lyue and brought hym to her hows and toke charge of hym tyl he was all hool Many crysten men cam to hym whyche counseylled hym to voyde the place but he was comforted and stode vpon a stappe where themperour shold passe by and said to hym the bysshoppis of thydolles deceyue you euyll whyche accuse the crysten men to be contrayre to the comyn prouffyt of the cyte that praye for your estate for the helthe of Rome dyoclesyan said arte not thou sebastyen whom we comanded to be shoten to deth And saynt Sebastian saide therfor our lord hath rendred to me lyf to th ende that I shold telle you that euylle and cruelly ye doo persecucions vnto crysten men Thenne made dyoclesyan hym to be brought in to pryson in to hys palays And to bete hym so sore wyth stones tyl that he deyde And the tyrauntis threwe hys bodye in to a grete pryuee by cause the crysten men shold make no feste to burye hys body ne of hys martredom but saynt sebastian appyerid after to saynt lucyne a glorious wydowe And said to her in suche a pryue shalt thou fynde my body hangyng at an hoke whyche is not defouled with none ordure whan thou hast wasshed it thou shal burye it at Cathacombes by the appostlis And the same nyght she and her seruantes accomplysshyd alle that sebastian had comanded her he was martred the yere of our lord CClxxxvij And seynt gregory telleth in the first boke of hâ—s dyaloges that a woman of tuskane whych was newe wedded was prayd for to goo wyth other wymen to the dedicacion of the chyrche of sebastian and the nyght to fore she was so moeued in her flessh that she myght not absteyne her from her husbond And on the morn she hauyng gretter shame of men than of god wente theder and anon as she was entryd in to the oratorye where the relyques of saynt sebatian were the fende toke her and tormentid here byfore all the people And thenne the preest toke the couerture of the aulter and couerd her And theÌ„ne the deuyl assaylled the preest her frendes lad her to thenchauntours that that they shold enchaunte the fende but assone as they began thenchaunte by the IugemeÌ„t of god a legion of deuylles entryd in to her that is vjMvjClxvj and vexid her more sharply than to fore And an holy man named formatus by hys prayers heled her It is redde in the gestes of the loÌ„bardis that in the tyme of kynge gylberte all ytalye was smeton wyth so greet a pestilence that vnnethe they that were alyue myght burye the dede And this pestylence was most at Rome and pauye Thenne the good Angele was seen vysybly of many and an euyl Angele folowyng beryng a staf whom le bad smyte and slee And as many strokes as he smote an hows so many deede persones were born out of it Thenne at laste it was shewed to one by goddes grace that this pestylence shold not cesse tyl that they had made an aulter to saynt sebastian at pauye whiche thenne was made in the chyrche of saynt peter and anone the pestylence seassed And thyder fro rome relyques of saynt sebastian were brought And saynt Ambrose in his preface saith thus O lord the blood of thy blessyd martir saynt sebastian was shedd for the confession of thy name he hath shewed thy meruaylles that they prouffyte in infirmyte vertue and gyueth to our studyes prouffyt and to them not stedfast to the it gyueth ayde and helpe Thenne late vs praye to this holy martir saynt sebastian that he praye vnto our lord that we may be delyuerd from all pestylence and sodeyn deth and so departe aduysedly hens that we may come to euer lastyng Ioye and glorye in heuen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Sebastian And next foloweth of saynt Agnes and first thynterpretacion of her name AGnes is said of agna a lambe For she was humble and debonayr as a lambe or of agno in greke whyche is to saye debonayr and pyteous For she was debonayr and mercyful Or agnes of agnoscendo for she knewe the waye of trouthe and after thys saynt Austyn saith trouthe is opposed ayenst vanyte falsenes doublenes For thyse thre thyngis were taken from her for the trouthe that she had ¶ Of saynt Agnes THe blessyd virgyne seynt Agnes was moche wyse and wel taught as saynt Ambrose wytnesseth and wrote her passyon she was fayr of vysage but moche fayrer in the crysten fayth she was yong of age aged in wytte For in the xiij yere of her age she lost the deth that the world gyueth And fonde lyf in Ihesu cryst whyche whan she cam fro scole the sone of the perfecte of Rome for themperour louyd her And whan hys fader and moder knewe it they offred to gyue moche Rychesse wyth hym yf he myght haue her in maryage And offryd to saynt Agnes precyous geÌ„mes and Iewellis whyche she refused to take wherof it happed that the yong man was ardauntly esprysed in the loue of saynt Agnes and came agayn and toke wyth hym more precious Rycher adournementes made wyth all maner of precious stones And as wel by hys parentes as by hym self offred to saynt agnes Ryche yeftes and possessyons and all the delytes and deduytes of the world and all to th ende to haue her in maryage but saynt agnes answerd to hym in thys mater Goo fro me thou fardel of synne norysshyng of euyllys and morsell of deth and departe And knowe thou that I am preuented and am loued of another louer whych hath gyuen to me many better Iewellis whych hath fyanced me by his fayth And is moche more noble of lygnage than thou art of estate he hath clad me wyth precyous stones and wyth Iewellis of golde he hath sette in my vysage a signe that I receyue none other espowse but hym And hath shewde me ouer grete tresours whiche he must gyue me yf I abyde wyth hym I wyl haue none other spowse but hym I wyl seche none other In no maner may I leue hym wyth hym am I ferme and fastned in loue whyche is more noble more puyssant fayrer than ony other whos loue is moche swete and gracious of whom the chambre is now redy for to receyue me where the virgynes syngyn meryly I am now embraced of hym of whome the moder is a vyrgyne And hys fader knewe neuer woman to whom the angelles serue the sonne and the mone merueylle them of hys beaute whos werkes neuer faylle whos Rychesses neuer mynusshe by whos odour dede men reyse agayn to lif by whos touchyng the seke men be conforted whos loue is chastyte To hym I haue gyuen my faith To hym I haue comanded my herte whan I loue hym thenne am I chaste and whan I touche hym theÌ„ne am I pure and clene And whan I take hym thenne am I a virgyne Thys is the loue of my god whan the yong man had
pope he ordeyned thurgh out all the contrees vij dekens and to them vij subdekens for to wryte the lyues of martirs Ther was an Emperour in his tyme named phylyppe whyche was moche synful and cam boldly in the vygyle of ester in to the chyrche for to be houselyd and coÌ„myned whom the pope droof away and denyed to hym the comunyon vntyl he had goon and shryuen hym of hys synnes and lete hym stonde emong the seculiers Thys holy pope also ordeyned the crysme in the chyrche ¶ Thenne atte laste whan he had ben pope xiij yere decius themperour comanded to smyte of hys heed And so he was crowned with the crowne of martirdom the yere of our lord CCliij Of saynt Sebastian and first thynterpretacion of hys name SEbastian is sayd of sequens and beatitudo and astin and ana that is to saye folowyng the blessydnes of the heuenly cyte and thys he gace v maner wyses after saynt Austyn that is to saye he gate by pouerte the regne with sorow Ioye with labour reste with trowble glorye with deth lyf Or sebastianus is said of basto For by the helpe of cryst he flourid in the chyrche And had a customÌ„e to comforte the marters in their tormÌ„tis ¶ Of saynt Sebastian SAynt Sebastian was a maÌ„ of grete faith a good crysten man And was born in HerboÌ„ne and after taught endoctryned in the cite of melan was so wel byloued of dyoclesian maximian emperours of Rome that they made hym maistre duc of their mayne power and alleway wold haue hym in theyr presence And he was alleway wyth them in habyte of a knyght was gyrde with a gyrdle of gold aboue lyke as was vsed And all this dide he not for Iolyte ne for cause that he dredde deth or to deye for the loue of Iesu cryst but he dyde it for to comforte the crysteÌ„ men in their bileue whan they were in destresse for to renye the faith for drede of tormeÌ„tis of their body It happed that ij brethern germayns very crysten men and noble of lignage named marcus marcellianus were taken and constrayned by theÌ„perours for to worshipe doo sacrefyse vnto thydolles And ther was gyuen to theÌ„ respite of xxx dayes to be in prison without to receyue deth for their crysteÌ„ faith within whiche tyme they myght couÌ„seyll aduyse them self whether they wold do sacrefise to thydolles or to leue their frendes were suffred in this tyme of respite to come to theÌ„ in prison for tentrete reuoke them fro their faith for to saue their lyues TheÌ„ne cam their parentis frendes to them bygan to saye whens cometh this hardnes of herte that ye despise the old age of your fader and moder whyche ben now olde ye gete vnto theÌ„ new sorowes the grete payne that they had in your byrthe was not so grete as the sorow that they haue now and the sorow that your moder suffreth is not to reherse wherfor right dere frendes we praye you that ye wylle to thyse sorowes put somme remedye And departe you and leue the errour of the crysten men And anon after thyse wordes theyr moder cam and entred in in cryeng and teryng the heeres of her hede in shewyng her pappes and sayd alle wepyng Alas I am meschaunt and vnhappy that lese my two sones that I haue gyuen souke and nourisshyd so swetely Thou fair sone thou were swete debonaire to me And to that other she said thou were lyke and semblest wel thy fader Alas to what meschief and sorowe am I delyuerd for you my fayr sones I lese my sones which by their owen will goon for to deye My most dere chyldren haue ye mercy on your sorouful moder that am in so grete mesease and in so grete Wepyngis for you O pour caytyf that I am what shal I doo that lose my two sones and to the deth I see them goo by theyr fre wyll Alas thys is a newe maner of deth for to desyre the deth to fore it come The moder had vnneth said her complaynt but that theyr fader was brought bytwene ij seruantes whiche at thentre shewde to hys sones dust vpon the pouerte of hys hoore hede And cryed Alas I sorowful caytyf come to the deth of my two sones which by theyr owen agreement wyll deye O my ouerderest sones that were the sustenance and staf of myn olde age swetely nourysshed and taught lerned in science what is thys open folisshnes and rage that is comen on you and causeth you to loue and desire so the deth ther was neuer suche a folye ne rage seen in the world O ye my frendes come forth and helpe me to bywepe my chyldren ye that haue hertes of pyte And ye old and yong wepe ye And I wyl wepe so moche that I see not the deth of my sones In the whyle that the fader thus wepte and said cam the two wyues of thyse ij sones whiche bare in their armes their chyldreen whiche wepyng and cryeng said Saye ye now that ben our dere husbondes In what ward leue ye vs and your chyldren Alas what shal bycome of vs our chyldren and our goodes that for your sake shal be lost Alas caytyues that we be what thyng is to vs happened how haue ye herte of yron in what maner may ye so be harded so out of nature and so cruel that also despyse your fader moder and refuse all your frendes chace a-away your wyues and renye and forsake your chyldren and with your will delyuer your self for to deye shamefully Of thise lamentable wordes to fore wretoÌ„ the ij said sones marcus marcellianus were so abasshed and their hertes mollified that almost were retorned fro the crysten faith wold for the fauour of their pareÌ„tis frendes haue don sacrefyse to thydolles but at thise wordes was saynt sebastian as a knyght whan he sawe theÌ„ thus trauelled so amolisshid anon cam to theÌ„ said O ye right noble knyghtes of IhÌ„u cryst wise hardy which ben comeÌ„ to the victorye now goo abacke for a fewe blaundissyng wordes vayne myserable ye wyll lose the victorye ê‘manable lese ye not the euerlayng lif for the blauÌ„dysshyng wordes of wymen be ye exaÌ„ple to other cristen meÌ„ for to be strong in the faith Addresse ye your hertes aboue the world lose ye not your crowne for the wepynges of your wyues childreÌ„ They that now wepe certes shold this day be glad Ioyous yf that they knewe that ye know They we ne that ther be none other lif but this which they see to fore their eyen which after this shal come to nought yf they knewe what is that other lyf without deth thithoute heuynesse in which is Ioye permanable euerlastyng wythoute doubte they wold haste theÌ„ for to goo with you vnto that lyf and shold repute this lyf as vayne For it
blessyd body medled to gyder and it apperith by thyse verses folowyng that the thre partes of the hoostye sygnefyen the thre maners of creatures before sayd Tres partes signant de xpristi corpore sancto Prima suam carnem scoÌ„sque secuÌ„da sepultos Tercia viuentes hec est in sanguine tincta martirij calicem gus tant in carne fideles After foloweth agnus dei and here it is to wete that the preest sayth thre tymes agnus dei and at the thyrd tyme at th ende of it he sayth Dona nobis pacem And it nys none other thynge to say Lambe of god that taketh aweye the synnes of the world haue mercy on vs and thys is sayd two tymes to thentente that our lord be vnderstonde gooyng on erthe for to haue vs fro our synnes and restyng in the sepulcre for to delyuer vs fro the paynes of helle and therfore in these two fyrst agnus dei the preest sayth miserere nobis the thyrd agnus dei betokenyth thys that our lord be vnderstonde beyng in heuen for to gyue parfyte pees and therfore sayth the preest at th ende of the agnus dona nobis pacem Lord gyue vs pees Sayeng agnus dei the preest enclyneth hym self betyng his brâ—st at euery tyme sygnefyeng that with humylyte compassyon he sayth that same ornson After it is to knowe that at a masse of requiem the preest sayth not at the two fyrst agnus dei miserere nobis ne at the thyrd agnus he sayth not dona nobis pacem but the preest sayth in stede of that dona eis requiem For thys that thre maners of reste ben worthy for the fyables of god dede Fyrst that alle payne he had aweye fro them Secondly that glorye wyth god be gyuen to them Thyrdly that the sowle wyth the body togyder be crownyd And therfore sayth the preest at the laste agnus dona eis requiem sempiternam After this the preest deuoutelye enclyneth hym sayth a deuoute oryson that begynneth thus Domine Ihesu xpriste cÌ„ and that is as moche for to say Lord Ihesu cryste that said to thyn appostles I gyue you my pees I leue you my pees therfore I the praye Instauntelye that thou wylte not consyder my mysdedes and synnes but consyder thou the feyth of the holy chyrche and wylte it vnye peease after thy wylle thou that reygnest wyth the fader in the royame of heuen and after the preest taketh pees kyssyng the corporalle or the lydde of the chalys or the body of our lord Ihesu cryste and that is to teche and shewe to vs that thorugh the holy passyon of our lord veray pees is yeuen to vs of god and also to alle humayn lygne And the preest gyueth pees to the mynystre or clerke that helpeth to saye the masse And that same mynystre or clerke bereth it thorugh the chyrche to the folke and there the creacares kysse it eche after other in token of loue and concorde to the ende that euen soo as flesshe ioyneth it self to flesshe and spyryte to spyryte right soo we be alyed to gyder by vertue of loue And here it is to wete that for thys that our lord sayd to hys dyscyples take ye alle of thys breed and ete it it is myn owne body therfore in thys manere euery one was wonte in tyme passed to be howselyd euery day And for thys that many one took it Indyscretelye and fewe reuerentelye for that it semyd to them that it was not for to doo soo therfore hit was ordeyned to be taken but one tyme in a wyke that is to wete on the sonday Or to take it thre tymes in the yere Or at the leste one tyme in the yere And in that place where thys shold be doon shold be the pees gyuen euery day in token of loue and of veray stedfaste alyaunce And it is to wete that Whan men say masse for the dede men beren not the pees for this that the fyables of god ben oute fro alle the trybulacyons of this world Thus endeth the thyrd parte of the masse Here after foloweth the fourth parte of the masse AFter foloweth the fourth parte of the masse pryncypal and fyrst the percepcyons and here is to wete that after the preest hath taken pees and sente pees to the peple to thentente he may receyue more deuoutelye the body of our lord he sayth bowyng his knees ij orysons Instytued by the auncyent faders the fyrst oryson begynneth Domine Ihesu criste qui ex voluntate patris cÌ„ And is as moche for to say Ihesu crist that by the wylle of god the fader and wytte of the holy ghoost woldest redeme the world by thyn owne deth them to haue ageyn in ioye and blysse with the wylt my body delyuer fro al euyl haue aweye al my synnes fro me and that I may so kepe thy commaundementes that I may be and dwelle with the in heuen where thou mayst reygne as god with the fader and holy ghoost amen The second orison that the preest saith in his percepcion is this Percepcio corporis tui cÌ„ and may be the vnderstondyng of thys oryson suche Ihesu cryste that parfyte lyf hast in heuen wyth herte I the praye that the swete percepcyon of thy precious body whiche by Ialousye of loue I doo take be to me eschewyng of dampnacion that by thy compassion hit may be compunccion to my sowle that in suche place he may come where he may be accepted and graunted amen After the preest medytyng and thynkyng on the passyon of our lord Ihesu cryste sayth Panem celestem accipiam nomen domini Inuocabo cÌ„ That is to say I shal take the heuenly breed I shal calle the name of our Lord After al these forsaid thinges the preest holdyng the precyous body of our lord sayth thre tymes Domine non sum dignus vt Incres sub tectum meum sed tantum dic verbo sanabitur anima mea It is as moche for to saye Lord I am not worthy that thou entrest my hows but say thou the worde and my sowle shal be heelyd there the preest beteth at euery tyme his brest betokenyng that with right veray contrycyon and in stedfast deuocyon he wyl receyue his saluacyon After the preest makyng the sygne of the crosse of the body of our lord sayth Corpus domini nostri Ihesu cristi custodiat animam meam in vitam eternam cÌ„ It is none other thynge to say The precyous body of our lord Ihesu cryste wyl kepe my sowle in lyf pardurable or euerlastyng that is to wete in the companye of our lord and sythe the preest with ioyned handes taketh the body of our lord and vseth it the moost deuoutelye he can after the preest enclyneth hym self and taketh the chalys wherin is the precious blood of our lord sayth Quid retribuam domino pro omnibus que retribuit michi caliâ—em salutaris
beyng teÌ„pted that he shold proue the And now hath our lord sente me for to cure the and Sara the wyf of thy sone I haue delyuerd fro the deuyl I am sothly Raphael the angele one of the seuen whyche stande to fore our lord god whan they herd thys they were 〈◊〉 and tremblyng fyl doun 〈◊〉 on theyr faces vpon the ground 〈◊〉 Aungele said to them pees be to you drede you not Forsothe whan I was with you by the wylle of god hym alleway blesse ye and synge ye to hym I was seen to you to ete and drynke but I vse mete and drynke Inuysyble whyche of men may not be seen It is now therfor tyme that I retorne to hym whiche hath sent me ye alway blesse god and telle ye alle hys meruaylles And whan he had said this he was taken away fro the sight of them and after that they myght nomore see hym Thenne they fyl doun flatte on theyr faces by the space of iij houres and blessyd god And arisyng vp they told all the meruaylles of hym Thenne tholder thobye openyng hys mouthe blessyd our lord sayde Grete art thou lord euermore and thy regne is in to alle worldes For thou scorgest and sauyst thou ledyst to helle and bryngest agayn ¶ And ther is none that may flee thy hand knowleche and confesse you to the lord ye children of Israhel And in the syght of gentylis preyse ye hym therfor he hath desperpled you emong gentyles that knowe hym not that ye telle hys meruaylles and make them to be knowen For ther is none other god almyghty but he he hath chastysed vs for our wyckednesses and he shal saue vs for hys mercy Take heed and see therfor what he hath don to vs And with fere and drede knowleche ye to hym and exalte hym kynge of alle worldys in your werkys I sothly in the londe of my captyuyte shal knowleche to hym for he hath shewd hys mageste in to the synful peple Confesse you therfor synners and do ye Iustyce to for our lord byleuyng that he shal doo to you hys mercy I sothly my sowle shal be glad in hym Alle ye chosen of god blesse ye hym and make ye dayes of gladnes and knowleche ye to hym Iherusalem cyte of god our lord hath chastysed the in the werkys of hys hondys Confesse thou to our lord in hys good thyngys and blesse thou god of worldes that he may reedyfye in the hys tabernacle that he may calle agayn to the alle prysoners and them that ben in captyuyte and that thou Ioye in omnia secula seculorum Thou shalt shyne with a bright lyght And all the endes of the erthe shal worshipe the Nacions shal come to the fro ferre and bryngyng yeftes shal worshype in the our lord and shal haue thy londe in to sanctificacion They shal calle in the a grete name They shal be cursed that shal despyse the And they all shal be condempned that blaspheme the Blessyd be they that edefye the thou shalt be Ioyeful in thy sones For all shal be blessyd and shal be gadred to gydre vnto our lord Blessed be they that loue the that Ioye vpon thy pees my sowle blesse thou our lord for he hath delyueryd Iherusalem hys cyte I shal be blessyd yf ther be lefte of my seed for to see the clerenesse of Iherusalem The yates of Iherusalem shal be edefyed of Saphir and emerawde And all the circuyte of hys walles of precious stone alle the stretes therof shal be paued with whyte stone clene And Alleluya shal be song by the wayes therof Blessyd be the lord that hath exalted it that it may be hys kyngdome in secula seculorum Amen And thus thobye fynysshed thyse wordes ¶ And thobye lyuyd after he had receyuyd his sight xlij xere and sawe the sones of hys neuewis that is the sones of the sones of hys sone yonge thobye And whan he had lyuyd Cij yere he deyde and was honorably buryed in the cyte of nynyue he was lvj yere old whan he lost hys syght whan he was lx yere old he receyuyd hys syght agayn The resydue of hys lyf was in Ioye and with good profyght of the drede of god he departed in pees In the houre of hys deth he called to hym thobye hys sone and vij of hys yonge sones hys neuewes and sayd to hem the destruction of Nynyue is nygh The worde of god shal not passe And our brethern that ben desperpled fro the londe of Israhel shal retorne theder agayn All the londe therof shal be fulfyllid with deserte and the hows that is brente therin shal be reedefyed and theder shal retorne all peple dredyng god And gentylis shal leue theyr ydolles and shal come in Iherusalem and shal dwelle therin And alle the kynges of the erthe shal Ioye in her worshypyng the kynge of Israhel here ye therfor my sones me your fader ¶ Serue ye god in trouthe and seche ye that ye doo that may be plesyng to hym And comande ye to your sones that they doo rightwisnessis and almesses that they may remembre god and blesse hym in all tyme in trouthe and in alle theyr vertue Now therfor my sones here me and dwelle ye no lengre here but whaÌ„ someuer your moder shal deye berye her by me And fro than forthon dresse ye your stappes that ye goo hens I see wel that wyckednesse shal make an ende of it hyt was soo thenne after the deth of hys moder Thobye wente fro Nynyue with hys wyf and hys sones and the sones of hys sones and retorned vnto hys wyues fader and moder whom they fonde in good helthe and good age And toke the cure charge of them And were with them vnto their deth and closyd theyr eyâ—n And thobye receyuyd alle therytage of the hows of Raguel and sawe the sones of hys sones vnto the fyfâ—he generacion And whan he had complesshyd lxxxxix yere he deyde in the drede of god and with Ioye they beryed hym Alle hys cognacion and alle hys generacion abode in good lyf and in holy conuersacion in suche wyse as they were acceptable as wel to god as to men and to alle dwellyng on the erthe Thus endeth the hystorye of Thobye tholder and of hys sone Thobye the yonger Here begynneth thystorye of Iudith whiche is redde the last sonday of Octobre ARphaxat kynge of the medes subdued vnto his eÌ„pire many peoples And edefyed a myghty cite whych he named Egbathams and made hyt with stones squared polysshed them the walles therof were of heyght lxx cubitis and of brede xxx cubitis and the towres therof were an honderd cubytis hye And gloryfyed hym self as he that was myghty in puyssance and in the glorye of hys hoost and of hys chares Nabugodonosor thenâ—e in the xij yere of hys Regne whyche was kynge of thassyryens and regned in the cite of Nynyue fought agayn Arphaxat and toke hym
peas and speke not one worde haue leuer to deye than to dyffame sklaundre my moder so fowly Thus cam he to Iugement and hys moder accused hym sayeng that he wold haue defowled her And it was axed of hym ofte yf it was so as she said And he answerd nothyng TheÌ„ne sayd saynt andrew to her Thou art most cruel of alle wymen whyche for thaccomplysshement of thy lecherye wilt make thy sone to deye Thenne said thys woman to the prouost Syre syth that my sone cam and acompanyed wyth this man he wold haue don hys wylle with me but I withstode hym that he myght not And anon the prouost and Iuge coÌ„manded that the sone shold be put in a sacke enoynted with glewe and throwen in to the Ryuer And saynt Andrewe to be put in pryson tyl he had aduysed hym how he myght tourmente hym But seynt andrew made hys prayer to god And anon cam an horryble thondre whyche fered them alle and made the erthe to tremble strongly And the woman was smeton wyth the thondre vnto the deth And the other prayed the apostle that they myght not perysshe And he prayd for them And the tempest cessed Thus thenne the prouoste beleuyd in god and alle hys mayne ¶ After thys as thappostle was in the cyte of Nypce the cytezeins said to hym that there were seuen deuylles wythout the cyte by the hye waye which slew all them that passed forthby and thappostle comanded them to come to hym whyche cam in the lykenes of dogges And syth he comanded them that they shold goo where as they shold not greue ne doo harme to ony man And anon they vanysshed away And whan the peple sawe this they receyuyd the fayth of Ihesu Cryste And whan thappostle cam to the yate of an other cyte ther was brought a yong man deed Thapostle demanded what was byfallen hym and it was told hym that vij dogges cam strangled hym Thenne thappostle wepte sayd O lord god I knewe wel that thyse were the deuylles that I put out of Nypce And after said to the fader of hym that was deed what wyl thou gyue to me yf I reyse hym And he said I haue nothyng so dere as hym I shal gyue hym to the And anon thappostle made hys prayers vnto almyghty god and reysyd hym from deth to lyf And he wente and folowed hym ¶ On a tyme ther were xl meÌ„ by nombre whyche were comynge by the see sayllyng vnto thappostle for to receyue of hym the doctryne of the fayth and the deuyl reysed and meuyd a grete storme and so horryble a tourment that all they were dâ—owned to gydre And whan theyr bodyes were brought to fore thappostle he reysed them fro deth to lyf anon And ther they sayd alle that was befallen to them And therfor it is redde in an hympne that he rendryd the lyf to yong men drowned in the see And the blessyd seynt andrewe whylys he was in achaye he replenesshyd all the contrey wyth chirches and coÌ„uerted the peple to the faith of Ihesu cryst And enformed the wif of Egeas whyche was prouost and Iuge of the town in the fayth and baptysed her and whan Egeas herde this he cam in to the cyte of patras and constrayned the crysten to sacrefye And seynt Andrew cam vnto hym and said hyt behoueth the whyche hast deseruyd to be a Iuge to knowe thy Iuge which is in heuen and he so knowen that thou worshype hym And so worshypyng withdrawe thy corage fro the false goddes ¶ And Egeas said thou art Andrewe that prechest a false lawe whyche the prynces of Rome haue comanded to be destroyed to whom Andrewe saide The prynces of Rome knewe neuer how the sone of god cam And taught and enformed hem that the ydolles ben deuylles And he that techeth suche thynges angreth god and he so angred departeth fro them that he hereth hem not And therfore ben they caytyuys of the deuyll ben so illused and deceyuyd that they yssue out of the body all naked and bere nothyng with them but synnes And Egeas said to hym Thyse ben the vanytees that your Ihesu prechyd whyche was nayled on the galowes of the crosse To whom Andrewe said he receyuyd with hys agremeÌ„t the gybet of the crosse not for hys culpe and trespaas but for our redempcion And Egeas said whan he was delyueryd of hys dyscyple taken and holden with the Iewes and crucefyed by the knyghtes how saist thou that it was by hys agrement Thenne seynt Andrewe began to shewe by fyue raysons that Ihesu cryste receyued deth by hys owne agrement will For as moche as he cam to fore hys passyon and said to hys dyscyples that it shold be whan he said we shal gon vp to Iherusalem and the sone of the mayde shal be bytrayed And also for that that petre wolde wythdrawe hym he repreuyd hym and said goo after me sathanas And also for that that he shewde that he had power to suffre deth and to ryse agayn whan he said I haue power to put away my sowle and to take it agayn And also for that he knewe to fore hym that betrayd hym whan he gaf hym his souper and shewed hym not And also for that he chese the place where he shold be taken For he knewe wel that the traytre sholde come â— And saynt Andrewe said that he had ben at all thyse thynges And yet he said more that the mysterye of the crosse was grete to whoÌ„ Egeas said it may not be said mysterye but turment and yf thou wilt not graunte to my sayengys truly I shal make the preue thys mysterye And Andrew said to hym yf I doubted the gybet of the crosse I wold not preche the glorye therof I wyl that thou here the mysterye and yf thou knewe byleuydyst on it thou sholdest be saued Thenne he shewde to hym the mystery of the crosse And assygned fyue resons The fyrst is thys For as moche as the fyrst man that deseruyd deth was by cause of the tree in brekynge the comandement of god Thenne is it thynge couenable that the seconde maÌ„ shold put away that deth in suffryng the same on the tree The seconde was that he whiche was made of erthe not corrupted and was breker of the comandement thenne was it thyng couenable that he that shold repelle this defaulte shold be born of a vyrgyne The thyrde for so moche as Adam had stratched hys hand dysordynatly to the fruyt forboden it was thyng couenable that the newe Adam shold stratche hys haÌ„dys in the crosse The fourth for so moche as adam had tasted swetly the fruyt forboden it is therfor rayson that it be put away by thyng coÌ„trarye so that Ihesu cryste was fedde with bytter galle The fyfthe for as moche as Ihesu cryste gaf to vs hys ni mortalyte it is thyng Rasonnable thou he take our mortalyte For yf Ihesu cryst
whete to euery man after that he had nede in suche wyse that it suffyced for ij yere not only for to selle but also for to sowe ¶ And in thys contre the peple seruyd ydollis and worshippid the fals ymage of the cursed deane And to the tyme of thys holy man many of them had somÌ„e customes of the paynems for to sacrefyse to dyane vnder a sacred tree But thys thys good man made them of alle the contre to cesse thenne thyse custommes And comanded to cutte of the tree Thenne the deuyll was angry wrot ayenst hym and made an oylle that brenned ayenst nature in water and brenned stones also And thenne he transformed hym in the guyse of â— relygyouse woman and put hym in a lityl lote encouÌ„tred pylgryms that saylled in the see toward thys holy saynt and aresonued them thus and saide I wold fayn goo to this holy man but I may not wherfor I pray you to bere thys oylle in to hys chyrche and for the remembrauÌ„ce of me that ye enoynte the walles of the halle and anon he vanysshed away Thenne they sawe anon after another shyp wyth honeste persones emong whome ther was one like to saynt Nicholas which spack to theym softly what hath this woman said to you And what she hath brought And they told to hym alle by ordre And he said to theym thys is the euyl and fowl dyane And to th eÌ„de that ye know that I saye trouthe caste that oylle in to the See And whan they had caste it A grete fyre caught it in the see And they sawe it longe brenne ayenst nature Thenne they cam to thys holy man and said to hym verely thou art he that appered to to vs in the see and delyuerdest vs fro the see and awaytes of the deuyll And in thys tyme certayn men rebelled ayenst thmperour And themperour sente ayenst them thre prynces Nepocien Versyn and Appollyn And they cam to the port Andrieu for the wynde whyche was contrary to them And the blessid Nicholas comaÌ„ded theym to dyne with hym For he wold kepe his people fro the Rauayne that they made And whylis they were atte dyner The consul corrupte by money had comanded thre Innocent knyghtes to ben byheded And whan the blessyd Nicholas knewe this he prayd thise iij prynces that they wold moche hastely goo with hym And whan they cam there where they shold be byheded he fonde them on theyr knees and blyndfeld And the righttar brandysshid hys swerd ouer their heedes Thenne saynt Nicholas enbraced with the loue of god sette hym hardyly ayenst the righter and toke the swerd out of hys hond and threwe it fro hym and vnbonden the Innocentis and ladde theym with hym alle sauf And anon he wente to the Iugement to the Consul and fonde the the yates closed whyche anon he opened by force And the Consul cam anoÌ„ and salewed hym And thys holy man hauyng thys salutacioÌ„ in despyte sayd to hym Those enemy of god corumper of the lawe wherfor hast thou consented to so grete euyl and felonye how darst thou loke on vs And whan he had sore chyden and repreuyd hym he repentid and atte prayer of the iij prynces he receyueâ— hym to penaunce After whan the messagers of themperour had receyued hys benediction they made theyr geer redy and departed and subdued theyr enemyes to th empyre without shedyng of blood And syth retorned to themperour and were worshypfully receyuyd And after thys it happed that somÌ„e other in theÌ„perours hous had enuye on the weel of thyse thre prynces And accused them to themperour of hye trayson And dyde so moche by prayer and by yeftes that they caused themperour to be so ful of yre that he comanded them to pryson And without other demaunde he comanded that they shold be slayn that same nyght And whan they knewe it by ther kepar they rente their clothes and wepte bytterly And thenne Nepocyen remembryd hym how seynt nycholas had delyuerd the thre Inncentes And admonested the other that they shold reâ—â—yre hys ayde and helpe and thus as they prayed seynt nycholas appiered to theym And after appiered to constantyn themperour and sayd to hym wherfor hast thou taken thise thre prynces wyth so grete wrong and hast Iuged them to deth wythout trespaas Arise vp hastely and commaunde that they be not executed Or I shall praye to god that he moeue bataile ayenst tâ—e in whiche thou shalt be ouer throwen and shalt be made mete to bestes and themperour demaunded what art thou that art entred by nyght in to my paleys and darst saye to me suche wordes And he sayde to hym I am nycholas bysshop of myrre and in lyke wyse he appiered to the preuost and fered hys sayeng with a ferdful voys Thou that hast lost mynde and wytte wherfor hast thou consented to the deth of Innocentis Goo forth anone and doo thy part to delyuer theym Or ellis thy body shal rote and be eten with wormes And thy meyne shal be destroyed And he asked hym how art thou that so menaceâ—t me And he answerd knowe thou that I am Nicholas the bisshop of the cyte ef Mirre TheÌ„ne that one awoke that other and eche told to other theyr dremes and anon sente for theym that were in pryson To whom themperour said what art magyke oâ— sorcerye can ye that ye haue this nyght by Illusion caused vs to haue suche dremes And they said that they were none enchaunters ne knewe no witchecraft and also that they had not deseruyd the sentence of deth TheÌ„ne themperour said to theym knowe ye wel a man named Nicholas And whan they herd speke of the name of the holy saynt they held vp theyr handes toward heuene and prayd our lord that by the merytes of saynt Nicholas they myght be delyuerd of this present peryll And whan themperour had herd of theym the lyf myraclis of saynt Nicholas he said to them Go ye forth and yelde ye thankynges to god whiche hath delyuereth you by the prayer of this holy man worshipe ye hym and bere ye to hym of your Iewellis and praye ye hym that he thretene me nomoore but that he pray for me and for my Royame vnto our lord ¶ And a whyle after the said prynces wente vnto the holy maÌ„ And fylle doun on their knees humbly atte hys feet sayeng uerayly Thou art the sergeant of god and the veray worshypper and louer of Ihesu cryst and whan they had all tolde this said thynge by ordre he lyft vp hys hondes to heuen and gaf thankynges praysynges to god And sente agayn the prynces wel enformed in to theyr contrees ¶ And whan it pleased our lord to haue hym departe out of thys world he prayd our lord that he wold sende hym hys angellis And enclynyng hys heed he sawe thaungellis come to hym wherby he knewe wel that he shold departe began this
For by daye and nyght he hath grete labour in getyng and in kepyng of hit and grete drede to lose that whiche he hath so dere and wyth grete payne goten Syxtly anauntyng and praysyng For the Rychesses gyuen occasion to be vayn gloryous and to prayse and gloryfye hym self And by thys it appyereth that presently is loste the wele of humylyte without whyche the grace of god may not be had And thus is goten for the world come to payne and tormente by ouer grete pryde Escripture thenne nature creature fortune besynes and care aaduauntyng and praysyng ought to make vs withdrawe for to loue richesses ¶ Saynt Iohan approuued to thies two men hys doctryne wyth hys myracles to be trewe and ye in the name of hym dyde myracles to fore that ye were sory and repented you of that that ye had gyuen your Rychesses to poure people Now is that grace from you departed And ye ben bycome meschaunt and wretches whiche were in the faith strong and myghty ¶ And to fore the euyl spyrites had fere and drede of you And by your comandement they yssued out of bodyes humayne Now haue ye fere and drede of them and ben bycome theyr seruauntes For who so loueth the Rychessys of thys world he is seruaunt vnto a deuyll named Mammona ¶ And is bonde and serf in kepyng the Rychesse in whyche he setteth hys affyaunce ¶ And herof fayth the holy ghoost by the prophete Dauid In imaginem pertransit homo cÌ„ vaynly is the man distroblyd whyche assembleth tresour in this world and knoweth not for whom it is For whaÌ„ he shal deye he shal here nothyng wyth hym And he wote not who shal despende it For naked we cam vpon therthe and all naked shal we reentre in to it And to a meschauÌ„t maÌ„ it suffiseth not whaÌ„ he hath ynowh but he is besy day and nyght to gete more wythout reste For the Rychesses make hym ferdful to lese that he hath goten and bryngeth to hym many besynesses and euyl reste in makyng worldly delytes And he despourueyd deth cometh whyche taketh all fro hym and bereth nothyng with hym sauf his propre synnes whan saynt IohÌ„n had said all thys ther was brought to fore hym a yong man deed whiche only had be in maryage xxx dayes And hys moder and frendes wepte sore whyche to fore saynt IohÌ„n kneled doun on their knees prayeng hym that he wold reyse hym to lyf Saynt IohÌ„n had grete pyte And whan he had longe wept he bad to lose and vnbynde the body and saide O satheus whyche were blynded with flesshly loue soone thou lost thy sowle And by cause thou knewest not thy maker Ihesu cryst thou art fallen IgnorauÌ„tly in to the laas of the right euyl fendes wherfore I wepe and praye that thou mayst be releuyd fro deth to lyf and shewe thou to thyes tweyne Actio and eugenio what grete glorye they haue lost and what payne they haue deserued Anon Satheus releued hym in yeldyng thankynges to saynt IohÌ„n and blamed moche the two disciples in sayeng I sawe your two angellis wepe and the deuylles demene Ioye of your perdicion Also I sawe the Royame of heuen made redy for you and full of all delyces And ye haue folâ—ly goten for you the places of helle derke tenebrous ful of dragons and of all paynes And therfore it behoueth you to praye to thappostle of god that he remyse and brynge you agayn to your sauacion lyke as he hath reysed me goodly And emong alle other paynes This Satheus recyteth thise that ben coÌ„teyned in two verses folowyng Vermis et vmbre flagellum frigus et ignis Demonis aspectus celerum confusio luctus that is to saye Worme derknes scorges colde hete sight of deuyl confusioÌ„ of synnes and wayllyng Anon thenne thyse two men by right grete repentance prayd saynt IohÌ„n that he wold praye for them To whom saynt IohÌ„n answerd that they shold doo penaÌ„ce xxx dayes longe and praye to god that the Reddes of gold and the precious stones myght retorne to theyr first propre natures ¶ After thyse xxx dayes they cam to saynt IohÌ„n and said to hym fair fader ye haue alwaye prechyd mysericorde and mercy and comanded that one shold pardone another hys trespaas we ben coÌ„tryte and repentaunt of our synnes and wepe with our eyen for thys euyl worldly couetyse the whyche we haue by them receyued And therfore we praye you that ye haue mercy on vs And saynt Iohan answerd our lord god whan he made mencion of the synnar he said I wylle not the deth of the synnar but that he be conuerted and lyue For grete Ioye is in heuen of a synnar repentaunt And therfore knowe ye that he hath receyued your repentaunce Goo ye forth and bere the roddes and stones thyder where ye toke theym For they be retorned to theyr first nature Thus receyued they the grace that they had lost so that after they dyde grete myracles in the name of our lord Ihesu cryst And thenne after this whan the blessyd Appostle seynt IohÌ„n had prechyd thorugh alle Asye and sowen the word of cryste They that worshiped ydolles moeued the peple ayenst saynt IohÌ„n And cam and drowe hym vnto the temple of dyane for to constrayne hym to doo sacrefice vnto that ydolle To whom saynt IohÌ„n saide syth ye byleue that your goddesse dyane haue so grete power calle ye vpon her and requyre her by her power she subuerte and ouerthrowe the chyrche of cryst and yf she so doo I shal doo sacrefyce to her and yf she doo it not thenne late me praye vnto my god Ihesu cryst that he ouerthrowe her temple and yf he soo doo theÌ„ne byleue ye in hym To thys sentence the moost parte of the peple consented and so they prayed and nothyng they coude not doo ne preuayle agayn the chyrche of cryst but saynt IohÌ„n made hys prayers And anon the temple of dyane fyll doun and was ouerthrowen so that the foundement torned vp so doun And thymage of dyane all to dasshed and destroyed And that same day were conuerted to crystes faith xij M men of the gentiles beside wymen and chyldren Thenne Aristodemus bisshop of the ydollis styred and meuyd sedicion emonge the peple in suche wyse that that one partye made them redy to bataylle ayenst that other partye Thenne said thappostle to hym what wylt thou that I doo that thou mayst be pleasid to whom the bysshop said yf thou wilt that I byleue in thy god Ishal gyue to the venym to drynke And yf it hurte not the thenne thy lord is very god thenne said saynt IohÌ„n do as thou hast said thenne said the bysshop I wyl first that thou see other deye therof to fore by cause thou sholdest the more drede it Thenne wente Aristodemus to the proconsul of the cyte and demaunded of hym ij men Iuged to deth for to haue ben beheded And to fore them
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
departed she satte on hir knets and was al the nyght in orysons and in teerys in requyryng helpe of god to perfourme this werke and on the morne erlye alle mate and trauaylled of wakyng she wente to genese a good preest and prayed hym that he wold do his payne and laboure that the chyrche myght be edefyed and tolde hym tydynges of the lyme whan genese herde thys he was alle ameruaylled and fyl doun to hyr feet and promysed to hyr that nyght and day he wold doo hys laboure to accomplysshe hyr commaundemente By the helpe of god and of saynt Geneuefe and of the people of parys the sayd chirche was begonne in the honoure of the blessyd marters Saynt denys Saynt Rustyque and saynt Eleuthere which now is callyd saynt denys de lestree There ben yet the holy bodyes where our lord sheweth fayr myracles For as the werkemen entendyd to make the edefyce eche after hys crafte It happed that theyr drynke fayled and was doon And genese the preest sayd to geneuefe whiche knewe not herof that she shold talke with the werkemen so longe that he myght goo to parys fetche drynke whan she herde thys she demaunded for the vessel that they had empted and it was brought to hyr she maad them to departe fro hyr Thenne she knelyd doun on hyr knees prayed god wyth warme teerys to helpe hyr and whan she felte that our lord had herde hyr prayer She aroos vp and maad the sygne of the crosse vpon the said vessel and a meruayllous thynge happed For the vessel was ful the werkmen dranke her bely ful and as ofte as they wolde vnto the tyme that the chirche was parâ—ytely made wherof they thanked our lord The holy vyrgyne had deuocyon to wake the nyght that our lord rose fro deth to lyf after the custome and statutes of auncient faders It happed on a tyme that she put her on the waye tofore day to goo to the sayd chyrche of saynt denye and made to bere a candyl brennyng tofore hyr The nyght was derke the wynde grete and it rayned faste whyche quenched the lyght of the candel The maydens that were in hyr companye were sore troubled She asked after the candell and assone as she had hit in hyr hande hit was lyghted by goddes wylle ageyn and so she bare it brennyng vnto the chyrche Another tyme whan she had endyd hir prayer a candel that she helde light in hyr hande by the grace of god Semblably in hyr celle on a tyme was a candel lyght in hir hande wythout ony fyre of thys world of whiche candel many seek folke by their feyth and reuerence haue ben helyd That tapre is kepte yet at nostre dame de parys A woman whyche by the temptacyon of the deuyl whyche to his power alwey deâ—eyueth the good stale aweye hir shoes but assone as she was at home she loste hyr syght whan she sawe that our lord had auengyd the wronge that she had doon to the vyrgyne She dyd hyr to be ledde to hyr wyth the thefte when she came tofore the holy vyrgyn she fyl doun to hyr feet and requyred hyr of foryeuenes and restoryng of hyr syght Geneuefe that was right debonair toke hyr vp fro the grounde and in smylyng gaue to hyr the syght ageyn of hyr eyen The holy vyrgyn on a tyme wente to laon and the peple of the towne wente out ageynste hyr Emonge whome were the fader and moder of a mayde that had ben ix yere so paralatyke that none myght shewe the ioynture of hyr membrys They besought and reâ—uyred saynt geneuefe that she wold vysyte the seek mayde She wente and sawe hir and sythe made hir prayer as she was acustomed and after handled the membrys of the mayde and commaunded hyr to doo on hir clothes and hosen and shoes Incontynente she aroos in good helthe in suche wyse that she wente vnto the chyrche wyth the peple The folke that sawe thys blessyd our lord that had gyuen suche grace to hys damoysel geneuefe and whan she retorned they conueyed hyr syngyng with grete ioye The kyng of fraunce chyldryke how be it he was a paynym hâ—lde hir in grete reuerence soo dyd also the barons of fraunce for the fayr myracles that she dyd in the name of our lord Ihesu cryste wherof it happed on a tyme that the sayd kynge helde certeyn prysonners Iuged to dethe but by cause geneuefe shold not demaunde them he yssued out of paris and made to shytte the yates after hym the holy virgyn knewe hit anone and wente hastely after hym for to helpe to delyuer theym As sone as she came to the yates they openyd without keye seyng al the peple which thought it a grete wonder She pursewed the kynge and obteyned grace for the prysonners In the partyes of the oryent beyâ—nde Antyoche was a good man named Symeon whiche had despysed this world and was of meruaylus holy lyf whiche demaunded of saynt geneuefe of the marchauntes that wente in to tho patryes And by them he salewyd hyr moche honourably And recommaunded hym vnto hyr prayers hit was a grete meruayle that the holy man which had neuer seen ne herde speke of hir dyd do grete hyr by hir name verayly the frendes of god that knowe his wylle do therafter haue tydynges that one fro that other by admynystracion of the holy ghoost they shal neuer be seperate ne departed as Saynt ambrose beyng at melan knewe of the deth of saynt martyn at tours At meaux was a noble damoysel which was a med by hir propre name celyne which whan she had herde of the grace that god had gyuen to saynt genouefe she requyred hir to chaunge hir habyte a yonge man had fyauÌ„ced trouthed hir which had grete Indygnacion whaÌ„ he herde of those tydynges and came to meaux in a grete Ire where the ij vyrgyns dwellyd whan they knewe of his comyng they fledde vnto the chirche there happed a fayr myracle For as they came to the chirche dore whyche was locked fast shette the dore that was soo locked opened by his gree by hym self thus saynt geneuefe delyuerd saynt celyne fro peryl fro the contagyon of the world the which ê‘seuerid in abstynence in chastyte to hyr ende In this tyme the said celyne offred to saynt geneuefe one hir chamberer whiche had leyen seek ij yere myght not goo the holy vyrgyne handled hyr membrys with hir worthy handes anone she was hool in good poynte Ther were brought to hir xij men that were wood byset with deuyls vnto parys which were ouer harde bystad tormented of thenemye the virgyn had grete pyte went to prayer orisons in requyryng our lord with salte teris that by his grace goodnes he wold delyuer them of this pestylence as she perseuerid in hir prayers they were hanged in the ayer in suche manere as they touched no thynge she aroos fro hir prayer said
thanke you theÌ„ne they that stode by demanded who they were that he spack to And he sayd to them wondryng haue ye not seen the blessed appostles peter and poul and as he cryed agayn his blessyd soule departed fro the flessh Som haue doubte whether peter poul suffred deth in one daye For som saye that it was thesame one day but one a yere after the other And Iherome alle the seyntes that trete of this mater accordeÌ„ that it was on one day one yere And so is hit conteyned in an epystle of Denys and leo the pope sayth the same in a sermon sayeng we suppose but that it was not don without cause that they suffred in one day in one place the sentence of the tyraunt And they suffred deth in one tyme to th ende that they shold goo to geder to IhÌ„u cryst and bothe vnder one persecutour to th ende that egall cruelte shold strayne that one that other The day for theyr meryte the place for theyr glorye And the persecucyon one come by vertue hec leo thaugh theyr suffred bothe deth in one day and in one hour yet it was not in one place but in dyuerce wâ—thin rome And herof sayth a versyfyar in this wyse Ense coronatus paulus cruce petrus eodem Sub duce luce loco dux nero Roma locus That is to saye Paul crouned with the swerd And peter had the crosse reuersed the place was the cyte of rome And how be it that they suffred deth In one day yet seynt gregorye ordeyned that that day specyally shold be the solempnyte of seynt Peter And the nexte day CoÌ„memoracoÌ„n of seynt poul For the chirche of seynt Peter was halowed that same day And also for as moche as he was more in dygnyte first in conuercyon and held the pryncypalite at Rome Thus endeth the lyf of seynt Peter thappostle Here begynneth the lyf of seynt Poul thappostle and doctour POul is as moche to saye as the mouth of a trompe or of sence or merueylously chosen or a myracle of electyon Or paul is sayd of pausa that is reste Or it is sayd litill of latyn And by this ben vnderstonden vj prerogatyues whiche paul had before the other appostles The first is a fruitful tongue For he renepleneshid the gospel fro Ierusalem to Ierico And therfore he is sayd the mouth of a tromp the ij was vertuouse chary te for he sayd who is seke I am not seke therfor he is sayd mouth of sâ—ns or vnderstondyng The thyrd is conuercion moche merueyllous and therfor he is sayd meruelously chosen For he Was meruellously chosen conuerted The fourth is the hand werchyng therfor he is sayd merueyllous of elâ—â—tion For it was a grete myracle whan he chaas to gete his dispences with the labour of his handes and to preche without cessyng The fyfte was contemplacyon delycyous For reste of thought is requyred in contemplacyon For he was rauisshid vnto the third heuen The syxte was humylyte vertuous and therof he is sayd lytyl Of this name paule ben thre opynyons Orygene sayth that he had alleway two names and was called paulus and saulus And Rabanus sayth that he was called saulus and that was after Saul the proude kyng but after his conuercyon he was callid poul as it were lytyl and humble of spyrite And therfor he sayd I am leest of alle the appostles And bede sayd that he was called paule of Sergio paulo proconsul whom he conuerted to the fayth And lynus the pope wryteth his passyâ—n Of Seynt Poul doctour and Appostle SAynt Poul thappostle after his conuersyon suffred many ê‘secucions the which the blissed hyllarye reherseth shortly sayeng Poul thappostle was beten with roddis by philippis he was put in prison and by the feet fast sette in stockes he was stoned in listris In yceyne and thessalonyque he was pursewid of wicked peple In Ephesym he was delyuerd to wyld beestis In damask he was lette by a lepe doun of the wall In Iherusalem he was arested beten bounden and awayted to be slayn In Cezarea he was enclosed and deffamed Saylyng toward ytalye he was in paryl of deth And fro thens he cam to rome and was Iuged vnder nero and there fynysshid his lyf This sayth seynt hyllarye Poul toke vpon hym to be appostle among the gentyles ij lystris was a contracte which he 〈◊〉 and redressid a yong man that fylle out of a wyndow and dyed he reysed to lyf and dyd many other myracles at the Ile of metylene a sarpent lote his hande and hurted hym not and he threwe it in to the fyre It is sayd that alle they that cam of the progenye and lynage of that man that thenne herberowed poule may in no wyse be hurt of no venemous beestis wherfore whan theyr children be born they putte serpentes in thayr cradellis for to ê“ue yf they be veryly theyr children or noo In som place it is sayd that paule ys lasse than peter Otherwhile more and somtyme egalle and lyke For in dygnyte he is lasse In prechyng greter and in holynes they be egal haymond seyth that paule fro the cocke crowe vnto the hour of fyue he laboured with his handes after enteeÌ„ded to preching and that endured almost to nyght the resydue of the tyme was for to ete slepe and for prayer whiche was necessarye He come to rome whan nero was not fully confermed in the empire and nero heryng that there was disputyng questyons made betwene paule and the Iewes he retchyng not moche therof suffred poul to go wher he wold and preche frely Ieronimus saith in his boke De uiris illustribus that the xxxj yere after the passyon of oure lord the second yere of nero seynt poul was sent to rome bounden and ij yere he was in free kepyng and disputed ayenst the Iewes and after he was lete go by nero and prechid the gospel in the west partyes and the xiiij yere of nero the same yere day that peter was crucifyed his hede was smyten of Hec Ierommus The wysdom and relygyon of hym was publisshed ouer alle and was reputed meruellous he gate to hym many frendes in themperours hâ—us and conuerted them to the fayth of cryste and some of hys wrytynges wer recyted and redde tofore the emperour and of al men meruelously commendyd and the senate vnderstode of hym hy thinges of auctorite It happed on a day that poul prechid aboute eueÌ„song tyme in a lofte a yong man named patroclus boteler of nero and with hym welbyloued went for to see the multitude of peple and the better for to here paul he went vp in to a wyndowe and there slepyng fyll doun dyed whiche whan nero herde was moche sory and heuy therfor and anon ordeyned another in his offyce Paul knowyng herof by the holy goost sayd to them stondyng by hym That they shold goo and bryng to hym patroclus whiche was
dede and that themperour louyd so moche whom whan he was brought he reysed to lyf and sent hym with his felawes to the emperour whom themperour knewe hym for dede whiles he made lamentacyon for hym hit was told to the emperour that patroclus was comen to the yate And whan he herd that patrocle was alyue he moche merueyled and coÌ„maunded that he shold come in To whom nero sayd Patrocle lyuest thou and he sayd ye emperour I lyue and nero sayd who hath made the to lyue agayn and he sayd the lord IhÌ„u Cryst kyng of alle worldes Thenne nero beyng wroth sayd thenne shalle he regne euer and resolue alle the Royames of the world To whom patroclus sayd ye certenly emperour thenne Nero gaf to hym a buffette sayeng therfor thou seruest hym and he sayd ye veryly I serue hym that hath reysed me fro deth to lyf Thenne fyue of the mynystris of nero that assisted hym sayd to hym O emperour whi smitest this yong man truly and wysely answeryng to the Trust verily we serue that same kyng almyghty And whan Nero herd that he put them in prison for strongly to tormente them whom he moche had loued Thenne he made to enquyre and to take alle cristen men And without examynacion made them to be tormented with ouer grete tormeÌ„tys Thenne was paul emong other bounden and brought to fore nero To whom nero sayd O thou man seruaunt of the grete kyng bounden to fore me why withdrawest thou my knyghtes and drawest them to the To whom paul sayd Not only fro thy corner I haue gadred knyghtes But also I gadre fro the vnyuersal world to my lord To whom our kyng yeueth suche yeftes that neuer shalle fayle And graunteth that they shalle be excluded fro alle indygence and nede And yf thou wilt be to hym subgette Thou shalt be sauf For he is of so grete power that he shal come and Iuge alle the world and destroye the figure therof by fyre And whan nero herd that he shold destroye the fygure of the world by fyre coÌ„maunded that al the crysten men shold be brent by fyre paul to be byheded as he that is gilty ayenst his mageste And thenne so grete a multitude of cristen peple wer slayn thenne that the peple of rome brake vp his paleys and cryed and meued sedycion ayenst hym sayeng Cezar ameÌ„de thy maners and attempre thy coÌ„uaundementis For thyse ben our peple that thou destroyest and defende the empire of Rome Themperour thenne dredyng the noyse of the peple Chaunged hys decree and edicte that no man shold touche ne hurte no cristen man tyll the emperour had otherwyse ordeyned wherfore paule was broughte a gayn to fore nero whom assone as nero saw he cryed and sayd take awaye thys wycked man and byhede hym And suffre hym no lenger to lyue vpon the erthe To whom paul sayd Nero I shalle suffre a lytyl while but I shalle lyue eternally with my lord Ihesu crist Nero sayd smyte of hys hede that he may vnderstond me strenger than hys kyng that whan he is ouercomen we may see whether he may lyue after To whom paul sayd to th end that thou knowe me to lyue euer lastyngly whan my hede shal besmyten of I shal appere to the lyuyng And then thou mayst knowe that crist is god of lyf and of deth And whan he had sayd thys he was ledde to the place of his martirdom and as he was ledde the iij knyghtes that ledde hym sayd to hym Telle to vs paul who is he your kyng that ye loue so moche that for hys loue ye had leuer deye thenne lyue what rewarde shal ye haue therfore Thenne paule preched to them of the kyngdom of heuen and of the payne of helle in suche wyse that he conuerted them to the fayth And they prayed 〈◊〉 to goo frely whyther he wold 〈◊〉 forbede brethern sayd he that I shold flee I am not fugytyf But the lauful knyght of cryst I knowe wel that fro this transitorye lyf I shalle goo to euerlastyng lyf Assone as I shalle be byheded trewe men shal take awaye my body Marke ye wel the place and come thyder to morowe and ye shalle fynd by my sepulcre two men luke and titum prayeng to whome whan ye shall telle for what cause I haue sent you to them they shal baptyse yow and make you heyres of the kyngdom of heuen and whiles they thus spaken to geder Nero sent two knyghtes to loke yf he wer slayn and byheded or no And whan thus seynt poul wold haue conuerted them they sayd whan thou art dede And rysest agayn thenne we shalle byleue Now come forth and receyue that thow hast deseruyd And as he was ledde to the place of his passyon in the yate of hostyence a noble woman named plantille a disciplesse of paule who after another name was called lemobia For happely she had ij names mette ther with paul whiche wepyng commendyd her to his prayers To whom paule sayd Fare wel plantilla doughter of euerlastyng helthe lene to me thy veyl or keuerchief wyth whiche thou kouerst thy hede that I may bynde myn eyen therwith and afterward I shall restore it to the agayn And whan she had delyuerd it to hym the bouchers scorned hir sayeng why hast thou delyuerd to this enchauntour so precyous a cloth for to lese it Thenne whan he cam to the place of his passyoÌ„ he tornid hym toward the eest holdyng his hondes vp in to heuen right long with teres prayeng in his owne langage and thankyng our lord And after that bad his brethern fare well and bond his eyen hym self wyth the keuerchyef of plantille and knelyng doun on bothe knees stratched forth his necke and so was byheded And assone as the hede was fro the body hit sayd Ihesus crystus whiche had ben to hym so swete in his lyf It is sayd that he named Iesus or crystus or bothe fyfty tymes Fro his wound sprang out mylke in to the clothes of the knyght and afterward flowed out blood In thayer was a grete shynyng â—â—ght and fro the body cam a moche 〈◊〉 odour Dyonyse in a pystle to â—â—ymothee sayth of the deth of paule â—â—us In that hour ful of heuynes my welbeloued brother the boucher sayeng Paul make redy thy necke Thenne blessyd paul loked vp in to heuen markyng hys forhede and his breste wyth the sygne of the crosse and theÌ„ne said anon my lord Iesu crist in to thi hondes I comende my spirite cÌ„ And thenne without heuynes compulsion he stratched forth his necke and receyued the crowne of martirdom The bocher so smytyng of his hede The blessid martir poul toke the keuerchif and vnbonde his eyen and gadred vp his owen blood and put it therin delyuerd to the woman Thenne the boucher retorned and plantille mette hym and demaunded hym sayeng where hast thou lefte my mayster The knyght
erles barones whiche kyng hym self toke the cheste vpon his sholders and wyth the other prelates lordes brought it wyth grete Ioye and honour in to the place where it is now worshipped and was leyde in a fayre and moche riche shryne At whos holy translacion were shewde by the merites of thys holy martir seynt Thomas many myracles To blynde men was gyuen theyr sight To deef men theyr heryng To domb men theyr speche And to dede men was restored lyf Emong alle other there was a man by cause of grete deuocyon that he had for to be at thys holy translacion and visite the holy martir whyche cam to the bridge at braynforde by london And whan he was in the myddle of the bridge metyng there one was cast in to the water This man not forgetyng hym selfe called seynt Thomas vnto hys helpe and besought hym not to suffre his pilgrym to perisshe ne to be there drowned And fyue tymes he sanke doun to the grounde And fyue tymes aroose aboue the water And thenne he was cast to the drye ground Thenne he affermed that he receyued no water in to hys mouthe ne in to hys eris that dide to hym greuauÌ„ce ne hurte that he felte sauf in hys fallyng he felte in his mouth a lytel salte water And added more therto sayeng that whan he sanke A bisshop helde hym vp that he myght not synke This holy translacoÌ„n was don and accomplisshed the yere of our lord MCCxx In the nonas of Iuyll at thre of the clock the fyfty yere after his passyon For thys gloryous seynt our lord hath shewed many grete myracles as wel by his lyf as after hys deth martirdom For a lytel to fore hys deth a yong man deyed and was reysed agayn by myracle And he sayd that he was ledde to see the holy ordre of sayntes in heueÌ„ And there he sawe a sete voyde And he axed for whom it was and it was answerd to hym that it was kept for the grete bisshop of engloÌ„d seint thomas of cauÌ„terbury there was also a symple preest that dayly song none other masse but of our lady wherof he was put to to seint thomas his ordnary whom accused he apposed foÌ„d hym ful symple of connyng wherfor he suspended hym and inhybited hym his masse wherfor thys preest was ful sorye and prayed humbly to our blessyd lady that he myght be restored agayn to say his masse And thenne our blessid lady apperid to thys preest and bad hym go to seynt Thomas and byd hym by the token that the lady whom thou seruest hath sewed his sherte of here with rede silke whiche he shalle fynde there as he leyde hit that he yeue the leue to syng masse and assoyle the of his suspendyng and thyn Inhybytyng restore the agayn to thy seruyse and whan seynt Thomas herd thys he was gretely abasshid and went fonde lyke as the preest had sayd And thenne assoyled hym and lycensyd hym to say masse as he dyd byfore commaundyng hym to kepe thys thyng secrette as long as he lyuyd There was a lady in englond that desyred gretely to haue graye eyen For she had a conseyt she shold be the more beauteuous in the sight of the people and only for that cause she made a vowe for to vysite seynt Thomas vpon hir bare feet and whan she cam thether and had deuoutly made hir prayers to haue hyr desyre Sodenly she wax start blynde And Thenne she perceyued that she had offendyd and displesid our lord in that requeste And cryed god mercy of that offence And besought hym ful mekely to be reestored of her sight agayn And by the merites of the blessyd seynt Thomas she was restored to hyr sight agayn and was glad to haue her olde eyen And retorned home agayn and lyued holyly to her lyues ende Also ther was a lordes karuer that brought water to hym at his table to whom the lord sayd yf thou euer hast stolen ony thyng of myn I pray god and seynt thomas that thou haue no water in the basyn And sodenly it was al voyde of the water drye And there was he preuyd a theef there was a tame byrd kepte in a cage whiche was lerned to speke And on a tyme he fledde out of the cage and sleygh in to the felde And there cam a sparhawke and wold haue take this byrd and pursewed after And the byrd beyng in grete drede cryed Seynt Thomas helpe lyke as he had herde other speke and the sperhauke fyl doun dede And the byrd escaped harmeles Also ther was a man that seynt thomas loued moche in his dayes and he fyl in a greuous sekenes wherfor he went to the tombe of seynt Thomas to praye for his helthe and anon he had hys desyre and was alle hool and as he torned homeward beyng alle hool thenne he began to drede lest thys helthe shold not be most prouffytable for hys soule Thenne he retorned agayn to the tombe of seynt Thomas And prayed yf his helthe wer not prouffytable to his soule that his olde sekenes myght come agayn to hym And it cam anon agayn to hym and endured vnto hys lyues ende And in lyke wyse there was a deuout blynd man whiche had his sight restored to hym agayn by the merites of seynt thomas but after he repented hym for he coude not be so quyete in his mynde as he was byfore he had thenne so moche lettyng by seyng the vanytees of the world wherfor he prayed to our lord that by the merites of Seint Thomas he myght be blynd agayn to the world as he was byfore anon he had his desire lyuyd after ful holily to his lyues ende who shold telle alle the myracles that our blessid lord hath shewed for thys holy martir it shold ouer moche endure For euer sith his passion vnto this day god hath shewed contynwelly for hym many grete myracles Thenne late vs praye this holy seynt to be a specyal aduocate for vs wretchid synners vnto our lord god who bryng vs unto his euer lastyng blysse in heuen Amen Thus endeth The translacyon of Seynt Thomas martir Here foloweth the lyf of seynt Kenelme kyng and martir â—Aynt kenelme martir was kyng of a parte of engloÌ„d by walys hys fader was kyng to fore hym and was named kenulph founded the abbey of wynchecomb and sette therin monkes and whan he was dede he was buryed in the same abbey And that tyme wynchecombe was the best toun of that contraye In Englond ben iij pryncipaul riuers And they ben tamyse Seuarn and Humbre This kyng kenelme was kyng of wurceter shyre warwik shyre and gloucetre shyre and the bysshop of wurcetre was bisshop of those iij shires and he was kyng also of Derby shyre chesshyre shropppyre staffordshyre her fordchyre notyngham shyre norhamptoÌ„ shyre Bokynghamshyre oxfordshire leycetreshyre and lyncolnshyre Alle this was called the marche of walys and of alle
they that vaynquysshyd in bataylle were crowned wyth laurier bowes and braunches shewyng vyctorye and it is alleway couerable verdour of odour agreable vertuous of strengthe and the blessyd laurence is sayd of laurier for he had victorye in his passyon wherof decius confused sayd I wene now that we be vaynquysshed he had verdeur in clennesse of herte and purete For he sayd my voys hath no derkenes he had odour of perpetuel memoire wherof it is sayd he departed alle and gaf to pour peple and therfor remayneth his droyture perdurably whyche he fulfilled wyth holy werke and halowed it by hys gloryous martirdom he had strengthe by his vertuous prechyng by whiche he conuerted lucille the prouost romayn This is that tree of suche vertu that the leef brake the stone heled the deef and doubted no thoucer ¶ And thus laurence brake the hard herde he gaf spyrituel reward And deffended the sentence for the thonder of euyl peple Of saynt laurence the glorious martyr LAurence martir and subdeken was of the lignage of spayne and saynt sixte brouÈt hym thens And as maister Iohan beleth sayth whan the blessed sixte Went in to spayne he fonde there ij yongmen laurence and vyncent his cosyn right ordynat by honeste of maners and noble in all theyr werkes and brought them with hym to rome Of whom that one that was laurence abode with hym And vincent his cosyn retorned in to spayne and there fynysshyd his lyf by glorious martirdom But in this reson maister beleth repugneth the tyme of martyrdom of that one and of that other For it is said that laurence suffred deth vnder decian and vinceÌ„t vnder dyoclesyan and bytwene decian and dyoclesyan were aboute xl yere And ther were vij emperours bytwene them So that the blessyd vyncent myght not be yong the blessyd sixte ordeyned laurence his archedeken and in his tyme Phylip themperour And phylyp his sone receyued the fayth of Ihesu cryste And whan they were crystend they entendyd gretely to enhauÌ„ce the chyrche And this emperour was the first that receyueyd the fayth of ihuÌ„ cryst whom as it is said Origenes coÌ„uerted to the fayth How â—e it that it is redde in other place other wyse And that saynt poâ—cian had don it And he regned the yere a thousaÌ„d fro the byldyng of rome So that the yere a thousand shold rather be yeueÌ„ to crist than to thydolles And that yere was halowed of the romaynes with right grete appareylle of games grete esbatemens And there was a knyght with philip themperour named decian Which was noble moche renomed in armes and in batayles And whan in that tyme frauÌ„ce rebelled ayenst this emperour He sente thyder decien for to take awey the coÌ„tencioÌ„s subdue them torome decius so sent thider made all thynges wel And subdued them all to rome And had vyctorye And whan themperour herd hys comyng And wold honoure hym more hyely And wente ayenst hym vnto verone But for as moche as the euyl peple fele them more honoured so moche more he was swollen in pryde Thenne decien elate in pride begaÌ„ne to coueyte th empyre And on a tyme whan decien knewe that themperour slepte in his pauyllon he entred in secretely and cut the throte of his lord slepyng And theÌ„ne he drewe to hym by yeftes and prayers also by promesses all them of the hoost that themperour had brought And wente anone to the cyte of rome And whan philyp the yoÌ„ger herd this thyng he was sore aferd and doubted stroÌ„gly And as Sicaâ— sayth in his cronyke he delyured all his faders tresour his to to saynt sixte and to saynt laurence to th ende that if hit happed hym to be slayn of decyen that they shold gyue this tresoure to poure peple and to the Chirches And wondre not that the tresours that laurence gaf be not named the tresours of themperour but of the chirche or parauenture they were sayd tresours of the chirche For Phelyp had lefte them to be dispendyd to the chirche And after phelip fledde and hydde hym for fere of decyen And thenne the senate went ayenst decian and confermed hym in th empyre And by cause he was not scene to haue slayne his lord by treson but only for he had renyed thydollys therfor he beganne right cruelly to persecute the chirche and Cristen men and commaunded that they shold be destroyed withoute mercy And many thousand martirs were slayne among whome phelyp was crowned with martirdom And after that decius made a serche of the tresours of his lord Thenne was Sixte brought to hym as he that adoured Ihesu Crist and had the tresours of th empyre And thenne commaunded decian that he shold be putte in pryson so long that by tormentys he shold renye god and telle where the tresours were And the blessid laurence folowed hym and cryed after hym whyther goost thou fader withoute a mynyster what thyng is in me that hath displesyd thy faderhode or what thyng hast thou sene in me hast thou seen me forsake my lygnage or go out of kynde Proue me whether thou hast chosen a couenable mynystre to whome thou hast commysed the dispensacion of the body and blood of oure lord To whome seynt Sixte sayd I shalle not leue the my sone but gretter stryues and bataylles be due to the for the feyth of Ihesu crist we as old men haue taken more lightter bataylle to the as to a yong man shall remayne a more gloryouse batayll of whiche thou shalt tryumphe haue vyctorye of the tyraunt and shalt folowe me within thre dayes Thenne he delyuerd to hym alle the tresours comandyng hym that he shold gyue them to chirches and poure peple And the blessyd man sought the poure peple nyght and day And gaf to eche of them that as was nedefull and cam to the hows of an old woman whiche had hydde in her hows many crysten men wymmen And long she had had the hede ache And saynt Laurence leyd his haÌ„d vppon her hede And anon she was heled of the ache peyne And he wesshe the feete of the poure peple And gafe to eche of them almesse The same nyÈt he wente to the hows of a crysten man and fonde therin a blynd man and gafe to hym his sight by the signe of the crosse And whan the blessid Sixt wolde not consente to decian ne offre to thydollys he commaunded that he sholde be ledde forth and be byheded And the blessid laurence ran after hym and seid Forsake me not holy fader For I haue dispended the tresours that thou delyuerst to me And whan the knyghtes herd speke of the tresours they took laurence and brought hym to the prouost And the prouost delyuerd hym to decian And Decian Cesar said to hym where ben the tresours of the chirche whiche we knowe well that thou hast hyd he answerd not wherfor he delyuerd hym to Valeryan the prouoste to
was gretely troublyd how she myght do to make eugenne to haue to do with her thenne she fayned her to be seke sent for this broder eugenne to come haue pyte on her whan she was come she tolde to her in what manere she was taken in his loue how she brenned in desyryng hym praid her that she wolde lye by her haue to do carnally embraced her kyssed her exhorted her for to do synne eugenne had grete horrour abhomynacion of her said thou art by ryght called me lancye for hit is an euyl name fulfilled of trayson thou art said black derke douÈter of derkenes frende of the deuyll lyÈt of pollucion nourisshyng of lechery anguisshâ—us douÈter of sempyternal deth when she sawe her deceyued of that she coueited she doubted that eugenne shold discouere her felonnye began fyrst to crye that eugenne wold â—â—er haue enforced her thenne she wente to the prouost phelyp complayned sayeng that a yong man a fals cristen was come to me by cause of me dycyne took me wold haue enforced me by strengthe for to haue synned with hym yf I had not be holpen delyuerd by a chamberere which was in my chaÌ„bre when the prouost herd this he was gretely meuid sent for a multitude of peple made eugene to be brought with the other seruauÌ„tes of Ihesu crist bouÌ„den in yron establisshed a day whan they al shold be delyuerd to beestes for to be deuoured thenne were they called to fore the prouost whiche said to eugene say to me thou ryÈt cursyd wretche yf your god hath taughte yow to do suche werkes as for to corrumpe defowle the wymmen forcibly ayenst theyr wylle thenne Eugenne whiche had the hede enclyned by cause she wold not be knowen sayd that our lorde taught and enseygned chastyte entyerly and promysed to them that kepte hit the lyf perdurable And we maye wel shewe that Melancye is fals and lyeth But hit is better to vs to suffre than she sholde be vaynquysshed and pugnysshed And that the fruyt of our pacyence perysshe not but notwithstondyng lete her chaÌ„berere be brought forth here She is the wytnes of oure felonye so that the lesynges of her may be repreuyd And whan she was come she beynge lerned of her lady opposed ageynst eugeÌ„ne sayd that he wold haue taken her by force And also alle the other of the meyne corrupte by the lady wytnessyd that it was soo And EugeÌ„ne sayd the tyme is passed of scylence and the tyme to speke is now I wylle no lenger suffre that this shameles creature put more blame gyltles on the seruaunt of Ihesu cryste ne that she gloryfye not in her malyce ne in her falsete And by cause that trouthe surmounteth her lesynge and that wysedome surmounteth her malyce I shal shewe the trouthe for none auauntage but for the glorye of our lord And thenne she tooke her cote and rente it vnto her gyrdel aboue and sayd that she was a woman as it apperyd And also sayd to the prouost thou art my fader and Claudyenne is my moder And the tweyne that sytte wyth the Auyce and Serge ben my bretheren And I am Eugenne thy doughter And these tweyne ben Prothus and Iacyncte And whanne the fader herde that he knewe well his doughter And thenne he and her moder embraced her and wepte tendyrly for ioye And thenne they clothed Eugenne with clothes of gold and enhaunced her on hyhe And after this cam a fyre from heuen and brente Melancye alle her meyne Thenne Eugenne conuertid to the faythe her fader moder bretheren and alle the meyne therfore lefte the fader the prouostye And was ordeyned Bisshop of the Crysten peple And as he was in prayer and oryson he was slayne of the myscreauÌ„tes and paynyms Thenne Claudyenne with her sones and Eugenne retorned to Rome and there couertid moche peuple vnto the faythe of Ihesu Cryst Thenne by the commaundemente of the emperour ther was a grete stone bounden to the neck of Eugenne and was throwen in to tyber but the stone brake and she wente withoute harme vppon the water Thenne she was throwen in to a brennynge fornays but the fornays was quenchyd by myracle and bycam cold And thenne she was putte in to a derke pryson but a grete shynynge lyght made it all clere and lyghte And whanne she hadde ben there ten dayes withoute mete our lord Ihesu Cryste apperyd to her and brought to her a ryght whyte loof and sayd to her take this mete of my hande I am thy sauyour whome thou hast loued wyth alle thy thought And on that day that I descended in to therthe I shal receyue the Thenne on the daye of the Natyuyte of oure lord the tormentour was sente to her and he smote of her hede And after that she appered to her moder and sayd to her that she shold folowe her on the sonday after And whanne the sonday cam claudyenne put her self to prayer gaf her spyryte to god thenne Prothus Iacyncte were drawen to the temple for to do sacryfyse they by their prayers al to brake thidolle whan they wold in no wyse do sacryfyse they accoÌ„plysshed their martirdom in suffrynge their hedes to be smytoÌ„ of suffred deth vnder Valeryen galyen about the yere of our lord ijC lvij by whos merytes late vs praye almyghty god to haue mercy on vs brynge vs to his blysse Amen Thus enden the lyues of Prothe and Iacincte Here foloweth the Exaltacion of the holy Crosse TExaltacion of the holy Crosse is sayd by cause that on this daye the hooly crosse faythe were gretely enhauÌ„ced And it is to be vnderstonden that to fore the passion of our lord Ihesu crystel the tree of the crosse was a tree of fylthe For the crosses were made of vyle trees of trees without fruyte For all that was planted on the Mount of caluarye bare no fruyte It was a fowle place for hit was the place of the torment of theuys it was derke for it was in a derke place and without ony beaute It was the tree of deth for men were put there to dethe It was also the tree of stenche for it was planted amonge the caroynes after the passion the Crosse was moche enhaunced For the vylte was transported in to preciousyte Of the whiche the blessyd saynt Andrewe sayth O precious holy Crosse god saue the his bareynes was torned in to fruyte as it is sayd in the Cantyques I shall ascende vp in to palme tree et cetera His ignobylyte or vnworthynes was tourned in to sublymyte and heyght The Crosse that was tormente of theuys is now born in the fronte of themperours his derkenes is torned in to lyght and clerenesse wherof Crysostom sayth the Crosse and the wouÌ„des shall be more shynyng than
she so prechyd to them that came for hyr that she conuerted them to the fryth which wepte sore that so fayr a mayde so noble shold be put to deth thenne she said to them o ye good yonge men it is noo thynge to lese the yongthe but to chaunge hit that is to gyue claye and take therfore golde To gyue a foule habytacle and take a precyous To gyue a lytel corner and to take a ryght grete place God rewardeth for one symple an hondred folde byleue ye thys that I haue said And they sayd we beleue cryste to be veray god whiche hath suche a seruaunte thenne saynt vrbane was callyd and four hondred and moo were baptysed Thenne almachyus callyng tofore hym saynt cecylye sayd to hir of what condycyon arte thou she sayd that she was of a noble kynrede To whome almachyus sayd I demaunde the of what relygyon arte thou thenne cecyle sayd thenne begannest thou thy demaunde folyly that woldest haue two answers in one demaunde To whome almachâ— sayd Fro whens cometh thy rude answer she sayd of good conscience and feyth not fayned To whome almachyus sayd knowest thou not of what power I am and she sayd thy power is lytel to drede for it is like a bladder ful of wynde whiche wyth the pryckkyng of a nedle is anone goon aweye and come to nought To whome almache sayd in wronge beganst thou and in wronge thou perseueryst knowest thou not how our prynces haue gyuen me power to gyue lyf and to slee she sayd now shal I proue the a lyar ageynst the veray trouthe Thou mayst wel take the lyf fro them that lyue but to them that been deed thou mayst gyue no lyf Therfore thou arte a mynystre not of lyf but of dethe To whome almachyus sayd now laye a parte thy madnes and do sacrefyse to the goddes To whome cecyllye sayd I wote neuer where thou hast loste thy syght for them that thou sayest hen goddes we see them stones put thyn hande and by touchyng thou shalt lerne that whiche thou mayste not see wyth thyn eyen ¶ Thenne almachyus was wrothe and commauÌ„ded hyr to be ladde in to hyr hows there to be brente in a brennyng bayne which hir semed was a place colde wel attemperyd thenne almachyus heryng that commmaunded that she shold be byheded in the same bath Thenne the tormentour smote at hyr thre strokes and coude not smyte of hyr heed the fourth stroke he myght not by the lawe smyte and so lefte hir there lyeng halfe a lyue and halfe dede and she lyued thre dayes after in that manere and gaue al that she had to poure peple and contynuelly prechyd the faythe al that whyle alle them that she conuerted she sente to vrbane for to be baptysed and sayd I haue axed respyte thre dayes that I myght commende to you thyse sowles And that ye shold halowe of myn hows a chyrche and thenne at the ende of thre dayes she slepte in our lord and saynt vrbane wyth his dekenes buryed hir body emonge the bysshoppes and halowed hir hows into a chyrche In whyche vnto this day is sayd the seruyce vnto our lord She suffred hir passyon aboute the yere of our lord two hondred and xxiij in the tyme of alexaunder themperour and it is redde in another place that she suffred in the tyme of marcij aurelij whyche reygned aboute the yere of our lord two hondred and twenty Thenne lete vs deuoutelye praye vnto our lord that by the merytes of thys holy vyrgyne and marter saynt cecyly we may come to his euerlastyng blisse in heuen amen Thus endeth the lyf of Saynt Cecillye virgyne marter Here foloweth the lyf of saynt clemente Pope and marter first of his name CLemente is said of cleos that is glorye and mens that is mynde as it were a glorious mynde he had a glorious mynde purged fro al fylihe ornate wyth all vertue and decorate wyth al felycyte or he is sayd of clemence whiche is mercyful It is sayd in the glosarye that clemente is sayd rightwys swete rype and meke rightwys in dede swete in speche rype in conuersacyon and meke in Intencion hys lyf he hym self sette in his book named Itynerarye specyally vnto that place whyche he succeded to saynt peter in the papacye The remenaunte of his actes that comynly been had been taken in dyuers places ¶ Of saynt clemente Pope CLement the bysshop was borne of the lignage of the romayns and his fader was named faustyn and his moder matydyan he had two brethern of whom that one was named faustyn that other faustynyen and mathydyane was of meruayllous beaute hyr husbondes brother brennyd in the loue of hir by the dysordynate concupyscence of luxurye and dayly he vexyd hir in desyryng hir to accorde to his foule luste but she in no wyse wold consente to hym and she doubted to shewe it to hir husbond by cause there shold noo debate ne enemyte falle betwene the brethern Thenne she thought to absente hyr by somme mene fro hym soo longe that he shold forgete this dysordynate loue for the syght of hir presence sette hym a fyre and by cause she myght haue lycence of hir husbond she fayned a dreme subtylly whyche she tolde to hir husbond in thys wyse sayeng There is a vysyon comen to me thys nyght by whiche I am commaunded to departe out of thys cytee of rome wyth my two sones faustyn faustynyen and that I shold abyde out so longe tyl I were commaunded to retorne and yf I dyd not I shold deye and my chyldren also and whan hir husbond herde this he was sore abassled and aferde sente his wyf and his two sones to athenes wyth moche other meyne and that she shold abyde there seâ—te hir sones to scole the fader helde clemente at home with hym whiche was the lefte was but v yere olde for his solas as the moder sayled on the see with hir sones there roos a grete tempeste brought the shyppe to wracke was alle to broken the moder was throwen by the wawâ—s of the see vpon a roche escaped wenyng that hir two sones had be perisshed for sorowe dyscomforte wold haue drowned hir self in the see yf she had not had hope to fynde hir sones whaÌ„ she sawe that she coude not fynde them alyue ne dede she cryed brayed strongely bote hir handes wold not be comforted of no body thenne cam to hir many wymmen which tolde to hyr the fortunes that they had had but she was comforted by none emonge thother ther came one that said that she had loste hir husbond a yonge man in the see that she wold neuer after be maryed for the loue of hym she comforted hir how it was dwellid with hir gate dayly their lyuyng wyth theyr handes but anone after hyr