serpentes But the Rodde of Aaron deuoured their Roddes yet was the herte of pharao hard and so endurat that he wold not doo as god bad Thenne said our lord to Moyses The herte of pharao is greuyd and wil not delyuer my peple Goo to hym to morn in the mornyng And he shal come out And thou shal stande whan he cometh on the banke of the Ryuer and take in thy hande the Rodde that was torned in to the serpent saye to hym The lord god of thebrews sendeth me to the sayeng Delyure my peple that they may offre and make sacrefise to me in deserte yet thou hast no wille to here me Therfor our lord said In this shalt thou knowe that I am the lord Loo I shal smyte with the rodde that is in my hand the water of the flood and it shal torne in to blood the fysshes that ben in the water shal deye thegipcieÌs shall be put to affliction drynkyng of it Thenne said our lord to moyses saye thou to Aaron take this rodde stratche thyn hand vpon all the waters of egypt vpon the floodes Ryuers pondes and vpon all the lakes where ony water is in that they torne in to blood that it may be a vengeaunce in all the land of egypte as well in treen vessels as in vessels of erth stone Moyses aaron dyde as god had comaÌded them and smote the flood with the rodde to fore pharao his seruauÌts which torned in to blood the fisshes that were in the Ryuer deyde the water was corrupt And thegypcieÌs myght not drynke the water all the water of egipte was torned in to blood And in lyke wyse dyde thenchantours with theyr witchecraft and the herte of pharao was so indurat that he wold not lete the peple departe as our lord had comanded but he retorned home for this tyme Thegypciens wente and doluen pittes for water all aboute by the ryuer and they fonde no water to drynke but alle was blood And this plaghe endured vij dayes and what someuer water the chyldren of Israhel toke in this whyle was fair good water This was the first plaghe and vengeance The secoÌde was that god sente frosshes so many that all the londe was ful the Ryuers the howses chambres beddes that they were woo begoon And thyse frosshes entrid in to their mete so many that they couerd all the londe of egypte TheÌne pharao prayd moyses aaron that god wold take awaye these frosshes that he wold goo suffre the peple to doo sacrefise and theÌne moyses axid whaÌ he wold delyure them yf the frosshes were voided pharao said on the morn And theÌne moyses prayde they uoyded alle whan pharao sawe that he was quyt of theÌ he kepte not his promyse wold not lete them departe The thirde vengeaÌge that god sente to them was a grete multitude of hongry horse-flyes as many as thuste of therthe which were on men bote theÌ beestis and theÌchantours said theÌne to pharao this is the fyngre of god yet wold not pharao lete theÌ departe The fourth vengeance was that god sente alle maner kynde of flyes lyse in suche wyse the vnyuersal londe of egypte was ful of all maner flyes lyse but in the laÌde of Iessen were none yet was he so indurate that he wold not lete them goo but wold that they shold make their sacrefyse to god in that londe But moyses wold not so but good iij dayes Iourney in deserte sacrefyse to god there Pharao said I wil wel that ye goo in to deserte but goo not fer come sone agayn praye ye for me and moyses prayd for hym to our lord and the flyes voyded that ther was not one lefte whaÌ they were goon Pharao wold not kepe his promyse TheÌne the fyfthe plaghe was that god shewd his honde vpon the feldes vpoÌ the horses asses Camels sheep oxen and was a grete pestelence on alle the beestis And god shewd a wonder myracle bytwene the possessyons of the egypcyens the possessions of his peple of Israhel for of the beestis of the chyldreÌ of Israhel ther was not one that perisshid yet was pharao so hard herted that he wold not suffre the peple to departe ¶ The sixt plaghe was that Moyses toke asshes out of the chymney casted on the londe And anon alle the peple of egypte as wel men as beestis were ful of botchis beelis blaynes woundes and swellyng in their bladders in suche wise that theÌchantours coude ne myght not stoÌde for payne to for pharao yet wold not pharao here theÌ ne doo as god had comaÌded ¶ The seuenth plaghe was an haylle so grete that ther was neuer none like to fore thoÌdre fire that it destroied all the gras herbes of egipte And smote doun alle that was in the feld men and beestis but in the londe of Iessen was none herd ne harm doon yet wold not Pharao delyure them ¶ The eyght our lord sente to them locustes whiche is a maner grete flye callyd in somÌe place an adder bolte whiche bote them ete vp all the corn herbes that was left in suche wyse that the peple caÌ to pharao desyred hym to delyure sayeng that the lond perysshyd ¶ Thenne pharao gaf to the men lycence to goo make their sacrefyse leue theyr wyues chyldren there stylle tyl they come agayn but moyses Aaron said that they must goo all wherfor he wold not lete them departe ¶ The ix plage vengeance was that god sente so gret derknes vpon all the londe of egypte that the derknesse was so grete horryble that they were palpable and it endured iij dayes and iij nyghtes whersomeuer the chyldren of Israhel wente it was lyght ¶ TheÌne pharao callid Moyses Aaron said to them Goo ye make your sacrefyse vnto your lord god late your sheep beestis only abyde To whom moyses saide we shal take with vs suche hostyes sacrefyses as we shal offre to our lord god All our flockes beestis shal goo with vs ther shal not remayne as moche as an naylle that shal be necessarye in the honour of our lord god For we knowe not what we shal offre tyl we come to the place pharao was so indurate hard herted that he wold not lete them goo And bad moyses that he shold nomore come in his sight For whan thou comest thou shalt deye Moyses answerd be it as thou hast said I shal nomore come to thy presence And theÌne our lord said to moyses there resteth now but one plage vengeange ¶ And after that he shal lete you goo But first saye to all the peple that euery man borowe of his frende womaÌ of her neyghbour vessell of gold of syluer clothes our lord shal gyue to his peple grace fauour to borowe of
thy mouth and shal teche the what thou shalt saye Thenne said Moyses I beseche the lord said he sende somme other whom thou wilt Our lord was wroth on Moyses and said Aaron thy brother dekeÌ I knowe that he is eloquent Lo he shal come mete with the and seeyng the he shal be glad in hys herte Speke thou to hym and put my wordes in his mouth And I shal be in thy mouth and in his mouth and I shal shewe to you what ye ought to doo And he shal speke for the to the peple And shal be thy mouth and thou shal be in suche thynges as parteyne to god Take with the this Rodde in thyn hande by whiche thou shallt doo signes and meruaylles Thenne Moyses wente to Ietro his wyuys fader and said to hym I shal goo and retorne to my brethern in to egypte and see yf they yet lyue To whom Ietro said Goo in goddes name and pees Thenne said our lord to moyses Goo and retorne in to egypte Alle they ben now deed that sought for to slee the Thenne Moyses toke his wyf and hys sones and sette them vpon an asse and retorned in to egypte beryng the Rodde of god in hys honde Thenne our lord said to Aaron Goo ayenst Moyses and mete with hym in deserte whiche wente for to mete with hym vnto the mount of god and there kyssed hym And Moyses told vnto Aaron alle that our lord had said to hym for whiche he sente hym and alle the tokenes and signes that he bad hym doo They cam bothe to gydre and gadred assamblyd alle the senyors and aged men of the chyldren of Israhel And Aaron told to them alle that god had said to Moyses and made the sygnes and tokenes to fore the peple and the peple byleuyd it they herd wel that our lord had vysyted the chyldren of Israhel and that he had beholden thaffliction of them wherfore they fyll doun lowe to the ground and worshipped our lord After this Moyses and Aaron wente vnto pharao said This said the lord god of Israhel Suffre my peple to departe that they may sacrefyse to me in deserte Thenne said pharao who is that lord that I may ãâã his voys and leue Israhel I knoââ not that lorde ne I wylle not leue Israhel They said to hym God of the âebrewis hath callid ve that we goo ãâã Iourney of thre dayes in the ãâã and sacrefyse vnto our lord god ãâã parauenture pestelence âor warre ãâã to vs The kynge of egypte said to them Why sollycyte ye Moyses and Aaron the peple fro theyr werkis and labour Goo ye vnto your werke Pharao also said The peple is moche See how they growe and multeplye yet moche more shold doo yf they rested fro theyr labour Therfore he comaÌded the same day to the prefectes and maistres of theyr werkis sayeng In no wyse gyue nomore chaf to the peple for to make lome and claye but late them goo and gadre stopple and make theÌ to doo as moche labour as they dyde to fore And lasse it nothyng They doo now but crye late vs goo and make sacrefyse to our god late them be oppressid by labour and excercisid that they attende not to lesynges Thenne the prefectes and maistres of theyr werke said to them that pharao had comanded to gyue them no chaf but they shold goo gadre suche as they myght fynde ¶ And that theyr werke shold not therfor be mynusshed Thenne the chyldren were dysperplyd for to gadre chaf And their maistres awayted on them and bad them make an ende of your werke as ye were wonte to doo whan that chaf was delyured to yow And thus they were put to more affliction and wold make them to make as many tyles as they dyde to fore Thenne the vpperist of the chyldren of Israhel cam to pharao and complayned sayeng why puttest thou thy seruants to suche affliction he said to them ye be so ydle that ye saye ye will goo and sacrefyse to your god ye shal haue no chaf gyuen to you yet ye shal werke your custumable werke and gadre your chaf also Thenne the eldest and vpperist emonge thebrews wente to Moyses and Aaron and said what haue ye don ye haue so don that ye haue made our odour to stynke in the sight of pharao and haue encoraged hym to sle vs god see and Iuge this bytwene you and vs Thenne Moyses counseylled with our lord how he shold doo and said lord why hast thou sente me hether For sith I haue spoken to pharao in thy name he hath put thy peple to more affliction than they had to fore and thou hast not deliueryd them Our lord said to Moyses Now thou shal see what I shal doo to pharao By strong hande he shal late you goo and in a boystous he shal caste you fro his land yet said our lord to Moyses I am the lord god that apperid to Abraham Ysaac and Iacob in my myght And my name is Adonay I shewd to them not that I promysed and made couenaunt with them that I shold gyue to them the lond of Canaan in which they duellyd I now haue herd the wayllyng and the tribulacions that thegypciens oppresse them with For whiche I shal delyure and brynge them from the seruytude of thegypcieÌs Moyses told all thyse thynges to the chyldren of Israhel And they byleuyd hym not for the anguyssh of their spiretes that they were Inne and hard labour Thenne said our lord to Moyses Goo and entre in to pharao and bydde hym delyure my peple of Israhel out of his land Moyses aÌswerd how shold pharao here me whaÌ the children of Israhel byleue me not Thenne our lord said to Moyses and Aaron that they bothe shold goo to pharao and gyue hym in comandemÌt to late the chyldren of Israhel to departe And he said to moyses Lo I heue ordeyned the to be god of pharao And AaroÌ thy brother shal be thy prophete Thou shalt saye to hym all that I saye to the And he shal saye to pharao that he suffre the chyldren of Israhel to departe fro hys land but I shal enharde his herte and shal multeplye my signes and tokenes in the land of egypt And he shal not here ne byleue you And I shal lede the chyldren of Israhel my peple ¶ And shal shewe myn hande and suche wonders on egypte that Egypciens shal knowe that I am the lord Moyses and Aaron dyde as our lord coÌmanded them Moyses was lxxx yer old whan he cam and stode to fore pharao Aroan lxxxiij yere whan they spack to pharao TheÌne whan they were to fore pharao Aaron caste the rodde doun to fore pharao and anon the rodde torned into a serpent Thenne pharao callid his magyciens Iogelers and badde them do the same and they made theyr witchecraft and inuocacions And caste doun their roddes whiche torned in lyke wyse in to
the childreÌ of Israhel songe this soÌge to our lord CaÌtemê° dnÌo magnificatus est Late vs synge to our lord he is magnefied he hath ouerthrowen the horsmen carre men in the see marie the suster of aaron a êphetesse toke a tympane in her haÌde de and alle the wymen folowed her with tympanes and cordes and she weÌte to fore syngyng Cantemus domino Thenne moyses brought the chyldren of Israhel fro the see in to the deserte of Sur And walked with them iij dayes and iij nyghtes and fonde no water and cam in to marath and the waters there were so bytter that they myght not drynke therof Thenne the peple grutched ayenst Moyses sayeng what shal we drynke And he cryde vnto our lord whiche shewd to hym a tre whiche he toke and put in to the water and anon they were torned in to swetnes There our lord ordeyned comandementis and Iugements And ther he tempted hym sayeng Yf thou herest the voys of thy lord god and that thou doo that is rightful to fore hym and obeyest his comandements and kepe his preceptis I shal not brynge none of the langours no sorowes vpon the that I dyde in egypte I am lord thy sauyour Thenne the chyldren of Israhel cam in to helym where as were xij fontaynes of waters and lxx palme trees And they abode by tho watres Thenne fro thens wente alle the multytude of the chyldren of Israhel in to the deserte of syn whiche is bytwene helym Synay and grutched ayenst Moyses and Aaron in that wildernes and said wold god we had duellyd stylle in egypte where as we satte and hath plente of brede and flesshe why haue ye brought vs in to the deserte for to slee alle this multytude by hungre Our lord said thenne to moyses I shal Rayne brede to you fro heuen late the peple goo out and gadre euery day that I may proue theÌ whether they walke in my lawe or none The sixte day late them gadre doble as moche as they gadred in one day of the other Thenne said Moyses Aaron to all the chyldren of Israhel At euyn ye shal knowe that god hath brought you fro the londe of egypte to morn ye shal see the glorye of our lord I haue wel herd your murmour ayenst our lord what haue ye mused ayenst vs what be we and yet said moyses Our lord shal gyue you at euen flesshe for to ete to morn brede vnto your fylle for as moche as ye haue murmured ayenst hym what be we your murmour is not ayenst vs but ayenst our lord As Aaron spack to all the companye of the chyldren of Israhel they beheld toward the wyldernes and our lord spack to moyses in a clowde said I haue herd the grutchynges of the chyldren of Israhel saye to them at eueÌ ye shal ete flessh to morn ye shal be fyllyd wyth brede ye shal knowe that I am your lord god And whan the euen was come ther cam so many curlews that it couerid all their lodgyngis And on the morn ther laye lyke dewe all aboute in their circuyte which whan they sawe cam for to gadre it was smal white lyke to Colyandre And they wondred on it and said Mauhu that is as moche to saye what is this To whom moyses sayd this is the brede that god hath sente you to ete god comandeth that euery man shold gadre as moche for euery heed as is the mesur of gomor And late notyng be left tyl on the morn And the syxthe day gadre ye doble so moche that is two mesures of gomor And kepe that one mesure for the sabate whiche god hath sanctefyed and comandeth you to halowe it yet somÌe of them brake goddes comandement and gadred more than they ete and kept it tyl on the morn And theÌne it began to putrefye and be ful of wormes And that they kept for the sabate day was good and putrefyed not And thus our lord fedde the chyldren of Israhel xl yere in deserte And it was called manna moyses toke one gomor therof put it in the tabernacle for to be kept for a perpetuel memorye remeÌbrauÌce TheÌne wente they forth alle the multytude of the chyldren of Israhel in the deserte of syn in her maÌsyons cam in to Raphydym where as they had no water theÌne alle grutchyng they said to moyses gyue vs water for to drynke To whoÌ moyses answerd what grutche ye ayenst me why teÌpte ye our lord the peple thirsted sore for lacke penurye of water sayeng why hast thou brought vs out of egipte for to sle vs our chyldreÌ and beestis ¶ Thenne moyses cryde vnto our lord sayeng what shal I doo to this peple I trowe within a whyle they shal stone me to deth TheÌne our lord said to Moyses Goo to fore the peple and take with the the oldremeÌ and senyors of Israhel take the rodde that thou smotest with the flood in thy hand I shal stonde to fore vpon the stone of Oreb And smyte thou the stone with the Rodde And the waters shal come out therof that the peple may drynke Moyses dyde so to fore the senyors of Israhel and callyd that place Temptacion by cause of the grutche of the chyldreÌ of Israhel said is god with vs or not TheÌne caÌ Amalech fought ayenst the chyldren of Israhel in Raphidim Moyses said theÌne to Iosue Chese to the men goo out fyght ayenst Amalech to morow I shal stande on the toppe of the hylle hauyng the rodde of god in my hand Iosue dyde as moyses comanded hym faught ayenst Amalech Moyses Aaron hur asceÌded in to the hylle whan moyses helde vp his haÌdes Israhel wan ouercam their enemyes whan he leyd theÌ doun thenne Amalech had the better The haÌdes of moyses were heuy Aaron and hur toke theÌne a stone and put it vnder hem And they susteyned his handes on eyther syde so his handes were not wery vnto the goyng douÌ of the sonne so Iosue made Amalech to flee and his peple by strength of his swerd Our lord said to moyses wryte this for a remembrauÌce in a book delyure it to the ceris of Iosue I shal destroye put awaye the memorye of Amalech vnder heueÌ Moyses theÌne edefied an aulter vnto our lord callyd there on the name of our lord the lord is myn exultacion sayeng for this is the hand only of god And the batayll of god shal be ayenst Amalech fro generacion to generacioÌ whan Ietro the prest of madyan whiche was cosyn of Moyses herd saye what our lord had don to moyses to the chyldren of Israhel his peple ¶ Toke sephora the wyf of moyses his ij sones gersam elyazar cam with them to hym in to deserte whom Moyses receyuyd wyth worship kyssyd hym whan they were to gydre Moyses told hym all
what our lord had doÌ to pharao to thegypcyeÌs for Israhel all the labour that they endured how our lord had delyuered theÌ Ietro was glad for alle thise thynges that god had so sauyd theÌ fro the handes of thegypcieÌs said Blessid by the lord that hath delyuerid you fro the hand of thegypcyens of pharao and hath sauyd his peple now I know that he is a grete lord aboue all goddes by cause they dyde so proudly ayenst theÌ And Ietro offred sacrefyces offryngis to our lord Aaron alle the senyors of Israhel cam ete with hym so fore our lord the next day moyses satte Iuged demed the peple fro mornyng vnto euenyng whiche whan his cosyn sawe he said to hym what doost thou why sittest thou allone all the peple âarye fro the morn til euen to whoÌ moyses answerd The peple come to me demauÌdyng sentence the dome of god whaÌ ther is ony debate or dyfference emonge theÌ they come to me to Iuge hem to shewe to them the preceptes ââwes of god TheÌne said Ietro thou âost not wel ne wysely For by folye thou consumest thy self the peple with the thou doost aboue thy myght Thou maist not allone susteyne it but here me doo ther after our lord shal be with the Be thou vnto the peple in tho thynges that apparteyne to god that thou telle to theÌ what they shold do the cerymonyes ryte to worship god the way by whiche they shold goo what werk they shal doo Poruyde of all the peple wyse men dredyng god in whom is trouth and them that hate auaryce couetyse ordeyne of them trybunes centuriones denes that may in all tymes Iuge the peple And yf ther be of a grete charge weight late it be referrid to the And late them Iuge the smale thinges it shal be the esyer to the to bere the charge whan it is so parted yf thou doo soo thou shalt fulfylle the comandement of god and susteyne his preceptis And the peple shall goo hom to theyr places in peâs which thynges whaÌ Moyses had herde vnderstonden he dyde all that he had couÌceyllyd hym And chase out the streÌgest wysest peple of all Israhel ordeyned theÌ prynces of the peple tribunes CeÌturiones quinquagenaries and denes whiche at alle tymes shold Iuge and deme the peple And alle the grete weyghty maters they referryd to hym demyng and Iugyng the smale causes And thenne his cosyn departed and wente in to his contre ¶ The thirde moneth after the children departed out of egypte that same day they caÌ in to the wyldernesse of Synay and ther a boute the regyon of the mounte they fyxed theyr tentes Moyses ascended in to the hylle vnto god ¶ God callid hym on the hylle and said this shalt thou saye to the hows of Iacob and to the chyldren of Israhel ye your self haue seen what I haue don to the egypciens And how I haue born you on the whynges of Egles and haue taken you to me yf ye therfor here my voys and kepe my couenaunt ye shal be to me in the regne of preesthod and holy peple thyse ben the wordes that thou shalt saye to the chyldren of Israhel Moyses cam doun and gadred all the most of byrthe and expowned in them alle the wordes that our lord had comaunded hym Alle the peple answerd Alle that euer our lord hath said we shal doo Whan Moyses had shewd to the peple the wordes of our lord our lord said to hym Now I shal come to the in a clowde that the peple may here me spekyng to the that they byleue the euer after ¶ Moyses wente and told this to the peple our lord bade them to sanctefye the peple this day and to morow and late them wesshe their cloâhes be redy the thirde day The thirde day our lord shal desceÌde to fore all the peple on the mount of Synay And ordeyne to the peple the markes and termes in the circuyte said to them Beware that ye ascende not on the hylle ne towche the endes of it who someuer towcheth the hylle shal dye by deth ther shal no hande towche hym but with stones he shal be oppressid and with castyng of them on hym he shal be tolben whether it be man or beest he shal not lyue whan thou herest the trompe blowen thenne ascende to the hylle Moyses wente doun to the peple sanctefyed halowed theÌ and whan they had wasshen herr clothis he said to them Be ye redy at the thirde daye and approche not your wyues whan the thirde daye cam and the mornyng wexed clere they herde thondre lyghtnyng and saw a grete clowde coure the mouÌte and the crye of the trompe was so shrylle that the peple was sore aferd whan moyses had brouht them forth vnto the Rote of the hylle they stode there all the mounte of synay smoked for somoche as our lord descended on it in fyre And the smoke ascended fro the hylle as it had be fro a fornays The mount was terryble and dredeful the soun of the troÌpe grewe a lytyl more and contynued lenger Moyses spack And our lord answerd hym Our lord descended vpon the toppe of the mounte of synay euen on the toppe of hit And called Moyses to hym whiche whan he come said to hym Goo doun and charge the peple that they come not to the termes of the hylle for to see the lord for yf they doo moche multitude shal perisshe of them the preestis that shal come late them be sanctefyed lest they be smeton doun And thou and Aaron shal ascende the hylle Alle the peple and preestes late them not passe theyr boundes leste god smyte them Thenne moyses descended and told to the peple alle that our lord hath said After this our lord callyd Moyses And said I am the lord god that brought you out of egypte and of thraldom And gaf hym the comandemeÌtis first by spekyng and many cerymonyes as ben rehersed in the byble whiche is not requysyte to be wreton here but the ten comandementes euery man is bounden to knowe And er Moyses receyued them wreton he wente vp in to the mount of Synay and fasted there xl dayes and xl nyghtes er he receyuyd them In whiche tyme he comanded hym to make many thynges and to ordeyne the lawes and cerymonyes which now ben not had in the newe lawe also as doctours saye moyses lerned that tyme all thystoryes to fore wreton of the makyng of heuen erthe of adam noe abraham ysaac Iacob of Ioseph with his brethern And atte laste delyueryd to hym two tables of stone bothe wreton with the honde of god whiche folowen Here folowen the ten comandemens of our lawe THe first comandement that god comanded is this Thou shal not worshipe no straunge ne dyuerse goddes that
an hye voys wherfore demaunde ye me of the sone of the vyrgyn I say to you that he is now in heuen and sytteth on the ryght syde of god the fader and shall come deme the lyuyng and the deed whan the crysten men had herde hym they were moche glad But the pharysees and the maysters of the lawe repented them of thys that they had made hym to say and bere this witnesse tofore the people And toke counceyll to gydre for to caste hym doun for to make the people aferde by cause they shold not byleue hym and they cryed O the Iuste man hath erryd at thys tyme and after they threwe hym doun and the peple began to stone hym but he was on his knees and sayd Fayre lord god pardone them for they wote not what they doo Thenne escryed one of the sonnes of the preest named Iacob Syres leue ye this iuste man in pees but there was a man in that companye toke a fullers staffe and smote hym on the heed that his brayne fyl alle abrode And thus by marterdom he fynysshed his lyf and was there buryed nygh vnto the temple And the peple wold haue slayne these malefactours bycause they had sleyne hym but they fledde this was done in the tyme of nero the yere of our lord lvij ¶ Iosephus sayth that for thy grete synne of the deth of saynt Iames Was Ierusalem afterward destroyeed For tofore that the destruccion came god shewed meruayllous signes For there was a sterre right clere and shynyng whiche had the fourme of a swerde that henge ouer Ierusalem but this token ne the tokenes hereafter folowyng cam not onely for the deth of saynt Iames but for the dethe of our lord Ihesu crist pryncypally for he said ther shal not in the be left a stone vpon a stone but bycause our lord wold not the dethe of synnars but that he wold they shold doo penaunce and repente them he abode fourty yere and called them vnto penaunce by his appostles and moste by saynt Iames broder of our lord whiche contynuelly prechyd to them For in thys fourty yere were many signes and prodyges shewed to them as Iosephus reherceth of which the sterre lyke the swerde was one Whiche was seen ouer the cyte an hole yere duryng brennyng with grete bryghte flames The nexte yere after in a feste of Ester there was a clerenesse and lyghte aboute the temple in the nyghte that it was lyke vnto clere day In that same tyme there was a cowe brought forth to be sacrefyed whyche anone calued or brought forth a lambe ageynst kynde After this a litel tyme aboute goyng doun of the sonne there was seen in the eyre cartes waynes and grete companye of men of armes that enuyronned the cytee sodaynly In a feste of whytsontyde whyche is called penthecoste the preestes wente in to the temple by nyght for to doo theyr mysteryes and they herde a voys sayeng lete vs goo hens fro this place iiij yere after tofore that the destruccion came a man whos name was Ihesus the sone of ananye began to crye sodeynlye the voys of thorryent the voys of thoccident the voys of foure wyndes vpon Iherusalem woo on the husbondes woo vpon the wyues and woo vpon alle the people the said man was taken smeten and beten tormented broughte tofore the Iuge and he neuer wepte ne cryed mercy but he euer perseueryd and cryed howlyng the same wordes addyng therto woo woo to Iherusalem al thys sayth Iosephus yet for al these tokenes warnynges prodygis the Iewes were neuer aferde TheÌne xl yere after the passyon of our lord Ihesu cryste came titus and vaspasyanus ageynst Iherusalem destroyed hit The cause and by whome it was destroyed is recorded in an hystorye though hit be not autentyke For pylate which doubted the furour angre of themperour Tybere bycause he had wrongfully Iuged and condempned Ihesu cryste thynnocent sente one of his seruauntes for to excuse hym and the seruauntes name was albane In thys tyme vaspasyanus was gouernour of galace for themperour And the messager of pylate whyche wolde haue gone to Rome was constrayned by a contrarye wynde to arryue in galace and was broughte to vaspasyan For the custome of the contree was that who was taken on the see and brought so in ageynst his wylle shold be atte wylle of the lord body goodes And whan vaspasyanus sawe hym he demaunded hym what he was and fro whens he came he sayd that he was of Iherusalem Thenne said vaspasyan A lord god in that contre were wonte to be good maysters and moche good surgyens my frende sayd he canst thou ony thynge of surgerye This sayd he bycause he had in his nose a botche ful of wormes fro his yongthe and neuer myght man be founden that myght hele hym of it the messanger of pylate answerd said that he coude no thynge therof Vaspasyan sayd yf thou hele me not I shal slee the The messanger sayd he that enlumyned the blynde and chaced deuyls out of men And reysed deed men to lyfe in our contree knoweth wel that I can not hele the but he can wel hele the yf he wyl Thenne demaunded vaspasyan what he was he sayd to hym that it was Ihesus of nazareth whome they of Iherusalem had sleyne wrongfully for enuye and yf thou wylt beleue in hym he shal hele the Thenne sayd vaspasyanus I beleue wel that he that reysed deed men may wel hele and make me al hole sayeng thyse wordes the waspys fyll from his nose wyth the botche wythin whyche they were and forthwith he was made parfytely hole wherof he had moche grete ioye And sayd I am certeyn that he that hath thus made me hole was the veray sone of god I shal demaunde lycence of the emperour Tybere and I shal goo destroye the cursyd traytours that haue sleyne thys man And thenne he lete Alban the messager of pylate goo where he wold After thys vaspasyan wente to Rome and gate lycence of themperour for to destroye thys peple and the cyte of Ierusalem And assembled his hoost in the tyme of nero themperour and came sodaynly The Iewes thenne beyng the moste parte in Iherusalem on ester day and byseged the towne For on that day al the Iewes of the contre were comen to the feest so that they were sodaynly enclosed Now was it soo that tofore that vaspasyan came the good men of the cyte were warned by the holy gooste that they shold goo out of the cytee And they wente to a place called pellam bycause that the vengeaunce shold not falle on them but on the wycked peple of the Iewes There was another cyte of the Iurye named Ionaparam In whiche Iosephus was duc whiche vaspasyan first assayled but Iosephus with suche men as he had resysted them manlye but at the laste whan Iosephus sawe the destruccion of it and myght no lenger kepe hit he toke wyth hym
Albone And saynt Amphiabel ¶ Here foloweth the natyuyte of Saynt Iohan Baptiste SAynt Iohan baptiste is named in many maners he was named a prophete frende of the spouse lanterne an aungel voys helyas baptist of the saueour messager of the Iuge and foregoar of the kynge by prophete is signefyed prerogatyf of knowleche in the frende of the spouse noblesse of loue In the lanterne brennyng noblesse of holynes in an aungel prerogatyf of vyrgynyte In voys noblesse of mekenes in helye noblesse of brennyng loue In baptiste prerogatyf of meruayllous honour In messager prero gatyf of prechyng and in forgoyng prerogatyf of preparacyon or makyng redy Alle thyse vertuous thynges were in hym ¶ Of saynt Iohan Baptist THe Natyuyte of saynt Iohan baptyste was auÌcient shewed by the archaungel gabryel in this manere It is said in thystorye scolastyke that dauyd the kyng wyllyng to encrece make more the seruyse of god Instytued xxiiij bysshoppes or hyghe preestys of whome one was ouerest grettest was named prynce af the preestys and he ordeyned that eche preest shold serue a weke abias was one and had the viij weke of whos kynrede Zacharyas was descendyd fader of Saynt Iohan baptyste This Zacharye had to wyf one of the doughters of the kynrede of aaron whos name was elysabeth doughter of esmeria whyche was suster of saynt anne moder of our lady Thenne thys Elysabeth and our lady were cosyns germayns doughters of two susters Thyse two Zacharye his wyf elizabeth were Iust tofore our lord lyuyng in al the Iustyficacions holdyng al the coÌmauÌdementes of the lawe without murmure ne compleynt preysyng thankyng our lord god They had no chyldren for the holy woman was bareyn They had grete desyre to haue a sone that myght be byshop of the lawe by successyon of lygnage after Zacharye And herof had they in theyr yongthe prayed moche to our lord but whan it plesyd not vnto our lord they toke it a worthe and thanked god of alle They seruyd the more deuoutely our lord god For they had no charge but onelye to serue and entende vnto hym Many there be that withdrawe them fro the seruyce and loue of our lord for the loue of theyr chyldren They were bothe olde he and his wyf Elysabeth It happed at a solempnyte that the Iewes had after august that the bysshop dyd holy sacrefise in doyng the offyce that apperteyned to hym to his weke he wente for to encence and entryd in to the temple and the peple abode wythout makyng their prayers and awaytyng the comyng ageyn to them of the holy bysshop Thus as he was allone and encencyd the aulter The aungel gabryel apperyd to hym stondyng on the ryght syde of the aulter and whan the holy bysshop sawe hym he was abasshyd and had grete drede The aungel sayd to hym be no thynge aferde Zacharye thy prayers ben herde And hast fouÌden grace tofore our lord Elysabeth thy wyf shal conceyue and bere a sone whome thou shalt calle Iohan of whome thou shalt haue grete gladnes And moche people shall make grete feste and ioye of his natyuyte For he shal be grete and of grete meryte tofore our lord He shal not drynke wyne ne syther ne thynge wherof he myght be dronken and in his moders wombe he shal be sayntefyed and fulfylled wyth the holy ghoost he shall conuerte many of the sones of Israhel that is to say of the Iewes to our lord And shal goo tofore hym in the spirite and vertue of helye the prophete for to conuerte fader and sones olde and myscreauntes to the sens of rightwysnesse and to the seruyce of god Whan the aungel had thus sayd to Zacharye he answerd how may I byleue and knowe that this is trouth that thou sayest I am now aâolde auncyen and my wyf olde bareyn The aungel answerd and sayd I am gabryel the aungel and seruaunt tofore god whiche in his name am sent to speke to the and to shewe to the thyse thynges aforsayd and by cause thou hast not byleuyd me thou shalte lâse thy speche and shalt not speke tyl the day that this whiche I haue sayd shal be accomplisshed eche thyng in his tyme The peple were abydyng awaytyng whan Zacharye the bysshop shold come out and meruayled where he taryed so longe he came out of the temple but he myght not speke but the holy man made to them signes by whyche they thought wel that he had seen somme vysyon of our lord but more knewe they not he abode in the temple alle that weke and after went home to hys hows his wyf conceyued and waxe grete and whan she perceyued it she was shamefaste and kepte hyr in hyr hows wel fyue monethys In the syxthe monethe the same aungel Gabrye was sente from our lord vnto the blessyd vyrgyn marye newly espowsed to Ioseph which shewed the concepcion of Ihesu criste sone of god our lord and the aungel tolde to hyr that she shold conceyue of the holy ghooste wythout knowleche of man for our lord may do al that it pleaseth hym lyke as it apperyth sayd he of Elysabeth thy cosyn the whiche she beyng olde of age and bareyn by nature of hir body hath conceyued by the plesure of our lord and hath now borne abowte vj monethes whan our lady herde that saynt elizabeth hir cosyn was grete she wente to vysyte and accompanye her in the montayns where she dwellyd ryght ferre harde and euyll waye Whan she came thyder she salewyd hyr moche courtoyslye Our lady was thenne grete wyth the blessyd sone of god our lord Ihesu cryste whome she had conceyued whan she sayd to the aungel Ecce ancilla dâminy And thenne she was replenysshed wyth the deyte and humanyte of our lord Ihesu Cryste Thenne whan the salutacyon yssued out of the body of our lady the gretyng entryd in to the eerys of the body of Saynt Elyzabeth and in to hir chylde that she had wythin hyr whyche chylde was enoynte of the blessyd holy ghoost and by the presence of our lord sayntefyed in the wombe of hys moder and replenysshed wyth grace wherof he remeuyd hym for ioye in his moders wombe in makyng to our lord reuerence suche as he myght make not of hym self but by the grace that he had receyued of the holy ghoost Of whiche by the merytes and grace doon to the blessyd chylde saynt Elysabeth was replenysshed And anone prophecyed in sayeng and cryeng within hygh voys Thou arte blessyd emonge and aboue alle wymmen and blessyd be the fruyte of thy wombe From whens cometh to me suche grace so grete that the moder of my lord cometh to vysyte me I knowe wel that thou hast conceyued the sone of god For as sone as thy salutacyon entrid in to myn eerys the chylde that is in my bely made ioye and feste remeuyd thou arte wel blessyd and happy that thou hast gyuen feythe and byleuyd
and esprysed in the loue of the holy goost They be fasted also in Septembre to fore mychelmas And thise be the thirde fastynges by cause that in this tyme the fruytes ben gadred we shold rendre to god the fruytes of good werkes In decembre they ben also And they ben the fourth fastynges and in this tyme the herbes deyen And we ought to be mortefyed to the world The thirde reason is fore tensiewe the Iewes For the Iewes fasted foure tymes in the yere that is to wete to fore ester to fore whitsontyde to fore the set tyng of the tabernacle in the temple in septembre And to fore the dedicacion of the temple in decembre The fourth reason is by cause the man is composed of iiij elementis touchyng the body and of thre vertues or powers in his sowle that is to wete the vnderstondyng the wyll the mynde To this thenne that this fastyng may attempre in vs iiij tymes in the yere at eche tyme we faste thre dayes to th ende that the nombre of foure may be reported to the body and the nombre of thre to the sowle Thise ben the reasons of maister beleth The v reason as saith IohnÌ damascenus in marche and in prymtemps the blode groweth and augmenteth in somer colere In septembre melancolye And in wynter flewme thenne we faste in marche for tattempre and depresse the blode of concupiscence disordynate for sanguyne of hys nature is ful of flesshly coÌcupiscence In somer we faste by cause that colere shold be lessed and refreyned of whiche cometh wrath And thenne is he ful naturelly of yre In heruest we fast for to refrayne melancolye the melancolyous man naturelly is cold couetous and heuy In wynter we faste for to daunte and to make feble the flewme of lyghtnes and forgetyng For suche is he that is fleumatyke The sixte reason is for the prymtemps is lykened to the ayer the somer to fyre the heruest to therthe and the wynter to water Thenne we faste in marche to th ende that the ayer of pryde be attemperat to vs In somer the fyre of concupiscence of auaryce In septembre the erthe of coldenesse and of the derknes of Ignorance In wynter the water of lightnes and Inconstaunce The vij reson is by cause that marche is reported to Infancye Somer to yongthe Septembre to stedfast age vertuous And wynter to auncyente or olde age We faste thenne in marche that we may be in thynfancye of Innocencye In somer for to be yonge by vertu and constaÌce In heruest that we may be ripe by at teÌperaunce in wynter that we may be auncient old by prudence honeste lyf or atte leste that we satysfye to god of that whiche in thise iiij seasons we haue offended hym The viij reson is of maystre guylliam dancerre We fast saith he in thise iiij tymes of the yere to th ende that we make amendes for all that we haue faylled in all thise iiij tymes and they be don in thre dayes eche tyme to th ende that we satisfye in one day that whiche we haue faylled in a moneth that whiche is the fourth day that is wednesday is the day in whiche our lord was betrayed of Iudas the fryday by cause our lord was crucifyed the saterday by cause he lay in the sepulcre thappostles were for of herte and grete sorowe Thus endeth the ymbre dayes THe Passyon of our lord was bytter for the sorowe that he suffred in derysions despituous And of many fylthes fructuous The sorowe was cause of fyue thynges The first by cause it was shamefulle for the place of the mount of caluarye where as malefactours and crymynel persones were put to execucion And he was there put to deth right foull the crosse was the tormente of theues And yf the crosse was thenne of shame and of vylonye she is now of glorye and of honour wherof saith saynt Austyn Crux latronum qui erat supplicium cÌ The crosse whiche was the Iustice of theuys is now become the sygne of glorye in the forhedes or frontes of emperours And yf he had suche honour at his tormente what dyde he to hys seruant for the shameful felawshp that he dyde to hym for he was sette with malefactours but the one of them was conuerted whiche was called dysmas lyke as it is said in the gospell of Nychodemus And he was on the ryght syde of our lord And that other on the lyfte sâde was dampned whiche was callid gesmas To that one thenne he gaf the royame of heuene and to that other helle wherof saith saynt Ambrose Auctor pietatis in cruce cÌ he saith the auctour of pyte hangyng on the crosse deuyded offyces of pâte in scculyer erandes that is to saye The persecucion to thapostles peas to his disciples hys body to the Iewes hys spyryte to the fader to the vyrgyne the messages of the weddyng of the souerayn espouse To the theef peradys To synners helle And to the Crysten penytent he comanded the crosse Loo this is the testament that Ihesu cryst made hangyng in the crosse Secondly the sorow was caused Iniustly For none iniquite was founde in hym And pryncypally Iniustly they accused hym of thre thynges The first was they said that he deffended to paye the trewage and for he said that he was a kynge and he said hym to be the sone of god ¶ And ayenst thyse thre accusacions we saye on the good fryday thre excusacions in the persone of Ihesu crist Whan we synge popule meus Where Ihesu crist repreued them of thre benefetes that he dyde and gaf to them that is to wete the delyueraunce of them fro Egypt the sustentacion and the gouernauÌce in deserte And the plantacion of the vigne in a londe propyce lyke as Iesu cryst wold saye thhou accusest me by cause that I deffende to paye thy trewage And thou oughtest more to thaÌke me of that I haue delyuerd the fro the trewage and fro the scruytude of pharao and of Egypte Thou accusest me that I calle my self kynge and thou oughtest better to yelde me thankynges of that whiche I gouerned the in deserte with mete royalle Thou accusest me of this that I saye me to be the sone of god And thou oughtest more to thank me that I haue chosen the to be in my vygne yerde and in a ryght good place I haue planted them The thirde cause is by cause he was despyted forsaken of his frendes whiche semed a thyng more tollerable to be suffred of his enemyes than of them whom he helde to be his freÌdes And alleway he suffred deth for his frendes and hys neyghbours that is of theÌ of whos lignage he was born Thys said he by the mouth of dauid Amici mei proximi cÌ My frendes my neyghbours haue approcheed ayenst me and so haue contynued wherof said Iob capitlÌo xxx Noti mei quasi aliem
them by force in to the fournays also of other men they were repreued and vylonnyed And this holy man Carpo in beholdyng them had grete delyte and toke pleysaunce in theyr pugnycion in suche wise that he lefte the vision of heueÌ and sette not ther by but was angry that they fyll not sodenly in to thefournays and thenne as he loked vp in to heuen he sawe the vision that he had to fore seen And IhuÌs Cryst whiche had pyte of thise two men a roos vp out of his trone cam vnto them with a grete multitude of angellis And put forth his hond and delyuerd them And IhÌs sayd to Carpo smyte me from hens forth I am redy to suffre for to saue man This ensample recyteth saynt denys As to the fourth article wherfore he abode not vntyl the generall resurrection Thre reasons ben assygned ¶ The first for the dignyte of his body For he was deyfyed and cam fro the deyte And therfore it was no reson that his body shold so longe lye in therthe wherof dauid saith Non dabis sanctum tuum videre corruptionem Thou shalt not suffre thyn holy body see corruption The secoÌd reason is for the stedfastnes of the fayth For yf he had not thenne arysen the faith had perisshyd men wold not haue byleued that he had be very god And that appiereth wel For in his passioÌ sauf our lady alle lost fayth But whan they had knowleche of his resurrection they recouerd it agayn as saith seynt poul Si xpristus non surrexerit vana est fides nostra yf Ihesu Cryst had not rysen our fayth had be vayn or none The thirde cause For thexemplar of our resurrection Ther shold be but fewe that shold byleue the resurrection to come yf Ihesus Cryst had not rysen And this is our example and our hope And therfore sayen thappostles Ihesu Cryst is arysen And we shal aryse For his resurrection is cause of oures wherof saith saynt gregorye Our lord by example hath shewed that he promysed in reward as that we shold knowe hym to haue rysen ¶ Thus in our self we shold haue hope of the reward of his resurrection And we ought to knowe that Ihesu Cryste wold not prolonge his resurrection aboue thre dayes to th ende that desperacioÌ shold not be in the world As to the fyfthe Article it is wherefore he aroos he aroos for foure thynges moche proufytable to vs ¶ For his resurrection made the Iustyficacion of our synnes she enseyneth new lyf of maners she engendrith the hope of reward and ordeyneth the resurrection of all Of the first saith saynt poul ad Romanos Ihesu Cryst deyed for our synnes and aroos for to Iustefye vs ¶ Of the secânde lyke as Ihesu Cryst aroos by the glorye of the fader whiche is a new glorious lyf So ought we in spyrituell lyf take newe maners Of the thirde By his grete mercy god hath reysed vs in hope of lyfe by the resurrection of Ihesu Cryste ¶ Of the fourth it is said to vs in scripture Ihesu Cryst aroose fro deth For by man is deth come to men And by man that is Ihesu Cryste the lyf is come to men Thus ben they the fyrst of dede meÌ Adam of theÌ that deyde IhÌu cryst of theÌ that ben a lyue by his resurrection And thus it appiereth that Ihesu cryst had iiij propretees in his resurrection The first is that our resurrection is differed vnto the last resurrection And Ihesu cryst aroos the third day As saith the glose vpon this psalme Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus cÌ At euensongetyme shal be wepyng And on the morn gladnes and Ioye The glose saith that the resurrection of Ihesu Cryst is cause sufficient of the resurrectioÌ of sowles in this present tyme And of the bodyes in tyme to come The seconde proprete is that we ryse by hym And he aroos by hym self wherof saith saynt ambrose how myght he seke helpe to reyse his body whiche reysed other The thirde proprete is that we become duste or asshes And his body myght not be torned in to asshes ¶ The iiij proprete is that his resurrection is cause sacramental of our resurrection ¶ As touchyng the sixte article hou ofte he appiered the day of his resurrection he appiered fyue tymes ¶ First to marie Magdalene marci vltimo After his resurrectioÌ he appiered first to marie magdalene whiche is fygure of penitentes And for fyue reasons he appiered to her First for she loued hym most ardantly by cause she loued so moche god foryafe and pardonned her many synnes Secondly for to shewe that he deyde for synners Mathei ix Non veni vocare cÌ I cam not for to calle rightful men but synners to penaunce ¶ Thirdly for to veryfye his word Mathei xxi AmeÌ dico quia meretrices cÌ Â¶ To the ypocrites and phariseys he sayd that comyn wymen and the publicaÌ shold goo to fore them to the kyngdome of heuen Fourtly for by cause that lyke as a woman was messager of deth so a woman shold he messager of lyf after the glose â Fyftely lyke as synne habounded so shold grace more habounde lyke as thappostle saith ad romanos v. The seconde tyme he appered to the thre maries whiche retorned fro the monumeÌt whan he said to theym auete god grete you And thenne they approched hym And helde his feet And that is the figure of humble prayers to whom our lord appered as wel for the reason of the nature as for the reason of thaffectioÌ For they helde his Feet whiche sygnefyeth thaffection of the herte Thirdly he appered to saynt pieter but whan ne in what place it is not knowen but yf it were by auenture whan he retorned fro the monument wyth saynt IohnÌ For it myght wel be that saynt peter in somme place torned fro saynt IohnÌ where god appiered to hym or by auenture whan he was allone in the monument lyke as it is sayd in scolastica historia or parauenture in a Caue or a fosse For it is redde in thistoryes whan he renyed and forsoke our lord that he fledde in to a Caue where as the montayn is whiche is called the montayne of the cocque or ellis after that it is said that he wepte thre dayes contynuelly after that he had renyed god And there Ihesus appered to hym and comforted hym sayeng â Peter bere the vertu of obedyence to whome our lord sheweth hym Fourtly he appiered to his disciples whiche wente to Emaus wiche is as moche to saye as desire of couÌseyll and signefyeth to vysyte the poure membres of Ihesu cryst and to helpe them as it is said in the gospell Goo and selle all that thou hast And gyue it to poure people Fyftly he appiered to his disciples whiche were to gydre in a place closed and this signefieth relygyous men that ben in the world with the yates of theyr v wyttes closed Thyes fyue apparicions weren the day of
sobrely and in contynence and after at ester had receyued theyr sauyour After they disordred them in etyng in drynkyng in playes and in lecherye nd A therfore our lord was meuyd ayenst them and sente to them a grete pestelence whiche was called the botche of impedymye and that was cruell sodayne and caused peple to dye in goyng by the waye in playeng in beyng atte table and in spekyng one with another sodeynly they deyed In this manere somtyme fnesyng they deyed so that whaÌ ony persone was herd fnesyng anone they that were by said to hym god helpe you Or Cryst helpe and yet endureth the custoÌme And also whan he fneseth or gapeth he maketh to fore his face the signe of the crosse and blessith hym And yet endureth this custome And how that pestelence begaÌ it is founde in the lyf of saynt gregorye Secondly this letanye is said procession of seuen ordres by cause that whan they were made seynt gregorye ordeyned them by vij ordynances For in the first ordre was all the clergye in the second were the monkes and relygyous men In the thirde were alle the nonnes In the fourth alle the children In the fyfthe all the laye peple In the sixthe alle the wydowes And in the vij alle they that were maryed But by cause that nowe we may not fulfylle in nombre of personnes we ought to fulfylle it in noÌbre of letanyes For it ought to be said vij tymes or the procession be left Thirdly this letanye is said the black crosse For thenne in signe of pestylence of wepyng and of penaunce they cladde them wyth black clothes And parauenture for that same cause they couerd the crosse and the aulters wyth blessyd hayres And thus we shold take on vs clothyng of penauÌce Ther is an other letanye whiche is called the lasse letanye the whiche is made the thre dayes tofore thasceÌcion And this Instituted seynt Mamertyn bisshop of vyane in the tyme of themperour lyon whiche regned the yere of our lord iijClviij to fore the Institucion of the first And is said the letanye the lasse the rogacions and processions For it is The lasse letanye to the difference of the first by cause that this lasse letanye was Institued of a lasse whiche was a symple bisshop in a lasse place and for lasse maladye And the cause of the institucion was this For thenne at vyane were grete erthe quaues of whiche fyl doun many chirches and many houses and ther was herde grete sownes and grete clamours by nyght And thenne happed a terrible thyng on ester day For fyre descended fro heuen that brente the kynges palays yet happed more merueyllous thyng For lyke as the fendes had entred in to the hogges right so by the suffraunce of god for the synnes of the peple the fendes entred in to wulues and other wylde bestes whiche euerych doubted and they wente not only by the wayes ne by the feldes but also by the cytees ronnen openly And deuoure den the chyldren olde men and wymen And whan the bisshop sawe that euery day happed suche sorouful aduentures he coÌmanded and ordeyned that the peple shold faste thre dayes And he instituted the letanyes and thenne the tribulacioÌ ceassed And fro than forth on the chirche hath ordeyned confermed that this letanye shold be kept and obserued ouer all It is said also Rogacions For thenne we praye and demaunde the suffrages of alle the sayntes and we thus haue good cause for to kepe this ordenauÌce and faste in thise dayes And for many reasons it is institued Fyrst by cause it appeaseth the bataylles that comynly begynne in prymtemps SecoÌdly by cause that the fruytes whiche be theÌne tendre that god will multeplye Thirdly by cause that euery man shold mortefye in hym self the moeuynges of hys flessh whiche in that tyme boylle Fourtly by cause that euerich dispose hym self to receyue the holy goost For by fastynges by orysons and by deuocion is one more able and more worthy But two other reasoÌs assigneth maistre willÌm dancerre by cause than whan IhÌu cryst wold ascende vnto heuen he sayde Aske ye duely and ye shal haue And we may the more faithfully demaunde whan we haue the promesse of god Secondly by cause the holy chirche fasteth prayeth that she haue but lytil flessh that is to make the body lene by abstynence and to gete wynges by prayer For prayer is the wynge of the sowle by whiche she fleeth to heuen to th ende that she may folowe IhÌu cryste asceÌdyng vp to fore vs to shewe vs the waye And knowe ye that the foule that haboundeth in plente of flessh and hath but fewe pennes or fethers he may not wel flee Thus this letanye is called procession For thenne the chirche maketh generall procession And in this procession the crosse is born the clockes and belles ben sowned and rongen the ba ners ben born And in somme chirche a dragon with a grete taylle is born And ayde and helpe is demaunded of alle seyntes ¶ And the cause why the crosse is born and the belles rongen is for to make the feÌdes and euyll spyrites aferd and to flee For lyke as the kynges haue in bataylles tokenes and signes royall as her trompes and baners right so the kynge of heuen perdurable hath hys signes mylytaunt in the chirche he hath belles for busynes and for troÌpes he hath the crosse for baners And lyke as a tyraunt and a malefactour shold moche doubte whan he shal here the busynes and trompes of a myghty kynge in his lande and shal see his baners In lyke wyse the enemyes the euyll spyrites that ben in the regioÌ of thayer doubte moche whan they here the trompes of god whiche ben the belles rongen And whan they see the baners born on hye And this is the cause why the belles be rongeÌ whan it thondreth and whan grete tempestes and oultrages of wether happen to th ende that the fendes and wicked spyrites shold be abasshed and flee and ceasse of the moeuyng of tempest how be it also that ther is another cause ther with that is for to warne the crysten peple that they put them in deuocion and in prayer for to praye god that the tempest may ceasse Ther is also the baner of the kynge that is the crosse whiche the enemyes dred moche and doubte For they drede the staf with whiche they haue ben hurte And this is the reason wherfore in somme chirche in the tyme of tempest and of thondre they sette out the crosse ayenst the tempest to th ende that the wycked spyrites see the baner of the souerayn kynge for drede therof that they flee And therfore in procession the crosse is born And the belles rongeÌ for to chace and hunde away the fendes beyng in thayer and to th ende that they leue to tempest vs The crosse is born for to represente the victorye of the resurrectioÌ
he said I am he that disputeth Iustice and rightwisnes of helthe in the redempcion of humayne lignage he was Iustice in as moche as he that was creatour brought agayn his creatures fro the straunge Iurisdiction And he was rightwisnes in as moche as the enemye whiche had assaylled vs he put cast out of the domynacion that he had in thumayne lignage And after this maketh saynt denys a question Syth the pryncypal angellis ben nyghe to god and ben without moyen enlu myned of god wherfore demaunded they the one of the other lyke as that they wold haue lerned eche of other but he saith that gyueth this solucion that in that they demaÌunde eche of other it sheweth that they desire to knowe And in that first emonge them they had collacion it sheweth that they durste not auaunce them to fore the dyuyne progression And for this first they ought to axe echeone other by cause that paraduenture their interrogacioÌ were not ouer hasty vpon the illuminacioÌ that they had receyued of god without moyen The second question is And that was the first and souerayn aungele sayeng to Ihesu Cryst Why is thy clothyng rede and thy vestymentis as troden or fulled in a presse Our lord hath his clothyng and his body rede all couerd with blood by cause that yet whan he ascended he had his woundee in his body after this that bede saith he must kepe his woundes in his body for v reasons and he said thus Our lord kepeth his woundes And to the day of Iugement he shal kepe them to th ende that it conferme his resurrection And for to praye the fader for vs he presenteth them to th ende that the goode see the grete merci by whiche he hath redemed them ¶ And that the wycked peple may knowe that rightwisly they be dampned And that eternelly he bere with hym the signes of his gloriouse victory perpetuell And to this question answereth our lord Torcular calcaui cÌ The presse I haue torned fowled all allone And of all men ther was not one that wold helpe me the presse is the crosse in the whiche he was pressid in suche wyse that the blood sprange out ¶ Thus Ihesu cryst called the enemye the pressour whiche that thus had wrapped thumayne lygnage with cordes of synne and quenchid hym so clene that he had nothyng spirituel but that it was without expressyd And only he shewd it in the vyrgyne marye but our champion fought so strongly And defowled the pressour so foule that he brake the bouÌdes of synne And ascended into heuen And after this hâ opened the tauerne of heuen and poured out the wyne of the hooly goost The thirde question is the whichâ the lasse angellis made to the gretter more in sayeng who is this kynge of glorye They answerd and sayde The lord of vertues he is kynge of glorye And of this question of thangellis and of thanswere of the other saith saynt Austyn Al the ayer is halowed in the companye dyuyne ¶ And alle the tourbe of deuellis fleyng in thayer fledde bacward whan Ihesu cryst ascended to whome thaungellis that were in the company of god ranne And demaunded who is this kynge of glorye And they answerd this is he that was whyte and colourd as a rose the whiche was seen without colour and wythoute beaute Seke in the tree stronge in his despoylle Fowll reputed in his body wel armed in the batayll styngyng in his deth Fair in his resurrection whyte bornÌ of the virgyne Rede in the crosse pale in repreuys And clere in heuene As to the fyfte it is for what merite he ascended And we ought to vnderstonde that he ascended in treble meryte wherof saith saynt Iherome Ihesu cryst ascended in meryte of trouth For that which had be promysed by prophetes he fulfyllyd in merite of humylyte debonayrte For lyke as he was sacrefyed lyke a lombe for the lyf of the peple in meryte of Iustice But by Iustyce and not only by puyssaunce but by Iustyce and by ryght thou hast delyured man and I haue withholden of thy puyssaunce And thy vertue shal brynge the to heuen this said god the fader to the sone As to the sixthe that is whither he ascended it ought to be knowen that he ascended aboue alle the heuenes as thappostle saith ad ephesios quarto He that descended fro heuen that is he that ascended aboue alle the heuenes by cause he fufylled all thynges he said aboue alle the hâuenes by cause ther be many heuenes aboue whiche he ascended ¶ There is an heuene materiel an heuene racionel an heuen Intellectuel and an heuene substaÌcyall Ther ben many heuenes materyel The heueÌ of thayer which is called aereuÌ one other called ethereuÌ Anotheâ olâimperiuÌ another igneuÌ another sidereuÌ another crystallinum and another empireuÌ The heueÌ resonable is the man Iuste whiche is said Iuste by cause of the dyuyne habytacion For lyke as heuene is the sete of god as the prophete ysaye sayth CluÌ uiichi sedes est our lord saith that the heuene is his sete reght so is the soule of a rightwis man lyke as salomon saith The soule of a rightwis man is the sete of sapyeÌce by reason of the holy coÌuersacion For the sayntes by holy coÌuersacion and desyre dwelle in heuen as saith saynt poul our coÌuersacion is in heueÌ by cause of coÌtynuell oêacion in vertue For lyke as the heuenes moue contynuelly without restyng in suche maner the seyntes moeue alway by good werkes The heuen intellectuell beÌ thauÌgellis thauÌgellis beÌ called heueÌ by the reasoÌ of dygnyte of their vnderstondyng wherof saith saynt denys in the boke of dyuyne names in the iiij chapitre The dyuyne spirites the aungelles beÌ aboue the creatares which beÌ lyue aboue all thynges that lyue vnderstonde and knowe aboue alle other wittes reasons more than alle other thynges that been in beyng they desire wele good of which they be êticipauÌt that is god Secondly they ben right fair by cause of thir nature and of their glorye of which beaute sayth saynt denys in the boke tofore alleged Thangel is the manyfestacion of dedes wyll of god by whom they be shewd and he is the clerenes of derke light he is a myrour pure right clere without receyunyg of ony fylth or spotte in hym yf it be leeffull to saye he is the beaute the comformyte of the bounte of god Thirdly they be right stronge by cause of theyr vertue myght of which strenght saith IohÌn damascene in his second boke the viij chapytre where he saith Fortes sunt et parati cÌ The angellis of god ben stronge and alway redy to fulfyl the wyll of god And they be found alleway anon where god wille haue them The heuen hath iij coÌdicions It is right hye ryght fayr and right stroÌge Of ij the first saith salomoÌ
abasshid of the multitude of his gretnes The sendyng vysible whan it is in ony signe visible it sheweth And it is to wete that in fyue signes visible the holy ghoost is sente shewed First in signe of a douue vpon IhÌu cryst whaÌ he was baptised luce iij the holy ghoost desceÌded in bodyly lykneâ of a douue vpoÌ hym SecoÌdly in lyknes of a fair clowde clere vpon Ihesu crist at his traÌsfiguracioÌ mathei xvij ãâã he ye tspekyng a bryght clowde shadowed them this was vpon the mouÌt thabor where Ihesu cryst spack with saynt Petir Iames and Iohan And thus as he spack ther descended a clere clowde that couerd hem alle where as the glose saiththus ¶ Whan Ihesu cryst was baptysed and also whan he was clarefyed the mysterye of the trynyte was shewde The holy ghoost was shewed atte baptesme in lyknes of a douue in the hylle in lyknes of a clere montaygne clowde Thyrdly he was sheewde in lyknes of a blowyng or a blaste as saith saynt Iohan Iohannis vicesimo He brethed and blewe on them and said Take ye the holy ghoost in yow of whom ye foryeue the synnes they shal be foryeuen ¶ And of whom ye reteyne the synnes they shal be reteyned ¶ Fourthly in lyknes of fyre Fyftly in lyknes of tongues And in thyse two maners he appiered to vs to gyue vs to vnderstonde that the propretees of the tongue and of fyre he putteth in the hertes where he descendeth The douue hath wayllyng for his âânge she hath no galle she maketh her hows in an hole or in a walle of stone And thus the holy ghoost them that he replenessheth he maketh them to waylle for theyr synnes Wherof saith Ysaye the prophete Ysaye lix we all shal rore lyke beres and waylle lyke dowues in thynkyng humbly and bytterly how we haue erred ayenst the scripture And for this comforteth vs thappostle seynt poul ad Romanos viij The holy ghoost ceasseth not to praye for vs in moeuyng vs to wayllynges without nombre for our synnes whyche ben without nombre Secondly the douues ben without galle And the holy ghoost maketh them suche where he descendeth ¶ For that is his nature Wherof saith the wyse man Sapiencie xij O quam bonus et suauis cÌ O lord god how moche good and swete is this spyrite in vs Item in the same place he is called swete benygne and humayne of that he maketh vs benygne and humayn that is to wete swete in worde benygne in herte and humayne in werke ¶ Thyrdly the douues dwelle within the holes of walles of stone that is to saye in the woundes of Ihesu cryst he maketh them dwelle that he fulfylleth wherof it is said in the cantykes Canticorum ij Aryse thou my spouse my loue and my douue my spouse and loue that is a deuoute soule come my douue for to nourysshe smale pygeons in the holes of the walle that is in the woundes of our lord wherof saynt Iherome saith Spiritus oris nostri cÌ thus as he wold saye the spirite that is of our mouthe that is Ihesu cryst For he is our mouth and our flesshe maketh vs saye to cryst In thyn vmbre that is in thy passion in whiche Ihesu cryst was obscure derke and despyted we shal lyue by contynuel memorye Secondly he was shewd in lyknes of a clowde The clowde is lyft vp fro therthe by vertue of the sonne And nourysshith and engendryth rayn And refresshyth and coleth thayer and therthe ¶ Thus the holy ghoost them that he replenesshith he lyfteth fro therthe for to despyse therthely thynges as saith the prophete Ezechiel ¶ The holy ghoost hath lyft me in to the ayer bytwene heuene and erthe and hath brought me in to Iherusalem in the vysioÌ of god Secondly he refressheth therthe that is the hertes ayenst the dryenesse of brennyng of vices ¶ And of this was said to the virgyne marye Spiritus sanctus superuemet in te etcÌ The holy ghoost shal come in the And the vertu of hym that is hyest shal shadowe the and fro alle ardour of vices shal cole the ¶ And the holy ghoost is called water by cause that water hath the vertue and nature to refresshe cole wherof saith saynt IohÌn theuangelyst Fro the holy ghoost the flodes of lyuyng water shal renne ¶ And that same saith he of the holy goost whiche thappostles receyued and of them that receyuyd hym ¶ For the ryuers ran thurgh all the world vpon them that byleuyd in god ¶ Thyrdly he engendryth rayne the whiche descendeth by dropes ¶ And this is that dauid saith The holy ghoost shal blowe and make waters to flowe that is to saye by the teeris comyng fro the herte droppyng fro the eyen ¶ Fourthly he is shewd in lyknes of breth whiche is a spyrite of the herte whiche is cast out by the mouth whiche is lyght hote Swete and necessarye to brethe with Thus the holy ghoost is lyght to be shedde in to a man he is most swyfte of ony thynge that is moeuable as the glose saith vpon this worde factus est repente de celo sonus et cetera At the comyng of the holy ghoost he made moeuyng as of thondre and of wynde vehement and sodayn and fulfyllyd alle the hows where thappostlis saten whyche abode hym in grete deuocion ¶ For the grace of the holy ghoost wrought not in his operacioÌ of space ne of tyme but he had sodeyn mocyon ¶ Secondly he is hoote for to enflamme the hertes wherof Ihesu cryst saith I am comen to âast fyre in therthe but this is that brenneth and enflammeth the hertes And is compared to wynde whiche is hote wherof is said in the canticles Vem auster et perfla ortum meum ¶ Come wynde of the south and blowe in my gardyn that is my sowle Thyrdly he is swete for to make swete the hertes and therfore he is named by the name of vnxyoÌ the swete vnxion of hym techeth vs whiche apperteyneth to our helthe And it is named by name of dewe wherof syngeth holy chirche Et sui roris as percione fecundet where she prayeth that the aspercioÌ and spryngyng of the dewe make our hertes to growe in vertues and also by space of tyme stylle and calme After the stroke of the fyre descended a swete sowne of ayer softe and smalle And ther was our lord Fourthly it is necessarye to brethe in suche manere that yf it myght not yssue out of the mouthe that he myght not brethe anonÌ the man shold deye And thus shold we vnderstande of the holy ghoost after this that dauid saith Auferes spiritum eorum et deficient et in puluerem etcÌ lord god as sone as thou shalt take awaye theyr spyryte they shal faylle And therfore saith he Emitte spiritum tuum cÌ Lord god sende thy spiryte in to theÌ and they shal be created by spyrituel lyf and be renewed For the
hym an helper lyke to hym selfe for to brynge forth children Adam supposed that somme helpar to hym had ben emoÌg the beestis whiche had ben lyke to hym ¶ Therfore god brought to Adam alle lyuyng beestis of the erthe ayer In whicle ben vnderstande theÌ of the water also whiche with one comandement alle cam to fore hym they were brought for two causes One was by cause man shold gyue to eche of them a name by whiche they shold knowe that he shold domyne ouer them And the second cause was by cause adaÌ shold knowe that there was none of theÌ lyke to hym And he named hem in he brews tonge whiche was only the langage and none other atte begynnyng And so none beyng founde lyke vnto hym god sente in Adam a luste to slepe whiche was no dreme but as is supposed in a extasi or in a traunse in whiche was shewd to hym the celestial courte wherfore whan he awoke he prophecyed of the coniunction of crist to his chirche And of the flode that was to come And of the dome and destruction of the world by fyre he knewe whiche afterward he told to his chyldren Whiles that adam slepte god toke ãâã of his Ribbes both flesshe and bone and made that a woman And sette her to fore Adam whiche thenne saide this is is now a bone of my bones and flessh of my flessh And Adam gaf here a name lyke as her lord and said she shal be called virago whiche is as moche to saye as made of a man And is a name taken of aman And anon the name gyuyng he prophecied sayeng by cause she is taken of the syde of aman therfor a man shall forsake and leue fader and moder and abyde and be adherent vnto his wif and they shal be two in one flesshe And thaugh they be two persone yet in matrymony and wedlok they be but one flesshe and in other thyngis tweyne for why neyther of them hath power of his owne flessle They were bothe naked and were not asshamed they felte nothyng of meuyng of theyr flessh ne to refrayne them as we now doo For they stode bothe in the state of Innocensye Thenne the serpente whiche was hotter than ony beste of therthe naturelly deceyuable for he was ful of the deuyll lucifer whiche was deiecte and caste out of heuen had grete enuye to man that was bodyly in paradys and knewe wel yf he myght make hym to trespace and breke gods commandement that he shold be cast out also yet he was aferd to be taken or espied of the man he wente to the woman not so prudent and more prone to slyde and bowe in the forme of the serpente for thenne the serpente was erecte as a man Bede saith that he chace a serpente hauyng a maydens chere For lyke ofte aplye to lyke and spake by the tonge of the serpente to Eue and said why coÌmanded you god that ye shold not ete of alle the trees of paradys this he said to fynde occasyon to saye that he was come fore Thenne the woman answerde and said Ne forte moriamur leste happely we dye whiche she saide doubtyng For lightly she was flexible to euery parte wher vnto anon he answerd Nay in no wyse ye shal dye but god wold not that ye shold be lyke hym in science and knowyng that whan ye ete of this tre ye shal be as goddes knowyng good euyll he as enuyous forbade you And anon the woman elate in pryde willyng be lyke to god accorded therto And byleuyd hym The woman sawe that the tree was fayr to loke on and clene and swete of sauour toke and ete therof And gaf vnto Adam of the same happyly desiryng hym by fayr wordes but Adam anon agreed for whan he sawe the woman not deed he supposed that god hath said that they shold dye to fere hem with And thenne ete of the fruyt forboden ¶ And anon theyr sight was opened that they sawe theyr nakydnes ¶ And theÌne anon they vnderstode that they had trespaced For anon their flesshe began to meue and stire to concupiscence for to fore that they had eten of the forboden fruyt tho meuynges were repressed and closed as in yong children And thenne after they had synned they were opend lyke spryngys of water and began to meue and then they were experte and knewe them And lyke as they were inobedyent to theyr superyor ryght soo theyr membres began to meue ayenst theyr superior whiche is reson they felte theyr first meuyng in theyr preuy membres and therof they were asshamed And thus they knewe then that they were naked And they toke figge leuis and sewed them to gyder for to couere theyr membres in maner of brechis And anon after they herde the voys of our lord god walkyng and anon they hyd them Our lord called the man and said Adam where art thou callyng hym in blamyng hym and not as not knowyng where he was but as who said Adam see in what myserye thou art whiche answerd I haue hydde me lorde for I am naked our lord said who tolde the that thou were naked but that thou hast eten of the tree forboden he thenne not mekely confessyng his trespas but leyde the fawte in his wyf and in hym as gyuer of the woman to hym and saide ¶ The woman whom thou gauyst to me as a felawe gaf to me of the tree and I ete therof And thenne our lord soid to the woman why dydyst thou soo Neyther she accused her self but leyd the synne on the serpente and pryuely she leyd the faute in the maker of hym The serpente was not demanded For he dyde it not of hym self but the deuyl by hym And our lord cursyng theÌ began at the serpente kepyng an ordre congrue nombre of curses The serpente was the first and synned most for he synned in iij thyngis The woman next and synned lesse than he but more than the man for she synned in two thyngis The man synned last and leest for he synned but in one ¶ The serpente had enuye he lyed and deceyued For thyse thre he had thre curses by cause he had enuye at thexcellence of man it was sayd to hym thou shalt goo and crepe on thy breste by cause he lyed he is punysshid in his mouth whan it was said thou shalt ete erthe alle the dayes of thy lyf Also he toke away his voys and put venym in hys mouth And by cause he deceyued it was said I shal put enemyte bytweyne the and woman and thy seed and her seed She shal breke thy heede cÌ In two thyngis the woman synned In pryde and etyng the fruyte by cause she synnyd in pryde he meked her seyeng Thou shalt be vnder the power of man And I shal haue lordship ouer the and I shal put the to affliction ¶ Now is she subiecte to a man by condicion and drede whiche to
and all his goodis and delyuerd the men of Sodom that were taken and the women ¶ And they of Sodom cam agayn hym and Melchisedech cam and mette with hym and offrid to hym brede wyn this melchisedech was kynge and preest of IhrlÌm all the contree And blessid abram there abram gaf to hym the tythes of all that he had the kynge of sodoÌ wold that abraÌ shold haue had suche pray as he toke but he wold not haue as moche as the lachet of a shoo thus gate abraÌ moche loue of all the peple After this our lord apperid to abraÌ in a visioÌ saide AbraÌ drede the nothyng I am thy êtector And thy reward and mede shal be grete Abram answerd lord god what wylt thou gyue me thou wotest welle I haue no children and sith I haue non I wil wel that eleazar the sone of my baily be myn heyr Nay said our lord he shal not be thyn heir but he that shal yssue come of thy seed shal be thyn heyr our lord ledde hym out bad hym beholde the heuen nombre the sterres yf thou mayst said to hym so shal thy ofspryngyng seed be And abram byleuyd it gaf faith to our lordes wordes it was reputed to hym to Iustice And our lord said to hym I am the lord that ladde that out of the londe of hur of the chaldeeis for to gyue to the this londe in to thy possession and abram said lord how shal I knowe that I shal possede it A voys said to abraÌ thy seed after the shal be exiled in to egipte by the space of iiijC yere and shal be there in seruitude after I shal brynge theÌ heâher agayn in the fourthe generacioÌ thou shalt abyde here vn to thy good age shal be buryed here goo with thy faders in pees sara was yet with out childe she had an handmayd named Agar an egypcian she on a day sayd to abram her housbond thou seyst I may bere no chyld wherfore I wold thou toke Agar my maide lye by her that thou myght gete a chylde whiche I myght kepe holde as for myn x yere after that Abraham had dwellid in that londe he toke agar gate her with chylde anon as she felte her self with chylde she despised her maistresse thenne sara said to abraÌ thou dost euyl I gaf the licence to lye with my seruant now syth she is conceyued by the she hath me in despyte god Iuge this bytwene the me to whom abraÌ answerd thyn haÌdmaid is in thyn haÌdes chastise her as it pleseth the after this sara chastised agar put her to so grete affliction that she wente away and as she wente an auÌgel mette with her in the wildernes by a wel and said agar whens comest why ther goost thou She answerd I flee away fro the face of my lady sara to whom the angele sayde Retorne agayn submytte the by humblenes vnto thy lady and I shal multeplye thy seed so moche peple shal come of it that it can not by noÌbred for multytude he said forthermore thou haste coÌceyued shal bere a child shalt calle hym ysmael he shal be a fiers man he shal be agayn alle men and alle men agayn hym TheÌne agar retorned home and seruyd her lady and sone after she was delyueryd of ysmael Abram was lxxxvj yere old whan Ismael was born whan abram was lxxxxix yere our lord apperid to hym saide Abram loo I am the lord almyghty walke thou bifore me be parfyght and I shal kepe couenauÌt bitwene me the And shal multeplye thy seed gretly And abram fyll doun lowtyng lowe to therthe thaÌked hym TheÌne our lord said I am my couenauÌt I shal kepe to the thou shalt be fader of moche peple Thou shalt nomore be called abram but abraham For I haue ordeyned the fader of moche peple I shal make the tencrece most habondantly kynges prynces shal come of the and shal stablisshe my couenauÌt bytwene me the thy seed in thy generacioÌs I shal gyue to the to thy seed after the the londe of thy pylgremage all the londe of canaan in to their possession I shal be theyr god yet said god to abrahaÌ And thou shalt kepe thy couenaÌt to me thyn heyres after the in theyr generacions and this shal be the couenauÌt that ye shal kepe and thyn heyres after the Euery man chyld and male shal le circuÌsiced in his preuy membre that it be a tokeÌ bytwene me you Euery chyld masculyn that shal be born shal be circuÌcysed whan he is viij dayee old And I Wyl that this signe shal be in your flesshe And see that the men in your generacion be circuÌcised begynne at thy self thy chyldren alle that dwelle in thy kynred who of yow that shal not be circuÌcised in his flesshe shal be caste put out for euer fro my peple by cause he obeyeth not my statute ordenauÌce And thy wyf Saray shal be callid nomore Saray but she shal be called Saâa and I shal blesse her and shal gyue to the a sone of her whom I shal blesse also I shal hym encrece in to nacions And kynges of peples shal come of hym AbrahaÌ fyl doun his face toward therthe and lawhed in his herte sayeng may it be that a woman of lxxxx yere may coÌceyue bere a chyld beseche the lord that Ismael may lyue to fore the Our lord said to abraham sara shal brynge forth a sone whoÌ thou shalt name ysaaâ and I shal kepe my couenauÌt to hym for euermore and to his heyres after hym And I haue herd thy request for ysmael also I shal blesse hym encrece shal multeplye his seed in to moche peple xij dukes shal come of hym I shal kepe my couenauÌt to ysaac whom Sara shal brynge forth the next yere whan thise wordes were fynysshed abrahaÌ toke Ismael his sone all the men smale and grete strauÌgers other that were in his hows circuÌcised the Ismael was xiij yere old whan he was circuÌcised abraham was .99 yere whaÌ he hym self was circuÌcised And thus that same day he his sone Ismael all the men in his hows as wel strauÌgers of what degre they were receyuyd this newe lawe of circuÌcision wherby they were knowen from other peple After this on a tyme as abrahaÌ satte beside his hous in the vale of mambre in the hete of the day as he lifte vp his eyen he sawe iij yongmen comyng to hym anon as he sawe thise iij standyng by hym he ran to them worrshipped one allone he sawe thre and worshippid but one That bytokeneth the tryuyte prayd theÌ to be herberowed with hym toke water wesshe their feet prayd hem to tarye vnder the tree and he wold brynge brede
her God cam to abymelech iij his slepe said Thou shal be deed for the womaÌ that thou hast taken she hath an husbonde Abymelech towched her not said lord wilt thou sle a maÌ ygnorauÌt rightful She said that she was his suster In the symplenâs of my herte clennes of my handee I dyde this And god said to hym I knowâ wel that with a symple herte thou dydest it And therfore I haue kepte the fro hauyng to doo with her Nowe yelde the woman to her husbond And he shal pray for the he is a prophete thou shalt lyue and yf thou delyuer her not thou shalt dye all they that ben in thy hows ¶ Abymelech aroos vp the same nyght called all his seruauÌtes told them all thise wordes all they dredde sore also abymelech called abrahaÌ said to hym what hast thou don to vs that we haue trespaced to the Thou hast caused me my Royam to synne gretly thou hast don that thou sholdest not haue don what sawest thou for to âo so Abraham saide I thought that the drede of god was not in this place that ye wold sle me for my wyf certaynly oâherwyse she is also my suster the doughter of my fader but not of my moder and I haue wedded her after that I wente fro the hows of my fader I saide to her where someuer we goo Saye thou art my suster TheÌne abymelech toke sheep oxân seruauÌtes maydens gaf to abrahaÌ and delyuerid to hym sara his wif said lo the londe is here to fore the whersomeuer thou wilt dwell abyde he said to sara lo I haue gyueÌ to thy brother a M. peces of syluer this shal be to the a veylle of thyn eyen whersomeuer thou goo remembre that thou were taken AbrahaÌ prayde for abymelech his meyne and god heled hym his wyf all his seruauntes conceyuyd Our lord had closed the place of engendrng of alle the hows of abymelech for Sara the wyf of abraham Our lord theÌne vysyted Sara she coÌceyuyd and brought forth a sone in her old age that same tyme that god had promysed Abraham called his sone that she had born ysaac and whan he was viij dayes old he circuÌcised hym as god had conmaÌded abraham was thenne an honderd yere old TheÌne said Sara who wold haue supposed that I shold gyue souke to my chyld beyng so olde I lawhed whaÌ I herd our lord saye soo And all they that shal here of it may wel lawhe The chyld grewe was wened fro the pappe And abraham made a grete feste at the day of hys wenyng After thys on a day whan Sara sawe the sone of agar her handmayde playe with her sone ysaac she said to abraham Caste out this hand mayde and her sone The sone of the hand mayde shal not be her with my sone ysaac AbrahaÌ toke this word hard greuously for his sone theÌne god said to hym late it not be harde to the for thy sone handmayde what someuer Sara saye to the here her voys ¶ For in Isaac shal thy seed be called yet shal I make the sone of the handmayd growe in to grete peple for he is of thy seed AbrahaÌ arose erly in the mornyng toke brede a botell of water and leyd hyt on her sholdre gaf to her the chyld lete her goo whiche whan she was departed erryd in the wyldrenes of bersabee And whan the water was coÌsumed that was in the botel she lefte the chyld vnder a tre that was there wente thens as ferre as a bowe shote and sette her doun and said I shal not see my sone dye and there she wepte Our lord herde the voys of the chyld And an angele callyd Agar sayeng what doest thou Agar be not aferd our lord hath herde the voys of the chyld fro the place whiche he is now Inne Aryse take the chyld holde hym by the honde for I shal make hym tencrece in to moche paple God opened her eyen And she sawe a pytte of water and anon she wente fylled the botell and gaf the chyld to drynke and abode with hym which grewe dwellid in the wildernes and becam there a yong man an archer dwellid also in the deserte of pharam And his moder toke to hym a wyf of the lond of egypte That same tyme said Abymelech phicol the prynce of his oost vnto abraham Our lord is with the in all thynges that thou doest Swere thou by the lord that thou greue not me ne them that shal come after me ne my kynrede but after the mercy that I haue shewd to the so doo to me my londe in whiche thou hast dwlled as a straunger And AbrahaÌ said I shal swere And he blamed abymelech for the pytte of water whiche his seruauÌtis had taken away by strengthe Abymelech answerd I know not who hath don this thynge ¶ And thou toldest me not therof and I neuer herd therof tyl this day And then after this they made couenaunt to gydre promysed eche to other to be frendes tââgydre After alle thyse thynges god temptyd Abraham and said to hym ¶ Abraham abraham he answerd said I am here he said to hym Take thou thyn only sone that thou louest ysaac goo in to the londe of vysyon and offre hym in sacrefyse to me vpon one of the hilles that I shal shewe to the Thenne Abraham arose in the nyght and made redy his asse toke with hym two yong men ysaac his sone And whan they had hewen and gadred the wood to gydre to make sacrefyse they wente to the place that god coÌmanded hym The thyrde day after he lyft vp his eyen and sawe from ferre the place and he said to his children Abyde ye here with the asse I and my sone shal goo to yonder place and whan we haue worshipped there we shal retorne to you theÌne he toke the wode of the sacrefise leyd it on his sone ysaac he bare in his hondes fyre and the swerd And as they wente bothe to gydre ysaac said to his fader fader myn what wilt thou my sone said abraham he said loo here is fyre wode wher is the sacrefise that shal be offred abrahaÌ answerd my sone god shal êuide for hym a sacrefise wel ynough They weÌte forth cam to the place that god had ordeyned there made an awter leyd the wode theroÌ And toke ysaac sette hym on the wode on the awter and toke his swerde and wold haue offred hym vp to god And lo the angele of god cryed to hym fro heuen sayeng Abraham AbrahaÌ whiche answerd I am here he said to hym Extende not thy hande vpon thy chyld do nothyng to hym Now I knowe that thou dredest god And hast not spared thyn only sone
for me Abraham loked behynde hym sawe emonge the breres a RaÌme faste by the hornes whiche he toke offrid hym in sacrefyse for his sone He called that place the lord seeth The aÌgele called Abraham the second tyme sayeng I haue sworn by my self saith the lord By cause thou hast don this thing and hast not spared thyn only sone for me I shal blesse the and shal multeplye thy seed as the sterres of heuen lyke the granel that is on the see syde Thy seed shal possede the yates of theyr enemyes And in thy seed shal be blessyd all the peple of therthe for thou obeydest to me Abraham theÌne retorned to his seruantes wente vnto bersabee and dwellyd there Sara lyuyd an Cxxvij yere deyed in the cyte of Arbee whiche is hebron in the londe of Canaan For whom abrahaÌ made sorow and wepte And bought of the children of heth a felde and buryed her worshipfully in a dobble spelunke Abraham was an old man and god blessyd hym in all his thingis he said to the eldest vpperist seruaunt of all his hows I charge and coniure the by the name of god of heuen of erthe that thou suffre not my sone ysaac to take no wyf of the doughtres of Canaan emonge whom I dwelle but goo in to the contre where my kynrede is and take of them a wyf to my sone And the seruaunt answerd yf no womaÌ there wil come with me in to this contre shal I brynge thy sone in to that coÌtre fro whens thou camest Abraham said beware that thou lede not my sone theder The lord of heuen of erthe that toke me fro the hows of my fader and fro the place of my natyuyte hath said and sworn to me sayeng to thy seed I shal gyue this londe he shal sende his angele to fore the and thou shalt take there a wyf for my sone yf no woman wil come with the thou shalt not be bouÌden by thyn oth but in no wyse lede my sone thyder his seruauÌt theÌne swore and promysyd to hym that the wold soo doo he toke x cameles of the flock of his lord and of alle his goodes bare with hym wente in to mesopotany vnto the toun of Nachor And he made the cameles to tarye without the toun by a pytte syde at suche tyme as the women ben wonte to come out for to drawe water And there he prayd our lord sayeng lord god of my lord abraham I beseche the to helpe me this day and do mercy vnto my lord Abraham Lo I stonde here nyhe by the welle of water the doughters of the dwellers of this toun come hether for to drawe water Therfore the mayde to whoÌ I saye sette doun thy potte that I may drynke and theÌne she sette doun her potte and saye I will gyue to the drynke and to the camelis that I may vnderstande therby that she be the mayde that thou hast ordeyned to thy seruaunt ysaac and thou shewest thy mercy to my lord abrahaÌ he had not fully fynysshid these wordes with in hym self but that Rebecca doughter of batuel sone of melche wyf of Nachor brother of Abraham cam out of the toun hauyng a potte on her sholder whiche was a right faire mayde and moche beautevous and vnknoweÌ to the man She wente doun to the welle and fylled her pot with water and retorned The seruaunt of abraham ranne to her and saide I praye the to gyue me a lytil of the water in thy potte for to drynke whiche said drynke my lord and lyghtly toke the potte fro her sholdre and helde it and gaf hym drynke and whan he had dronke she said yet I shal gyue to thy camels drynke and drawe water for them tyl alle haue dronken And she poured out the water in to a vessel that was there for beestis to drynke and ran to the pytte and drewe water that eueriche dranke his draughte he thenne thought in hym self secretly that god had made hym to haue a prosperous Iourney After they had dronke he gaf her ij rynges to hange on her eeris weyeng ij sycles as many armyllis weyeng x sycles asked her whos doughter she was yf ther were ony Rome in her faders hous to be lodged she answerd I am doughter to bathuel nachors sone and in my faders hows is place ynough to lodge the thy camels plente of Chaf heye for them And the man enclyned doun to the grouÌde And worshipped god sayeng blessid be the lord god of my lord abraham which hath not take away his mercy ne hys trouthe fro my lord and hath brought me in my Iourney right in to the hous of my lordes brother The mayde Rebecca ran and tolde at home alle that she had herd Rebecca had a brother named âabaÌ whiche hastely wente out to the man where as he was whan he had seen the ryngis in his susters eeris her poynettis or armylles on her handes and had herd her saye alle that the man saide he cam to the man that stode by the welle yet and said to hym Come in thou blessyd of god why standest thou withoute I haue made redy the hows for the and haue ordeyned place for thy camels ¶ And brought hym in strowed his cameles gaf them chaf and heye and water to wasshe the camels feet the mens feet that cam with hym And they sette forth brede to fore hym whiche saide I shal not ete tyl I haue don myn erande and said wherfor I am comen it was answerd to hym saye on he saide I am seruaunt of Abraham And god hath blessyd magnefyed hym gretly and hath gyuen to hym Oxen sheep syluer and gold seruauntes men wymen Cameles and asses And Sara his wyf hath brought hym forth a sone in her olde age and he hath gyuen to hym alle that he had And my lord hath charged and adiured me sayeng In no wyse late my sone ysaac haue no wyf of the doughters of canaan in whos londe he dwelleth but goo vnto the hows of my fader and of my kynrede of them thou shalt take a wyf to my sone wherfore I am comen hether and told alle how be prayd god of som token and how rebecca dyde to hym And in conclusion desired to haue Rebecca for his lord ysaac yf he wold not that he myght departe and goo in to some other place on the right side or the lyft to seke a wyf for his lordes sone Thenne bathuel and laban said to hym This worde is comen of god agayn his wille we may nothyng do Lo Rebecca standeth to fore the take her and goo forth that she may be wyf vnto the sone of thy lord as our lord hath said whiche wordes whaÌ Abrahams seruauÌt had herde fylle doun to the grouÌd thanked our lord And anon toke forth syluer vessell of gold and good clothis
and gaf them to Rebecca for a yefte And to her brethern moder he gaf also yeftes And anon made a feste ete and were Ioyeful to gyder On the morn betymes the seruauÌt of abraham aroos And desyred to departe and take Rebecca with hym and goo to his lord TheÌne the moder her brethern said late the mayde abyde with vs but only x dayes thenne take her goo thy waye I pray you said he Reteyne ne lette me not our lord hath adressyd my way and achyeuyd my erand wherfor late me goo to my lord and they saide we shal calle the mayde knowe her wille and whan she was demanded yf she wold goo with that man She saide ye I shal goo with hym Thenne they lete her goo and her noryce wyth her And so she departyd they sayd to her thou art our suster we pray god that thou may encrece in to a thousand thousand And that thy seed may possede the yates of theyr enemyes Thenne Rebecca and her maydens ascended vpon the cameles folowed the seruaunt of Abraham whiche hastely retorned vnto his lord That same tyme whaÌ they come Ysaac walked by the way without forth and loked vp sawe the cameles comyng fro ferre Rebecca espyed hym demanded of the seruauÌt who that he was that cam in the felde ayenst them he answerd saide that is my lord ysaac And anon she toke her palle or maÌtel couerd her The seruauÌt anon tolde vnto his lord ysaac alle that he had doon whiche resceyuyd her lad her in to the tabernacle of sara his moder and wedded her toke her in to his wyf and somoche louyd her that the loue atteÌpered the sorow that he had for his moder Abraham after this wedded another wyf by whoÌ he had diuerse childreÌ Abraham gaf to ysaac alle his possessyons And to his other chyldreÌ he gaf meuable goodes departed the sones of his coÌcubynes fro his sone ysaac whyles he yet lyued And alle the dayes of the lyf of abraham were Clxxv yere And theÌne deyed in good mynde and age And ysaac Ismael buryed hym by his wyf Sara in a double spelunke Here begynneth the lyf of ysaac with thistorye of Esau and of Iacob whiche is redde in the chirche the second sonday of lente YSaac was xl yere olde whan he wedded rebecca and she bare hym no children wherfore he besought our lord that she myght coÌceyue brynge forth fruyt Our lord herd his praeyr that she conceyued of hym And had tweyne sones attones whiche two er they were born fought ofte in their moders bely ¶ For whiche cause she prayd god to couÌseylle her and to gyue her comfort whiche apperid and said to her two maner peple ben in thy bely and two maner folke shal be deuyded fro thy wombe peple shal ouercome peple And the more shal serue the lasse Thus said our lord to her After this whaÌ tyme cam that she shold be delyuerd ther were tweyne to be born The first that yssued was rough fro the heed to the foot he was named Esau And forthwith folowed that other holdyng the plante of his broders foot in his hond And he was named Iacob Ysaac the fader was lx yer old whan thise children were born And after this whan they were growen to resonable age Esau becam a plowhman and a telyar of therthe And an hunter And Iacob was symple and dwellyd at home with his moder Ysaac the fader loued wel Esau by cause he ete ofte of the venyson that Esau toke And rebecca the moder loued Iacob Iacob on a tyme had made good potage And Esau his broder had ben an huntyng al day and cam home sore an hungrid fonde Iacob hauyng good potage and prayd hym to gyue hym some For he was wery and moche hungry to whom Iacob said yf thou wyllt selle to me thy patrymony and heritage I shal gyue the somme potage â And Esau answerd Lo I dye for hungre what shal auaylle me myn enheritaunce yf I dye and what shal proufyte me my patrymonye I am conteÌte that thou take it for this potage Iacob theÌne said Swere that to me that thou shalt neuer clayme hit that thou art content that I shal enioye it And Esau sware it and so sold away his patrymony And toke the potage and ete it and wente his waye settyng nothyng therby that he had sold his patremony This aforsaid is for to brynge in my mater of thystorye that is redde For now foloweth the legende as it is redd in the chirche Ysaac began to wexe olde his eyen faylled and dymmed that he myght not clerly see and on a tyme he called Esau his oldest sone and said to hym Sone nâyne which answerde ¶ Fader I am here redy to whom the fader saide beholde that I wexe olde and knowe not the day that I shal dye and departe out of this world wherfore take thyn harneys thy bowe and quyuer with takles and goo forth an huntyng And whaÌ thou hast taken ony venyson make to me therof suche maner mete as thou knowest that I am woned to ete And brynge it to me that I may ete it and that my sowle may blesse the or I dye whiche all thise wordis Rebecca herde Esau wente forth for taccomplyssh the comaÌdement of his fader she saide theÌne to Iacob I haue herde thy fader saye to Esau thy brother brynge to me of thy venyson and make therof mete that I may ete and that I may blesse the to fore our lord er I dye Now my sone take hede to my conceyll and goo forth to the flock brynge to me two the beste kyddes that thou canst fynde And I shal make of them mete suche as thy fader shal gladly ete whiche whan thou hast brought to hym hath eten he may blesse the er he dye to whom Iacob answerd knowest thou not that my brother is rowhe and heery and I smothe yf my fader take me to hym and taste me and fele I drede me that he shal thynke that I mocke hym and shal gyue me his curse for the blessyng The moder thenne seid to hym In me said she be this curse my sone Neuertheles here me go to the flocke and doo that I haue said to the he weÌte and fette the kyddes and delyuerd them to his moder And she wente and ordeyned them in to suche mete as she knewe wel that his fader louyd And toke the beste clothes that Esau had and dyde hem on Iacob And the skynnes of the kyddes she dyde aboute his necke and handes there as he was bare And delyueryd to hym brede and the pulmente that she had boyled And he wente to his fader and saide fader myn And he answerd I here who art thou my sone Iacob saide I am Esau thy fyrst be goten sone I haue don as thou comaundest me Aryse sitte and
verely god is in this place and I wist not of it And he said dredyngly how terryble is this place None other thynge is here but the hows of god and the yate of heuen thenne Iacob arose erly and toke the stone that laye vnder his heed and reysed it for wytnes pouryng oyle theron And callid the name of the place betel whiche tofore was callid luza ¶ And there he made a vowe to our lord sayeng yf god be wyth me and kepe me in the waye that I walke and gyue me brede to ete and clothes to couer me and may retorne prosperously in to the hows of my fader the lord shal be my god and this stone that I haue reysed in wytnes this shal be called the hows of god And good of all thynges that thou gyuest to me I shal offre to the the tythes and teenth part Thenne Iacob wente forth in to the eest and sawe a pytte in a felde and thre flockes of sheep lyeng by it For of that pytte were the beestis watred And the mouth therof was sheâte and closed with a grete stone For the custom was whan alle the sheep were gadred they rolled away the stone and whan they had dronken they leyde the stone agayn at the pitte mouth and theÌne he saide to the shepherdes Brethern whens ar ye whiche answerde of Aran TheÌne he askyng them saide knowe ye not Laban sone of Nachor they saide we knowe hym well how farith he said he is he al hool he farith wel saide they And loo Rachel his doughter cometh there with her flocke Thenne saide Iacob it is yet fer to eueÌ it is yet tyme that the flockes be ledde to drynke and after be dryuen to pasture whiche answerd we may not so doo til alle the beestis be gadred and theÌne we remeue the stone fro the mouth of the pitte and watre our beestis And as they talked Rachel cam with the flock of her fader For she kepte that tyme the beestes And whan Iacob sawe her and knewe that she was his emes doughter and that they were his emes sheep he remeuyd the stone fro the pittes mouth and whan her sheep had dronkeÌ he kissed her and wepyng he tolde her that he was brother to her fader and sone of Rebecca Thenne she hyed her and told it to her fader which whan he vnderstode that Iacob his suster sone was come he Ran ayenst hym and enbracyng kissed hym and lad hym in to his hows And whan he had herde the cause of his Iourney he said thou art my mouth and my flessh And whan he had ben there the space of a moneth he demaunded Iacob yf he wold gladly serue hym by cause he was his cosyn and what hyre and Reward he wold haue he had two doughters the more was named lya and the lasse was called Rachel but lya was blereyed and Rachel was fair of visage and wel fauoured whom Iacob loued and saide I shal serue the for Rachel thy yonger doughter vij yere Laban answerd it is better that I gyue her to the than to a straunge man dwelle and abyde with me and thou shalt haue her And so Iacob seruyd hym for Rachel vij yere and hym thought it but a lytil while by cause of the grete loue that he had to her And at th ende of vij yere Iacob said to laban gyue to me my wyf for the tyme is come that I shold haue her Thenne laban callid all his frendes and made a feste for the weddyng and at nyght he brought in lya the more doughter and delyuered to her an hand mayde named zelpha Thenne wenyng Iacob that it had ben Rachel wente to her as the maner is whan the mornyg cam sawe that it was lya he said to laban her fader what haste thou don haue I not seruid the for Rachel why hast thou brought lya to me laban answerd hit is not the vsage ne custome of our coÌtre to gyue the yonger first to be wedded but fulfylle and make an ende of this coplement and maryage this weke and theÌne shal I gyue to the Rachel my doughther for other vij yer that thou shalt yet serue to me Iacob agreed gladly and whan that weke was passed he wed ded Rachel to his wyf To whom laban her fader gaf an handmayde named Bala Neuertheles whan the weddyng of the yonger was fynysshyd by cause of the grete loue that he had to her hym thought that the other vij yere were but shorte Our lord sawe that he despysed lya he lete lya conceyue and Rachel her suster abode bareyne whiche theÌne lya bare a sone named hym Ruben sayeng Our lord god hath beholden myn humylite and mekenes Now shal myn husbonde loue me She conceyued yet and bare a nother sone and saide by cause our lord sawe me despysed he hath gyueÌ to me this sone And she called hym Symeon She conceyuyd the thyrd and brought forth another sone and said Now shal my husbonde be conpled to me by cause I haue born to hym thre sones And she called his name leuy She conceyuyd the fourth sone and was delyueryd of hym saide Now I shal knowleche me to our lord And therfor she named hym Iudas And thenne she cessed of beryng of chyldren Rachel ââyng her self bareyn had enuye to her suster and said to Iacob her husbond Make me with child or ellys I shal deye To whom Iacob was wroth and answerde what wenest thou that I were god and hath pryued fro the the fruyt of thy bely TheÌne she said I haue my seruaunt bala Goo vnto her and late her conceyue of the on my knees that I may haue of her somme sones She gaf bala vnto her husbond to knowe her whiche whan Iacob had knowen she conceyued and bare a sone Thenne sayde Rachel Our lord hath herde my peticion gyvyng to me a sonne she named hym dan After that bala conceyued agayn and bare another sone For whom Rachel saide Our lord hath compared me to my suster haue a vayled and she named hym Neptalim Then de lya felyng that she conceyued nomore she gaf zelpha her handmaide to her husbonde whiche conceyued and bare a sone whom lya named Gad After Zelpha conceyved another sone For whom lya sayde This is for my blessidnes and certaynly alle generations shal saye that I am blessyd Therfor she called hym aser Hit happed that ruben wente out in harvest tyme in to the felde And toke there a mandrake whiche he brought and gaf to his moder Thenne Rachel said to her suster lya Gyue me somme parte of the mandrake of thy sone lya answerd is it not ynough ta take fro me my husbonde but that also thou wilt haue parte of the mandrake of my sone TheÌne said Rachel he shal slepe with the this nyght for the mandrake of thy sone At euen whan Iacob cam home fro the felde lya wente ayenst hym said to hym
Thou shalt this nyght slepe with me for I haue bought the for the mede of the maÌdrake of my sone he slepte with her that nyght ¶ And our lord herde her prayers She conceyuyd and brought forth the fyfthe sone and she said God hath rewarded me by cause I gaf my handmayde to my husbond she called his name ysachar yet lya conceyuyd bare the sixthe sone and said God hath endowed my with a good dower yet shal my husbond abyde with me by cause I haue born to hym vj sones And she called his name zabulon After this she coÌceyuyd and bare a doughter named dyna Thenne our lord remembryd Rachel and herde her and opende the place of concepcion whiche conceyuyd and bare a sone sayeng ¶ Our lord hath taken away myn obrobrye and shame And named his name Ioseph sayeng I praye god to sende me another Whan Ioseph was born Iacob saide to laban his wyuys fader Gyue me leue to departe that I may goo in to my contre and my londe gyue to me my wyuys and chyldren for whom I haue seruyd the that I may goo hens ¶ Then knowest what seruyse I haue seruyd the Laban said to hym I haue fouÌden grace in thy sight I knowe it by experience that god hath blessyd me for the I haue ordeyned the reward that I shal gyue to the theÌne Iacob answerd Thou knowest how I haue serued the and how moche thy possession was in my handes Thou haddest but lytyl whan I cam to the And now thou art ryche god hath blessyd the at myn entre hit it now right that I prouyde somwhat toward myn hows LabaÌ saide what shal I gyue to the ¶ Iacob answerd I wyll nothyng but that thou doo that I demaunde I shal yet fede and kepe thy beestes and departe a sondre all the sheep of dyuerse colour And alle that euer that shal be of dyuerse colours and spotty as wel in sheep as in gheet late me haue them for my Reward and mede And Laban graunted therto Thenne Iacob toke Roddes grene and toke part of the Rynde away and made tho Roddes to be of ij colours and sette them to fore the sheep and beestis whan they shold engendre and the bestes conceyuyd seeyng the Roddes of varyable colour In lyke wyse all the lambes that caÌ forth that yere were whyte and black of dyuerse colour Thenne Laban sawe that Iacob hath the most parte and chaunged the couenaunt the next yere wold haue all them of variable colour and Iacob shold haue all them that were of one colour And Iacob thenne sette Roddes of one colour afore them whan the sheep and beestis conceyuyd Thenne atte tyme of departyng Laban toke them of two colours and Iacob theÌ that were of one colour Thus was Iacob made moche ryche ouf of mesure and had many flockes seruauntes bothe men and wymen Camels and asses After that Iacob had herde laban sones saye Iacob hath taken all that was our faders from hym and of his faculte is made ryche he was abasshed And vnderstode wel by Labans lokyng that he was not so frendly to hym ward as he had ben to fore and also our lord said to hym that he shold retorne in to the londe of his faders and to his generacion and that he wold with hym he theÌne called Rachel and lya in to the felde where as he fedde his flockes said to them I see wel by youre faders visage that he is not toward me as he was yesterday or the otherday Forsothe the god of my fader was with me ye knowe wel how I haue seruyd your fader with alle my myght and strength But he hath deceyued me and hath chaunged myn hyre mede .x. tymes ¶ And yet our lord hath not suffred hym to greue me whaÌ he said the beestis of party colour shold be myn thenne alle the ewes brought forth lambes of variable colours And whan he said the contrarye they brought forth all whyte ¶ God hath taken the substaunce of your fader and hath gyueÌ it to me And now god hath comaunded me to departe wherfore make you redy and late vs departe hens Thenne answerd Rachel and lya Shal we haue nothyng ellis of our faders faculte of theritage of his hows Shal he repute vs as straungers and he hath eten and sold our good Sith god hath taken the goodes of our fader and hath gyuen it to vs and to our chyldren wherfor all that god comandeth to the doo it Iacob aroose and sette his children and his wyues vpon his camels wente his waye and toke all his substaunce and flockes and alle that he had goten in mesopotamye and wente toward his Fader ysaac in to the londe of Canaan That tyme was laban goon to shere his sheep And Rachel stale away the ydollis of her fader Iacob wold not lete laban knowe of his departyng whan he was departed with all that longed to hym of right he cam to the mount of galaad it was told to laban the thirde day after that Iacob was fled and goon who anon toke his brethern and poursiewed hym by the space of vij dayes and ouertoke hym in the mount of galaad he sawe our lord in his sleep sayeng to hym Beware that thou speke not aÌgerly ne hard wordes to Iacob that tyme Iacob had sette his tabernacle in the hylle and whan he cam theder with his brothern he said to Iacob why hast thou don thus to me to take away my doughters as prysoners taken by swerd why fleddest fro me and woldest not lete me haue knowleche therof thou hast not suffred me to kysse my sones and doughtres thou hast don folyly Now may I doo the harm and euyll but the god of thy fader said to me yesterday Beware that thou speke no hard wordes ayenst Iacob Thou desirest to goo to the hows of thy fader why hast thou stolen my goddes Iacob answerd that I departed the not knowyng I dredde that vyolently thou woldest haue takeÌ fro me thy doughters and where thou repreuest me of thefte who someuer haue stolen thy goddes late hym be slayn tofore our brethern Seche what thou fyndest that is thyn take with the he sayeng this knew not that Rachel had stolen her faders goddes Thenne laban entred the tabernacle of Iacob and lya and soughte and fonde nothyng And whan he cam in to the tabernacle of Rachel she hyed her and hydde the Idollis vnder the lytter of the the camel and satte vpon it And he soughte and fond nought theÌne said Rachel late not my lord he wroth for I may not aryse to the For now suche sekenes as wymen ben wonte to haue is fallen to me so she deceyuyd her fader TheÌne Iacob beyng angry grutchyng said to laban what is my trespaas and what haue I synned to the that thou thus hast pursiewed me and hast serched eueri thyng what hast thou nowe fouÌden of
londe sawe anon louyd and rauysshed and slepte wyth her oppressyng her by strengthe And was assotted on her in suche wyse as he wente to his fader Emor and said gyue me this damoyselle in maryage that she may be my wyf whiche whan Iacob knewe herde how his doughter was rauyssed his sones thenne beyng absente in occupacion of fedyng of theyr beestis in the felde he helde it secrete til they retorned thenne Emor wente for to speke of this mater to Iacob and that tyme his sones cam fro the felde and herde what was happend and don were passyng wroth and angry by cause he had so defowled theyr suster Thenne said Emor to them Sychem my sone louyth your doughter gyue her to hym in maryage and late vs alye eche wyth other late our doughters be gyuen to you and youris to vs and duelle ye with vs Alle the contre is in your power exercise and occupye it bye and selle and take ye it ¶ Thenne said Sichem to his fader and brethern what someuer ye ordeyne I wyl doo and what ye demande yeftes or dower I shal gladly gyue it so I may haue this damoyselle vnto my wif Thenne answerd the sones of Iacob to sichem and his fader in gyle dissymilyng as they had not knowen the rauysshement of theyr suster we may not doo that ye desyre ne gyue our suster to a man incircumsiced it is a thyng vnlauful and grete synne to vs yf ye wyl be circumsiced in euery man emong you and man child and be lyke as we be we shal take your doughtres ye ouris and shal dwelle to gydre and ben one peple yf ye wyl not be circuÌsiced we shal take our suster and goo hens This offre plesed to Emor and Sychem his sone and ther was no yong man but anon was agreed to that they asked he loued somoche the damoyselle that anon he wente in to the cyte and told al this to the peple that these men were pesible peple wille dwelle emong vs and that ther was no lette but that we be not circuÌsiced as they be to whiche they assented and forth with were circumsiced And the thirde day after whaÌ the most payne of the wouÌdes greued them Thenne tweyne of Iacobs sones Symeon and Leui brethern of Dyna drewe out their swerdis entred in to the cyte hardely and slewe alle the men both Emor and Sychem and toke Dyna theyr suster with them fro Sychems hows and this don the other sones of Iacob fylle on the remenauÌt and slewe all that they fond in auengyng the shame and Rauysshement of theyr suster wastyng oxen and sheep asses other beestis And toke theyr wyues chyldren in to captyuyte whiche thyngis thus don Iacob saide to Symeon and Leui ye haue troubled me and haue made me hateful to the cananees phereseis dwellars in this contre we ben but a fewe they shal gadre them to gydre destroye me and my hows They answerd shold we suffre our suster to be holden as a comyn womaÌ After this our lord apperid to Iacob and said Aryse and goo vp to Bethel dwelle there and make there an awter to the lord that apperid to the in the way whan thou fleddest fro thy broder Esau Iacob thenne called alle them of his hows and sayde Caste away fro yow alle your straunge goddes that ben emonge yow and make yow clene and change your clothes Arise and late vs go in to bethel and make we there an awter to our lord that herde me in the day of my tribulacion and was felaw of my Iourney Theenne they gaf to hym alle their straunge goddes and the golde that henge on their eeris And he dalfe a pit behynde the cyte of Sichem and threwe hem therin And whan they departed alle the contrees thrr aboute were aferd durste not pursiewe them Thenne Iacob cam to a place called luza whiche is in the londe of Canaan all the peple with hym whiche otherwise is called bethel he edefyed there an awter to our lord and named that place the hows of god Our lord apperid to hym in that place whan he fledde fro his broder Esau that same tyme deyde delbora the noryce of Rebecca and was buryed at the Rote of Bethel vnder an Oke Our lord apperid agayn to Iacob after that he was retorned fro mesopotamye of Syrye and was come in to Bethel and blessyd hym sayeng Thou shalt nomore be called Iacob but Israhel shal be thy name and called hym Israhel and said to hym I am god almyghty growe and multeplye Folkes and peples of nacion shal come of the Kynges shal come of thy lendes the londe that I gaf to abraham and Isaac I shal gyue to the and thy seed And vanysshed away fro hym he thenne reysed a stone for a remembrauÌce in the place where god spack to hym and enoynted it with oyle Callyng the name of the place Bethel He wente thens cam in veer tyme vnto the londe that goth to effratam in which place Rachel trauaylled and began for cause of chyldyng to deye the mydwyf said to her be not aferd for thou shalt haue a sonne And the deth drawyng nere she named hym bennom whiche is as moche to saye as the sone of my sorowe The fader called hym Bemamin that is saye the sone of the right hand Ther Rachel deyde and was buryed in the way toward Effratam that is Bethleem Iacob reysid a tytle vpon her tombe this is the tytle of the monumeÌte of Rachel vnto this present day Iacob wente thens And cam to ysaac his fader in to Mambre cyte of arbee that is ebron In whiche dwellyd Abraham ysaac all the dayes of ysaac were complete whiche were an honderd foure score yere And he consumed deyd in good mynde and Esau and Iacob his sones beryed hym Thus endeth thystorye of ysaac and his two sones Esau and Iacob Hyer begynneth thystorye of Ioseph and his brethern whiche is red the thirde sonday in Lente IOseph whan he was xvj yere old began to kepe and fede the flock with his brethern he beyng yet a child And was accompanyed with the sones of bala and zelpha wyues of his fader Ioseph coÌplayned on his brethern and accused them to their fader of the most euylle synne Israhel louyd Ioseph aboue all his sones for as moche as he had goten hym in his old age And made for hym a motley cote his brethern theÌne seeyng that he was byloued of his fader more thaÌ they were hated hym myght not speke to hym a pesyble worde It happed on a tyme that Ioseph dremed sawe a sweuene told it to his brethern whiche caused hem to hate hym the more Ioseph saide to his brethern here ye my dreme that I had Me thought that we bonde sheuys in the felde And my sheef stoode vp youres stoÌdyng rouÌde aboute worshipe my sheef
how is this dede knowen made open Pharao herd herof and sought moyses for to slee hym whiche thenne fledde fro his syght and dwellyd in the londe of madyân and satte there by a pyt syde ¶ The preste of Madyan had vij doughters whiche cam theder for to drawe water and to fylle the vessels for to gyue drynke to the flockes of the sheep of their fader Thenne cam on them the herdmeÌ putte them from it Thenne roose moyses and defended the maydens and lete them watre their sheep whiche thenne retorned to their fader Ietro and he said to them why come ye now erlyer than ye were wont to doo They sayde that a man of Egypte hath delyueryd vs fro the hande of the herdmeÌ also he drewe water for vs and gaf to the sheep drynke where is he saide he why lefte ye the man after you goo calle hym that he may ete somme brede with vs Thenne Moyses sware that he wold dwelle with hym And he toke Sephora one of his doughters and wedded her to his wyf whiche conceyuyd and bare hym a sone whom he callyd Gersam sayeng I was a straunger in a straunge londe She brought to hym forth another sone whom he named Eleazar sayeng The god of my fader is my helper and hath kept me fro the hande of pharao longe tyme after this deyed the kyng of egypte And the chyldren of Israhel wayllyng made grete sorowe for thoppressyon of theyr labour and cryde vnto god for helpe Their crye cam vnto god of theyr werkis and god herde theyr wayllyng and remembryd the promyse that he made with AbrahaÌ ysaac and Iacob And our lord beheld the chyldren of Israhel knewe them moyses fedde the sheep of Ietro his wyues fader whan he had brought the sheep in to the innerest part of deserte he cam vnto the mount of god Oreb Our lord apperid to hym in flaÌme of fyre in the myddys of a busshe And sawe the fyre in the busshe and the busshe brenned not Thenne said Moyses I shal goo and see this grete vysyon why the busshe brenneth not Our lord thenne beholdyng that he wente for to see it Callyd hym beyng in the busshe said Moyses moyses whiche answerd I am here Thenne said our lord Approche no ner hytherward Take of thy shone fro thy feet the place that thou stondest on is holy grouÌd and said also I am god of thy fader god of Abraham and god of ysaac god of Iacob moyses thenne hydde his face durst not loke toward god To whom god saide I haue seen thaffliction of my peple in egypte and I haue herde theyr crye of the hardnes that they suffre in their werkis And I knowyng the sorow of them am descended to delyuer them fro the hand of thegypcyens and shal lede them fro this londe in to a good londe and spacyous in to a land that floweth mylke and hony vnto the places of Cananeis Ethei Amorrey Pheresey Eney and Iebusey The crye of the chyldren of Israhel is comen to me I haue seen theyr affliction how they ben oppressyd of thegypcyens but come to me and I shal sende the vnto pharao that thou shalt lede the chyldren of Israhel out of egypte Thenne moyses said to hym who am I that shal goo to pharao and lede the chyldren out of egypte To whom god said I shal be with the And this shal be the signe that I sende the whan thou shalt haue bedde out my peple of egypte thou shalt offre to god vpon this hylle Moyses said vnto god Loo yf I goo to the chyldren of Israhel and saye to them God of your faders hath sente me to you yf they saye what is his name what shal I saye Our lord said to Moyses Ego sum qui sum I am that I am he said thus shal thou saye to the children of Israhel He that is sente me to you and yet shalt thou saye to them The lord god of your fadres god of Abraham god of ysaac and god of Iacob hath apperid to me sayeng Thys is my name for euer more And this is my memoryall fro generacion to generacion Go and gadre to gydre the senyors and aged men of Israhel and saye to them the lord god of your faders hath apperyd to me god of Abraham and god of ysaac and god of Iacob sayeng vysytyng I haue vysited you and haue seen all that is fallen in egypte and I shal lede you out of thaffliction of egypte in to the londe of Canane Ethei cÌ vnto the londe flowyng mylk and hony And they shal here thy voys Thou shalt goo and take with the senyors of Israhel to the kynge of egypte and shalt saye to hym The lord god of thebrewes hath called vs we shal goo the Ionrey of iij dayes in wyldernes that we may offre to our lord god but I knowe wel that the kynge of egypte shal not suffre you to goo but by stronge hande I shal stratche out my hand and shal smyte egypte in all my meruaylles that I shal doo amyd emong them After that he shal lete you goo I shal thenne gyue my grace to this peple to fore thegypciens And whan ye shal goon out ye shal not departe voyde ne wyth nought but euery womaÌ shal borowe of her neyhbour and of her hostesse vessel of syluer and of gold and clothes and them shal ye leye on your sones on your doughtres and ye shal Robbe Egypte TheÌne Moyses answerd and saide They shal not byleue me ne here my voys but shal saye god hath not apperyd to the God saith thenne to hym what is that thou holdest in thyn honde he answerd a rodde our lord said caste it on the ground he threwe it doun And it torned vnto a serpent wherof moyses was aferde and wold haue fledde ¶ Our lord said to hym put forth thy hande and holde hym by the taylle he stratched forth hys honde and helde hym And it torned agayn in to a Rodde To this that they byleue the that I haue apperid to the and yet our lord said to hym Put thy honde in to thy bosom whiche whan he hath put in and drawen out agayn it was lyke a lepres hand our lord bad hym to withdrawe it in to hys bosom agayn drewe it out it was theÌne lyke that other flesshe yf they here not the and byleue by the fyrst signe and tokene They shal byleue the by the seconde yf they byleue none of the two ne here thy voys Thenne take water of the Ryuer and poure it on the drye ground And what someuer thou takest and drawest shal torne in to blood Thenne Moyses said I pray the lord sende som other for I am not eloquente but haue a lettyng in my speche Our lord said to hym who made the mouth of a maÌ or who hath made a man dombe or deef seeyng or blynde not I Go therfor I shal be in
the voys of syngyng whan he approchâd to them he sawe the Calf and the instrumentis of myrthe and he was so wroth that he threwe doun the tables brake them atte fote of the hylle ran and raught doun the Calf that they had made and brente and smote it al to pouldre whiche he caste in to water and gaf it to drynke to the chyldren of Israhel Thenne said Moyses to Aaron What hath this peple don to the that thou hast made to synne greuously to whom he answerd late not my lord take none indignacion at me Thou knowest wel that this peple is prone and redy to synne They said to me Make to vs goddes that may goo tofore vs We knowe not what is fallen to this Moyses that lad vs out of egypte To whom I said who of you that hath gold geue it me they toke and gaf it to me And I Caste it in to the fire and therof cam out this Calf And thenne said moises Alle they that ben of goddis parte and haue not synned in this Calf late hem Ioyne to me And the chyldren of leui Ioyned to hym and bade eche maÌ take a swerd on his side and take vengeance and slee euerych his brother his frende and neygbour that haue trespaced And so the chyldren of leui wente and slewe xxxiijM of the children of Israhel And thenne said Moyses ye haue halowed this day your handes vnto our lord And ye shal be therfore blessyd The second day moyses spack to the peple and said ye haue commysed and don the grettest synne that may be I shal ascende vnto our lord agayn and shal praye hym for your synne Thenne Moyses ascended agayn and receyuyd afterward two tables agayn whiche our lord had hym make And therin our lord wrote the comandements And after our lord comanded hym to make an arke and a tabernacle In whiche arke was kepte thre thinges ¶ First the Rodde with whiche he dide meruaillis A potte ful of manna and the .ij. tables with the comandementis And thenne after Moyses taught hem the lawe how eche man shold behaue hym ayenst other and what he shold doo and what he shold not doo And departed them in xij tribus ¶ And comanded that euery man shold brynge a Rodde in to the tabernacle ¶ And Moyses wrote eche name on the Rodde And Moyses shytte fast the tabernacle And on the morn ther was founde one of the roddes that burgeyned bare leuys and fruyt And was of on almonde tree that Rodde fyl to Aaron And after thys longe tyme the chyldren desireden to ete flesshe remembrid of the flesshe that they ete in egypte And grudchyd agayn Moyses And wold haue ordeyned to them a duc for to haue retorned in to egypte Wherfore Moyses was so woo that he desired of our lord to delyure hym fro this lyf by cause he sawe them so vnkynde ayenst god thenne god sente to them so grete plente of curlews that two dayes and one nyght they flewe so thycke by the ground that they toke gete nombre For they flewhe but the heyhgt of two cubytes and they had so many that they dreyde hem hangyng on their tabernacles and tentes yet were they not content but euer grutchyng Wherfore god smote them toke vengeauÌce on hem by a grete plaghe And many deyde and were buryed there And thenne fro thens they wente in to Aseroth and dwellyd After this Maria and Aaron brother and suster of moyses began to speke agayn moyses by cause of his wif whiche was of ethyope and said god hath not spoken only by Moyses hath he not also spokeÌ to vs wherfore our lord was wroth Moyses was the humblest and mekest man that was in all the world Anone thenne our lord said to hym to Aaron and to marye Goo ye thre only vnto the tabernacle And there our lord said that ther was none lyke to Moyses to whom he had spoken mouth to mouth and repreuyd aaron and maria by cause they spack so to Moyses And beyng wroth departed fro them And anone maria was smeton and made lepre and whyte lyke snowe And whan Aaron behelde her and sawe her smeton with lepre he said to moyses I beseche the lord that thou sette not this synne on vs whiche we haue commysed folyly And late not this our suster be as a deed womaÌ or as born out of tyme caste away from her moder beholde and see half her flesshe is deuoured of the lepre Thenne Moyses cryed vnto our lord sayeng I beseche the lord that thou hele her to whom our lord said yf her fader had spytte in her face shold she not be put to shame and Rebuke vij dayes late her departe out of the castellis vij dayes and after she shal be callyd in agayn So maria was shytte out of the castellis vij dayes the peple remeuyd not fro the place tyl she was callyd agayn After this our lord coÌmanded Moyses to sende men in to the londe of canaan that he shold gyue theÌ charge for see and considere the goodnes therof And that of euery trybe he shold sende somÌe Moyses dyde soo as our lord had comaunded whiche wente in brought of the fruytee wyth hem and they brought a braunche with one clustre of grapes as moche as two meÌ myght bere bytwene them vpon a colestaf whan they had seen the contre consydered by the space of xl dayes thei retorned and tolde the commodytees of the londe but somÌe said that the peple were stronge and many kynges and gyauntes in suche wyse that they said it was imprenable and that the peple were moche strenger than they were wherfore the peple anon were aferde and murmured agayn moyses and wold retorne agayn in to egypte Thenne Iosue Chaleph whiche were two of them that had consydered the loÌde said to the peple why grutche ye and wherof be ye aferd we haue wel seen the contrey and it is good to wynne the contrey floweth ful of mylke and hony be not rebelle ayenst god he shal gyue it vs be ye not aferd Thenne alle the peple cryed ayenst hem and whan they wold haue taken stones and stoned hem our lord in his glorye apperyd in a clowde vpon the coueryng of the tabernacle and said to Moyses thys peple byleueth not the sygnes and wondres that I haue shewd and don to hem I shal destroye them alle by pestylence And I shal make the a prynce vpon peple gretter strenger than this is Thenne prayd Moyses to our lord for the peple that he wold haue pyte on them and not destroye them but to haue mercy on them after the magnytude of his mercy And our lord at his request forgaf them Neuertheles our lord said that all tho men that had seen his mageste and the sygnes and meruaylles that he dyde in Egypte and in deserte and haue tempted hym ten tymes and not obeyed vnto his voys
shal not see ne come in to the contrey and londe that I haue promysed to theyr faders But Iosue and caleph my seruantes shal entre in to the londe And theyr seed shal possesse it Moyses told all this vnto the chyldren ¶ And they waylled and sorowed gretly therfor After this the peple remeuyd fro thens and cam in to the deserte of Syn And there Maria suster of moyses and Aaron deyde and was buryed in the same place Thenne the peple lacked water and cam and grutched ayenst Moyses and yet wesshed they had abyden in Egypte Thenne Moyses and Aaron entryd in to the tabernacle and fylle doun to the ground lowe and prayd vnto our lord seyeng lord god here the clamour of thy peple And opene to theÌ thy tresour a fontayn of lyuyng water that they may drynke and the murmuracion of them may cesse Our lord said to hym thenne Take the Rodde in thy hande and thou and Aaron thy brother assemble and gadre the peple And speke ye to the stone And it shal gyue out water and whan the water cometh late alle the multytude drynke and theyr beestis Moyses thenne toke the Rodde as our lord badde and gadred all the peple to fore the stone and said to them here ye rebelles and out of byleue Trow ye not that we may gyue you watre out of this stone ¶ And he lefte vp his hand and smote twyes the stone and water cam and flowed out in the most largest wyse in suche wyse that the peple and beestis dronke theyr fylle Thenne said god to Moyses and Aaron by cause ye haue not byleuyd me and sanctefyed my name to fore the chyldren of Israhel and gyuen to me the laude but haue don this in your name ye shal not brynge this peple in to the londe that I shal gyue to them And therfor this water was callyd the water of contradiction where the chyldren grutched agayn god Anon after this by goddes comandemÌt Moyses toke Aaron vpon the hylle despoylled of his vesture and clothid therwith his sone Eleazar and made hym vpperist bysshop for his fader Aaron And there Aaron deyde in the toppe of the hylle And moyses desceÌded with Eleazar And whan alle the multytude of peple sawe that AaroÌ was deed they wepte waylled on hym xxx dayes in euery trybe famylye after this the peple wente aboute the londe of Edom and begaÌ to wexe wery and grutchyd ayenst our lord Moyses and sayd yet why hast thou ledde vs out of the lond of Egypte for to slee vs in this deserte and wildernes Breed failleth vs ther is no water And our sowles abhorre and lothe this light mete For whiche cause god sente emonge them fyry serpentes whiche bote and wounded many of them and slewe also Thenne they that were hurte cam to Moyses and said we haue synned for we haue spoken ayenst our lord and the praye for vs vnto god that he delyuer fro vs thise serpentes Thenne Moyses prayd our lord for the peple And our lord said to hym Make a serpente of brasse and sette it vp for a signe And who someuer be hurte and loketh theron beholdeth it shal lyue and be hole Thenne Moyses made a serpente of brasse and sette it vp for a sygne And whan they that were hurte beheld it were made hole After this whan Moyses had shewid to them all the lawes of our lord and cerymonyes and had gouerned them xl yere And that he was an Cxx. yere old he ascended fro the feldes of Moab vpon the montayn of Nebo in to the toppe of phasga ayenst Ierico and there our lord shewd to hym alle the londe of Galaad vnto dan And all the londe of promyssyoÌ fro that one ende to that other And thenne our lord sayd to hym This is the land that I promysed to Abraham Ysaac and Iacob sayeng I shal gyue it to thy seed Now thou hast seen it with thyn eyen And shalt not entre ne come therin And there in that place deyede Moyses seruaunt of our lord as god comanded and was buryed in the vale of the londe of Moab ayenst Phogor And yet neuer man knewe his sepulcre vnto this day Moyses was an honderd and twenty yere old whan he deyde his eyen neuer diÌmed ne his teeth were neuer meuyd The chyldren of Irahel wepte and morned for hym xxx dayes in the feldes of Moab Iosue the sone of Num was replenessyd with the spyrite of wisdom for moyses sette on hym his handes And the chyldren obeyed hym as our lord had comanded to Moyses And ther was neuer after a prophete in Israhel lyke vnto Moyses whiche knewe and spack to god face to face in alle signes and tokenes that god dyde and shewd by hym in the londe of egypte to pharao and alle hys seruauntes Here endeth the lyf and thystorye of Moyses After Moyses Iosue was duc and ledar of the chyldren of Israhel and brought them in to the londe of beheste And dyde many grete batayllis for whom god shewd many grete meruayllys and in especyal one that was that the sonne stode stylle at his request tyl he had ouercome his enemyes by the space of a day And our lord whan he faught sent doun suche hayl stones that slewe moo of his enemyes wyth tho stones than wyth mannes hond ¶ Iosue was a noble man and gouerned wel Israhel and deuyded the londe vnto the xij trybus by lotte And whan he was Cx. yere old he deyde And dyuerse dukes after hym Iuged and demed Israhel of whom ben noble hystoryes as of Iepte Gedeon and Sampson whiche I passe ouer vnto thystoryes of the kynges whiche is redde in holy chyrche fro the fyrst sonday after trynyte sonday vnto the first sonday of August And in the moneth of August is redde the book of sapience And in the moneth of SepteÌbre ben redde thystoryes of Iob ⪠of Thobye and of Iudich And in Octobre the hystorye of the Machabeis And in Nouembre the book of Ezechiel and his visions And in Decembre the hystorye of Aduent and the book of ysaye vnto crystemasse after the fest of Epyphanye vnto Septuagesme ben red thepistles of paule And this is the Rewle of the temporal thurgh the yere cÌ The first sonday after Trynyte sonday vnto the first sonday of the moneth of Augustâs redde the book of kynges THis hystorye maketh mencion that ther was a man named helcana whiche had two wyues that one was named Anna and the name of the seconde Fenenna Fenenne had chyldren And Anna had none but was bareyn The good man at suche dayes as he was bounden wente to his cyte for to make hys sacrefyse and worshipe god In this tyme Ophny Phynees sones of holy the grete preest were preestes of our lord This Helcana gaf to Fenenna at suche tyme as he offred to her sones and doughters certayn partes and vnto Anna he gaf but one parte Fenenne dyde moche
sorow and repreef to Anna by cause she had no chyldren and thus dyde euery yere and prouoked her to wrath but she wepte for sorow and ete no mete To whom helcana her husbond said Anna why wepest thou and wherfor etest thou not why is thyn herte put to afflyction Am I not better to the than ten sones Thenne anna aroose after she had eten and dronken in Sylo and wente to praye vnto our lord Hely that tyme satte to fore the postes of the hows of our lord And anna besought and prayd our lord makyng to hym a vowe yf that she myght haue a sone she shold offre hym to our lord And it was so that she prayd so hertely in her thought and mynde that her lyppes meuyd not wherfor hely bare her an hand that she was dronke And she said nay my lord I am a synful woman I haue dronken no wyn ne drynke that may cause me to be droÌken but I haue made my prayers cast my sowle in the sight of almyghty god Repute me not as one of the doughters of Belial For the prayer that I haue made and spoken yet is of the multytude of the heuynes and sorow of my herte Thenne hely the preest said to her Goo in pees the god of Israhel gyue to the the peticion of thy herte For that thou hast prayd hym she said wold god that thy hand-seruaunt myght fynde that grace in thy syght And so she departed And on the morn they wente home agayn in to Ramatha After this our lord remembryd her ¶ And Hlcana knewe her And she conceyuyd at tyme acustomed brought forth and bare a fair sone named hym Samuel for somoche as she axed hym of our lord wherfor helcana her husbond wente offred a solompne sacrefyce and his vowe acomplysshyd but Anna ascended not with hym She said to her husbond that she wold not goo tyl her chyld were wened and taken fro the pappe ¶ And after whan samuel was wened and was an Infaunt The moder toke hym and iij caluys iij mesures of mele and a botel of wyn brought hym vnto the hows of our lord in Sylâ sacrefyed that calf offred the chylde to hely told to hely that she was the woman that prayd our lord for that chyld And there Anna worshyppid our lord and thankyd hym And ther made this psalme which is one of the canticles Exultauit cor meum in domino of exaltatum est cornu meum in deo meo and so forth all the remenauÌt of that psalme And thenne helcana with his wif retorned home to his hows After this our lord vysyted Anna and she conceyuyd iij sones and two doughters whiche she brought forth And Samuel abode in the hows of our lord was mynyster in the syght of hely But the two sones of hely Ophny and Phynees were chyldren of belyal not knowyng our lord but dyde grete synnes ayenst the comandementis of god and our lord sente a prophete to hely because he corrected not his sones and said he wold take thoffice from hym from his hows and that ther shold not be an old maÌ in his hows kynrede but shold dye er they cam to maÌnes estate And that god shold reyse a preest that shold be faithful and after his herte Samuel seruyd and mynystred our lord in a surplys to fore hely And on a tyme as hely laye in his bedde his eyen were so dymmed that he myght not see the lanterne of god til it was quenchyd and put out Samuel slepte in the temple of our lord where as the Arke of god was And our lord callyd Samuel whiche answerd I am redy ran to hely and said I am here redy thou caldest me whiche said I callyd the not my sone retorne and slepe he retorned and slept And our lord callid hym the second tyme and he aroos and wente to hely and said lo I am here thou calledest me whiche answerd I callid the not Go thy waye and slepe Samuel knewe not the callyng of our lord yet ne ther was neuer reuelacion shewd to hym to fore And our lord callid Samuel the thirde tyme whiche aroos and caÌ to hely and said I am here For thou calledest me Thenne hely vnderstode that our lord had callyd hym and said to Samuel Goo and slepe And yf thou be callid agayn thou shalt saye Speke lord for thy seruauÌt hereth the Samuel retorned and slepte in his place And our lord cam and callid hym Samuel Samuel And Samuel said Saye lord what it pleseth For thy seruaunt hereth And thenne our lord said to Samuel Loo I make my word to be knowen in Israhel that who so hereth his eeris shal rynge sowne therof In that day I shal reyse agayn hely all that I haue said opon his hows I shal begynne and accomplyssh hit I haue gyue hym in knowleche that I shal Iuge his hous for wyckednes for as moche as he knoweth his sones to doo wickedly and hath not corrected them Therfor I haue sworn to the hows of hely that the wickednes of his hows shal not be made clene with sacrefyses ne yeftes neuer Samuel slepte tyl on the morn And thenne he roos and opend the dores of the hous of our lord in his surplis And Samuel was aferd to shewe this vysyon vnto hely Hely callyd hym and axid what our lord hath said to hym and chargyd hym to telle hym alle And Samuel told to hym all that our lord hath said and hyd nothyng from hym And he said he is our lord what it plesith hym late hym doo Samuel grewe and our lord was with hym in all his werkis And it was knowen to all Israhel fro dan to bersabee that samuel was the trewe prophete of our lord After this it was so that the philisteis warryd ayenst the chyldren of Israhel agayn whom ther was a batayll the chyldreÌ of Israhel ouerthrowen put to flyght wherfor they asseÌblyd agayn And toke with them the Arke of god whiche Ophny and Phynees sones of hely bare And whan they cam with a grete multytude wyth the Arke the philisteis were aferd NotwythstoÌdyng they faught ayenst them manly slew xxxM fotemen of the chyldren of Israhel and token the arke of god and the two sones of hely were slayn Ophny and phynees And a man of the tribe of beniamyn Ran for to telle this vnto hely whyche satte abydyng somÌ tydynges of the batayll This man as sone as he entrid in to the toun told how the feld was lost the peple slayn how the arke was taken And ther was a grete sorow and crye And whan hely herd thys crye and wayllyng he demaÌded what this noyse was mened wherfor they so sorowed Thenne the man hyed and cam and told to hely Hely was at that tyde lxxx xviij yere old and his eyen were woxen blynde and myght not
the handes of all the kynges that were your enemyes pursyewed you and ye haue forsaken our lord god that hath only delyuryd you from all your euyll trybulacions haue said Ordeyne vpon vs a kynge wherfor now staÌde euerich in his tribe we shal lote who shal be our kyng the lotte fylle on the tribe of beniamyn in that trybe the lotte fylle vpon saul the sone of Cys And they souht hym coude not fynde hym it was told hem that he was hyd in his hous at home the peple ran thyder fette hym sette hym amyddes all the peple And he was heyer than ony of alle the peple fro the sholdre vpward Thenne samuel saide to the peple nowe ye see beholde whoÌ our lord hath chosen For ther is none lyke hym of all the peple And thenne all the peple cryed viuat Rex lyue the kynge Samuel wrote the lawe of the Royame to the peple in a book put it to fore our lord Thus was saul made the first kynge in Israhel And anon had moche warre For an all sides mân warrid on the chyldren of Israhel he defended them And saul had dyuerse bataylles had victorye samuel cam on a tyme to saul said god comanded hym to fight agaynst Amalech that he shold slee destroye man woman chyld Oxe cowe camel asse sheep spare nothyng Thenne Saul assemblyd hys peple had ijCM footmen xxM meÌ of the tribe of Iuda weÌte forth fought ayeÌst Amalech and slewe them sauf he sauyd Agag the kynge of Amalech alyue alle other he slewe but he spared the best flockes of sheep of other beestis also good clothis wethers all that was good he spared what someuer was fowle he destroyed And this was shewd to Samuel by our lord sayeng Me forthynketh that I haue ordeyned saul kynge vpon Israhel For he hath forsaken me not fulfylled my comandements Samuel was sory here fore waylled all the nyght On the morn he roos cam to Saul and Saul offrid sacrefise vnto our lord of the pyllage that he had taken And samuel demauÌded of saul what noyse tâat was that he herde of sheep beestis And he saide that they were of the beestis that the peple had brouht fro Amalech to offre vnto our lord And the residue were slayn They haue spared the best fattest for to doo sacrefyse with vnto thy lord god Thenne said samuel to saul Remembrest thou not that where thou were leste emong the trybus of Israhel thow were made vpperist and our lord enoynted the and made the kynge And he said to the goo and slee the synners of Amalech and leue none alyue man ne beest why hast thou not obeyed the comandement of our lord And hast ronâe to Roberye And don euyl in the sight of god ¶ And thenne said Saul to Samuel I haue taken Agag kynge of Amalech and brought hym wyth me but I haue slayn Amalech the peple haue taken of the sheep and beestis of the beste for to offre vnto our lord god And thenne said Samuel ârowest thou that our lord wold Rather haue sacrefise and offrynges then not toleye his comandements Better is obedyence than sacrefise and better it is to take ââde to doo after thy lord than to offre the fatte kedeneys of the weders For it is a synne to withstande and to repugne ayenst his lord lyke the synne of ydolatrye And by cause thou hast not obeyed our lord and caste awaye his worde Our lord hath caste the away that thou shalt not be kynge TheÌne said saul to samuel I haue synned for I haue not obeyed the word of god thy wordes but haue dredde the peple obeyed to theiâ request but I pray the to bere my synne trespaas retorne with me that I may worshipe our lord samuel answerd I shal not retorne with the And so sammuel departed yet er he departed he dyde do sle Agag the kyng And Samuel sawe neuer Saul after vnto his deth Thenne our lord bad Samuel to goo and enoynte one of the sones of ysay otherwise called Iesse to be kynge of Israhel And so he cam in to bethleem vnto Iesse and bad hym brynge his sones to fore hym This Iesse had viij sones he brought to fore Samuel vij of them And Samuel said ther was not he that he wold haue Thenne he said that ther was no moo sauf one whiche was yongest and yet a chyld and kept sheep in the felde And Samuel said sende for hym For I shal ete no brede tyl he come And so he was sente for and brought he was rough and fayr of vysage and wel fauoured And samuel aroos and toke an horne with oyle and enoynted hym in the myddle of his brethern And forthwyth the spyryte of our lord caÌ directly in hym that same day euer after Thenne Samuel departed cam in to Ramatha the spyryte of our lord weÌte away fro saul an euyl spirite ofte vexid hym TheÌne his seruants said to hym Thou aft orte vexid with an euyl spirite it were good to haue one that coude harpe to be with the whaÌ the spirite vexeth the thou shalt bere it the lyghter And he said to his seruauÌtes prouyde ye to me suche one and theÌne one said I saw one of ysayes sones pleye on a harpe a fayr chyld strong wyse in hys talkyng our lord is with hym TheÌne Saul sente messagers to ysaye for dauid ysaye sente dauid his sone with a presente of brede wyn a kydde to saul and alway whan the euyl spyryte vexid saul dauid harped to fore hym anon he was easyd the euyl spyryte weÌte his waye After this the philisteis gadred theÌ in to grete hoostes to make warre agaynst Saul the chyldren of Israhel And Saul gadred the children of Israhel to gidre caÌ agayn theÌ in the vale of therebinthi The philisteis stode vpoÌ the hille on the one parte Israhel stode vpoÌ the hille on the other parte the valeye was bytwene them And ther caÌ out of the hoost of the philisteis a grete geauÌt named golye of Geth he was vj cubytes hye a palme a helme of brasse on his heed was cladde in a habergeon The weight of of his habergeon was of vM sicles of weight of metal he had botes of brasse in his cartes his sholdre were couerid with plates of brasse his glayue was as a grete colestaf ther was the roÌ vj sicles of yroÌ his squyer weÌte to for hym cryde ayenst theÌ of Israhel and said that they shold chefe a man to fight a synguler batail ayeÌst golyas yf he were ouercomeÌ the philisteis shold be seruauÌtes to Israhel yf he preuaile ouercome his enemye they of Israhel shold serue the phylisteis thus
peple and entrid in to Iherusalem in to his faders hows and laye by his fadres concubynes And after pursyewid his fader to depose hym and dauid ordeyned his peple and batayll ayenst hym and sente Ioab prynce of his hoost ayenst Absalon and deuyded hys hoost in to thre partyes and wold haue gooÌ with them but Ioab counceyllid that he shold not goo to the batayll what someuer happid And thenne dauid badde them to saue his sone Absalon And they wente forth and fought And AbsaloÌ with his hoost was ouer throwen and put to flyght And as Absalon fledde vpon his mule he cam vnder an Ooke and his heere flewe aboute a bowhe of the tre and helde so fast that absalon henge by his heer and the mule ran forth ther cam one to Ioab and told hym how that Absalon henge by his heer on a bowhe of an oke And Ioab said why hast thou not slayn hym The man said god forbede that I shold sette hoÌde on the kynges sone I herde the kynge saye kepe my sone Absalon a lyue and slee hym not Thenne Ioab wente and toke thre speres and fyxed them in the herte of absalon as he heÌge on the tree by his heer And yet after this x yong men squyes of Ioab ranne and slewe hym theÌne Ioab tromped and blewe the retrayt And reteyned the peple that they shold not pursyewe the peple fleyng And they toke the body of absalon and caste it in a grete pytte And leyde on hym a grete stone And whan dauid knewe that his sone was slayn he made grete sorow said O my sone absalon my sone Absalon who shal graunte to me that I may dye for the my sone absalon Absalon my sone It was told to Ioab that the kynge wepte sorowed the deth of his sone Absalon and all their vyctorye was torned in to sorowe and wayllyng in so moche that the peple eschewed to entre in to the cyte thenne Ioab entrid to the kynge said thou hast this day discoraged the chere of alle thy seruauntes by cause they haue sauyd thy lyf and the lyues of thy sones and doughtres of thy wyues and of thy cancubynes thou louest them that hate the And hatest them that loue the And shewyst wel thys day that thou settyst lityl by thy dukes and seruauntes and truly I knowe now wel that yf Absalon had lyuâd and alle we thy seruauntes had ben slayn thou haddest ben plesyd Therfor aryse now and come forth and satisfye the peple or ellis I swere to the by the good lord that ther shal not one of thy seruauntes abyde with the tyl to morow And that shal be worse to the than all the harmes and euylles that euer yet fylle to the Thenne dauid the kynge aroos and satte in the yate And anoÌ it was shewd to all the peple that the kyng satte in the yate And thenne all the peple cam in to fore the kyng And they of Israhel that had ben with Absalon fledde in to their tabernacles And after cam agayn vnto dauid whaÌ they knewe that Absalon was deed And after one Siba a cursid man rebellyd and gadred peple ayenst dauid Ayenst whom Ioab with the hoost of Dauid pursyewed and drof hym vnto a cyte whiche he byseged and by the meane of a woman of the same cyte Sibas heed was smeton of and delyured to Ioab ouer the walle And so the cyte was saued and Ioab plesid After this dauid callid Ioab bad hym nombre the peple of Israhel And so Ioab walked thurgh alle the tribus of Israhel fro dan to bersabee And ouer Iordan and all the contre And ther were founden in Israhel viijCM strong men that were able to fight and to drawe swerd And of the tribe of Iuda fyfty thousand fyghtyng men And after that the peple was nombred the herte of dauid was smeton by our lord and was heuy said I haue synned gretly in this dede but I praye the lord to take away the wickednes of thy seruauÌt for I haue don folyly Dauid was on the morn erly and the word of our lord cam to Gad the prophete sayeng that he shold goo to Dauid and bidde hym ãâã one of thre thyngis that he shold ãâã to hym Whan god cam to dauid âe said that he shold câse whether he wold haue vij yere hungre in his londe or thre monthes he shold flee his aduersaryes enemyes or to haue thre dayes pestylence Of this thre god biddeth the chese whiche thou wylt Now auyse the and conclude what I shal answere to our lord Dauid said to Gad I am constrayned to a grete thyng but it is better for me to put me in the haÌdes of our lord for his mercy is moche more than in men And so he chees pestylence Thenne our lord sente pestylence the tyme constytute And ther deyed of the peple fro dan to bersabee lxxM men And whan the angele extended his hond vpon Iherusalem for to destroye it Our lord was mercyful vpon thaffliction and said to the Angele so smytyng It suffiseth nowe withdrawe thyn hand Dauid said to our lord whan he sawe thangele smytyng the peple I am he that haue synned and don wickedly what haue thyse sheep don I beseche the that thy hand torne vpon me and vpon the hows of my fader Thenne cam god to dauid and bad hym make an awter in the same place where he sawe thaungel and bought the place and made the aulter And offred sacrefises vnto our lord And our lord was mercyful and the plaghe cessed in Israhel Dauid was old and feble and sawe that his deth approched and ordeyned that his sone Salomon shold regne and be kynge after hym how be it that Adonyas hys sone toke on hym to be kynge duryng dauids lyf For whiche cause bersabee and Nathan cam to dauid and to fore them he said that Salomon shold be kynge and ordeyned that he shold be sette on his mule by hys prophetes Nathan Sadoch the preest and Banayas and brought in to Syon And ther sadoch the preest and Nathan the prophete enoynted hym in kynge vpon Israhel blewe in a trompe and saide lyue the kynge Salomon And fro thens they brought hym in to Iherusalem and sette hym vpon his faders sete in his fadres trone And dauid worshipped hym in his bedde and said Blessid be the lord god of Israhel that hath suffred me to see my sone in my trone sete And theÌne Adonyas and all they that were with hym were aferd and dredyng Salomon ran away and so cessed Adonyas The dayes of dauid approched faste that he shold deye and dyde do calle Salomon to fore hym ther he comanded hym to kepe the comaÌdementis of our lord walke in his wayes to obserue his cerymonyes his preceptes and his Iugementis as it is wreton in the lawe of Moyses And said our lord conferme the in thy Regne And sende to the wysedom to
swalows neste aboue ther fylle doun hote donge of them on hys eyen and he was therof blynde Thys temptacion suffred god to falle to hym that it shold be example to theÌ that shal come after hym of hys pacience lyke as it was of holy Iob For fro hys Infancye he dredde euer god and kepte hys preceptis and was not grutchyng ayenst god for hys blyndnes but he alode vnmeuable in the drede of god gyuyng and Rendryng thankyngis to god aââe the dayes of hys lyf For lyke as Iob was assaylled So was thobye assaylled of hys kynnesmen skoânyng hym and sayeng to hym wher is now thy hope and reward for whiche thou gauest thy almesses and madest sepultures Thobye blamed them for suche wordes sayeng to them In no wyse saye ye not soo For we be the sones of holy men and we abyde that lyf that god shal gyue to them that neuer shal chaunge theyr faith fro hym anna hys wyf wente dayly to the werke of wenyng and gate by the labour of her handes theyr lyuelode as moche as she myght wherof on a day she gate a kydde brought it home whan thobye herde the voys of the kyd bletyng he saide See that it be not stolen yelde it agayn to the ownar For it is not leeful to vs to ete ne touche ony thyng that is stolen To that hys wyf all angry answerd Now manyfestely and openly is thyn hope made vayne And thy almesses lost And thus wyth suche and lyke wordes she chydde hym Thenne thobye began to syghe and began to praye our lord with theris sayeng O lord thou art rightful And alle thy domes ben trewe and alle thy wayes ben mercy trouthe and Ryghtwisnes And now lord remembre me and take thou no vengeance of my synnes ne remembre not my trespaces ne the synnes of my fadres For we haue not obeyed thy comandementis therfore we ben betaken in to dyrepcyon ⪠captyuyte deth fables and in to repreef and shame to alle nacions in whiche thou hast dysperâlyd vs And now lord grete be thy IugemÌts For we haue not don accordyng to thy preceptes ne haue not walkyd wel to fore the And nowe lord doo to me after thy wylle and comande my speryte to be receyuyd in pees It is more expedyeÌt to me to dye than to lyue The same day it happed that Sara doughter of Raguel in the cyte of medes that she was rebuked herde repeââ of one of the handmaidens of her fader For she had be yeuen to vij men And a deuyl named Asmodeus slewe them assone as they wold haue gon to her therfor the mayde repreuyd her sayeng we shal neuer see sone ne doughter of the on the erthe thou slear of thy husbondes wilt thou slee me as thou hast slayn vij men wyth thys voys and Rebuke she wente vp in the vpperist cubicle of the hows And thre dayes and thre nyghtes she ete not ne dranke not but was contynuelly in prayers besechyng god for to delyuer her fro this repreef and shame And on the thirde day whan she had accomplysshed her prayer blessyng our lord she said Blessyd be thy name god of our fadres For whan thou art wroth thou shal doo mercy And in a tyme of trybulacion thou forgyuest synnes to theÌ that calle to the vnto the lord I conuerte my vysage And vnto the I addresse myn eyen I aske and requyre the that thou assoylle me fro the bonde of the repreef and shame or certaynly vpon the erthe kepe me Thou knowest wel lord that I neuer desired man but I haue kepte clene my sowle from all comcupyscence I neuer medlyd me with players ne neuer had parte of them that walke in lightnes I consented for to take an husbond wyth thy drede but I neuer gaf consente to take one with my luste Or I was vnworthy to them or happely they were vnworthy to me or happely thou hast coÌseruyd and kepte me for som other maÌ Thy counseyl is not in mannes power this knoweth euery maÌ that worshippeth the For the lyf of hym yf it be in probacion shal be crowned and yf it be in trybulacion it shal be delyuerd and yf it be in correction it shal be lâefull to come to mercy Thou hast none delectacion in oure perdicion For after tempeste thou makest tranquyllyte And after wepynge and shedyng of teeris thou bryngest in exultacion Ioye Thy name god of Israhel be blessyd world without ende In that same tyme were the prayers of them bothe herde in the sight of the glorye of the hye god And the holy angele of god Raphael was sente to hele them bothe of whom in one tyme were the prayers recyted in the syght of our lord god ¶ Thenne whan Tobie supposed his prayer to be herd that he myght deye he called to hym his sone thobye said to hym here my sone the wordes of my mouth and sette them in thy herte as a fundameÌte whan god shal take away my sowle burye my body thou shalt worshippe thy moder alle the dayes of her lyf Thou owest to remeÌbre what how many peryllis she hath suffred for the in her wombe whan she shal haue accomplisshid the tyme of her lyf burye her by me Alle the dayes of thy lyf haue god in thy mynde And beware that thou neuer consente to synne ne to disobeye ne breke the comandements of god Of thy substance doo almesse and torne neuer thy face fro ony poure man So doo that god torne not hys face fro the as moche as thou mayst be mercyful yf thou haue moche good gyue habundantly yf thou haue but lytyl yet studye to gyue and to depte therof gladly Thou makeste to the therof good tresour and mede in the daye of necessyte For almesse delyuerith a man fro alle synne and fro deth and suffreth not hys sowle to goo in to derknesse Almesse is a grete sykernesse to fore the hye god vnto all them that doo it beware my sone kepe the fro alle fornycacion And suffre not thy self sauf with thy wyf to knowe that synne And suffre neuer pryde to haue domynacioÌ in thy wytte ne in thy worde that synne was the begynnyg of alle perdicion who someuer werke to the ony thynge anon yelde to hym hys mede and hyre late neuer the hyre of thy seruaunt ne mede of thy mercenarye remayne in no wyse wyth the That thou hatest to be don to the of other sâe that thou neuer doo to an other ete thy brede wyth the hungry and nedy And couer the naked wyth thy clothis Ordeyne thy brede and wyn vpon the sepulture of a rightwysman but ete it not ne drynke it not wyth synners Aske and demaunde counseyl of a wyseman Alleway and in euery tyme blesse god and desyre of hym that he adresse thy wayes and late all thy counseilles abyde in hym I telle to the my sone that whan thou were a lytyl chylde I lente to gabele x besauntes of syluer
beyng teÌpted 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 ãâã and tremblyng fyl doun ãâã on theyr faces vpon the ground ãâã 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 eyân And thobye receyuyd alle therytage of the hows of Raguel and sawe the sones of hys sones vnto the fyfâhe 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 eÌpire 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 thenâe 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
in the felde wherof Nabugodonosor was exalted and enhauÌsed hym self And sente vnto all Regyons aboute And vnto Iherusalem tyl the mountes of ethyope for toâeye and holde of hym whyche all gaynsaid hym with one wille and without worshype sente home hys messagers voyd and setted nought by hym Thenne Nabugodonoâor hauyng her at grete Indygnacion swore by hys regne and by hys trone that he wold aueÌge hym on them all And therupon callyd all hys dukes prynces and men of warre and helde a couÌseyl In which was decreed that he shold subdue alle the world vnto hys empyre And therupon he ordeyned Olyfernes prynce of hys knyghthode and bad hym goo forth and in especial agayn them that had despysed hys empyre And bad hym spare no Royame ne towne but subdue all to hym Thenne Olifernes assemblyd dukes and maistres of the strength of Nabugodonosor and noÌbred CxxM fote men And horsmen shoters xijM And to fore them he comanded to goo a multitude of Innumerable Camellis laden with suche thyngis as were nedeful to the hoost as vytayll gold and syluer moche that was taken out of the tresorye of the kynges And so weÌte to many royames which he subdued and ocupyed a grete parte of thoryent tyl he cam approchyng the londe of Israhel ¶ And whan the chyldren of Israhel herde herof they drede sore leste he shold come emong them in to Iherusalem and destroye the teÌple For Nabugodonosor had comanded that he shold extyncte alle the goddes of the erthe that no god shold be named ne worshiped but he hym self of all the nacions that Olifernes shold subdue Eliachym thenne preest in Iârahel wrote vnto all them in the montayns that they shold kepe the strayte wayes of the montayns and so the chyldren of Israhel dyde as the preest had ordeyned Thenne Eliachym the preest wente aboute alle Israhel and said to them knowe ye that god hath herde your prayers yf ye abyde and contynue in your prayers and fastyngis in the sight of god Remembre ye of moyses the seruaunt of god whyche ouerthrewe Amalech trustyng in hys strengthe and in hys power in hys hoost in hys helmes in hys chares and in hys horsmen not fyghtyng wyth yron but with prayeng of holy prayers In lyke wyse shal be all the enemyes of Israhel yf ye êseuere in this werke that ye haue begonne with this exortacion they contynued prayeng god they êseuered in the sight of god and also they that offred to our lord were clad with sack cloth had asshes on theyr heedes with all their herte they prayd god to visite hys peple Israhel It was told to holofernes prynce of the knyghthode of thassyryens that the chyldren of Israhel made them redy to resyste hym had closed the wayes of the moÌtayns he was breÌned in ouermoche futour in grete Ire he callid all the prynces of moab dukes of amon said to them Saye ye to me what peple is this that bisege the montaynes or what or how many cytes haue they also what is theyr vertue what multytude is of them or who is kyng of their knyghthode TheÌne achior duke of all them of amoÌ ansueryng said yf thou daignest to here me I shal telle the trouthe of this peple that dwelleth in the moÌtayns And ther shal not yssue out of my mouth one false worde this peple dwelled fyrst in mesopotamye and was of the progenye of the caldees but wold not dwelle there for they wold not folowe the goddes of their faders that were in the londe of caldees goyng and leuyng the cerymonyes of their fadres whiche was in the multitude of mâny goddes they honoured one god of heueÌ which comanded them to goo thens that they shold dwelle in carraÌ TheÌne after was there moche hongre that they desceÌded in to Egypte there abode iiijC yere multeplied that they myht not be nombred whan the kynge of egipt greuyd them in his bildyngis beryng claye tyles subdued theÌ they cryed to our lord and he smote the londe of egypte with dyuerse plaghes whan they of egipt had caste them out fro theÌ the plaghe cessed fro them And theÌne they wold haue taken hem agayn wold haue called theÌ to their seâuyse they fleyng their god opend the see to theÌ that they wente thurgh drye foot in whiche the innumerable hoost of thegipciens poursyewyng them were drowned that ther was not one of them sauyd for to telle to them that cam after them They passed thus the ââed see â them with manna xl yere and made bytter waters swete and gaf them water out of a stone And where somÌeuer this peple entred without bowe or arowe sheld or swerd theyr god fought for them And ther is noman may preuayle ayenst this peple but whan they departe fro the culture and honour of theyr god And as ofte as they haue departed fro theyr god and worshypped other strange goddes so ofte haue they ben ouercomeÌ with their enemyes And whan they repente come to the knowlege of their synne and crye their god mercy they ben restored agayn and theyr god gyueth to them vertue to resiste their enemyes They haue ouertrowen CananeuÌ the kyng Iebusee pheresee eneuÌ etheuÌ and amorreuÌ and all the myghty men in Esââon And haue taken their londe and cytees and possesse them and shal as longe as they plese their god Their god hated wickednesse ¶ For to fore thys tyme whan they wente fro the lawes that theyr god gaf to them he suffred them to be taken of many nacions in to captiuyte and were disperplid And nowe late they be comen agayn and possede IhrlÌm where in is sancta scoÌrum ben comen ouer thise moÌtaynes where as somÌe of hem dwelle now therfor my lord see serche yf ther be ony wickednesse of them in the sight of their god theÌne late vs goo to theÌ for their god shal gyue theÌ in to thy hondes they shal be subdued vnder the yock of thy power and whaÌ Achior had said thus all the grete men aboute holyferne were aÌgry had thought for to haue slayn hym sayeng eche to other who is this that may make the chyldreÌ of Israhel resiste the kynge nabugodonosor hys Armee hoost men cowardis without myght without ony wysedoÌ of warre Therfor that achior may knowe that he saith not trewe late vs ascende the moÌtayns And whan the myghty men of them be taken late hym be slayn wyth theym that all meÌ may knowe that nabugodonosor is god of the erthe that ther is none other but he TheÌne whan they cessed to speke holofernes hauyng IndignacioÌ said to achior by cause thou hast prophecied to vs of the chyldren of Israhel sayeng that their god defended them I shal shewe to the that ther is no god but Nabugodonosor For whan we haue ouercomen them all and slayn them as one man theÌne shalt thou dye
brought forth the heed of holofernes and shewde it to them sayeng loo here the heed of holofernes prynce of the chyualrye of assyriens And lo the canope of hym in whyche he laye in hys dronkenhed where our lord hath smeton hym by the honde of a womaÌ Forsoth god lyueth for hys auÌgel kepte me hens goyng ther abidyng fro thens hyther retornyng And the lord hath not suffre me his handwoman to ben defowled But without pollucioÌ of synne hath callyd me agayn to you Ioyeng in hys vyctorye in my escapyng in your delyuerauÌce Knoweleche ye hym all for good For hys mercy is euerlastyng world wâthouten ende And all they honouryng our lord sayden to her the lord blesse the in hys virtue For by the he hath brought our enemyes to nought Thenne Ozias the prynce of the peple said to her Blessyd be thou of the hye god byfore alle wymen vpon erthe And blessyd be the lord that made heueÌ erthe that hath addressid the in the wouÌâes of the heed of the prynce of our enemyes After this Iudith bad that the heed shold be hanged vp on the walles And at the sonne risyng euery man in hys armes yssue out vpoÌ your enemyes whan their espies shal see yow they shal reÌne vnto the tente of their prynce to reyse hym to make hym redy to fight whan his lordes shal see hym deed they shal be smeton with so grete drede feer that they shal flee whom ye theÌne shal pursyewe And god shal brynge theÌ trede them vnder your feet TheÌne achior sceyng the vertue of the god of Israhel lefte his olde hethens custoÌ byleuyd in god was circuÌsised in his preuy meÌbre put hym self to the peple of IsrlÌ all the successyon of hys kynred vnto thys day Thenne at the spryngyng of the daye they henge the heed of holofernes on the walles And euery man toke hys armes wente out with grete noyse whyche thyng seeyng thespyes ronnen to gydre to the tabernacle of holofernes and cam makyng noyse for to make hym taryse that he shold awake but nomaÌ was so hardy to knocke or entre in to his preuy chaÌbre but whaÌ the dukes leders of thousandes cameÌ other they said to the preuy chaÌberlayns goo awake your lord For myes ben gon out of their caues ben hardy to calle vs to bataylle TheÌne vago his bawde weÌte in to his preuy chaÌbre stode byfore the curtyne clapped hys handes to gydre wenyng he had slepte with Iudith And whan he perceuyd noo meuyng of hym he drewe the curteyn seeyng the dede body of holofernes with out heed lyeng in his blood cryed with a grete voys wepyng rendyng hys clothes wente in to the tabernacle of Iudith fonde her not And sterte out to the peple said A womaÌ of thebrewes hath made coÌfusion in the hous of nabugodonosor she hath slayn holofernes is deed she hath his heed with her And whaÌ the prynces capytayns of thassyryens herde this Anone they rente their clothes intollerable drede fylle on them were sore troblyd in their wittes made an horrible crye in their tentis And whan all thoost had herde how olofernes was byheded couÌseyl mynde flewh fro theÌ with grete treÌblyng for socoure bygonne to flee in suche wise that none wold speke with other but with their heedes bowed doun fledde for tescape fro thebrews whom they sawe armed comyng vpon theÌ and departed fleyng by feldes weyes of hilles valeyes And the sones of Israhel seeyng them fleyng folowed them cryeng wyth truÌpes showtyng after theÌ And slewe smote doun al them that they ouertoke And Osias sent forthwith vnto all the cytees regyons of Israhel And they sente after alle the yong meÌ valiauÌt to pursiewe theÌ by swerd so they dyde vnto the vttermest coostis of Israhel The other meÌ sothly that weren in bethulye weÌte in to the tentis of thassyrens toke all the praye that thassyryens had lefte And whan the meÌ that had pursiewed theÌ were retorned they toke all their beestis all the meuable goodes thynges that they had lefte so moche that euery maÌ fro the moste to the leste were made riche by the praye that they toke TheÌne Ioachim the highe bisshop of IhrlÌm caÌ vnto bethulye with all the preestis for to see Iudith whan she caÌ to fore theÌ all they blessid her with one vois sayeng Thou glorye of IhrlÌm thou gladnes of Israhel thou the worship doyng of our peple thou dyde maÌly thyn herte is coÌforted by cause thou louedyst chastyte knewest no man after the deth of thy husbond and therfor the honde of god hath coÌforted the And therfor thou shalt be blessyd world without ende and all the peple said fiat fiat be it don be it don certaynly the spoylles of thassyrieÌs were vnnethe gadred assembled to gydre in xxx dayes of the peple of Isrl But all the propre Rychesses that were apperteynyng to holofernes coude be fouÌden that had ben hys they were gyueÌ to Iudith as wel gold syluer geÌmes clothis as aâl other appertenaÌcis to houshold all was delyuerd to her of the peple the folkes with wimeÌ maydeÌs IoyedeÌ in organs harpes TheÌne Iudith songe this song vnto god saieng Begynne ye in tymbres Synge ye to the lord in cymbalis Manerly synge to hym a newe psalme Fully Ioye ye Inwardly calle ye hys name so forth And for this grete myracle victorye all the peple cam to IhrlÌm for to gyue laude honour worship vnto our lord god and after they were purified they offred sacrefices vowes behestis vnto god and the Ioye of this victorye was soleÌpnysed duryng iij monethis after that eche wente home agayn in to his owen cyte hous and Iudith retorned in to bethulye and was made more grete and cleer to alle men of the londe of Israheel She was Ioyned to the vertue of chastyte so that she knewe noman alle the dayes of her lyf after the deth of manâsses her husbond And duellyd in the hous of her husbond an hondred and fyue yere And she lefte her damoyselle free And after this she deyde is buryed in bethulye all the peple bewayled her seuen dayes duryng her lyf after this Iourney was no troble emong the Iewes and the daye of this victorye of the hebrews was accepted for a festful day halowed of the Iewes nombred emong their feestis vnto this day After the festes of our lord Ihesu crist to fore sette in ordre folowen the legeÌdes of Saynctes first of saynt Andrewe ANdrew is expowned is as moche to saye as fair or answeryng vnto strengthe and it is said of andor that is as moche to saye as strengthe Or andrewe is said thus as antipos Of ana which is to saye hye
of tropos which is coÌuersion so that andrewe is to saye A man hyely conuerted in heuen adressyd vnto hys maker he was fayr in his lyf answeryng in wysedom in doctryne stronge in payne conuerted hie in glorye The prestes diacones of achaye wrote hys passyoÌ lyke as they had seen it with theyr eyen ANdrewe and somÌe other dyscyples were called iij tymes of our lord he called them first in the knoulechyng of hym as whan seynt andrewe was with IohÌn the baptyst hys maysstre and another dyscyple he herde that IohÌn said lo here the lombe of god and theÌne he wente anon with another dysciple cam to Ihesu cryste and abode with hym all that day And thenne saynt Andrew fonde symon hys brother and brought hym to Ihesu cryst the next day folowyng they weÌte to theyr crafte of fysshyng And after thys he called them the seconde tyme by the stagne of genazareth whyche is named the see of galylee he entred in to the shippe of Symon of andrew ther was taken grete multytude of fissh And he called Iames IohÌn whiche were in another shippe they folowed hym And after wente in to their propre places After this he called hem fro their fysshyng saide come folowe me I shal make you fysshers of men Thenne they lefte their shippes nettis folowed hym And after this they abode with hym weÌte nomore to theyr owne howses And how be it he callid Andrewe somme other to be apostles of which callyng mathew saith in the thirde chapytre he called to hym them that he wold And after thascencion of our lord the apostles were departed and andrew prechid in Sichye And Mathew in murgoÌdye And the meÌ of this coÌtrey refused vtterly the prechyng of seynt Mathewe drewe out his eyen And caste hym in prysoÌ fast bouÌden In the mene while an angele sente froÌ our lord appired to saynt andrew comaÌded hym to go to seynt mathew in to murgondye he answerd that he knew not the way and theÌne thaÌgele comaÌded hym that he shold goo vnto the see syde that he shold entre in to the first shippe that he shold fynde so he dyde gladly in accoÌplisshyng the comaÌdemÌt weÌte in to the cite by the ledyng of the aÌgele had wynde êpyce and whan he was come he fonde the pryson opene where seynt Mathewe was Inne and whan he sawe hym he wepte sore and worshypyd hym and thenne our lord rendryd gaf agayn to seynt Mathewe hys two eyen and hys syght And thenne seynt Mathew departed fro thens and cam in to Anthioche And seynt Andrewe abode in murgondye And they of the contrey were wroth that seynt Mathew was so eskaped Thenne toke they seynt Andrewe and drewe hym thurgh the places hys hondes bounden in suche wyse that the blood ranne out he prayd for them to Ihesu cryst And conuerted them by hys prayer And fro thens he cam to anthioche Thys that is said of the blyndyng of saynt Mathew I suppose that it is not trewe ne that theuaÌgelyste was not so vnferme but that he myght gete for hys syhgt that saynt andrewe gate for hym so lyghtly Hyt was so that a yong man cam and folowed seynt Andrewe agayn the wylle of alle hys parentis And on a tyme hys parents sette fyre on the hows where he was with thappostle And whan the flamme surmounted right hye the chylde toke a brusshe ful of water and sprengte with alle the fyre And anone the fyre quenchyd And thenne hys frendes and parents said our sone is made an enchantour And as they wold haue goon vp by the laddres they were sodenly made blynde that they sawe not the laddres And thenne one of them escryed and said wherfor enforce ye you agayn theÌ god fyghteth for them ye see it not Cesse ye and leue of leste the yre of our lord falle on you Thenne many of them that sawe thys byleuyd in our lord And the parentys deyde within xl dayes after and were put in one sepulture ¶ Ther was a womaÌ with chyld grete vpon her delyuerance And at the tyme of chyldyng she mygt not be delyueryd She bad her suster to goo to dyane and praye to her that she helpe me She wente and prayde And dyane said to her whiche was the deuyl in an ydole wherfore prayest thou to me I may not helpe ne prouffyte the but goo vnto Andrewe thappostle whyche may helpe the and thy suster And she wente to hym brought hym to her suster whyche traueylled in grete payne and began to perysshe And thappostle said to her by good right suffrest thou this payne Thou conceyuedyst in trychârye ãâã synne And thou counseylâledesâ with the deuyll Repente the and byleue in Ihesu cryst and thou shalt be anon delyueryd of thy chyld And whan she byleuyd and was repentaunt she was delyueryd of her chyld and the payne and sorow passed and cessed An olde man callyd nycholas by name wente vnto thappostle and sayd to hym Syre I haue lyued fyfty yere and alleway in lechery And I toke on a tyme a gospelle in prayeng god that he wold gyue me fro than forthon contynence But I am acustomed in thys synne and ful of euyl delectacion in suche wyse that I shal retorne to this synne acustomed On a tyme that I was enflamed by luxurye I wente to the bourdel and forgate the gospel vpon me And anon the fowle womaÌ said goo hens thou old man for thou art an angele of god touche me not ne come no ner me for I see meruaylle upon the and I was abassheed of the worde of the woman and I remembryd that I had the gospelle vpon me wherfore I beseche the to praye god for me and for my helthe And whan seynt Andrewe herde thys he began to wepe and prayd fro tyerce vnto nonâ And whan he aroos he wold not ete And said I shal ete no mete tyl I knowe wether our lord shal haue pyte of thys old man And whan he had fast fyue dayes a voys cam to saynt Andrew and said to hym Andrewe thy request is grauÌted for the olde maÌ for lyke as thou hast fasted and made thy self leue so shal he faste and make hym self leue by fastynges for to be saued And so he dyde for he fasted vj monethis to brede and water and after that he reested in pees and good werkes ¶ Thenne cam a voys that said I haue goten Nicholas by thy prayers whom I had lost ¶ A yonge crysten man said to saynt Andrewe â My moder sawe that â was fayr and requyred me for to haue to doo and synne wyth her And whan I wold not consente to to her in no maner she wente to the Iuge and wolde retourne and leye to me the synne of so grete a felonye pray for me that I deye not so vntruly For whan I shal be accused I shal holde my
remembryd that that day he had not said hys oures of our lady wherfore he sente home the bryde hys wyf and the peple to hys hous ¶ And he abode in the chyrche besyde an aulter for to saye hys houres ¶ And whan he cam to thys Antheme Pulcra es et decora filia Iherusalem that is to saye thou art fayr and gracious doughter of Iherusalem Anon appered to fore hym the gloryouse vyrgyne marye wyth ij angelis on eyther syde and sayd to hym I am fayre and graciouse wherfor leuest thou me and takest thou Another wyf or where hast thou seen one more fayr than I am And the clerke answerd madame thy beaute surmounteth alle thâ beaute of the world Thou art lyfte vp aboue the heuenes and aboue the Angelis what wylt thou that I doo And she answerd and said yf thou wylt leue thy wyf flesshely Thou shalt haue me thyn espowse in the Royaume of heuen And yf thou wylt halowe the feste of my concepcion the eyght day of decembre And preche it aboute that it may be halowed thou shalt be crowned in the Royame of heuen And anone therwyth our blessyd lady lady vanysshid awaye Late vs theÌne pray to that glorious virgyne our lady saynt marye that we after thys short and transitorye lyf may be crowned in heuen in glorye celestial to which god brynge vs Amen He endeth the Concepcion of our blessid lady The lyues of the seyntes gencien fulcien and victorice Saynt Fulcien and saynt vyctorice of whom that solempnyte is halowed cameÌ fro the cyte of rome for to preche the faith of IhÌu crith in to thise parties were in the cite of terwane preched there the faith And they repayred by amyens and passed by a lytyl vylage named Sayns fouÌde there a good man that byleued in god but he was not yet baptised was named geÌcien And he salewed theÌ said sires ye be welcome And they said god saue you And after he demanded theÌ what seche ye and they answered we seche one of our felawes called quyntyne and he said ha faire sires he was but late byheedyd not longe sith and sentence was gyuen that where suche maner people myght be fouÌden that prechid of god that they shold be slayn but come ye ner ete ye a morsel of breed And as they were there a tyraunt that was callid Rixionayre cam with sergeants said to gencien delyuer to vs theym that ben here in and he said I shal not doo it TheÌne he he drewe out his swerde al naked Gencien said they take non hede of you The tyraunt Rixionaire had grete angre sorowe and made to take gencien and smote of hys heed And after he made to be taken seynt fulcyen and saynt victoryece and brought theÌ to amyens And saide to theÌ that they shold forsake their god whom they had made dye an euyl deth and they said they wold not Thenne he dyde do take broches of yron and pute them thurgh their eeres thurgh theyr nosethrelles after dide do smyte of their heedes by the wil power of our lord they aroos vp and toke their heedes in their hondes and bare them two myle ferre fro the place where they had ben beheded And alle thre were buried to gydre in that toun whiche is called saynt fulcien a grete rage and madnes toke the tirauÌt Rixionaire he cried thurgh the cyte of amyens alle araged Alas Alas Alas Now ben wel the sayntes auenged on me And sith deyed fowle in hys wodenes And thus were the frendes of our lord auenged on the tyraunt And by suche martirdom the glorious sayntes departed out of this lyf vnto the Royame of heuen Theenne praye we vnto the glorious martirs saynt fulcien saynt victorrice And saynt Gencien that they wil praye god for vs that by their merytes we may haue pardon foryeuenes of our synnes Amen Thus enden the lyues of the holy seynttes Gencien Fulcien victorice Here foloweth the lif of the blessid virgyne lucye Lucie is said of light And lyght is beaute in beholdyng after that saynt Ambrose saith the nature of light is suche She is gracious in beholdyng She spredeth ouer all without lyeng doun She passeth in goyng right without crokyng by right longe lygne ¶ And it is without dilacion of taryeng ¶ And therfor it is shewde the blessyd lucye hath beaute of virgynyte without ony corrupcion ¶ Essence of charyte without disordynate loue Rightful goyng and deuocion to god with out squaryng out of the waye Rightlonge lyne by contynuel werke without necglygence of slowful taryeng In lucye is said the waye of lyght SAynt lucye the holy vyrgyne was born in Cecylle and extrayt engendred of a noble lygnage in the cyte of Syracuse whan she herd of the good fame and renomee of seynt Agathe or Agaas whiche was publysshid and sprad al aboute Anone she wente to her sepulcre with her moder whiche was named eutice whiche had a maladye named the blody flux â by the space of iiij yere the whiche no maistre in phisike ne in Cyrurgerye coude hele And whan they were ther atte a masse ¶ One redde a gospell whiche made menycion of a woman which was heled of the blody flux by touchyng of the hemme of the cote of Ihesu cryst whan saynt lucye herd this anon she said to her moder Moder yf ye byleue that this whiche is redde be trewe also that seynt Agathe hath now presently with her Ihesu cryst and also that for his name she suffred martirdom And yf ye with this bileue touche her sepulcre withoute doubte ye shal be anon guarysshyd and heelid vpon this they after the messe whan the peple were deparded they tweyne fyl doun on their knees on the sepulcre of saynt Agatha in prayers and wepyng began to praye for her helpe and aid Seynt lucye in makyng her prayers for her moder fylle a slepe and she sawe in her slepe saynt agathe emong thaungeles nobly aourned and arayed with precious stones whiche said thus to her Lucye my swete suster deuoute virgyne to god wher for prayest thou to me for thy moder for suche thyng as thou maist thy self right soone gyue to her For I telle the for trouthe that for thy faith and thy good lyf thy moder is sauf and hooll with thyse wordes saynt lucye awook alle aferde and said to her moder Moder ye be guarisshed and alle hool I praye you for her sake by whoos prayers ye ben heled That ye neuer make mencion to me for to take an husbond ne spouse But alle that good that ye wold gyue me wyth a man I praye you that ye wylle gyue it to me for to doo almesse with alle that I may come to my Sauyour IhÌu cryst Her moder answerd to her Fayr doughter thy patrymonye whyche I haue receyued thys ix yere syth thy fader deide I haue nothyng
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 comandemÌt 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 SomÌe 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 IohÌn 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 IohÌn in lyknes of a pylgryme cam to thys kynge and demaunded hys almesse in the name of saynt IohÌn 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 IohÌn 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 IohÌn 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 JohÌn 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 JohÌn theuaÌgelist transformed and torned roddes of trees in to fyn gold the stones and grauel of the see in to precious geÌmes 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 Thynnoâântis 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 somÌe 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 tyrauÌtes And were in their tyme of grete fame and moche renoÌmed 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 IhÌu cryst in the tyme of hys pâssiân And he dyde do smyte of saynt JohÌn 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 scolâstyke sayth and was kynge of ãâã 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 theÌperour of Rome that he gaf to
bysshopriches to somÌe vertuous men And anon the kynge grauÌted to hym hys desire ordeyned one maistre Roger bysshop of wyncestre and th erle of glouceters sone bisshop of londoÌ named sire Robert And anone after saynt thomas halowed thabbey of Redyng whiche the first henry fonÌded And that same yere he translated saynt edward kynge coÌfessour at westmestre where he was leyd in a riche shryne And in short tyme after by thentycement of the deuyl fil grete debate variaunce stryf bytwene the kyng saynt Thomas the kynge sent for alle the bysshopes to appere to fore hym at westmestre at a certayn day at whyche day they assemblyd to fore hym whom he welcomed after said to them how that tharchebysshop wold destroye hys lawe not suffre hym tenioye suche thynges as his predecessours had vsed to fore hym wherto saynt Thomas answerd that he neuer entended to do thyng that shold displese the kyng als ferre as it touched not the fraunchyse and lyberteâ of holy chyrche Thenne the kynge reherced how he wold not suffre ãâã that were theuys haue thexecucion of the lawâ to which saynt thomas sayd that he ought not execute theÌ but they longeth to the correction of holy chyrche â other dyuerse poyntes to which seynt Thomas wold not agree To the which the kyng said now I see wel yuâholdest fordoâ the lawes of this lonâ whiche haue ben vsed in the dayes of my predecessours but it shal not lye in thy power And so the kyng beyng wroth departed TheÌne the bysshoppis all couÌceylled saynt thomas to folowe the kynges entente or ellis the lond shold be in grete trouble And in lyke wise the lordes teÌporell that were his frendes couÌseylled hym the same And saynt Thomas said I take god to record it was neuer myne entente to displese the kyng or to taake ony thyng that longeth to his right or honour And theÌne the lordes were glad brought hym to the kynge to Oxenford and the kyng dayned not to speke to hym And theÌne the kyng callid alle the lordes spuÌel temporelle to fore hym and said he wold haue alle the lawes of his fornfaders there new coÌfermed there they were confermed by all the lordes spuÌel temporell And after this the kyng charged them for to come to hym to Claryndon to his parlameÌt atte a certayn day assigned on payne to renne in his IndignacioÌ and at that tyme so departed And this parlamÌt was holden at claryndon the xj yere of the kynges regne the yere of our lord xjClxiiij at this parlemÌt were many lordes which all were ayenst saynt Thomas And theÌne the kynge sittyng in his parlemÌt in the presence of all his lordes demanded them yf they wold abyde kepe the lawes that had ben vsed in his forfaders dayes TheÌne saynt Thomas spacke for the ête of holy chirche saide All olde lawes that be good rightful and not ayenst our moder holy chirche I grauÌte with good will to kepe theÌ And theÌne the kynge saide that he wolde not leue one poynt of his lawe and waxid wroth with saynt Thomas And theÌne certayn bysshoppis requyred saynt thomas to obeye to the kynges desire wyll And saynt Thomas desyred respyte to knowe the lawes thenne to gyue hym an answere And whan he vnrdâstode theÌ all to somÌe he consented but many he denyed wold neuer be agreable to them wherfor the kyng was wroth and said he wold holde kepe them lyke as his predecessours had doon byfore hym wold not mynusshe one poynt of them Thenne saynt thomas said to the kyng with ful grete sorow heuy chyere Now my most dere lord and gracious kynge haue pyte on vs of holy chirche your bede men and gyue to vs respyte for a certayn tyme And thus departed eche man and saynt Thomas wente to wynchestre And there prayd our lord deuoutly for holy chyrche and to yeue hym ayde and strength for to defende it For vtterly he determyned to abyde by the lybertees and fraunchyse And fyl doun on hys knees said ful sore wepyng O good lord I knowleche that I haue offended and for myn offence and trespaas thys trouble cometh to holy chyrche I purpose good lord to goo to Rome for to be assoylled of myn offensis And departed toward Caunterburye And anon the kyng sente hys offycers to hys manoyrs and despoylled them by cause he wold not obeye the kynges statutes And the kynge comanded to seasâ alle hys londes and goodes in to hys hondes And thenne hys seruauntes departed from hym And he wente to the see side for to haue goon ouer see but the wynde was ayenst hym and so thryes he toke hys shyppe and myght not passe And theÌne he knewe that it was not our lordes wyll that he shold yet departe and retorned secretely to Caunterbury of whos comyng hys meyne made grete Ioye And on the morn cam the kynges offycers for to haue seased all hys goodes For the noyse was that saynt Thomas had fledde the londe wherfor they had dispoylled all his manoyrs seasid theÌ in to the kynges hoÌde And whan they cam they fonde hym at Caunterbury wherof they were sore abasshed and retorned to the kyng enformyng hym that he was yet at cauÌterbury anon after saynt thomas cam to the kyng to wodestoke for âo pray hym to be better disposed toward âoly chyrche And thenne said the kynge to hym in skorne May not we two dwelle bothe in this londe art thou of so sturdy and hard of herte to whom saynt Thomas answerd sire that was neuer my thoughte but I ãâã fayne plese you doo all that ãâã desire so that ye hurte not the libertees of holy chirche For them will I mayntene whyle I lyue euer to my power wyth whiche wordes the kynge was sore meuyd swore that he wold haue theÌ kept in especial yf a clerke were a theef he shold be Iuged executed by the kynges lawe by no spirituel lawe said he wold neuer suffre a clerke to be hys maister in his owne londe And chargid saynt thomas tappere to fore hym at Norhampton to brynge all the bisshops of this londe with hym and so departid Saynt thomas besought god of helpe socoure For the bysshoppis whiche ought to be with hym were most ayenst hym And after this saynt Thomas wente to norhampton where the kyng helde thenne his grete counseylle in the castell wyth all his lordes And whaÌ he cam to fore the kyng he said I am comen to obeye your comandemÌt but by fore this tyme was neuer bysshop of Canuterbury thus entreted For I am heed of the chyrche of englond And am to you sir kyng your ghoostly fader and it was neuer goddes lawe that the sone shold destroye hys fader which hath charge of hys soule And by your styryng haue made all the bysshops
And the deuyl saide for they ben alle holy And that werst is ther was one that was myn And I haue loste hym For he is now made holyer than the other whan saynt machaire herd this he gaf lâuynges and thankynges to god ¶ It happed on a tyme saynt machaire fonde in hys waye the hede of a dede man And he demanded of it whos hede it was and the hede answerd of a paynem And machaire said to hym where is thy soule he answerd in helle And he demanded yf it were depe in helle and he said deper than is fro heuen to erthe And after he demanded yf there were ony bynethe hym And he said the Iewes ben lower than he was he asked yf there were ony lower or bynethe the Iewes to whom he said that the false crysten men ben yet lower and depper in helle than the Iewes For as moche as they haue dyspyted and vyâonyed the blood of Ihesu cryst of whiche they were redemed so moche the more be they tormented On a tyme saynt machaire wente in a deserte and atte ende of euery myle he sette a reed in therthe for to haue knowleche therby to torne agayn And wente forth ix day Iourney and after he slepte And the deuyl toke all thyse reedes bonde them leyd them atte hys hede wherfor he had grete labour for to come agayn in to hys hows An heremyte which was in deserte was moche tempted for to goo agayn to the world And he thought in hys herte that he shold doo more good to be emong the people than he shold doo in hys hermytage Thenne he tolde all thys to saynt machayre And saynt machayre said to hym thus shall thou saye to thy thoughtes that for the loue of Ihesu cryst I kepe the walles of thys celle It happed on a tyme that saynt machaire kylde a flee that bote hym And whan he sawe the blood of thys flee he repented hym And so repentaunt of that wold reuenge it and anon vnclothed hym and wente nakyd in the deserte vj monethis and suffred hym self to be byten of the flyes After this saynt machaire whaÌ he had longe lyued and god had shewed many myracles for hym and had flowrid in many vertues he deyed and rendred hys sowle vnto our lord Ihesu cryst qui est benedictus in secula seculorum Amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Machaire Hyer begynneth the lif of seynt Felix sayd enpices FElix was surnamed enpices and is said of the place where he resteth or of the poyntellis of greffes a greffe is êprely callid a poyntel to wryte in tablis of waxe by whyche he suffred deth And somÌe saye that he was a scolemaistre and taught chyldren And was to them moche Rygorous After he was knowen of the paynems And by cause he confessed playnly that he was crysten and byleued in Ihesu cryst he was delyuerd to be tormented in to the handes of the chyldren hys escoliers whom he had taught and lerned whiche scoliers shewe hym wyth theyr poyntellis pryckis and greffes and yet the chirche holdeth hym for no martir but for a confessour And the paynems sayd to hym that he shold doo sacrefyse to thydollis but he blewe on them and anon they fylle to therthe It is redde in a legeÌde that whan mychene bisshop and valerian fledde the persecucion of the paynems the bysshop was tormented wyth hungre and thurst so moche that he fylle doun to the ground wherfore Felix was sent of an aungele to hym And he bare nothyng wyth hym for to gyue to hym and he sawe by hym a clustre of reysens hongyng ân a tree whyche he leyd on hys sholdres hastely and bare it with hym And whan the bysshop was deed Felix was elect and chosen to be bysshop And as he preched on a tyme the persecutours sought hym And he hydde hym in the clyftes of a broken walle and incontynente by the wylle of god cam spyncoppes and made their werke and nettes afore hym that they myght not fynde hym And whan the tyrauntes coude not fynde hym they wente theyr waye And he wente thens and caÌ to the hows of a wydowe And toke there hys refection of her thre monethes And yet he sawe her neuer in the vysage And atte laste whan the peas was made he wente hym in to hys chyrche And there deyed and rested in our lord and was buried by the cyte in a place that was called pynces And this Felix had a brother whyche was in lyke wyse named felix And whan thys felix was constrayned to adoure thydolles he sayd ye be enemyes vnto your goddes For yf ye brynge me to them I shal blowe on them lyke as my brother dyde and they shal falle to therthe and breke On a tyme thys Felix dyde do laboure his gardyn where he had sette cooles and wortes for hys vse And somÌe of hys neyghbours wold haue stolen away thyse cooles and wortes and houed in the gardyn alle the nyght and dygged And on the mornyng saynt felix salewed them And anon they confessed their synne And he pardonned them And thenne they wente theyr waye And a litil whyle after the paynems cam for to take saynt Felix And anoÌ so grete dolour and payne toke them that they began to howle as dogges And he said to them byleue ye in god and saye ye that Ihesu Cryst is veray god And doo you to be baptysed and ye shal be hool and your payne shal seasse And so they dyde and anon they were alle hool And after the bysshop of thydolles cam to hym and said Syre assone as our god sawe the he fledde And whan I said why fleest thou He said I may not suffre the vertu of Felix And whan my god doubteth the moche more I ought to doubte the And whan Felix had confermed hym in the fayth he baptised hym And Felix sayd to them that adoured Appolyn yf appolyn be very god late hym saye to me what I hold in my honde And he had in hys honde a cedule wherin was wreton the oryson of our lord that is the Pater noster And he myght not answere wherfore the paynems were conuerted to our lord And atte laste whan he had songe his masse and the peas gyuen to the people he fylle doun in prayer vpon the pauement of the chyrche and passed out of thys world vnto our lord Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Felix Here foloweth the lyf of saynt marcell and thynterpretacion of hys name Marcel is as moche to saye as denyeng to doo euyll or i. is said as smytyng the sees that is to saye the aduersytees of the world For the world assambleth the see For lyke as Crysostome sayth vpon mathew contynuel drede is hys confuse And alleway in the see is contynuel drede thymage of deth and perpetuel dysordynance wythout ceassyng ¶ Of saynt Marcell SAynt Marcell was chyef bysshop and ãâã of Rome he wente to chastyse repreue maxymyen
as saynt basylle prayd holdyng the honde of the yong maÌ the cedule whiche he had made was brought in thayer in the sight of alle was leyde in the honde of saynt basylle the which receyued it said to the chyld brother knowest thou âhyse lettres he answerd them I know theÌ well For they were wreton with my honde TheÌne saynt basylle brake them ladde the chyld to the chyrche so or deyned disposed hym that he was worthy to receyue the holy sacrament after he beyng enseygned taught delyuerd to hym a Rewle how he shold kepe hym delyuerd hym to hys wyf Also ther was a woman that had coÌmysed many synnes the whyche she all wrote And atte ende ther was one more greuous than the other whyche in the wrytyng delyuerd to saynt basylle prayeng hym to praye for her And that by his prayers her synnes myght be foryeuen and theÌne he prayde for her the woman opend the bylle wherin she founde all the synnes deffaced put out exept the greuous synne And she cam to saynt basylle sayd thou holy saynt of god haue mercy on me and gete me foryefnes for thys lyke as thou hast don for the other And saynt basylle sayd to the woman leue goo fro me woman For I am a man synnar as thou art whyche haue nede of pardon as moche as thou And as she that was besy and greuous to hym he said to her goo vnto the holy man that is named effraym and demaunde of hym that he may gete pardon for the And whan she cam to the holy man Effraym and had tolde to hym wherfor she was sente to hym fro saynt basylle he sayd to her goo fro me for I am a synful man but goo agayn to saynt basylle And it is he that may gete the foryefnes for thys synne lyke as he dyde for the other And haste the to th eÌde that thou maist fynde hym alyue And whan she cam in to the cyte saynt basylle was born to the chyrche for to be buryed And she bygan to crye sayeng god be Iuge bytwene me and the For thou mayst wel appease god for me And thou hast sente me to an other and anon she threwe the bylle vpon the coueryng of the byere ¶ And anon after she toke it agayn and opend it and founde hyt alle playn and out clene of the bylle ¶ And thenne wyth other she gaf thankynges to god ¶ To fore or saynt basylle deyde he beyng in the maladye that he deyde he dyde do come a Iewe to hym which was moche expert in physyke And he louyd hym by cause he sawe that he shold be conuerted to the fayth And whan he was come he felte hys puls and sawe that he was nyghe hys ende and sayd to hys meyney Make ye redy suche thyng as byhoueth for hys sepulture For he shal deye anon whyche worde saynt basylle herd and sayd to hym thou woste not what thou sayest And the Iewe named Ioseph sayd to hym thys day shalt thou dye whan the sonne shal goo doun in the weste To whom saynt basylle sayd what shal thou saye yf I deye not tâys day to whom Ioseph sayd Syre it is not other wyse possyble thenne sayd saynt basylle yf I lyue vnto the morowe none what shalt thou doo And Ioseph sayde yf thou lyue vntyl the morow that houre I shal deye And saynt basylle sayd thou sayst trouthe thou shal dye that is synne shal dye in the to th eÌde that thou lyue in IhÌu criste Ioseph said I wote wel what thou saist and yf thou lyue vnto that tyme I shal doo that thou saist TheÌne saynt basille said how wel that by nature he shold haue deyde anon forthwith yet he gate and Impetred of god space that he shold not theÌne deye lyued vnto the morn at none which thyng seyng Ioseph merueylled moche and byleued in Ihesu crist Saynt basille theÌne toke herte ouercam the feblenes of the body aroos out of his bedde wente to the chirche and with his propre handes baptysed the Iewe And after retorned to his bedde anon gaf vp his spirite rendryd his sowle vnto god aboute the yere of our lord iijClxx Thenne latâ vs praye to hym that he gete vs grace of our lord Ihesu cryst that he wyll foryeue vs all our synnes Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Basille Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Iohan the Almosner SAynt Iohan the Almosner was patriack of IhÌrlm he sawe on a tyme in a vision a moche fair mayde which had on her hede a crowne of olyue and whaÌ he sawe her he was gretly abasshid demauÌded her what she was this maide answere to hym I am mercy which brought fro heueÌ the sone of god yf thou wilt wedde me thou shalt fare the better TheÌne he vnderstandyng that tholyue bitâkeneth mercy he begaÌ that same day to be mercyful in suche wise that he was called almosner or amener and he called alleway the poure peple his lordes TheÌne he called his seruants said to theÌ goo thurgh the cite write ye all the names of my lordes and whan he sawe that they vnderstode not his wordes he said to them they ben they that ye calle poure meÌdiauÌtes I calle theÌ my lordes and I saye they be my helpers and trust it wel that they mowe helpe gete me the kyngdoÌ of heuene And by cause he wold styre the peple to do almesse he said that whan the poure men were ones to gydre wermyng theÌ ayenst the sonne they begaÌ to telle who were good almesmen theÌ wold they âreyse and blame them that werr euyll emong all other he told this narracion Ther was somtyme a tollar named peter in a cite was a moche riche maÌ but he was not pyteous but cruel to poure peple For he wold hunte chace away poure peple beggars froÌ his hous with indignacion angre Thus wold no poure man come to hym for almesse TheÌne was there j poure man said to his felaws what wil ye gyue me yf I gete of hym an almesse this day And they made a wager with hym that he shold not which don he wente to this tollars hous stode at the yate demanded almesse And whan this riche man cam and sawe this poure man at his yate he was moche angry and wold haue caste somwhat at his heed but he coude fynde nothyng tyl atte last cam one of his seruants beryng a basket ful of brede of Rye and in a grete angre he toke a rye loof threwe it at his hede as he that myght not here the crye of the poure man and he toke vp the loof ranne to his felaws sayd truly that he had receyued that loof of petres owne hande And theÌne within ij dayes after this riche man was seke lyke for to deye And as he laye he was
thaÌ god is not worthy to be with god A man that semed to be her frende sente her word on a tyme that she had grete nede to kepe wel her brayne For by cause of thardeur that she had in vertues she semed to be out of her witte And she answerd In thys world we be reputed as fooles for the loue of Ihesu cryst And our lord said to his appostles the world hateth you For ye be not of the world yf ye were of the world that is to saye of the conuersion of the world the world shold loue you Fayr lord god we mortyfye our self allewaye and we be reputed as sheep that be brought to deth by cauââ that without playnyng we mortefye our bodyes In suche pacience was she vnto the deth and suffred humbly thenuye of them that were euyll She had in her mynde the holy scriptures And she helde her more to the spyrituel vnderstondyng than to thystoryes of the scripture She coude parfyghtly hebrewe greke latyn frensshe and redde coursably the scriptures in thyse foure langages who may recounte wythout wepyng the deeth of this woman She fylle in a maladye mortall and sawe wel that she shold deye For all her body bycam cold And she felte that her spirite helde her in her brest Thenne said she wythout playnyng and with out hauyng ony charge sauf to god Fayr swete lord I haue coueyted the beaute of thy hous for to be in thyn habytacion that is so fayr My sowle hath desired to be in thy Royame And whaÌ I demaunded her wherfor she spack nomore And she wold not answere me and I asked yf she suffred grete payne she said to me in grekis tongue that she was wel and in good peas And anone she lefte spekyng te me and closed her eyen in sayeng to god Lord lyke as the herte desireth to come to the fontayne so desireth my sowle to come to the Alas whan shal I come to the fayr lord god And in sayeng thyse wordes she made a crosse vpoÌ her mouth There were bysshoppis prestes clerkes chanones and monkes wythout nombre And atte laste whan she herd her spowse Ihesu cryst whyche callid her sayeng Aryse and come to me my swete loue and fayr espowse For the wynter is passed she answerd gladly the flowres ben shewde in our contrey And I byleue that I shal see the goodes in the Royame of heuene of my lord Ihesu cryst And thus she rendred her sowle and passed out of thys world And anone all the congregacioÌ of vyrgynes made no crye in wepyng as don the peple of the world but redde deuoutly their psaltier not only vnto the tyme that she was buryed but all the day all the nyght with grete payne coude not EustochiuÌ her venerable doughter the virgyne be withdraweÌ fro her but she kyssed her and embraced her pyteously in wepyng the deth of her moder And Ihesus wytnesseth that saynt paulyne left not one peny to her doughter she hadde so gyueÌ almesse of alle her grete Rychesse many gyue largely for goddes sake but they gyue not somoche but somÌe abydeth whan she was passed as said is her lyppes ne her face were not pale but was as reuerent to loke on as she had ben yet alyue She was buryed in a sepulture in bethleem wyth right grete honour bÌy the bysshoppis preestis clerkes monkes vyrgyns and all the poure peple of the contrey whyche playned that they had loste their good moder that had nourisshed them She lyued in Rome holyly xxxiij yere And in bethleem xx yere And alle her age was liij yere vij monethes and xx dayes fro the tyme of honoure Emperour of Rome Thenne late vs praye to thys holy woman that she praye for vs Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Pawlyne Here foloweth of saynt Iulien the bysshop And first the interpretacion of hys name IUlien is as moche to saye as Iubilus Syngyng and ana that is an hye And therof Iulyen as goyng to hye thynges in syngyng Or it is said Iulius that is as moche to saye as not wyse and anus that is old For he was old in the seruyce of god and not wyse in reputacion of hym self SAynt Iulyen was bysshop of cenomanence It is said that it was he that was said SymoÌ the lepre wham our lord heled of hys meselârye and bad Ihesu cryst to dyner And after thascencion of our lord he was ordeyned of thappostles bysshop of Emaus full of grete vertues he appyered to the world he reysed thre dede meÌ and after he ended hys dayes in grete preysyng of god Of thys saynt Iulyen somÌe saye that this is he that pylgryms and weyfaryng men calle and requyre for good herberowe by cause our lord was lodged in hys hows but it semeth better that it is he that slewe hys fader and moder ignorauÌtly of whom thystorye is here after Ther was another Iulyen born in almayne whyche was of noble lygnage and yet more noble in fayth and in vertue whyche for the grete desire that he had to be martir he offrid hym self to the tyrauntis where he had not forfayted Now it happed that crispmus whyche was one of the gouernours of rome sente to hym one of hys mynystres for to put hym to deth anon as the mynystre cam to hym he yssued out of hys place And cam to fore hym And offred to hym to suffre deth And hys heed was smeten of And they toke the hede and shewde it to saynt Feryel that was hys felowe And sayd they wold so doo of hym yf he sacrefyed not And by cause he wold not obeye to them they slewe hym And toke the heed of saynt Iulyen and the body of saynt Feryoll and buryed them bothe in one pytte And a grete whyle after saynte mamertyne bysshop of vyane fonde the heed of saynt Iulyen bytwene the handes of saynt feryol also hoole as it had be buryed that same day ¶ âmong the other myracles of saynt Iulyen it is said that a deken toke alle the whyte sheep that were of the chyrche of saynt Iulyen And the shepherdes defended them but he sayd to them that saynt Iulyen ete neuer no motoâ And anon after a feuer toke hym so grete and hooot that he knowleched that he was of the martir so brente And he dyde water to be caste on hym for to cole hym And anon yssued out of hys body suche a fume and smoke and therwith so grete a stenche that all they that were present were constrayned to flee and anon after he deyde ¶ Another myracle happed of a man of a vyllage that on a sânday wolde ere hys londes and whan he toke the share to make clene hys cultre hyt cleuyd to hys hond and two yere after atte prayer of saynt Iulien in the chyrche he was helâd ¶ Ther was another Iulyen whyche was brother to one named Iulie Thyse two brethern wente to themperour Theodose whyche was a very crysten man
And they prayd hym that they myght destroye alle thydolles that they myght fynde And that they myght edefye chyrches eth whyche thyng themperour graunted them And wrote that all men shold obeye them and helpe them vpon payne to lose their hedes Now it happed that they edefyed a chirche and all men by the comandement of themperour obeyed and heelp them ¶ It happed that there were somÌe men that ladde a carte whyche shold passe by and thought how they myght doo and passe without arestyng for to helpe them they thoughte that one of theÌ shold lye on the carte as he were deed And therby they wold excuse them And so they dyde and bad hym that laye in the carte to holde his eyen cloos tyl they were passed the paas And whan they cam in the place where they edefyed the chyrche Iulien and Iulie his broder sayd to them my sones tarye a whyle and come helpe vs to werke they answerd that they myght not For they caryed a dede man Saynt Iulien said to them why lye ye so they answerd Syre we lye not it is soo as we saye to you And saynt Iulyen sayd to them so mote falle to you as ye saye And anon they droof forth theyr oxen and passed forth And whan they were passed a lytyl they called theyr felawe that he shold aryse and dryue forth the oxen for to goo the faster And he answerd not one word And they called hym agayn on hye and sayd art thou out of thy wytte aryse vp and dryue forth the beestys and he meued ne spack not one worde They wente vp and dyscoueryd hym and fonde hym dede as saynt Iulyen had sayd to them Thenne toke they suche drede and fere that after that they ne none otheer that herd of the myracle durste ly nomore to fore the holy seruaunt of god Another Iulyen ther was that slewe hys fader and moder by ygnourauÌce And thys man was noble and yong and gladly wente for to hunte And one tyme emonge all other he fonde an herte whyche retorned to ward hym and said to hym thou huntest me that shalt slee thy fader moder herof was he moche abasshed and aferd And for drede that it shold not happen to hym that the herte had sayd to hym he wente pryuely away that noman knewe therof And fonde a prynce noble and grete to whome he put hym in seruyse And he preued so wel in bataylle and in seruices in hys palays that he was so moche in the prynces grace that he made hym knyght And gaf to hym a ryche wydowe of a Castell and for her doware he receyued the castell And whan hys fader and moder knewe that he was thus goon they put hem in the waye for to seke hym in many places And so longe they wente tyl they cam to the castel where he dwelled but thenne he was goon out and they fonde hys wyf And whan she sawe them she enquyred dylygently who they were And whan they had sayd and recounted what was happend of theyr sone she knewe veryly that they were the fader and moder of theyr husbonde And receyuyd them moche charytably And gaf to them her owne bedde And made another for her self And on the morn the wyf of Iulyen wente to the chyrche And her husbond come home whyles she was at chyrche And entred in to hys chambre for to awake his wyf And he sawe tweyne in his bedde And had wende that it had ben a man that had leyen wyth his wif And slewe them bothe wyth his swerd ¶ And after wente out and sawe his wyf comyng fro chyrche Thenne he was moche abasshed and demanded of his wyf who they were that laye in his bedde thenne she said that they were hys fader and hys moder whyche had longe sought hym And she had leyed them in hys bedde ¶ Thenne he swowned and was almost deed And began to wepe bytterly and crye Alas caytyf that I am what shal I doo that haue slayn my fader and moder Now it is happened that I supposed to haue eschewed And said to hys wyf Adieu And fare well my ryght dere loue I shal neuer reste tyl that I shal haue knwleche yf god wylle pardone and foryeue me thys that I haue don and that I shal haue worthy penaunce therfore And she answerd Ryght dere loue god forbede that ye shold goo wythout me lyke as I haue had Ioye wyth you so wyl I haue payne and heuynesse Thenne departed they and wente tyl they cam to a grete ryuer ouer whyche moche folk passed where they edeffyed an hospytall moche grete for to herberowe poure peple And ther doo theyr penaunce in beryng men ouer that wold passe After longe tyme saynt Iulyen slepte aboute mydnyght sore traueylled and it was frozn and moche colde And he herd a voys lamentyng and cryeng that said Iulien come and helpe vs ouer And anon he aroos and wente ouer and fonde one almost deed for colde and anon he toke hym and bare hym to the fyre and dyde grete laboure to chauffe and warme hym And whan he sawe that he coude not be chaufed ne warme he bare hym in to hys bedde and couerd hym the best wyse he myght And anon after he that was so seke and appiered as he had be meselle he sawe all shynyng assendyng in to heuen and said to saynt Iulien hys hoost Iulien oure lorde hath sente me to the and sendeth the worde that he hath accepted thy penaunce And a whyle after seynt Iulien hys wyf rendrid vnto god their soules departed out of this world Another Iulien ther was but he was no saynct but a cursed man and was called Iulianus apostata Thys Iulyen was first a monke and shewyng out ward signes of grete religion and of grete holynesse after that that mayster Iohan beleth reciteth Ther was a woman that had thre pottes ful of gold And by cause the gold shold not be seyn she had put in the mouth of the potte abouen asshes And delyuerd them to thys Iulien to fore other monkes for to kepe whom she reputed an holy man but she said not to hym that they were ful of gold whan he had thyse pottes he loked what was therin and he fond that it was gold and toke it out all And fylle them ful of asshes And fledde wyth all to Rome And dyde so moche that he was of the counceyllours and gouernours of Rome But the woman whan she wold haue a gayn her pottes she coude not preue that she had delyueryd to hym in kepyng gold For she made no meÌcion therof to fore the monkes And therfor he reteyned it and procured wyth all thoffyce of a consul of the gouernaunce of Rome And after that he procured somoche that he was instytued emperour whylis he was yong he was taught in the arte of enchauntement and of thynuocacions of feendes And gladly he studyed and it plesed hym moche and had wyth hym dyuerse
vs praye to the gloryouse virgyne marye that she kepe vs fro the deuyll And that we may by her come to the glorye of heuen To the whyche brynge vs the fader the sone and the holy ghoost amen Thus endeth the anunciacion of our blessyd Lady Here begynneth the lif of saynt Seconde knyght SAynt seconde was a noble and valyaunt knyght and gloryous martir of our lord Ihesu cryst And suffred hys passion and was crowned wyth the palme of martirdom in cyte of Astence by whos gloryous presence the sayd cyte was enbelisshyd and for a synguler patron eÌnoblysshid And thys holy man seconde was enformed in the fayth of the blessyd maÌ Calatero whyche was holden in pryson by the prouoste Sapryce in the sayd cyte of Astence And whan marcianus was holden in pryson in the cyte of tredonence Sapryce the prouost wold goo thyder for to make hym do sacrefyse And saynt seconde moche desiryng to see saynt marcyane wente wyth hym as it had ben by cause of Solace And anone as they were out of the cyte of Altence a whyte douue descended vpon saynt secondes heed To whom sapryce sayd See seconde how our goddes loue the whyche sende byrdes fro heueÌ to vysite the And whan they cam to the ryuer of tanagre saynt seconde sawe thangele of god goyng vpon the flood and sayeng to hym Seconde see that thou haue ferme fayth and thus shalt thou goo aboue them that worshâppe ydolles Thenne Sapryce sayd brother seconde I here the goddes spekyng to the To whom saconde sayd late vs walke vnto the desyres of our herte And whan they cam to another flood that hyght buryn that same angel aforesayd saide Seconde byleuest thou in god or parauenture thou doubtest To whom seconde sayd I byleue veryly the trouthe of hys passion Thenne sayd Sapryce what is that I here And seconde sayd nothyng whan they shold entre in to trydone by the comaÌdement of the angele Marcianus yssued out of pryson and appierid to seconde sayeng Seconde entre in to the waye of trouthe and receyue the victorye of fayth Sapryce sayd who is he that speketh to vs as it were in a dreme To whom Seconde sayd it may be wel to the a dreme but to me it is Admonicion and a comforte After thys seconde wente to melane And the angele of god brought faustyn Ionathan whyche were holden in prison out of the cyte to seconde And of them he receyued baptesme And a cloude mynystred water for to baptyse hym wyth And sodenly a douue descended fro heuen bryngyng vnto faustyn and Ionatyn the blessyd sacrament And faustyn delyuerd it to seconde for to bere it to marciane Thenne seconde retorned whan it was nyght weÌte to the Ryuer named pade And the angele of our lord toke the brydle of the hors and ledde hym ouer the Ryuer ladde hym vnto trydone and sette hym in the prysone where marciane was And seconde delyuerd to marciane the yefte that faustyn had sente to hym And receyuyng it sayd the blessid body of our lord Ihesu cryste be wyth me in to euerlastyng lyf ¶ Thenne by the comandement of thangele Seconde wente out of pryson and wente vnto hys lodgyng ¶ After thys marciane receyued sentence to haue hys heed smeton of And so it was don And thenne seconde toke hys body and buryed it And whan sapryce herd herof he dyde do calle seconde to hym and sayd By thys that I see the doo I see wel that thou art a crysten man To whom seconde sayd Veryly I know leche me to be a crysten man thenne sapryce said Loo how desirest thou to deyâ an euyl deth To whoÌ seconde sayd that deth is more due to the than to me And whan seconde wold not sacrefyse to thydollis he comanded to be despoylled all naked And anon the angele of god was redy hym cladde in a better clothyng than he had to fore Thenne Sapryce comanded hym to be hanged on an instrumÌt named eculee of which two endes stonde on the ground and ij vpward lyke saynt Andrews crosse and theron he was honged tyl hys Armes were out of Ioynte but our lord restored hym anon to helthe And thenne he was comanded to goo in to pryson And whan he was there thangele of our lord cam to hym and sayd Aryse Seconde and folowe me And I shal lede the to thy maker And he ledde hym fro thens vnto the cyte of Astence And brought hym in to the pryson where Caleocerus was and our blessyd saueour wyth hym And whan seconde sawe hym he fyl doun at hys feet And our sauyour sayd to hym Be not aferd seconde For I am thy lord god that shal kepe the from all euyl And thenne he blessyng hym ascended to heuene On the morn Sapryce sente vnto the pryson whyche they fonde fast shette but they fonde not second Thenne sapryce wente fro trydone the cyte vnto Astence for to punysshe Caleocere And whan he was come he sente for hym for to be presented to fore hym And they said to hym that seconde was wyth hym And anon he comanded that they shold be brought to fore hym to whom he said By cause that my goddes knowe you to be despysers of them they wyl that ye bothe deye to gydre And by cause they wold not doo sacrefise to hys goddes he dyde do mylte pitche and rosyn comanded to be caste vpon theyr heedes and in theyr mowthes They dranke it wyth grete desyre as it had ben most swetest water And sayd wyth a clere voys O lord how thy wordes ben swete in our mowthes Thenne sapryce gaf vpon them sentence that saynt Seconde shold be beheded in the cyte of Astence And Caleocerus shold be sente to Albigarye and there to be punysshyd whan thenne saynt Seconde was byheded thangellis of our lord toke hys body buryed it with moche worshyppe and praysyng he suffrid hys deth the thyrde kalendes of apryl Late vs praye thenne that he praye for vs to our lord Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Seconde martir Here begynneth the lyf of Marie Egypciaca MArye the Egypcien whyche was called a synnar ledde and lyuyd the most strayt lyf and sharp that myght be xlvij yere in deserte In that tyme was a good holy and relegious monke named zozimas and wente thurgh the deserte whyche lyeth by yonde the flome Iordan And moch desired to fynde somÌe holy fadres And whan he cam fer and depe in the deserte he fonde a creature which was all black ouer all her body of the grete hete and brennyng of the sonne whyche wente in that deserte And that was thys marye egypciaca aforsaid But assone as she sawe Zozimas come she fledde and Zozimas after And she taryed And sayd Abbote Zozimas wherfore folowest thou me haue pyte and mercy on me For I dar not torne my face toward the by cause I am a woman also naked but caste thy mantel vpon me by
is thy name he answerd anone and sayd I am named george I am a gentyl man a knyght of capadoce and haue lefte al for to serue god of heuen Thenne the prouoste enforced hym sefl to drawe hym vnto his feythe by fayre wordes whan he myght not brynge hym therto he dyd doo reyse hym on a gylet soo moche bete hym with grete staues and broches of yron that his body was alle to broken in pyeces And after he dyd doo take brondes of yron and ioyne them to his sydes and his bowellys whiche thenne appyeryd he dyd doo frote wyth salte And soo sente hym in to pryson but our loord appyered to hym the same nyght wyth grete lyght and comforted hym moche swetely And by this grete consolacion he took to hym soo good herte that he doubted no tormeÌt that they myght make hym suffre Thenne whan dacian the prouost sawe that he myght not surmounte hym he called hys enchaunter and sayd to hym I see that these cristen peple doubte not our tormentes ThenchauÌtour bonde hym self vpon his heed to be smyten of yf he ouercome not his craftes Thenne he dyd take stronge venym and medled hyt wyth wyne and made Inuocacion of the names of his false goddes and gafe hyt to Saynt George to drynke Saynt george took hit and made the signe of the crosse on hit and anone dranke it without greuyng hym ony thynge Thenne the Enchaunteur made it more stronger than hit was tofore of venym and gaue it hym to drynke And hit greuyd hym no thynge whan the enchaunteur sawe that he knelyd doun at the feet of saynt george and prayed hym that he wold make hym crysten And whan dacyen knewe that he was becomen crysten he made to smyte of his heed And after on the morne he made saynt George to be sette betwene two wheles whiche were ful of swerdes sharpe and cuttyng on bothe sydes But anone the wheles were broken Saynt george escaped wythout hurte And thenne commaunded dacian that they shold put hym in a cawdren full of molten leed whan saynt george entred therin by the vertu of our lord hym semed that he was in a bayne wel at ease Thenne dacyen seyng thys began to aswage his yre and to flatre hym by fayre wordes and said to hym George the pacyence of our goddes is ouer grete vnto the whiche hast blasphemyd them and done to them grete despyte thenne fayre and right swete sone I praye the that thou retorne to our lawe and make sacrefyse to the ydolles and leue thy folye and I shal enhaunce the to grete honour and worshyp Thenne began saynt George to smyle and sayd to hym wherfore saydest thou not to me thus at the begynnyng I am redy to do as thou sayest Thenne was dacyan gladde and made to crye ouer alle the towne that alle the peple shold assemble for to see George make sacrefyse which so moche had stryued there ageynst Thenne was the cyte arayed and feste thorugh out al the towne and al came to the temple for to see hym whan saynt George was on his knees and they supposed that he wold haue worshypped thydolles he prayed our lord god of heuen that he wold destroye the temple and thydolle in the honoure of his name For to make the peple to be conuerted And anone the fyre descended fro heuen and brente the temple and thydolles and theyr preestes And sythe the erthe opened and swalowed alle the cendres and asshes that were lefte Thenne dacien made hym to be broughte tofore hym and sayd to hym what ben the euyl dedes that thou hast doon and also grete vntrouthe Thenne sayd to hym saynt george A syr beleue it not but come wyth me see how I shal sacrefye Thenne sayd dacyan to hym I see wel thy frawde thy barate thou wylt make the erthe to swalowe me lyke as thou hast the temple and my goddes Thenne sayd saynt george O caytyffe telle me how may thy goddes helpe the whan they may not helpe them self Thenne was dacyan soo angry that he sayd to hys wyf I shal deye for angre yf I may not surmounte and ouercome thys man Thenne sayd she to hym euyl and cruel tyraunt ne seest thou not the grete vertue of the crysten peple I sayd to the wel that thou sholdest not doo to them ony harme For theyr god fyghteth for them And knowe thou wel that I wyl become crysten Thenne was dacyân moche abasshed sayd to hir wylt thou be crysten theÌne he took hir by the here and dyd do bete hyr cruelly Thenne demaunded she of saynt george what may I become by cause I am not crystenyd Thenne answerd the blessyd george doubte the no thynge fayre doughter For thou shalt be baptysed in thy blood Thenne began she to worship our lord IhÌu crist and so she deyed and wente to heuen On the morne dacian gaue his senteÌce that saynt George shold be drawen thorugh alle the citee And after his heed shold be smyten of Thenne made he his prayer to our lord that alle they that desyred ony bone myght gete of our lord god in his name and a voys cam from heuen whiche sayd that hyt whiche he had desyred was graunted and after he had made his oryson his heed was smyten of aboute the yere of our lord ijClxxxvij Whan Dacyen wente homeward fro the place where he was byheded toward hys paleys Fyre fyl doun fro heuen vpon hym brente hym and alle hys seruauntes Gregore of Turonense telleth that there were somme that bare certeyn relyques of saynt george and came in to a certeyn oratorye in an hospytal and on the mornyng whan they shold departe they coude not meue the dore tyll they had lefte there parte of their relyques It is also founden in thystorye of antyoche that whan the cristen men went ouer see to coÌquere Iherusalem that one a right fayre yonge man appered to a preest of the hooste counceylled hym that he shold bere wyth hym a lytel of the reliques of saynt george For he was conduytour of the batayle and so he dyd so moche that he had somme And whan hit so was that they had assyeged Iherusalem durst not mouÌte ne goo vp on the walles for the quarellys and defence of the sarasyns they sawe appertely saint george which had whyte armes with a reed crosse that wente vp tofore them on the walles they folowed hym And so was Ierusalem taken by his helpe bytwene Iherusalem and porte Iaphe by a towne callyd ramys is a chapell of saynt george whiche is now desolate and vncouerd and therin dwelle crysten grekys And in the sayd chapel lyeth the body of saynt george but not the heed And there lyen hys fader and moder and his vncle not in the chapel but vnder the walle of the chapel And the kepars wyl not suffre pylgrymes to come therin but yf they
goo in to deserte wiâhout greuyng or doyng ony harme to ony persone anone he departed with out apperyng after forthwith saynt phylip heled al them that were seek reysed the thre that were dede were al baptised preched to them the space of a yere the fayth of Ihesu crist whan he had ordeyned prestes dekens after he departed came in to the cyte of Ierapolym in asye where he destroyed the heresye of the Iheronyques whiche sayd preched that Ihesu crist had not taken veray flessh humayn but onely the semblauÌce of the body humayn In this cite were his ij doughters by whome our lord had conuerted moche peple to the cristen feyth saynt phelip tofore his deth made to come tofore hym al the bisshoppes vij dayes tofore his deth also al the preestes said to them these vij dayes hath our lord gyuen to me respyte for to warne you to do wel he was of the age of lxxxvij yere after this the paynyms toke helde hym fastenyd hym to the crosse like vnto hys mayster so he yelded vp his sowle deyed his body was worshypfully buryed there his ij doughters deyed longe after hym and were also buryed that one on the right syde that other on the lyfte syde of the body of their fader Ysodore writeth in the book of the lyf deth of sayntes saith that philip preched to the frensshmen to men that were in derkenes he enlighted them in the feyth after be was taken in the cite of Iherapolym of the paynyms and of them stoned crucefyed of whome the martiloge of holy chirche speketh not but of another philip which was one of the vij dekens saynt Iherom saith in the martilogye that he was buryed in the cite of cezayr where god shewed many fayre myracles for hym besyde whome iij of his doughters ben buryed and the fourth doughter lyeth at ephesym The fyrst phylyppe differenceth fro this philip For he was apostle this was a dekene thappostle resteth at Iherapolym and the dekene at Cezaire he had two doughters and this foure Though historia ecclesiastico saith that philippe the appostle had iiij doughters prophetesses but it is ãâã more to byleue saynt Iherome Thenne lete vs praye to the holy appostle saynt phelyppe that he praye for vs to oure lord that we may come to his blysse amen ¶ Thus endeth The lyf of the blessyd appostle saynt philip ¶ And here foloweth of saynt Iames the lasse IAmes is as moche to say as supplantour or supplantyng a feste or makyng redy or Iames is said of Ia of cobar which is as moche to saye as the burthen or weyght of god or Iames may be said of Iaculo a darte cope smytyng which is to say smeten with a darte or smeten with glayues he was said a supplantour of the world for he despysed hit in supplantyng the feste for he supplanted the deuyl he is said makyng redy for alweye he made redy his body to do wel for as gregore of nycene saith we haue in vs thre euyl passyons whiche comen of euyl norisshyng or of right false conuersacion or of euyl custome of the body or of the vyce of ignorauÌce they ben cured by good conuersacion for to haunte studyes of good exersitacion of doctryne So theÌne the blessid Iames is escryed for he was alwey redy in his body to al good he is sayd the burthen or weyghte of good or godly maners that he vsed by exercitacion of vertues he was smeten wyth glayues by marterdom ¶ Of saynt Iames the lasse IAmes the appostle is said the lasse how wel that he was elder of age than was Saynt Iames the more by cause lyke as is in relygyon he that entred fyrst is called ayne and grete he that cometh after shal be called lasse though he be the older and in this wyse was thys saynt Iames called the lasse he was called also the broder of our lord by cause he resembled moche wel our lord in body in vysage and of manere he was called Iames the Iuste for his right grete holynesse Far saint Iherome recordeth that he was so holy that the peple sârâf how they myght touche the hemme of his robe or mantel he was also called Iames the sone of alphey this Iames was euer holy after that he yssued out of his moders wombe he neuer dranke wyne mede ne sydre ne neuer ete flesshe ne neuer rasour touched his heed ne he neuer baygned he knelyd so ofte in prayers that his knees were as harde as the horne of a camel he sange in Iherusalem the fyrst masse that euer was songe therin he was fyrst bysshop of Iherusalem Ioseph recordeth that he had auowed at the deth of our lord that he wold neuer ete tyl our lord were rysen fro deth to lyf theÌne on ester day our lord apperid to hym said ãâã the table fayr broder ete for the sone of the virgyn is rysen fro deth to lyfe Thenne toke he the breed and made the benediction and gaue it to hym The seuenth yere after the appostles assembled in Ierusalem on ester day there saynt Iames demaundyng what god had done by them tofore the peple that they shold telle and whan saynt Iames had preched seuen dayes in the temple with the other appostles Cayphas and somme other wold haue ben baptyzed And thenne entryd in a man sodeynly in to the temple and said cryeng O ye syrres what wyl ye doo why suffre ye thus to be dysceyued of thyse enchauntours be ye ware kepe you that they dysceyue you not he moeuyd so moche the people that they wold haue stoned the appostles Thenne thys felowe wente vp to the lectron where as saynt Iames preched and threwe hym doun bacwarde and fro thenne forthon euer after he halted And thys was doon the vij yere after the ascencion of our lord And he was bysshop there by the space of xxx yere And in his xxx yere whan the Iewes sawe that they myght not slee Saynt Poule bycause he had appeled to the Emperour to Rome and was sente forthe to Rome they torned al theyr persecusyon ageynst saynt Iames and sayd to hym the peple is dysceyued for they supposed that your Ihesus were messyas Thenne for as moche as thou arte moche byleuyd we praye the that thou assemble the peple and that thou stonde vp on hye and shewe to them that it is not he For thou arte so iuste that We alle shal byleue in the Thenne saynt Iames wente vp on the fronte of the temple on ester day and alle the peple were assembled bynethe Thenne sayde the Iewes to hym wyth an hye voys Right Iuste trewe man we knowe wel that thou shalt not lye Shewe to vs of Ihesus that was hanged vpon the crosse that whiche thou knowest for al the world is dysceyued Thenne answerd he with
In the name of Ihesu Cryste be thou clensyd from al thy lepre Anone alle hys fylthe fyl aweye and a fayre newe skyn apperyd on hys body so that he semed alle a newe man Also as Saynt Austyn came in to oxford shyre to a towne that is called comâon to preche the worde of god To whome the curate sayd holy fader the lord of thys lordshyp hath ben oftymes waâned of me to paye his tythes to god and yet he wythholdeth them therfore I haue cursed hym I fynde hym the more obstynate To whome saynt austyn sayd sone why payest thou not thy tythes to god and to the chyrche knowest thou not that the tythes be not thyn but bylongen to god And thenne the knyght sayd to hym I knowe wel that I tyle the grounde wherfore I ought as wel to haue the tenthe sheef as the ix and whan saynt austyn coude not torne the knyghtes entente thenne he departed from hym and wente to masse or he began he charged that al they that there were acursed shold goo out of the chyrche thenne roos a dede body wente out in to the chircheyerde with a whyte clothe on his heed stood styl there tyl the masse were doon And thenne saynt austyn wente to hym and demaunded hym what he was and he answerd and said I was somtyme lord of thys towne bycause I wold not paye my tythes to my curate he acursed me and so I deyed and wente to helle and thenne saynt austyn bad hym brynge hym to the place where his curate was buryed And thenne the caryon broughte hym thyder to the graue by cause that al men shold knowe that lyf and deth ben in the power of god saynt austyn said I commauÌde the in the name of god to aryse for we haue nede of the theÌne he aroos anone and stood before al the peple To whome saynt Austyn sayd thou knowest wel that our lorde is mercyful and I demaunde the broder yf thou knowest this man and he said ye wold god that I had neuer knowen hym for he was a wythholder of hys tythes and in al his lyf an euyl doar thou knowest that our lord is mercyful and as longe as the paynes of helle endure lete vs also be mercyful to al crysten and thenne saynt austyn delyuerd to the curate a rodde and there the knyght knelyng on his knees was assoyled and thenne he commaunded hym to goo ageyn to his graue and there to abyde tyl the day of dome and he entryd anone in to his graue and forthwyth fyl to asshys and pouldre And thenne saynt austyn sayd to the preest how longe hast thou layen here he sayd an hondred fyfty yere and thenne he askyd how it stood with hym and he said wel holy fader for I am in euerlastyng blysse and thenne sayd saynt austyn wylt thou that I praye to almyghty god that thou abyde here wyth vs to conferme the hertes of men in veray beleue and thenne he said nay holy fader for I am in a place of reste and thenne sayd saynt Austyn goo in pees and praye for me and for al holy chyrche and he thenne entred ageyn in to his graue and anone the body was torned in to erthe Of this syght the lord was sore aferde and came al quakyng to saynt austyn and to his curate and demaunded foryeuenes of his trespaas and promysed to make amendes and euer after to paye his tythes and to folowe the doctryne of saynt austyn After this saynt austyn entryd in to dorsetshyre and came in to a towne where as were wycked peple refused his doctryne and prechyng vtterly droof hym out of the towne castyng on hym the tayles of thornback or like fisshes wherfore he besought almyghty god to shewe his Iugement on them and god sente to them a shameful token For the chyldren that were borne after in that place had tayles as it is sayd tyl they had repented them It is sayd comynly that thys fyl at strode in kente but blessyd be god at this day is no suche deformyte Item in another place there were certeyn people whiche wold in no wyse gyue feyth to his prechyng ne hys doctryne but scorned and mocqued hym wherfore god toke suche vengeauÌce that they brennyd with fyre Inuysâble soo that theyr skyn was reed as blood suffred so grete payne that they were constrayned to come and axe foryeuenes of saynt austyn and theÌne he prayed god for them that they myght be acceptable to hym and receyue baptesme and that he wold relece theyr payne and thenne he crystened them that brennyng hete was quenchyd and they were made parfytely hool and feââe neuer after more therof On a tyme as Saynt austyn was in his prayers our lord apperyd to hym and comfortyng hym wyth a gentyl famylyer speche sayd O thou my good seruaunt and trewe be thou comforted and doo manly For I thy lord god am with the in al thyn affeccion and myn eerys ben open to thy prayers for whome thou demaundest ony petycion thou shalt haue thy desyre And the yate of euerlastyng lyf is open to the where thou shalt ioye with me without ende and in that same place where our lord sayd these wordes he fyxed his staffe in to the grounde and a welle of clere water sourded sprange vp in that same place the whiche welle is called cerne and it is in the contre of dorsete where as now is bylded a fayre abbey and is named cerne after the welle And the chyrche is bylded in the same place where as our lord apperyd to saynt austyn Also in the same contre was a yonge man that was lame dombe and deef and by the prayers of saynt austyn he was made hole and thenne sone after he was dyssolute and wanton and noyed and greuyd the peple wyth iangelyng and talkyng in the chyrche And thenne god sente to hym his olde Infyrmyte ageyn by cause of his mysguydyng and atte laste he fyll to repentaunce and asked god foryeuenes and saynt austyn and Saynt austyn prayed for hym and he was made hole ageyn the second tyme and after that he contynued in good and vertuous lyuyng to his lyues eyde And after this Saynt Austyn ful of vertues departed out of thys world vnto our lord god and lyeth buryed at caunterbu rye in the abbay that he founded there in the worshyp rewle Where as our lord god sheweth yet dayly many myracles and the thyrd day before the natyuyte of our lady is halowed the translacion of saynt austyn In whiche nyght a cytezeyn of caunterburye beyng that tyme at wynchestre saw heuen open ouer the chirche of saynt austyn and a brennyng laddre shynyg ful bryght and aungels comyng doun to the same chyrche And thenne hym thought that the chirche had brennyd of the grete lyght and bryghtnes that came doun on the laddre and
sorouful for god shal be alweye wyth the lyke as he hath promysed to vs sayeng loo I am alwey and shal be wyth you vnto the consummacion of the world Thus my swete broder he commaunded vs after hys resurrexyon sayeng Goo ye vnto thorugh the vnyuersal world preche the gospel to alle creatures that who shal byleue and shal be baptysed he shal be saued and they that wyl not so do shal be dampned whiche thynges my blessyd broder behoueth vs to kepe and put in effecte to the ende that we forgete not the commaundementes of god anone after thyse blessyd wordes saynt marcial toke leue of saynt peter and broughte with hym the two dysciples aforsayd that is to wete alphynyen and austrudynyen and departed lyke as god had commaunded to saynt peter Thus thenne as they wente and that they were wery and sore traueylled by the waye which was longe and greuous saynt austrudynyen departed out of thys world deyed whan saynt marcial sawe that he was deed he retorned in grete haste to rome and tolde to saynt peter that whiche was byfalle in theyr weye Whan Saynt Peter had herde hym he sayd retorne as hastely as thou mayst and take my burdon in thy honde and thou shalt come where thou hast lefte thy broder touche his body with thys burdon and anone he shal aryse and goo in thy companye as he dyd tofore Whan saynt marcial came ageyn to the corps he touched it wyth the burdon lyke as saynt Peter bad hym And anone he was reysed fro deth to lyf After whan saynt marcial had iourneyed longe by dyuers contreyes in longe prechyng and sowyng the word of god they came in to guyan vnto a castel callyd tulle and there were receyued of a ryche and a myghty man named arnold whiche had a doughter that dayly was tormentyd wyth the enemye Thus as saynt marcyall entryd in to the hows The fende began to crye sayeng I knowe wel now that I must yssue out of the body of thys mayde For the aungels of paradyse that been with the marcyal tormente me right greuously but I praye the by the name of hym that was crucâfyed whome thou prechest of that thou sende me not in to thabisme of helle Thenne saynt marcyal sayd to hym I coniure the in the name of Ihesu cryste that was crucefyed for us that thou yssue out of the body of this mayde neuer retorne ageyn but that thou goo vnto a place deserte where byrde ne fowle ne persone dwellyth with this commaundemente the mayde caste out the enemye and she fyl doun as deed Thenne saynt marcyal toke hyr by the hande and reysed hir vp and delyuerd hyr to hyr fader hool and saufe Holynes benygnyte with al humylite shoon in saynt marcial and was alweye in prayers Another myracle also our lord shewed by the prayere of saynt marcial in the same place The prynce of the sayd castel whiche was called nerua and was cosyn to the emperour nero had a doughter whiche was suffocate and murdred by the fende and was dede Thenne the fader and moder of the chylde that were moche sorouful and heuy wyth a grete parte of the people brought the body of the chylde tofore saynt marcial tenderly wepyng and sayeng to hym O man of god helpe vs at thys tyme thou seest how it is wyth vs whan saynt marcyal sawe the lamentacyon and the sorowe that they maad he had pyte on them and sayd wyth an hygh ãâã I praye you al as wel crysten as paynyms that ye wyl deuoutelye praye god almyghty that by his benygne grace hit please hym to gyue ageyn the lyf to thys chylde The two dysciples of saynt marcial and a fewe of cristen people that were there put theym to prayers and syth saynt marcial hymself made his prayer sayeng Syre I pray the in the name of thy blessyd dere sone and of thy good frende sanyt peter by thordenaunce and commandement of whom I am comen hyther That it please the to reyse thys chyld here to th ende that whan he shal be reysed many may beleue in thyn holy precious name Thenne saynt marcial trustyng in the helpe of god toke the chyld by the hande sayeng to hym In the name of our lord Ihesu cryste That of the Iewes for vs was crucyfyed and the thyrd day rose fro deth to lyf aryse vp and stand right on thy feet Anone the chyld aroos rizt vpon his feet and syth kneled doun to the feet of the holy man sayeng to hym O man of god I requyre the to baptyse me to th ende that I may be saued and marke me wyth the sygne of the holy crosse for other wyse may non be sawed but yf he be baptised anon saynt macial baptysed hym And with hym in the same place were wel crstyned also as wel men as wymen thre thousand and vjC And after this saynt marcyal wente and destroyed the ydolles and brought them to nought For thens wente saynt marcial and his two disciples departed and cam to lymoges where they were benyngly receyued of a matrone that was named susanne In whos presence saynt marcial heled one that was frenatyke whan the good woman susanne sawe the myracle that soo was made in her presence anone she and her meyne were baptysed After this saynt marcyal wente in to the temple where the prestes of the ydoles were The whiche bete hym greuously and syth put hym in pryson On the morn as he made his prayer ther descended a light so grete vpon him that men myght not beholde hym The chaynes of yron to breste and the dores of the pryson opend the kepers and they that were there requyred to be baptysed and the prestes that had so beten hym were smeton to deth by thondre and lyghtnyng Thenne the other that were there cam to saint marcyal in to the pryson and prayd hym that he wolde reyse them that so were smeton to deth by the thondre promisyng to hym that yf he so dyde they al wold be baptysed Thenne our lord by hys prayer reysed them ageyn fro deth to lyf Thenne that same tyme were torned to crysten faith baptysed xijMl creatures as men and wymen ¶ And after thys on a tyme deyde the holy woman susanne and tofore her deth she recomanded to saynt marcyal her doughter that was callyd valeriene whiche had promysed and auowed to our lord chastite as longe as she lyued after whan the holy mayde knewe that ther shold come to lymoges a lord named steuyn whiche was lorde of al the prouynce fro the ryuer of rosne vnto the see She was sore aferd leste he wold do to her ony gryef or noyance ayenst her auowe And gaf away al her richesses to poure folk for the loue of god whan the said steuen was come to limoges he made to do come tofore hym the holy mayde to th ende to haue his wylle of her but whan she
yere and departyd out of this world and deyed worthely the thyrd day of Ianyuer And was buryed in the mounte of parys called mounte par louer and now is callyd the mounte of saynt geneuefe in the chyrche of saynt Peter and Poule the whiche as sayd is at the begynnyng the kyng bowys somtyme named cloius dyd doo make by thenhortemente of this holy virgyn for the loue of whom he gaue grace to many prysonners al hyr departyng and after there were many fayr myracles whyche by neglygence by enuye and not retchyng were not wryton as he confessyd that put hir lyf in latyn exepte two whyche he sette in th ende of his book as here foloweth Vnto the sepulcre of the holy vyrgyn was broughte a yonge man that was soo seek of the stone that his frendys had no hope of lyf In grete wepyng and sorowe they brought hym thyder requyryng ayde of the holy vyrgyn Anone after theyr prayer the stone yssued and was forthwith alle hool as he had neuer been seek Another man came thyder that gladly wrought on the sonday Wherfore our lord punysshed hym for his handes were so bynommen and lame that he myght not werke on other dayes He repentyd hym and confessid his synne and came to the tombe of the said virgyne and there honoured and prayed deuoutelye and on the morne he retorned alle hool praysyng and thankyng our lord that by the worthy merites prayers of the holy virgyne graunte gyue vs pardon grace ioye êdurable After the dethe of the blessyd virgyne saynt geneuefe was assigned a lampe at hir sepulcre in whiche the oyle fourded and sprange lyke water in a welle or fontayn Thre fayre thynges shewyd our lord by this lampe for the fyre and lyght brennyd contynuelly The oyle lassed not ne mynysshed the seek peple were heled there Thus wrought our lord by the merites of the blessyd vyrgyne corporally Whiche moche more habundantly wyrcheth by hir merytes to the sowles spirituelly Many moo myracles hath our lord shewyd at her sepulcre whyche ben not here wryton for hit shold be âuer longe to remembre them al and yet dayly ben shewyd wherfore in euery necessyte and nede lete vs calle on thys glorious saynt the blessyd geneuefe that she be medyatryce vnto god for vs wretchid synnars that we may so lyue and amende vs in this present lyf that we may come whan we shall departe hens by hir merites vnto the lyf perdurable in heuen amen ¶ Thus endeth The lyf of saynt Geneuefe Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Maturyne SAint maturyn was borne of the dyosyse of sens and his fader was callyd maryn which by the commauÌdement of the emperour maxymyen persecuted moche strongely crysten men but his sone maturyne fro the tyme of his Infancye priuyly in his herte and in wyll was dysciple of Ihesu criste was moche sorowful of the predycacion of his fader moder for as moche as they were paynyms myscreauntes wherfore he prayed many tyme our lord IhÌu cryste that by his benygne grace he wold conuerte them So it happed on a nyght as he slepte a wys said to hym maturyn thy petycion is herde and graunted who anone aroos gaue and rendryd grete thankynges to our lord The moder of saynt maturyne beyng enspyred with the holy ghoost came to hym and sayd O my sone what rewarde what meryte shal we haue yf we byleue in Ihesu cryste as by many tymes thou hast desyred vs thenne saynt maturyne sayd to hir Moder I lete you wyte that after the general resurrexion body sowle shal haue ioye wythout ende and that so moche that herte humayn may not thynke ne tonge speke ne pronounce anone thenne the moder of saint maturyn wente to hir husbond his fader for to telle to hym what hyr sone had sayd To whome the fader sayd thus I haue thys nyght seen in a vysyon that our sone maturyne was entryd in to a shepcote and that there was delyuerd to hym a grete multytude of shep and theÌne they bothe two receyued the holy sacramente of baptesme of an holy bysshop named polycarpe whiche ordeyned and made saynt maturyn preest whan he was but xx yere olde After that that saynt mauryce and his felowes were marterd and that the peple of the romayns had suffryd many dyuerce trybulacions The emperour maxymyen had a doughter whiche had a wycked spyryte in hir body whiche tormentyd hyr moche and persecuted for whome hyr fader the emperour dyd do make many craftes of enchauÌtementes for to guarisshe and hele but hit auayled no thynge Thenne the fende that was wythin hyr cryed and sayd by the mowthe of the mayde O emperour it auayleth the nothynge that thou doest For I wyl not departe from hens tyl thou hast brouÈt hyther out of fraunce maturyn the seâuaunte of god whiche by his prayers shal gete helthe to thy doughter and vnto the peple and anone themperour wyth a grete multitude of peple wente to seche hym and broughte hym to rome vpon thys condycion that they shold swere promyse that yf it happed wat he deyed by the waye they shold brynge or sende hym to the place to be buryed where as they had taken hym and whan they came nyghe to rome the peple came ageynst hym and receyued hym moche reuerently And anone as he was comen to rome he helyd and delyuerd the doughter of themperour fro the handes of the fende Semblably all the other seek men that were presentyd to hym he helyd them Neuertheles it happed so that the day of the kalendys of nouembre he rendrid and gaue vp his sowle to god moche holyly Thenne took they the precious body and enoynted it wyth noble oynementes and beryed it wyth moche reuerence and whan they had leyed it in the erthe on the morne they came vnto the sepulture and fonde the holy body aboue the erthe nyghe vnto the same sepulture and thenne were they alle abasshed and wyste not what to do how be it whan one of the knyghtes that had broughte hym out of ffraunce had remembryd of the êmesse that they had made anone he sayd to the peple the cause wherfore it was And anone after by the commaundemente of the Emperour the knyghtes brought the body ageyn moche solempnely in to his contreye in a place where our lord by the merytes of the holy body hath shewyd many myracles and vertues Of whyche by the blessyd prayers hys Intercessyons we may haue parte Amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Maturyne ¶ Here foloweth of Saynt Uictor marter SAint Uictor the gloryous knyght marter in the tyme of anthonyn and aurelyen emperours was presented as a crysten man vnto a duc called Sebasten whyche wold haue made saynt victor do sacrefyse to thydolles to whom saynt vyctor answerd that he was a trewe knyght to Ihesu cryste that he wold not do sacrefise whan the duc vnderstode that he commaunded that his
spare this maÌ thou shalt be slayn and alle thy men Thenne seynt Leo wrote a pistle to fabyane bisshop of constantynople ayenst enticium and nestonum which he layde vpon the sepulcre of seynt Peter and was in contynuell fastynges and prayers sayeng O holy peter what that I haue erred in thys epystle as man thou to whome the cure of the chirche is commysed correcte amende And after xl dayes Peter apperid to hym prayeng and sayde I haue redde it and amended it Thenne leo toke the epistle and fond it corrected and amended with the handes of thappostle Other also xl dayes he was contynuelly in fastynges and prayers at the sepulcre of seynt Peter Bysechyng to gete hym forgyuenes of hys synnes To whom peter appered and sayd I haue prayed our lord for the and he hath forgyuen the alle thy synnes sauf only of thymposicion of thy honde thou shalt be examyned He deyed aboute the yere of our lord four hondred and sixty Thus endeth the lyf of Seynt Leon the Pope Here foloweth of Seynt peter thappostle and first of his name PEter had a grete Name For he was called Symon bariona symon is as Moche to saye as ryght obeysaunt or commysyng grete heuynesse bariona is as moche to saye as sone of a douue or of a culuer he was obedyent whan our lord callyd hym For atte voys of one only callyng he obeyed to our lorde he was coÌmysing heuynes and sorowe whan he renyed Ihesu cryst For he went out and wepte bitterly he was sonne of the douue For he serued god wyth symple Intencyon Secondly he was callyd Cephas whiche is as moche to saye as chief or stone or blamyng with the mouth he was sayd chief by reson of the pryncipalyte in prelacyon A stone by reson of his stedfastnes in his passyon blamyng with his mouth by reson of constauÌce in his prechyng Thirdly he was called peter whiche is as moche to say as knowyng on vnhosyng shoyng or vnbyndyng knowyng for he knewe the dygnyte of cryst whan he sayd thou art cryst sonne of the lyuyng god In vnhosyng and shoyng whan he vnshodde hys feet fro thaffectyon of alle dedely erthely werk sayeng loo we haue lefte alle thyng cÌ vnbyndyng For he hath vnbounden the bondes of synne And that was by the keyes that he receyued of our lorde And he had thre surnames he was sayd simon Iohanna whiche is as moche to saye as the beaute of our lord Secondly he was sayd symon IohaÌnis that is to saye to whom it is gyuen And thyrdly he is sayd Symon bariona that is to say sonne of the douue By whiche is gyuen to vnderstonden that he had beaute of maners yefte of vertues and habundance of teeres For the douue hath waylyng for her song This name peter Ihesus promysed to put to hym IohÌis primo Thou shalt be called cephas that is to saye Peter Secondly he dyd that he promysyd as it is sayd Mathei quarto And he named symon peter cÌ Thirdly he confermed it mathei xvj And I saye to the that thou art peter vpon thys stone cÌ his martirdom wrote marcellus linus papa Egesippus and leo the pope ¶ Of Seynt Peter SAynt Peter thappostle among al other aboue alle thother was of moost feruent and brennyng loue For he wold haue knowen the traytre that shold betraye our lord Ihesu cryst As seynt austyn sayth yf he had knoweÌ hym he wolde haue torn hym with his tethe And therfore our lord wold not name hym to hym For as Crisostome sayth yf he had named hym peter had arysen and alle to torn hym Peter went vpon the see he was chosen of god to be at his transfiguracoÌn And reysed a mayde from deth to lyf he fond the statere or piece of money in the fisshes mouth He receyued of our lord the keyes of the kyngdom of heueÌ he toke the charge to fede the sheep of IhÌu crist he conuerted at a whitsoÌtide thre thousand men he heled claude with IohÌn thenne conuerted v thousand men he sayde to Ananye and saphyre their deth byfore he heled Enee of the palscy he reysed thabyte he baptysed cornelye with the shadowe of his body he heled seek men He was putte in pryson by herode But by the angelle of our lorde he was delyuerd what his mete was and hys clothyng the boke of seynt Clement wytnessith For he sayde brede only wyth olyues and selde with wortes is myn vsage And I haue suche clothyng as thou seest a Cote and a mantel And whan I haue that I demaunde nomore It is sayd for certeyn that he bare alway a sudary in his bosom with whiche he wyped the teres that ran from his eyen For whan he remembryd the swete presence of our lord for the grete loue that he had to hym he myght not forbere wepyng And also whan he remembred that he had renyed hym he wepte habundauntly grete plente of teres In suche wyse that he was so acustomed to wepe that hys face was brent wyth teres as it semed lyke as Clement sayth And sayth also that in the nyght whan he herde the cocke crowe he wold wepe customably ¶ And after that it is redde in historia ecclesiastica That whan Seynt Peters wyf was ledde to her passyon ¶ He had grete ioye And called hyr by hir propre name and sayd to her My wyf remembre the of our lord On a tyme whan Seynt Peter had sente two of hys dysciples for to preche the faythe of Ihesu Cryst And whan they had goon twenty daye Iourneyes one of them deyed And that other thenne retorned to seynt peter and told hym what was happened Som say that it was seynt mercyal that so deyde ¶ And somme saye it was seynt maternus And other saye that it was seynt Franke Thenne seynt Peter gaf to hym hys staffe and coÌmaunded that he shold retorne to his felawe and lay hit vppon hym which he so dyd Thenne he whiche had ben xl dayes deed anone aroos al lyuyng That tyme Symon thenchauntour was in Ierusalem And he sayd he was first trouthe and affermed that who that wold byleue in hym he wold make them perpetuel And he also said that nothyng to hym was impossyble It is redde in the boke of seynt Clement That he sayd that he shold be worshipped of alle men as god and that he myght doo alle that he wold And he sayd yet more whan my moder Rachel coÌmaunded me that I shold go repe corne in the felde sawe the ziekle redy to repe with I commauÌded the siekle to repe by it self alone And it reped ten tymes more than ony other And yet he added herto more after Iherom And sayd I am the word of god I am the holy ghost I am almyghty I am al that is of god he made serpentes of brasse to moeue made thymages of yron and of stone to lawhe and dogges to synge
knowyng hym to be ouercomen in his herte Our mayster hath taught vs for to doo good for euyl Thenne said simon to peter poul yet is it not comeÌ to you that ye desyre for ye be not worthy to haue martirdom the which answerd that is that we desire to haue To the shal neuer be wel For thou lyest alle that thou sayest Thenne as marcel sayth Symon went to the hous of marcel and bond there a grete dogge black at the dore of the hous and sayd now I shall see yf peter whyche is accustomed to come hether shal come And yf he come this dogge shal strangle hym ¶ And a lytil after that peter and poul went theder And anon peter made the signe of the crosse and vnbond the hound And the hound was as tame and meke as a lambe and pursewed non but simon And went to hym toke cast hym to the grounde vnder hym and wold haue estrangled hym And thenne ran peter to hym and cryed vpon the hound that he shold not do hym ony harme And anon the hound lefte and touched not his body But he alle to rente and tare his goun in such wyse that he was almost naked Thenne alle the peple and specyally chyldren ran with the houÌd vpon hym And hunted and chased hym out of the toun as he had ben a wulf Thenne for the repreef and shame he durst not come in to the toun of alle an hole yere after Thenne Marcelle that was dissciple of symon magus seyng thyse grete myracles came to peter And was fro theÌne forthon hys disciple And after at the ende of the yere symon retorned and was receyued agayn in to thamyte of Nero And theÌne as leon seyth this symon magus assembled the peple shewd to them how he had ben angred of the galyleens ¶ And therfor he sayd that he wold leue the ate which he was wont to defend and kepe ¶ And sette a day in whiche he wold ascende in to heuen For he dayned nomore to dwell in therthe Thenne on the day that he had stablisshed lyke as he had sayd he went vp to an hye tour whiche was on the capytol And there beyng crouned with laurer threwe hym selfe out fro place to place and began to fle in thayer Thenne sayd saynt Poule to seynt peter hit aperteyneth to me to praye And to the for to comaunde Thenne sayd Nero this man is very god and ye ben two traytees thenne sayd seynt peter to seynt poul Poul brother lyfte vp thyn hede and see how simon fleeth Thenne seynt Poul sayd to seynt Peter whan he sawe hym flee so hye Peter Whi taryest thou performe that thou hast bygonne god now calleth vs Thenne sayd Peter I charge and coniure you Angelles of sathanas whiche bere hym in thayer by the name of our lord Ihesu cryst that ye bere ne susteyne hym no more but lat hym falle to the erthe And anon they lete hym falle to the grounde and brake his necke and hede and dyed there forthwyth ¶ And whan Nero herd saye that symon was deed and that he had loste suche a man He was sorouful and sayd to thappostles ye haue don thys in despyte of me And therfore I shalle destroy you by ryght euyl example Hec leo Thenne he delyuerd them to paulyn whiche was a moche noble man And paulyn dely uerd them to mamertyn vnder the kepyng of two knyghtes processe and martiniani Whom saint peter conuerted to the fayth And they thenne opened the pryson and lete them alle goo out that wold goo wherfore after the passyon of thappostles paulyne whan he knewe that they were crysten byheded both processe and martynyan The brethern thenne whan the pryson was opened prayed peter to goo thens and he wold not but atte last he beyng ouercomen by theyr prayers went awaye And whan he cam to the gate as leo witnesseth which is called scaÌ maria adpassus he mette IhÌu cryst comyng ayenst hym And peter sayd to hym Lord whither goost thou And he sayd to hym I goo to rome for to be crucyfyed agayn And peter demanded hym lord shalt thou be crucifyed agayn he sayd ye peter sayd then lord I shal retorne agayn theÌne for to be crucyfyed with the This sayd oure lord ascended to heuen Peter beholdyng it whiche wepte sore whan peter vnderstode that our lord had sayd to hym of hys passyon he retorned And whan he cam to hys brethern he told to them what our lord had sayde And anon he was taken of the mynystres of Nero was delyuered to the prouost agryppe theÌne was his face as clere as the sonne as it is sayde Thenne agrippe sayd to hym thou art he that glorifyest in the peple and in wymen that thou departest fro the bedde of theyr husbondes whom thappostel blamed sayd to hym that he glorifyed in the crosse of our lord IhÌu cryst Thenne peter was commaunded to be crucyfyed as a stranger and by cause that poul was a cytezeyn of rome hit was coÌmaunded that his hede shold be smeten offe And of this sentence gyuen ayenst them sent dionyse in a pistle to Tyimothe sayth in this wyse O my brother thymothe yf thou haddest seen thagonyes of the ende of theym thou sholdest haue fayled for heuynes sorowe who shold not wepe that hour whan the commaundement of the sentence was gyuen ayenst them that peter shold be crucified and poul be byheded thou sholdest theÌne haue seen the turbes of the Iewes and of the payneÌs that smote them and spitte in their vysages And whan the horrible tyme cam of theyr ende that they were departed that one fro that other they bond the pylers of the world but this was not withoute waylyng and wepyng of the brethern Thenne sayd seint poul to seint Peter Pees be with the that art foundement of the chirche and pastour of the schepe lambes of our lord Peter thenne sayd to poul go thou in pees precher of good maners Medyatour ledar and solace of rightful people And whan they were with drawen fer fro other I folowed my mayster They were not both slayn in on strete Thys sayth seynt dyonyse as leo the pope and marcelle witnessen whan peter came to the crosse he sayd whan my lord descended fro heuen to therthe he was put on the crosse right vp but me whom hit pleseth to call fro therth to heuen my crosse shall shewe my hede to therth and adresse my feet to heuen For I am not worthy to be put on the crosse lyke as my lord was Therfor torne my crosse crucyfye me my hede dounward thenne they torned the crosse and fastned his feet vpward and the hede dounward Thenne the peple wer angrye ayenst nero and the prouost and wold haue slayn hem by cause they made seint peter so to dye but he requyred them that they shold not lette his passyon as leo witnesseth Our
she sawe hym she went to prayer after aroos and the fende cam to her and toke her by the hond and sayde It suffyseth to the that thou hast don But now cesse as to my persone She caught hym by the hede and threwe hym to the ground and sette her ryght fote on his necke sayeng lye styl thou fende vnder the feet of a woman The deuyll thenne cryed O blessid margarete I am ouercomen yf a yong man had ouercomen me I had not retchyd But alas I am ouercomen of a tendre virgyne wherfor I make the more sorowe For thy fader and moder haue ben my good frendes She thenne constrayned hym to telle why he cam to her And he answerd that he cam to her to counseylle her for to obbeye the desyre and request of the prouoste Thenne she constrayned hym to saye wherfore he tempted so moche and so ofte crysten people To whom he answerd that naturally he hated vertuous men and though we be ofte put abacke from hem yet oure desyre is moche to exclude hem from the felicite that they fil fro for we may neuer obteyne ne recouer our blysse that we haue lost And she thenne demauÌded what he was and he answerd I am named veltis one of them whom Salamon closid in a vessel of brasse And after his deth it happed that they of babylon fond thys vessel And supposed to haue founden grete tresour therin and brake the vessel thenne a grete multitude of vs deuellis flewe out fylled ful the ayer alway awaytyng espyeng where we may assayle rightful men And whan he had sayde thus she toke of her fote and sayd to hym flee hens thou wretchid fende and anon therthe opened the fende sanke in Thenne she was sure For whan she had ouercome the mayster She myhht lyghtly ouercom the mynystre Thenne the next day folowyng whan alle the peple was assembled she was presented tofore the Iuge And she not doyng sacrefyse to theyr fals goddes was cast in to the fyre and her body broyled wyth brennyng brondes in suche wyse that the peple merueylled that so tendre a mayde myght suffre so many tormentis And after that they put her in a grete vessel ful of water fast bounden that by chaungyng of the tormentis the sorowe and felyng of the payn shold be the more but sodenly the erthe trembled and the ayer was hydous and the blyssyd virgyne with out ony hurt yssued out of the water sayeng to our lord I beseche the my lord that thys water may be to me the fonte of baptysme in to euer lastyng lyf And anon there was herde grete thondre and a douue descended from heuen and sette a golden crowne on her hede Thenne vM men byleued in our lord and for crystes loue they al wer byheded by the commaundement of the prouost Olybryus that tyme in campolymeth the cyte of Aurelya Thenne Olybryus seyng the fayth of the holy margarete Inmeuable And also feryng that other shold be conuerted to the crysten fayth by her gaf sentence commaunded that she shold be byheded Thenne she prayed to one malcus that shold behede her that she myght haue space to praye And that goten she prayed to our lord seyeng ffader almyghty I yeld to the thankynges that thou hast suffred me to come to this glorye besechyng to pardonne them that pursiewe me And I beseche the good lord that of thy haboundant grace thou wylt graunte vnto all them that write my passyon rede it or here and to them that remeÌbre me that they may deserue to haue playn remyssyon forgyfnes of alle theyr synnes And also good lord yf ony woman with chylde traueylyng in ony place calle on me that thou wylt kepe her fro peryl and that the chyld may be delyuerd fro her bely wythout ony hurt of hys membrys And when she had fynysshed her prayer ther was a voys herd fro heuen sayeng that her prayers wer herde and graunted And that the yates of heuen were opene and abode for her and bad her come in to the contreye of euer lastyng reste thenne she thankyng our lord aroos vp and badde the hangman accomplysshe the commaundement of the prouost To whom the hangman sayde God forbede that I shold slee the vyrgyn of cryst to whom she sayd yf thou doo it not thou mayst haue no parte wyth me Thenne he beyng aferde and tremblyng smote of her hede he fallyng doun at her fete gaf vp the ghoost Thenne Theofynus toke vp the holy body and bare it in to antyoche and buryed it in the hous of a noble woman and wydowe named sinclecia And thus this blessyd holy virgyne seynt margarete suffred deth receyued the crowne of martirdom the xiij kalendes of auguste as is founden in her storye and it is redde in an other place that it was the iij ydus of Iuyll Of this virgyne wryteth an holy man and sayth The holy and blessyd margarete was ful of the drede of god sad stable and worshipful in religyon arayed with compunctyon laudable in honeste and synguler in pacience and nothyng was founden in her contrarye to crysten relygyon hateful to her fader and by loued or our lord IhÌu Cryst thenne late vs remembre this holy virgyne that she praye for vs in our nedes cÌ Here endeth the lyf of Seynt Margarete Here foloweth of Seint prayede virgyne SAint prayede was suster of seynt potenciane whiche wer susters of the seyntes Nonati thymothe whiche were enformed in the fayth of thappostles And whan the cruell persecucion was of many crysten men and were martred and sleyne they buryed the bodyes of the holy martirs gaf alle theyr goodes and facultees to poure peple for goddes loue and atte laste they slept in our lord and deyde aboute the yere of our lord Clx vnder Marke Antonye the prouost Here foloweth the lyf of seynt Marye magdalene And first of her name MArie is as moche to saye as bytter or a lyghter or lyghted by thys ben vnderstonden thre thynges that ben thre the best partes that she chaas That is to say parte of penaunce parte of contemplacion wythin forth And parte of heuenly glorye and of thys treble partye is vnderstanden that is sayde by our lord Marye hath chosen the best parte whiche shal not be taken fro her The first parte shalle not be taken from her by cause of th ende whiche is the folownyg of bles sydnes The second by cause of contynuaunce ffor the contynuaunce of her lyf is coÌtynued with the contemplacion of her contrary The third by reson of perdurablenes And for as moche as she chafe the best parte of penaunce she is sayde a bitter see ffor therin she had moche bitternes And that appiered in that she wepte so many teres that she weshe therwyth the feet of our lord And for so moche as she chaas the parte of contemplacion
Thenne crystyne praysed god and thanked hym that she was so renewed and rocked as a chyld in a cradle thenne the Iuge beyng wroth made her hede to be shauen And naked to be ledde thrugh the cite vnto the temple of Appollyn whom she commaunded to ouerthrowe And anon fil doun in to pouldre And whan the Iuge herde therof he deyde and gaf vp hys speryte After hym Iulyanus succeded whiche dyd do sette afyre a grete forneys and crystyne to be cast therin wheryn she abode fyue dayes with angellys syngyng and walkyng vnhurt after yssued out therof saufly with out harme and whan Iulyanus herd herof he sayd that she dyd allle this by art magyke and wytchecraft and did doo be put to her two addres two serpentes and two aspydes the serpentes lycked her feet the two aspydes heng at her brestes and dyd her none harme the ij addres wond them aboute her necke and licked vp her swete Iulyanus thenne sayd to his enchaunteour art not thou an enchauntour meue the bestes whan he began to meue them they made assaulte to hym and slewe hym forth wyth Thenne cristyne commaunded the serpentes that they shold goo to a deserte place And she reysed thenchaunter that was deed to lyf a gayn thenne Iulyanus commaunded that her brestes shuld be cutte of out of whom flowed mylke wyth blode Thenne he made her tongue to be cutte out of her hede But Crystyne lost not her speche for cuttyng out of her tonge But toke it and threwe it in the vysage of the Iuge And smote out ther wyth one of hys eyen Thenne was Iulyan wroth And made to shote at her And she was smeton wyth one arowe in to the syde And wyth a nother vnto the herte And she so smeton yelded vp her soule vnto god and thus suffred martirdom aboute the yere of our lord two hondred four score and seuen her body was beryed in a castell bulsena bytwene thold toun and viterbe and tirus whyche was not ferre fro that castel whiche is now destroyed Thus endeth the lyf of Seynt Cristyne Here begynneth the lyf of seint Iames the more And appostle and first of thinterpretacion of his name THis Iames thappostle is sayd Iames the sone of zebedee brother of Seynt Iohan theuangelyst And beonarges that is the sone of thondre And Iames the more he was sayd Iames sone of zebedee not only in flesshe but in thexpocision of the name ffor zebedee is interpreted gyuyng or gyuen and Iames gaf hym self to god by martirdom of deth and he is gyuen to vs of god for a specyalle patrone he is sayde Iames brother of IohÌn not only by flesshe but by semblaunce of maners For they bothe were of one loue of one estudye and of one wylle They wer of one loue for to auenge our lord For whan the samaritans wold not receyue IhÌu cryst Iames and IohÌn sayd yf it plese the lord late fyre descende fro heuen destroye them they were of lyke studye for to lerne for thise ij were they that demauÌded of our lord of the day of Iugement and of other thynges to come And they axed that one of them myght sytte atte ryght syde of hym and that other on his lyft syde he was said the sone of thondre by cause of the sonne of his predycacion for he fered the euyl and exyted the slouthful and by the hyenes of his prechyng he dyd merueyles in conuertyng them to the fayth wherof bede sayth of saynt IohÌn that he thondred so hye that yf he had thondred a lytel hyer al the world myght not haue comprysed hym He is sayde Iames the more lyke as that other Iames is sayde the lasse First by reson of hys callyng for he was first called of IhÌu cryst secondly by reson of famyliarite For Ihesu crist was seen to haue greter famyliarite with hym than wyth the lasse Iames lyke as it apperyth atte reysyng of the mayde and at hys holy transfyguracion thyrdly by reson of his passyon For emong alle thappostles he was the first that suffred deth and he may be sayde more by cause he was first called to be appostle so he was first called to the glory perdurable Of Seynt Iames the more and appostle IAmes thappostle sone of zebedee prechid after thassencoÌn of our lord in the Iewerye and samarye after he was sente in to spaygne for to sowe there the worde of Ihesu cryst but when he was there he prouffyted but lytel for he had conuerted vnto crystes lawe but ix discyples of whom he left ij there for to preche the word of god and toke the other vij wyth hym and retorned agayn in to Iudee Mayster IohÌn beleth sayth that he conuerted there but one man only and whan after he preched the word of god in Iudee there was an enchauntour named hermogenes wyth the pharseeis whiche sent philette hys disciple to seynt Iames for to ouercome hym to fore alle mân and to preue his prechyng fals but thappostle ouercam hym tofore alle men resonably And dyd many myracles tofore hym Phylete thenne retorned to hermogenes approued the doctryne of Iames to be trewe and recited to hym hys myracles and sayd that he wold be his discyple And desired and counseyllyd hermogenes in lyke wyse to be his dysciple Thenne hermogenes was wroth And by his craft and enchauntementis he made phylete in suche wyse that he myght not moeue and sayd Now we shalle see yf thy Iames may saue the thenne phylete sent his chyld to seynt Iames and lete hym haue knowleche herof Thenne seynt Iames sent to hym hys sudarye or keuerchyef and sayd Say to hym that our lord redressyth them that ben hurt and vnbyndeth them that ben empesshyd and assone as he sayd soo and touched the sudarye he was vnbouÌden and losed fro al thenchauntyng of hermogenes and aroos vp wenâ Ioyfully to seynt Iames thenne hermogenes was angry and called many deuylles and commauÌded them that they bryng to hym seynt Iames bounden and philete wyth hym for to auenge hym on theym lest hys dysciples after ward adresse them ayenst hym Thenne whan the deuyls cam toward seynt Iames they cryed howlyng in thaier sayeng Iames thappostle of god haue pite on vs For we brenne tofore our tyme comme To whom Iames sayd wherfor come ye to me and they sayd hermogenes hath sent vs to the and to phylete for to bryng you to hym and thangele of god hath bound vs wyth cheynes of fyre and tormenteth vs And Iames sayde the angele of god shal vnbynd you And goo ye to hym and bryng hym to me bounden but hurt hym not thenne they went and toke hermogenes and bound his hondes and broughte hym so bounden to seynt Iames and they said to hermogenes thou hast sent vs thyder where we were strongly tormented and greuously bounden And thenne sayd they to seynt Iames gyue to vs power ayenst hym that we may
throdociane doughter of theodocien themperour was gretly tormented thith a deuyl whan it was told to her fader whiche was at constantynoble he commaunded that his doughter shold be brought thyder and that she shold touche the relyques of seynt stephen the first martir And the deuyl cryed within her yf stephen come not to rome I shalle not yssue out of her For it is the wyl of thappostles and whan themperour herd that he Impetred and gate of the clargy and peple of constantynoble that they gaf to the romayns the body of Seynt stephen and they shold haue therfore the body of seynt laurence And the emperour Wrote to pelagyen the pope vpon Whiche the pape by the counseyl of the cardenallis consented to the request of themperour and thenne went the cardynallis to constantynople and brought to rome the body of seynt Stephen And the grekes cam for to haue the body of seynt laurence the body of seint stephen was receyued in to capuan whyche gate by theyr deuoute prayers the ryght arme and buylded theyre chirche metropolitan that is to say tharchebysshops see in thonour of hym and whan the romayns were comen to rome they wold haue borne the body of seint stephen vnto the chirche of seynt Peter ad vincula they that bare it stode styll and myght goo no ferther And the deuyl whiche was in the mayde cryed ye traueyle you for nought For he shal not be here but with laurence his brother where as he is And for thys muse was the body born thyder And the mayde touched the body and was alle hool and seynt laurence as enioyeng hym of the comyng of his broder and smylyng torned hym in to that other parte of the sepulcre and made place and lefte half the place voyde And whan the grekes sette theyr hondes for to haue born away laurence they fyl doun to therth as they had ben deed but the pope and the clerkes prayed for them and alle the peple yet vnneth with grete payn cam they to lyf agayn at euensong tyme Neuertheles they were alle deed within x dayes after and the latynes alle they that so consented entred in to frenesye and myght not be hool vnto the tyme that the two bdyes were entombed to gydre And thenne Was there a voys herd fro heuen that sayd O blessyd rome which hast enclosed in one tombe the glorious Iewels the bodyes of seynt laurence of spayne and of seynt sttephen of Iherusalem This coniunction was made aboute the yere of our lord ixCxxv Seynt austyn recounteth in the xxij book of the cite of god that vi deed bodyes were reysed by the Inuocacion and prayers of seint stephen that is to wete that there was one that lay deed and the name of seint Stephen was called ouer hym and he was anon reysed to lyf Also there was a child whiche Was sleyne With a cartâ whom his moder bare to the chirche of Seynt stephen and Was anon raysed to lyf And there was a nonne whiche was at her last ende and was born to the chirche of seint stephen and there dyed in the syght of all the peple and after she aroos alle hool Also a mayde of yponence of whom her fader bare her cote to the chyrche of seint Stephen and after leyd it on the body of the deed mayde and anon she aroos And a yong man of yponence deyed Aut anon as the body of hym was enoynted with the oyle of seint stephen he aroos to lyf Another chyld was born deed to the chirche of seint stephen and by the merites of Seint Stephen was anon restablisshed te lyf and of this precious martir saith seint austyn Gamaliel mayster of the scole and wyth a stole a boute his necke made reuelacion of hym Saul dispoyled stoned hym Ihesu criste wrapped in poure clothes enriched hym and crowned hym With his precious bloâde and stones Seynt stephen shone in beaute of body in floure of age in fayr speche of reson wisdom of holy thought in werkes of deuynyte he was a strong pyler of the fayth of god For whan he was taken and holden with tonges emong the hondes of them stoned hym In the fornais of fyre of fayth he was destrayned smeton demened and beten the fayth encresed and was not vaynquysshed And Seint augustyn saith in an other place vpon this auctorite hard brayne he was not flatred but put out He was not tasted but hurte he fered ne trembled not but was chauffed and in an other place he saith thus be hold stephen thy felaw he was a man as thou art and of the masse of synne as thou art and brought with the same prys that thou were he was dekene and radde the gospel that thou redest or herest There he fond wreton loue your enemyes And this blessyd prothomartir seynt Stephen lerned in redyng and prouffyted and accomplysshed in obeyeng Thenne late vs praye deuoutly to hym that he praye for vs to that blessid lord for whom he suffred deth and prayed for them that pursiewed hym that he pray for vs and that we may felâ th effecte of his prayer lyke as saule dyde whyche after was called Paul the holy doctour and appostle Amen Thus endeth Thinuencion of Seynt Stephen prothomartir Here foloweth of seynt domynyk and first of his name DOmynyk is sayd as a kepar of our lord Or ellys as kepte of god or it is sayd domynycus as to thethymologye of this name that is dominus It is sayd kepar of our lord in thre maners that is to wete kepar of thonour of our lord as touchyng to god kepar of the vyneyarde or of the flocke of our lord vnto his neyghbour Kepar of the wyl of our lord or of his commaundementis as touchyng hym self Secondly he is sayd domynycus as kepte of our lord Our lord kepte hym in his thre folde state of whom the first is that he was a lay man In the second he was a chanon reguler And the thyrd as appostle ffor in the first state he kept hym self in makyng hym self to begyn laudably wel In the second to êforme wel and in the third taccomplissh wel In the thyrd he may be sayd domynyk by the ethymologye of thys name dnÌs Dominus is sayd as gyuyng menaces gyuyng a yefte or gyuyng lasse So saynt Domynyk was gyuyng that is to vnderstoÌd yeuyng thretenyng by leuyng of Iuiuryes gyuyng yeftes by largesse of ffraunchyse for he gaf not only to poure men But he wold ofte selle hym self for to releue and bye poure men And in gyuyng lasse that was by makyng his body lene For he gaf alleway lasse to his body than it desyred or appetited Of Seynt Domynyk Frere and prechour DOmynyk was duke of the ordre of the freres prechours and a noble fader of the parties of spayne of a toun named callorega of the diocise of oxonyence and his fader was named ffelix and his moder Iohane of whom he cam
waylyng But many doubte yf he suffred deth vnder this decian For it is red in the Cronycle that Sixte was long after decian Eutropius neuertheles affermeth and sayth that decian meuynge persecucyon ageynst crysten men among other he slewe the blessid laurence dekeÌ and martir And it is said in a Cronyke autentyke ynough that it was not vnder this decyan emperour that succeded to phelyp but vnder another decyan yonger whiche was Cezar and not emperour he suffred martirdome For bytwene Decyan themperour and this decyan the yonger vnder whome it is said that laurence was martryd ther were many emperours and popes Also it is said that gallus and Volusianus his sone succeded decyan And after them Valeryen with galren his sone helde th empyre And they made decyan the yonger Cezar and not emperour For auncyently whan ony was made Cezar neuerthemore he was Augustus ne emperour as it is redde in the cronycles that Dyoclesyan made maxymyan Cezar And after fro Cezar he was made Augustus and emperour ¶ In the tyme of these emperours valeryen and galyan Sixt helde the see of Rome And this Decyan was called Cezar and not emperour but decyan Cezar only And he martred the blessid Fabyan And cornely succeded after Fabyan whiche was martred vnder Valeryan and galyan whiche regned xv yere And lucyan succeded Cornely And Stephen the pope succeded lucyan And Denys succeded Stephen And Sixte succeded Denys And this is conteyned in that Cronycle And yf this be trewe that whiche mayster Iohan beleth putteth maye be trewe And it is redde in an other cronycle that the said galyan had two names and was called galyan and Decyan and vnder hym Sixte Laurence suffred martirdom about the yere of oure lord twoo honderd and thre score Godefroy in his booke that is called antheonydes affermeth that galyan was called by another name Decyan Seynt gregory sayth in hys Dyaloges that ther was a nonne in Sabyne whiche held hyr contynent of her flesshe but she eschewed not the Ianglerye of her tonge and she was buryed in the chirch of saynt laurence the holy martir And was leyd to fore the aulter of the martir and was taken of the deuyls and departed and so wen a sondre and that one parte was brente and that other parte remayned hoole so that on the mornyng the brennyng appered vysybly Gregory of Tours sayth that whan a certeyne preest repayred the chirch of saynt laurence And one of the bemes was ouer short and requyred saynt laurence that he whiche had norysshed poure men wold helpe his pouerte And the beme grew so sodenly that ther remayned a grete parte And the preest cut that part in to smal pyeces and cured and heled ther with many maledyes And this wytnesseth seynt fortunate It happed at Bryoras a castell in ytaly that a man was sore vexed with tooth ache And he atouched this wode And anone the ache was gone Seynt gregory telleth in his book of dyaloges that a preest named sanctyne repayred a chirche of saynt laurence whiche had be brente of lumbardes and hyred many werkmen And one tyme he had nothyng to sette to fore them And thenne he made his prayers and after loked in his paner and there he fonde a moch whyte loof of breed but hym semed that hit suffysed not for one dyner for thre persones Seynt Laurence whiche wolde not fayle his werkmen dyd doo multyplye that his werkmen were susteyned therby ten dayes ¶ In the chirch of saynt laurence at melan was a chalyce of crystall merueylously clere And as the deken bare it on a day of solempnyte to the aulter it fylle oute of his hondes to the ground and was all to broken And thenne the deken wepyng gadered to gyder the pyeces And leyd them on the aulter And prayd the holy martir seynt laurence that the chalyce broken myght be made hoole ageyne And thenne anone it was founden al hool It is redde inthe book of the myracles of oure blessid lady saynt Marye that a Iuge named Stephen was at rome and tooke gladly yeftes and peruerted the IugemeÌtes And this Iuge tooke aweye by force thre howses that were longyng to the chirche of saynt laurence And a gardyn of saynt Agnes And posseded them wrongfully It happed that the Iuge deyed and was brouÈt to Iugement to fore god And whan saynt laurence sawe hym he wente to hym in grete despyte And strayned hym thre tymes by the arme right hard And tormented hym by grete payne And saynt Agnes other Vyrgyns dayned not to loke on hym but torned their vysages awey fro hym And theÌne the Iuge gyuyng sentence ageynst hym said by cause he hath withdrawen other mennes thynges and hath taken yeftes and solde trouthe that he shold be put in the place of Iudas the traytour And saynt Proiecte whome the sayd Stephen had moche louyd in his lif cam to the blessid laurence and to saynt Agnes and cryed them mercy for hym Thenne the blessid vyrgyn Mary and they prayd to god for hym And thenne it was graunted to them that the sowle of hym sholde goo ageyn to the body and there sholde do his penaunce thyrty dayes And oure blessid lady commaunded hym that as longe as he lyued he sholde say the psalme Beati inmaculati And when the soule cam to the body ageyn his arme was lyke as it had be brent lyke as he had suffred that hurte in his body And that token and signe was in hym as longe as he lyued Thenne rendryd ãâã that whiche he had taken and dyde ãâã penaunce And atte xxx day he passed oute of this world to oure lord It is redde in the lyf of saynt Henry themperour that he and kunegonde his wyf were vyrgyns to geder by thatysement of the deuyll he had his wyf suspecte of a knyghte And he made his wyf goo barfoote vppon brennyng asshes fyften paas And whan she asceÌded vppon them she said thus As I am not corrupte ne defowled of Harry ne of al other so Ihesu criste helpe me Thenne Henry themperour was ashamed and yafe her a buffet on the cââke and a voys said the Vyrgyn Mary hath delyuerd the Vyrgyn and she weÌt without ony hurt vppon the brennyng asshes when theÌperour was deed there wente a grete multitude of deuyls to fore the celle of an heremyte and he opened the wyndowe and demaunded atte last what they were and one answerde a legyon of deuyls we be that goo to the deth of themperour yf parauenture we may fynde ony thyng in hym He adiured hym that he sholde come ageyne to hym whiche retornyng sayde we haue prouffyted no thyng For whan this fals suspecion of hys wyf and alle the good thynges and euylle thynges were leyd in a balauÌce this brente and bruled laurence brought forthe a pot of gold of moche grete weyght And whan we supposed to haue surmounted he caste that pot in the balaunce on that other syde
to his wyf whiche yet slepte in the chirche bad hym that he shold caste awey alle the Rychesses of the deuylle And whan he cam ageyne he fond his wyf yet slepyng and awoke her and told to her alle that was byfallen And whan they were comen home they threwe aweye alle the rychesses of the deuylle and duellyd alwey in the louynges of oure lady and receyued afterward many rychesses that our lady gaf to them There was a man whiche was rauysshed in Iugement to fore god For he had moche synned and the deuyl was there and sayd ye haue nothyng on this sowle but it ought to be myn For I haue therof an Instrument publyque To whome oure lord sayd where is thyn Instrument I haue he said an Instrument that thou saydest with thy propre mouthe and hast ordeyned it for tendure perpetuelly For thou saydest in what houre that ye eten of it ye shalle dye And this is of the lygnage of them that tooke of the mete forboden And by the ryght of this Instrument publyque he ought to be Iuged to me And thenne oure lorde saide late the man speke but the man spack not And the deuyll sayd yet ageyne the sowle is myn For yf he hath done ony good dedes the wykked dedes passen the good withoute comparyson And thenne our lord wold not anon gyue sentence ageynst hym soo that he gaf hym terme of eyght dayes soo that at the ende of eyght dayes he shold appere ageyne to fore hym and gyue acomptes of alle these thynges And as he wente fro the vysage of oure lord sorowyng and tremblyng he mette with a man whiche asked the cause of his heuynes And he tolde to hym all by ordre And he sayd to hym doubte the no thyng ne be not aferd For I shalle helpe the manly for the first And he demaunded of hym his name And he sayde Veryte And after he found another whiche promysed to helpe hym for the second And when he had asked his name he sayd his name was rightwysenes At the eyghte day he cam to the dome to fore the Iuge and the deuylle opposid to hym the first caas and trouthe answerd and sayd We knowe well that ther is double deth corporelle and Infernal and this Instrument that the deuylle alledgeth ageynste the speketh no word of the dethe of helle but of the deth of the body And of that it is clere that al men be enclosed in that sentence that is to wyte that he dyeth in his body and that is not the deth of helle And as touchyng the dethe of the body the sentence endureth alwey but as to the dethe of the sowle it is repelled by the dethe of Ihesu Criste Thenne the deuylle sawe that he was discharged of the fyrste Thenne he opposed and alledged the second but rightwysenes cam ansuerd thus how be it that he hath ben thy seruauÌt many yeres netheles reason gayn sayeth it For reson murmured alweye by cause he serued so cruel a lord But at the thyrdde obiection he hadde none helpe and oure lord sayde brynge forth the balaunce and late alle the good and euylle be weyed and thenne trouthe and rightwysenes sayde to tâe synner Renne with al thy thought vnto the lady of mercy whiche sytteth by the Iuge and studye to calle her to thyn helpe And whanne he had so done the blessid Vyrgyne marye cam in to his helâe and leyd her hand vpon the balaunce on the syde where as were but fewe good dedes And the deuylle enforced hym to drawe on that other syde but the moder of mercy wan and obteyned and delyuerd the synner And thenne he cam ageyne to hym self and amended his lyf It happed in the Cyte of Bourges aboute the yere of our lord v C xxvij that whan the crysten men were comyned and hou seled on an eesterday A childe of a Iewe wente to the aulter with the other children and receyued oure lordes body with the other And whan he cam home his fader demaunded hym whens he cam And he answerde that he cam fro scole and that he had ben howseled with them at masse And thenne the fader full of wodenes tooke the chylde and threwe hym in to a brennyng furnays that was there And anone the moâââ of god cam in the forme of an ymage whiche the child had sene stondyng on the aulter and kepte hym fro the fire withoute takyng ony harme And the moder of the child with her grete cryeng made tassemble many Crysten men and Iewes the whiche sawe the child in the furnays without ony harme or hurte and drewe hym oute And demaunded hym how he escaped And he answerd and sayd that reuerent lady whiche stoode vpon the aulter cam and helpe me and put awey alle the fire fro me Thenne the Crysten men vnderstondyng this to be thymage of our lady took the fader of the childe and threw hym in to the fornayce whiche incontynent was brent consumed Ther were certeyn monkes to fore day stondyng by a ryuer and talked and iangled there of fables and ydle wordes And they herd a grete rowyng and oores betyng the water comyng hastely And the Monkes asked who ben ye And they sayde we ben deuyls that bere to helle the sowle of Ebronyen prouost of the hows of the kyng of Fraunce which was Apostata in the monastery of saynt Galle And whan the Monkes herd that they doubted strongly And cryed hyghe saynt mary praye for vs And the deuylles sayden well haue ye called Marye For we wold haue disioyned yow and haue drowned yow by cause your dissolute oute of of tyme Ianglyng And thenne the Monkes retorned to their Couent And the deuylles wente in to helle There was a woman that suffred many greues and iniuryes of a deuyll whiche appered vysybly to her in the forme of a man And she sought many remedyes now hooly water now one thyng now other but he cessed not And thenne an hooly man counceyled her that whan he cam to her that she shold lyfte vp her handes to heuen and crye saynt Mary helpe me And whan she had soo done the deuylle fled all afrayed as he had be smyten with a stone and after stoode and sayd The cursyd deuyll entre in to his mouthe that taught the that And anone vanysshed awey And neuer cam ageyne Here foloweth yet of the assumpcion of oure blessid lady THe name of thassumpcion of the right holy vyrgyn Marye is shewed in a Sermon made and ordeyned of dyuerse sayenges of sayntes the whiche is redde solempnly in many chirches and therin is conteyned alle that I can fynde in the world In narracions of holy faders of the departynge oute of this lyf of the gloryous vyrgyn Marye moder of god that I haue sett here to the louyng praysyng of her Seynt Cosme whiche had to surname vesture sayth he hath lerned of his forn goers whiche dyd that ought not to
by cause they go to fore we ben ashamed to folowe them And thenne he ranne in to a gardyn And as he sayth hym self he cast hym self doune vnder a fygge tree wepte right bytterly and gaf oute wepyng vois by cause he hadde taryed soo long fro day to day and fro tyme to tyme And was gretely tormentid soo that he had no maner in hym self for sorow of his long taryeng lyke as he wryteth in the booke of his Confessions sayde Alas lord how thou arte hyghe in hyghe thynges and depe in depenes And departest not ne goost oute of the wey And vnnethe we come to the A lord he sayd calle me moeue me chauÌge me and enlumyne me rauysshe me and make swete and softe al myn enpesshementes and lettynges as hit apperteyneth for I drede them sore I haue loued the ouer late thou beaulte soo olde and soo newe I ouer late haue loued the thow were within and I was withoute and there I sought the And in the beaulte and fayrenes that thou haste I fylle all defourmed and fowle thou were with me but I was not with the Thou hast called and cryed and hast broken my deefnes Thou hast enlumyned clered and haste put awaye my blyndenes Thou haste replenisshed me with fragraunt odours and I haste me to come to the I haue tasted the and am hongry and desyre the Thou hast touched me and I am brent in the voys of leuyng thy pees and as he wept thus bitterly he herde a voys sayeng Take and rede and anone he opened the booke of thappostle and cast his eyen on the first chapytre and redde clothe ye you in our lord Ihesu crist and anone alle the doubtes of derkenes Were extynct in hym and in the mene tyme he began to be so gretely tormented With tooth ache that almoost he saith he was brought to byleue thoppynyon of Cornelys the Philosopher whiche putteth that the souerayne wele of the sowle is in wysdom and the souerayne wele of the body is in suffryng no payne ne sorowe And his payne was soo grete and vehement that he had lost his speche wherfore as he wryteth in the book of his Confessions he wrote in tables of waxe that al men shold praye for hym that oure lord shold aswage his payne And he hym self kneled doune with the other And so denly he felt hym self hoole And thenne he sygnyfyed by lettres to the hooly man saynt Ambrose that he wold sende to hym word whiche of the bookes of hooly wrytte apperteyned best to rede in for to be made moost couenable to the Crysten feythe And he sente to hym answere ysaye the prophete by cause that he was sene to be the shewer and pronouncer of the gospell and of callyng of men And whan Augustyn vnderstode not alle the begynnyng and supposed al the remenaunt to be other wyse than it was to rede he differred to rede them tylle he were more connyng in holy wrytte And whan the day of Eester cam And Austyn was xxx yere old he and hys sone whiche was named a de o datus a childe of noble wytte and vnderstondyng whome he had goten in his youthe whan he was a paynym a philosopher with Alyppe his frende by the merytes of his moder and by prechyng of saynt Ambrose receyued baptysme of saynt Ambrose ¶ And thenne as it is redde saynt Ambrose sayde The deum laudamus And saynt Austyn sayd Te dominum confitemur And soo they two to geder ordeyned made this ympne and songe hit vnto the ende And soo wytnessyth it Honorius in his booke whiche is named the myrrour of the Chirche And in some other old bookes the tytle of this ympne or psalme is intytled the Cantykle of Ambrose and of Augustyn And anone he was merueylously confermed in the faythe Catholyke And forsoke all the hope that he had in the world And renounced the scoles that he rewled And he sheweth in his book of confessions how he was fro thens forthe achauffed in the loue of god sayeng lord thou hast thorugh perâed myn hert with thy charyte And I haue borne thy wordes fixed in myn entraylles And thensamples of thy maners whiche thou hast made of blacke whyte shynyng and of deed lyuyng And of corrupte thoughtes thou makest fayre and hyghe vnderstandyng in heueÌly thynges I mounted vp in to the hylle of wepyng and thou gauest to me syngyng the cantycle of grees shape arowes and cooles wastyng ne I was not in tho dayes fulfylled in thy merueylous swetenes for to considere the heyght of the dyuyne counceylle vp on the helthe of the lygnage humayne How moche haue I wepte in thy ynâpnes and cantycles swetely sownynnge And by the vois of thy chirche I haue ben moeued egrely The voyses haue ronnen in myn eres And thy trouthe hath dropped in myn herte and thenne teres haue ronnen doune and I was wel eased with them Thenne these thynges were establysshed to be songen in the chirche of Melan And I cryed With an hyghe crye of myn herte O in pace O in idipsum O thou that sayst I shalle slepe in that same and take rest thou arte the same For thou arte not chauÌged and in the is reste forgetyng all labours I redde al that psalme And I brenned whiche somtyme had ben a barker bytter and blynde ayenst the lettres honyed with the swetenes of heuen and enlumyned with thy lighte And vppon suche scriptures I helde my pees and spack not O Ihesu crist my helper how swete is it sodenly made to me to lacke the swetnesses of iââffes and Iapes which Were fer fro me to leue and forsake and now to leue forsake them is to me grete ioye Thou hast cast them oute fro me And thou Whiche arte souerayne swetenes hast entryd in to me for them whiche aâte swetter than ony swetnes or delyces more clere than ony syght and more secrete than ony secrete counceylles more hyghe than al honour And ther is none more hyghe than thou And after this he tooke Nebrydyon Euodyon and his moder and retorned ageyne in to Auffryke But whannâ But whanne they cam to hostyberyn his swete moder deyde And after her deâh Austyn retorned vnto his propre herytage there entended wyth them that lode with him in fastinges in prayers He wrote bokes taught them that were not wyse And the fame and renomme of hym spradde ouer all And in alle his bookes and werkes he was holden merueylous he reffused to come to ony Cyte where as was no bisshop leste he shold be lette by that offyce And in that tyme was in yponence a man full of grete vertues whiche sente to Augustyn that yf he wold come to hym that he myghte here the good of his mouthe he wold renounce the world And whanne saint Augustyn knewe it he wente hastely thyder And whanne Valeryen Bisshop of yponence herd his renommee fame he ordeyned hym a preest
Sophye in the moneth Ianyuer And alle the peple wente to mete with it and acompanyed it wyth torchys and lyghtes And thenne Theodosym worshiped deuoutely the hooly relyques and vysyted ofte his sepulture prayenge the hooly saynt to pardone Archadyen his fader and Eudoxia his moder and to foryeue them that they hadde done ignorauÌtly ayenst hym And they were dede longe to fore This emperoure was of soo grete debonayrte that he iuged noman to dethe that hadde offendyd hym And sayd that his wyâle was to calle the dede men to lyf ageyne yf he myghte It semed that his Courte was a monasterye For therin were sayd contynuelly matyns and lawdes he redde the bookes dyuyne And his wyf was called Eudochice he had also a doughter named Eudoxe whome he gaf to wyf to Valentynyen whom he made emperour ¶ And alle these thynges ben wreton more playnly in thystorye tripertite And this hooly man saynt Iohan Crysostome passed aboute the yere of our lord thre honderd four score ten ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Iohan Crisostome Here foloweth of saint Cornely the pope and martir And first thexposicion of his name And of saint Ciprian COrnely is expowned And is as moche to saye as entendynge in prayer And the garde in abydynge thynges outrageous Or Cornely is sayd of Cornu whiche is as moche to saye as stronge and of leos that is peple that is the strengthe of peple Cypryan is sayd of Cyprye that is oynture and Ana that is hyghe Thenne Cypryan is as moche to saye as oynture of hyghte For he had oynture of the grace souerayne and of vertues or Cipryan is sayd of Cyprys that is to saye heuynes or herytage For he hadde heuynes of his synnes and herytage of the heuenly Ioyes ¶ Of saint Cornely and saint Ciprian SAint Cornely succeded to Fabyan in the papacye And was sente in exyle of decian Cezar And his Clerkes with hym And there receyued lettres of comforte fro Ciprian Bisshop of cartage And atte laste he was brought ageyne from exyle And presented to Dicyen And whanne he sawe hym fast in the fayth he commaunded that he shold be beten with plomettys of lede And that he shold be broughte to the Temple of mars for to doo sacryfyse or els to haue his hede smyton of And as he was ledde a knyght prayd hym that he wold retorne to his hows by cause of saluste his wyf whiche had leyn seke fyue yere of the pallasye And she was heled by his prayers And one and twenty knyghtes with her byleuyd in god and were al broughte to the temple of Mars by the commaundemente of decyen And alle they spytte ayenst hit were all martred with Cornely And they suffred dethe aboute the yere of our lord ijC and liij And Cypryan bisshop of Cartage was present in the same cyte was brought to fore paterne the Consul And whanne he couthe not torne hym in no wyse fro the faythe of cryste he sente hym in exyle And fro ãâã he was called ageyne of Galeryen Consull whiche cam after paterne And receyned martirdome by smytyng of his hede ¶ And whanne the sentence was gyuen on hym he sayd graces thankynges be gyuen to god And whanne he cam to the place of his martirdome he commaunded his seruauntes to gyue to hym that shold smyte of his heede xxv pyeces of gold And thenne he tooke a lynen clothe and bonde his eyen with his owne handes And thus be exceyued the crowne of martirdome the yere of oure lord ijC and lvj Thus enden the lyues of saint Cornely and Cipriane Here foloweth the lyf of saint Eufemye And first of thynterpretacion of hir name EUfemia is said of eu that is good and of femme that is a woman as who sayth a good woman that is to wete a prouffitable honeste and delectable For in this treble maner she is sayd good She was prouffytable to other by conuersacyon Honeste by ordynaunce of maners And delectable to god Or Eufemye is sayd thus as swetenes of sowne Swete sowne is made in thre maners that is to wete by voys as in syngyng by touchynge as in an harpe and by blowynge as in pypes and organes Thus was the blessyd Eufemye swete sowne to god in voys of predicacion in touchynge of good werke and in blowynge of deuocion Of saint Eufemye EUfemye was doughter of a Senatour And sawe Cristen men in the tyme of Dyoclesyan so sore tormentid and al to rente by dyuerse tormentys she cam to the Iuge And confessyd her to be Crysten And she coÌforted by ensample the courages of other men and by her Constaunce And whanne the Iuge slâwe the ceysten men the one to fore another And made other to be present by cause they shold be aferd of that they sawe the other soo cruelly tormentyd and broken And that they shold sacryfyse for drede and fore And whanne Eufemye sawe thus heuen to fore her the hooly sayntes she was the more constaunt by the stedfastnes of the martirs And sayd to the Iuge and sayd that she suffryd wronge of hym Thenne the Iuge was glad wenynge that she wolde haue consentyd to doo sacryfyse and whanne he demaunded her what wronge he had done to her she sayd to hym For sythe I am of noble sygnage why puttest thou to fore me the strauÌgers and vnknowen and makest them goo to Cryste to fore me For hit were my playsyr to goo thyder by martirdome to fore them And the Iuge sayd to her I had supposed that thow woldest haue retorned in thy thought and I was glad that thow haddest remembryd thy noblesse And thenne she was enclosed in the pryson And the daye folowynge withoute bondes was brought to fore the Iuge And thenne she complayned ryght greuously why ageynste the lawes of themperours she was allone spared for to be out of bondes And thenne she was longe beten with fystes and after sente apene to pryson And the Iuge folowed her and wold haue taken her by force for to haue accomplysshed his fowle luste but she deffended her forcybly and the vertu dyuyne made the hondes of the Iuge to be came And thenne the Iuge wende to haue hen enchaunted and sente to her the prouost of his hows for to promyse to her many thynges for to make her consente to hym buâ he myght neuer opene the pryson whiche was shytte neyther with keye ne with axes tylle he was rauysshed with a deuylle cryenge and tretynge hym self that vnnethe he escaped And thenne she was drawen oute and sette vpon a whele full of brennynge coles And thartilloure that was mayster of the tormentys had gyuen a token to them to torne it that whan he shold make a sowne that they all shold tourne it And the fyre shold sprynge oute alle to breke and rende the body of the vyrgyne but by thordynaunce of god the yron that the artillour and mayster had in his honde fylle to the erthe
swerd behynde hym whiche was standynge by the aulter holdynge vp his handes in to heuen And soo was consecrate a martir And theÌne alle the peuple wold haue gone to the palays for to haue slayne the kynge And with grete payne were they holden of the preestes and dekens and halowden with grete ioye the martirdome of the appostle And the kynge thenne sente to Ephygene matrones enchaunteresses but for all them when he sawe that he myghte not torne her corage ne drawe her to hym in no manere he enuyronned and bysette the hows of her with a ryght grete fyre for to brenne her and al the other virgynes And thenne the hooly appostle appyered at the fyre and put out the fyre aboute the hows and hit took the palays of the kynge soo that it brente and consumed alle that was therin that none escaped sauf the kynge and his sone only And the sone was rauysshed of the deuylle and began to crye and confesse his faders synnes and wente to the sepulcre of thappostle And the fader was made a foule meselle And when he sawe that he myght not be cured he slewe hym selfe with his owne hande with a swerd And the peple thenne establysshed for to be kynge the broder of Ephygene whome thappostle had de baptysed and regned lxx yere and establysshed his sone for to be kynge after hym And encrecyd moche thonour of crysten men and replenysshed al Ethyope with noble chirches of oure lord And thenne Zaroes and Arphaxat fled in to perse fro the day that thappostle reysed the sone of the kynge but saynt Symon Iude vaynquysshed them there And knowe ye that four thynges ben pryncipally considered in the blessyd saynt Mathewe the fyrst is the hastynes of obedyence for as soone as oure lord called hym he left al doubted nothyng the lordes left the rekenynges of his receytes imparfyght And ioyned hym parfyghtly to our lord Ihesu crist And for this hasty obedyence somme toke occasion of errour in them self lake as saynt Iherome recordeth in thorygynal vppon the forsayd place sayeng in that place Porphyrye and Iulyan Auguste repreueth in the same place the folye of the story lyeng sayenge that as the story sayth lyke as they folowed sodenly the sauyour that they wold as hastely folowe another man that had called them For there were shewed so many vertues and so many tokens tofore that thappostles of oure lerd byleuyd veryly withoute doubte And certeynly this resplendyssheur of the preuy mageste shone in his blessid faâe at the fyrst to them that sawe hym And he myghte by that syghte and wylle drawe them to hym yf such vertue as men saye is in a precious stone whiche is named Magnete whiche draweth to hym festues and strawes how moche more the creatour of alle thynge maye drawe to hym whome he wylle This sayd Iherome The second is his largesse or his lyberalyte For anone he made to hym a grete feste in his hows the whiche was not greeâe by apparaylle of metes but hit was moche grete only by reason of grete desyre For he receyued with right grete wylle and ryght grete desyre And also it was grete by reason of seruys For this feste was demonstraunce of grete mysterye which mysterye the glâse expowneth vpon saynt Luc sayenge he that receyued our lord Ihesu Cryst in his hows was fedde withinforth plentyuously of gretter thynges than the other that is to wete of delâctacions of good maners and of good delytes And after he was greete by reason of his enseygnementis For he shewed grete techynges and doctrynes And this was of grete mercy by desyre and not by sacrifise as he said Misericordiam volo et non sacrificium etcetera And also they that ben hoole nede no leche and so it was grete for there was Ihesu Criste and his disciples The third is humylite whiche appierid to hym in two thynges first he shewed hym a publican the other euangelistes as saith the glose by cause of shame and for the honour of theuangelist they set not their comyn name but as it is wreton the Iuste is fyrst accuser of hym self And Mathewe named hym self publican first by cause that he shewed that none conuertid ought not mystruste of helthe lyke as he was made of a publican an Appostle and euangelist Secondly by cause he was pacyent in his iniuryes For whanne the Phariseis murmured that Ihesu crist was descended to a man synnar Mathewe myght haue answerd ye ben more wicked more synful that wene ye be Iuste reffuse the leche for I maye nomore be said synnar that am gone to the leche of helthe hyde not my synne ne wounde The fourth is the grete solempnyte of hym in the Chirche of his Gospellys his gospellis ben ofte and more vsed in the chirche than the other euangelystes lyke as the psalmes of dauyd thepystles of powle ben reherced before other scriptures whiche ben more ofter recited in the chirche And this is the reson that Iames witnessith that ther ben thre maner of synnes that is to wete the synne of pryde of Lecherye and of auarice In the synne of pryde synned saulus for saule by the synne of pryde persecuted the chirche ouer prowdly Dauyd synned in the synne of lecherye For he maade aduoultrye And for thaduoultrye ãâã slewe vrias his trewe knyght And Mathewe synned in the synne of âuarice for for coueitous he medled hym of vylaynous gayn For he was in a porte of the see where he receyued the tolle and customme of shippes marchaundises and how be it that they were synners yet alweye oure lord tooke their penaunce in gree and was plesid ther with so that he pardonned them not only their synnes but multyplyed in them his yeftes of grace For hym that was a ryght cruel persecutour he made a ryght trewe prechour And hym that hadde be auoulterer and homycide he made a prophete And hym that coueyted so vylaynous gayne he made appostle and euangelist And therfor these forsayd thre ben ofte recited that no man that wold be conuertid shold haue dispair of pardon when suche that were in so grete synne he beholdeth to haue ben in so grete grace And it is to be considered that after saynt Ambrose somme thynges oughte to be noted in the conuersion of saynt Mathewe That is to wete somwhat of the partye of the leche And somme of the partye of the seeke to be helyd In the leche were thre thynges that is to wete wysedome by whiche he knewe the Rote of the maladye And the bounte by whiche he mynystred the medycyne And the power by whiche he helyd hym so soone Of these thre sayth saynt Ambrose in the persone of the sayd Mathewe This Mayster maye take aweye the sorowe fro my herte And the drede of the sowle whiche knoweth the thynges hydde and preuy ¶ And this is as touchyng to the fyrste And as to the second I
dede hou he and Ebronyen shold fynysshe theyr lyues ¶ Of saint Logyer LOgyer whan he shone and resplendyd in al vertu he deserued to be Bisshop of Aduense Clotayre was deed he was moche greued for the cure and charge of the Royamme And by the wylle of god and couÌseyll of the princes he crowned Childryck yet yonge to be kynge But Ebronyen wold haue made Theoderyck broder of Childryck kyng not for the prouffyte of the Royamme but by cause he was put oute of his power and was hated of alle the peple And doubted the Ire of the kynge and of the prynces And therfore he requyred of the kynge lycence for to entre in to Relygyon And the kynge graunted it to hym Thenne the kynge dyd hold his broder the oderich in garde that he shold machyne nothynge ageynste the Royamme And by the holynes and prouydence of the good Bisshop Logyer alle the peple were in ioye and in pees And soone after the kynge beynge enpayred by euylle counceylle was meuyd in wrath ageynst this hooly Bisshop seruaunt of god And sought menes ententyfly how he myght couenably putt hym to deth But Logyer suffred all goodly and reputed his enemyes lyke as his frendes and dyde so moche toward the kynge that on eester day he shold synge masse in the cyte wherof he was a bisshop And that day it was told to hym that the kynge shold performe that nyght all that he had treted for his deth but he ne doubted nothynge but dyned that day with the kyng at his owne table And thenne he fledde his persecutour in suche maner that he wente to the monasterye of Lucon ther seruynge oure lord in whiche Ebronyen ther was hyd in thabyte of a ãâã And also seruyd hym in grete charyte And a whyle after the kynge deyde And Theoderyche was enhaunced in to the regne For which thyng the blessyd saynt Logyer meued by the wepynges and teeres of the people and constrayned by the commaundemente of his abbot retourned vnto his see in his Cyte But Ebronyen anon renouÌced his relygyon And was ordeyned steward of the kynge And how be it that he was euylle to fore yet he was worse after And studyed how he myght brynge Logyer to deth And sente knyghtes for to take hym And whan the blessyd Logyer knewe it he wold haue escaped fro theyr woodenes and malyce And as he yssued out of thâ Towne in thabyte of a Bisshop He was taken of the knyghtes whiche anone put oute his eyen And thenne two yere after saynt Logyer with guâryn his broder whom Ebronyen hadde exyled were brought vnto the palays of the kynge And as Ebronyen mocqued the bisshop they answerd wysely and peasybly Not wythstondynge that wycked man Ebronyen sente guâryn for to be stoned to deth with stones And made the Bisshop to be ladde all the nyght bare foote vppon sharp stones on whiche the water ranne faste And whanne he herd that he preysed god in his tormentes he made to cutte oute the tonge of his heede and after to kepe in pryson for to make hym suffre newe tormentes But for all that he lost neuer his speche but entended to preche and to exhortacion as wel as he myght And sayd to fore how he Ebronyen shold deye and whan Thenne a grete lyghte in maner of a crowne enuyronned his heede whiche moche peple sawe And somme demauÌded hym what thynge hit was And he kneled doune and made his prayers yeldynge graces to god And admonested alle them that were there that they shold chaunge theyr lyf in to a better And whanne Ebronyen herd that he had grete enuye at hym And sente four men for to smyte of his hede And whanne they ledde hym forthe he sayd to them It is no nede to yow to laboure ony more but fulfylle ye here the desyre of hym that sente yow And thenne thre of them had so grete pyte of hym that they kneled doune and requyred pardon And the fourth smote of his hede whiche anone was rauysshed of the deuylle and throwen in the fyre ended his lyf myserably Thenne two yere after Ebronyen herd that god shewed many myracles for his blessyd saynt and the renomme of it shone ouer all and was tormentid with cursyd enuye and sente thyder a knyght to wete the trouthe and to retorne and telle to hym And whan the knyght cam thyder he prowdly smote the tombe with his foote and sayd an euylle dethe mote he haue that sayth byleueth that this dede body maye doo myracles And anone he was rauysshed of the deuylle and deyde sodenly And the saynt was the more worshyped by his deth And whanne Ebronyen herd this he was thenne more tormentid wyth malyce of enuye and enforced to quenche the fame of the holy saynt but after the sayenge to fore of the saynt he felonnously slewe hym self with a swerd And this holy bisshop saynt Logyer suffred deth aboute the yere of our lord vjC lxxx in the tyme of Constantyn the fourthe ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Logier Here foloweth the lyf of saint Fraunceis first begynner of the Freres mynours And first of his name FRaunceis was first named Iohan but after his name was chaunged and was called Fraunceys The cause of chaungynge of his name was manyfold Fyrst for the reason of his merueylous chaungynge For it is knowen that he receyued of God by myracle the frensshe tongue And it is sayd in his legende that whanne he was replenysshed of the grace of god and of thardoure of the hooly ghooste he pronounced oute brennynge wordes in Frensshe Secondly by the reason to publysshe his offyce wherof is sayd in his legende that the dyuyne prouyden gaf to hym that name by cause of hym synguler And is acustomed name thoppynyon of this mysterye was knowen thorugh oute alle the world Thyrdly by reason of his offyce in effect wheruppon was gyuen to vnderstonde that by hym and by his sones he shold make many seruauntes of the deuylle and bonde to synne free Fourthly by reason of grete courage and magnanymyte of herte For frensshe men ben sayd of fyersnes For in them is naturell fyersnes and grete cârage of herte Fyftly by reason of the vertuosyte in spekynge For his word keruyd awaye the vyces lyke an axe Sixtely by reason that he chaced awey comnnely the deuyls Seuenthly by reason of honeste in his conuersacyon of perfection of werke And it is said that somme signes that were brought to Rome to fore the Consuls whiche were in terrour of the peple and in worship were callyd Franciscas ¶ Of saint Fraunceis FRaunceis seruaunt frende of Almyghty god was borne in the Cyte of Assyse and was maade a Marchaunt vnto the xxv yere of his age and wasted his tyme by lyuyng vaynly whome our lord corrected by the scorge of sekenes and sodenly chauÌged hym in to another man soo that he beganne to shyne by the spyryte of prophecye
late vs deuoutely praye this hooly fader saynt Fraunceis to be oure socoure and ayde in our aduersytees and peryllys and helpe that by his merytes we maye after this short lyf come in to euerlastynge lyf in heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Fraunceis Here foloweth the lyf of saint Pelagyeune And first of hir name PElagyenne is said of pelagus whiche is as moch to saye as the see For in the See alle waters habounde In lyke wyse habounded she in the See of this world of alle Rychesses and of delyces She was the See of Inyquyte and the flood of synnes but she plonged after in the See of teeres And weesshe her in the Flood of baptysme Of saint Pelagienne PElagyenne was the formest and noblest of the wymmen of Antyoche fulle of Rychesses in all thynges She was ryght fayr of body noble of habyte vayne and varyable of courage and not chaste of body On a tyme as she wente thorugh the Cyte with grete pryde and ambycion that ther was no thynge sene on her but gold and syluer and precious stones And oueral where as she wente she fylled thayer with dyuerse odours and swete smellys And to fore and after her wente a grete multitude of yonge men and maydens whiche were also clad with ryght noble vesture and ryche And an hooly fader whiche was named âonnon bisshop of leopoleos whiche now is called daunete passyd thorugh the Cyte and sawe her Thenne he beganne to wepe ryght bytterly by cause she hadde more cure to plese the world than she hadde to plese god And thenne fylle doune vpon the pamente and smote therthe wyth his vysage and wette it with his tâerys and sayde O moost hyhe god haue pyte on me synnar the adournemeÌt and araye of one comyn woman hath surmounted in one day alle the wysedome of all my lyf O lorde late not tharray of one woman of folye coÌfouÌde me tofore the syght of thy dredefull mageste She hath arayed her self wyth hyhe studye and alle her myght for erthely thynges And I had purposed lord to haue pleased the but I haue not accomplysshyd it by cause of my neclygence Thenne he sayd to them that were with hym In trouthe I saye to yow that god shalle sette this woman in wytnes ageynst vs in the dome by cause that she soo besyly paynteth her for to plese worldly frendes louers ¶ And whanne we ben neclygent for to please the heuenly spouse oure lorde god And whanne he hadde sayd these or semblable wordes He fylle sodanly a slepe And hym semed that a foule douue or black culuer flewhe about hym whyles he was at masse at aulter And whanne he commaunded that they that were not baptysed shold departe and goo their way this douue departed anone and cam ageyne after the masse and was plungyd in a vessel ful of water wente out all clene and whyte and flewhe vp soo hyghe that she myght not be sene And thenne he awoke ¶ On a tyme whanne he prechyd in a chirche Pelagyenne was present She thenne becam so repentaunt that she sente hym a lettre by a messager thus sayenge To the hooly Bisshop of Ihesu Cryst Pelagyenne disciple of the deuylle et cetera yf thow art veryly the disciple of Ihesu Cryste the whiche as I haue herd sayd descended from heuen for the synners Vouchesauf to receyue me repentaunt synful woman To whome the Bisshop sente ageyne I praye the not to tempte my humylyte For I am a synfulle man yf thow desyrest to be saued thow mayst not see me allone but among other men thow shalt see me Thenne she cam to hym to fore many and tooke his feete And moost bytterly wepynge she sayd I am Pelagyenne the See of Inyquyte Flood of synnes the Swalowe of perdycyon And the deuourer of sowles I haue deceyued many by deceytes whiche now alle I abhorre ¶ Thenne the Bisshoppe demaunded her sayenge what is thy name She sayd I haue be called fro my byrthe Pelagyenne But for the pompe of my clothynge men calle me Margaryte Thenne the Bisshop receyued her benyngnly and enioyned to her helthfull penaunce And enformed her in the drede of god dylygently And Regenered her by hooly baptysme The deuylle thenne cryed there sayenge O what vyolence I suffre of this old seruaunt of God O vyolence O euylle old age acursyd be the day in whiche thow were born contrary to me For thow hast taken aweye my grettest hope On a nyght whyles Pelagyenne slepte the deuylle cam to her and awoke her and sayd Lady Margaryte what harme dyde I euer to the haue I not aourned the in alle Rychesses and in alle glorye I praye the telle me wherynne I haue angryd the and I shalle amende it anone I requyre the leue me not leste I be made reproche vnto the Crysten peple thenne she blessid her blew on hym And the deuylle vanysshed away And the third day after she assembled alle the goodes that she had and gaf hit to the poure peple for the the loue of god And a lytell whyle after she fled awey by nyght without knowlege of ony persone and tooke thabyte of an heremyte and set her self in a lytell celle and there seruyd our lord in moche grete abstynence and was of moche grete and good renommee vnto alle the people and ladde a ryght hooly lyf and good And was called broder Pelagyen After a Deken of the same bisshop that had baptysed her wente to Iherusalem for to vysyte there the hooly places Thenne that bisshop sayd to hym that after the vysytacion of the hooly places he shold see he a Monke that was named pelagyen and that he sholde vysyte hym For he shold fynde there the trewe seruaunt of our lord And soo he dyd And anone she knewe hym but he knewe her not for the grete lenesse that she had And Pelagyen demaunded hym haue ye a bisshop And he sayd ye lady And she sayd to hym Say to hym that he praye for me For truly he is thappostle of Ihesu cryste And thenne the preest departid and came ageyne the thyrdde day But whanne he cam he knockyd atte dore of the celle and anone answerd he opened the wyndowe and sawe that she was deed Thenne he cam and told hit to the bisshop thenne the Bisshop and the clergye and all the monkes assemblyd for to doo thexequyes for this holy man And whanne they hadde taken the body oute of the celle they fonde that she was a woman And thenne they merueyled gretely And gaf thankynges vnto god and buryed the body moche honourably the eyght day of October the yere of oure lord two honderd and foure score Thus endeth the lyf of saint Pelagien Here foloweth of saint Margarite saide Pelagyen â And first of her name THis virgyne Margaryte hadde tweyne names She was called Margaryte and Pelagyen In soo moche as she was named Margaryte she is alwey
shal haue remyssyon and foryeuenes of my synnes I axe of the but the space of thre houres And after that I shal goo whyder someuer thou wylt and shalle doo that whiche thow shalt commaunde me· And when he had gyuen to her that terme and assigned her whyder she shold come thenne she took all tho goodes that she had wonne with synne and brought them in to the myddle of the cyte to fore the peple and brent them in the fyre sayeng Come ye forth alle that haue synned with me and see ye how I brenne that whiche ye haue gyuen to me And the valewe of the goodes that she brente was of fyue honderd pound of gold And when she had all brente it she wente to the place whiche thabbot had assigned to her And ther was a monasterye of vyrgynes and there he closed her in a celle and sealed the dore with leed and the celle was lytell and strayte And but one lytel wyndowe opene by whiche was mynystred of her poure lyuynge For thabbot commaunded that they shold gyue to her a lytel brede water And whanne the Abbot shold departe Thaysys sayd to hym Fader Where shalle I shede the water and that whiche shal come fro the conduytes of nature And he sayd to her in thy selle as thou arte worthy And thenne she demaunded how she sholde praye And he ansuerde thou arte not worthy to name god ne that the name of the Trynyte be in thy mouthe ne stratche thy handes to heuen by cause thy lyppes ben fulle of iniquytees And thyn handes full of euyll attouchynges and fowle ordures but loke only towards the eest And saye ofte these wordes Qui plasmasti me miserere mei lord that hast fourmed me haue mercy on me And whanne she had ben there thre yere closed thabbot pafuncius remembryd and sorowed wente to thabbot Anthonye for to requyre of hym yf god had forgyuen her her synnes And the cause told saynt Anthonye called alle his disciples commaunded them that they shold all wake that nyght and be in prayer soo that god shold declare to somme of them the cause why thabbot Pafuncius was come And thenne as they prayd withoute ceassynge thabbot paule the grettest disciple of saynt Anthonye sawe sodenly in heuen a bedde arraed with precious vestymentes which thre vyrgynes arayed with clere vysages And these thre vyrgynes were named the fyrst was drede which drewe thaysys from euylle And the Second shame of the synnes that she commysed and that made her to deserue pardon And the thyrd was loue of ryÈtwysenesse whiche brouÈt her to hye souerayne place And whanne Powle had sayd to them that the grace of this vysyon was only by the merytes of saynt Anthonye A goodly voys answerd that it was not by the meryte of Anthony his fader but by the meryte of thaysis the synnar And on the morne whanne thabbot powle recounted his vysyon And they had knowen the wylle of god thabbotte pafuncius departed with grete ioye and wente anone to the monasterye where she was and opened the dore of the Celle And she prayd hym that she myght yet abyde there enclosed in and thabbotte sayd to her yssue and go out For god hath forgeuen to the thy synnes And she answerd I take god to wytnesse that syth I entryd herin I haue made of all my synnes a somme and haue sette them to fore myn eyen And lyke as the brethe departeth not fro the mouthe ne the nosethrellys soo the synnes departed neuer fro myn eye but alwey haue bewepte them To whome the Abbot pafuncius sayd god hath not pardonned the thy synnes for thy penaunce but by cause that thow hast had alwey drede in thy courage And he took her oute fro thens And she lyued after xv dayes and thenne she rested in our lord Thabbot Effrem conuertyd in lyke wyse another comyn woman For whanne that comyn woman wold haue drawen saynt Effrem for to haue synned dyshonestly he sayd to her folowe me and she folowed And whanne they cam in a place where a grete multytude of men were he sayd to her sytte doune here that I may haue to doo with the and she sayde how may I this doo amonge soo grete multitude of peple here standynge And he sayd yf thow be ashamed of the peple thow oughtest haue gretter shame of god whiche seeth alle thynges hydde And she wente awey all ashamed ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Thaysis Here foloweth the lyf of saint Denyse And first of his name DEnyse is as moche to saye as hastely fleynge or Denyse is sayd of dya whiche is as moche to saye as two and nysus whiche is to saye y lyft vp For he was lyft vp after two thynges that is after the body and the sowle Or denys may be sayd of Dyane that is Venus the goddesse of beaute and of syos that is to saye god as who sayth he is fayre to god or as somme saye he is sayd of Dyonisia that is after ysydore a precious stone black whiche is good ageynste dronkenesse he was hasty in fleynge the the world by parfyght renonciacion He was lyft vp by contemplacion by thynges within forth he was fayre to god by beaute of vertues He prouffyted to synnars ageynste dronkenesse of vyces And he had many names to fore his conuersyon For he was called Ariopogita for the strete that he dwellyd in he was called theosophus that is to saye wyse to god Also of the wyse men of grece he is sayd vnto this daye perystera vranos that is to say the wynghe of heuen For he flewe merueilously with the wynghe of spyrytualle vnderstandynge in to heuen Also he was sayd Macharius that is blessyd Also he was sayd of his Countreye Ionicus Ionica as sayth papye is one of the langages of grekes Or Ionyces ben sayd a maner of round pylers or Ionicum is sayd a foote of versyfyenge whiche hath two syllabes shorte and tweyne longe By whiche he is shewed that he was wyse knowynge god by Inquysycyon of thynges preuy and hydde Wynghe of heuen by loue of thynges celestyall and blessyd by possession of euerlastyng goodes By other thynges it is shewed that he was a merueilous Rethour by eloquence a susteynour and a berar vp of the chirch by doctryne shorte to hym self by humylyte and longe to other by Charyte Saynt Austyn sayth in the eyght booke of the Cyte of God that Ionyque is a kynde of Philosophres ytalyens whiche ben toward ytalye and Ionyques ben of the part of grece And by cause that denys was a souerayne philosopher· he was named Ionyque And Methodins of Constantynople endyted his lyf and his passion in grekesshe tongue And Anastasius in latyn Whiche was a writar of the byble of the chirche of Rome as ygnarus bisshop of Raynes sayth ¶ Of saint Denyse SAint Denyse Ariopagyte was conuertyd to the faythe of Ihesu Cryst of saynt powle thappostle And he was callyd
Rome lyke as in shewyng that hit departed fro the seygnourye of Rome And thenne anone the Romayns wold brynge grete puyssaunce in to that prouynce And there subdued it to their seygnourye And yet it suffysed not to the Romayns that they hadde in theire seignorye alle the false ymages of the prouynces but maade to eche of tho false goddes a Temple lyke as tho goddes hadde maade them lordes and vaynqueurs of alle the prouynces And by cause that alle the ydolles myght not be in that Temple They made a gretter Temple more merueylous and hyhe than alle the other And for to shewe the more their wodenesse They dedyed this Temple in thonour of alle theyr goddes And more for to deceyue the peple the Bisshops of thydolles fayned that it had ben commaunded to them of Cybele a goddesse that is called moder of the goddes And they called this Temple Pantheon whiche is as moche to saye as alle goddes of pan that is all and theos that is god And by cause they wold haue victory of alle the people therfore they made a grete Temple to alle the sones of Cybele And the fouÌdament of this Temple was cast round by a spere that by that forme the perdurablete of theire Goddes sholde be shewed And for as moche as the grete quantite of the erthe whiche was within semed not susteynable to be voyded and that the werke was a lytel sene aboue the erthe they fylled the creuyses within the erthe and medled penyes with therthe And dyd alwey so tylle the sayd Temple was fully accomplysshed And thenne they gaf lycence that who someuer wold take awey the erthe that all the money that he fonde with therthe shold be his Thenne cam hastely grete companye of peple and voyded anone the Temple And at the last the Romayns maade a pyne of copper and gylt and set it in a ryght hyhe place And it is sayd alle the prouynces were entaylled and grauen merueylously within that pyne So that alle they that come to Rome myght see in that pyne in what parte his prouynce was And this pyne after longe tyme fylle and remayned in the ouerest parte of the Temple And in the tyme of Focas themperour what tyme Rome had receyued the faythe Boneface the fourthe ãâã fro saynt gregory about the yere of our lord six honderd and fyue gate of Focas the said Temple And dyd doo take awey and enface alle the ordure of alle tho ydolles And the fourthe kalendes of Maye he halowed it in thonour of our lady saynt Marye and of alle the martirs And called it saint Marye at martres whiche now is called sancta Maria rotunda that is saint Marye the round For thenne was made no solempnite of the Confessours And by cause ther assembled grete multitude of peple at his feest And there myght not be found haboundaunce of vitaylle for the peple that cam ãâã Gregory establysshed this feste to be in the kalendes of Nouembre For thenne oughte to be gretter habondaunce of vytaylle whanne the corne is had in and wyne made And establisshed this daye to be halowed thorugh the world in the honour of alle sayntes And thus the Temple that had be made for alle thydolles is now dedycate and halowed to alle the sayntes And where as the worshippynge of ydolles was vsed ther is now the praysyng of all sayntes Scondely it is ordeyned for the supplement of thynges offendyd and trespaced that is to saye for to accomplysshe suche as we haue ouerpassed For we haue lefte and ouerpassed many sayntes of whom we haue made no feste ne may not halowe the fest of euery saynt by hym self as wel for the grete multitude whiche ben Infynyte as for our Infyrmyte For we ben feble and weyke and maye not suffyse for the shortnesse of tyme For the tyme may not suffyse therto And as saynt Ierome sayth in a pystle whiche is in the begynnynge of his kalender ther is no day except the fyrst daye of Ianyuer but that there may be foundeh euery day mo than fyue thousand martirs And therfor by cause we maye not syngulerly make feest of euery saynt saynt Gregory thâ ãâã hath ordeyned and establysshed that we shall on one daye honoure them generally to gydre And Mayster Wylliam of Ancerre putteth sixe resons in the somme of the offyce wherfore hit was establysshed that we shold here in thys world make solempnyte of the sayntes The fyrste is for the honoure of the dyuyne mageste For whan we doo worship to the saynte or sayntes we worshipe god in his sayntes and say that he is merueylous in them For who that dothe honoure to sayntes he honoureth hym specyally which hath sanctyfyed them The second is to haue ayde in our Infyrmyte For by oure self we may haue none helthe therfor haue we nede of the prayers of sayntes And therfore we ought to honoure them that we may deserue that they ayde and helpe vs It is redde in the thyrdde book of kynges of the fyrst chapytre that bersabee is as moche to saye as the pytte of fyllynge whiche is to saye the Chirche tryumphaunt sayenge to her sone that is to saye that to the Chirche tryumphaunt he had obteyned the regne by his prayers The thyrdde cause is for thaugmentacion of oure surete that is to saye for the glorye that is purposed in vs in their solempnyte oure hope and surete ben augmented and encreaced And yf mortal men and dede myght thus be enhaunced by theire merytes it is trouthe that the myghte and puyssaunce shalle no thyng there by be mynuysshed ne lassed The fourth for thensample of vs folowynge For when the feste is remembryd we ben called tensiewe and folowe them soo that by thensample of them we despyse alle erthely thynges And desyre celestyall thynges ¶ The fyfthe is for the dette of entrechaungynge neyghbourhede For the sayntes make of vs feste in heuene For thaungels of god and the holy sowles haue ioye and make feste in heuene of a synnar that dothe penaunce And therfor it is ryght whanne they make of vs feste in heuen that we make feste of them in erthe The sixthe is for the procuracion of our honour For whanne we honoure the sayntes We procure our honour For their solempnyte is our dignyte For whan we worshipe oure bretheren we worshippe our self For charyte maketh al to be comyn And our thynges ben celestyall erthely and perdurable And aboue these reasons Iohan damascene putteth thre reasons in his fourthe boke the seuenth Chapytre why wherfore the sayntes and theire Relyques ought to be honoured of whiche some ben preysed for their dygnytees and somme for the preciousytees of their bodyes And the dygnyte of them is in four maners For they ben frendes of god Sones of god heyres of god and oure dukes and ledars And saynt Iohan putteth these auctorytees Iohannis decimo tercio For the first Iam non
vesture and saide Fere the no thynge For thou shalte not deye Aryse vp And bere thou this chayne wyth the to my Chirche folowe me for I goo to fore ¶ Thenne he aroos and toke the chayne and folowed saynt Leonard whiche wente to fore hym tylle he cam to the chirche And anone as he was to fore the yates saynt Leonard lefte hym there and he thenne entrid in to the chirche and recounted to all the peple what saynt Leonard had done And be henge that grete chayne âo fore his Tombe ¶ There was a certayne man whiche duellyd in the place of saynt Leonard And was moche faythful and deuoute to Seynt Leonard And hit happed that this goode man was taken of a Tyraunt whiche beganne to thynke in hym self that Seynte Leonard vnbyndeth and loseth alle them that ben bounden in yrons And the myghte of yron hath no more myghte ageynste hym than waxe hath ageynste the Fyre Yf I sette this manne in yrons Leonard shalle anone delyuere hym And yf I maye kepe hym I shalle make hym paye for his raunsonne a thowsand shyllynges I wote well what I shalle doo I shalle goo make a ryght grete and depe pytte vnder the erthe in my Toure And I shalle caste hym theryn bounden with many bondes And after I shalle doo make a cheste of Tree vpon the mouthe of the pytte And shalle make my Knyghtes to lye therynne al armed And how be hit that yf Leonard breke the yrons yet shalle he not entre in to hit vnder the erthe And whanne he had made al thys that he thought This man whiche was enclosed therin cryed oft to saynt Leonard so that on a nyght saynt Leonard cam and tourned the chyst wherin the knyghtes laye armed and closed them therin lyke as dede men ben in a tombe And after entryd in to the fosse or pitte with grete lyght And toke the hand of his trewe seruaunt and sayd to hym Slepest thou or wakest loo here is Leonard whome thou so moche desyrest And he sow merueylyng sayd lord helpe me Anone his chaynes were broken and tooke hym in his armes and bare hym oute of the toure And thenne spak to hym as a frende doth to a frende and sette hym at home in his hows There was a pylgrym whiche retorned fro the vysytynge of saynt Leonard and was taken in Almayne and put in a pytte or fosse and fast closed therin And this pylgrym prayd strongly saynt leonard and also them that tooke hym that they wold for the loue of saint leonard lete hym go for he had neuer trespaced to them And they answerd but yf he wold paye moche money he shold not departe And he sayd be it bytwene yow and saynt Leonard to whome I remytte the mater And the nyght folowynge saynt Leonard appired to the lord of the castell and commaunded hym that he shold delyuere his pylgrym And on the morn he supposed he hadde dremed and wold not delyuere hym The next nyghte he appiered to hym ageyne and commaunded hym to late hym goo but yet he wold not obeye The thyrd nyght saynt Leonard took this pylgrym and brought hym oute of the castel And anone the toure and half the castell fylle and oppressyd many of them that were therm And the prynce only was le te to his confusion a lyue and hadde his thyes broken etcetera There was a knyghte in pryson in Brytayne whiche ofte called on saynt Leonard whiche anone appiered to hym in the syght of al men and knowynge hym And they beyng sore abasshed entryd in to the prison and brake his bondes and putte them in the mannes hand brought hym forth before them alle beynge sore aferd There was another Leonard whiche was of the same profession of one vertu of whome the body resteth at Corbigny And whanne this Leonard was prelate in a monastery he was of so grete humylite that he was sene to be lowest of all And moche peple cam to hym so fast and so many that they that were enuyous sayd to the kyng Clotayre that yf he took not good hede to the Royamme of Fraunce he shold suffre damage and that grete by Leonard whiche gadred to hym moche peple vnder the shadowe of Relygyon And thenne this cruel kyng commaunded that he shold be chaced awey but the knyghtes that come for to chace hym were so coÌuertid by his wordes that they were conpuncte and promysed to be his disciples And thenne the kynge repentid hym and requyred pardon of hym And putte them from hym that had soo myssayd of hym and fro their goodes and honours And louyd moche saynt Leonard soo that vnnethe the kynge wold not restablysshe them ageyne to their estate at the prayers of the holy saynt And this holy saynt Impetred and hadde graunte of god that who someuer were holden in pryson and prayd in his name that he shold anone be delyuerd And on a daye as he was in his prayers a ryght grete serpente stretched hym fro the foote of saynt Leonard a longe vpward vnto his brest And he neuer therfor left his oryson And whanne he had accomplysshâd his orysons he sayd to the Serpent I know Wel that sythe the begynnynge of thy creacion thow tormentest men as moche as thou maist but thy myght is gyuen to me now do to me now that whiche I haue deseruyd And whanne he had sayd thus the Serpente sprange oute of his hode And fylle doune deed at his feet After this on a tyme when he had appeased two Bisshops that had ben in discord he sayd that he sholde on the morne fynysshe his lyf And so he dyde And that was aboute the yere of oure lord vC lxx Here foloweth the lyf of saint Leonard ¶ Here foloweth of the foure crowned martirs THe four crowned martirs were Seuerus Seuerianus Capoforus and Victorinus whiche by the commaundement of Dyoclesian were beten with plommettis of lede vnto the deth The names of whom coude not be founden but after long tyme they were shewed by dyuyne reuelacion hit was was establysshed that theire memorye shold be worshipped vnder the names of fyue other martirs that is to wete Claudyen Castor Symphorian Nychostrate and Symplycyen whiche were martred two yere after the foure crouned martirs And these martirs knewe all the craft of sculpture or of keruyng dyoclesian wolde haue constrayned them to kerue an ydolle but they wold not entaylle ne kerue hit ne consente to do sacrefyse to thydolles And thenne by the commaundement of Dyoclesian they were put in to tonnes of leed all lyuynge and cast in to the see about the yere of our lord two honderd foure score and seuen And Melchyades thâ ãâã ordeyned these foure sayntes to ãâã and to be callyd foure crowned martirs bifore that their names were founden And though their names were afterward founden and knowen yet for thusage they ben alwey called the foure crowned marthes Thus endeth of the four crowned marters
Here foloweth of saint Theodore And first of his name THeodore is seid of theos that is as moche to say as god and of das that is to saye gyue And of âusruris that is a felde And thus Theodorus is as moche to saye as a felde gyuen of god For he gaf hym to god and renounced the feld of the Chyualrye of themperour ¶ Of saint Theodore THeodore suffred dethe vnder Dyoclesian and maxymyan in the Cyte of Maryne And whanne the Prouost sayd to hym that he shold doo sacrefyse and retorne to his fyrst chyualrye Theodore ansuerid I serue my god and his sone Ihesu Cryst To whome the prouost sayde thenne thy god hath a sonne and theodre sayd ye certaynly To whome the prouost sayde Of whome may we knowe hym And the odore sayd Forsothe ye may well knowe hym and go to hym And thenne ther was terme gyuen to saynt Theodore for to doo sacryfyse vnto thydolles And he entryd in to the Temple of Marte by nyÈt and put fyre in it vnder and brent alle the Temple And thenne he was accused of a man that had sene hym and was enclosed in the pryson for to deye there for hongre theÌne our lord appyerid to hym saide Theodore my seruaunt haue thou good hope For I am with the Thenne cam to hym a grete company of men clad in whyte the dore beyng closed and began to synge with hym And whanne the kepars sawe that they were aferd and fledde Thenne he was taken oute and warned to do sacryfyse he said yf thou brenne my flesshe by fyre and consumest hit by dyuyne tormentes I shall neuer renye my god as longe as my spyryte is in me Thenne he was honged on a tree by the commaundemente of themperour and cruelly his body was rente and torne with hokes of yron that his bare rybbes appyeryd Thenne the prouost demaunded of hym Theodore wylt thou be with vs or with thy god crist Theodore answerd I haue ben with my Ihesu Cryst and am and shalle be Thenne the prouost commaunded that he shold be brente in a fyre In whiche fyre he gaf vp his spyryte but the body abode therin without hurt Aboute the yere of oure lord two honderd lxxvii And alle the peple were replenysshed with ryght swete odoure And a vois was herd whiche sayd Come to me my frende And entre in to the ioye of thy lord And many of the peple sawe the heuen open Thus endeth the lyf of saint Theodore Here foloweth the lyf of saint Martyn And first of his name MArtyn is as moche to say as holdyng Marte that is the god of bataill ageynst vyces and synnes Or Martyn is sayd as one of the martyrs for he was a martir by his wylle and by mortyfyenge of his flesshe Or Martyn is expowned thus as despysynge prouokynge or seygnoryenge He despysed the deuylle his enemy He prouoked the name of oure lord to mercy And he seygnoryed ouer his flesshe by contynuelle abstynence in makynge it lene ouer whiche flesshe reason or corage shold domyne as saynte Denys sayth in an epystle to Demophyle lyke as a lord domyneth ouer his seruaunt or a fader his sone or an old man a yonge wanton so shold reason domyne the flesshe Seuerus whiche otherwyse was called Sulpicius disciple of saynt Martyn wrote his lyf whiche Seuerus Genandius remembreth and nombreth amonge the noble men Of saynt Martyn MArtyne was borne in the castelle of Sabarye in the towne of Pauonye but he was nourysshed in ytaly at pauye with his fader whiche was mayster and trybune of the knyghtes vnder Constancyen and Iulyane Cezar And Martyn rode with hym but not with his wylle For fro his yong Infancye he was enspyred deuynely of god And whanne he was twelue yere old he fled to the Chirche ayenste the wylle of alle his kynne And requyred to be made newe in the faythe And fro thens he wold haue entryd in to deserte yf Infyrmyte of maladye had not lette hym And as themperours hadde ordeyned that the sones of Auncyent knyghtes shold ryde in stede of their faders And Martyn whiche was fyften yere old was commanded to doo the same and was maad knyght and was contente with one seruaunt And yet oftymes Martyn wold serue hym and drawe of his botee In a wynter tyme as Martyn passed by the yate of Amyens he met a poure man al naked to whome no man gaf ony almesse Thenne Martyn drewe oute his swerd And carf hys mantell therwith in two pyeces in the myddel And gaf that one half to the poure man For he hadde nothynge els to gyue to hym And he clad hym self with that other half The next nyght folowyng he sawe oure lord Ihesu crist in heuen clothed with that parte that he hadde gyuen to the poure man And sayd to the Aungels that were aboute hym Martyn yet newe in the fayth hath couerd me with this vesture Of whiche thynge this hooly man was not enhaunced in vayne glorye But he knewe there by the bounte of god And whanne he was eyghten yere of age he dyde do baptyse hym self And promysed that he shold renounce the dygnyte to be the Iuge of the knyghtes and also the world yf his tyme of his prouostye were accomplisshyd Thenne helde he yet chyualry two yere And in the mene whyle the barbaryns entred amonge the frenshe men And Iulyan cesar whiche shold haue foughten ageynste them gaf grete moneye vnto the knyghtes And Martyn wyllynge nomore to fyghte reffused his yefte but sayd to cezar I am a knyght of Ihesu crist It apperteyneth not to me for to fyghte Thenne Iulyan was wrothe and sayd that it was not for the grace of Relygyon that he renounced chyualrye but for fere and drede of the present bataylle folowyng To whom Martyn not beyng aferd sayd to hym by cause that thou holdest it for cowardyse and that I haue not do it for good faythe I shalle be to morne alle vnarmed to fore the bataylle And shalle be protected and kepte by the signe of the crosse not by shelde ne by helme And shalle passe thorugh the bataylles of the enemyes surely And thenne he was commaunded to be kepte For to be on thâ morne all vnarmed ayenst thenemyes But on the morne thenemyes sent messagers that they wold yelde them and their goodes wherof hit is no doubte but that by the merytes of this hooly man that this vyctorye was hadde withoute shedynge of blood And thenne forthon he lefte chyualry And wente to saynt Hyllarye bisshop of poytyers And he made hym acolyte And he was warned of oure lord in his slepe that he shold yet vysyte his fader and moder whiche yet were paynyms And also that he sholde suffre many tribulacions For as he wente ouer the montaynes he felle among theuys And whanne one of the theues hadde lyfte vp an axe for to haue smeton hym in the hede he bare the stroke
shold go to the hows of the ladyes withoute his leue And whanne the holy moder saynt clare knewe that she had moche sorowe in her herte by cause she sawe wel that she myght not haue that whiche was nedefull whiche was the noreture of holy scrypture And sayd to her susters with a soroufull herte Now forthon wel may the pope gregorye take fro vs alle the freres whanne he hath taken fro vs them that nourysshed oure sowles with the word of god And anone she sente ageyne all the Freres of her howâ to the maystre or mynystre For she sayd she hadde nothyng to do to haue freres to gete them bodyly brede whanne they failled them that nourysshed her and her susters with the word of god Anone as the pope gregory herd this tydynge he repeled that whiche he had deffended and set all at the wylle of god This hooly good Abbesse loued not only the sowles of her good doughters but thought well in her herte oftymes how she myght serue their bodyes most charytably For whanne it was ryght colde she couerd by nyghte them that were feble And vysyted them moche swetely And yf she sawe ony trouble by ony temptacion or ony anger whiche happeth somtyme she wold calle them secretely And comforted them all wepyng And other whyle she wold falle doune to the feet of her doughters that were mate and heuy And knelyd to fore them so that the swetenes and debonairte that the ladyes sawe in her good moder that she alleged and toke awey theyr sorow wherof the ladyes her doughters couthe her moche thanke And thus lerned they to doo wel by deuocion and to loue their good moder more swetely and folowed by the ryÈt weye the werkes of their good Abbesse And they meruaylled moche of the grete habondaunce of holynes that god hadde gyuen to his spouse Whanne she hadde ben fourty yere in the state of ryght holy pouerte hit pleased to oure lord to calle her to be rewarded in heuen and sente to her a grete maladye and multyplyed her languoure and sekenes She hadde somtyme done so sharp penaunce that her body ne her flesshe hadde no strengthe And at the last she was ouer seke and moche more than she was wonte to be For as our lord had gyuen to her in her helthe rychesse of merytes of good vertues and of good werkes Ryght so wold god enriche her in her sekenes to th ende that she shold suffre for hym ryghte grete payne and tormentes For in suffrynge of sekenes is vertue parfyghte how and in what wyse she was vertuous in her maladye and parfyght ye maye here For how be it that she hadde ben eyght and twenty yere in langueur and maladye yet neuer she grutched ne murmured ne playned but allewey sayd holy wordes and rendryd thankynges to our lord how be it that she was merueylously agreued and seke so that it semed that she hasted moche to drawe to her ende Hit pleasyd neuertheles to our lord that he respyted her fro the dethe vnto the tyme that her ende myght be honoured and enhaunced her by the presence of the pope and of the cardynals to whome she was especial doughter for when the pope and the cardynals hadde abyden a grete whyle at lyons Seynt clare was theÌne merueyllously ãâã by sekenes soo that her doughters hadde grete sorowe at their hertes that them semed that a glayue had perââd them or that they haue be ryuen with a swerd But our lord shewed anon a vysyon to one his haÌdmayde which dwellyd at saynt powles For hit semed to her that she and her susters were at saynt Damyans to fore saynt clare whiche was ryght seke And her semed that this Clare laye in a moche fayr bedde and moche precious And her semed that her doughters wepte whanne the soule shold passe oute of the body And anone she sawe a ryght fayr lady at the hede of the bedde and sayd to them that wepte Faire doughters wepe no more for this lady shall ouercome all And knowe ye that she shalle not deye tyll that oure lord and his disciples shalle come And she shal not abyde longe after that the pope and the Courte of Rome shalle come to perouse And anone as the Bisshop of Hostence herd saye that this holy woman was seke anone in grete haste he wente to see and vysyte the spouse of Ihesu Cryst For he was her ghostely fader and had the cure of her soule And nourysshed her with pure herte and pure wylle For he hadde alweye deuoutely loued the holy vyrgyne And thenne he gaf to her in her maladye the body of our lord For that is the very fedyng of the sowle And he comforted the other doughters by his sermons and holy wordes Thenne the holy good moder wepynge praid hym moche swetely that he wold take heede of her doughters ther beynge and of all the other And that for the loue of our lord he wold remembre her And aboue alle other thynges she prayd hym that he wolde do so moche that her pryuelege of pouerte myghte be confermed of the pope and of the cardynals And he that loued veryly her and the relygyon and that hadde alwey truly ayded her promysed that he shold doo and dyde hit In the yere after cam the pope and the cardynals to Assyse for to see the departyng of the holy vyrgyne and to putte to effect the vysyon that hâdde be sene and signefyed of her For the pope is the hyhest man in erthe vnder god and that best representeth the persone of Ihesu Cryst For lyke as our lord hadde his disciples which were ioyned to hym in erthe In lyke wyse the pope hath his cardynals the whiche ben ioyned to hym in the hooly chirche Our lord god hasted hym as he that knewe the ferme purpos of his spouse saynte Clare And hasted for to honoure her and to sette in the palais of the kynge of paradys his poure pilgryme and the good lady also coueyted and wysshed with alle her herte that she myghte be delyuerd of her mortal body And that she myght see in heuen Ihesu cryst as she that hadde ensiewed hym in therthe with al her hert in very pouerte Her membres were brused and troubled by grete sekenes that the body myght not endure For it was ouer moche enfebled soo that our lord called her fro this world and ordeyned for her helthe perdurable Thenne pope Innocent the fourthe the cardynallis cam with hym for to vysyte thandmayde of god of whom he hadde better proued the holy lyf than of ony woman that was in his tyme And therfor he knewe certaynly that it was reason that he shold come and honoure her with his presence And whanne he cam in to the hows of the ladyes he went thyder where as this holy saynte laye And took to her his hond for to kysse And the pope whiche was curtois stode vpon a tree and tooke to her
his fote to kysse by grete humylyte And she took it and kyssed it moche swetely and after enclyned her self to the pope moch humbly and requyred hym with a swete chyere that he wold assoille her of alle her synnes To whome he sayde wold god that we hadde nomore nede of absolucion of synnes that we haue done than ye haue And thenne he assoylled her of all her synnes and gaf to her largely his benediction And whanne they were al departed for as moche as she hadde receyued that day by the handes of the mynyster prouynciall the very body of oure lord She lift vp her eyen to oure lord to heuen and ioyned her handes to gyder And sayde thenne Ha my right swete fair doughters our lord Ihesu crist by his debonairte hath done to me soo grete good and gyuen to me so grete a yefte that heuen ne erthe maye not knowe For I haue receyued this day a moche hyhe lord and also haue sene his vycayre The good doughters were aboute the bedde which wepte and abode for the orphalyns Wherof they hadde moche grete sorowe in their hertes For the deth of their moder percyd their hertes lyke as it were a swerd which doughters departed not fro her ne for hongre ne for thurst ne for no slepe ne they thouÈt neyther of bedde ne of table Alle the delytes that they had was for to crye to wepe to make sorowe And amonge alle the other her suster whiche was a moche deuoute vyrgyne wepte many teres sayd to saynt Clare her suster Fayre and ryght swete suster departe not awe ye fro me And leue me not here allone And saynt Clare answerd to her moche swetely Faire swete saster It plesyth to god that I departe fro thys world but wepe no more fayr suster For ye shalle come hastely to oure lord hastely after me And also I say you that oure lord shalle doo to yow grete comforte and consolacion to fore or ye deye After this holy and good Clare drewe fast to her ende And the folke and peple had to her grete deuocion And the prelates and cardynals cam ofte to see her And honoured her as a very saynte But there was a merueylous thynge to here For she was by the space of twelue dayes that neuer entryd in to her body no corporall mete And she was so stronge by the suffraunce and grace of god that she comforted in the seruyse of god alle them that come to fore her And desyred and charged them to doo well And whanne Frere Reynald whiche was debonayr cam for to see her And beheld the grete sekenes that she hadde long tyme suffred he prechyd to her and prayd her moche to haue pacyence And anone she answerd to hym frely and debonayrly Syth that the holy man saynt Fraunceis the seruaunt of Ihesu Cryst hath shewed to me the weye of trouthe And that I haue felte and knowen the wylle and grace of Ihesu cryst by the aduertysement of saynt Fraunceis knowe ye ryght dere broder that no paynes displease me ne no penaunce greueth me ne no sekenesses ben to me hard ne displesen then answerd she to the frere whanne she felte oure lord knocke at her yate for to take her sowle oute of this world And requyred that good folke and spyrytuel shold be with her that she myght here of them the holy wordes of god and specially the wordes of the dethe and passion of Ihesu Cryste And amonge alle other cam a Frere named vynberes whiche was one of the noble prechers that was in erthe and that oftymes spacke and sayd noble and holy wordes ardaunt and good of whos comynge she was moche glad And prayd hym that yf he hadde made redy ony newe thynge that he shold saye it And thenne the frere opened his mouthe and beganne to saye so swete wordes that they were lyke sparklys of fyre and of ardaunt feruour or hete wherof the holy vyrgyne had moche grete consolacion Thenne she tourned her and sayd to her doughters Swete doughters I recommauÌde to yow the holy pouerte of our lord And gyue ye to hym thankynges for that he hath done to yow Thenne she blessyd all them that had deuocion to her and to her ordre And gaf largely and wysely her blessynge to alle the poure ladyes of her ordre that were to fore her there The two felawes of saynt Fraunceis that were there of whom that one was named Aungel comforted them that were ful of sorowe And that other Frere kyssed deuoutely and holyly the bedde of her that shold passe to oure lord The hooly ladyes sorowed moche the losse of their moder And as moche more as they cryed and wepte without forth so moche more were they ardauntly greuyd within forth Thenne saynt clare began to speke to her soule al softely Go sayd she go surely For thou hast a good guyde and conduytour in the waye where as thou shalt go whiche shall lede the well the righte way Go sayde she hardyly for he that made the and sanctyfyed the shalle kepe the For he loueth the also tenderly as the moder doth her childe Lord god sayd she blessyd be thou that madest me And thenne one of her susters demanded her to whome she spack I haue sayd she spoken to my blessid sowle And withoute faylle her glorious conduy tour is not fer fro her Thenne she called one of her doughters and seyd to her Fair doughter seest thou the kynge of glory whome I see but the doughter sawe hym not For the wylle of god was that one shold see that an other sawe not For ther was an happy wydowe and comfortable whiche sawe hym with the eyen of her heede among the teres that she wepte And yet neuertheles she was wounded to the herte with a darte full of swetenes and of sorowe Thenne she torned her syght toward the dore of the hows And sawe a grete companye of vyrgyns entre in to the hows alle cladde with whyte clothes And eche of them bare a crowne of gold in her hede And amonge alle other there was one moche more clere and fayrer than the other whiche bare a crowne of gold wyndowed oute wherof yssued a ryght grete clerenes that all the hows was so clerly lyght that it semed the nyght to be clere day And this lady that was soo clere approched to the bedde where as the spouse of her sone laye And she enclyned vpon her and embraced her moche swetely Thenne the vyrgyns brought a mantell of ryght grete beaute And the vyrgyns enforced them to serue and to couer the body of saynt Clare And wel to make redy the hows And on the morne was the fest of saynte Laurence And thenne deyde and departed oute of this mortall lyf the holy lady and frende of our lord And anone the sowle of her was crouned in euerlastynge ioye The spyryte of her was moche benyngnely and ioyously losed and
became locustes and he consumed in to a stone and thenne hir fader took hir by the heer and drewe hir doun fro the montayn and shytte hyr faste in pryson and maad hir to be kepte there by his seruauntes vnto the tyme that he had sente to the Iuge for to delyuer hir to the tormentes And whan the Iuge was aduertysed of the feythe and byleue of the mayde he dyd hir to be broughte tofore hym hir fader wente wich hyr accompanyed wyth his seruauntes thretenyng hir wyth his swerde and delyuerd hir vnto the Iuge and coniured hym by the puyssaunce of his goodes that he shold tormente hir with horryble tormentes Thenne satte the Iuge in Iugemente whan he sawe the grete beaute of saynt barbara he sayd to hir now chese whether ye wyl spare your self offre to the goddes or ellys deye by cruel tormentes Saynt barbara answeryd to hym I offre my self to my god Ihesu cryste the whiche hath created heuen erthe and al other thynges and fye on you deuylles whiche haue mowthe and can not speke they haue eyen and can not see they haue eerys and here not they haue noses and smelle not they haue handes and may not fele and they haue feet and may not goo they that make them be they made semblable to them and al they that haue fyaunce and byleue in them Thenne became the Iuge al wode and angrye and commaunded to vnclothe hir and bete hir wyth synewes of bulles frote hir flesshe wyth salte and whan she had longe endured thys that hyr body was al blody the Iuge dyd doo close hir in a pryson vnto the tyme thot he had delybered of what tormentes he myght make hir deye and thenne at mydnyght descended a grete light and clerenesse in to the pryson in whyche our lord shewyd hym to hyr sayeng barbara haue confydence and be ferme and stedfaste for in heuen in therthe thou shalte haue grete ioye for thy passyon therfore doubte not the Iuge for he shal be wyth the and I shal delyuer the fro al thy paynes that ony shalle make the suffre and Incontynent she was al hole thenne whan our lord had sayd thus he blessyd hir and re mounted in to heuen thenne saynt barbara was gretely reioysed by the grete comforte of our lord and on yâ morne the Iuge commaunded that she shold to broughte tofore hym and whan she was come he sawe that hyr woundes apperyd not but was al hole and he said to hir beholde berbara the bounte of our goddes and how moche they loue the For they haue heled thy wouÌdes Thenne the blessyd barbara marter of Ihesu cryst answerd to the Iuge thy goddes be semblable to the wythoute entendemente how may they hele my woundes they may not helpe them self he that hath heled me is Ihesu criste the sone of god the whiche wyl not haue the by cause thy herte is so Indurate harde wyth the deuyls thenne the Iuge replenysshed of yre commaunded that she shold be hanged betwene two forked trees and that they shold breke hir raynes with staues and brenne hir sydes wyth brennyng lampes and after he made hir strongely to be beten and hurted hir heed with a mayllet Thenne saynt barbara behelde and loked vpward to heuen sayeng Ihesu Cryste that knowest the hertes of men And knowest my thought I beseche the to leue me not Thenne commauÌded the Iuge to the hangman that he shold cut of with his swerde hir pappes whan they were cutte of the holy saint loked ageyn toward heuen sayeng Ihesu cryst torne not thy visage fro me whaÌ she had longe endured this payne the Iuge commaunded that she shold be ladde betyng thorugh the stretes and the holy vyrgyn the thyrd tyme behelde the heuen and sayd Lord god that coueryst heuen with clowdes I praye the to couer my body to th ende that it be not seen of the euyl peple when she had maad his prayer our lord came ouer hir and sende to hir an auÌgel whiche cladde hyr wyth a whyte vestemente the knyghtes ladde hir vnto a towne called dallasyon there the Iuge commaunded âo slee hir with the swerde theÌne hir fader alle araged tooke hyr oute of the hondes of the Iuge and ladde hyr vpon a montayne and Saynt barbara reioysed hir in hastyng to receyue the sallayre of hyr vyctorye and thenne whan she was crawen thyder she made hir oryson sayeng lord Ihesu Cryste whyche hast formed heuen and erthe I beseche the to graunte me thy grace here my prayer that al they that haue memorye of thy name my passyon I praye the that thou wylte not remembre theyr synnes for thou knowest our fragylyte ¶ Thenne came there a voys doun fro heuen sayeng vnto hyr Come my spouse barbara and reste in the chambre of god my fader whyche is in heuen and I graunte to the that thou hast requyred of me And whan thys was sayd she came to hyr fader and receyued the ende of hyr marterdom wyth Saynt Iulyan But whan hyr fader descended from the montaygne a fyre fro heuen descended on hym and consumed hym In suche wyse that there coude not be fouÌde ony asshes of alle hys body Thys blessyd virgyne saynt barbara receyued marterdom with saynt Iulyan the second nonas of decembre A noble man called valentyne buryed the bodyes of thyse two marters and layed them in a lytel towne in whyche many myracles were shewyd in the louyng and glorye of god almyghty and saynt barbara the holy marter suffred passyon in the tyme of maxymyen emperour of Rome and marcyen the Iuge whome we praye and beseche to be our aduocatryce vnto almyghty god that by hyr merytes he brynge vs after thys shorte and transytorye lyf in to his glorye pardu rale am en Thus endeth the lyf of saynt barbara ¶ Here begynnneth the lyf of saint Alexys ALexys is as moche to say as goyng oute of the lawe of maryage for to kepe vyrgynyte for goddes sake and to renouÌce alle the pompe and rychesses of the world for to lyue in pouerte ¶ Of saint Alexis IN the tyme that archadyus and honnoryus were emperours of rome there was in rome a right noble lord named eufemyen whyche was chyef and aboue alle other lordes aboute themperours and had vnder his power a thousand knyghtes ¶ He was a moche Iuste man vnto alle men and also he was pyteous and mercyful vnto the poure For he had dayly thre tables sette and couerd for to fede the orphanes poure wydowes and pylgrymmes and he ete at the houre of none wyâh good relygyous persones Hys wyf that was named Agbaes ledde a relygyous lyf but by cause they had noo chylde they prayed vnto god to sende them a sone that myght be theyr heyre after them of theyr hauoyr and goodes Hyt was so that god herde their prayers and beholde theyr bounte
and good lyuyng and gafe vnto theym a sone whyche was named alexys whome they dyd to be taughte and enformed in alle scyences and honoures After thys they maryed hym vnto a fayr damoysel whyche was of the lygnage of the emperour of Rome Whan the day of thespowsaylles was comen to euen Alexys beyng in the chambre wyth his wyf allone beganne to enfourme and Induce hyr to drede god and serue hym and were all that nyght to gyder in ryght good doctryne and fynably he gafe to hys wyf hys rynge and the bocle of golde of hys gyrdle bothe bounden in a lytel clothe of purple and sayd to hyr Fayre suster take thys and kepe it as longe as hit shal plese our lord god And it shal be a token betwene vs And he gyue you grace to kepe trewely your vyrgynyte after this he toke of golde and syluer a grete somme and departed allone fro Rome and fonde a shyppe in whyche he saylled in to grece and from thens wente in to surtye and came to a cyte called edyssya and gafe there alle hys money for the loue of god and cladde hym in a cote and demaunded almesse for goddes sake lyke a poure man tofore the chyrche of our lady and what he lefte of the almesses aboue hys necessyte he gaue it vnto other for goddes sake and euery sonday he was howsellyd and receyued the sacramente Suche a lyf he ledde longe Somme of the messegers that his fader had sente to seche hym thorugh alle the partyes of the world came to seche hym in the sayd cytee of edyssya and gaue vnto hym theyr almesse he syttyng tofore the chyrche wyth other poure people but they knewe not hym he knewe wel theym and thanked our lord sayeng I thanke the fayr lord Ihesu cryste that vouchest saufe to calle me and to take almesse in thy name of my seruauntes I praye the to parfourme in me that whyche thou haste begonne Whan the messagers were retourned to Rome and eufemyen his fader sawe that they had not founden his sone He layed hym doun vpon a matras stratchyng on the erthe wayllyng and sayd thus I shalle holde me here abyde tyl that I haue tydynges of my sone And the wyf of hys sone alexis sayd wepyng to eufemyen I shal not departe out of your hows but shal make me semblable and lyke to the turtle whyche after that she hath loste hir felawe wyl take none other but alle hyr lyf after lyueth chaste In lyke wyse I shal refuse alle felawshyp vnto the tyme that I shalle knowe where my ryght swete frende is becomen After that alexys had done his penaunce by ryghte grete pouerte in the sayd cyte and ledde a ryghte holy lyf by the space of seuentene yere there was a voys herde that came fro god vnto the chyrche of our lady and sayd to the porter make the man of god to entre in for he is worthy to haue the kyngdom of heuen and the spyryte of god restyth on hym Whan the clerke coude not fynde ne knowe hym emonge the other poure men He prayed to god to shewe to hym who it was and a voys came fro god and sayd he sytteth wythoute tofore thentre of the chyrche and soo the clerke fonde hym and prayed hym humbly that he wold come in to the chyrche Whan this myrarle came to the knowleche of the people and alexys sawe that men dyd to hym honour and worshyp anone for teschâwe vaynglorye he departed fro thens and came in to grece where he toke shyppe entryd for to goo in to cecyle But as god wolde there aroos a grete wynde whiche made the shyppe to arryue at the porte of Rome whan alexys sawe thys anone he sayd to hym self by the grace of god I thyl charge noo man of Rome I shal goo to my faders hows in suche wyse as I shal not be beknowen of ony persone and whan he was wythin rome he mette eufemyen his fader whyche came fro the paleye of the emperour with a grete meyne folowyng hym alexys hys sone like a poure man ranne cryeng and sayd Sergeaunte of god haue pyte of me that am a poure pylgryme and receyue me in to thy hows for to haue my sustenaunce of the relyef that shal come from thy borde that god blesse the and haue pyte on thy sone whyche is also a pylgrym ¶ Whan eufemyen herde speke of hys sone anone his herte beganne to melte and sayd to his seruauntes whyche of you wyl haue pyte of thys man take the cure and charge of hym I shal delyuer hym from hys seruage and make hym free and shalle gyue hym of myn herytage And anone he commysed hym vnto one of his seruauntes and commaunded that hys bedde shold be maad in a corner of the halle Where as comers and goers myght see hym And the seruaunte to whome Alexys Was commaunded to kepe maad anone hys ledde vnder the stayer and stappes of the halle And there he laye righte lyke a poure wretche and suffred many vylonyes and despytes of the seruauntes of hys fader whyche oftymes caste and threwe on hym the wasshyng of dysshes and other fylthe and dyd to hym many euyl tornes and mocqued hym but he neuer compleyned but suffred alle pacyentely for the loue of god Fynably whan he had ledde thys ryght holy lyf wythin hys faders hows in fastyng in prayeng and in doyng penaunce by the space of seuentene yere and knewe that he shold sone deye he prayed the seruaunte that kepte hym to gyue hym a pyece of parchemyâ and ynke and therin he wrote by ordre al his lyf and how he was maryed by the commaundemente of hys fader and what he had sayd to hys wyf and of the tokenes of hys rynge and bocle of hys gyrdle that he had gyuen to hyr at hys departyng and what he had suffred for goddes sake And alle thys dyd he for to make his fader to vnderstonde that he Was hys sone ¶ After thys whan hyt pleasyd to God for to shewe and manyfeste the vyctorye of our Lord Ihesu Cryste in hys seruaunte Alexys ¶ On a tyme on a sonday aâter masse heeryng alle the people in the chyrche there was a voys herde from god cryeng and sayeng as is sayd Mathei vndecimo capitulo Come vnto me ye that laboure and be trauaylled I shal comforte you Of whyche voys all the people were abasshed whiche anone fyl doun vnto the erthe And the voys sayd ageyn Seche ye the seruaunte of god For he prayeth for alle Rome And they soughte hym but he was not founden Alexis in a mornyng on a good fryday gafe hys sowle vnto god and departed oute of thys worlde And that same day alle the people assemblyd at Saynt Peters chyrche And prayed god that he wold shewe to them where the man of god myght be founden that prayed for Rome And a voys was herde that came fro god that sayd ye
wold gyue hir no weye soo that she fyl in the depe myre and fylth and thenne she aroos and scraped hir vesture and lawghed and after thys one hyr aunte had grete pyte of hir and sente hir wysely to hyr vncle bysshop of banebergenence Whyche receyued hyr moche honestlye and reteyned hyr in entente to marye hyr ageyn and whan hir chamberers herde therof whiche had auowed contynence wyth hir were passyng wroth and wepte And she comforted them and sayd I truste in our lord for the loue of whome I haue auowed contynence perdurable that he shal kepe me in my purpeos and shal take aweye alle vyolence and shal corompe alle counceyl humayn and yf myn vncle wold marye me to ony man I shall wythstonde it to my power and shal gaynsay it wyth wordes and yf I may not soo escape I shal cutte of my nose so that euery man shal hate me for my lothelynes and thenne the bysshop dyd doo lede hyr in a castell ageynst hyr wylle for to abyde there tyl that somme man shold demaunde to haue hyr in maryage And she commaunded to our lord hir chastyte alle wepyng and thenne our lord ordeyned that the bones of hir husbond shold be broughte from ouer see And thenne the bysshop maad hyr to come and goo deuoutelye to mete the boones of hyr husbond And thenne the boones were receyued of the bysshop with righte grete honoure and of hir wyth grete deuocion wepyng of teerys And thenne she sayd to our lord Syr I rendre to the graces and thankynges of thys that I may receyue the bones of my swete husbond and that thou haste vouched sauf to comforte me pour caytyf Syr I loued hym moche whyâhe louyd the and lord for the loue of the I suffred wel his presence And I sente hym vnto the helpe of the holy londe and I calle the to wytnes that how be it that hit were a delectable thynge to me to lyue yet wyth hym so that he were poure and I also a poure beggar thorugh the world but that ageynste thy wylle I wold not bye hym ageyn wyth an heer ne I wolde not retorne ageyn to mortal lyf lord I commaunde me and hym in to thy grace and thenne she cladde hyr with habyte relygyous and kepte perpetuel contyneÌce after the deth of hir husbonde and obedyence performed she toke wyl ful pouerte and hyr clothyng was cours and vyle she ware a russet mantel hyr gowne of another foule colour The sleuys of hir cote were broken and amended with pyeces of other coloure Hyr fader kynge of hongarye whan he herde that hys doughter was comen to the estate of pouerte he sente an erle to hir for to brynge hyr to hir fader and whan the erle sawe hyr sytte in suche an habyte and spynnyng he escryed for sorowe and said there was neuer kynges doughter that ware suche an habite ne seen spynnyng wulle and whan he had doon hys message and desyred to haue broughte hyr to hyr fader She in no wyse wold acoordâ to hit but had leuer to be nedy emonge the poure peple thynne to abounde in grete rychesses wyth ryche peple to the ende that she shold not be empesshed but that hir wylle mynde shold be alle weye in our lord And she prayed our lord that he wold gyue to hir grace to despyse al erthely thynges and take aweye fro hir herte the loue of hyr chyldren to be ferme and constaunte ageynst the persecucions And whan she had accomplysshed hir prayer she herde our lord sayeng thy prayer is herde and thenne sayd she to hir chamberers our lord hath herde my voys For I repute alle erthelye thynges as donge and fylthe And sette nomore by myn owne chyldren thenne I doo by other mennes and my neyghbours ne I loue none other thynge but our lord mayster conrade dyd to hyr ofte thynges contrarye greuous and suche thynges as he saw that she louyd that remeuyd he and toke aweye fro hyr companye And took fro hyr two maydens hyr chamberers byloued emonge alle other and had ben nourisshed wyth hyr fro hyr chyldehode And thys holy man dyd thys for to breke hyr wylle soo that she shold sette al loue in our lord and to the ende that she shold not remembre hyr fyrst glorye In al thyse thynges she was hasty for to obeye and constaunte to suffre that ây pacyence she myght possesse hyr sowle and by obedyence to be maad fayre and ennobled She sayd yf I onely for goddes sake drede soo moche a man mortal how moche more ought I to drede and doubte the heuenly Iuge Therfore I make obedyence to mayster conrade a poure man and a beggar not to a ryche bysshop by cause I wold put aweye fro me alle occasyon of temporal comforte On a tyme by cause she wente in to a cloystâe of nonnes whyche prayed hir dyligently for to vysyte them wythout lycence of hir maister he bete hir so sore therfore that the strokes apperyd in hir thre wekes after by whiche she shewed to our lord that hir obedyence was more plesyng than the offeryng of a thousand hostyes Better is obedyence thenne sacrefyse She was of soo grete humylyte that she wold suffre in no wyse that hyr chamberers shold calle hir lady but that they shold speke and say to hir as to the lowest and leste of them She wesshe otherwhyle the dysshes and the vessel of the kechyn and she hyd hyr otherwhyle that the chamberers shold not lette hir she Wold say yf I coude fynde another lyf more despised I wold haue taken it she chase the best she had a special grace to wepe habundantly teris for to see celestyal vysyons and for to enflamme the hertes of other to the loue of god ¶ On a day of the holy lente she was in the chyrche And she behelde ententyfly the aulter lyke as she had ben in the presence deuyne and there she was comforted by reuelacion deuyne And thenne she retorned to hir hows and prophecyed of hir self that she shold see Ihesu cryste in heuen and anone as she laye doun for feblenes in the lappe of hyr chamberer she began to loke vp in to heuen and she was soo glad that she began deboneyrlye to lawghe and whan she had ben longe ioyeful she was sodeynly torned in to wepyng and theÌne she loked vp to heuenward ageyn and anone she retorned in to hir fyrst ioye and whan she closed hir eyen she began to wepe in thys manere she abode tyl complyn had dyuyne vysyons and thenne she was stylle a whyle and sayd thus after lord wyl thou be with me and I with the ne I wyl not departe fro the After thyse thynges the chamberers desyred hir to telle to them why she had so lawghed and wepte and she said I haue seen heuen open and Ihesu crist whiche enclyned hym debonayrlye to me and I was glad of the vysyon and wepte
the organes makyng melodye she sange in hir herte onelye to god sayeng O lord I beseche the that myn herte and body may be vndefowled so that I be not confounded and euery second and thyrd day she fasted commendyng hir self vnto our lord whome she dredde the nyght cam that she shold goo to bedde wyth hir husbond as the custome is and whan they were bothe in theyr chambre allone she sayd to hym in thys manere O my beste belouyd and swete husbond I haue a counceyll to telle the yf so be that thou wylt kepe it secrete and swere that ye shal bewreye it to no man to whom valeryan sayd that he wold gladly promyse and swere neuer to bewreye it and thenne she sayd to hym I haue an aungel that loueth me which euer kepeth my body whether I slepe or wake and yf he may fynde that ye touche my body by vylonye or foule and pollute loue certeynly he shal anone slee you and so shold ye lese the floure of your yongthe and yf soo be that thou loue me in holy loue and clennesse he shall loue the as he loueth me shal shewe to the his grace Thenne valeryan corrected by the wylle of god hauyng drede sayd to hir yf thou wylte that I beleue that thou sayest to me shewe to me that aungel that thou spekest of and yf I fynde verytable that he be the aungel of god I shal do that thou sayest and yf so be that thou loue another man than me I shal slee bothe hym and the with my swerde Cecylle answerd to hym yf thou wylt byleue baptyse the thou shalt wel now see hym goo thenne forth to via appia whiche is thre myle out of this towne and there thou shalt fynde pope urban with poure folkes and telle hym thyse wordes that I haue sayd and whan he hath purged you fro synne by baptesme thenne whan ye come ageyn ye shal see the aungel and forthe wente valeryan and fonde this holy man vrbane lowtyng emonge the buryellys to whom he reported the wordes that cecylle had said and saynt vrbane for ioye gan holde vp his honde and lete the teerys falle out of his eyen and sayd o almyghty god Ihesu crist sower of chaast counceylle and keper of vs alle Receyue the fruyte of the seed that thou hast sowen in cecyllye For lyke a besy bee she seruyth the For the spouse whome she hath taken whyche was lyke a wode lyon She hath sente hym hyther lyke as a meke lambe and wyth that word apperyd sodeynlye an olde man y cladde in whyte clothes holdyng a book wryten wyth letters of golde Whome Valeryan seyng for fere fyl ãâã to the grounde as he had been deed Whome the olde man reysed and toke vp and redde in this wyse One god one feythe one baptesme One god and fader of alle abouen alle and in vs alle euery where And whan this olde man had redde this he sayd byleuest thou this or dou test thou it say ye or nay Thenne valeryan cryed sayeng ther is no thynge trewer vnder heuen thenne vanysshed this olde man aweye Thenne valeryan receyued baptesme of saynt vrbane and retorned home to saynt cecyllye whome he fonde wythin hir chambre spekyng wyth an aungel and thys aungel had two crownes of roses and lyles which he helde in his honde of whiche he gafe one to cecylle and that other to valeryen sayeng kepe ye thyse crownes wyth an vndefowled and a clene body for I haue brought them to you fro paradyse and they shal neuer fade ne wydder ne lose theyr sauour ne they may not be seen but of theym to whome chastyte pleasyth thou valeryan by cause thou hast vsed prouffytable counceyl demaunde what thou wylt To whom valeryan sayd There is no thynge in thys world to me leuer thenne my brother whome I wold fayne that he myght knowe this veray trouthe wyth me to whome the aungel sayd thy petycyon pleseth our lord and ye bothe shal come to hym by the palme of marterdom and anone tyburce his brother came and entryd in to thys chambre and anone he felte the swete odour of the roses lylyes and meruaylled fro whens it came Thenne valeryan sayd we haue crownes whyche thyn eyen may not see and lyke as by my prayers hast felte the odour of them so yf thou wylt byleue thou shalt see the crownes of roses and lylyes that we haue Thenne cecyllye and valeryan began to preche to tyburcyen of the ioye of heuen and of the foule creaunce of paynyms the abusyon of ydolles and of the paynys of helle whyche the dampned suffre and also they prechyd to hym of the Incarnacion of our lord and of hys passyon and dyd so moche that Tyburcyen was conuerted and baptysed of saynt vrbane and fro than forthon he had so moche grace of god that euery day he sawe aungellys and alle that euer he requyred of our lord be opteyned After almachyus prouoste of rome which put to deth many crysten men herde say that tyburcyen valeryen buryed cristen men that were marterd gafe al their good to pour peple he called them tofore hym after longe dysputacion he commaunded that they shold goo to the statue or ymage of Iubyter for to doo sacrefyse or ellys they shold be byheded as they were ledde they prechyd the feyth of our lord to one called maxyme that they conuerted hym to the cristen feyth they promysed to hym that yf he had veray repentauÌce ferme creauÌce that he shold see the glorye of heuen which their sowles shold receyue atte hour of their passyons that he hym self shold haue the same yf he wold byleue Thenne maximus gate leue of the tormentours for to haue them home to his hows the sayd maxymus with al his howsholde and alle the tormentours were torned to the feyth thenne came saynt cecyllye thyder with preestys baptysed them and afterward whan the mornyng came saynt cecylye sayd to them Now ye knyghtes of crist caste aweye fro you the werkes of derknes clothe you with the armes of lyght theÌne they were ledde four myle out of the towne brought to fore thymage of Iupyter but in no wyse they wold do sacrefyse ne encence to thydolle but humbly with grete deuocion knelyd doun there were byheded saynt cecylye toke their bodyes buryed them thenne maxymus that saw this thyng said that he sawe in the houre of theyr passyon auÌgels clere shynynge her sowles ascende in to heuen whyche the aungels bare vp wherfore many were conuerted to the cristen feythe whan almache herde that maxyme was cristened he dyd do bete hym with plommettes of leed so longe tyl be gaue vp hys spyryte deyed whos body Saynt Cecyllye buryed by valeryan and Tyburcyan after almache commauÌded that cecylye shold be brought vnto hys presence for to doo sacrefyse to Iubyter
wysdom passe alle other the fourth is in bodely shappe and beaute there is none lyke to you wherfore madame vs thynke that thyse four notable thynges must nedys constreyne you to enclyne to our requeste Thenne sayd thys yonge quene katheryne wyth a sadde countenaunce Now vncle sythe god nature haue wrought soo grete vertues in vs we been soo moche more bounden to loue and to plese hym and we thanke hym humbly of his grete and large yeftes but sythe ye desyre so moche that we shold consente to be maryed we lete you playnelye wyte that lyke as ye haue descryued vs so wyl we descryue hym that we wyll haue to our lord and husbond and yf ye can gete suche one we wyl agree to take hym wyth alle our herte For he that shal be lord of myn herte and myn husbond shal haue tho four notable thynges in hym ouer al mesure Soo ferforthly that al creatures shall haue nede of hym and he nedeth of none and he that shal be my lord must be of so noble blood that al men shal do to hym worshyp and therwyth so grete a lord that I shal neuer thynke that I made hym a kyng and so riche that he passe al other in rychesses And so ful of beaute that auÌgellys haue ioye to beholde hym and so pure that his moder be a virgyne and soo meke and benygne that he can gladly foryeue al offencys do on vnto hym Now I haue descryued to you hym that I wyl haue and desyre to my lord and to my husbond goo ye and seke hym and yf ye can fynde suche one I wyl be his wyf with al myn herte yf he vouche sauf to haue me fynally but yf ye fynde suche one I shal neuer take none and take thys for a fynal answer and wyth this she cast doun hir eyen mekelye and helde hir stylle and whan the quene his moder the lordes herde this they made grete sorowe and heuynesse for they sawe well that there was no remedye in that matere Thenne sayd hir moder to hyr wyth an angry voys alas doughter is this your grete wysedom that is talked so ferre moche sorowe be ye lyke to doo to me and al youres alas who sawe euer woman forge to hir suche an husbond wyth suche vertues as ye done For suche one as ye haue deuysed ãâã was neuer none ne neuer shal be and therfore doughter leue thys folyâ and doo as your noble elders ãâã doon tofore you and thenne sayd ãâã yonge Quene Katheryne vnto ãâã moder wyth a pieteous syghyng Madame I wote wel by veray reason that there is one moche better than I can deuyse hym and but he by hys grace fynde me I shal neuer haue ioye For I fele by grete reason that there is a weye that we ben clene out of and we ben in derkenes and tyl the light of grace come we may not see the clere waye and whan hit pleaseth hym to come he shal auoyde alle derkenes of the clowdes of ygnoraunce and shewe hym clerely to me whome my herte soo feruentelye desyreth and loueth And yf it so be that he lyste not that I fynde hym yet reason commaundeth me to kepe hole that is vnhurte wherfore I beseche you mekely my lady moder that ye ne none other moeue me more of this matere for I promyse you playnly that for to deye therfore I shal neuer haue other husbond but onely hym that I haue descryued To whome I shal trewely kepe me wyth al the pure loue of myn herte wyth thys she aroos and hir moder alle the lordes of the parlamente with grete sorowe and lamentacion and takyng their leue departed and thys noble yonge katheryne wente to hir paleys whos herte was sette a fyre vpon this husbond that she had deuysed that she coude do no thynge but al hir mynde and entente was sette on hym contynuelly mused how she myght fynde hym but she coude not fynde the meane how wel he was nyghe to hyr herte that she soughte For he had kyndled a brennyng loue which coude neuer after be quenched for no payne ne trybulacyon as it apperyd in hyr passyon But now I leue thys yonge quene in hyr contemplacion shal say you as ferre as god wyl gyue me grace how that our lord by hys specyal myracle called hir vnto baptesme in a specyal manere suche as hath not be herde of before ne sythe also how she was vysybly maryed to our lord in shewyng to her souerayn tokenes of synguler loue Thenne besyde alysaunder a certeyn space of myles dwelled an holy fader an hermyte in deserte named adryan whyche had seruyd our lord contynuelly by the space of thyrty yere in grete penaunce and on a day as he walked before his celle beyng in hys holy medytacions there came ageynst hym the moste reuerent lady that euer ony erthely creature myght beholde whan this holy man behelde hir hyghe estate and excellent beaute which was aboue nature he was sore abasshed and so moche astonyed that he fyl doun as he had be dede Thenne this blessyd lady seyng this called hym by hys name goodly and sayd brother adryan drede ye no thynge for I am come to you for your good honour and prouffyte and wyth that she toke hym vp mekelye comfortyng hym sayd in this wyse Adryan ye must goo in a message for me in to the cyte of alysaundre to the paleys of the quene katheryne and say to hir that the lady saleweth hir whos sone she hath chosen to hyr lord and husbond syttyng in hir parlamente with hir moder and lordes aboute hir where she had a grete conflycte and bataylle to kepe hir vyrgynyte and saye to hyr that thylke same lord whom she chaas is my sone that am a pure vyrgyne and he desyreth hir beaute and loueth hir chastyte emonge alle the virgynes on the erthe I commaunde hyr without taryeng that she come wyth the allone vnto this paleys where as she shal be newe clothed thenne shall she see hym and haue hym to hir euer lastyng spouse Thenne adryane heeryng this sayd dredefully in thys wyse a blessyd lady how shal I doo this message for I knowe not the cyte ne the waye thyder and who am I though I knewe it to doo suche a message to the quene For hyr meyne wyl not suffre me to comme to hyr presence and though I came to hyr she wyl not byleue me but put me in duresse as I were a faytour Adryan sayd this blessyd lady drede ye not for that my sonne hath begonne in hyr must be perfourmed for she is a chosen vessel of specyal grace before alle wymmen that lyuen but goo forth ye shal fynde no lettyng and entre in to hir chambre for thaungel of my lord shal lede you thyder and brynge you bothe hyther saufelye Thenne he mekely obeyeng wente forth in to
hyr and she sayd to hyr ne doubte the noo thynge well belouyd of god For this day thou shalt haue the royame perdurable For thys transytorye royame and an Inmortal spouse for a mortal And she was constaunte and ferme in the feythe and bad the tormentours deo as was to them commaunded And thenne the sergeauntes broughte hir out of the cyte and araced of hyr pappes with tonges of yron after smote of hir heed whos body porphyrye toke aweye buryed it the nexte day folowyng was demaunded where the holy body of the quene was and the emperour bad that many sholde be put to tormente for to knowe where the body was Porphyrye came thenne tofore them al and escryed sayeng I am he that buryed the body of the ancylle and seruaunte of Ihesu crist and haue receyued the feythe of god thenne maxence began to rore and braye as a madde man and cryed sayeng O wretchyd and caytyf loo porpherye whiche was the onely kepar of my sowle and comforte of al myn euylles is deceyued whiche thynge âe tolde to his knyghtes to whome they sayd we also ben cristen and been redy for to suffre deth for Ihesu cryst thenne the emperour dronken in wodenes commaunded that al shold be byheded and that their bodyes shold be caste to dogges and thenne called he katheryne said to hir how be it that thou hast made the quene for to deye by thyn arte magyke yf thou repente the thou shalt be fyrst and chyef in my paleys For thou shalt this day do sacrefyse or thou shalt lese thyn heed she said to hym do al that thou hast thought I am redy to suffre al and thenne he gafe sentence ageynst hyr commaunded to smyte of hyr heed and whan she was brought to the place ordeyned therto she lyfte vp hir eyen to heuen prayeng said o Ihesu criste hope helpe of them that byleue in the o beaute glorye of virgyns good kyng I beseche and praye the that who someuer shal remembre my passyon be it at his deth or in ony other necessyte calle me that he may haue by thy mercy th effecte of his requeste prayer thenne came a voys to hir sayeng come vnto me my fayr loue and my spouse loo beholde the yate of heuen is opene to the and also to them that shal halowe thy passâon I promyse the comforte of heuen of that they requyre and whan she was byheded there yssued out of hir body mylke in steed of blood aungellys toke the body bare it vnto the mouÌte of Synay more thenne twenty iourneyes fro thens and buryed it there honourably contynuelly oyle rennyth out of hir boones whiche heleth al maladyes sekenesses she suffred deth vnder maxence the tyraunte about the yere of our lord thre hondred how maxence was punysshed for thys felonye for other it is conteyned in thystorye of thynuencyon of the holy crosse but for as moche as it was not knowen longe after where this holy body was becomen there was grete sorowe lamentacion emonge cristen men sayeng alas the moste clere lyghte of our feyth of wysdom the temple of the holy ghoost is goon from vs and besought god deuoutely that it myght plese hym to shewe to them this holy relyque which after came to knowleche in thys manere In the deserte a boute the mounte of Synay there were many cristen heremytes whyche were enflamed with grete deuocyon toward thys holy vyrgyne Saynt katheryne Wherfore by comyn assente they ordeyned a chapel In whyche thys holy vyrgyne shold be specyally remembryd whiche chapell was by the mounte of Synay not ferre from the hylle faste by the place where as our lord apperyd in the busshe to moyses In whyche place the holy heremytes lyueden in grete abstynence and deuocyon a gloryous lyf To whome on a tyme the aungell of god apperyd and sayd God hath be holden your affectuel deuocyon fro heuen Therfore he hath graunted to you this grace that by you shal be founden ãâã knowen the holy body of the gloryous virgyne Saynt katheryne to his souerayn honoure and glorye and therfore aryse ye vp and folowe me and though it soo be that ye see me not yet the shadowe of the palme that I bere in myn honde shal neuer departe fro your syght And thenne these Heremytes wente forth and folowed the aungel tyl they came to the place where vnnethe ony creature myght entre for straytenes of the waye and sharpenesse of the rockes and whan they came to the toppe of the hylle they sawe not thaungel but they sawe euydently the shadowe of the palme that it semed al the place had be shadowed by the leuys of the palme by whiche they came vnto the place where the body had layen a hondred and thyrty yere in a stone and hir flesshe was dryed vp for lengthe of tyme but the bones were so compacte and pure that they semed to be kepte by the cure of aungellys Thenne they toke vp with grete ioye and reuerence thys holy body and bare it doun in to the chapel whyche they had made and this was doon by grete myracle for the place where as she laye in was so stepe thycke streyte and soo daungerous that it semed to mannes reson Impossyble to come ther to and these holy men after they had broughte this body wyth solempnytee ordeyned the feste of thynuencion of this holy body shold be solempnysed whiche is yet there kepte and is about the tyme of thynuencyon of the holy crosse whiche place is gretely honoured and our lord shewith there many myracles and out of the bones floweth out oyle largelye by whiche many maladyes been guarisshed and it is sayd that tofore the body was founden that a monke wente to the mounte of synay and dwellyd there by the space of seuen yere moche deuoutelye in the seruyce of saynt katheryne and on a tyme as he prayed with grete deuocyon that he myght haue somme thynge of hir body Sodeynlye there came a ioynte of one of hir fyngres of hir honde whyche yefte he toke ioyefully of our lord It is reddâ that there was a man moche deuoute to saynt katheryne and ofte called on hir to his ayde and by lengthe of tyme he fyl in foule thoughte loste the deuocion that he had to the saynt and cessyd to praye to hir and as he was on a tyme in prayer he sawe a grete multytude of vyrgyns passyng by hym emonge whome there was one more replendysshaunte thenne the other and whan she approched hym she couerd hir vysage and passed to fore hym hir face couerd and he meruaylled moche of the beaute of hyr demaunded what she was and one of the virgyns sayd that it was katheryne whome thou were wonte for to knowe and by cause thou knowest ne remembryst hir not she passed tofore the thith face couerd without knowleche It is to be
sterne voys praysyng the god of dorathe for that grete myracle whiche was shewed to hym of roses and apples that tyme that he that sente to me these thynges is of grete power therfore his name be blessyd worlde wythouten ende amen theÌne he was conuerted to the feyth of Ihesu cryste the moste parte of the peple of the cyte whan fabrycyus knewe thys anone with grete malyce tormentyd theophylus the scrybe with many dyuers tormentes atte laste hâwe hym in to smale pyeces the pyeces were caste to byrdes beestys to be deuoured but he was fyrst baptysed receyued the hoây sacramente folowed the holy virgyne dorothea in to the blysse of heuen Thenne lete vs deuoutelye praye to this blessyd saynt dorathe that she be our special protectryce ageynste al perylles of fyre of lyyhtnyng of thondryng al other perylles and that at our ende may receyue the sacramentes of the chirche that after thys shorte lyf we may come vnto blysse in heuen where as is lyf ioye perdumble world withouten ende amen Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Dorathe ¶ And here foloweth the lyf of Saynt Brandon SAynt Brandon the holy man was a monke borne in yâlonde there he was abbotte of an hows where in were a thousand monkes there he had a ful strayte and holy lyf in grete penaunce abstynence and he gouerned his monkes ful vertuously thenne within shorte tyme after there came to hym an holy abbot that hyght beryne to vysyte hym and eche of them was ioyeful of other and thenne saynt brandon beganne to telle to thabbot beryn of many wonders that he had seen in dyuers londes and whan beryn herde that of saint brahdon he began to syghe and sore wepte and saynt brandon comforted hym the beste wyse he coude sayeng ye come hyther for to be ioyeful with me therfore for goddes loue leue your mornynge telle me what meruaylles ye haue seen in the grete see occean that compasseth al the world aboute alle other waters comen out of hym whyche renneth in al the partyes of therthe and thenne beryn began to telle to Saynt brandon and to his monkes the meruaylles that he had seen ful sore wepyng said I haue a sone his name is meruoke he was a moÌke of grete fame whiche had grete desyre to seke aboute by shyppe in dyuers contres to fynde a solytarye place wherin he myÈâ dwelle secretelye out of the besynesse of the world for to serue god quyetly with more deuocion I counceylled hym to sayle in to an ylonde ferre in the see besydes the monteyn of stones whiche is ful wel knowen and thenne he made hym redy saylled thyder wyth his monkes whan he came thyâââ he lyked that place ful wel where he his monkes seruyd our lord ful deuoutelye thenne beryn sawe in a vysyon that this monke meruok was saylled right ferre eestward in the see more than the dayes sayllyng sodeynlye to his semyng there cam a derke cloude ouercouerd them that a grete parte of the day they sawe no lyght and as our lord wolde the cloude passed awey and they sawe a ful fayr ylonde and thyderward they drewe In that ylonde was ioye and myrthe ynough the erthe of that ylonde shyned as bryghte as the sonne there were the fayrest trees herbes that euer ony man sawe and there were many precyous stones shynyng bryght and euery herke them was ful of flouns euery tree ful of faiyte soo that it was a gloryous syght an heuenly ioye tabyde there and thenne there came to them a fayre yonge man ful curtoysly he welcomed them al called euery monke by his name said that they were moche bounde to preyse the name of our lord Ihesu that wold of his grace shewe to them that gloryous place where is euer day neuer nyght this place is called paradys terrestre but by this ylonde is another ylonde wherin no man may come this yonge man said to theym ye haue ben here halfe a yere wythoute mete drynke or slepe they supposed that they had not ben there the sâace of halfe an houre so mery ioyeful they were there the yonge man tolde them that this is the place that adam eue dwelte in fyrst and euer shold haue dwellyd here yf that they had not broken the commaundemente of god And thenne the yonge man broughte them to theyr shyppe ageyn and sayd they myght no bengyr abyde there and whan they were al shypped sodeynlye this yonge man vanysshed aweye out of theyr syght and thenne wythin shorte tyme after by the purueaunce of our lord Ihesu they came to thabbey where Saynt brandon dwellyd and thenne he with his brethern receyued them godely and demaunded them where they had ben so longe and they said we haue ben in the londe of byheest tofore the yates of paradys where as is euer day and neuer nyght they sayden al that the place is ful delectable for yet al theyr clothes smellyd of that swete and ioyeful place And thenne saynt brandon purposed sone after for to seke that place by goddes belpe and anone beganne to pourueye for a good shyppe and a stronge and vytaylled it for seuen yere and thenne he toke his leue of alle his brethern and took twelue monkes with hym but or they entred in to the shyp they fastyd fourty dayes and lyued deuoutelye and eche of them receyued the sacramente and whan saynt brandon wyth his twelue monkes were entred in to the sâyppe there came other two of his monkes prayed hym that they myght sayle with hym and thenne he sayd ye may sayle with me but one of you shal goo to helle or ye come ageyn but not for that they wold goo wyth hym and thenne Saynt brandon bad the shypmen to wynde vp the saylle and forthe they saylled in goddes name so that on the morowe they were out of syght of ony londe fourty dayes and fourty nyghtes after they saylled platte eest and thenne they saw an yle londe ferre fro them and they saylled thyderward as faste as they coude and they sawe a grete rocke of stone appere aboue alle the water and thre dayes they saylled aboute it or they coude gete in to the place but at the laste by the pourueaunce of god they fonde a lytel hauen and there wente a londe euerychone and thenne sodeynlye came a fayre hounde fyl doun at the feet of saynt brandon and made hym good chere in his manere and thenne he bad his brethern be of good chere for our lord hath sente to vs his messager to lede vs in to somme good place and the hounde broughte hem in to a fayr halle where they fonde the tables spredde redy sette ful of good mete and drynke and thenne saynt brandon sayd graces and thenne he and his brethern
had been deef and dombe the space of fourty yere by cause he had defowled a woman in his hows whyche woman loued hym not he came and fyl doun tofore the byere sodeynlye and beganne to crye and say A man and seruaunte of god thou arte wel come to poynte for me for thy comyng hath guarysshed me and gyuen to me helthe Thenne he aroos and took one of the staues that bare the byere and anone was al hool and seruyd hym al the dayes of his lyf anone yssued out of the towne alle the peple of antyoche and receyued the body moche solempnelye in syngyng psalmonysyng glorefyeng god and with grete plente of lyghtes brennyng bare the body in to the grete chirche which is callyd the chyrche of penaunce Many other myracles hath our Lord shewyd at his sepulture moo were shewyd after than tofore by his lyf Thenne lete vs praye to this holy saynt Symeon that he praye for vs vnto our lord that he haue mercy on vs amen Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Symeon ¶ Here foloweth the lyf of Saynt Polycarpe marter SAint policarpe was dyscyple of saynt Iohan theuangelyst Saynt Iohan ordeyned hym bysshop of suuere and there were at rome thenne two heretykes that one was called marsyon that other valentyn the whiche had deceyued moche people by theyr fals doctryne Thenne saynt polycarpe wente to Rome on ester day and there by his predycacion he broughte ageyn to the feythe them that they had deceyued He wrote to the phylypenses a moche fayr epystle and moche prouffytable the whiche is yet redde in asye vnto this day Hyt happenyd that in the tyme that marcus anthonyus and lucins aurelyus reygned which was the yere of grace an hondred thre score and two was made the fourth persecucyon on crysten peple after themperour New thorugh al asye Saynt Polycarpe herde how the peple cryed and was moeued he therfore was neuer moeuyd but abode wythout drede and he was gracious and curtoys in maners and playsant in regarde and taryed alweye in the cyte as an hardy champyon of god he was so moche requyred of the peple that he departed fro the cyte wyth theyr famylyer frendes that he wente to the felde nyghe vnto the cyte there he prayed alle the nyght for the pees of alle holy chyrche and therof had he a custome alle the dayes of his lyf It happed that thre dayes before that he was taken as he prayed in a nyght he had a vysyon that hym semed that his heer was brente and whan he awoke he tolde to them that were wyth hym the vysyon and expowned it to them sayeng that for certeyn he shold be brente for the loue of god whan he sawe that they approched hym that wold haue taken hym he wente to mete wyth hem and ryght gladly receyued hem wherof they Were moche abasshed that they were commaunded to take so good a man and anone he layed the table to hys enemyes and made to them as good chere as they had ben his frendes and gafe to them largely wyne and mete and gate of them leue to praye an houre and alle that houre he prayed moche deuoutelye for alle the state of holy chyrche Whan the houre was passed he mounted vpon an asse and was broughte in to the cyte and as they ledde hym Herodys came whyche was prouoste of the contree and his fader with hym and they toke hym ni to a charyotte with them and sayd to hym moche swetelye wherfore do ye not sacrefyse as the other doo what harme is it to calle cezar his lord and to doo sacrefyse to the goddes for to lyue surely and whan they sawe that it auaylled not and that alweye he was ferme and constaunte in the lawe of god They were moche wrothe wyth hym and dyd to hym moche harme in the charyotte and as he approched the cite grete multytude of peple began to murmure ageynst hym anone a voys descenoyd from heuen sayeng vnto hym Polycarpe be stronge and constaunte That voys was herde of many butnone sawe it ¶ Thenne anone hyt was tolde to the prouoste alle openlye that polycarpe had thre tymes confessyd to be crysten whan thyse tydynges were herde al the peple of the cyte of suure paynyms and Iewes beganne to crye in grete yre This is the mayster and doctour of al the crysten people that ben in asye and hath destroyed alle our goddes we requyre that he be brente aâle quycke Thenne the peple assemblyd moche wood and broughte hym to a stake and whan they broughte hym to the stake they wold haue bounden hym to the stake and naylyd the bondes wyth grete nayles Thenne he sayd to them lete me allone for he that hath ordeyned me to suffre thys tormente of fyre shal gyue to me vertue of pacyence wythout moeuyng me from thys place for to endure and suffre the flamme of the fyre Thenne the tyrauntes lefte the naylles and bonde hym with cordes to the stake and his handes bounden behynde hym And as in hys passyon he praysed blessyd our lord and the fyre was brennyng and a grete flamme shynyng a moche notable myracle was shewyd righ there to moche peple whyche god shewyd to th ende that it shold be shewyd vnto alle other And the myracle was thys that the flamme departed alle aboute hym in manere of a chambre by vertue of a swete mynde that came from heuen and the body of the marter was not as flesshe brente in the flamme but as fayre as it had he purefyed in a fourneys and they that were aboute hym selfe an odour to swete as it had ben entence or precyous oynemente Whan the tyrauntes sawe tht the fyre myght not consume the body of the gloryous marter they maad the mynystres to approche and dyd hâm to smyte hym thorugh the body wyth a spere and thenne yssued out of hys gloryous body soo grete haboundaunce of blood that it quenchyd the fyre and whan the people sawe the myracle they departed hauyng moche meruaylle that they dyd soo moche cruelte to the frendes of god and wyth thys glorious marter were twelue other marters marterd for to gete the ioye of heuen the whiche graunte vs the fader the sone and the holy ghoost amen ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Polycarpe marter Here foloweth the passyon of Saynt quyryace IN the tyme that Iulyan thappostata wente for to fyghte ageynste them of perse he came in to Iherusalem and dyd doo seche saynt quyryache the bysshop whiche of hys frendes was callyd Iudas but the quene Saynt Helayne after he was baptysed dyd doo calle hym quyryace And whan he was broughte tofore Iulyan he promysed to hym many rychesses and honoures so that he wold doo sacrefyse vnto the ydole of Iubyter and by cause quyriace wold not doo it Iulyan commaunded to strayne hym on a bankâ and wyth a ãâã of yron he mâde to opene his mowthe and put in
their feet he wesshed made clene theyr shone and also moche benygnelye he maad theyr beddes made theyr mete redy and so he was bothe cook and bysshop to gyder hongre and thyrste suffryd he many tymes so that he myght of hys owne mete fede his felawes he sette a parte alle precyous raymentes and moche dere he helde the hayre that was roughe and harde In thyse two good dedes doyng the good man rendred hys sowle to god and after his obsequye doon the bysshop hys successour that had to name gâerycus assemblyd to gyder a grete companye of peple two bysshoppes and many clerkys also and alle togyder they wente in to the deserte and whan they came vnto the place there as the corps was sayeng vygyles moche solempnelye and after they took the corps and bare it aweye with grete honour and reuerence vnto the cytee And as they came to a ruysel or chanel and wold haue passyd it hit happed that they whiche bare the corps behynde fyl doun but as I suppose the aungels susteyned the corps in the ayer for they that bare hit before yede euer and leâted not and they that were fallen had noo harme but stood vp anone and bare the corps ageyn as they dyd before In the tyme that thys holy man was on lyue there was a man that lyued moche lecherously the holy man repreuyd hym many tymes therof and prayed hym that he wold leue that lyf and doo penytence or that he shold deye in that state It happed so that as the holy corps was borne to the cyte and as they passyd thorugh the said mannes grounde the same holy corps at thentre of the sayd mannes grounde stood stylle in so moche that they that bare it coude not moeue it from thens Wherfore the bysshoppes the preestys the clerkes and all the peple that were there were moche meruaylled and sore troubled also by cause that the nyght was nyghe and they wyst not where they myght be lodgyd Thenne a duc that was in the companye named nod do sayd thus to theym ye see how he refuseth to entre Wythm the grounde of thys synnar my towne is here nye I counceyl that we retorne thyder for to abyde and reste vs there alle nyght For also we ne haue here what to fede thys peple wythal for of al prouysyons or store I ne haue but a lytel byer within a lytel vessel and a lytel brede yf it pleased to god and to the holy corps that we myght be there or the nyght come and how be it that ferre aweye it was thens Neuerthelesse by the wylle of god they were there right soone and them semyd that the holy corps bare hym self and namely that they were borne thyder where they came by day lyght And thenne sayd noddo to them I praye to saynt arnolde that by his grace he wyl fede vs alle thys nyghte For wel I wote that at his prayer we shal haue al that to vs nedeth and soone with that lytel drynke and brede that they had by the grace of god and of the saynt they were alle fedde and rassassyed that nyght and yet moche remayned of hit bothe of drynke and of brede â On the morne nexte wyth grete ioye they walkyd and bare the holy corps in to the cyte They of the cyte also came to mete the corps in processyon wyth grete reuerence as he that had ben their pastour or gyde of theyr sowles whyche of longe tyme they had not seen moche reuerentelys they buryed the holy corps in the chirche of the appostles A woman that Iule had to name whiche of longe tyme had loste hyr syght came to the sepulture of saynt arnolde and ferueâlye hyr prayer there made by hym recouerd hyr syght Another woman on a sonday wrought god punysshed hir for hir ij handes were styffe and contrefayte she came in to the chirche Where the holy corps laye besought the saynt wyth feythful herte sore wepyng and anone recouerd helthe The solempnyte of thys glorious saynt is celebred the xvij day of the kalendys of auguste in the honour of god that lyueth wythoute ende regneth In seculorum secula amen Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Arnolde Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Turyen SAint Turyen was archebysshop of dol in lytel bretaygne and was borne in a towne nygh to the sayd cyte where was a chyrche of ¶ Hys fader and hys moder were yssued of noble lygnage In that tyme a man of holy lyf confessour and frende of god was archebysshop of the sayd cyte and was named Sampson Soo thenne as the vessel of holynesse that is to wete turyen that yet was but a chylde of age but he was by vertu of the holy ghoost fylled wyth grace relenquysshed and lefte for loue of our lord all hys parentes whiche were of grete estate the fayre lyuelode also that he shold haue and came in to the cyte of dol toward saynt sampson Whan Saynt sampson sawe hym he ordeyned sette hym to kepe his kyen and hys other beestys This prefygured be to hym gladly sygnefyeng that he shold be in tyme to come pastour or gyde of the sheep of our lord whan he shold receyue the dygnyte of archebysshop And in this estate kepyng the beestys esprysed of the loue of god and not of no thynge humayn he dyd calle euery clerke that passed before hym prayed hym that he wold write somme letters within a lytel payre of tables that he had for to lerne and knowe them whan he beganne to knowe wel ynough his letters it plesed our lord that he shold lerne and knowe tharte of gramayr and so moche of grace gafe god to hym that he had a melodyous and fayr voys at chyrche more thenne ony of his other felawes and soo as by many a tyme his voys pleased moche to the archebysshop he reteyned and took hym stylle wyth hym and of hym he made as of his owne adopted sone and moche endeuoyred hym to make hym to lerne the deuyne scripture and swetely gouerned hym So moche grewe and fructefyed the chylde in resplendour or lyghte of alle good veertues by good doctrynes exaumples that the sayd archebysshop ordeyned hym mayster of the clerkes of his chapel The wele of this chylde turyen multeplyed euer fro better to bâtter in the loue grace of our lord The archebysshop saynt sampson that as thenne was olde consyderynge the holy lyf that turyen ledde the good vertues of whiche he was fylled and that he was in age parfyte ordeyned hym archâbysshop in his place and namely he yet lyuyng wold see hym to be possessour of the dygnyte of the archebysshop and so whan by the consecracion dyuyne he was chosen to the sayd dygnyte all the peple made ioye therof For wel they perceyued that he was ful of the grace of god On a tyme as he lyfte vp his eyen toward heuen he sawe a wyndowe wyde open and the
hir playne helthe On another tyme another woman of Latynynak put one of hir feet wythin the said chapel or chyrche but hir foot swellyd by suche manere that alle the legge knee and thye of hit was greuyd with sekenesse many other myracles hath ben therof shewed wherfore the wymmen shal ne ought not entre in to it The good holy saint fyacre in his lyf tyme resplendysshed by myracles vertues and after rendryd right gloryously his soule vnto our lord sythe after his temporal dethe at his owne graue by hys merytes prayers our lord shewyd and as yet now sheweth many myraches as to restore in good helthe the pour seek folke languysshyng of their membris of what someuer sekenesse or langoure that it be who with good contryted herte cometh to the chyrche where the said graue or tombe is and deuoutelye besecheth prayeth god and the good holy saynt fyacre the which by hys gloryous merites may be vnto vs good frende toward our sayd Lord and god amen Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Fyacre Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Iustyn SAint Iustyn was born in the cite of naples and his fader was called cryspobachye and was a ryghte grete phylosophre whyche laboured strongelye for the cristen relygyon in soo moche that he composed many fayre bookes moche prouffytable as recounteth saynt Ierome hugo He betoke to themperour anthonyn a book which he composed of the crysten relygyon so moche he laboured toward the sayd emperour that he had pyte compassyyn of the cristen peple not onelye the emperour hym self but also al his chyldren and al the senatours of rome the sayd emperour made sythe a commaundemente that no paynym shold not be so hardy to haue in despyte the sygne of the veray crosse ¶ Item pompee the troyen which was of the spaynysshe nacyon composed in to xliiij bookes al thystoryes that were thorugh al the world from the tyme regne of mynym that Was kyng of assyrye vnto the tyme regne of themperour cesar and Wrote them in latyn the which hystorye saint Iustyn abreuyed or shorted also composed many other bookes whiche were to longe to reherce to hym was deuynely reueled or tolde that moche he shold suffre before his dethe for to mayntene trouthe as it apperith by a writte or letter whiche he sente to themperour anthonyn where he saith thus I shal haue ynough of persecucyons of staues of yron by them ageynste whom I bataylle or fyght for to mayntene the estate of trouthe but whan that shal be I theÌne shal haue knowlege that they be not phylosophres that is to Wete louyng arte scyence but that they be louers of all vanytees for he is not worthy to be called a phylosophre which publyklye affermeth testefyeth that whyche he knoweth not that saith that the cristen are without a god putten in gretter errour tho that al redy are in errour al the whiche thynge was thus accomplisshed soo as saynt Iherome recounteth euschyus also for whan the said emperour was passed to god from this world after hym regned ij other emperours the which were named anthonyn aurelyen that were grete persecutours of cristen peple so as Iustyn perseuerd in holy lyuyng in holy doctryne he composed the second book for to deffende with the religyon cristen It happed so that many other phylosophres were that grete enuye had at iustyn as moche for his holy lyf honeste condycions wherof he was fylled as for his grete science accused hym to the emperour sayeng he was cristen that he wold destroye theyr lawe thenne was Iustyn taken and made hym to suffre many tourmentes dyuers paynes in whiche by cause that he constauntelye reclamed euer the name of god they spryncled and shadde hys blood by suche maner that he rendred yaue his sowle to our lord Ihesu crist with whom he restyth in pees shal reste wythoute ende In seculorum secula amen ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Iustyn Here folowtth the lyf of saynt demetryen WHile that themperour maxymyen had the lordshyp of thessalony cense he made al the audytours of the cristen feyth to be put to deth emonge whiche was demetryen that made hym self to be manyfestyd knowen of al without ony fere or drede for sith the tyme of his yongthe he had euer ben stedfast constaunte in good operacions or werkys euer endoctryned taughte thother how the deuyne sapyence was descended in therthe who by his owne blood had quyckened or reysed fro deth the man whiche by hys synne was put to deth as he preched somme of the mynystres sergeauntes of themperour that were commytted ordeyned for to take the crysten men toke saynt demetryen wold haue presented hym vnto themperour maxymyen but it happed so that themperour was goon to see a batayll that shold be doon for moche he delâted hym to see shedyng of blood humayn in the same bataylle was a man named lyneus whiche by cause of the victoryes that he in his dayes had had was moche loued of themperour but as fortune chaungeth ofte it happed that this lyneus was there wounded to deth whan the emperour was retorned in to his paleys sorouful angry of the deth of the said lyneus mencion of demetryon was made vnto hym thenne was themperour sore moeuyd ageynst hym in so moche that in the same prison where he was sore fetheryd harde holden he made hym to be stycked thorugh and thorugh his body with sharpe sperys the whiche saynt demetryen thus euer wytnessyng the name of Ihesu consumed there his marterdom Many myracles were made by his merytes by his good vertues on al them that with good feyth deuoutely reclamed hym a man that was called lemycyus who hertelye loued serued god gafe moche of his goodes to the hows where the holy corps of Saynt demetryen was buryed maad the place more gretter than it was tofore bylded there an oratorye or chappell in thonour of the said marter saynt demetrien One of the prefectes or Iuges of thessalonytence that named was manam was moche agreable to god to the world on which thenemye had grete enuye for his good werkyâ began to tempte hym sore stronge first he tempted hym of the seuen dedely synnes but god wold that he neuer shold ouercome hym whan the deuyll sawe that he myght not deceyue hym he toke from hym al his temporal goodes fynally smote hym with suche a sekenesse that he had no membre wherwyth he myght helpe hym saufe onelye his tuâge with the whyche he praysed thanked euer our lord after this the enemye apprryd to one of his seruauntes in lykenesse of a man shewyd to hym a cedule sayeng thus to hym yf thy maister dyd put ones this cedule or scrowe on hym he shold be anone al hole of his
a foot of lengthe after the prayer of the carpenters doon vnto the Saynt was the sayd poste fouÌde longe ynough and couenable to the forsayd werke ¶ In tyme of a grete Inundacion or flowyng whiche couerd the wayes places the sygne of the crosse maad wyth the sayd holy mannes honde on the water âessyd and ebbyd aweye The hood whiche he gafe to a poure maÌ as aboue is sayd and wente bareââed homewarde god that had hym selfe in fourme or lyknesse of a poure man receyued the sayd hood as it may be byleuyd sente to hym ageyn the sayd hood wherof was grete and meruayllous myracle On a tyme whan he had gyuen alle his breed to poure folkes loues of breed were broughte to hym ynough to suffyse hym the poure peple in his felawshyp wyth alle by a woman vnknowen the whyche after hir presente delyuerd vanysshed aweye and neuer was seen after On another tyme as he had receyued a poure man apperyng ryght fowle dysfourmed ouer foule in clothynge and had made hym to ete sette hande at his owne dysshe wyth hym thys poure man departyng and sayeng god be wyth you and at your helpe hys gowne that before was wonder fowle as it is sayd became soo whyte and of so grete resplendour and shynyng and his face so fayre apperyd and so bryght that al the hows was replenysshed and fylled wyth grete lyghte The archebysshop af narbonne was vexyd wyth a stronge axes and by the feblenesse of his nature was reputed and holden as for dede of alle theym whyche aboute hym were For his eyen were shytte in manere of a deed man at thynuocacion or callyng to Saynt yues maad for the salue of the sayd archebysshop by hys parentes and frendes wyth wepynges vowes and deuocyons was the forsayd archebysshop thorugh the merytes of the saynt restored vnto lyf â syght and good helthe by the grace and vertue of hym of whom is writen that he âenlumyneth the exen gyueth lyf helthe and blessyng lyght sapyence the whyche god creatour enlumynatour and sauyour be thanked preysed and worshypped by all the syecle and syecles amen Thus endeth the lyf of saint yues Here foloweth the lyf of saint Morante THe kyng theodorik commaunded to Saynt morant of dowey whyche was in parys sone of aldebaulte a noble ffrenssheman and of saynt Rotrud of marchyennes the whiche had thre doughters vyrgynes and sayntes that is to wete clotende eusebe and ellysente Saynt rotrâd dwellyd at marchyennes in a nonnerye wyth clotente and elyssente hyr doughters by the ordenaunce of saynt amand and with many other and there she passyd fro thys world and eusebe hir other doughter dwellyd in an abbay of nonnes in haynegowe wyth the graunte moder of saynt aldebaulte hir fader the whyche was called gertrude and the abbey nyuelle of the yefte and foundacyon of saint amand and in the same contreye were many abbayes of monkes wherof as coââ to our purpoos Saynt morante ãâã rotrud his moder dyd bylde ãâã an abbey on theyr owne grouÌde ãâã monkes therin and gafe to them rentes and possessyons for to lyue on and called the place bruell The kyng theodoryk that wel wyste of it commaunded to saynt morante that he shold make saynt amer to be ledde as prysonner fro peronne vnto the sayd newe abbay and to do hym to be kepte that he shold not scare fro thens and goo somwhere in other place Saynt morante came to peronne and fro thens brought with hym Saynt amer thorugh cambray and saint amer whyles that they made the dyner redy there he wente to our lady of cambray and made there his prayers knelyng he toke of bothe his gloues and hys habyte and caste them nyghe to a glasse wyndowe but the rayes or bemys of the sonne susteyned them fro the grouÌde as they had hanged vpon a staffe And the holy man whiche euer loked humbly dounward perceyued it not Saynt morant folowed hym sone after to the chirche and whan he came there and sawe the myracle he was al abasshed and prayed hym of mercy of that he had broughte hym thyder like as a prysonner and besought hym that fro thens forthon he wold become his fader in god and that to his commaundementes he wolde obeye Saynt amer thenne whiche retched not for that lyfte hym self vp and reuestyd on hym his habyte and gloues and thanked moche saynt morant and sayd to hym that he shold obeye the kynge for therto he was holden and that as for hym he shold obeye to our lord and shold bere in al pacyence his aduersytres that gladly he wolde goo wyth hym there as he was ordeyned for to goo saynt morante thenne ledde saint amer at bruel in haynegow where many holy mynsters or abbayes were separed and gouernyd by the dyscyples of Saynt amande whyche were alle sayntes There was Saynt amer lyke as he were in paradys terrestre al the contree there aboute resplendysshed with sayntes bothe men wymmen in grete penaunces seruauntes and frendys of god euerychone forced hym self to passe his felawe in wele wythout euyl and wicked enuye and wyth grete charyte one gafe ensaumple to another for to do wel whan saynt morante saynt Rotrud his moder knewe and ynough wyste the deuocion humylite pacyence and doctryne of saynt amer they prayed hym that he wold empryse or vndertake the cure or gouernemente of the abbey of bruel whiche they had fouÌded on theyr patrymonye they gafe theyr owne self theyr abbay and al theyr good to hym and saynt amer receyued them mekelye and dwellyd there togyder pesablye Alle the other holy men there desyred moche to here his doctryne saynt amer enorted and taughte so moche Saynt morante that he made hym clerke and ordeyned hym vnto deaken maad hym abbotte of his owne hows founded in the honour of god our lord of saynt Peter Saynt Amer dyd do make a chambre ioynyng to the chirche for his oratorye wherin he restyd hym wyth our lord not slepyng but watchyng fastyng contynuelly prayeng There made the holy man hys holy penytence as longe as he lyued And whan our lord wold calle hym vnto his companye he receyued hys ryghtes and toke leue of saynt morante and of the other freres and soo deyed there and was buryed within the chyrche of saynt Peter of doway and rendred and yaue his sowle to our lord aboute the yere of grace seuen hondred ¶ I haue sayd before that whiche I now say the lyf of sayntes were nyghe loste and alle theyr legendes by the normans whiche wasted and spylte the londe wyth ij hondred and two and fyfây shyppes of men of armes whiche aryued and came in that same londe and walked thorugh fraunce vnto Romanye gooyng and comyng by the space of fourty yere and beganne aboute the yere viij hondred and one and fyfty yf one scaped there were âweyne loste and yet oner alle other dyuers werrys were that
merueylle it is how we knowe of none Therfore we shal praye to our lord Ihesu cryste ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Morante ¶ Here folowe the lyf of saint Lowys kynge of Fraunce SAynt Lowes somtyme the noble kyng of fraunce had to his fader a kyng ryght cristen named lowys this lowys fader bataylled foughte ageynst the heretykes and ablygoys and of the contre of tholouse and extyrped their heresye ye and as he retourned in to Fraunce he passyd vnto our Lord Thenne the chylde of holy chyldehode faderlesse abode and dwellyd vnder the kepyng of the quene blaunche his moder somtyme doughter to the kynge of castylle and as she that louyd hym tenderlye betoke hym for to be lernyd and taughte vnder the cure and gouernaunce of a special maister in condycyons and in lettres and he also as the yonge salamon chylde wyse and dysposed to haue a good sowle prouffyted right gretelye in al thynges more than ony childe of his age of whiche good lyf and chyldehode his debonayr moder enioysyng hir self sayd ofte tymes to hym in thys manere Ryghte deresone rather I wold see the deth comyng on the thenne to see the falle in to a dedely synne ageynste thy creatour the whiche worde the deuoute chylde took and shette it soo wythin hys courage that by the grace of god which deffended and kepte hym it is not founde that euer he felte ony aâouchemente âatche or spotte of mortal crysme In the ende by the pourueaunce of his moder and of the barons of the londe to th ende that so noble a royaulme ne shold not faylle of sucâessyon ryalle the holy man took a wyf of the which he receyued and gate on hyr fayr chyldren whyche by souerayn cure le made to be nourysshed endoctrined taught to the loue of god and despyte of the world and to knowe them selfe by holy admonestyng and ensaumples and whan he myght tende secretelye to them vysytyng them and requyryng of theyr prouffyte as the auncyente thobye gaue to them admonestyng of salut techyng them ouer alle thynges to drede god and to kepe absteyne them assyduelly from alle synne Garlondes made of Roses of other floures he forbade and deffended them to were on the fryday for the crowne of thorne that was on suche a day put on the heed of our lord and by cause that he wyste wel and knewe that chastytâe in delyces pyte in rychees humnlyte in honour often peryshen betoke and gaue his courage to sobryete and good dyete to humylite and my sericorde kepyng hym self ryght curyously fro the pryckyng sawtes and watche of the world the flesshe and the deuyll chastysed hys body and brought it to seruytude by the ensaumple of the appostles he forced hym self to serue his spyryte by dyuers castygacion or chastysyng he vsed the hayre many tymes nexte hys flesshe whan he lefte it for cause of ouer feblenesse of his body at the Instaunce of hys owne confessour he ordeyned the said confessour to gyue to the poure folke as for recompensacion of euery day that he faylled of hit fourty shyllynges he fastyd alweye the fryday and namelye in tyme of lente and aduentes he absteyned hym in tho dayes from al maner of fysshe and fro fruytes and contynuelly trauayllâd and paynyd his body by watchynges orysons and other secretes abstynences and dyscyplynes humylite beaute of all vertues resplendysshed so stronge in hym that the more better he wexyd so as dauyd the more he shewyd hym self meke humble and more foule he reputed hym before god For he was acustomed on euery satyrday to wosshe with his owne handes in a secrete place the feet of somme poure folke and after dryed them wyth a fayre towel and kyssed moche humbly and semblahly theyr handes dystrybuyng or desyng to euery one of them a certeyn of syluer also to seuen score poure men whiche dayly came to his courte he admynystred mete and drynke wyth hys owne handes and were fedde habonndantlye on the vygyles solempne and on somme certeyn dayes in the yere to two hondred poure before that he ete or dranke with his owne handes admynystred and seruyd theym bothe of mete and of drynke He euer had bothe at his dyuer and sowper thre auncyente poure whiche ete nyghe to hym to whome he charytably sente of suche metes as were broughte before hym and somtyme the dysshes and metes that the poure of our Lord had touched wyth theyr handes and specialle the soppes of whiche he fayne ete made theyr remenaunte or relyef to be brought before hym to the ende that he shold ete it and yet ageyn to honour and worshyp the name of our Lord on the poure folke he was not ashamed to ete theyr relyef Also he Wold not vse scarlate ne gownes of ryche clothe ne also furryng of ouer grete pryse and coste and namelye sythe he came fro the partyes of beyonde see the fyrste tyme ageyn he coueytyd by grete desire the growyng vp of the feyth wherfore he as veray louer of the feyth and couetous for to enhaunce it as he yet that of late conâallesshed and yssued out of a greuous seeknesse lyeng at pontoyse toke the crosse with grete deuocyon fro the hande of the bysshop of parys ledde with hym thre of hys brethern wyth the grettest lordes and barons in hys royalme and many a knyght other peple with hym applykd on his waye and with ryght grete hoost arryued in to egypte the whyche settyng foot on grounde ocupyed took by force of men of armes that same cytee renommed whiche is called damette and alle the regyon aboute Thenne after the crysten oost esprysed and bete with a moche grete and wonderful sekenesse by the Iuste Iugemente of god many crysten men deyed there in soo moche that of the nombre of two and thyrty thousand fyghtyng men ne was there lefte on lyue but syx thousand men god fader of myserycorde wyllyng hym self shewed wonderful and meruaylable on his saynt gafe betoke the sayd kyng champyon or deffensour of the feythe in to the handes of the euyl paynyms to th ende that he shold appere more meruaylable and as the debonayr kynge myght haue scaped by the nexte shyppe nygh thens alwayes he yelded hym self with his good gree to th ende that he myght delyuer hys peple thorugh the encheson of hym He was put to grete raunsom whiche payed wold yet abyde prysonner for the payemente or raunsom of other hys lordes and barons and thenne after he put and lefte so as Ioseph oute of the chartre or pryson of egypte not as fleeyng or dredeful retorned anone vnto the propre or owne partyes but fyrst abode contynuelly by the space of fyue yere in syrye where he conuertysed many paynyms to the feythe and he beyng there the crysten out of the paynyms handes dyched and fortefyed many townes castellys with stronge walles ¶ He founde thenne aboute sydoyne many dede bodyes
the first crosse ouer the body of our lord Ihesu cryste and the second crosse ouer the blood for the swetyng of blood and the thyrd before his owne face for this that our lord prayeng had hys face enclyned and therfore the preest maketh hit before his face This is thenne the ende of the oryson where he prayeth that We be blessyd of al blessynges and that We be also replenysshed of alle grace After in the tenthe parte the preest wyth Ioyned handes sayth Memento domine famulorum cÌ the whyche memento is princypally ordeyned for them that are passed out of thys world and for that euen there the preest resteth and hath a general memorye for deed folke in especyal for the creatures for whome he is bounde oâ entendeth to praye for to the ende that by the mysecorde of god they may haue veray lyght and veray pees in the glorye of paradyse After in the xj parte of the canon of the masse the preest beteth hys breste sayeng nobis quoque peccatoribus cÌ that sygnefyeth the contrycyon and repentaunce that the theef that henge on the crosse at the right hande of god had whan he sayd Memento mei domine dum veneris in regnum tuum that is to saye lord I praye the that thou be remembred of me whan thou comest in to the royalme Thenne answeryd god to hym Amen dico tibi hodie mecum eris in paradiso that is to say I telle the thou shalte this day be with me in paradyse And therfore the preest in thys oryson spekyng for alle synnars hauyng hope on the myserycorde and mercy of god he prayeth that we may haue the pardurable or euerlastyng lyf wyth the companye of the appostles of marters and wyth alle the holy sayntes in heuen And in thys oryson the preest maketh thre crosses ouer the breed and ouer the wyne the whyche crosses betoken thys that the Iewes cryden thre tymes to pylate spekyng of the blessyd sone of god crucefye crucefye crucefye hym for he is dethe worthy therfore maketh the preest these thre first crosses and after he taketh the precyous body of our lord and maketh fyue tymes the sygne of the crosse the thre on the chalyce ouer the blood and the other tweyne betwyxte the chalyce and hym self the thre crosses maad ouer the chalyce may sygnefye the thre pryncypal tormentes or despysynges that our lord suffred in his passyon The fyrst is that before he was put on the crosse he had moche payne suffred many spyttynges and many other greuous marterdoms and tormentys that the proude and felle Iewes dyd to hym The second is the despyte and the tormente that he for vs suffred on the crosse for to bye vs fro the paynes and tormentes of helle and the thyrd is that whan he was dede on the crosse Longyn thrested the spere heed in to hys precyous syde and therfore the preest maketh the thre other crosses ouer the precyous blood Or ellys it may be sayd that these thre crosses betokene the holy trynyte sayeng by the fader by the sone by the holy spirite al honour glorye the preest maketh ij crosses thyse ij crosses made betwixte the chalyce the preest may betoken the ij licours that yssued out of the syde of our lord that was blood water that is to wete blood of redempcyon and water of regeneracyon After the preest sayth Per omnia secula seculorum and that sayth he on hyghe that may represente or sygnefye to vs thys that our lord cryeng wyth an hyghe wys rendred hys sowle to god the fader Or it may be so sayd that the preest sayth on hyghe to th ende that the folke knowe the ende of the canone and answer amen lamentyng and sorowyng the dethe of our lord to the ensaumple of the wymmen that nyghe the crosse lamentably and pyteously sorowed and wepte sore for Ihesu cryste that they louyd so moche After the preest sayth oremus precepti salutaribus moniti cÌ and here he Incyteth vs to honoure and prayer after thensaumple of our lord that taughte his appostles and therfore he sayth precepti that is to say we Incyte or admoneste the commaundementes of salute and in fourme of deuyne Instruccyon worshyp we and hertelye praye we sayeng Pater noster cÌ And soo ensyeweth the Pater noster whiche was made Instytued by our lord Ihesu cryste for that same he commaunded his appostles to say therfore it is called oracio dominica that is to say oryson of our lord therfore veââtably here oweth the creature to say deuoutely this same oryson pater nrÌ how be it that our lord knoweth wel what is beste for vs and what we Wyl haue Notwythstondyng he wyl that bothe with herte and mowthe we praye hym for many reasons Fyrst for to Incyte vs to deuocyon For al euen so as the bloweng enbraceth or fyreth the cool right soo the oryson sayd wyth herte and mowthe enflameth the deuocyon Secondly for to gyue good ensaumple to other for our lord saith Luceat lux vestra coram hominibus vt videatur cÌ that is to say ãâã your light be shynyng tofore the men so that they may perceyue see your good werkys not by ypocresye ne sâmylyng but by ryght Ialousye of deuocyon Thirdly for this that al euen so as we by the tonge synnen rizt so the deuoute oryson ought to be made said wyth tonge to th ende we may make satysfaccion to the kyng of heuen for the scrypture saith Sicut exhibuistis meÌbra vraÌ seruire Iniquitati exibeatis seruire iustâcie satisfaccioni that is to say as ye haue yeuen your meÌbris to felonye and wickednes or corupcion ye must so obeye bothe to iustyce satisfaccion Fourthly the thyng which is demauÌded with good herte is of lyght graunted Of thys petycyon or askyng here speketh our swete sauyour Ihesu cryste in the holy euangylle that sayth thus Petite accipietis cÌ that is to saye My frendys aske you and ye shalle haue And for thys verytably euery creature ought wel to praye deuoutelye wyth good herte sayeng thys deuoute oryson Pater noster for the grete mysterye that hyt conteyneth The mysterye of thys deuoute oryson pater noster is that it conteyneth seuen petycyons or askynge The fyrst is of the eternal goodes that we may haue them therfore sayth he Pater noster qui es in celis sanctificetur no men tuum that is as moche for to say Fader that arte reygnyng in heuen thy swete name be blessyd The second petycyon is of the goodes spyrytuel that we may receyue them and therfore sayth he adueniat regnum tuum that is to say thy royame may become to vs where as We may see the ¶ The thyrd petycyon is fiat voluntas tua sicut in celo et in terra that is to saye ouer alle be thy wylle fulfylled and doon so that
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 scoÌsque secuÌda 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 brâst 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 caliâem salutaris
accipium nomen domini Inuocabo al nys other thynge to say what shal I retribuâ or yelde to our lord of alle his benefaytes and goodes by hym doon and gyuen to me after he taketh the chalys sayeng caâicem cÌ I shal take the chalys of my helthe and shal calle the name of god lawdyng hym callyng our lord I shal be delyuerd and kepte from alle myn enemyes that is to wete fro alle my synnes and euyl temptacions of the deuyl After the preest makyng the signe of the crosse saith ouer the chalice Sanguis domini nostri Ihesu cristi custodiat animam meaÌ in vitam eternam amen that is to say the precyous body and blood of our lord wyl kepe my sowle in euerlastyng lyf amen sythe deuoutely and reuerentelye the preest taketh the blood of Ihesu Cryste And after he draweth hym self to the corner of the aulter where he taketh wyne wetyng his fyngres ouer the chalys to the entente that noo thynge ne may remayne of that precious sacramente and that doyng the preest sayth two orysons the fyrst begynneth thus Quod ore sumpsimus domine cÌ that is to say Lord thys that we haue taken wyth mowthe Wyte that we fele it wyth herte to the ende hyt may be remedye to vs ageynst alle temporalle and wycked thoughtes The second oryson is Corpus tuum quod ego Indignus cÌ That is as moche for to say Lord I praye the that the precyous body and precious blood that I haue taken as vnworthy me wyl in suche manere clarefye that none ordure or fylthe ne no fawte may remayne or abyde wythin me after these two orysons fynysshed that are before said the preest enclyneth hym and rendreth graces to god sayeng Agimus tibi grâcias cÌ that is to say thus Lord that arte reygnyng in heuen We rendre and yelde to the graces lawdynges of al thy benefaytes receyued of vs After he wessheth his handes at the pyscyne or lauer for this that no thynge of the sacramente ne may abyde at his handes and therfore that water there ought to be caste in the pyscyne or in to somme clene place where men may not trede on it and it is to wete that the preest wessheth his handes thre tymes at masse that is to Wete at the begynnyng of hit the second at myddes of the masse that is to wete at offerynge and the laste is after the percepcyon of the masse And thys purgemente or wasshyng may sygnefye the purete and clennesse that the preest oughte to haue ¶ In herte by good thoughtes in mowthe by good and honeste spekyng and in his nedes or besynesse to werke trewely and wel And after the preest sayth the postcommunyon whiche is so named postcommunyon For thys that it is sayd after the preest hath receyued the precyous sacramente of the aulter And that sygnefyeth the ioye that our lord gaue to hys dyscyples For the appostles and dyscyples of god had grete ioye of the holy resurrexyon wherof it is sayd in the holy euangylle Gauisi sunt discipuli viso domino cÌ that as moche is to say the dyscyples of god be fayne and gladde by cause they haue seen our lord ¶ After the percepcion the preest kysseth the aulter in betokenyng that in very loue he assenteth and consenteth to byleue fermelye al the mysterye of that precyous sacramente and ryght there he retourneth hym self and salueth the peple sayeng Dominus vobiscum to the ende that the people be Incyted to make deuoute oryson and therfore he sayth Oremus and there the preest sayth as many orysons as he sayd at the begynnyng of the masse and for that same cause betokenyng that in al good werke oryson ought to be begynnyng myddel and ende of hit And at the ende of these orysons the preest concludeth sayeng Per dominum nostrum cÌ In betokenyng that this that we aske is in the swete name of our lord reygnyng with the fader and wyth the holy ghoost and there the peple answereth amen After the preest kysseth yet ageyn the aulter sythen retourneth hym and salueth the peple sayeng Dominus vobiscum and these two laste salutes may represente and sygnefye this that our lord after his resurrexyon salued his appostles two tymes sayeng thus Pax vobis iterum pax vobis pees be wyth you by vnyte of grete loue and yet ageyn pees be wyth you swete and good in the glorye and blysse of paradyse After al these orysons beforesayd ensoweth Ite missa est and here is to wete that the masse fynyssheth in thre maners fyrst the masse fynyssheth by Ite missa est and that is at alle tymes that Gloria in excelcis is sayd and the vnderstondyng may be suche sayeng creature goo after our lord ensyewe hym by good werkys It may be sayd also that thys Ite missa est betokeneth thys that whan the aungel had anounced the shepherdes the ioye and myrthe of the holy natyuyte of our lord Ihesu cryste they wente to the place where our lord Ihesu cryste was ryght euen so as they had vnderstonde Ite missa est goo ye for our lord is sente for your redempcion and therfore the shepherdes regracyed and lawded god Wyth al their vertue and force and therfore the peple answereth and sayth deo gracias that is to say god be lawded and regracyed of it Secondly the masse fynyssheth by benedicamus domino Ryght so as the preest wold saye blesse we god of al his goodes and with herte lawde and preyse we hym and vpon this the peple answereth deo gracias god be gracyed and thanked Thyrdly the masse fynyssheth wyth requiescant in pace that is at a masse sayd for the dede to the ende that the sowles for whome the preest hath sayd the masse may haue reste in lyf pardurable and therfore the peple answereth amen that is to say thy prayer be herde and enhaunced after that the preest blessyth the peple the whyche blessyng may sygnefye this that the holy ghoost was sente to the appostles for the promesse of god that he had doon to them sayeng Accepietis virtutem spiritus sancti venientis in vos cÌ That is to say ye shal take the vertu of the holy ghoost comyng in you by cause that the holy ghoost was sente by the trynyte Therfore maketh the preest that same blessyng in the name of the fader of the sone of the holy ghoost ¶ Secondly that blessyng wherof our lord spekyth to hys appostles sayth Venite benedicti patris mei percipite regnum cÌ that is to say come after me the blessyd of god my fader take the possessyon of my royalme Thyrdly the sayd blessyng may sygnefye that blessyng that our lord made whan he wold ascende vnto heuen to th ende that by deuoute oryson he may ascende after hym in to the blysse of paradyse and therfore he sone enclyneth hym self and
that she had brought she departed them and gaue for the loue of god to somme poure wulle and to other hool loues of breed and somtyme she so hasted for pyte that she toke the loues hote out of the ouen secretely and gaue it to the poure The wymmen meruayled why she toke theyr loues but they spake ne sayd no thynge And they moche doubted that they shold not fynde theyr counte ne tale But notwythstondyng that she had so taken by the grace of god they fonde al theyr loues and lacked none by the merytes of the holy saynt hyr hope was no thynge in worldly thynges but in heuenly for she byleuyd in the holy scrypture that saith who so yeueth to the poure leneth for a uayle The rewarde whiche they receyue that gyue to poure peple the holy ghoost had she wyd to hyr longe tofore and therfore she cessyd not to wepe to adoure and to doo werkys of pyte For she knewe wel that she was none other in thys world but a pylgryme passyng There was at meaux a bourgeys that by the space of foure yere he myght not here ne goo he dyd hym be broughte to the holy vyrgyn whiche dwellyd at parys requyred hir that she wolde restore to hym hys helthe and heryng she touched his eerys blessyd hym and anone he was hole and wente herde as he dyd before thankyng our lord On a tyme the holy vyrgyne wente to orlyaunce a woman named fraterne was in grete sorowe for hyr doughter that laye deyeng anone as she wyste the comyng of the holy virgyne she wente to hir to saynt aiguen where she fonde hyr in prayer fraterne fyl doun to hir feet sayeng Dame geneuefe gyue me ageyn clode my doughter Whan geneuefe sawe the good feythe of hyr she sayd dyscomforte the no thynge thy doughter is in helthe the which by the meruayllous puyssaunce of god at the worde of the holy vyrgyne was brought fro the wycket of dethe and came al hool ageynst hir moder and mette wyth hir at the portal of the hows The people thankyd our lord for thys fayre myracle In the sayd cyte there was o seruauÌt culpable ageynst his mayster the holy mayde prayed hys mayster that he wold foryeue hym hys trespaas The mayster as felonous and proude daygned not to doo hit at hyr requeste Thenne sayd the holy vyrgyne though ye despyse me our lord wyl not haue me in despyte assone as he was at home he was taken with an hote feare ague whiche vexyd hym in suche wyse that he myÈt not slepe of al the nyght On the morne he came to the holy vyrgyne rennyng wyth open mowth lyke a bere of almayn the tonge hangyng out and fomyng lyke a boor requyryng pardon whiche wold gyue no pardon The saynt had pyte on hym and blessyd hym and the fyeure lefte hym thus made she the mayster hool and the seruaunte excused fro orlyounce the holy woman wente to tours by the water of loyre where she suffryd many perylles whan she areyued at tours grete foyson of demonyaks cam ageynst hir out of the chirche of saynt martyn and the spyrytes cryed by the mowthes of them that were madde vexyd which were brente by the merytes of saint martyn and saint geneuefe and the perylles that the vyrgyn had in the water of loyre they had doon hit by enuye The holy vyrgyn wente vnto the chyrche of saynt martyn where as she helyd mony demonyaks by prayers and by the sygne of the crosse and the demonyaks sayd at the houre of the tormente that the fyngres of the saynt brente aboute them as tapres en flamed wyth fyre of heuen herof herde thre men which kepte their wyues mad they wente to the chyrche and prayed hyr that she wold vysyte theyr wyues The blossyd vyrgyne whyche was debonayr wente and vysyted them and delyuerd them fro thenemye by vnctyon of holy oyle and by prayer Anone after it happed as she was in orysons in a corner in the chyrche of saynt martyn that one of the syngars was soo sore vexyd wyth the enemye that he ete his membris whyche wente out of the chauncel and came strayte to the holy vyrgyn the blessyd virgyn coÌmauÌded the spiryte to yssue out he answerd yf he yssued he wold yssue by the eye She commaunded that he shold no lengyr abyde ne dwelle there and thenne he yssued out anone wold he nolde he by the flux of the wombe and lefte foule enseygnes and tokenes and the seek maÌ was at hool in good mynde wherof he thanked our lord They of tours honourid moche thys blessyd vyrgyne how wel hyt was ageynst her wylle On a tyme as âe was at hyr dore she saw a mayde passe by beryng a buyret of oyle she callyd hyr and askyd what she bare She answerd and sayd oyle which she had boughte the holy mayde whyche sawe the enemye sytâe on the mowthe of the buyrette blewe on hit the buyrette brake she blessyd the oyle and bad the mayde bere it forth saufly the peple that sawe this had grete meruaylle that thenemye coude not hyde hym but that she perceyued hym and thankyd our lord There was broughte to hyr a chylde by his frendes whyche was dombe blynde and lame the blessyd vyrgyn enoynted hym wyth the holy oyle and the same oure he saw clerely spake and wente and receyued helthe entyerly In the terroyr of meaux the holy mayde dyd do laboure a felde ââat she had and a storme tempeste trouââed wynde and rayn aroos which ãâã moche the werkemen She ãâ¦ã stretchyng on the erthe in orison ãâã prayer and our lord shewyd ãâã a fayr myracle for the rayne fyl ãâã al the corne in the feldes theraboute and in hyr felde fyl not one drope Another tyme as she was on the sayn there was a grete tempeste and she besoughte god of helpe and anone it cessid in suche wyse that they that were presente sawe wel that our lord at hyr requeste and for hir loue made wynde raâne to cesse alle seek men that she enoynted wyth holy oyle deuoutelye were helyd and made hool hit happed so that on a tyme whan she wold haue enoynted a demonyak she fonde no oyle in hir ampolle whe ãâ¦ã was so sory that she wyste not what to doo For there was no bysshop presente for to blesse hât She laye douâ in orysons and prayer besechyng god that he wold delyuer the man from the enemye Our lord shewyd there two fayre vertues for assone as she aroos hir ample was ful of oyle beyng in hir handes of whiche she enoynted the madde man and anone was delyuerd of the wycked spyrite whyche ample with the oyle sawe the same man that wrote hir lyf xviij yere after hyr decesse Many other myracles without nombre shewyd our lord for the loue of the holy and blessyd saynt saynt Geneuefe the whiche lyued in this world ful of vertues and myracles more than foure score
Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Grysogone and fyrste of hys name GRysogone may be sayd of gonos in Greke whiche is as moche to say as aungel For he was wythout aungel of worldly malyce or he is sayd of gonos whiche is as moche to saye as a lâder For he ledde moche people to the waye of a trouthe by hys ensaumple ¶ Of saynt grisogone GRisogone was taken and sette in pryson by the commaundemente of Dyoclesyan saynt anastase fedde hym and gaue to hym mete and drynke to lyue by wherfore hir husbond was put in to a strayte pryson she sente to grysogone whiche had enformed hyr in the feythe of Ihesu crist in wrytyng thys that foloweth To the holy confessour of cryste Grysogone I anastasâ haue taken the yoke of a wycked husbond by the mercy of god I haue eschewed his bedde by fayned and dyssymyled Infyrmyte haue nyght and day embraced the stappes of our lord Ihesu cryste my husbond hath taken aweye my patrymonye of whiche he is ennoblysshed and setteth it on fowle ydolles and hath put me in pryson as a cursed enchaunteresse for to make me to lese my lyf temporel So there bleueth nomore but I that am seruaunte to the spyrite may lye doun and deye In whiche dethe I glorefye my self but I am gretely troubelyd in my mynde that my rychessls whiche I had ordeyned to god been wasted and spente in fowle thynges fare wel seruaunte of god remembre me To whome saynt grysogone answerde ageyn by wrytyng see that thou be not angred ne troubled for ony thynge that is doon to the foloneslye in thy lyf though it be contrarye vnto the thou mayste not be dysceyued yf thou be preuyd a tyme paysyble shal come to the anon for after this derknes thou shalt see anone she florysshed light of god after this colde tyme of froste and yce there shal come to the the softe swete tyme Fare wel be wyth god and praye for me and as thys blessyd anastase was thus constreyned in suche wise that vnnethe ony brede was gyuen to hyr in foure dayes and that she supposed she shold haue deyed She wrote a pystle to hym in thys wyse To the confessour of crist grysogone anastase the ende of my tyme is comen remembre me So that whan the sowle shal departe from me that he receyue it for whos loue I suffre thyse thynges whyche thou shalt here by the mowthe of this olde woman To whome he wrote ageyn It apperteyneth alwey that derkenes goo tofore the lyght In lyke wyse after sekenes and Infyrmyte helth shal retorne and lyf is promysed after deth Alle aduersytees and prosperytees of thys world been enclosed by one ende by cause desperacion shold haue no domynacyon on the sorowful ne elacyon ne pryde shold not domyne on theym that been glad and ioyeful There is but one see in whych the shyp of our lady saylleth and our sowles vse the offyse of maronners vnder the gouernaunce of the body the shippes whiche ben fastenyd and bounden wyth stronge chaynes passen wel wythout ony brekyng thorugh the stronge wawes of the see and somme shyppes there been that haue brutyl and feble ioyntures of trees and falle ofte in peryll to be drowned but thou handmayde of Ihesu cryste haue in thy mynde the vyctorye of the crosse and make the redy to the werke of god and thenne dyoclesyan whiche was in the partyes of aquyle and slewe other crysten men commaunded that grysogone shold be broughte tofore hym to whom he sayd Take the power of the prouoste and the consulate of thy lygnage and doo sacrefyse to the goddes And he answerd I adoure worshyp one onely god of heuen and I despyse thy dygnytees as fylthe or myre and thenne sentence was gyuen vpon hym and was brought in to a place where he was byheded aboute the yere of our lord two hondred lxxx and seuen whos body saynt Zeyle the preest buryed and the heed also Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Grisogone Here foloweth the lyf of saint Katheryne virgyn and marter And first of hir name KAtheryne is said of catha that is al ruyna that is fallyng for alle the edefyce of the deuyl fyl al fro hir for the edefyce of pryde fyl fro hyr by humylyte that she had and thedefyce of flesshly desyre fyl fro hir by hir virgynyte worldly couetyse for she despysed al worldly thynges Or katheryne may be sayd as a lytel chayne for she made a chayne of good werkys by whiche she mounted in to heuen and this chayne or ladder had foure grees or stappes whiche been Innocence of werke clennesse of body despysyng of vanyte and sayeng of trouthe whiche the prophete putteth by ordre where he sayth Quis ascendet in mon tem domini Innocens manibus Who shal ascende in to the montayn of our lord that is heuen he answereth The Innocence of his handes he that is clene in his herte he that hath not taken in vayne his sowle and he that hath not sworen in fraude and deceyte to his neyghbour And it apperyth in hyr legende how thyse four degrees were in hyr KAtheryn by discent of lyne was of the noble lygnage of themperours of Rome as it shal be declared more playnelye herafter by a notable cronycle whos moste blessyd lyf and conuersacyon wrote the solempne doctour anathasius whiche knewe hir lygnage hyr lyf For he was one of hir maysters in hir tender age or she was conuerted to the cristen feythe and after the sayd anathasius by hir prechyng meruaillous werkys of our lord was conuerted also Whiche after hir marterdom was made bysshop of Alysaunder And a gloryous pyler of the chirche by the grace of god and merytes of Saynt katheryne And as we fynde by credyble cronycles In the tyme of dyoclesyan and maxymyen was grete cruel tyrannye shewyd in al the world as wel to crysten men as to paynyms Soo that many that were subgette to Rome put aweye the yocke of seruage and rebellyd openlye ageynst th empyre Emonge whome the royame of armonye was one that wythstood most the trybute of the romayns wherfore they of Rome deputed a noble man of dygnyte named constancius whiche was tofore other a valyaunt man in armes dyscrete and vertuous the which lord after he came in to ermonye anone subdued them by his dyscrete prudence deseruyd to haue the loue and fauour of his enemyes in so moche that he was desyred to marye the doughter of the kynge whiche was sole heyre of the royame and he consentyd and maryed hir sone after the kynge hir fader deyed and thenne constancius was enhaunced and crowned kynge whyche sone after had a sone by his wyf named costus at the byrthe of whome his moder deyed after the dethe of whome constancius retorned to rome to see the emperour and to knowe how his lord shyppes were gouerned in tho partyes and in
the mene tyme tydynges came to rome how that grete brytaygne whiche now is called englond rebellyd ageynst the empyre wherfore by the aduys of the consulate it was concluded that constancius kynge of ermonye shold goo in to brytaygne to subdue them whiche adressyd hym thyder in shorte tyme after he entryd in to the londe by his prowesse and wysdom he appeasyd the royame and subdued it ageyn to the empyre of Rome And also he was so acceptable to the kynge of brytayne named coel that he maryed his doughter heleyne whyche afterward fonde the holy crosse And in shorte tyme he gate on hir constantyn whyche after was Emperour And thenne sone after deyed constancyus and constantyn after the dethe of kynge Coel by his moder was crowned kynge of brytaygne And costus the fyrste sone of constancyus wedded the kynges doughter of cypre whyche was heyre of whom as shal be here after was engendred Saynt katheryne whiche came of the lignage of constancyus Now foloweth the lyf of saint Katheryne IN the yere of our lord two hondred regned in cypre a noble and prudent kynge named costus which was a noble semely man ryche and of good condycyons and had to his wyf a quene lyke to hym self in vertuous gouernaunce whiche lyued to gyder prosperously but after the lawe of paynyms and worshypped ydolles Thys kynge by cause he loued renommâe wold haue his name spradde thorugh the world he founded a cyte in whyche he edefyed a temple of his false goddes named that cyte after his name costy whiche after to encrece his fame the peple named it fama costi and yet in to thys day is called famagous in whiche cytee he and the quene lyued in grete welthe and prosperyte and lyke as the fayr rose spryngeth emonge the brerys and thornes Right soo betwene thyse two paynyms was brought forth thys blessyd vyrgyn saynt katheryne and whan this holy virgyn was borne she was so fayr of vysage and so wel formed in hir membrys that alle the peple enioyed in hir beaute and whan she came to vij yere of age anone after she was sette to scole where she prouffyted moche more thenne ony other of hir age and was enformed in the artes lyberal wherin she dranke plenteuously of the welle of wysdom for she was chosen to be a techer enformer of euerlastyng wysdom The kynge costus hir fader had soo grete ioye of the grete towardnes and wysdom of his doughter that he lete ordeyne a toure in hys paleys with dyuers studyes and chambres in which she myght be at hir plesure and also at hir wylle and also he ordeyned for to wayte on hir seuen the best maisters and wysest in connyng that myght be goten as in tho partyes and wythin a whyle they that came to teche hir they after that lerned of hyr and became hir dyscyples and whan thys vyrgyne came to the age of xiiij yere hir fader kynge cosâus deyed thenne she was lefte as quene heyre after hym and thenne the estates of the londe came to this yonge lady katheryne and desyred hir to make a parlemente in whiche she myght be crowned and receyue the homage of hyr subgettes and that suche rule myghte be sette in hir begynnyng that pees prosperyte myght ensyewe in hir royame and thys yonge mayde grauÌted to them theyr askynge and whan the parlamente was assemblyd and the yonge quene crowned with grete solempnyte and she syttyng on a day in hir parlamente and hyr moder by hir with al the lordes eche in his place a lord aroos by thassente of hir moder the other lordes and comyns knelid doun tofore hir sayeng thyse wordes Ryght hyghe and myghty pryncesse and our moste souerayn lady please it you to wyte that I am commaunded by the quene your moder by alle the lordes comyns of thys your royame to requyre your hyenes that it may plese you to graunte to them that they myght prouyde soÌme noble kyng or prynce to marye you to th ende that he myght rule and deffende your royame and subgettes lyke as your fader dyd before you and also that of you myght procede noble lygnage whyche after you may reygne vpon vs whiche thynge we moste desyre and herof we desyre your good answer This yonge quene katheryne heeryng thys request was abasshed troubled in hir corage how she myght answer to contente hir moder the lordes and hir subgettes and to kepe hyr self chaste For she had concluded to kepe hir virgynyte and rather to suffre deth than to defoule it and thenne wyth a sadde chere and meke loke she answeryd in thys wyse Cosyn I haue wel vnderstonde your requeste and thanke my moder the lordes and my subgettys of the greâe loue that they alle haue to me to my royame as touchyng my maryage I truste verayly there may be no peryll consyderyng the grete wysedom of my lady my moder and of the lordes wyth the good obeysauÌce of the comyns trustyng in their good contynuaunce wherfore we nede not to seke a straunger for to rule vs and our royame for wyth your good assystaunce and ayde we hope to rule gouerne kepe this our royame in good Iustyce pees and reste in lyke wyse as the kynge my fader helde you in Wherfore at thys tyme I praye you to be contente and to cesse of thys matere and lete vs procede to suche maters as ben requesyte for the rule gouernauÌce and vnyuersal wele of thys royame and whan this yonge quene katheryn had achyeued hir answer The quene hir moder and al the lordes were abasshed of hir wordes and wyst not what to say for they consyderyd wel by hyr wordes that she had no wylle to be maryed and thenne there aroos stood vp a duc whiche was hir vncle and with due reuerence sayd to hir in thys wyse My souerayn lady sauyng your hygh and noble dyscrescion this answer is ful heuy to my lady your moder and to vs al your humble lyege men wythout ye take better aduys to your noble corage wherfore I shal moeue to you of four notable thynges that the grete god hath endowed you before al other creatures that we know which thynges ought to cause you to take a lord to your husbond to th ende that tho plentyuous yeftes of nature and grace may sprynge of you by geeracion whiche may sucorde by ryght lygne to reygne vpon vs to the grete comforte and ioye of alle your peple subgettes the contrarye shold torne to grete sorowe and heuynesse Now good vncle sayd she what been thyse iiij notable thynges that so ye repute in vs madame sayd he the fyrst is this that we be acerteyned that ye be comen of the moste noble blode in the world the second that ye be a grete enherytour and the grettest that lyueth of woman to our knowleche the third that is that ye in science connyng and