wyste notwhyder to goo and dredde sore to be perysshed among wylde beestes ¶ At the last they sawe a fayr company of men arayed in whyte clothynge with two lyghtes borne a fore them And behynde them ther cam a faire auncyent man with white heer for age Thenne these pylgryms thought to folowe the lyÈte and drewe nyhe Thenne the old man axyd them what they were and of what Regyon And they answerd that they were pilgryms of Englond and had lost their felauship and way also Thenne this old man comforted them goodly and broughte them in to a fayre cyte where was a fayr Cenacle honestly arayed with all maner of deyntees And whanne they had well refresshyd them and restyd there alle nyghte On the morne this fayre old man wente with them and broughte them in the ryght weye ageyne And he was gladde to here them talke of the welfare and holynes of their kynge saynt Edward And whanne he shold departe fro them thenne he told them what he was and sayd I am Iohan theuangelyst And saye ye vnto Edward youre kynge that I grete hym wel by the token that he yaf to me this rynge with his owne handes at the halowynge of my chirche whiche ryng ye shalle delyuer to hym agexne And saye ye to hym that he dispose his goodes For within sixe monethes he shal be in the Ioye of heuen with me where he shalle haue his reward for hys chastyte and for his good byuynge And drede ye not for ye shalle spede ryght well in youre Iourney And ye shalle come home in short tyme sauf sounde And whan he hadde delyuerd to them the rynge he departed fro them sodaynly And sone after they cam home and dyd their message to the kynge and delyuerd to hym the ryng sayd that saynt IohÌ„n euangelyst sente it to hym And as soone as he herd that name he was full of ioye and for gladnes lete falle teerys fro his eyen â—euynge lawde and thankynge to almyghty god and to saynt Iohan his auowry that he wold vouchesauf to late hym haue knowlege of his departyng oute of this world Also he had another token of saynt Iohan that was that the two pylgryms shold deye tofore hym whiche thynge was prouyd trewe for they lyuyd not long after And at the feste of Cristemasse the kynge was seke And on the day of
aromatike had flowed oute of the Tombe And they fonde the palle that lay next hys body as hoole and as fayre as it was whan he was buryed And whan the palle was take of they drewe forthe his armes they moeued his fyngers and his toes and they were bowyng and hoole as they hadde be newely buryed And in his flesshe was fouÌ„den no corrupcion but it was faire fressh of colour pure and bryghter than glas whytter than snowe And it semed a body gloryfyed And they fered to discouere his vysage but gundulph whiche was hardyer than another with deuocion vnbonde his hede And the first that appyeryd was the fayre hoor here of his hede thenne he thought to take some therof for a relyque with reuerence drede plucked ther at but he coude none haue out for they were as fast as they were when he was a lyue TheÌ„ne said thabbot ffader suffre hym to lye in reste ateÌ„tpte not to mynuysshe that that our lord hath so long prescruyd kept hole Thenne the palle in whiche the holy body was wrappid was taken awey and another of the same valure was fette the holy body leid therin couerd ageyne his tombe with ful grete reuerence abydyng the grete resurection How vengeaunce was shâ—wed to a damoiselle that blasphemyd saynt Edward In the Cyte of london there was a noble woman whiche was ryÈt connyng in sylke werke whiche was desyred tembrawdre certayne garmentes to the countesse of gloucettre whiche thenne was yong lusty fresshe and newely wedded wold haue them made in short space And when the festful day of saynt Edward approchyd this noble woman was sore troublid in her mynde for she dradde thyndignacion of the grete lady yf her garmentes were not redy at tyme sette And also she dradde to werke on the day of saynt Edward for it was bothe synful perillous Thenne she sayd to a yong damoiselle that was felawe with her wrought in the same werke what thynke ye best now either to displese this lady or els this good saynt Edward and she answerd is this not that Edward whom the chorles of the countrey worshipe as he were a god she saide yet more what haue I to do with hym I wyl no more worshipe hym than yf he were a chorle theÌ„ne this noble woman was sore abasshyd and moeuyd with her that said suche wordes of blasphemy to this holy saynt And she all to bete her forto be in pees she of frowardnes blasphemyd hym more more thenne sodenly she was smeton wyth a palsey so that her mouthe was drawen to her ere also she had lost her speche foomyd atte mouth lyke a bore gruÌ„ted her teeth to gydre merueylously was sore punysshed in all her membris whan this noble woman sawe thie she was ful heuy that she had beten her by cause almyÈty god had so punysshed her wepte ful bytterly whan hit was knowen in the cyte her neyÈbours cam some for to comforte her some to wondre vpon her so lyeng theÌ„ne ther cam a worshipful man to visyte her counceiled that she shold be caryed by water vnto the shryne of saint edward to pray to god ther that by the merytes of the hooly saynt Edward he wold shewe some myracle for her and whan she was so brought thyder moch peple praid for her but they had not their entent anon but abode in her prayers tyl mydnyght that matyns began and thenne they praid the Monkes to praye for her And whan they hadde done matyns they come to the shryne also praid for this damoiselle whiche lay there in full grete payne torment whan the holy monkes had praide for her a good whyle thenne this damoyselle arose vp al hole demanded why they wepte and made so moche sorowe And whan they sawe hir mouth in his ryght place al hir membrys restored ageyne they were full of ioye yaf laude thankynges vnto almyghty god to his holy kyng Confessoure saint Edward How a Monk was heled of a feuer quartane In thabbay of westmynstre ther was a vertuous monke and connyng named Gylberd whiche was sore vexyd with a feuer quartane fro the moneth of Iuyl to Crystemas consumed lyke a drye ymage wherfor he praide god to relece his payne or take hym oute of thys world And on Cristemasse nyghte he toke herte to hym and wente to matyns with his bretheren And whan he herd the gospell how a lytell chyld was borne and yeuen to vs fro the fader of heuen whos moder was a pure vyrgyne he hadde so grete deuocion that his mynde was rauysshed with so grete ioye that he felte no dysease two dayes after And after tho two dayes the feuer cam ageyne and vexyd hym contynuelly vnto the fest of saint Edward whiche is alwey in the vygyle of the pyphanye that daye in the hyhe masse tyme he cam to the tombe of saint Edward fyll doun plat in grete deuocion wepyng sayd thus O thow my lord and my kynge how long wilt thou forgete me how long shall I suffre this payne how long shalt thou torne thy face fro me where ben alle the grete myracles that our faders haue told to vs done in theire dayes thou hast holpen many straungers but me that am in thyne owne chirche thow forgetest And closest to me the yate of thy pyte wold god that I myÈt deye I am norisshed in payne may not deye my lyf is sorowe to me but it can haue none ende I desyre deth can not haue it what shal I stryue with the but I beseche the good kyng laudable prynce swete patrone moeue thy bowellis of mercy on me yf it plese the yeue me helthe or els late me deye anon amoÌ„ge these wordes the teres brake oute of his eyen and sobbynges fro his herte that he coude not speke with hys mouthe but with his affection And whan masse was done he aroose vp fro prayer alle hoole and felte alle his membrys merueylously refresshyd with a newe strengthe And entryd in and axyd after mete and drynke anon he felte hym self that he had receyued ageyne his strengthe And euer after he was moeued with grete deuocion vnto the glorious saynt Edward by whoos merytees he was delyuerd fro his sekenes and dysease And in lyke wyse a knyght named Geryn was heled that same day a yere after of the feuer quartane whiche cam that same day vnto the shryne herde the same Monke that had soo be heled whiche thenne was pryour make a sermon in whiche he told of the myracle how he was hoole And after the Sermon this knyght thought he wold not ceesse but deuoutely pray this holy saynt tyll he were hole and abode there prayenge alle that daye and nyghte folowyng tyl the Monkes cam to matyns whome he praid to
Gerasyne quene of Scycyle whiche hadde made of her husbond that was a cruel tyraunt a meke lambe And was suster of Moryce the Bisshop and of Darye moder of saynt Vrsula To whome the fader of saynt vrsula had sygnefyed by secrete lettres She by thynspyracion of god put her self in the weye with her foure doughters Babylla Iuliana Victorea and aurea and her lytel sone Adryan whiche for loue of his susters wente in the same pylgremage And lefte alle in the hande of his owne sone and cam in to Brytayne And saylled ouer see in to Englond And by the counceyl of thys quene the virgyns wâ—re gadred to gydre fro dyuerse Royammes And she was ledar of them And at the last she suffryd martirdome with them And thenne the condycion made all thynges were made redy Thenne the quene shewed her counceylle to the knyghtes of her companye And made them alle to swere this newe chyualrye And thenne beganne they to make dyuerse playes and games of bataylle as to renne here and there and fayned many maner of playes And for alle that they lefte not their purpoos And somtyme they retourned fro this playe at mydday and somtyme vnnethe at euen songe tyme And the barons and grete lordes assembled them to see the fayre games and disportes And alle had ioye and playsyre in beholdyng them and also meruaylle And at the lasie whan Vrsula hadde conuertid all these Virgyns vnto the faith of Cryst they wente alle to the see And in the space of a daye· they sailled ouer the see hauynge soo good wynde that they arryued at a porte of gaule named Tyelle and fro thens cam to Coboyn where an Angel of our lord appyeryd to vrsula and tolde her that they shold retorne ageyne the hole nombre to that place and there receyue the crowne of martirdom fro thens by the monycyon of the angel they went toward Rome And whanne they cam to Basyle they lefte there theire shippes and wente to Rome a fote At the comynge of whome the pope Ciriacus was moche glad by cause he was borne in Brytayne And hadde many Cosyns amonge them And he with his clerkis receyued them with alle honour And that same nyght it was shewed to the pope that he shold receyue with them the Crowne of martirdome whiche thyng he hydde in hym self and baptifid many of them that were not thenne baptised And when he sawe tyme couenable when he had gouerned the chirch one yere and enleuen wekes and was the xix 〈◊〉 after Peter he purposed to fore alle the peple and shewed to them his purpoos and resigned his offyce and his dygnyte but alle men gaynsayd it and specially the cardynallys whiche supposed that he trespaced leuynge the glorye of the papacye And wold goo after this folysshe vyrgyns but he wold not agree tabyde but ordeyned an holy man to occupye in his place whiche was named Ametus And by cause he left the syege apostolyque ayenst the wylle of the clergye the clerkes put oute his name of the Cathologue of popes and alle the grace that he had goten in his tyme This holy companye of wymmen made hym for to leue hit And thenne two felon prynces of the Chyualrye of Rome Maxymyen and Affrycan sawe these grete companye of vyrgyns and that many men and wymmen assemblyd to them doubted that Crysten relygyon shold moche be encreaced by them wherfor they requyred dylygently of their vyage And thenne sente they messagers to Iulyan theire Cosyn prynce of the lygnage of the Hunes that he shold brynge his hoost ageynst them And shold assemble at Coleyne And there byhede them by cause they were Crysten And the blessyd Cyryake yssued oute of the Cyte of rome with this blessyd company of vyrgyns And Vyncent preest Cardynal and Iaques that was come fro Brytayne in to Antyoche and had holde there seuen yere the dignyte of the Bisshop whiche thenne hadde vysyted the pope and was gone oute of his Cyte And held company with these virgyns whan he herd of their comyng and suffrid martirdome with them And mauryce Bisshop of Leuytane the Cyte vncle of babylle and Iulyan And Folarius Bisshop of lucence with supplyce bisshop of Rauenne whiche thenne were come to Rome put them in the companye of these virgyns Ethereus the husbond of Vrsula abydyng in britayne was warned of our lord by a vysyon of an Angel that he shold exhorte his moder to be Crysten For his fader deyde the fyrste yere that he was Crystned And Ethereus his sene succeded after hym in his regne And thenne whan these holy vyrgyns retorned fro Rome with the bisshops Ethereus was warned of oure lord that he shold anone aryse and goo to mete his wyf at Coleyne and there receyue with her the Crowne of martirdome the whiche anone obeyed to admonestements dyuyne And dyd do baptyse his moder and cam with her and his lytel suster Florence thenne also baptysed and with the bisshop Clement metynge the holy virgyns and accompanyed them vnto martirdome Marculus bisshop of grece and his nece Constaunce doughter of Dorothe kynge of Constantynople which was maryed to the sone of a kynge but he deyde to fore the weddyng And she auowed to our lord her vyrgynyte they were also warned by a vysyon cam to Rome and ioyned them to these vyrgyns vnto the martirdome And thenne alle these vyrgyns cam with the bisshops to Coleyne And fonde that it was besyeged with the Hunes And whan the Hunes sawe them they beganne to renne vpon them with a grete crye and araged lyke wolues on shepe and slewe alle this grete multitude And whanne they were al byheded they cam to the blessyd Vrsule the prynce of them seyng her beaute soo merueylous was abasshed and began to comforte her vpon the dethe of the vyrgyns and promysed to her to take her to his wyf And whan she hadde refused hym and despysed hym at all he shote at her an arow and perced her thorugh the body And so accomplysshed her martirdome And one of the vyrgyns whiche was named Cordula was sore aferd and hydde her self alle that nyght in a ship but on the morn she suffrid deth by her free wylle and toke the crowne of martirdome And by cause her feest was not holde with the other vyrgynes she appierid longe after to a recluse and commaunded hym that the next daye folowynge the feste of the virgyns her feest shold shold be remembryd They suffrid dethe the yere of our lord CCxxxviij But somme holde oppynyon that the the reason of the tyme sheweth that they suffred not dethe in that tyme For Cecylle ne Constantynople were thenne no Royammes but it is supposed that they suffryd deth longe tyme after whanne Constaunt was Emperour And that the hunes and gothes enforced them ageynste Crysten men in the tyme of themperour Marcyen that regned in the yere of oure lord four Clix Hit is
commaundyng hym to take vp the bodyes and burye them in his howe which old man took a cosyn of his an olde woman whiche â—uâ—llyd with hym in his celle went to the place where they had ben biheded And by cause it was nyghe to the Ryuer they myght lyghtely be broughte to the Celle by water but they hadde no ship ne bote redy ne they couth not the craft of rowyng ne had the strengthe to brynge them ageynste the streme of the Ryuer And whan they cam to the place they fonde the bodyes of the sayntes and a bote redy in the ryuer ordeyned by our lord Thenne they hauynge hope and trust in oure lord eche of them tooke vp a body of the martirs And wente frely withoute burthen in suche wise that it semed to them that they bare no berthen but that they were borne of the berthens And they entryng with the holy bodyes in to the litil boote withoute ores gouernayl that myght be sene ageynst the stronge streme of the flood were brought vnto the ryuage of his celle and there buryed them in his oratorye And where the persecucion of them ceessed the honoure of them was shewed to the peple by myracles In suche wyse that a grete chirche was afterward maade in thonoure of the holy sayntes of trewe Crysten peple thenne late vs praye to them that they pray for vs etcetera ¶ Thus endeth the martirdome of the holy saintes Crispyn and Crispynyan Here foloweth of the holy Appostles Symon Iude And first of their names SYmon is as moche to saye as obedyent or beynge in heuynes And he hadde a double name He was sayd Symon Zelotes And Symon Cananean of cana a strete that is in galilee there where as oure lord conuertid the water in to wyn And Zelotes is as moche to saye as canamen This holy man had in hym obedyence of the commaundements by execucion heuynesse by pyte of tormente And had loue of Sowles by ferme ardour of loue Iudas is as moche to saye as confessyng or glorious or Iudas is as moche to seye as gyuynge ioye For he had Confession of faythe glorye of Regne and glorye of the euerlastynge ioye This Iudas was called by many names He was sayd Iudas Iames For he was broder to Iames the lasse And he was callyd Thadee whiche is as moche to saye as takynge a prynce or Thadee is sayd of Tharea that is a vesture and of deus that is god For he was vesture ryal of god by ornament of vertues by whiche he took crist the prynce He is sayd also in thystory Ecclesiaste Lebeus whiche is as moche to say as herte or worshipper of hert Or he is said Lebeus of Lebes that is a vessel of herte by grete hardynesse or a worshipper of herte by purete a vessel by plenytude of grace For he deseruyd to be a vessell of vertues and a cawdâ—on of grace And Abdyas Bisshop of Babyloyne by the Appostles ordeyned wrote their passion and Legende in greke And the disciple of Abdyas translated it oute of greke in to latyn And was named Affrycan ¶ Of the holy sayntes Symon and Iude SYmon Cananyen Iudas thaddee were bretheren of Iames the lasse and sones of Marye Cleophe whiche was maryed to Alpheus And Iude was sente of Thomas to the kynge Abagar of Edysse after thascencion of oure lord And it is redde in the Hystorye Scolastyque that the sayd Abagar sente a pystle vnto oure lord Ihesu Cryst in this maner Abagar the sone of Euchanye To Ihesu blessyd saueour whiche appiereth in the places of Iherusalem sendeth salutacion I haue herd of the and of the helthes and recouerynges that thou makest and dost ben withoute medycynes and her bys And that thou makest the blynde to see by thyn only word and the lame go the mesels to be cured and made hole and the dede bodyes to lyue ageyne whiche thynges herd of the I wene in my courage that thou arte one of two that is that thou art god that arte descended from heuen for to do this or that thou arte the sone of god that dost suche thynges wherfore I praye the by wrytynge that thow wylt trauayle so moche as to come to me and hele me of my maladye Of whiche I haue be longe vexed And I haue herd saye that the Iewes murmure ageynst the and lye in a wayte ageynst the Come therfor to me For I haue a lytell Cyte but it is honeste And shall well suffyse to vs bothe Oure lord Ihesus answerd â—yn by wrytynge in these wordes Blessyd art thou that hast byleuyd in me whanne thou hast not sene me It is wreton of me that they that see me not shalte byleue in me And they that see me shall not byleue Of that thow hast wreton to me that I shalle come to the me behoueth taccomplysshe that whiche I am sente fore And after to be receyued of hym from whome I am sente whan I am ascended I shalle sende to the one of my disciples to hele the and quykene the This is wreton in Historia Ecclesiastica And whanne Abagar sawe that he myght not see god presently after that it is sayd in an Auncyent Historye as Iohan damascene witnesseth in his fourth boke He sente a payntour vnto Ihesu Cryste for to fygure thymage of oure lord to th ende that at leste that he myght see hym by his ymage whome he myght not see in his vysage And whan the payntoure cam by cause of the grete splendour and lyght that shone in the vysage of oure lord Ihesu Cryst he coude not beholde it ne couthe not counterfete it by no figure And whan oure lord sawe this thyng he toke fro the payntour a lynnen clothe and set it vpon his vysage and enprynted the very physonomye of his vysage therin And sente it vnto the kynge Abagar whiche so moche desyred it And in the same History is conteyned how this ymage was fygured It was well eyed well browed a longe vysage or chyere and enclyned whiche is a signe of maturyte or rype sadnes ¶ That Epistle of oure lord Ihesu Cryste is of suche vertu that in the Cyte of Edysse no Heretyk ne no paynym may lyue therynne ne none Tyraunt maye greue hit For yf ony people come ageynste that Cyte by force of Armes A Chyld shalle stande vpon the gate And shal rede that Epystle And that same daye eyther thenemyes shalle flee and ben aferd or they shalle make pees wyth them of the Towne And as is sayd this hath ben done But thys Cyte hath ben sithe taken of the Sarasyns and touched In suche wyse that for the multyplyeng of synnes this benefayt is lost Also it is redde in thystorye ecclesiastyke that whan oure lord was ascended in to heuen thomas thappostle sente thaddee that was Iude vnto the kynge Abagar accordyng to the promesse of oure lord And whan he was comen to hym And had told to hym that he was
masse and slepte vpon the aulter bytwene the lesson of the prophecye and the epystle And none durst wake hym And the subdeken durst not rede the pystle with oute his leue And whanne he hadde slepte the space of thre houres they awoke hym and sayde Syre the houre is passyd And the peple ben wery for tabyde wherfor commaunde that the Clerke rede the pystle And he sayd to them be not angry Martyn my broder is passid vnto god I haue done the offyce of his departyng buryeng I coude no sonner accomplysshe ne make an ende of the laste oryson by cause ye hasted me so sore Thenne they marked the daye and the houre and they fonde that saynt Martyn was thenne passyd oute of this world and gone to heuen ¶ Mayster Iohan Beleth sayth that kyngis of Fraunce were woned to bere his cope in bataylle And by cause they kepte this cope they were called chappellayns And after his deth the yere thre score and foure whan saynt perpetue hadde enlarged his chirche And wold transporte the body of saynt Martyn therin they were in fastynges vygylles ones twyes thryes And they myght not moeue the sepulcre And as they wold haue lyfte hit a ryght fair old man appiered to them and sayde wherfore tarye ye See ye not that saynt Martyn is alle redy to helpe yow yf ye sette to youre handes with hym And thenne anone they lifte vp the sepulcre and brought hit to the place where as he is now worshipped And thenne anone this old maÌ„ vanysshed aweye This translacion was made in the monethe of Iuyllet And hit is said that there were thenne two felawes one lame and that other was blynde The lame taught the blynde man the weye And the blynd bare the lame man And thus gate they moche money by truaundyse and they herd saye that many seke men were heled whan the body of saynt Martyn was borne oute of the Chirche on procession And they were aferd leste the body shold be brought to fore their hows and that peraduenture they myght be heled whiche in no wyse they wold not be For yf they were heled they shold not gete so moche money by truaundyse as they dyde And therfor they fledde fro that place and went to another chirche where as they supposed that the body shold not come And as they fled they encountred mette the holy body sodenly vnpourueyed by cause god gyueth many bienfaittes to men not desyred and that wold not haue them they were bothe heled ayenst their wylle and were ryght sory therfore And saynt Ambrose sayth thus of saynt Martyn He destroyed the Temples of the cursyd errour he reysed the baners of pyte he reysed deede men he cast deuylles oute of bodyes in whiche they were And alledged by remedye of helthe them that trauaylled in dyuerse maladyes and sekenesses And he was founded so parfyghte that he cladde Ihesu Cryst in stede of a poure man And the vesture that the poure man hadde taken the lord of alle the world cladde hym with alle That was a good largesse that dyuynyte couerd O glorious vesture inâ—stymable yeft that clothed couerd both the knyÈt and the kynge This was a yefte that no man maye preyse of whiche he deseruyd to clothe the deyte lord thow gauest to hym worthely the reward of thy confession thou puttest vnder hym worthely the cruelte of tharryens And he worthely for the loue of martirdome neuer dredde the tormentes of the persecutours what shalle he receyue for the oblacion of his body that for the quantite of a lytell vesture whiche was but half a mantelle deseruyd to clothe and couere god and also to see hym And gaf so grete medicyne to them that trusted in god that some he helyd by his prayers and other by his commaundements Thenne late vs praye to saynt Martyn et cetera Thus endeth the lyf of saint Martyn Here foloweth the lyf of saint Bryce And first of his name BRyce is said of Breos that is to saye in Greke as mesure and of scio scis that is to knowe And thus thexposicion of this name Brictius or Bryce is as moche to say as knowynge mesure For atte begynnynge of his enfancye whan he was yonge he was full of many sottyes and folyes but he coude well after the mesure of hym self demaunde and counceylle and gouerne wel other and to excuse hym self by mesure ¶ Of saint Bryce BRyce was Archedeken of saynt Martyn and was moche greuous to hym and sayde of hym many thynges vnresonable And on a tyme a poure man cam to Bryce and demaunded of hym where the Bisshop was And how he shold knowe hym And he bad hym goo in to the Chirche hym that â—how shalt there see lokyng vpward to heuen as a madde man or one fro hym self that same is Martyn And the poure man wente and fonde saynt martyn And whanne he hadde receyued that he asked saynt Martyn called saynt Bryce and sayd to hym Bryce semeth it to the that I am a fole or frantyke And he forsoke hit and denyed it for shame And sayd he had not sayd so And saynt Martyn sayd I haue herd it For myn eres were at thy mouthe whanne thou saydest hit to the poure man openly I telle and saye to the forsothe that I haue obteyned haue graunte of god that thow shalte suâ—cede me in this Bisshopryche But knowe thou for certain that thou shalt suffre therynne many aduersytees And whanne Bryce herd hym say so he scorned hym sayenge Sayd I not trewe whanne I sayd he was a fole And after the dethe of saynt Martyn Bryce was elect and made Bisshop of Tours which fro thenne forthon he entended alle to prayer how be it that he had ben prowde yet he was alwaye chaste And in the thyrttyest yere of his bisshopryche a woman which was relygyously clad whiche was his lauender and had wasshen his clothes had conceyued and born a child whiche all the peple saide that the bisshop had goten they assembled at his yates with stones and sayden we haue long suffrid thy lecherye for the loue of saint Martyn and for his pyte But now we wylle no more kysse thy handes whiche ben acursed but he denyed the fait and dede manly And sayd brynge to me the Child And whanne he was broughte he was but thyrtty dayes old And saynt Bryce sayd to hym I coniure the by the sone of god that thow saye to me to fore alle thys peple yf I haue engendryd the And the child sayd thou art not my fader And the peuple yet not contente badde hym to demaunde the Child who was his fader And he saide that apperteyneth not to me to do I haue done that apperteyneth to me for myn excuse And the peple sayde that this was done by the arte of enchauntement and sayde playnly he shold not seignorye ouer vs thus falsely vnder the shadowe
of a pastour And thenne yet for to purge hym he bare in his lappe or his vestymente coles al brennynge vnto the Tombe of saynte Martyn And his vestymente neuer brenned ne had none harme And thenne he sayd lyke as my vestymente is vnhurte not brente of these coles but is hole not corrupte of the fyre in lyke wyse is my body clene of touchynge of ony woman And yet the peple byleued hym not but bete hym and dyd to hym many Iniuryes And put hym oute of the bisshopryche by cause the word of saynt Martyn shold be accomplysshed And thenne saynt Bryce wente hys way wepynge and cam to the 〈◊〉 and abode there seuen yere ¶ And purged hym of that he had trespaced to saynt Martyn And the peple made a newe Bisshop named Iustynyen And sente hym to Rome for to deffende the cause ageynst Bryce And he wente thyderward he deyde in the Cyte of Vercellence Thenne the peple made one Armenon Bisshop in his stede And in the seuenthe yere retorned with auctoryte of the 〈◊〉 took his lodgynge syxe myle withoute the cyte And that same nyght Armenon the Bisshop deyde And Bryce knewe hit by dyuyne teuelacion and sayd to his peple that they shold aryse and haste them for to goo and burye the Bisshop of Tours whiche was dede And as Bryce entryd at one yate the dede Bisshop was brought in at another yate And whan he was buryed saynt Bryce took his see or syege And was Bisshop after that seuen yere and ledde an holy and laudable lyf And in the seuen and fourthyeste yere of his Bisshopryche he passyd vnto oure lord to whome be gyuen lawde and glorye Amen ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Bryce ¶ Here begynnneth the lyf of the holy vyrgyne saint Clare THere was a merueyllous holy woman in the Cyte of Assyse which was named Clare Fyrst ye shalle vnderstande that her natyuyte was moche worthy and noble It is redde that as touchynge the world she was of ryght noble lygnage and as touchynge the spyryte to the regard of the state of vertues and noble maners toward god she was of ryght noble reputacion Thenne for to shewe that after her natyuyte she was a deuoute espouse of god she is worthy to be of grete recommendacion It is redde that whan hyr moder was ensaynted or grete with chyld of her on a tyme as she was before the crucifixe wepynge and prayenge that of his grace he wold graunte to hir the delyuerauÌ„ce of her fruit with ioye and gladnesse she herd a vois sodenly sayenge to her woman haue thou no doubte For withoute peryll thou shalt be delyuerd of a doughter whiche shall by her doctryne enlumyne alle the World And therfor as sone as she was borne she dyde do name her at the fonte Clare Secondly is founden in her lyf knowen grete plente of vertues It is redde that this holy vyrgyne after the tyme of her enfancye was so composed in alle good maners in porte in mayntene and in contynuaunce that alle other myght take of her fayr and good ensample for to mayntene and gouerne them And in especial she had so grete pyte of the poure peple that oftymes she spared her owne mouthe and sente by secrete messagers suche as she shold her self haue be susteyned by Also in makynge deuoute prayer she had so grete playsyre that oftymes it semed to her beynge in orysons that her spyryte was refresshed with the swetenes of heuen She was in her arraye lyke other but by penaunce she chastysed her body For hoâ—well that for thonnour of her frendes she was nobly apparaylled yet neuertheles she ware alwey the hayre on her bare body And from her enfancy her herte had determyned that for to deye she wold neuer haue other espouse than Ihesu Cryst And many other plente of vertues shone in her that whiche were ouer longe to recounte Thyrdely how saynt Fraunceis shewed to her the wey of trouth It is redde that as sone as saynt Clare herd the Renomme of saynt Fraunsois hit was spradde ouer alle the world as hit were a newe man sent in to the world shewynge how we ought to folowe the newe wey of Ihesu crist She neuer myghte haue rest in her herte tylle she was comen to hym And that to hym she had opened her herte Thenne after she had swetely vnderstonden hym and hadde receyued of hym many an holy swete and angelyke word Seynt Fraunceis exhorted her aboue alle other thyng to flee the world bothe with herte and her body And to this he enioyned her that on palmesonday she shold halowe the feste with the other peuple but the nyght folowynge in remembraunce of the passion of Ihesu cryst she shold torne her ioye in to wepynge and afflictions For in suche wise to wepe the passion of Ihesu crist finably she myghte come to heuen as virgyne and espouse of god well eurous and happy Fourthly how she had no quyetnes in her hert tylle she had accomplysshed her thought and purpos It is redde that saynt Clare thus enformed of saynt Fraunceis couthe haue no rest in her herte tylle that the nyght assigned and the houre she yssued out of the cyte of Assyse in which she duellyd and cam to the Chirche of oure lady of porciuncula And there the freres receyued her whiche awoke in the sayd chirche and abode for her to fore the aulter of the blessyd vyrgyne Marye And there her here was cut of And after they ladde her in to an Abbay of nonnes And there lefte her Fyftly how her frendes despysed thys werke ordeyned by oure lord It is redde whanne this lady was thus ordeyned she laboured and dyd so moche that she drewe her suster named Agnes in to her company wherfor as wel for that one as for that other the carnalle frendes of saynt Clare had her in indignacion oute of mesure wherfor saynt Fraunceys translated them in to the chirche of saynt Damyan whiche chirche by the commaundement of the crucyfixe he hadde repayred And there this lady beganne the Relygyon that was called of poure susters And there she was enclosed in a lytell celle whiche saynt Fraunceis hadde ediffyed Sixtely how she hadde humylyte in her herte It is redde that saynt Clare gloryfyed her self soueraynly in humylyte lyke as the wyse man sayth Of so moche that a creature is promoted Of so moche ought he be the more humble Therfor after that she had assembled a grete couente of hooly vyrgyns vnnethe and with grete payne yf it had not be for thobedyence of saynt Fraunceis she hadde neuer receyued the soueraynte of them And after that she had receyued the domynacion ouer them and gouernaunce she was to fore alle other redy to serue them that were seke as she had ben an handmayde or seruaunt And was so humble that she wold wasshe the feet of her handmaydens and seruauntes whanne they
hoole and aroos vp guarysshed of alle his maladye and gaf lawde thankynges and praysynges to oure lord god and to saynt Clare And prayd the peple to doo in lyke wyse by cause of his helthe ¶ Another myracle THere was also a chylde of the age of two yere in the toune of saynt quyryte in the Bisshopryche of Assyse whiche was born croked in the back and lame whiche his thyes and feet torned thwart and wente in suche wyse that it was all oute of ordre And whanne he was fallen he couthe not aryse His moder hadde oftymes auowed hym to saynt Fraunceis and was not ther by holpen And whanne she herd that god shewed newe myracles for saynt Clare she bare her chyld to her sepulture and abode there certayne dayes but within a fewe dayes his legges beganne to growe And his thyes within the skyn were redressyd naturelly And he wente vpryght And was all guarysshyd and made al hole And thus he that had ben dyuerse tymes at saynt fraunceis was heled by the merytes of his good disciple saynte Clare by the vertu of oure lord Ihesu Of a lame chyld that neuer had gone ¶ A Burgeis of Augulum named Iaques de Franque had a chyld of fyue yere of age whiche had no feet for to bere hym ne hadde neuer gone ne myght go wherfor his fader ofte wepte and sorowed moche at his hert for his deformyte and thought it a reproche to hym to haue suche one disfygured borne of his blood for he laye on the erthe and in the asshes walowyng and adressyng hym ayenst the walle desyrynge by nature to helpe hym but myght and power fayled hym Thenne his fader and moder auowed hym to saynte Clare that he shold be her seruaunt yf by her prayers and merytes he myghte be heled And assone as the fader and moder had made their auowe the holy vyrgyne heled her seruaunt soo that he had his ryght lymmes and wente vpryght And anone the fader and moder ledde hym to saynte Clare whiche wente lepynge rennynge preysynge oure lord and thankynge hym And thenne the fader and moder offryd hym vnto our lord ¶ Another myracle ¶ There was a woman of the castelle of Bruane named pleniere whiche had ben longe seke in her raynes in suche wyse that she myght not goo withoute helpe ne adresse her but with grete payne and was al croked Hit happed that on a fryday she dyd her to be borne to the tumbe of saint clare And prayd her ryght deuoutely that she wold helpe her And it happed as she prayd she was sodenly maade all hole And on the morne that was satirday she wente vpryght all hole on her feet home to her hows where as the day to forne she was borne for feblenes Of her that was heled of thescroceles There was a maide of the lond of perouse whiche had her throte gretely swollen of a maladye called the escroceles whiche she had longe and had aboute her necke throte a twenty botches called glaundres so that her neck semed gretter than her hede And ofte she hadde be ledde to seynt Clare and the fader and moder of the mayde had prayd her deuoutely to hele her doughter And it happed on a nyght as the mayde laye to fore the tombe she began to swete and thescroceles and the maladye beganne 〈◊〉 mollyfye and to remeue and anone after the maladye vanysshed awey al clene and soo net that by the merytes of saynt clare ther nas sene signe ne token therof ¶ Of a suster of thordre ONe of the susters of thordre of saynt Clare in the tyme that she lyued hadde suche a maladye in her throte whiche suster was named Andree but it was of one thyng meruaylle how that amonge the sustres whiche were as precious stones al ful of the feruent loue of the holy ghoost that suche one that was so cold myght dwelle among them as was this Andree so folysshe that dishonoureth the other vyrgyns Thenne hit happed on a nyght that she distrayned her self by the throte that she was almost estrangled Whiche thynge saynt Clare sawe and knewe by the holy ghoost and seyd to one of her susters now go hastely and take a softe egge and bere hit to suster Andree of ferriere for to rume her throte and come ageyne and brynge her with the hyder to me And thenne she hasted her And fonde the same Andree that she myghte not speke for she hadde almooste strangled her with owne handes And she releued her as well as she myght and brought her to her good moder Thenne saynt Clare sayd to her thow caytyf goo and confesse the of thyn euylle thoughtes And I wote wel that oure lord wylle hele the but amende thy lyf that thou mayst deye of somme other maladye that this whiche thow hast suffred so longe And anone as saynt Clare hadde sayd these wordes she beganne to repente her with good herte And amended her lyf merueyllously And was al holy heled of thescroseles by the grace of god but she deyde anone after of another maladye ¶ Of a wulf that bare awey a Child IN the land of Allyse ther was a wulf ouer sore cruell whiche tormentid the countreye and the peple and ranne vpon them and slewe and ete them soo there was a woman named Gallane of the Mount of gallum whiche had children and the wulf hadde rauysshed and borne awey one of them and hadde eten hym wherfore she wepte ofte And on a tyme the wulf cam for his praye as he hadde done to fore for to deuoure somme chyld And it happed that this woman was besy in her werke whiche she hadde in honde And one of her sonnes went out And anone the wulf caught hym by the hede And ranne with hym toward the wode And a man that was amōg the vynes labourynge herd the chyld braye other wyse than he had herd ony cam rennyng to the moder of the childe bad her see yf she had al herr chyldren for he said that he had herde the crye of a child other wyse than they be woned to crye And anone the moder loked and sawe that the wulf had rauysshed her child And wente toward the wode with hym lyke as he dyd with that other And cryed also hyhe as she myght crye Ha gloryous vyrgyn saynt Clare saue my child kepe hym And yf thow do not I shalle go drowne my self And therwith the neyghbours cam oute and ronnen after the wulf and fonde the child whome the wulf had lefte and an hounde besyde hym lyckynge his woundes For the wulf had fyrst take hym by the heede And after tooke hym by the raynes for the more eselyer to bere hym and the bytyng of his teethe appierid both in the hede and raynes And thenne the moder wente with hym to saynt clares that had soo wel holpen her and broughte with her her neyghbours and shewed the woundes of the child to al them that
stones as other The day of purifycacyon of our lady ne were riche vesture of golde but after the ensaumple of the blessyd vyrgyne marye she bare hyr sone in hyr armes and a lambe and a candel and offred it vp humbly and by that she shewyd that the pompe and boâ—anunce of the world shold be eschewyd And that she conformed hir vnto the vyrgyne marye and whan she came home she gafe to somme poure woman the clothes in which she went to chirche She was of so grete humylite that by the consentyng of hir husbond she submysed hyr self in the obedyence of mayster conrade a poure man and a smalle but he was of noble scyence and parfyte relygyon and she dyd it wyth ioye and reuerence that whyche he commaunded for to haue the merite of obedyence lyke as god was obedyent vnto the dethe ¶ ON a tyme it happed that she was called for to goo to prechyng and the marquyse of messence came vpon hir by whome she was lette and myght not goo thyder wherfore he helde hym euyl apayed and wold not relece hir obedyence tyl that she was despoyled to hir smocke with somme of hir chamberers whyche were culpable and that he had strongely beten them she dyd so grete abstynence that at the table of hyr husbond emonge the dyuers metes that were there she Wold not ete but brede She toke soo grete rygour on hir self that she wexyd leâ—e for maister conrade deffendyd hir that she shold not touche the metes of hir husbond of whiche she shold not haue an hole conscience and she kepte thys commaundemente wyth so grete dylygence that whan other habounded in delyces she ete with hir chamberers grosse metes On a tyme whan she had sore traueyled in goyng there were broughte to hyr and to hir husbond dyuers metys and were supposed not wel gooten of good and Iuste labour wherfore she refused them and took hyr refectyon of an harde broune loof tempryd wyth water and for this cause hir husbond assygned a pencyon to hyr by whyche she and hyr chamherers consentyd for to lyue by and hir husbond suffryd al in pacyence said he wolde gladly do soo yf he doubted not to angre his meyne and she that was in souerayn glorye desyred thestate of souerayne pouerte to th ende that the world shold haue no thynge in hir and that she shold be poure lyke as Ihesu Cryste had been and whan she was allone wyth hyr chamberers she wold clothe hyr wyth poure vestementes and vyle and sette a poure vayle vpon hyr heed and sayd thus shal I goo whan I shal come to the estate of pouerte And though she dyd abstynence yet was she lyberal to the poure soo that she myght not suffre that ony had mysease but gaue to theym aâ—le largely She entented wyth alle hyr power to the seuen werkys of mercy she gaue on a tyme to a poure woman a right good vesture and whan thys poure woman sawe that she had soo noble a yefte she had soo grete ioye that she fyl doun as deed and whan the blessyd elysabeth sawe that she was sory that she had gyuen to hir soo noble a yefte and doubted that she was cause of hir dethe and prayed for hir and anone she aroos alle hoole And she spanne ofte wulle wyth hyr chamberers and made therof clothe so that of hir propre labour that she gafe to the chyrche she receyued gloryous fruyte and gafe good ensaumple vnto other On a tyme whan hyr husbond landegraue was goon to the courte of the emperour whyche was thenne at cremone she assemblyd in a garnere alle the whete of the yere and admynystred parte to eueryche that came from alle partyes and that tyme was grete derthe in the contree and ofte whan hyr lacked money she solde of hyr aournementes for to gyue to the poure peple but for al that she gaue the garners mynysshed not ne lassyd She dyd doo make an hows grete vnder we castel where she receyued and nowrysshed grete multytude 〈◊〉 poure people and vysyted theym euery day and she lefte not to vysyte them for ony sekenes ne maladye that they had but she wesshe and wyped them wyth hyr owne handes how be hyt that hir chamberers wold not suffre it And yet more ouer thenne she dydde do nourysshe in hyr hows powre wymmens chyldren soo swetely that they alle called hyr moder She dyd do make sepultures for pour people and wente deuoutely vnto the dethe of them and wold burye them wyth hyr owne handes in the clothes that she had made And ofte tymes broughte the shete wherin she laye for to wynde the deed bodyes therin and was at the dethe of them moche deuoutelye and emonge thyse thynges the deuocyon of hyr husbond was moche to be preysed for how wel he was ocupyed in his other thynges Neuerthelesse he was deuoute in the seruyce of god and by cause he myght not hym self entende personably vnto hys thynges he gaue ful power to his wyf to alle that shold be to the honour or to the helthe of theyr sowles And the blessyd saynt elisabeth had grete desyre that hir husbond shold enploye hys puyssaunce to deffende the feythe of god and aduysed hym by debonayr admonestemens that he shold goo vysyte the holy londe and thyder he wente and whan he was there this deuoute and noble prynce ful of feyth and of deuocion rendryd hys spyrite vnto almyghty god and so deyed receyuyng the glorious frute of his werkys and thenne she receyued wyth deuocyon the state of wydowed and whan the dethe of hir husbond was publysshed and knowen thorugh alle thurynge Somme of the vayssalles of hyr husbond helde hir for a fool a wastresse of hyr goodes and threwe hyr out of hyr herytage and by cause hir pacyence were more clere and that she had the pouerte that she had longe desyred She wente thenne by nyghte in to the hows of a tauerner in the place where the pottes laye and gaue grete thankynges to god and at the hour of matyns she came in to the hows of frere menours and prayed them that they wold gyue lawde and than kynges to god for hyr trybulacyon And the day folowyng she came wyth hir lytel chyldren to a place and in to the hows of one hyr enemye and thenne was delyuerd to hyr a strayte place for to dwelle in and whan she sawe that she was moche greuyd of the hoost and hoostesse thenne she salewed the walles and sayd I shold gladly salewe the men but I fynde them not thus she beyng constraynte by necessyte she sente hir smale chyldren here and there for to be nourisshed in dyuers places and retorned hyr self in to the fyrst place and as she wente there was a strayte weye vpon stones and a depe myre vnder and ful of fylthe and as she passed she mette an olde woman to whome she had doon moche good tofore and this olde woman
hys secretes whan ye come ageyn in to the see and our lord wyl that ye lade your shyppe wyth the fruyte of thys londe and hye you hens for ye may no lenger abyde here but thou shalte sayle ageyn in to thyn owne contree and sone after thou comest home thou shalt deye and thys water that thou seest here departeth the world a sondre for on that other syde of thys water may no man come that is in thys lyf and the fruyte that ye see here is alle waye thus rype euery tyme of the yere and alwey it is here lyght as ye now see and he that kepeth our lordes hestys at al tymes shal see thys londe or he passe out of thys world And thenne saynt brandon and his monkes toke of that fruyte as moche as they wolde and also toke with them grete plente of precyous stones and thenne toke theyr loue and wente to shyppe wepyng sore by cause they myght no lenger abyde there and thenne they toke theyr shyppe and came home in to yrelonde in saufete whome theyr brethern receyued wyth grece ioye gyuyng thankynges to our lord whiche had kepte them al that seuen yere fro many a peryl and brouÈt them home in saufete To whome be yeuen honour glorye world without ende amen And sone after this holy man Saynt brandon wexe feble and seek and had but lytel ioye of thys world But euer after his ioye mynde was in the ioyes of heuen and in shorte tyme after he beyng ful of vertues departed out of thys lyf to euerlastyng lyf And was worshypfully buryed in a fayr abbey whiche he hym self founded Where our lord shewyth for thys holy saynt many fayr myracles Wherfore lete vs deuoutely praye to thys holy saynt that he praye for vs to our lord that he haue mercy on vs to whome be gyuen lawde honour and empyre world withouten ende amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Brandon And here foloweth the lyf of saint erkenwolde bysshop SAynt erkenwolde was borne of noble lygnage Hys fader was named offa and was kyng of eest englond and he had also a suster named alburgh whiche Erkenwolde and alburgh were of right parfyte lyf and how be it that theyr fader was a paynym yet were thyse two chyldren crysten whan erkenwolde was in parfyte age he wente in to relygyon and was made first abbot of chirchesey where he lyued an holy lyf and after he was made bysshop of london his suster alburgh was his trewe folower in good werkys and was a woman of relygyon and for hir holy lyf she was made abbesse of berkynge Thys holy man by the Informacion of saynt Austyn mellyte was enformed in the feythe in suche wyse that he vtterly forsoke the world ordeyned and buylded ij monasteryes one for hym selfe at chyrcheseye another for hys suster at barkyng whiche after hir baptesme was named ethelburga and saynt erkenwolde counceylled his suster to flee worldely vanytees and so he dyd hym self and gaue hym in to deuyne contemplacyon gaue gladly suche goodes as he had besyde them that he spente in the fondacyon and buyldyng of the sayd monasteryes to poure peple and he chaunged his erthely herytage his worldly dygnyte and hys grete patrymonye in to the herytage and lyuelode of holy chirche for to haue hys herytage in heuen and he dyd al thyse expencis or he was called to be bysshop of london and the holy theodore archebysshop of caunterburye dyd do consecrate hym bysshop of london and hys suster was sette in berkyng with other vyrgynes for to be alweye ocupyd in the seruyce of our lord and it happed on a tyme as thartyfycers that bylded the monasterye at berkynge were ouer seen in takyng the mesure of a pryncipal beme for it was to shorte wolde not accorde to the place that it was ordeyned for wherfore they made moche sorowe Thenne this holy man saynt erkenwolde and his suster seyng thys mysfortune toke the same beme bytwene theyr hondes and drewe it out in suche wyse that it had suffycyente lengthe and accorded vnto the propre place that it was ordeyned to whiche myracle was anone knowen openlye to the people and at that tyme were noo nonnes in englonde wherfore saint erkenwolde sente ouer see for a deuoute relygyous woman named hyldelyth to whome he bytoke his suster for to be enformed in the relygyon as wel in connyng as in good maners and vertuous doctryne in which she prouffyted in suche wyse that she passed all hir felawes in connyng sone after she was made abbesse and chyef of al the monasterye and it happed sone after that the bysshop of london deyed whos name was cedda by consente of the kynge and alle the people thys holy man of god erkenwolde was bysshop of london and what someuer he taughte in worde he fulfylled it in dede for he was parfyte in wysedom softe and dyscrete in worde bysy in prayer chaast of body hooly yeuen to goddes lore and was planted in the rote of charyte and afterward whan he had suffred moche trybulacion wyth many ghoostly bataylles he began to waxe ryght seek and thenne he commaunded to make redy his chare that he myght goo and preche in the cytee the Worde of god wherfore it was kepte in custome longe tyme after of his dyscyples and many other to touche hym and kysse hym and what someuer sekenesse that they had they were anone delyuerd therof and were made parfytelye hool In a day of somer as thys blessyd saynt saynt erkenwolde rode in hys chare for to preche the word of god It fortuned that the one whele of the chare fyl of fro the axtre and that notwythstondyng the chare went forth right wythout fallyng whyche was ageyn nature and reson and a fayre myracle for god guyded the chare it was meruaylle to alle them that sawe it ¶ O mercyable god and meruayllous aboue al thyng to whom alle brute beestys be made meke and wylde thynges been obedyente thou vouchesauf to calle to thy mercy thy blessyd seruaunte to make hym partable of thy excellente ioye thou yeue vs grace by his prayer which knewe by reuelacyon that his sowle shold be losed from the body by temporall dethe to be preserued fro al manere euyl and euerlastyng dethe whan thys blessyd saynt erkenwolde as god wold came to berkyng he fyl in to a grete sekenesse in whiche he ended his temporalle lyf for soo moche as he knewe it before he sente for his seruauntes and suche as were drawyng to hym yaue to them holsom and swete lessons and blessyd them with grete deuocyon emonge them he yelded vp hys spyrite to almyghty god in whos passyng was felte a merueyllous swete odour as the hous had be ful of swete bawme And whan the hyghe channons of Saynt Powles at london herde thys and the monkys of chyrcheseye also anone they came to this holy body for to
this childe this is the sone of Inobedyence therfore beware ye brethern for I haue doon this in myn olde age I praye you praye ye for me and thenne he retorned in to his celle and came ageyn to his fyrst astate and in lyke wyse as another olde man sayd to another I am as a deed man and that other sayd to hym truste neuer to thy self tyl thy sowle yssue out of thy body For yf thou say that thou arte deed neuerthelesse thyn enemye the fende is not deed There was a brother whiche had synned and was sente by hys breâ—hern to the abbot moyses And he toke a basket ful of grauel and came to them they demaunded hym what it was and he sayd thyse been my synnes that renne after me and I see them not and I am thys day comen to deme the synnes of a straunger They heryng this spared their brother A lyke thynge is redde of the abbotte tofore hym For whan the brethern spake of a brother that was culpable he helde hym stylle and spake not And after toke a sacke ful of grauell and bare it behynde hym the moost parte and a lytel tofore hym they demaunded hym what it was and he sayd the moste parte ben my synnes whiche I bere behynde me them I consyder not ne sorowe for them And thys lytel that I haue before me been the synnes of my brethern whiche I consydere alday and Iuge them how be it I shold alweye bere myn owne synnes tofore me and thynke on them praye to god for them that he wolde forgyue me them whan thabbot moyses was made clerke and the bysshop had ordeyned thoffyce he said to hym now thou arte made alle whyte and moyses sayd wythinforth or wyth outforth Thenne the bysshop wolde proue hym and sayd to hys câ—erkys that whan he shold come to the aulter they shold wrongfully put hym fro hit and folowe hym and here what he wold say and anone they put hym aweye and sayd lo hym goo out thou ethyopyen and as he wente oute he sayd they haue doon wel to the â—oule wretche for to defoule and doo dspyte to the For sythe thou arte no man what presumest thou to be emonge the men thys sayd he to hym self Hec in vitas patrum ¶ Thus endeth of the abbotte moyses ¶ Here foloweth of Saint Arsenye WHan arsenye was yet mayster in the paleys of a prynce he prayed vnto god that he wold addresse hym vnto the weye of helthe soo that in a tyme he herde a voys that sayd to hym arsenye flee the companye of men and thou shalte be saued thenne he wente and took vpon hym the lyf of a monke and as he prayed there he herde a voys sayeng arsenye flee hens speke not and reste the It is redde in the same place as to coueyte this reste that there were thre monkes newe made and the first of them chaas for to brynge men that were at debate and in dyscorde to reste and pees The second for to vysyte seek men and the thyrd for to reste in wyldernesse and in deserte The fyrste man that laboured to sette them at accorde that were at debate coude not plese al men was wery and greuyd and halfe ouercome cam to the second and fonde hym al mate and fayllyng for werynesse myÈt not performe that he had emprysed and thenne by assente they two came to the thyrd that was in deserte and whan they had tolde their trebulacions to hym he put water in a cuppe and sayd loke and beholde this water they sawe that it was thycke and troubled and sone after he sayd see hyt now how it is now fayr and 〈◊〉 and whan they loked therin they saw theyr vysages therin and thenne he sayd who so euer dwelle emonge the men he may not for the multytude of peple see his synnes but whan be resteth thenne he may see his synnes And on a tyme ther was a man fonde another in deserte etyng herbys and grasse alle naked as a beest and he ranne after hym and that other fledde and he that folowed sayd abyde and tarye for I folowe the for the loue of god and that other sayd I flee fro the for goddes sake and that other caste aweye his mantel fro hym and thenne he taryed and sayd by cause thou haste throwen the matere of the world fro the I haue abyden the And thenne he axyd of hym how shal I be saued and he answerd and said flee fro the companye of men and saye noo thynge There was a noble lady whiche was olde came for to see thabbot arsenyen by deuocyon and theophybe the archebysshop prayed hym that he wold suffre that she myght see hym â—ut he wolde not graunte hym in noâ— wyse and at the laste she wente vnto his cellâ— and fonde hym without tofore his dore and she fyl doun to hys feet and he toke hir vp wyth grete Indygnacyon sayeng to hir yf thou wylte see my face see and she for grete shame and confusyon consydered not his vysage To whome he sayd how durst thou presume vpon the that arte a woman to make suche a vyage thou shalte now goo to Rome and say to other wymmen that thou hast seen arsenyen and they shal also come for to see me and she sayd to hym yf god wyl that I retorne to Rome I shal neuer styre woman to come to the but onelye I praye the that thou praye for me and alweye remembre me and he sayd to hir I praye to god that he put out of my herte the rememberaunce of the and whan she herde that she was moche angry and came in to the cyte and beganne to tremble and shake for sorowe in the feuers or accesse and whan the archebysshop knewe it he wente for to comforte hir and she sayd I deye for sorowe and heuynesse and the archebysshop sayd to hir knowest thou not that thou arte a woman and the fende ouercometh holy men ofte tymes by wymmen And therfore the olde man sayd to the those wordes how be it he prayed alweye for thy sowle and thenne the woman was comforted and was alle hoole and retorned home to hir owne hows ¶ Also it is redde of another olde fader that whan his dyscyple sayd to hym Thou arte woxen alle olde fader lete vs now goo dwelle nerre to the world and he sayd lete vs goo thyder where as no woman is and his dyscyple sayd where is ony place but that wymmen been therin saufe in deserte to whome he sayd Thenne brynge me in to that deserte There was another brother which whaÌ„ he bare his moder ouer the water he wonde his hondes in his mantell To whome she sayd wherfore hast thou couerd thy handes so my sone to whom he answerd the body of a woman is as fyre that brennyth and by cause the mynde of other wymmen shold not come in my remembraunce therfore I doo it ¶ And
men the sonday whan Machomete was enryched wyth the rychesses of thys wydowe cadygam He mounted in soo grete folye of thought that he thoughte to vsurpe to hym the royame of arabye whan he sawe he myghte not doo it by vyolence and also that he was despysed of his felawes which had been alweye grete wyth hym Thenne he fayned hym to be a prophete them that he myght not drawe to hym by myght he drewe to hym by fayned holynesse thenne he beganne to byleue the counceyl of that Sergyus whyche was a moche subtyl man and enquyred alle that he shold do secretelye reported it to the peple and callyd hym gabryel thus machomete in faynyng hym self to be a prophete helde alle the seygnourye of alle that peuple alle byleueden by theyr gremente or for fere or for doute of swerde that thyng is no more trewe thenne that whyche is sayd of the dowue and is more to be holden and by cause that thys Sergyus was a monke he wold that the sarasyns shold vse the habyte of a monke that is to wete a gowne without an hood and in the gyse of monkes they shold make many knelynges and that they shold adoure ordynatelye And by cause that the Iewys worshyp toward the weste and the crysten men toward the eest therfore he wold that hys peple shold adoure toward the southe And so doo yet the sarazyns and machomete publisshed to them many of the lawes that the sayd Sergyus taughte hym and toke many of moyses lawes for the sarasyns wesshe them ofte and specyally whan they shold praye for thenne wolde they wesshe al theyr membres of the body by cause they shold praye the more clâ—ne and in theyr prayeng they confessyd one onely god to whom is none lyke and they sayd that machomete is his prophete and they faste euery yere an hole moneth and whan they faste they ete no thynge but in the nyght and faste alle the day and as sone as the day cometh as whan they may dyscerne blacke fro whyte they begynne to faste and faste tyl the soÌ„ne be doun and nyght in that whyle none of them dare ete ne drynke ne haue to doo wyth his wyf but they that ben seek be not constrayned to thys It is also commaunded to them that ones a yere they shold come vnto the hows of god for to adoure and in vestementes wythout seme to goo aboute and caste stones bytwene theyr thyes for to stone the deuyl therwyth Whiche hows they say that adam made for alle his chyldren for to praye in and lefte it to habraham and Ismahel and atte laste it was lefte to machomete and to alle hys people They myght ete alle maner of flesshe saufe swynes flesshe and blood and flesshe that had be strangled or founde deed Eche man myght haue foure wyues wedded attones and refuse repudye thre tymes and take them ageyn but not the fourth tyme and he myghte haue nomore than foure wyues lawfully but he myght haue concubynes and suche wymmen as many as he may bye as many as he myght kepe and them he may selle but yf she be wyth chylde and it is graunted to them that they may haue wyues of their owne lygnage that their kynrede may be the strenger emonge them in frend shyp and as to theyr possessyons he that demaundeth must haue wytnesses to preue his demaunde and the defendaunte shal be byleuyd by his othe whan they be founde in aduoultrye they be stoned bothe to gyder whan they doo fornycacion they shal haue four score lasshes machomete said that thaungel gabryel had shewed to hym that it was graunted to hym of our lord that he myght goo to other mennes wyues for to engendre men of vertu and prophetes and one of hys seruauntes had a fayre wyf and he defended and forbadde his wyf that she shold not speke with his lord machomete on a day he fonde hir spekyng wyth hym and thenne anone he put hyr from hym and machomete receyued hyr and sette hyr emonge hys other wyues and thenne he doubted the murmure of the peple and fayned that a wrytyng was sente to hym fro heuen in whiche was wryton yf ony man repudyed his wyf that he that receyued hir shold haue hyr to hys wyf whyche thynge the sarasyns kepe for a lawe vnto thys day A theef that is taken emonge them is beten the first and second tyme The thyrd tyme his hande is cutte of The fourth tyme his foot is smyton of hit is forboden to hem to drynke wyne as they afferme our lord hath promysed paradys to them that kepe thyse lawes and other that is to wyte a gardyn or a place of delyces enuyronned with rennyng water In whiche paradys they shal haue setys pardurable ne they shal haue neyther ouermoche hete ne colde they shal vse ete al maner metes what someuer they desyre they shal anone fynde redy tofore them they shal be clad in clothes of sylke of al colours they shal be conioyned to right fayr virgyns alwey they shal be in delices thauÌ„gels shal come as botyllers with vessels of golde syluer shal gyue in them of golde mylke in them of syluer wyn and they shal saye to them ete drynke in gladnes machomete sayth they shal haue thre flodes or ryuers in Paradyse that one of mylke that other of hony and the thyrd of ryght good wyne wyth ryght precyous espyces And that they shal see there ryght fayre aungellys and so grete that fro that one eye to that other is the space of a day iourneye vnto theym that byleue not to god and machomete as they afferme is ordeyned the payne of helle wythout ende and to them that in what someuer synne haue synned and been bounden therin yf in the honour of theyr dethe they byleue in god and to Machomete in the day of dome whan machomete shal come they shal be sauyd and the sarasyns enuoluped in derkenesse afferme that machomete the false prophete to haue had the espyryte of prophecye aboue alle other prophetes and they saye that he had ten aungellys obeyssaunte to hym whyche kepte hym And they say yet that tofore god created heuen and erthe the name of machomete was tofore god and but yf machomete shold not haue been heuen ne erthe ne paradys had neuer be made Also they lye sayeng that the mone came to hym whome receyuyng in to his bosom he departed in to two partes and after ioyned them ageyn to gyder ¶ And they saye that there was a lambe of flesshe offryd to hym whyche spake vnto hym and sayd be ware that thou ete me not For there is venym wythin me and yet neuer thelesse after certeyn yerys there was venym gyuen by whyche he deyed ¶ But now late vs retorne to the historye of the lombardes for thenne the lombardes were moche contrarye to the chyrche
how be it that he was tendre yonge of eage yet semyd to be aunciente in maners condycions courage whan he was ledde in to catheloygne a prouynce of the royame of arragon with hys two brethern in ostage or pledge for the delyueraunce of the sayd kyng theyr fader he gaue hym self so fermelye to the studye that in seuen yere while he was pledge he prouffyted soo moche in the feuen sciences in holy scripture that the same goddes man resplendysshyng in wytte myght not not onely dispute subtylly in publyke and a parte of the sayd sciences but also durste coude propose the worde of god solempnelye vnto the peple and before clerkes In so moche that men supposed and byleued better that god had sente and enspyred hym wyth suche scyence than hit had be goten by hym humaynlye he confessed hym ofte and dylygentelye and herde the deuyne seruyce deuoutelye and on the solempne and hygh holy dayes with grete preparacion he receyued the body of our lord and whan he was preest he celebred as dayly herkened moche ententyfly the word of god and for the nourysshyng of his sowle he gladly and ofte studyed the holy deuoute scriptures fro the tyme of his chyldehode he loued chastyte so that for the moost sure kepyng of hym self he fled eschewed the companye of al wymmen in so moche that he spake to none sauf onely to his moder and with hys susters yet selde He chastysed his body by abstynence of mete drynke made it lene dyscyplyned it as another saynt paule with chaynes of yron right ofte wyth his owne handes and he puttyng his flesshe vnder the seruytude of the spyryte ware for a shyrte a stamyn or streyner clothe for gyrdel he gyrded hym on his bare flesshe wyth a corde This holy man thenne remembryng his vowe to entre in to thordre of the frere menours by hym maad â—â—yng in ostage as it is sayd in the prouynce of catheloygne purposed to accomplysshe it but he seeyng that for fere of the sayd kynge his fader the freres durst not receyue hym he solempnelye renewed the sayd vowe and by no maner of persuacion admonestyng ne for ony prouysion that pope boneface had made gyuen to hym he wold not assente to forsake it whiche deuocyon consyderyd by thassente of the sayd pope this holy saint bowes toke thabyte of religyon of the said freres menours knelyng made expresse professyon in the prefeÌ„ce of IohÌ„n bisshop of portuence which as thenne was mynyster general of the same ordre Meruayllous moche wonderful thynge it is not acustomed to be seen for the same holy saynt fylled with vertues renounced to the right of the first borne defpyted the pompe or worshyp of the syege rayl for the wyame temporal corruptyble chaunged gate the royame pardurable and ful of al manere delyces He had meeuayllous compassyon on the poure peple to whome largelye he dalte hys almoses Thys holy saynt Loyes as goddes plesure was 〈◊〉 pope bonyface promoted hym to the dygnyte of bysshop and not wythstondyng he neuer chaunged hys habyte but dylygentelye excerced the offyce of bysshop ¶ He celebred deuoutelye the ordres examyned dylygently in lyf in condycyons and in the artycles of the feythe and he louyng feruentelye the feythe wyllyng and euer redy to enhaunce it persuaded admonested ententyfly the Iewes and paynyms to baptesme and at the laste tâ—ys gloryous saynt tendyng to god fonteyn quycke and lyuyng nyghe the terme of hys dayes lyeng on hys bedde seek wyth his laste sekenesse took and deuoutelye receyued the precyous body of our lord and how be it that he was ryght feble he yssued from his bedde ageynst his creatour and anone after he passed right gloryously oute of thys world to the glorye of paradyse wherfore it was wel behoueful and resonable thynge that he in whos lyf duryng god aourned wyth soo many vertues and good condycyons shold be ennobled and honoured of many myracles after hys dethe the whyche myracles are approued and testefyed by the worthy people of the feyth and are declared herafter to the honoure glorye of the sayd Saynt A mayden of two yere of age the whyche was agreuyd with a stronge axes whiche she had suffred by the space of two yere deyed and passyd fro thys world hyr fader besoughte the saynt for hyr lyf and anone by the merytes of the saynt she was reysed and restoryd on lyue A chylde of fyue yere of age by ouer grete force of an axes deyed vowe by hys fader made for hym to the saynt was restoryd ageyn vnto lyf A mayden of seuen yere of eage whiche had suffred an axes contynuel deyed and vowe made vnto the same saynt by hyr parentes recoueryd the spyryte of lyf and lyued longe after A woman conceyuyng two doughters one of the whiche for cause of a falle that hyr moder receyued ageynst hyr bely deyed within the wombe of hyr moder tyme came that the moder shold be delyuerd of hyr bryâ—he this chylde dede and as thenne aâ—â—e roten by helpe and mysterye of mydwyuee was had oute one pyece after another vowe maad by the fader to the saynt The chylde so dysmembryd was restoryd to lyf and lyued after seuen moneâ—hes Another chylde whyche vnder a bedde was founde deed vowe maad to the same Saynt was the chylde restoryd to lyf ¶ A woman which by grete sekenesse was passed out of this world vowe maad for hyr by hy parentes vnto the saynt recouerd the spyryte of lyf and syâ—hen lyued longe wyth thyse myracles and many other wold god hys saynt to be magnefyed and rendred honourable to alle the world Therfore lete vs praye the holy saynt loyes of marcelle that he wyl praye god for vs AMEN Thus endeth the lyf of saint Loyes of marcelle bisshop And here foloweth the lyf of saint audegonde virgyne IN the thyme of dagoberte kynge of Fraunce whiche reygned about the yere syx hondred was borne saynt audegonde of lygnage ryalle Thys holy audegonde was nourysshed in the seruyce of gods and yet I may say that our lord hym self nourysshed hyr in his seruyce and endoctryned hyr as wel hym self presente by noble vysyons and wonderful as by his aungellys men wymmen relygyous and holy as wâ—l by hyr owne holy suster as by other as it apperyth in hir legende none oughte not thenne to be meruaylled yf she lyued holyly that was scoler of suche a scole whan thenne thys holy audegonde was of eage competente her fader and moder wold haue maryed hyr to a noble man ryche myghty but in conclusyon she answeryd that none other she wold take to hyr lord and spouse but our lord Ihesu cryste to whome of bounte beaute noblesse puyssannce rychesse and wytte may none be compared Saynt wantrud of mouns whiche after the decesse of hyr husbonde Saynt vyncente of Songnyes made hir professyon in
thabbay of nonnes at mouÌ„s whiche she had founded and wrote and prayed to hir moder that she myght haue audegonde hir suster wyth hir for hir dysporte comforte and companye in veray loue and charytee audegonde the holy virgyne was sente thyder and was taughte and endoctryned by hir suster in the manere holdyng of relygyon Fewe dayes after hir moder yet supposyng to haue maryed hir wente there where bothe hyr doughters were and to Audegonde gaue a pyete of lynnen clothe suche as prynces weren and commaunded to hyr that therwyth she shold make shertes shetys and kerchyers for hyr paramours The good virgyn wenyng that hir moder had mente hyr spouse Ihesu cryste took the sayd clothe and therof she made crysmes whyche are put on newe borne chyldrens heedes whan they be borne to the fontes there to be baptysed to whome the preest sayth take thou thys whyte clothynge whiche thou shalte bere tofore the syege trybunal of our lord wherfore the sayd holy vyrgyne to the ende that the shyrtes of hir owne shapyng and making shold be borne to hir spouse Ihesu cryste she made crysmes with hir moders clothe and whan she had made them moche fayre and ryche as for kynges sones she wyth a mery countenaunce gaue them to hir moder sayeng that she had doon it in the beste wyse that she coude whan hir moder sawe the crysmes and hir lynnen cloth thus employed she was moche wroth and euyl apayed and fette a rodde for to bete hir doughter wythal But the blessyd saynt fledde vnto the foreste of mauâ—euge that was there nyghe there she made hyr penytence wyth the comforte and helpe of our lord It is sayd that he whyche by thassente and graunte of hir moder shold haue had hir to his wyf came in to the said foreste for to haue rauysshed hir by force but he coude neuer fynde ne see hyr alle wente he nyghe hyr There she abode vnto the tyme that hyr moder was dede and after she wente to moune where she was sacred vnto a nonne by the handes of Saynt obyer of saynt amande and anone after she bylded founded hyr abbay of mauleuge There was once brouhte to thys holy vyrgyne a grete fysshe whiche she put in to a fountayn for to be kepte there It happed as suche grete fysshes ben acustomed to doo that he lepte so hyghe fro the water that he fyl on the grounde and coude not retourne in to the fontayn On hym cam a grete rauen whiche wold haue ete of hit but there came a lambe that kepte the fysshe fro harme and foughte ageynst the rauen so longe that the ladyes nonnes of the place perceyued the bataylle Somme of them cam to the fontayn toke the fysshe brought it wyth them the said lambe euer folowed them vnto tyme the fysshe was before the presence of saint audegoÌ„de neuer wold departe tyl the holy vyrgyn said to hym ye haue do right wel goo to your herde ageyn On a nyÈt as saint audegonde with hir suster togyder spekyng secretely of their spouse our Lord Ihesu Cryste theyr candyl fyl fro the candel stycke and was put out Saynt audegonde took it and as god wold it lyghted by it self ageyn Item as on a tyme they two wente to gyder toward the chirche of saynt Peter aboute the houre of sexte the yates that as thenne were shytte sodaynlye openyd before them at the Instaunce of theyr orysons and prayers Item ones as she had thyrste was water broughte to hyr whyche was tourned in to wyne by the grace of hym that in galylee dyd tourne the water in to wyne Saynt Wandrud sawe in a vysyon fyue dayes before the dethe of the holy audegonde hyr suster the blessyd vyrgyn marye bothe saynt Peter and saynt powle prynces of the appostles accompanyed wyth many sayntes and a grete legyon of aungellys whyche ledde hyr suster audegonde in to paradyse She therfore came to the place where hyr suster laye seek and was presâ—nte whan she rendred hyr sowle to hir spouse our lord Ihesu cryste to whome we shal praye that thorugh the merytes of the blessyd vyrgyne audegonde of whyche the myracles bothe in hyr lyf and after hyr dethe been wythoute nombre we may come there as she is in glorye without ende Amen ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint audegonde virgyne And here foloweth the lyf of saint Aulbyne bysshop SAynt aulbyne was borne of noble lygnage in the partyrs of ytalyâ— In his chydehode he loued and seruyd god ententyfly and wyth so grete wylle that he lefte bothe his fader and his moder his parentys and frendes lande and alle worldely rychesse and became a monke in an abbay callyd in latyn Tincillacense monasterium where he nedyd shewe of his noblesse but onelye the good condycyons He was humble and seruysable vnto alle and was euer in contynuel prayers and replenysshed wyth alle vertues redy and apparaylled to flee and eschewe alle vyces Whan saynt aulbyne came to the eage of thyrty yere he was maad abbotte of the sayd abbay whyche he gouerned bothe temporelle and spryrituel by the space of fyue twenty yere so that our lord was at al tymes wel and deuotelye seruyd and al goodes temporalle dayly grewen there The bisshop of angers deyed that tyme and thenne thys holy saynt aulbyne by the grace and wylle of our Lord and by the comune and concordable assente of alle the chappytre was promoted to the dygnyte of bisshop there where as he was afterwarde knowen so parfyte and so charytable that doubtelesse his promocyon Was cause of the saluacyon of many sowles A Woman there was in the cytee of angyers whyche had hir handes as lame and counterfeyted for cause of a sekenesse that men calle the gowte wherwyth she was sore vexyd she made hyr prayer and demaunded helpe of the saynt and soone she was holpen and releuyd from that sekenesse onelye by that he handelyd thre tymes hyr handes on a tyme as saint aulbyn went thorugh a dowue within his dyocyse he sawe the fader moder wepyng ouer theyr chylde dede toke on them pyte made his prayer vnto our lord sodaynlye their chylde was reysed to lyf Item a blynde man demauÌ„ded helpe of saint aulbyn the holy bisshop made the signe of the crosse ouer â—ym anon he was enlumyned ageyn Item as saynt aulbyn dyd passe on a tyme before the pryson hows at angers the prysonners cryed besought hym for helpe the holy bysshop hauyng on them grete compassyon yede vnto the baylye prayed hym for theym but nought auayled there his prayer wherfore he wente to his chyrche and soone after his prayer made to god knelyng before the hygh aulter a grete parte of the pryson walle fylle doun and soo scapyd euery prysonner there A woman vexyd wyth a wycked spiryte was broughte before thys holy bysshop and assone as the enemye perceyued the holy man he put hym selfe in to the
for to doo fornycacion whom he gaf a buffette and sayd thou wycked man why amendest thou not thy wycked lyuyng and he said to hym byleue me right wel that thou shalt haue suche a buffet that alle alysauÌ„dre shal assemble to wondre on the And after that the fende cam in lyknes of a man and yaf hym a buffete and said to hym thys is the buffet that thabbot vytale promysed the and anon he was rauysshyd wyth the fende and tormented so that all the peple drewe to hym and wondred on hym but atte last he was repentaunt And was heled by the prayers of saynt vytale And whan the seruaunt of god was nygh hys ende he lefte in wrytyng to hys dyscyples Iugge ye neuer byfore the tyme And whan he was deeed the wymen confessyd what he had don And all they gloryfyed god And namely saynt IohÌ„n sayeng wold god that thyâ—ke buffet that he toke I had taken Ther was a poure man in thabyte of a pylgryme cam to saynt IohÌ„n and demanded almesse And he callyd hys dyspenser and bad hym to gyue to that poure man vj pens whyche he receyued and wente hys waye and chaunged his clothyng and cam agayn to the patriarke and asked almesse And he callyd hys dyspenser and bad hym to gyue hym vj pens of gold And whan he had gyuen to hym and was departed the dyspenser said to hys lord Fader at your request thys man hath receyued twyes almesse thys day and hath chaunged his habyte twies saynt IohÌ„n fayned as he had not herd it And the poure man chaunged his clothyng the thyrde tyme and cam agayn to saynt IohÌ„n and asked yet the thyrd tyme almesse And thenne the dyspenser told hys lord pryuely that he was the same beggar to whom saynt IohÌ„n sayde yeue to hym xij besauÌ„tes leste it be my lord Ihesu cryst that wyll preue me whether he myht more take or I yeue ¶ On a tyme it happed that one patricius had certayn money of the chyrche whyche he wold put in marchaundyse but the patriarke wold in no wyse consente therto but wold it shold be gyuen to poure peple And they coude not acorde but departed all wroth And after euensong tyme the patryarke sente to tharchepreste patricius sayeng Syr the sonne is nygh gooÌ„ doun And he heryng that anon he wepte and cam to hym and asked for yeuenes ¶ On a tyme the neuew of the patryarke suffred wronge of a tauerner And complayned lamentably to the patriarke and coude not be comforted ¶ And the patriarke said to hym who is so hardy that dar saye ayenst the or opene hys mouth ayenst the Byleue me sone that I shal thys day do for the suche a thyng that alle Alisaundre shal wondre on it And And whan he herde that he was wel conforted wenyng that the tauerner shold haue ben sore beten And saynt IohÌ„n seeyng thaâ— he was comforted kyssed hys breste and said Sone yf thou be veryly the neuew of myn humylyte make the redy to be scorgid to suffre of euery man betyngis chydyngis and wronges For veray affynyte is not only of flesshe and blood but it is knowe by the strengthe of vertue And anone he sente for that maÌ„ and made hym free of alle pension and tribute And all they that herd thys wondred gretly And thenne vnderstode they that he had said byfore that he wold so doo that all alysauÌ„dre shold wondre therof The patriarke herynge of the custome that is whan themperour is crowned ther shal come to hym the makers of sepultures and brynge stones of marble of dyuerse colours and demande themperour of what stones he wyl haue hys graue made or of what metalle Saynt IohÌ„n remembryng thys comanded to make hys sepulture but yet he dyde not do make it alle but lefte it vnparfyght vnto hys ende And he ordeyned that at euery feste whan he was wyth the clergye somÌ„e shold come to hym and saye Syre thy monument or sepulture is not all made but Imperfyght comande that it may be made For thou wotest not what hour thou shalt dye ne whan the theef cometh ¶ There was a riche man whych sawe saynt IohÌ„n hauyng in his â—edde but vyle clothes and not riche For he had gyuen all hys good to poure men he bought for hym a moche riche couertour for hys bedde and yaue it to saynt IohÌ„n And in a nyght as it laye vpon hym he coude not slepe For he thoughte iijC of hys lordes myght wel haue be couerd wyth alle and made all that nyght moche lamentacion seyeng A lord how many ben there of my lordes now in the myre how many in the rayn how many so colde that theyr teeth beten to gydre And how many that slepen in the market place and sayd to hym self and thou wretche deuourest the grete fysshes and restest in thy chambre wyth thy wickednesse vnder a couertour of xxvj pound to warme thy carayn And after he wold neuer be couerd therwyth but on the morn he dyde do selle it gaf the money therof to poure peple And whan the ryche man sawe it he bought it agayn and toke it to the blessyd saynt IohÌ„n and desyred hym no more to selle it but kepe it for hym self And anon after saynt IohÌ„n solde it agayn and gaf the money of hit to poure peple And whan the riche maÌ„ wyst it yet he bought it agayn and brought it to saynt IohÌ„n ful goodly said to hym we shal see who shal fayll of vs or thou in the sellyng or I in the byeng thus it was ofte bought and solde The riche man seeyng wel that he myght well mynusshe his richesse in this maner without synne to thentente to yeue it to poure peple And they bothe shold wynne in thys maner that one in sauyng of theyr soules And that other in getyng reward and saynt IohÌ„n wold drawe men to doo almesse in thys maner he was acustomed to telle of saynt serapion whan he had gyue hys mantel to a poure man And after mette wyth another that had colde he gaf hym hys cote And hym self satte al naked And one demaunded of hym Fader who hath despoylled the And he had in hys honde the book of theuangelies said thys hath dyspoylled me And anon he sawe another poure man and thenne he solde the book of gospellis gaf the prys therof to poure men And whan he was demaÌ„ded where hys book of the gospellis was he answerd said that the gospel comaÌ„deth and saith Goo and selle all that thou hast and gyue it to the poure I had thys gospell and I haue solde it lyke as he comandeth On a tyme he gaf to a poure man v besauntes And the poure man had desdayn therof and began to chyde and dyspyse hym in hys visage by cause he had nomore almesse And whan hys struantes sawe that they wold haue beten hym And theÌ„ne the blessyd Iohan deffended them
sayeng suffre ye hym brethern and late hym curse me loo I haue thys lx yere blasphemed by my werkys Cryst and may not I not bere one blame or vice of thys man And he comanded that a sack of money full shold be brought to fore thys poure man that he shold take as moche as he world On a tyme after that the gospell was redde in the chyrche the peple wente out and talked ydle tales And thys holy patriarke apperceyued them and folowed after and satte doun emong them and said to them Sones there as the sheep been there must the sheepherde be also And therfor eyther ye muste entre with me in to the chyrche or ellys I must abyde wyth you here And thus he dyde tweyes And therby he taught the peple to abyde stande in the chyrche Another tyme ther was a yongman had rauysshed anonne And the clerkys repreued the yong man therof to fore saynt IohÌ„n And said he ought to be cursid therfor by cause he had lost ij sowles his owne and the nonnes Thenne saynt Iohan withstode theyr sentence sayeng not so my sones not so I shal shewe to you that ye coÌ„myse two synnes Fyrst ye doo ayenst the comandement of god whyche saith Iuge ye not and ye shal not be Iuged Secondly ye wyte not for certayn whether they haue synned in to thys day and haue not be penytent and haue repented them It fyll many tymes that saynt IohÌ„n was rauysshyd in hys prayers and was in a traunce And he was herd dyspute with our lord in thyse wordes So good lord Ihesu cryst so I in partyng and thou in mynystryng late vs see who shal ouercome On a tyme whan he was seek vexid wyth the feures and sawe that he approched hys ende he said I yelde to the thankynges For thou hast herd my wretchidnes prayeng thy goodnes that at my deth shold be fouÌ„de wyth me but one besaunt or one pece of money and that yet I comande to be gyuen to the poure And thenne he yelded hys soule vnto all myghty god And his venerable body was put in a sepulcre where the bodyes of ij bysshoppis were buryed And the two bodyes by myracle gaf rome and place to the body of saynt IohÌ„n For they remeued eche fro other and left the mydle voyde for his body A lityl tyme to fore hys deth ther was a woman had coÌ„mysed a grete and horryble synne And durst not be shryuen therof ne â—hewe it to noman saynt IohÌ„n bad here wryte hit and seale it and brynge it to hym And he wold praye for her she assented therto she wrote her synne and dylygently closed and sealed it And delyuerd it to saynt IohÌ„n And anon after saynt IohÌ„n waxe seek and deyde And whan she herd that he was deed she supposed her self confused and shamed For she wende that he hath delyuerd it to somÌ„e other man and she cam to hys tombe and there wepte cryed moche lamentably sayeng Alas Alas I supposed to haue eschewid my coÌ„fusion now I am made confusion vnto all other wepte bytterly prayeng saynt IohÌ„n that he wold shewe to here where he had lefte her wrytyng And sodenly saynt IohÌ„n cam and appiered to her in thabyte of a bysshop on eyther syde of hym a bysshop and said to the woman why troblest thou me so moche and thies sayntes wiâ—h me and suffrest not vs to haue reste loo here our clothes ben alle weet of thy teeris And thenne delyuerd to her her scrowe agayn sealed as it was to fore sayeng to her Se here thy seall opene thy wrytyng and rede it whyche anoÌ„ she opened and all her synne was disfaced and clene out and she fonde therin wreton Alle thy synne is foryeuen and put away by the prayer of IohÌ„n my seruaunt And thenne she rendred thaÌ„kynges to our lord god and to saynt IohÌ„n And thenne saynt IohÌ„n with the two bysshoppis retorned in to theyr sepulture Thys holy man saynt IohÌ„n flowrid in the yere of our lord vjCv in the tyme of foke themperour Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Iohan the Almosner Of the conuersion of saynt paule of the name of conuersion COnuersion is sayd of conuertor I am torned or is as moche as to gydre torned from synnes and euyllis he is not conuerted that shryueth hym to the preest of one synne and hydeth an other It is said conuersion For saynt paule thys day was conuerted to the fayth leuyng hys vices why he is said paule it shal be said afterward ¶ Of the conuersion of saynt Paule THe conuersion of saynt Paule was made the same yere that cryste suffred hys passion and saynt stephen was stoned also not in the yere naturell but appieryng For our lord suffred deth the viij kalendes of apryll And saynt stephen suffred deth the same yere the thyrde day of august And was stoned and saynt paule was conuerted the viij kalendis of feuerer And thre reasons ben assigned wherfor the conuersion of saynt paule is halowed more than of other saynctes Fyrst for thensample by cause that no synnar what someuer he be shold despayre of pardon whan he seeth hym that was in so grete synne to be in so grete Ioye Secondly for the Ioye For lyke as the chyrche had grete soâ—owe in hys persecucion So had she grete Ioye in his conuersion Thyrdly for the myracle that our lord shewde whan of j so cruel a persecutour was made so trewe a prechour The conuersion of hym was merueyllous by reson of hym that made hym and of hym that ordeyned hym and of the pacient that suffred it by reson of hym that made hym to be conuerted that was Ihesu cryst whyche shewde there his merueillous puyssaunce in that he said it is harde to the to stryue ayenst the alle or prycke and in that he chaunged hym so sodaynly For anon as he was chaunged he said lord what wylt thou that I doo vpon thys word sayth saynt Austyn the lambe slayn of the wulues hath made of a wulf a lambe For he was redy for to obeye that to fore was wood for to persecute Secondly he shewd hys merueyllous wysedom hys merueyllous wysedom was in that that he toke fro hym the swellyng of pryde in offryng to hym the inward thynges of humylyte and not the heyghte of mageste For he said I am Ihesus of nazareth And he called not hym self god ne the sone of god but he said to hym take thynfirmytees of humanyte and caste away the squames of pryde Thyrdly he shewde hys pyteous debonayrte and mercy whyche is signefied in that that he that was in dede and in wylle to persecute he conuerted how be it he had euyl wyll as he that desyred alle the menaces and thretenynges had euyll purpoos as he that wente to the prynce of preestis as he that had a Ioye in hys euyl werkis that he ladde the crysten men bounden to Iherusalem And therfor hys Iourneye and