theder For he lyued there ful holyly in fastyng and grete penaunce doyng And atte last he had the gowte in hys knees whiche he had taken of cold in knelyng vpon the cold stones whan he said hys prayers in suche wyse that hys knee hegan to swelle And the synewys of hys legge were shronke that he myght neyther goo ne stratche out hys legge but euer he toke it ful paciently and sayd whan it plesith our lord it shal passe away And within a whyle after his brethern for to doo hym coÌ„fort bare hym in to the felde And there they mette wyth a knyght whyche sayd late me see and handle thys cuthbertis legge And thenne whan he had felt it wyth hys handes he bad them take the mylk of a cowe of one colour and the Iuse of smal plaÌ„tayn And fair whete flour And seethe them alle to gydre And make therof a playster leye it therto and it wyl make hym hool And assone as they had so doon he was perfightly hool And thenne he thanked our lord ful mekely And after he knewe by reuelacioÌ„ that it was an angele sente by our lord to hele hym of hys grete sekenes and dysease And thabbot of that place sente hym to aselle of theyres to be hosteler for to receyue there ghestes and do them confort And sone after our lord shewd there a fayr myracle for hys seruaunt seynt cuthberd For Angellis come to hym oftymes in liknes of other ghestis whom he receyued and seruyd dylygently wyth mete and drynke and other necessaryes On a tyme ther come ghestis to hym whom he receyued and wente in to the houses of offyce for to serue them And whan he cam agayn they were goon And wente after for to calle and coude not espye them ne knowe the stappes of theyr feet how wel that it was thenne a snowe and whan he retorned he fonde the table leide And theron thre fayr whyte loues of brede all hoot whiche were of meruayllous beaute and swetenes For alle the place smelled of the swete odour of them Thenne he knewe wel that the Angellis of our lord had ben there and rendryd thankynges to our lord that he had sente to hym hys angellys for to conforte hym and euery nyght whaÌ„ his brethern were a bedde he wold goo and stonde in the cold water al naked vp to the chyn tyl it were myd nyght And thenne he wold yssue out Anth whaÌ„ he come to londe he myght not stonde for feblenes and fayntnes but oft fyll doun to the ground And on a tyme as he laye thus ther cam ij otters whyche licked euery place of his body and thenne wente agayn to the water that they cam fro And thenne saynt cuthberd aroos all hool wente to hys celle agayn and wente to matyns wyth hys brethern but hys brethern knewe nothyng of hys stondyng thus euery nyght in the see to the chyn but atte laste one of hys brethern espyed it and knewe his doyng and told hym therof but saynt cuthberd charged hym to kepe it secrete and telle noman therof duryng his lyf And after thys within a whyle the bysshop of durham deyed And saynt cuthberd was electe sacred bysshop in his stede after hym And euer after he lyued full holyly vnto hys deth And by his prechyng ensample gyuyng he brought moche peple to good lyuyng And to fore hys deth he lefte his bysshopriche And wente in to the holy Iland where he lyuyd an holy and solytary lyf vnto that â—e beyng ful of vertues rendryd his soule vnto almyghty god And was buryed at durham And after translated and the body leyd in a fayr and honourable shryne where as yet dayly our lerd sheweth for hys seruaunt there many fair and grete myracles wherfore late vs pray vnto this holy saynt that he pray for vs Here foloweth the fest of the anunciacion or salutacion of thangel gabriel to our lady THe feste of thys day is called thanunciacion of our lady for on thys day thaungel gabriel shewed to the glorious virgyne marye the comyng of the blessyd sone of god That is to wete how he ought to come in to the gloryouse vyrgyne and take in her nature and flesshe humayne for to saue the world It was wel thyng resonable that than gel shold come to the glorious virgyn marye For lyke as Eue by thenhortyng of the deuyl gaf her cousente to doo the synne of Inobedyence to our perdicion Ryght so by the gretyng of thangel gabryel and by exhortyng the glorious virgyne marye gaf her consentyng to hys message by obedyence to our saluacion wherfor lyke as the first woman was cause of our dampnacion So was the blessyd virgyne marye begynnyng of our redempcion whan that thangel gabriel was sente for to shewe thyncarnacyon of our sauyour IhÌ„u crist he fonde her al one enclosed in her chambre lyke as saynt bernard sayth In whyche the maydens virgynes ought to abyde in theyr howses wythout rennyng abroode out openly And they ought also to flee the wordes of men of whyche theyr honour and good renomee myght be lassed or hurte And thangele said to the gloryous vyrgyne marye I salewe the ful of grace the lord is wyth the Ther is not founden in scripture in no ê‘te suche a salewyng And it was brought fro heuen vnto the glorious virgyne marye whyche was the first woman that euer in the world offrid to god first her virgynyte And thaungele said to her after Thou shalt be blessyd aboue alle other Wymen For thou shalt escape the malediction that all other wymen haue in chyldyng in synne and in sorowe and thou shal be moder of god and shal abyde a pure virgyne and clene and our blessyd lady was moche abasshid of thys salutacion and thought in her self the maner therof Thys was a good maner of a vyrgyne that so wysely held her stylle and spack not and shewyng example to virgynes whiche ought not lyghtly to speke ne without aduys ne manere to answere And whan thangele knewe that for thys salutacion she was tymerous and abasshed A none he repeased her sayeng Marye be nothyng aferd For thou hast founden sothly grace atte god For thou art chosen aboue alle wymen for to receyue his blessyd sone and be moder to god and moyen and aduocate for to sette peas bytwene god man for to destroye the deth and bryng the lyf O thou that arte a vyrgyne sayth saynt Ambrose lerne of marye to be manerd and fere ful to all men lerne to be stylle teschewe alle dssolucions Marye was aferd of the salutacion of thangel the whyche sayd Thou shalt conceyue and brynge forth a sone And thou shalt calle hys name Ihesus and he shal be callid the sone of god And marye sayd to the angele In what maner may thys be that thou sayst For I haue purposed in myn herte that I shal neuer know man And yet I neuer
And thise xij euery yere ascended vpon a montayne whiche was called victoryal and thre dayes they abode there and weesshe them clene and prayed our lord that he wold shewe to theym the sterre that balaam had sayd and prophesyed be forn Now it hapened on a tyme that they were there the day of the natyuyte of Ihesu Cryst and asterre cam ouer theym vpon this moÌ„tayne whiche had the fourme of aright fayr child vnder his â—ede was a shynyng crosse whiche spack to thise iij kynges sayeng Goo ye hastely in to the londe of Iudee And there ye shal fynde the kynge that ye sâ—che whiche is born of a virgyne Another cause putteth seynt Austyn For it myght wel be that the angele of heuene appiered to theym whiche sayde the sterre that ye see is Ihesu Cryst Goo ye anone and worshippe hym Another cause putteth seynt lyon that by the sterre whiche appiered to theym whiche was more resplendis shyng shynyng than the other that it shewde the souerayn kynge to be born on therthe Thenne anon departed they for to come to that place Now may it be demanded how in so lytil space of xiij dayes they myght come from so ferre as fro the eest vnto Iherusalem whiche is in the myddle of the world whiche is a grete space and longe way Therto answerith seynt remyge the doctour and saith that the chyld tho whom they wente myght well make them to goo somoche way in that while Or after this that saynt Iherome saith that they cam opoÌ„dromedaries whiche ben beestis that may goo as moche in one day as an horse in thre dayes And whan they cam in to Iherusalem they demaunded in what place the kynge of Iewes was born And they demauÌ„ded not yf he was born For they byleuyd it fermly that he was born And yf ony had demaunded of them wher by knowe ye that he is born they wold haue answerd we haue seeÌ„ his sterre in thoryent And therfore we come to worsshippe hym This is to vnderstond we beyng in the oryent sawe his sterre that shewde that he was born in Iudee And we be come to worship hym And therfore saith this doctour Remyge that they confessid this child veray man veray kynge and veray god veray man whan they said where is he that is born veray kynge whan they said kynge of Iewes veray god whan we be comen to worshippe hym For ther was a comaundement that none shold be worshipped but god And thus as saith saint Iohan Crisostome they confessyd the chlyd veray god by worde by dede And by yeftes of their tresours that they offred to hym and whan herode hade herd this he was moche troubled And all Iherusalem with hym herode was troubled for thre causes Fyrst by cause he dredde that the Iewes wold resseyue the chyld born for thier kyng And reffuse hym as a strauÌ„ger wherof saith saynt IohnÌ„ crisostoÌ„e in suche wise as the bowes of a tree that ben hye be soone moeuyd â–ª with the wynde so they that ben in hye estate of the world a lyght renomee troubthle them Secondly lest he shold be blamed of the Româ—ynes yf ony were kyng but yf he were ordeyned by themperour For so had the Romayns ordeyned that none shold be callyd lorde ne kynge but yf it were by the coÌ„mandement of themperour ¶ Thirdly he was angry as saynt gregory saith whan the kynge of henen was born the kynge of therthe was troubled and not without cause For the erthely lordshyp is counfounded whan the hyenes of heuene is declared and perceyued And all the contree of Ierusalem was troubled with hym for thre causes Fyrst by cause that the euyll enioye them not of the presence ne the comyng of the ryghtfull and iuste Secondly for adulacion and flateryng that they were sory of his angre Thirdly for lyke as the wyndes that ben contrarye in the see as longe as the wawes be moeued In lyke wyse the contraryte of prynces and wrath falleth on the people And therfore they doubted and feered leste they shold be tormented ¶ Thenne herode called alle the prestes of the lawe and doctours and demaunded of theym where Ihesu Cryst shold be born And whan he had vnderstonde of theym that he shold be born in bethleem the Cyte of Iuda he called the thre kynges a parte and demaunded of theym dylygently the tyme that the sterre appiered to theym For to knowe what he shold doo yf the kynges retorned not agayn to hym And he said to theym assone as ye shal haue founden the chyld and haue worshipped hym that they shold retorne and shewe it to hym In faynyng that he wold worshippe also hym ¶ And thought that he wold goo sle hym ¶ And it is to wyte that assone as they were entred in to IhrlÌ„m the sight of the sterre was taken froÌ„ theÌ„ and for thre causes First that they shold be coÌ„streyned to seche that place of his natyuyte lyke as they were certefyed by the appieryng of the sterre And bye the prophesye of the place of his byrthe and so it was don Secondly that they that sought the helpe and the world had deserued to lese the ayde dyuyne The iij. by cause that the signes by gyuen to mescreauntes And prophesyes to them that byleue well lyke as thappostle saith And therfore the signe whiche was gyuen to the thre kynges whiche yet were paynems ought not tappere to them as longe as they were with the Iewes and whan they were yssued of Iherusalem the sterre appered to them wiche wente to fore them and brought them til it cam aboue the place were the chyld was ye ought to knowe that ther ben thre opynyons of this sterre whiche Remyge the doc doctour putteth sayeng that some saie that it was the holy goost whiche appiered to the thre kynges in the fourme of a sterre whiche after appiered vpon the hedeof Ihesu Cryst in the lykenes of a douue Other saye lyke to saynt IohnÌ„ Crysostom that it was an angele that apperyd to the shepherdes and after appered to the kynges but to the shepherdes Iewes as to them that vse reason in fourme of a resonable creature And to the paynems as to vnresonable in lyknesse of nature vnresonable that is to saye of a sterre Other say more resonable and more veritable that it was a ster newe created made of god that whiche whaÌ„ he had don his offyce was brought agayn in to the mater wherof it was first fourmed And this sterre was this that fulgencius saith it differenced fro the other sterres in thre thinges First in situacion for it was not fyxed in the firmament but it henge in thayer nygh to therthe Secondly in clerenes for it was shynyng more than the other it appiered so that the clerenes of the soÌ„ne myghy not hurte ne appale hir light but at playn mydday it had right grete light and clerenes ¶ Thirdly in moeuyng for it went
receyue none other licour of erthely delectacion ¶ And by cause they haue tasted the swetnes of heuen they haue none appetyte to the erthely delectacions wherof saith saynt Austyn who so drynketh one drope of delyces of paradys the whiche one drope is gretter than all the see occean whiche ought to be vnderstoÌ„de that all the thurst of this world is in hym extyncte And this signe had thappostles whiche wold haue none of the goodes of this world in propre but put it all in comyn The thirde signe is for to renne ouer out as it appierith by a Ryuer whiche aryseth and renneth ouer his bankes As salamon saith whiche fyllyth as phison wysedom This flode or ryuer phison of his nature ariseth and spryngeth ouer and watreth and arrouseth the bonde aboute hym In lyke wyse thappostles began to sprede abrode For after they had receyued the holy ghoost they began to speke dyuerse langages where the glose saith that that was the signe of plenytude For the vessell full shedeth ouer as it appiereth of saynt Peter For anone as he began to preche he â—â—nuerted thre thousand Secondly he was sente in tongues of fyre And here be thre thynges to be considered First for whom he was sente conioynctly in the tongues of fyre Secondly wherfore he was sente in tongues of fyre more than in another element ¶ Thirdly wherfor he was sente in toÌ„gues more thaÌ„ in another membre As to the first for thre reasons he was sent and appiered in tongues of fyre to th ende that their wordes shold enflamme the hertes Secondly that they shold preche the fyry lawe of god Thirdly that they shold knowe that the holy ghoost whiche is fyre spack in them And that they shold doubte nothyng And by cause alle men shold here the wordes of god And they shold attrybue ne take to them self that they conuerted by theyr predicacion but by the wordes of god ¶ Of the second we ought to knowe that he was sent in lyknes of fyre for many reasons The first is taken after the seuen vertues of grace The holy ghoost cam in the maner of fyre for to make meke hyghe thynges by the yefte of drede he amolyfyeth and softeth hard thynges by the yefte of pyte he illumyneth hard thynges by the yefte of scieÌ„ce he restrayneth the flodes of vices by the yefte of counseyl he affermeth and consolideth softe thynges by the yefte of strâ—ngthe he clereth the ruste of synne by the yefte of vnderstandyng he draweth vp the creatures by the yeft of sapience The second reason is taken after his dignyte and excellence the fyre surmounteth and excedeth all other elementes in beaute in ordre and in vertue In beaute by cause of the fayrnes of lyght In ordre by cause of his situacion In vertu by cause of vigour in operacion In lyke wyse the holy ghoost in thyse iij thynges excedeth all For the first he is said the holy ghoost pure without fylthe For the second holy ghoost whiche compriseth all other spyrites of vnderstondyng by his incomprehensibilite For the thirde he is said holy goost hauyng alle vertue for he is Invyncyble For he hath all strength seeyng all thynges fro ferre The third reason is taken as to hys manyfold effecte And this reason assigneth Rabanus sayeng that the fyre hath iiij vertues or natures It brenneth it purgeth it chauffeth and it lighteth In lyke wyse the holy ghoost brenneth the synnes he purgeth the hertes he casteth away alle coldnes and drede of the hertes And he enlumyneth theym that ben ignorauÌ„t Of the first saith zacharye the prophete He broyleth and brenneth the hâ—rtes as the fyre brenneth the syluer Also dauid sayd Lord I praye the brenne my reynes and my herte and drye them fro all synne he purgeth also the hertes after that as saith ysaye Whan our lord had wasshe away the fylthes of the doughters of syon hath purged the blood of Iherusalem fro the myddle of hym in the spiryte of Iugement and in the spyryte of brennyng thenne shal they be in sauete and surete and kepte ayenst all tempeste And the prophete speketh of the purgacion that shall be made atte laste whan all shal be purged pure clene that shal goo in to heuen he casteth out also all coldenes and pusyllanymyte of the hertes wherof thappostle saith Be ye feruent in spyryte that is of herte the whiche thyng the holy ghoost maketh whan he espriseth hym of hys loue And herof saith saynt gregory The holy goost appyered in fire for alle the hertes whiche he replenessid and voyded the coldnes of fere and enflamed them with desyre of the glorye perdurable He enlumyned also the ygnorauntes wherof sayth the wyse man Lord god who shal knowe thy scieÌ„ce yf thou gyue not thy sapience and sende to vs thyn holy spyryte from aboue that is he that all enseyneth and techeth The fourthe reason is taken after the nature of hys loue Loue is sygnefied by the fire for iij causes The first cause is for the fire is alway moeuyng So is it of the holy goost For them that he replenesshith he maketh them to be in contynuel moeuyng of good operacion wherof saith saynt gregory The loue of god is neuer ydle as longe as it is in the herte of a deuoute persone it fructyfyeth And it fructyfyeth not it is a signe that it is not there The seconde is For the fyre emonge al the other elementis hath but lytle matere but stronge vertue in operacion it hath in his qualite Thus the holy ghoost whom he replenesseth maketh them to haue but lytle ne lotâ— erthely thynges and gretly to spyrituel thynges in so mochethey loue not worldly thynges more wordly but spyrytuelly Saynt bernard putteth iiij maners of loue that is to wete to loue the world flesshly the spyrite flesshly the flessh spyrituelly the spyryte spyrytuelly The thirde cause is for that the fyre abassheth and meketh the thynges hye he hath tendede on hye thynges despercled to vnye them and them despercled to beynge to gydre And by thyes thre thynges ben vnderstonden thre ver tues of loue For as saith saynt denys in the book of the names dyuyne the fyre hath iij vertues ¶ For he enclyneth the hye thynges doun he lyfteth the thynges lowe in heyght he ordeyneth the thynges egall to theyr ordenaunce And thyse thre thynges maketh the holy ghoost in them that he replenesshyth For he enclyneth them by humylyte he lyfte them vp in desyre of hye thynges And ordeyneth them to gydre by vnyte of maners Thyrdly he apyered in lyknes of a tongue more than in an nother membre And for iij reasons The tongue is the membre that is enflamed of the fyre of helle and is of grete dyffyculte to gouerne And proufytable whan it is wel gouerned And by cause that the tongue was enflamed of the fyre of helle she hadde nede that the holy ghoost shold come tenflame it as saith saynt
and by this flood our lord hath sanctefyed his tabernacle The fourthe cause is he is sente for to conferme loue emong them that ben in discorde and hate whiche is noted in this word Pater he is said fader by cause that naturelly he loueth vs as saith saynt IohÌ„n in the gospel Iohannis xiij Ihesu cryst saith my fader loueth you as his sones ¶ And yf ye be hys sones thenne be ye brethern eche to other And bytwene brethern ought alleway to perseuere loue and frendship The fyfte cause is for to saue the Iuste and trewe men in this that he saith In nomine meo that is Ihesus that is to saye sauyour In whos name the fader to the holy ghoost to shewe that he cam to saue the peple The syxte cause is for forme the ignorauÌ„tes in this that he saith Ille vos docebit oiÌ„a The holy ghoost whaÌ„ he shal come he shal teche you all thynges As to the seuenth that he is gyuen or sent first in the begynnyg of the chirche by prayer as thus whaÌ„ he cam thappostlis praid god were in prayer wherof is songen OraÌ„tibus applis deuÌ„ venisse thappostlis praieÌ„g the holy ghoost caÌ„ luce .iij. IhÌ„u prayeng the holy ghoost descended Secondly he cam by heeryng attentyfly and deuoutly the word of god actuuÌ„ x As saynt peter was prechyng the holy ghoost desceÌ„ded vpon them Thirdly he cam by holy besy operacion that is by this that is said ImponebaÌ„t manus super eos accipiebant spmÌ„ scmÌ„ Thappostlis put their hoÌ„des on them that byleued anon they receyued the holy ghoost and this Imposicion of thandes sygnefyeth thabsolucion of the preest whiche absolucion gyue vs the holy ghoost Amen THe grete largesse benefayttes that god hath distributed to cristeÌ„ peple gyue to the said peple grete dygnyte for ther is no peple ne neuer was so grete a nacion that their goddes had approched so nyghe them ae our lord god is vnto vs The blessid sone of god wold make vs partyners vnto his dyuynyte godhede therfore toke our nature to th ende that makyng hym self man he wold make men as goddes And all that he toke of vs he gaf all agayn to vs for our sauacion he gaf his propre body in offryng vnto god the fader in the aulter of the crosse for our recoÌ„ciliacion shedde his blood in pris wasshyng our synnes to th eÌ„de that we myght be redemyd fro the myserable seruytude wherin we were that we shold be also clene and cleÌ„sid of our synnes also to th eÌ„de that this excelleÌ„t benefice abide to vs in perpetuell memorye he hath vnto deuoute hertes faithful gyueÌ„ his owen body in mete his precious blod in drynk in lyknes of brede wyn O precioê° feste conuyne verayly ful of grete woÌ„dre the feste helthful replenesshid of all swetnes what thyng may be more precious than the noble coÌ„uynye or feste in which not only the flesshe of calues ne of oxen lyk as was gyueÌ„ in thold lawe for to taste but the ê“pre body of IhÌ„u which is very god is presented for receyue and assauoure deuoutly what thyng myght be more full of grete admiracioÌ„ than is this holy sacramÌ„t in which the brede wyn ben coÌ„myxted substaÌ„cyelly in to the ê“pre body of IhÌ„u And therfor IhÌ„u crist there is conteyned vnder the spece lyknes of brede wyn he is eten receyued of the good trewe cristen men but for that he is not departed in pyeces ne asondred in his meÌ„bres but abydeth all hoole entier in euerich of his partyes For yf this holy sacramÌ„t were deuyded or deê‘teed in a M. partyes in euerich partie shold remayne 〈◊〉 propre body of our lord hool entier None other sacremeÌ„t is not of somoche merite ne so full of helth as this sacramÌ„t is for by this be purged the synnes the vertues ben encreaced the thoughtes be engrassed fulfylled with thabundaunce of alle good vertues he is in holy chirch offrid for the lyuyng them that ben deed to th ende that he may prouffite to all that which is for their saluacioÌ„ of all them that ben ordeyned institued to consacre it the swetnesse of this holy sacramÌ„t may none expresse by the which swetenesse is spirituelly tasted remembred thexcelleÌ„t charyte that god shewde in his gloryous passyon to th ende that it myght be the more ferueÌ„tly impressed in the hertes of deuoute faithful peple of the grete largesse of his charite whaÌ„ he shold deê‘te out of this world goo to god his fader wold ete his paske lambe with his disciples theÌ„ne he institued this holy sacramÌ„t lyke a memoire perdurable of his passion as thaccomplyssemÌ„t of auÌ„cyent fygures of the myracles that were don by hym And also to th ende that they that were sorouful heuy for his absence shold therby haue somÌ„ solace synguler This is a thyng theÌ„ne rihgt conuenyent conuenable vnto the deuocion of deuoute hertes to remeÌ„bre soleÌ„ply thynstitucion of so helthful meruayllous sacramÌ„â—t to th eÌ„de that the ineffable maner of thornauÌ„ce thought dyuyne vysyble be honoured worshipped that the myght puyssauÌ„ce of god be loued thanked which in this sacramÌ„t werketh so merueyllously also of so helthful of so swete gracious benefyce be gyueÌ„ and rendred to god due thankynges graces ¶ And how wel that the day of the Cene or souper in which this noble sacrameÌ„t was institued is specyall memoire made of this sacramÌ„t how be it the surplus of the seruyce of the same day apparteyneth to the passyon of our lord In the which passyon our moder holy chirch is occupied all that day deuoutly by cause this intusticion of so noble sacramÌ„t may be halowed more solempnly the pope vrban the fourth by grete affection that he had to this holy sacramÌ„t moeued of grete deuocion he ordeyned the feste remeÌ„braunce of this holy sacramÌ„t the first thursday after the octaues of pentecâ—ste for to be halowed of all good cristen peple to th ende that vse thurgh out all the yere this holy sacremÌ„t to our saluacion may doo our deuoyr to this holy Institucion specyally in the tyme whan the holy ghoost enseyned teched the hertes of the disciples to knowe the mysterye of this holy sacramÌ„t For in that tyme there the trewe faithful disciples begaÌ„ to frequeÌ„te it It is redde in thactes of thappostles that they were ê‘seuerauÌ„t in the doctryne of thappostles in comynycacion of the brekyng of the brede in deuoute orysoÌ„s after the sendyng of the holy ghoost to th eÌ„de that the holy institucioÌ„ of this amerous sacramÌ„t shold be the more honourably halowed on the said day by the vtas or octaues folowyng in stede distribucion material that ben distributed in cathedral chirches the forsaid pope vrâ—an hath gyueÌ„ of his
contynued in theyr synnne and wickednes Thenne whan the Arcke was parfyghtly maad god bad hym to take in to it of all the beestis of therthe and also of the fowles of thayer of eche two male and female that they may lyue and also of all the metes of therthe that ben comestible that they may serue and fede the and them And Noe dyde all that our lord commaÌ„ded hym Thenne said our lord to Noe entre thou and all thy houshold in to the Arke that is to saye thou and thy wyf and thy thre sones theyr thre wiuys I haue seen that thou art rightful in this generacion Of all beestis that ben clene thou shalt take seuen and of vnclene beestis but only two And of the byrdes seuen and seuen male and female that they may be saued on the face of therthe Yet after vij dayes I shal rayne vpon therthe xl dayes and xl nyghtis and shal destroye all the substance that I made on the erthe And Noe dyde all thyng that our lord comaÌ„ded hym he was vjC yere old whan the flod began on the erthe And thenne Noe entryd in and his sones his wyf and the wyues of his sones all in to the arke teschewe the watres of the flood Of all the beestis and the fowles and of all that meuyd and had lyf on erthe male and female Noe toke in to hym as our lord had boden And seuen dayes after they were entred the water began tencrete The welles of the abysmes were broken And the cataractes of heuen were opened that is to saye the clowdes and it rayned on therthe xl dayes and xl nyghtes And the arke was eleuate and born vpon the watres on height aboue the moÌ„taynes and hylles For the water was growen hyer xv cubites aboue all the moÌ„taynes that it shold purge and wasshe the fylthe of thayer Thenne was consumed all that was on therthe lyuyng maÌ„ woman and beest and byrdes And alle that euer bare lyf so that nothyng abode vpon therthe for the water was xv cubytes oboue the hyest montayne of therthe And whan Noe was entrid he shitte the dore fast without forth and lymed it with glewe And so the watres abode eleuate in highte an Cl dayes fro the daye that Noe entred in And our lord thenne remembred Noe and all theÌ„ that were in the arke with hym and also on the beestis and fowles and cessed the watres And the welles and catharactes were closid And the raynes were prohybyted and forboden to rayne nomore The vij moneth the xxvij day of the moneth the arke rested on the hylles of Armenye ¶ The x moneth the first day of the moneth the toppes of the hylles appiered first After thise xl dayes after the lassyng of the watres Noe opened the wyndowe And desired sore to haue tydynges of cessyng of the flood And sente out a Rauen for to haue tydynges And whan she was goon retorned nomore agayn For parauentushe fonde somme dede carayne of a beest swymmyng on the water and lighted theron to fede her and was lefte there After this he sente out a douue whiche flewhe out And whan she coude fynde no place to reste ne sette her foot on she retorned vnto Noe And he toke hâ—r in yet thenne were not the toppes of the hillis bare And vij dayes after he sente here out agayn whiche at eueÌ„ retorned beryng a braunche of an olyue tree burgyng in her mouth ¶ And after other vij dayes he sente her agayn whiche cam nomore agayne Thenne in the yere of Noe vjC·j the first day of the moneth Noe opened the coueryng of the arke and sawe that the erthe was drye but he durst not goo out but abode the commandement of our lord The second moneth the xxvij day of the moneth our lord said to Noe Goo oute of the arke thou and thy wyf thy sones and the wyues of thy sones he coÌ„manded them to goo coniunctly out whiche disiunctly entred And late goo out with the alle the beestis and fowles lyuyng and all the reptyle euerich after his kynde and gendre to whom our lord saide growe ye and multiplye vpon therthe Thenne Noe yssued out and his wyf his sones with their wyues and all the beestis the same day a yere after they entryd in euerich after his gendre Noe thenne edefyeed an awter to our lord and toke of all the beestis that were clene and offrid sacrefise vnto our lord And our lord smellyd the swetenes of the sacrefise and said to Noe from hens forth I shal not curse the erthe for man for he is prone and redy to fall fro the begynnyng of his yougthe I shal nomore destroye man by suche vengeance And thenne our lord blessid hem and said growe ye and multeplye the erthe And be ye lordes of all the beestis of therthe of the fowles of thayer and of the fisshes I haue gyuen alle thynges to you but ete not flessh with the blood I commande you to slee noman ne to shede nomans blood I haue made man after myn ymage who som euer shedeth his broders blood his blood shal be shedde Go ye forth and growe and multeplye and fylle the erthe this said our lord to Noe and his sones Lo I haue made a couenaunt with yow and with them that shal come after yow that I shal nomore brynge suche a flood to slee alle peple And in token therof I haue sette my rayne bowe in the clowdes of heuen For who that trespaceth I shal doo Iustice otherwyse on hym Noe lyuyd after the flood iijCl yere Fro the tyme of Adam vnto after Noes flood the tyme And season was alle way grene and tempryd And alle that tyme men etâ— no flesshe For therbes and fruytes were thenne of grete strengthe and effecte they were pure and norisshyng But after the flood the erthe was weyker broght not forth so good fruyte wherfore fflesshe â—as ordeyned to be eten And theÌ„ne 〈◊〉 began te laboure for his lyfelode with his sones and began to tyllye therthe destroye breris and thornys And to plante vignes And so on a tyme noe had dronke so moche of the wyne that he was dronke and laye and slepte And his prevy meÌ„bree laye bare and open Cham his myddelest sone espied it and lowhe and stornyd his fader and called his brethern to see whiche cam hackward for to couure her fader and wold not â—â—ke on hit and rebuked cham of his folye and synne whan Noe was couured with the mantel anon he awoke whan he vnderstode how cham his sone had scorned hym he cursid hym And also his sone Canaan And blessyd Sem and Iaphet by cause they couerd hym Alle the dayes of Noe were ixC.l. yere And thenne deyed And after his deth his sones deled alle the world bytwene hem Sem had all asye Cham affryke And Iaphet all Europe Thus was it departed Asye is the best part and is as moche as the
to them for to coÌ„forte hem And they bad hym doo as he had said he wente bad sara to make iij asshy cakes and sente his child for a teÌ„dre fat calf which was soden boylled and he seruid hem with butter mylk the calf sette it tofore them he stode by theÌ„ whan they had eten they demaÌ„ded hym where is sara thy wyf he said yonder in the tabernacle And he said I shal goo come agayn and sara thy wyf shal haue a child and she stode byhnde the dore herd it loughe And seyde softly to her self how may it be that my lord is so olde I also that I shold bere a childe She thought it imppssible TheÌ„ne said our lord to abrahaÌ„ why lawheth sara thy wyf Sayeng in scorne Shal I bere a chlid but as I said to the to fore I shal retorne come agayn she shal haue a child in that tyme And he axid sara why she smylyd in scorne she sayd she smylid ne lawhed not And our lord said it is not so for thou lawhedest whaÌ„ they had restid abraham coÌ„ueyed hem on the way And our lord said to abrahaÌ„ I shal not hyde fro the that I purpose to doo The crye of Sodome gomor is multeplied theyr synne is moche greuous I shal desceÌ„de see yf the synne be so grete the stenche therof cometh to heueÌ„ I shal take vegeaÌ„ce destroye them TheÌ„ne abraham said I hope lord thou wilt not destroye the Iuste rightwis man with the wicked synnar I beseche the lord to spare theÌ„ Our lord said yf ther be fyfty good rightwis men emong them I shal spare them And abrahaÌ„ saide good lord yf ther be found xl I praye the to spare theÌ„ our lord said yf ther be xl I shal spare them so fro xl to xxx fro xxx to xx fro xx to x our lord said yf ther be fouÌ„d x good men emong theÌ„ I shal not destroye them And theÌ„ne our lord weÌ„te fro abrahaÌ„ he retorned home agayn That same euentyde cam ij Angels in to sodom both sat at his gate and whaÌ„ he sawe hem he wente worshippid them prayd theÌ„ to come reste in his hous abyde there wesshe your feet And they said nay we shal abide here in the strete loth coÌ„strayned them brought hem in to his hous made a feest to them But er they shold goo to bedde the synful cursid peple of the toun yong old bisette enuyroned loths hous called loth saide wher hen the meÌ„ that thou tokest in to thi hous this nyght brynge them forth that we may knowe vse theÌ„ and loth anon shette the dore and stode byhynde saide to them O ye my brethern I beseche you that ye wyll not doo ne coÌ„myse thise wicked synne on them I haue ij doughtres virgyns which yet neuer knewe maÌ„ I shal brynge them out to you vse ye theÌ„ but thise men I pray you to spare they ben entrid vnder the shadowe of my ê“tection They said agayn to hym goo forth fetche them Thou art entred emong vs as a strauÌ„ger shalt thou rewle Iuge vs we shal put the to more affliction than them Loth withstode them myghtily they had al most broken vp the dores but the men sette hand to dide helpe loth and brought hym in dyd shette fast the dore And smote theÌ„ that were with out with blyndenes that they myght not see ne fynde the dore TheÌ„ne said the angels to loth yf thou haue here of thy kynred sones or douchtres all theÌ„ that longe to the lede out of this cyte we shal destroye this place For the crye therof is comen to our lord whiche hath sente vs for to destroye them loth weÌ„te vnto his kynnesmen saide aryse take your chyldren and goo out of this cyte For our lord shal destroye it And they supposed that they had raued or Iaped And as sone as it was day the angels said to loth aryse take thy wif thy ij doughtres goo out of this toun leste that ye perisshe With theÌ„ yet he dyssimylyng they toke hym by the hand and his wif ij doughtres by cause that god shold spare hem ladde theÌ„ out of the cyte And there they said to hym Saue thy sowle and loke not behynde the lest thou perysshe also but saue the in the montayn loth said to hem I beseche the my lord for as moche as thy seruauÌ„t hath fouÌ„de grace byfore the that thou hast shewde thy mercy to me that peraueÌ„ture I myght take harm on the hille that I may goo in to the lytyl cyte here by may be sauyd there he said to loth I haue herd thy prayers for thy sake I sal not subuerte this toun for whiche thou hast prayd hye the saue thy self there For I may do nothyng tyl thou be theryn Therfore that toun is called Segor soo loth went in to Segor And the sonne aroos ¶ And our lord rayned fro heueÌ„ vpon Sodom Gomor sulphur fyre subuerted the cytees all the dwellers of the townes aboute that regioÌ„ And all that was there growyng burgenyng lothis wif torned her loked toward the cytees anoÌ„ she was torned in to a statue or ymage of salte whiche abideth so in to this day AbrahaÌ„ arose in the mornyng erly loked toward the cytees sawe the smoke ascendyng fro the places lyke as it had be the layte of a fornays what tyme our lord subuerted thise cytees he remembred abraham delyueryd loth from the veÌ„geaunce of the cytees in whichhe duellid TheÌ„ne loth ascended from segor dwellid in the moÌ„tayne his ij doughtres with hym he dredde to abyde ony lenger in the toun but dwellid in a caue he and his ij doughtres with hym TheÌ„ne the elder doughter said to the yonger Our fader is old And ther is nomaÌ„ lefte on the erthe lyuyng that may doo haue a doo with vs after the maner of the world come late vs make hym dronke late vs slepe with hym that we may haue som seed of hym They gaf their fader wyne to drynke that nyght made hym droÌ„ke And the elder doughter wente to hym conceyued of hym he not knowyng of it And the second nyght in lyke wyse conceyuyd the yonger doughter loth was not knowyng therof they coÌ„ceyuyd bothe of theyr fader The more had a sone callyd hym Moab he is fader of the moabites vnto this day The yonger brought forth a nother sone callid hym amon he is fader of the amonytes vnto this day AbrahaÌ„ departed fro thens weÌ„te south ward dwellid bytwene cades Sur wente a pilgremage to geraris he said that his wif was his suster Abymelech the kyng of geraris sente for her toke
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 seruauÌ„t of abraham aroos And desyred to departe and take Rebecca with hym and goo to his lord TheÌ„ne 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 seruauÌ„t 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 maÌ„tel couerd her The seruauÌ„t 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 atteÌ„pered 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 coÌ„cubynes fro his sone ysaac whyles he yet lyued And alle the dayes of the lyf of abraham were Clxxv yere And theÌ„ne 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 coÌ„ceyue 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 couÌ„seylle 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 conteÌ„te that thou take it for this potage Iacob theÌ„ne 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 nâ—yne 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 comaÌ„dement of his fader she saide theÌ„ne 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 weÌ„te 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
Thou shalt this nyght slepe with me for I haue bought the for the mede of the mādrake 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 cōceyuyd 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 foūden 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 thēne 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 Labā 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 cā 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 thē 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 thēne 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 whā 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 gyuē 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 āgerly 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 takē 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 thēne 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 Thēne 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 foūden of
all the substaunce of thy hous leye it forth to for my brethern and thy brethern that they Iuge bitwene me and the I haue seruyd the xx yere and haue ben with the thy sheep and thy gheet were neuer barreyn I haue eten no wethers of thy flock ner beste hath destroyed no ne I shal make alle good what was stolen I prayd therfore day and nyght I laboured bothe in hete and in Colde Slepe fled from myn eyen Thus I seruyd the in thy hows xx yere xiiij for thy doughters and sixe for thy flockes Thou hast chaūged myn hyre reward x tymes but yf god of my fader Abraham and the drede of ysaac had ben with me happely thou woldest now haue lefte me naked Our lord god hath beholden myn affliction and the labour of myn handes and repreuyd the yesterday Laban answerd to hym my doughters sones and thy flockes all that thou beholdest at thyn what may I doo to my sones and neuews late vs now be frendes make we a faste leghe and confedersy to gydre Thenne Iacob reysed a stone reysed it in token of frendship and pees and so they ete to gydre in frendship and sware eche to other to abide in loue euer after And after this laban rose in the nyght and kyssyd his doughtres and sones and blessyd them and retorned in to his contre Iacob wente forth in his Iourney that he had taken Angels of god mette hym which whan he sawe he saide thyse ben the castellis of god and called that place manayin he sente messagers tofore hym to Esau his brother in the londe of Seir in the londe of Edom and bad them saye thus to Esau This said thy broder Iacob I haue dwellid with laban vnto this day I haue oxen ande asses seruaūtes bothe men and wymen I sende now a legacion vnto my lord that I may fynde grace in his sight Thise messagers retorned to Iacob and saide we cam to Esau thy brother And lo he cometh for to mete with the with iiijC men Iacob was sore aferde thenne and deuyded his companye in to tweyne turmes sayeng yf Esau come to that one destroye that that other shal yet be saued Thēne said Iacob O god of my fader abraham and god of my fader ysaac O lord that saydest to me retorne in to thy londe and place of thy natyuyte and saidest I shal do wel to the I am the leste in all thy mercyes in thy trouth that hast graunted to thy seruaunt with my staf I haue goon this ryuer of Iordan And now I retorne with ij turmes I beseche the lord kepe me fro the hondes of my brother Esau For I fere hym gretly leste he come and smyte doun the moder with the sones Thou hast sayde that thou sholdest do wel to me And sholdest sprede my seed lyke vnto the grauel of the see and that it may not be nombred for multytude Thēne whan he had slept that nyght he ordeyned yeftes for to sende to his brother goodes ijC kyddes xx sheep ijC and Rāmes xx xl kyen and xx bulles xx asses and x fooles of them And he sente by his seruauntes all thise beestis And bad them saye that Iacob his seruaunt sente to hym this presente and that he foloweth after And Iacob thought to plese hym with yeftes The nyght folowyng hym thought a mā wrastlyd with hym all that nyght tyl the mornyng And whan he sawe he myght not ouercome hym he hurted the synewe of his thye that he halted therof and said to hym late me goo and leue me for it is in the mornyg Thenne Iacob answerd I shal not leue the but yf thou blesse me he said to hym what is thy name he answerd Iacob Thēne he said Nay said he thy name shal nomore be called Iacob but Israhel For yf thou hast ben stronge ayenst god how moche more shalt thou preuaylle ayenst men Thēne Iacob said to hym what is thy name telle me he answerd why demandest thou my name whiche is meruayllous And he blessyd hym in the same place Iacob called the name of that same place phanuel sayeng I haue seen our lord face to face and my soule is made sauf ¶ And anon as he was passed phanuel the sonne aroos he halted on his foot therfore the chyldren of Israhel ete noo synews by cause it dryed in the thye of Iacob Thēne Iacob lyftyng vp his eyen saw Esau comyng and iiijC men with hym and deuyded the sones of lya and of Rachel and of bothe her handmaydens sette eche handmaid their children to fore in the first place lya and her sones in the seconde and Rachel and Ioseph al behynde And he gooyng to fore knelid doun to groūde and worshippyng his brother approched hym Esau Ran for to mete with his brother and enbraced hym straynyng his necke and wepyng kyssyd hym he loked forth and sawe the wymen and theyr chyldren and said what ben thyse and to whom longen they Iacob answerd They ben chyldren whiche god hath gyuen to me thy seruaūt and his handmaydens and their children approched and kneled doun and lya with her chyldren also worshippid hym And laste of alle Ioseph and rachel worshippid hym Thēne said Esau whos ben thise turmes that I haue mette Iacob answerd I haue sente them to the my lord vnto th ende that I may stande in thy grace Esau said I haue many my self kepe thyse and lete them be thyn Nay said Iacob I praye the to take this yefte whiche god hath sent me that I may fynd grace in thy sight For me semeth I see thy vysage lyke the vysage of god and therfore be thou to me mercyful and take this blessyng of me vnneth by cōpellyng he takyng it saide late vs goon to gyder I shal accompanye the and be felawe of thy Iourney Thenne said Iacob thou knowest wel my lord that I haue yong children and tendre and sheep and oxē whiche yf I ouer laboured shold deye alle in a daye wherfore plese it yow my lord to goo to fore and I shal folowe as I may with my chyldren and beestis Esau answerd I pray the thēne late my felaws abyde and accompanye the what someuer nede thou haue Iacob said it is no nede I nede nomoo but one that I may stonde in thy fauour my lord And Esau retorned thenne the same way and Iourney that he cā in to seir And Iacob cam in to Sochot and bylde there an hous And fro thens he went in to Salem the toun of Sychymys whiche is in the londe of Canaan and bought there a parte of a felde in whiche he fixed his tabernacles of the sones of Emor fader of Sychem for an hondred lambes And there he reysed an awter and worshipped vpon it the strengest god of Israhel Hyt happed that dyna doughter of lya wente out for to see the wymen of that regyon whiche whan Sychē sone of Emor prynce of that
that there is noman lyke to me in the science of knowleche To whom Iudas answerd what shal we answer to the my lord or what shal we speke or rightfully desyre God hath founden and remembrid thiniquite of vs thy seruauntes For we all be thy seruantes ye we and he at whom the cuppe was founden Ioseph answerd god forbede that I shold so doo who someuer stale the cuppe shal be my seruaūt And go ye your waye for ye shal be free and goo to your fader Thenne Iudas approchyd ner hym and spack with a hardy chere to hym and saide I beseche the my lorde to here me thy seruaunt that I may saye to thyn audyence a worde and that thou wilt not be wroth to thy seruaunt Thou art nexte to pharao my lord Thou demandest first of vs thy seruauntes haue ye a fader or brother And we answerd to the my lord Our fader is an old man and we haue a brother a yonge childe whiche was born to hym in his old age whos brother of the same moder is deed and he is an only sone whom the fader loueth tenderly Thou saidest to vs thy seruauntes brynge hem hether to me that I may see we told to the my lord for trouthe Our fader may not forgoo the childe yf he forgoo hym certaynly he shal deye And thou saidest to vs thy seruants but yf ye brynge hym with you ye shal nomore see my vysage Thēne when we cam to our fader tolde hym all thyse thynges and our fader bad vs to retorne bye more corn To whom we saide we may not go theder but yf our yongest brother goo with vs For yf he be absente we dar not approche ne come to the presence of the man And he answerd to vs ye knowe well that my wyf brought to me forth but ij sones That one wēte out ye said that wild beestis had deuoured hym yet I herd neuer of hym ne he apperid not yf now ye sholde take this my sone ony thyng happend to hym in the waye ye shold brynge myn hore here with sorowe to helle therfor yf I shold come home to my fader brynge not the child with me sith the sowle helth of my fader dependeth of this child see that he is not come with vs he shal deye and we thy seruantes shold lede his old age with wayllyng sorowe to helle I my self shal be thy propre seruan̄t whiche haue receyuyd hym vpon my faith haue promysed for hym sayeng to my fader yf I bryng hym not agayn I shal be gylty of the synne to my fader euer after I shal abyde contynue thy seruaūt for the child in the mynystery seruyse of the my lord I may not departe the chyld beyng absente leste I be witnes of the sorow that my fader shall take wherfore I beseche the to suffre this child to goo to his fader receyue me in to thy seruyse Thus said Iudas with moche more as Iosephus ātiquitatū reherceth more pytously saith more ouer that the cause why he dide do hyde the cuppe in beniamyns sacke was to knowe whether they louyd bēiamin or hated hym as they dide hym what tyme they sold hym to thismaelites Thēne this requeste made Ioseph myhgt no lēger forbere but comāded thē that stode by to withdrawe them whan all men were goon out sauf he his brethern he began to saye to them wepyng I am Ioseph your brother lyueth yet my fader The brethern were so aferd that they coude not speke ne answere to hym Thēne he debonairly saide to them come hether to me And whan they cam nere hym he saide I am Ioseph your brother that ye sold in to egypte Be ye not aferde ne thynke not harde vnto you that ye solde me in to thise regions God hath sente me to fore you in to egypte for your helth It is ij yere sith the famyne began yet ben v yere to come in which men may not ere sowe ne repe God hath sente me to fore you you that ye shold be reseruyd on therthe and that ye may haue mete to lyue by It is not by your coūseyl that I was sente hether but by the wyll of god whiche hath ordeyned me fader of pharao And lord of alle his hows and prynce in all the londe of egypte Hye you and goo to my fader and saye ye to hym This worde sendeth to the thy sone Ioseph God hath made me lord of the vnyuersal londe of egypte Come to me lest thou deye thou shalt dwelle in the londe of Iessen Thou shalt be next me thou thy sones the sones of thy sones I shal fede thy sheep thy beestis all that thou hast in possessiō Yet resten fyue yere to come of famyne therfore come lest thou perysshe thy hows all that thou owest Lo your eyen and the eyen of my brother Beniamyn see that my mouth speketh thyse wordes to you Shewe ye to my fader alle my glorye and alle that ye haue seen in egypte Hye ye and brynge hym to me This said he enbraced his brother Beniamyn aboute his necke wepte And he also wepte on hym Ioseph thenne kyssed all his brethern and wepte vpon eche of them After this they durste better speke to hym Anon it was tolde and knowen alle aboute in the kynges halle that Iosephs brethern were comen And pharao was Ioyeful and glad therof and alle his housholde and pharao said to Ioseph that he shold saye to his brethern lade ye our beestis and goo in to the londe of Canaan and brynge fro thens your fader and kynred and come to me And I shal gyue you alle the goodes of egypte that ye may ete the mary of therthe Comande also that they take cariage of this londe of egypte for the cariage of their chyldren and wyues and saye to them Take your fader come assone as ye may leue nothyng behynd you For alle the beste thynges shal be youris The sones of Israhel dyde as they were cōmanded To whom Ioseph gaf caryage after the cōmandement of pharao and mete to ete by the way he comanded to gyue to euerich two garmentis To Beniamyn he gaf iijC pieces of siluer with fyue garmentis of the beste and also he sente clothyng to his fader addyng to them ten asses which were laden all wyth Richesses of egypte And as many asses laden and beryng brede vytayll to spende by the way And thus he lete his brethern departe fro hym sayeng Be ye not wroth in the waye Thenne they thus departyng cā in to the londe of Canaan to theyr fader and shewde al this to their fader and saide Ioseph thy sone lyueth he lordeth in alle the londe of Egypte whā Iacob herde this he awoke as a man had ben awaked sodenly out of his slepe yet neuertheles he
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 thegipciēs 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 comāded them and smote the flood with the rodde to fore pharao his seruaūts which torned in to blood the fisshes that were in the Ryuer deyde the water was corrupt And thegypciēs 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 secōde 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 Thēne pharao prayd moyses aaron that god wold take awaye these frosshes that he wold goo suffre the peple to doo sacrefise and thēne moyses axid whā he wold delyure them yf the frosshes were voided pharao said on the morn And thēne moyses prayde they uoyded alle whan pharao sawe that he was quyt of thē he kepte not his promyse wold not lete them departe The thirde vengeāge that god sente to them was a grete multitude of hongry horse-flyes as many as thuste of therthe which were on men bote thē beestis and thēchantours said thēne to pharao this is the fyngre of god yet wold not pharao lete thē 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 lāde 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 whā they were goon Pharao wold not kepe his promyse Thēne the fyfthe plaghe was that god shewd his honde vpon the feldes vpō 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 chyldrē 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 thēchantours coude ne myght not stōde for payne to for pharao yet wold not pharao here thē ne doo as god had comāded ¶ The seuenth plaghe was an haylle so grete that ther was neuer none like to fore thōdre 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 som̄e place an adder bolte whiche bote them ete vp all the corn herbes that was left in suche wyse that the peple cā 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 ¶ Thēne 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 thēne 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 womā of her neyghbour vessell of gold of syluer clothes our lord shal gyue to his peple grace fauour to borowe of
of kynge Salomon with grete dylygence in their tyme God gaf to Salamom moche wysedom and prudence in hys herte lyke to the grauel that is in the see syde And the sapyence and wysedom of Salamon passed and weÌ„te to fore the sapyence of alle them of thoryent and of egypte And he was wysest of all men so he was named he spack thre thousand parablis and fyue thuosand songes And dysputed vpon alle maner trees and vertue of them fro the cedre that is in libano vnto the ysope that groweth on the walle And discerned the propretees of beestis fowles reptyles and fysshes And ther cam peple from all regyons of the world for to heere the wysedom of Salamon And Salamon sente lettres to hyram kynge of Tyre for to haue his men to cutte cedre trees with his seruauntis and he wold yelde to them theyr hyre and mede And lete hym wete how that he wold bylde and edefye a temple to our lord And hyram sente to hym that he shold haue all that he desyred And sente to hym cedre trees and other woode And SalamoÌ„ sente to hym corne in grete nombre And Salomon and hyram confederyd them to gydre in loue and frendship Salamon chaas out werkmen of alle Israhel the nombre of xxxM men Of whom he sente to libane xM euery moneth and whan xM wente the other cam home and so two monethis were they at home And Adonyras was ouerseer and comandour on them Salamon had lxxM men that dyde nothyng but bare stone and morter and other thynges to the edefyeng of the temple and were berars of burthens only And he had lxxxM of hewers of stone and masons in the montayn wyth out the prefectes and maisters whiche were iijM and iijC that dyde nothyng but comande and ouersee theÌ„ that wrought ¶ Salamon comanded the werkmen to make square stones grete and precyouse for to laye in the foundement whiche the masons of Israhel and masons of hyram hewed and the carpenters made redy the tymbre Thenne began Salomon the temple to our lord in the fourthe yere of his regne hâ—e began to bylde the temple The hous that he bylded had lx cubytes in lengthe and xx cubytes in brede and xxx in heyght And the porche to fore the temple was xx cubytes longe after the mesure of the brede of the temple and had x cubytes of brede to fore the face of the temple for to wryte the curiosyte and werke of the temple and the necessaryes the tables and cost that was don in gold syluer and laton it passeth my connynge to expresse and englysshe them ye that ben clerkys may see it in the second boâ—k of kynges and the seconde book of paralipomenon it is wondre to here the costes and expencis that was made in that temple but I passe ouer it was on makyng vij yere and his palays was xiij yere er it was fynysshed he made in the temple an aulter of pure gold and a table to sette on the loues of proposicion of gold fyue candelstiks of gold on the right syde and fyue on the lyft syde and many other thynges And toke all the vessels of gold and syluer that hys fader dauid had sanctefyed and halowed and brought hem in the tresory of the hows of our lord After thys he assemblyd alle the noblest and grettest of lurthe of them of Israhel with the prynces of the trybus and dukes of the famylyes for to brynge the arke of god fro the cyte of dauid Syon in to the temple And the prestes and leuytes toke the Arke and bare it and alle the vessels of the sanctuarye that were in the tabernacle Kynge Salamon with alle the multytude of the chyldren that were there wente to fore the arke and offred sheep and oxen without extimacion nombre ¶ And the preestes sette the Arke in the hows of our lord in the oracle of the temple in sancta sanctorum vnder the wynges of cherubyn In the Arke was nothyng but the two tablys of Moyses of stone which Moyses had put in And thenne Salamon blessyd our lord to fore all the peple and thanked hym that he had suffred hym to make an hous vnto hys name and besought our lord that who someuer prayd our lord for ony petycion in that temple that he of his mercy wold here hym be mercyful to hym And our lord appered to hym whan the edefyce was accomplysshed perfightly and said to Salamon I haue herde thy prayer and thyn oracion that thou hast prayd to fore me I haue sanctefyed and halowed this hows that thou hast edefyed for to put my name therin for euermore and myn eyen and herte shal be theron alle waye And yf thou walke byfor me lyke as thy fader walked in the symplycyte of herte and in equyte and wylt doo alle that I haue coÌ„manded the and kepe my Iugements and lawes I shal sette the trone of thy regne vpon Israhel euermore lyke as I haue said to thy fader Dauid sayeng Ther shal not bytaken away a man of thy generacion fro the regne and sete of Israhel yf ye auerte and torne fro me ye and your sones not folowyng ne kepyng my comandements and cerymonyes that I haue shewd to fore you but goo and worshyp straunge goddes and honoure them I shal cast away Israhel fro the face of the erthe that I haue gyuen to them And the temple that I haue halowed to my name I shal cast it away fro my syght And it shal be a fable and prouerbe and thys hows an example shal be to alle peple Euery man that shal goo ther by shal be abasshyd and astonyed and shal saye why hath god don thus to this londe and to thys hows And they shal answere For they haue forsaken theyr lord god that brought their fadres fro the londe of egypte and haue folowed straunge goddes and them adoured and worshipped and therfor god hath brought on them all thys euyll here may euery man take ensample how peryllous and dredeful it is to breke the comandements of god xx yere after that Salamon had edefyed the temple of god and hys hows and fynysshyd it perfyghtly hyram the kynge of tyre wente for to see townes that Salamon had gyue to hym they plesyd hym not hyram had sente to kynge salamon an hondred and twenty besaunts of gold whyche he had spente on the temple and hys hows and on the walle of Iherusalem and other townes and places that he had made Salamon was ryche and gloryous that the same ranne of hys sapyence wysedom and of hys byldyng and dyspense in hys hows thurgh the world in so moche that the quene of Saba cam fro fer contreys to see hym to tempte hym in demaundes and questyons And she cam in to Iherusalem with moche peple Richessis with camelles charged with Aromatykes and gold Infynyte And she cam spack to kynge Salamon alle that euer
in the felde wherof Nabugodonosor was exalted and enhauÌ„sed hym self And sente vnto all Regyons aboute And vnto Iherusalem tyl the mountes of ethyope for toâ—eye 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 Nabugodonoâ—or hauyng her at grete Indygnacion swore by hys regne and by hys trone that he wold aueÌ„ge hym on them all And therupon callyd all hys dukes prynces and men of warre and helde a couÌ„seyl 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 noÌ„bred 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 weÌ„te 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 teÌ„ple 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 Iâ—rahel 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 ê‘seuere in this werke that ye haue begonne with this exortacion they contynued prayeng god they ê‘seuered 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 moÌ„tayns he was breÌ„ned 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 TheÌ„ne 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 moÌ„tayns 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 mâ—ny goddes they honoured one god of heueÌ„ which comanded them to goo thens that they shold dwelle in carraÌ„ TheÌ„ne after was there moche hongre that they desceÌ„ded 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 theÌ„ne they wold haue taken hem agayn wold haue called theÌ„ to their seâ—uyse 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 â—â—ed see â— them with manna xl yere and made bytter waters swete and gaf them water out of a stone And where somÌ„euer 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 Esâ—â—on 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 IhrlÌ„m where in is sancta scoÌ„rum ben comen ouer thise moÌ„taynes where as somÌ„e of hem dwelle now therfor my lord see serche yf ther be ony wickednesse of them in the sight of their god theÌ„ne 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 aÌ„gry 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 moÌ„tayns 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 TheÌ„ne 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 theÌ„ne shalt thou dye
with them by the swerd of assyryens And all Israhel shal be put in to ruyne and perdicion and thenne shal be knowen that nabugodonosor is lord of all the erthe And the swerd of my knyghthode shall passe thurgh thy sydes And thou shalt departe hens and goo to them And shal not dye vnto the tyme that I haue them and the And whan I haue slayn them with my swerd thou shalt in lyke wyse be slayn with lyke vengeaunce After this holofernes comanded hys seruauntis to take Achior lede hym to bethulye and to put hym in the handes of them of Israhel And so they toke Achior and ascended the montayns Ayen whom cam out men of warre Thenne the seruantes of holofernes torned aside bonde Achior to a tree hondes and feet with cordes and lefte hym and so retorned to their lord Thenne the sones of Israhel comyng doun fro bethulye loosed and vnbonde hym and brought hym to betulye And he beyng sette amydde the peple was demauÌ„ded what 〈◊〉 was and why he was so sore there bounden And he told to them alle the mater lyke as it is aforsaid and how holofernes had comanded hym to be delyuerd vnto them of Israhel Thenne all the peple fylle doun in to their facess worshypyng god And with grete lamentacion and wepyng wyth one wylle made their prayers vnto our lord god of heuen And that he wold behold the pryde of them and to the mekenes of them of Israhel and take hede to the faces oâ— hys halowes and shewe to them his grace and not forsake theÌ„ And praid god to haue mercy on them defende theÌ„ fro their enemyes And on that other side holofernes comaÌ„ded his hoostis to goo vp and â—assaille bethulye so weÌ„te vp of foot men an C and xxM and xij thousand horsmen byseged the touÌ„ toke their water fro theÌ„ in so moche that they that were in the touÌ„ were in grete penurye of water For in all the toun was not water ynowgh for one daye And suche as they had was gyuen to the peple by mesure TheÌ„ne all the peple yong and old cam to Osias whiche was their prynce with Carmy gothomel all with one voys cryeng God the lord deme bytwene vs the For thou hast don to vs euyl what thou spakest not pesybly wyth thassyryens For now we shal be delyueryd in to the hondes of theÌ„ It is better for vs to lyue in captyuyte vnder holofernes lyue than to dye here for thurst see our wyues chyldren dye byfore our eyen And whan they had made thys pyetous cryeng yollyng they wente all to theyr chyrche ther a longe whyle prayden cryeden vnto god knowlechyng theyr synnes and wyckednes mekely besechyng to shewe hys grace pyte on theÌ„ TheÌ„ne at laste Ozias aroos vp said to the peple late vs abyde yet fyue dayes and yf god sende vs no rescowe ne helpe vs not in that tyme that we may gyue glorye to hys name ellis we shal doo as ye haue said And whan that Iudith herde herof whiche was a wydowe and a blessyd woman And was left wydowe iij yere and vj monethis after that Manasses her husbond deyde Anon she wente in to ouerest parte of her hows in which she made a pryue bedde which she and her seruauÌ„tes closed hauyng on her body an heyr had fasted all the dayes of her lyf sauf sabottis and newe mones the festis of the hows of Israhel She was a fayr womaÌ„ her husbond had left her moche ricâ—â—s wyth plentyfull meyne possessyons of droues of oxen flockes of sheep and she was a famous woman and dredde god gretly And whaÌ„ she had herde that ozias had said that the fyfthe day the cyte shold be gyueÌ„ ouer yf god helped hem not she sente for the prestis of cambre of Carmy said to heÌ„ what is this worde in whiche Ozias hath consented that the cyte shold be delyuerd to thassyryens yf with in fyue dayes ther come no helpe to vs And who be ye that teÌ„pte the lord god Thys worde is not so styre god to mercy but rather to areyse wrath wodenes ye haue seâ—te a tyme of mercy doyng by god And in your dome ye haue ordeyned a daye to hym O god lord how pacyent is be late vs aske hym foryefnes with wepyng teeeris he shal not threten as a man ne enflawme in wrath as a sone of a man Therfore meke we our sowles to hym And in a contryte spyryte and mekyd serue we to hym And saye we wepyng to god that after hys wylle he shewe to vs hys mercy And as our herte is troubled in the pryde of them So also of our humblenes meknes late vs be Ioyful For we haue not folowed the synne of our fadres that forsoken theyr god and worshiped straunge goddes wherfor they were gyuen and bytaken in to hydous and grete vengeance in to swerde ravayne and in to confusyon to theyr enemyes we forsothe knowen none other god but hym Abyde we mekely the comforte of hym And shal kepe vs fro our enemyes ¶ And he shal meke all gentiles that arise ayenst hym And shal make them without worship the lord our god And now ye bâ—ethern ye that ben prestes on whom hongeth the lyf of the peple of god praye ye vnto allmyghty that he make me stedfaste in the purpose that I haue purposed ye shal stande atte gate and I shal goo out with my handmayde And praye ye the lord that he stedfast make my sowle And do ye nothyng tyl I come agayn And thenne Iudith wente in to her oratorye and arayed her with her precious clothyng and Aoâ—â—nements and toke vnto her handmâ—yde certayn vytayllys suche as she myggt lawfully ete And whan she had made her prayers vnto god She departed in her most noble araye toward the gate where as Osias and the prestes abode her And whan they sawe her they meruaylled of her beaute Notwithstandyng they lete hâ—r goo seyeng god of our fadres yeue the grace and strengthe all the counseyl of thyn herte with hys vertue and glorye to Iherusalem ¶ And be thy name in the nombre of seyntâ—s of ryghtwysmen And they all they that were there said Amen and fiat fiat Thenne she praysyng god passed thurgh the yate and her handmayde wyth her And whan she cam doun the hylle aboute the spryngyng of the day anoÌ„ the espyes of thassiryens toke her sayeng whens comest thou or whyther goost thou the whiche answerd I am a doughter of thebrews flee fro theÌ„ knowyng that they shal be taken by you come to holofernes for to telle hym theyr pryuetees I shal shewe hym by what entre he may wynne them in suche wyse as one maÌ„ of his hoost shal not perisshe And the meÌ„ that herd their wordes beheld her vysage wondred of her beaute sayeng to her Thou hast sauyd thy lyf
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 auÌ„gel 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 delyuerauÌ„ce Knoweleche ye hym all for good For hys mercy is euerlastyng world wâ—thouten 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 wouÌ„â—es 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 reÌ„ne 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 theÌ„ne shal pursyewe And god shal brynge theÌ„ trede them vnder your feet TheÌ„ne achior sceyng the vertue of the god of Israhel lefte his olde hethens custoÌ„ byleuyd in god was circuÌ„sised in his preuy meÌ„bre 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 chaÌ„bre but whaÌ„ the dukes leders of thousandes cameÌ„ other they said to the preuy chaÌ„berlayns goo awake your lord For myes ben gon out of their caues ben hardy to calle vs to bataylle TheÌ„ne vago his bawde weÌ„te in to his preuy chaÌ„bre 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 coÌ„fusion 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 couÌ„seyl mynde flewh fro theÌ„ with grete treÌ„blyng 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 truÌ„pes 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„ valiauÌ„t to pursiewe theÌ„ by swerd so they dyde vnto the vttermest coostis of Israhel The other meÌ„ sothly that weren in bethulye weÌ„te 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 TheÌ„ne Ioachim the highe bisshop of IhrlÌ„m 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 IhrlÌ„m thou gladnes of Israhel thou the worship doyng of our peple thou dyde maÌ„ly thyn herte is coÌ„forted by cause thou louedyst chastyte knewest no man after the deth of thy husbond and therfor the honde of god hath coÌ„forted 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 thassyrieÌ„s 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 fouÌ„den that had ben hys they were gyueÌ„ to Iudith as wel gold syluer geÌ„mes clothis as aâ—l other appertenaÌ„cis to houshold all was delyuerd to her of the peple the folkes with wimeÌ„ maydeÌ„s IoyedeÌ„ in organs harpes TheÌ„ne 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 IhrlÌ„m 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 soleÌ„pnysed 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 manâ—sses 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 legeÌ„des 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 coÌ„uersion 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 somÌ„e other dyscyples were called iij tymes of our lord he called them first in the knoulechyng of hym as whan seynt andrewe was with IohÌ„n the baptyst hys maysstre and another dyscyple he herde that IohÌ„n said lo here the lombe of god and theÌ„ne 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 weÌ„te 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 IohÌ„n 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 weÌ„te 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 murgoÌ„dye And the meÌ„ of this coÌ„trey refused vtterly the prechyng of seynt Mathewe drewe out his eyen And caste hym in prysoÌ„ fast bouÌ„den In the mene while an angele sente froÌ„ our lord appired to saynt andrew comaÌ„ded hym to go to seynt mathew in to murgondye he answerd that he knew not the way and theÌ„ne thaÌ„gele comaÌ„ded 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 accoÌ„plisshyng the comaÌ„demÌ„t weÌ„te in to the cite by the ledyng of the aÌ„gele had wynde ê“pyce 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 theuaÌ„gelyste 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 trychâ—rye 〈◊〉 synne And thou counseylâ—ledesâ— 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 grauÌ„ted 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
toun but the preest cam to hym bad hym to byleue in god and baptysed hym euyr as longe as he lyued after he had alleway in hys mouth Ihesu cryst receyue my spyrite and yet he wist not the tho wordes were the wordes that seynt stephn last spack And also he reherceth another myracle in the same place that a lady callyd patrone had ben seek moche greuously had souht many remedies for to be helâ—d of her maladye but she felt none hele but in th ende she had counseyl of a Iewe whyche gaaf to her a rynge wyth a stone And that she shold bynde this rynge wyth alaas to her baar flesshe and by the vertue of the stone she shold be hool And whan she sawe that this helped her not she wente to the chyrche of the prothomartir And praid the blessyd saynt steuen for her helthe and anon without brekyng of the laas or of the rynge the rynge fyl doun to the grouÌ„d And she felt her self anone all hool ¶ Item the same recounteth another myracle not lesse merueyllous that in Cesaree of Capadoce was a lady moche noble of whom the husbond was deed but she had x chyldren vij sones and iij doughtres And on a tyme whan they had angred theyr moder she cursed them And the dyuyne vengeaunce ensyewed sodaynly the malediction of the moder so that all the chyldren were smeton of one semblable and horryble sekenes on all her membres For whyche thyng they myght not dwelle in the contre for shame and for the sorowe that they had and began to goo folyly thurgh the world And in what someuer contre they wente euerich man behelde them And it happed that two of them that is to wyte a brother and a suster cam to ypotence And the brother was named poul and the suster pauladye And there they fonde Austyn the bysshop and told to hym and recounted what was happed Thenne they hauÌ„ted the chyrche of saynt stephen by the space of xv dayes and it was to fore ester and they prayed strongly the saynt for their helthe and on ester day whan the peple was present poul entred sodaynly within the chauncell and put hym to prayer by grete deuouocion and with grete reuerence to fore the aulter and as they that were there abode vpon th ende of the thyng he aroos vp appertly all hole of hys tremblyng Thenne seynt Austyn toke hym and shewd hym to the peple sayd that on the morn he wold telle them the caas And as he spack to the peple the suster was there tremblyng on all her membres and she aroos vp entred in to the chauncell of saynt stephen and anon she slepte And after aroos sodeynly all hole and was shewd to the peple as was don to fore of her brother And thenne graces and thankynges were gyuen to saynt stephen for the helthe of them bothe whan Orosius cam fro Iherusalem he brought to saynt austyn of the relyques of seynt stephâ—n of whom many myracles were shewd and doon It is to wyte that the blessyd saynt stephen suffred not deth on the daye of hys feste but it was on the daye that hys Inuencion is on in the moneth of august And yf it be demaunded why the fest is chauÌ„ged it shal be said whan hys Inuencion shal be said And thys may suffyse you for thys present For the chyrche wylle also ordeyne the festes whyche folowen the natyuyte of Ihesu cryst for two causes The first is to Ihesu cryste whyche is heed and spowse to th ende that thaccompanyes be Ioyned to hym For Ihesu cryste spowse of the chyrche in thys world adioyneth to hym thre companyes of whyche companyes is sayd in the cantycles my whyte soule and rody chosen of thousandes The whyte is as to saynt Iohan theuaÌ„gelyste a precious confessour And the rody or reed is as to saynt stephen the first martir And chosen of thousandes is to the vyrgynal companye of thynnocentes ¶ The seconde reson is that the chyrche assembleth also to gydre the maners of the martirs the somÌ„e by wyl and by werke the seconde by wyll and not by dede the thirde by dede and not by wyll The first was the blessyd stephen ¶ The seconde was in saynt IohÌ„n theuangelyst ¶ The thyrde was in sayntes and gloryous Innocentis whyche for god suffred passyon Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Stephen And next foloweth of saynt Iohan theuangeliste IOhan is expowned the grace of god or he in whom grace is or to whome it is gyueÌ„ of our lord And therfore ben vnderstonen iiij preuyleges that ben in the blessid saynt IohÌ„n The first was the noble loue of Ihesu cryst For he loued hym more than the other shewde to hym of gretter loue and therof he is said the grace of god also as gracious god and to hym he was more gracious than to pieter for he louyd hym moche but he is loue of corage and of signe and thys that is of signes is double that one is for to shewe famylyarite and that other is in geuyng benefices As to the first he loued that one and thother egally as to the seconde he loued more IohÌ„n and as to the thirde he loued more peter The seconde was virgynyte whaÌ„ he was chosen virgyne of god and therfore it is said in what is that grace For grace of vyrgynyte is in a virgyne ¶ And whan he wold marye he was called of god The thyrde is the reuelacion of the secretes of our lord therfore it is sayd to whom grace is gyuen For to hym was gyuen to knowe many secretes profound as of the dyuynyte of the sone of god and of th eÌ„de of the world The fourth is the recomendacion of the moder of god whyche gyft of grace was gyuen of our lord For thys gyft was gyuen to hym whan the moder was gyuen to hym in to kepyng And Mylete bysshop of lyege wrote hys lyf the whiche ysoâ—ore abredgyd and sette it in to the book of the natyuytâ—es of the lyf and the deth of holy faders SAynt Iohan thappostle and euangelist was sone of Zebedee whyche had maryed the thirde suster of our lady to wyf and that was brother to saynt Iames of galice Thys said IohÌ„n signefyeth as moche as the grace of god And wel myght he haue suche a name For he had of our lord iiij graces aboue the other appostles The first is that he was biloued of our lord The seconde was that our lord kepte to hym hys vyrgynyte lyke as saynt Ierome saith For he was at hys weddyng and he abode a clene virgyne The thyrde is that our lord made hym to haue moche grete reuelacion and knowleche of hys dyuynyte and of the fynysshyng of the world lyke as it appireth in the begynnyg of his euaÌ„gelyes and in thapocalypse The fourth grace is that our lord commysed to hym in especial the kepyng of hys swete moder He was after thasceÌ„cion of our lord in Iherusalem wyth
bysshopriches to somÌ„e vertuous men And anon the kynge grauÌ„ted 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 fonÌ„ded And that same yere he translated saynt edward kynge coÌ„fessour 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 〈◊〉 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 yuâ—holdest 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 TheÌ„ne the bysshoppis all couÌ„ceylled saynt thomas to folowe the kynges entente or ellis the lond shold be in grete trouble And in lyke wise the lordes teÌ„porell that were his frendes couÌ„seylled 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 theÌ„ne the lordes were glad brought hym to the kynge to Oxenford and the kyng dayned not to speke to hym And theÌ„ne the kyng callid alle the lordes spuÌ„el temporelle to fore hym and said he wold haue alle the lawes of his fornfaders there new coÌ„fermed there they were confermed by all the lordes spuÌ„el temporell And after this the kyng charged them for to come to hym to Claryndon to his parlameÌ„t atte a certayn day assigned on payne to renne in his IndignacioÌ„ and at that tyme so departed And this parlamÌ„t was holden at claryndon the xj yere of the kynges regne the yere of our lord xjClxiiij at this parlemÌ„t were many lordes which all were ayenst saynt Thomas And theÌ„ne the kynge sittyng in his parlemÌ„t in the presence of all his lordes demanded them yf they wold abyde kepe the lawes that had ben vsed in his forfaders dayes TheÌ„ne saynt Thomas spacke for the ê‘te of holy chirche saide All olde lawes that be good rightful and not ayenst our moder holy chirche I grauÌ„te with good will to kepe theÌ„ And theÌ„ne the kynge saide that he wolde not leue one poynt of his lawe and waxid wroth with saynt Thomas And theÌ„ne 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 vnrdâ—stode theÌ„ all to somÌ„e 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 theÌ„ne 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 hoÌ„de 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 cauÌ„terbury anon after saynt thomas cam to the kyng to wodestoke for â—o pray hym to be better disposed toward â—oly 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 〈◊〉 fayne plese you doo all that 〈◊〉 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 comandemÌ„t 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
that shold abyde by the ryght of the chirche to be ayenst holy chirche me and ye knowe wel that I may not fyght but am redy to suffre deth rather than I shold consente to lese the right of holy chirche Thenne said the kyng thou spekest as a proude clerke but I shal abate thy pryde or I leue the For I muste rekene with the thou vnderstondest wel that thou were my chaūcheler many yeres ones I lente to the vC pound which thou neuer yet hast repayd whiche I wil that thou paye me agayn or ellis incontynent thou shalt goo to pryson And thenne saynt thomas answerd ye gaf me that vC pound it is not sittyng to demaunde that whiche ye haue gyuen Not withstondyrig he fondesurete for the said vC pound departed for that day And after thys the next day the kynge demaunded xxxMli that he had surmysed on hym to haue stolen he beyng chauncheler wher vpō he desired day tanswer at whyche tyme se said that whan he was archebysshop he sette hym free therin without ony clayme or dette by fore good recorde wherfore he ought not tanswere vnto that demaunde And the bysshoppis desired saynt Thomas tobeye the kynge but in no wyse he wold not gree to suche thyngis as shold touche ayenst the lybertees of the chyrche And thēne they cam to the kynge forsoke saynt Thomas and agreed to alle the kynges desire ¶ And the propre seruauntes of saynt Thomas fledde fro hym and forsoke hym and thenne poure peple cam and accompanyed hym And on the nyght cam to hym two lordes and told to hym that the kynges meyne had enprysed to slee hym And the next nyght after he departed in thabyte of a brother of Symprynham and so cheuyssyd that he went ouer see ¶ And in the meaue whyle certayn bysshops wente to Rome for to conplayne on hym to the 〈◊〉 And the kynge sente lettres to the kynge of fraunce not to receyue hym And the kynge lowys said that though a man were banyssyd and had commysyd there trespaces yet shold he be free in fraunce And so after whan thys holy saynt Thomas cam he receyued hym wel and gaf hym licence to abyde there and doo what he wold In thys meane whyle the kyng of Englond sente certayn lordes vnto the 〈◊〉 complaynyng on tharchebysshop Thomas whiche made greuous complayntes whyche whan the 〈◊〉 had herde said he wold gyue none answere tyl that he had herd tharchebysshop Thomas speke whych wold hastely come theder but they wold not abyde hys comyng but departed without spedyng of their ententis and cam in to Englond agayn And anon after saynt Thomas cam to rome on saynt markes day at after none and whan hys Catour shold haue bought fyssh for his dyner by cause it was fastyng day he coude gete none for no money and cam told to his lord saynt Thomas so And he bad hym bye suche as he coude gete thēne he bought flesshe made it redy for their dyner and saynt Thomas was seruyd thith a capon rostid his meyne with boylled mete And so it was that the pope herde that he was come sende a Cardynall to welcome hym he fonde hym at his dyner etyng flesshe whiche anon retorned told to the pope how he was not so parsight a mā as he had supposed for contrarye to the Rule of the chyrche he eteth this day flessh The pope wold not byleue hym but sente another cardynal which for more euydēce toke the legge of the capon in his keuerchyef affermed the same And opened his keuerchyef to fore the pope and he fonde the legge torned in to a fyssh callid a carpe And whan the pope sawe it he said they were not true men to saye suche thyngis of this good bisshop They said faithfully that it was flessh that he ete And after this saynt Thomas cam to tho pope dide his reuerence obediēce whom the pope welcomed after certayn cōmynycacion he demanded hym what mete that he had eten and he said fhessh as ye haue herd to fore by cause he coude fynde no fysshe veray nede compellid hym therto thēne the pope vnderstode of the myracle that the capōs legge was torned in to a carpe Of his goodnes graūted to hym to all them of the dyocyse of Caūterbury licence to ete flessh euer after on saynt markes day whan it falleth on a flessh day pardon with all whiche is kept acustomed vnto this day And thēne saynt Thomas enformed the pope how the kyng of englond wold haue hym consente to dyuerse articles ayēst the libertees of holy chyrche what wrōges he dyde to the same that for to deye he wold neuer consente to them whā the pope had herd hym he wepte for pyte And thanked god that he had suche a bysshop vnder hym that had so wel defended the libertees of holy chirche And anō wrote oute lettres bulles comādyng alle the bysshoppis of crystendom to kepe and obserue the same And thēne seynt Thomas offred to the pope his bisshopriche vp in to the popes hond his mytre with the crosse ryng And the pope comanded hym to kepe it stille and said he knewe nomā more able than he was And after saynt Thomas said masse to fore the pope in a white chesible And after masse he said to the pope that he knewe by reuelacion that he shold suffre deth for the right of holy chyrche And whan it shold falle that chesible shold be torned fro whyte in to rede And after he departed fro the pope came doun in to fraunce vnto thabbaye of pounteney And there he had knowleche that whā the lordes spirituel tēperel whyche had ben at Rome were comē home had told the kyng that they in nowyse myght haue their entente that the kynge was gretly wroth And anon banyssed alle the kynnesmē that were longyng to saynt Thomas that they shold incontynent voyde hys londe made thē swere that they shold goo to hym telle to hym that for hys sake they were exiled And so they wente ouer see to hym to poūtney and he beyng there was ful sory for them And after ther was a grete chapytre in englond of the monkes of cysteaus And there the kyng desired them to wryte to pounteney that they shold no lenger kepe ne susteyne Thomas tharchebysshop For yf they dyde he wold destroye them of that ordre beyng in englond And for fere therof they wrote so ouer to poūteney that he must departe then◠with hys kynnesmen And so he dyde And was thenne ful heuy And remytted hys cause to god And anon after the kynge of fraunce sente to hym that he shold abyde where it plesid hym and duelle in hys royame And wold paye for the costes of hym and hys kynnesmen And he departed and wente to seynes And thabbot brought hym on the
and the wordes of the peple he suffred that his wif shold come to hym as she dyde to fore And anoÌ„ after she conceyued a doughter whom he comanded to name a foxes whelpe And after cam to saynt Remyge and confessed hym of hys synne and toke the stole of hys necke wold leue hys bysshoprich â—ut saynt Remyge after he had confessyd hym coÌ„forted hym and gaf hym penaunce and shytte hym in a lytil celle vij yere longe and gaf to hym brede and water and in the meane whyle he gouerned the chyrche hym self Atte ende of vij yere an angel cam to the pryson and said to hym that he had doun wel hys penaunce and bad hym goo out of the pryson to whom he said I may not goo out For my lord saynt remyge hath closed the dore and sealed it And the angele said to hym knowe thou that the dore of heuen is opened to the I shal opene thys dore without brekyng of the seal whyche saynt Remyge hath scalled And anon the dore was opened Thenne genebald fylle doun in the myddes of the dore in maner of a crosse and said yf our lord Ihesu cryst cam hether I shal not goo out but yf saynt Remyge whyche shytte and closed me herin come brynge me out And theÌ„ne than gel wente anon and fette saynt remyge and brought hym to laon And he delyuerd hym out of pryson And remysed hym and sette hym agayn in hys see there where he lyued after all the dayes of hys lyf holyly After his deth theef hys sone was made bisshop after hym whiche is also a saynt in heuen And atte laste saynt Remyge after that god had shewed many myracles for hym he departed out of this lyf vnto euerlastyng Ioye the yere of the Incarnacion of our lord vC Here endeth the lif of saynt Remige Here foloweth the lyf of saynt hylare ¶ Thynterpretacion of hys name Hylaire is said of Ioyouste For he was Ioyous in the seruyce of god Or hylaire is said vertuous and hye For he was hye and stronge in science and vertuous in hys lyf Or hylaire is said of yle whyche is to saye derke mater For he had in his dictes grete obscurete profoundnes Of the lif of saynt Hilaire SAynt hilaire which was bysshop of poytiers was born in the contre of Guyan he had a wif wedded and a doughter And where he was in habyte seculer he lyued after the lyf of a monke he prouffyted so moche in holy lyf and sciences that he was chosen Archebisshop of poytiers A maner of an heresye regned in hys contre and thurgh all fraunce whyche was the secte of the Arryans the whyche he destroyed to hys power Neuertheles by the comandemÌ„t of themperour whiche was of the partye of the heretikes by the suggestion of two byssoppis of that secte he was exiled wyth whyche ij bisshoppis he disputed and ouercam theÌ„ afterward For they myght not gaynsaye the trouthe of the mater ne coude not bere ne answere to hys eloquence so that he was constrayned to come agayn to poytiers And as he passed by an Ile of the see wicke was ful of serpentes he chaced them away by the vertue of hys comandemÌ„t and by hys sight only And pyght a staf in the myddle of the yle and gaf to the serpentes liberte to come to that staf and not to passe ferther And the serpentes obeyed hym whiche parte is no londe now but see Whan saynt hylaire cam to poytiers he mette a chyld deed born for to be buryed and the chyld was not baptysed whyche child by the vertu of hys prayer he reysed to lyf For he laye longe in the duste in prayer And whan he aroos out of his prayer the chyld aroos fro deth to lyf Saynt hylayre had a doughter named Apra And wold haue be maryed but saynt hylaire prechyd to her so moche of thestate of virgynyte that she chaunged her purpoos And whan she was confermed in thys wylle and purpoos saynt hylaire doubted that she shold chaunge And prayd our lord for to take her whyles she was in good porpoos And anon she deyde And saynt hylaire buried her And whan her moder the wyf of saynt hylaire sawe that her doughter was deed she prayde to her husbonde that he shold Impetre and gete for her lyke as he had don for hys doughter And anon as saynt hylayre had made hys oryson She deyed And by thys maner he sente to fore hym his wyf and his doughter In thys tyme the pope lyon whyche fauoured heresye called a couÌ„seyl of bysshoppis but he sente not for saynt hylaire that he shold come therto not wythstondyng saynt hylaire cam theder whan the pope sawe hym comen he comanded that noman shold aryse ayenst hym ne gyue hym no place Thenne said the pope to hym thou art hylaire the cocke and not the sone of an henne And saynt hylaire answerd I am hylaire no cock but a bysshop in gallia that is in frauÌ„ce thenne said the pope thou art hylaire gallus And I am leo of the papal see Iuge to whom hylaire said yf thou be leo yet art thou not of the trybe of Iuda Thenne the pope had grete indignacion and said to hym Abyde thou a lytyl and I shal paye to the thyn hyer And saynt hylayre answerd â— yf thou come not agayn who shal paye me for that the pope answerd I shal come agayn shal bete doun thy pryde Thenne the pope wente doun in to the lowe chambre for to ease hym And by the conduyte of hys neyther parte voyded out all the entraylles of his body and so deyde sodaynly thus thenne as he abode the pope saynt hylaire fonde no place to sytte on ne none wold remeue to make hym place And whan he sawe that he sayde Domini est terra therthe longeth to our lord and satte doun vpon therthe And therthe aroos vp by myracle by the wylle of our lord in suche wyse that he satte as hye as the other And anone after worde cam that the pope was deed Thenne saynt hylaire confermed alle the other bysshops that were there in the faith and so confermed eche wente in to hys contrey In th ende whan saynt hylaire had Impetred of god many myracles to be shewde by hys prayer he becam seek and sawe hys deth approche Thenne he called to hym one his chapelayn whom he moche loued and said to hym Goo thou out And brynge to me word what thou hyerest whan he had ben longe withoute he cam in and told to saynt hylaire that he had herd a grete noyse in the cyte And whan it was mydnyght he sente hys chapelayn agayn to herkene as he had don to fore And whan he cam agayn in to the chaÌ„bre for to telle that he had herd nothynge A grete clere light entred in that the preest myght not behold it And whan the light departed saynt hylaire deyde that was the yere
paynes to which saynt Agathe answerd frely My courage my thought ben so fermly founded vpon the ferme stone of Ihesu cryst that for no payne it may not be chaunged your wordes ben but wynde your promesses ben but Rayne And your menaces ben as ryuers that passe And how wel that all thyse thyges hurtle atte foundement of my courage yet for that it shal not moeue In this maner answerd she and alleway wepte in makyng her prayers and moche grete desyre had she to come to Ihesu cryst by martirdom and by tormentis whan affrodysse sawe wel that in no wyse she wold be moâ—uyd she wente to the prouost quyncianus and said to hym Sonner shold the stones wexe softe torne yron to soft leed than torne the corage of thys mayde or to take fro her the crysten fayth I and my doughtâ—es haue done none other thyng nyght ne day one after another but to laboure how we myght torne her herte to your consentyng I haue promysed her in your name your precious aournementes clothes of gold howses londes townes seruantes and grete maynees And all thys she despyseth and reputeth them at no valew whan quyncian herd thys anone he made her to come to fore hym in Iugement And demaunded her of her lygnage And atte laste he wold constrayne her to make sacrefyse vnto thydolles And saynt Agathe answerd that they were no goddes but were deuylles that were in thydollys made of marble and of wood and ouergylte Qunncianus said chese one of two or doo sacrefyse to our goddes or thou shall suffre payne and tormentes Saynt Aghate sayd thou sayst that they be goddes by cause thy wyf was such one as was venus thy goddesse and thou thy self as Jupyter whyche was an homycide and euyll Quyncyanus sayd it appyereth wel that thou wylt suffre tormentes in that thou sayst to me vylonnye Saynt Agathe sayd I meruaylle moche that one so wyse a man is suche a fole becomen that thou sayst of them to be thy goddes whos lyf thou ne thy wyf wylle folowe yf they be good I wold that thy lyf were lyke vnto theyres And yf thou refusest theyr lyf thenne art thou of one accorde wyth me Saye theÌ„ne that they be euyll and so foule and forsake their lyuyng and be not of suche lyf as thy goddes were Quyncianus said what goost thou thus vaynly spekyng make sacrefyse vnto the goddes or yf thou doo not I shal make the to deye by dyuerse tormentis Saynt Aghate abode ferme and stable in the fayth Theenne quyncianus dyde doo put her in a derke pryson And she wente also gladly and with as good wyll as she had ben prayd to goon to a weddyng On the morn quyncianus made her to be brought to fore hym in Iugement And said to her Agathe how art thou aduysed for thy helth She answerd cryst is myn helthe Quyncianus said renye cryst thy god by whyche thou mayst escape thy tormentis Saynt Agathe answerd Nay but renye thou thyn ydolles whyche ben of stones and of wood And adoure thy maker that made heuene and erthe And yf thou doo not thou shalt be tormented in the perpetuell fyre in helle Thenne in grete yre quyncianus dyde her to be draweÌ„ and stratched on a tree and tormented and sayd to her Refuse thy vayne opnyon that thou hast and thou shalt be easâ—ed of thy payne and she answerd I haue as grete dilection in thyse paynes as he that sawe come to hym that thyng whyche he most coueyteth to see or as he that had founde grete tresour And lyke as the whete may not be put in the garner vnto the tyme that the chaff be beten of in lyke wyse my-sowle may not entre in to the Royame of heuene but yf thou wel tormente my body by thy mynystres Thenne quyncianus dyde her to be tormentid in her brestes and pappes and comanded that her brestis and mamellis shold be draweÌ„ cutte of whan the mynystres had accomplysshid his comandement Thenne saynt Agathe said Ouer felon and cruelle tyraunt hast thou noo shame to cutte of that in a woman wyche thou dydest souke in thy moder and wherof thou were nourisshyd But I haue my pappes hole in my soule of whych I nourisshe all my wyttes the whyche I haue ordeyned to serue our lord Ihesu cryste syth the begynnyng of my youghte After quyncyanus dyde doo put her in pryson and comanded that none shold entre for to hele her ne none shold gyue to her mete ne drynke and whan she was fast closed in the pryson ther cam an auncyent noble man and to fore hym a chyld beryng a lyght dyuerse oynementis in hys hand Thys noble maÌ„ sayd that he was a surgien and in confortyng her sayd how wel that the tyraunt hath tormented the bodyly neuertheles thou hast more tormeÌ„ted hym in hys herte by thy answeres I was there whaÌ„ he made thy pappes to be cutte of And sawe how I myght well hele them Thenne said she I knewe neuer of medecyne corporall And it were shame to me to take it now That whyche I haue auowed and kept to my lord sith myn Infancye yet I shal kepe it yf it plese hym Thauncyent noble man answerd I am also crysteÌ„ and a good maystre and leche be not a shamed She answerd wherof shold I be ashamed thou art Auncyent of grete age And how wel that I be a yong mayde Neuertheles my body is deffeted by the tormentes that the woundes suffre nothyng to entre in to my thought wherof I shold be ashamed not for that I thanke the fayr fader that thou art so dylygent to hele me but knowe that my body shal receyue no medecyne of noman And thys noble man saide wherfore suffrest thou not me that I maye hele and guarysshe the She said by cause I haue Ihesu crist my sauyour whyche wyth a word heleth all And yf he wyll he may hele me And the good man smylynge sayde And he hath sente me hyther for to hele the I am hys Appostle And know veryly that thou art hole in the name of hym And anon thappostle vanysshed awaye Thenne she fyll doun in prayers and sayd Lord IhÌ„u cryst I yelde to the thaÌ„kyngis that thou hast remembryd me and hast sente thyn appostle saynt peter to me whyche hath comforted me and heled my woundes And after thoryson made she sawe that her pappes were agayn restored to her and all her woundes heled And all that nyght was the pryson fulfyllyd wyth grete clerenes and lyght so that the kepers fledde for the grete drede that they had and lefte the pryson all open Thenne said to her the other prysoners that were in the pryson that she shold goo theyr waye And she sayd that shal neuer happen that the kepars of the prison shal suffre ony harme for me ne that I shal lose my crowne I shal abyde in the fayth of Ihesu cryst my lord whyche hath
the erthe threwe hym and wold not receyue hym and prayd that he wold blesse hym Thenne toke he the blessyd sacrament and made it to be leyde on the breste of the corps And whan they had doon so they buried hym and therthe drewe hym nomore out but receyued the body helde it ¶ Ther was a monke that coude not abide in the monastery prayd so moche to saynt benet that he lete hym goo was all angry and anon as he was out of thabbaye he fonde a dragon with open mouth And whan he sawe hym he had fere that he wold haue deuoured hym cried lowde Come hether and helpe me come hether For this dragon wil deuoure me theÌ„ne the monkes ranne but they sawe no dragon and brought agayn the monk treÌ„blyng syghyng thenne the monke promysed that he neuer wold departe fro thabbaye ¶ In a tyme ther was in that centre a grete famyne and all that euer saynt benet myght gete haue he gaue it to the poure peple in so moche that he had nomore in the abbaye but a lytyl oyle and he comanded yet to the celerer to gyue it to a poure man the celerer vnderstode hym wel but he gaf it not by cause ther was nomore in the couent And whan saynt benet knewe it he toke the vessel and cast it out of the wyndow was of glasse it felle on a stone brake not thenne he repreued the celerer of inobedience of a lityl hope that he had in god after he wente vnto hys prayers And anon a grete empty tonne that was there was full of oylle in so moche that it ranne ouer ¶ It happed an other day that saynt benet wente to visite hys suster named scolastica And as they satte atte table She prayd her brother that he wold abyde there al that nyght but he in no wyse wold graunte her and sayd he myght not lye out of hys cloyster ¶ And whan she sawe that he wold not graunte to her to abyde she enclyned her heed and made her prayers to our lord ¶ And anon it began to thoÌ„dre to lyghtne the ayer to wexe derke whyche to fore was fayr clere and a grete rayn fyl doun so that for nothyng he myght departe And lyke as she wepte wyth her eyen right so forthwyth the rayne and storme cam and thenne she lyft vp her heed TheÌ„ne saynt benet said to his suster almyghty god forgyue you that ye haue don For ye haue letted me that I may not departe hens And she said Fayr brother god is more curtoys than ye be For ye wold not accepte my prayer but god hath herd me now goo yf ye may And thenne saynt benet abode there all the nyght spekyng of god bytwene hym and hys suster wythout slepyng tyl they were bothe eased On the morn saynt benet wente to hys abbaye And on the thyrde day after he lyft vp hys eyen to heuen and sawe the sowle of hys suster mounte vp in to heuen in the lyknes of a douue And anon he dyde the body of her to be brought to hys abbaye and dyde it to be buryed in hys tombe whyche he had do made for hym self On a nyght as saynt benet was in hys pyayer at a wyndowe he sawe the sowle of saynt germayn bysshop of capes mounte in to heuen And lyke as a light sodayne that enlumyneth all the derknesses of the world so the light of that sowle gaf a grete light And after he knewe that the sowle of saynt germayn passed that same hour After thys whan tyme cam that saynt benet hym self shold deê‘te out of this world he shewd it to hys monkes sixe dayes to fore and dyde do make hys pytte and after that a feuer toke hym strongly whyche helde hym euery day and atte the sixthe day he dyde hym self to be born to the chyrche And there receyued the body of our lord Ihesu cryst And after emong the handes of hys dyscyples hys owen handes lyftyng vp to heuen in makyng hys oryson he rendryd hys sowle vnto hys creatour The same hour was a reuelacion shewd to two monkes For they sawe a way to heuen all couerd with palles man tellis of gold alle ful of torches brennyng whyche enlumyned alle the heuen whyche cam fro the celle of saynt benet vnto heuen And ther was a maÌ„ in a fayr habyte to whome thyse monkes demaunded what way that was And he answerd that it was the way by whyche saynt benet mounted vp to heuen ¶ Thenne the body of saynt benet was buryed in the oratorye that he had made of saynt Iohan where as was wonte to be the aulter of appollyn the xere of our lord vC and xviij To whom late vs praye deuoutly that he praye to our lord for vs that we may haue grace after thys lyf to come to euerlastyng blysse in heuen Amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt benet Abbote Here next foloweth the lyf of saynt Cuthberd of durham Saynt cuthberd was born in englond And whan he was viij yere old our lord shewd for hym a fayr myracle for to drawe hym to his loue For on a tyme as he pleyed atte the balle wyth other chyldren Sodenly ther stode emonge them a fayr yong child of the age of iij yere which was the fayrest creature that euer they behelde And anon he sayd to cuthberd good broder vse no suche vayne plaies ne sette not thy herte on them But for all that cuthberd toke none heed to his wordes And thenne thys chyld fyll doun and made grete heuynes wepte sore and wronge hys hondes And thenne Cuthberd and the other chyldren lefte theyr playe and comforted hym and demaunded of hym why he made suche sorow Thenne the chyld sayd to Cuthbert all myn heuynesse is only for the by cause thou vsist suche vayne playes for our lord hath chosen the to be an heed of holy chyrche And thenne sodenly he vanysshyd away And thenne he knewe veryly that it was an Angele sente fro our lord to hym And fro thenne forthon he lefte all suche vayne playes neuer vsed them more and began to lyue holyly And thenne he desired of hys fader that he myght be sette to scole and anon he drewe hym to parfyght lyuyng for he was euer in his prayers nyght and daye And most desired of our lord to doo that which myght plese hym and eschewe that shold dysplese hym and he lyued so vertuosly and holyly that all the peple had Ioye of hym and within a whyle after Aydanus the bisshop deyde And as cuthberd kept shepe in the felde he lokyd vp ward and sawe angellis bare the sowle of Aydanus the bysshop to heuen with grete melodye And after that saynt cuthberd wold nomore kepe sheep but weÌ„te anon to thabbaye of geruâ—us And there he was a monke of whome all the coueÌ„te were right glad and thanked our lord that had sente hym
gafe to them Thenne it happed that one of the arryens was out of his mynde sayd thus be they alle tormented as I am that consente not to saynt ambrâ—se and therfore the other arryens drowned hym in a depe pyscyne or pytte There was another heretyke and an arryen a sharpe and so harde that he was Inconuertyble by cause no man myght conuerte hym to the faythe On a tyme he herde saynt ambrose preche and he sawe at his ere an aungel that tolde hym al that he prechyd and whan he had apperceyued this he began to susteyn the feythe to whiche he had ben contrarye After this it happed that one enchauntour called deuyls to hym sente them to saynt ambrose for to ennoye greue hym but the deuyls retorned and sayd that they might not approche to his yate by cause ther was a grete fyre al about his hows and this enchauntour after Whan he was tormented of the prouost for certeyn trespaces he cryed and said that he was tormeÌ„ted of saynt ambrose There was a man that had a deuyll wythin hym And after wente to melane and anone as he entred the cytee the deuyl lefte hym and assone as he wente out of the cytee the deuyl reentred in hym ageyn thenne he demaunded hym why he dyd so he answerd by cause he was aferde of ambrose after it happed that a man beyng conducte hyred of Iustyn themperesse came to the beddes syde of saynt ambrose Wold haue put ryuen his swerde thorugh his body but anone his arme was dryed vp Another was vexed With a deuyl said that saynt ambrose tormented hym but saynt ambrose made hym to be stylle for ambrose tormenteth none but that doth thennye of the for thou seest men asseÌ„de fro whâ—ns thou art fallen And that is it whiche tormenteth the For ambrose can not be so blowen and wo llen as thou arte Thenne was he stylle and spake not whan saynt ambrose wente in the towne he sawe a man laughe by cause he sawe another falle thenne said ambrose to hym thou that laughest beware that thou falle not also and after he fylle and thus was he taughte that he shold not mocque his felawe On a tyme Saynt Ambrose wente vnto the paleys for to praye for a poure man but the Iuge made to close the gate that he myght not entre in Thenne saint ambrose said thou shalt come for to entre in to the chyrche but thou shalt not entre and yet shal the yates be opene And so it happed that after the Iuge doubted his enemyes wente to the chyrche but he myght not entre in and yet the yates were opene Saynt ambrose was of so grete abstyence that he fasted euery day saufe the sonday or a solempne feste he was of so grete largesse that he gaue alle to poure people and reteyned no thynge for hym self he was of so grete compassyoÌ„ that whan ony confessid to hym his synne he wepte so bytterly that he wold make the synnar to wepe He was of so grete doubte that whan hyt was tolde to hym of the dethe of ony bysshop he wold wepe soo sore that vnnethe he myght be comforted And whan it was demaunded hym why he wepte for the dethe of good men For he oughte better to make ioye by cause they wente to heuen thenne he answerd I wepe not bycause they goo tofore me but bycause that vnnethe and wyth grete payne may ony be fouÌ„de for to doo wel suche offyces he was of soo grete stedfanesse and so establysshed in hys purpoos that he wold not leue for drede ne for greef that myght be doon to hym to repreue themperour ne the other grete men whan they dyd thynges that they ought not to doo ne he wold flatre no man There was broughte ones tofore hym a man whiche was greuously mysmade Thenne sayd saynt ambrose the body must be delyuerd to the deuyll And that the flesshe goo to the dethe by whyche the spyrite may be saued vnnethe was the worde out of hys mowthe but the deuyl began to tormente hym After as it is sayd on a tyme he wente to rome whan he was on a tyme by the waye herberowed wyth a ryche man Saynt ambrose began to demaunde hym of his estate that ryche man answerd Syr myn estate is happy ynough and gloryous For I haue rychesses ynough seruauntes varlettes chyldren neuewes cosyns frendes and kynnysmen whiche serue me and al my werkes and besoynyes come to my wylle ne I haue neuer thynge that may angre ne trowble me Thenne sayd saynt Ambrose to them that were wyth hym Flee we hens for our lord god is not here haste you fayre chyldren haste you and lete vs abyde here no lengyr leste the vengeaunce of god take vs that we be not wrapped in the synnes of these peple They departed fledde anone but they were not goon ferre but that the erthe opened swolowed in alle the hows of this ryche man there abode not as moche as the steppe of hym self ne of al that euer he had Thenne said saynt ambrose be holde faâ—e chyldren how grete pyte how grete mercy god dothe to them that haue aduersyte in thys world how wrothe he is to them that haue the welthe and rychesses of thys world Of whyche thynge apyereth yet the pytte or fâ—sse Whiche endureth in to thys day in wytnesse of thys aduenture whan Saynt ambrose behelde that auaryce whyche is rote of all euylles grewe more more in moche peple and specyally in grete men and in them that were in moste grete estate whiche solde al for money and wyth the mynystres of the chirche he sawe symonye reygne he began to praye to god that he wold take hym aweye fro the myseryes of thys world And he Impetred that which he desyred Thenne he called his felawshyp sayd to them in ioyeng that he shold abyde with them vnto the resurrexyon of our lord and a lytel tofore that he laye seke as he expownded to hys notarye the xliiij psalme Sodaynlye in the presence sight of his notary a fyre in the manere of a shelde couerd his heed and entryd in to his mouthe Thenne became his face as wghyte as ony snowe anone after hit came ageyn to his fyrst fourme And that day he lefte his wrytyng and endytyng Thenne began his maladye to greue hym and the erle of ytalye whyche was thenne at mylane called the gentyl men of the contree sayd to them that yf so grete and good a man shold goo fro them it shold be grete pyte grete parelle to alle ytalye and sayd to them that they alle shold goo with hym to thys holy man and praye hym that he wold gete graunte of our lord of space and lenger lyf whan saynt ambrose had herde theyr requeste He answerd fayre sones I haue not so lyued emonge you that I am ashamed to lyue
yf hit plese god ne I haue no fere ne drede of dethe for we haue a good lord In this tyme assemblyd his foure dekens and began to trete who shold be a good bisshop after hym And they named secretely emonge them self that vnnethe they them self herde hit Symplycien Saynt ambrose was ferre fro them they wende that he myght not haue herde them And he cryed on hye thryes he is olde and he is good whan they herde hym they were moche abasshed and departed And syth after his deth they chase the same symplicien for the good wytnesse that saynt ambrose had borne of hym A bysshop whiche was named honorius that abode the deth of saynt ambrose slepte and herde a voys that thryes called hym and sayd aryse thou vp for he shal goo his waye anone Thenne he aroos anone hastely went to melane and gaue to hym the holy sacramente the precious body of our lord And anone saynt ambrose leyde his armes in fourme of a crosse and made his prayers and so departed and gaue vp his ghoost emonge the wordes of his prayers aboute the yere of our lord thre hondred lxxx the vygyle of ester and whan his body in the nyght was borne in to the chyrche many children that were baptyzed sawe hym as they sayd syttyng in a chayer honowrably and other shewed hym wyth theyr fyngres to theyr fader and other And somme sayd that they sawe a sterre vpon his body There was a preest that satte at mete wyth other whiche sayd not wel of hym but myssayed but anone god so chastysed hym that he was borne fro the table deyed anone after In the cyte of cartage were thre bysshoppes to gyder at dyner and one of them spake euyl by detraccyon of saynt ambrose And there was a man that tolde what was befallen for suche langage to this forsaid preest but he mocqued and iaped so moche that he felte a stroke mortal that that same day he deyed and was buryed It is founden wryten in a cronycle that the Emperour valentynyen was wrothe bycause that in the cyte of thessalonyke the peple had stoned to deth his Iuges that were sente thyder in his name and for tauenge the same the emperour dyd doo slee v thousand persones grete and lytel good euyl as wel them that had not trespaced as them that had deseruyd hit And whā after thys occysyon he came to melane and wold entre in to the chyrche Saynt abmrose came ageynst hym and defended hym thentre sayd to hym that after so grete woodnesse thou oughtest not to do so grete presūpsyon but perauenture thy power suffreth not the to knowlege thy trespace hit aperteyneth that reason surmounte power thou art emperour but that is for to punysshe the euyl peple how art thou so hardy to entre soo boldely in to the hows of god whom thou hast horrybly angred how darest thou wyth thy feet towche his pamente how darst thou stretche thy handes whyche heen al blody and of whome the blood of Innocentes renne and droppe of By what presumpsion darest thou put forthe thy mowthe to receyue the precious body and blood of our lord of whyche mowthe thou hast doon the commaundemente of the deuyl Goo hens goo hens and put not synne vpon synne Take the bonde that our lord hath bounden the wyth For hit is gyuen to the in waye of medecyne Whan the Emperour herde thyse wordes he was obedyent and began to wayle and wepe And retorned in to his paleys and abode there longe wepyng Thenne Ruffyn the mayster of his knyghtes demaunded wherfore he so sorewed and Wepte and he answerd Ruffyn thou knowest not my sorowes for I see that seruauntes and poure beggers may entre in to the chirche but I may not entre For ambrose hath excomyned me And he sayeng this at euery word he syghed Thenne sayd ruffyn to hym yf thou wylt I shal make hym anone to assoyle the He answerd thou mayst not For Ambrose doubteth not the force ne the power of the Emperour To th ende that he holde fermely the lawe of god And whan Ruffyn said more and more that he shold make hym enclyne to assoyle hym Thenne he sent hym to Ambrose And the Emperour folowed sone after moche humbly Whan Saynt Ambrose sawe Ruffyn come he sayd to hym thou hast no more shame thenne an hownde for to do suche occision and now comest boldely to me Whan ruffyn had prayed longe for to assoyle themperour whiche came foloweng hym saynt ambrose said to hym certeynly I deffende to hym the entre in to the chircche And yf he Wyl be a tyraunt I wyl moche gladly receyue the deth Thenne retorned Ruffyn to the emperour recounted to hym how he had doon And themperour said certeynly I shall goo to hym that I may receyue of hym vylonye ynough For it is wel ryght whan he was come to hym he demaunded of hym absolucion moche deuoutelye Saynt ambrose demaunded of hym what penaūce hast thou doon for so grete wickednesse Themperour aledgyd to hym that dauyd had synned and after had mercy Saynt ambrose sayd thou that hast folowed hym that synned folowe also hym repentaunte ¶ Thenne sayd the emperour it apperteyneth to the to gyue and enioyne penaunce and I shal doo hit Thenne he bad hym doo opene penaunce and comyn tofore all the people And themperour receyued hit gladly and refusyd hit not whan the emperour was reconsyled to the chyrche he stode in the chauncel Thenne sayd to hym saynt Ambrose what sechest thou here He answerd I am here for to receyue the sacred mysteryes And ambrose said this place apperteyneth to no man but to preestes Goo out for ye ought to be wythout the chauncell And abyde there thyth other Thenne obeyed themperour humbly and went out And after whan the Emperour came to Constantynoble and he stood wythout wyth the laye peple the bysshop came said to hym that he shold come in to the chauncell wyth the clerkys he answerd that he wold not For he had lerned of Saynt Ambrose what dyfference there was betwene on Emperour and a preest I haue founde a man of trouthe my mayster ambrose and suche a man ought to be a bysshop ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Ambrose ¶ The lyf of saynt Alphey bysshop and marter SAynt Alphey the holy bysshop and Marter was borne in englond in the shyre of Gloucestre and he came of a noble kynne And was hys faders heyre but he forsoke alle for goddes loue And bycame a manke at derherste fyue myle from Gloucestre but afterward good kyng Edward gaue that hows of derherst to the hows of saynt denys in fraunce And whā saint alphey had ben monk there long tyme lyuyng a ful holy lyf thenne he wente fro thens to the abbey of bathe to be there in more contemplacyon and reste of sowle And he bylded there that fayr abbey and establisshed therin blacke monkes
supposed that he shold not gete hit specially by cause the eyre was so clere and no clowde was seen and the crysten men doubted that theyr feythe myght there by come to confusyon but the bysshop the heretyke wold not bynde hym therto Saynt peter had good feythe and truste in god and made his prayer openlye that he wold conueye ouer them a clowde and he made the sygne of the crosse and anone the cloude came and ouâ—rspred them lyke a pauyllyon that there were assembled abode as longe as the sermon endured it scratched no ferther but there There was a lame man whiche had ben so lame v yere myght not goo but was drawen in a whelebarow brought to saynt peter at melane and as saynt peter had blessyd hym wyth the sygne of the crosse and ne he was hoole and aroos yet other myracles god shewed for hym by his lyf It happed that the sone of a gentyl man had suche an horryble dysâ—ase in his throte that he myght nether speke ne drawe his breeth but saynt Peter made on hym the sygne of the crosse layed his cope on the place where the sore was anone he was alle hole The same gentylman had afterward a greuous maladye and supposyd to haue deyed made to brynge to hym the sayd cope whiche wyth grete deuocion leyed hit on his breste anone he caste out a worme with two heedes whiche was roughe and after he was broughte in good helthe and anone al hoole It happed that a yonge man was dombe myght not speke a worde wherfore he came to saynt peter and he put his fyngre in his mowthe and his speche ceme to hym ageyn Now it happed that tyme that an heresye began moche in lombardye that there were moche peple that were fallen in thys errour the 〈◊〉 sente dyuerse Inâ—uysitours thyder of thordre of the frere prechours and bycause that at melane there were many in nombre of grete power engyne he sente thyder saynt peter as a man wyse constaunt and relygyous whiche doubted no thynge and by his vertu he repreuyd them and by his wytte he vnderstood theyr malyce whan he had enterprised thoffice of Inquysicyon thenne began be as a lyon to seche the heretykes ouer alle lefte them not in pees but in al places tyme al the maners that he myghte he ouercame confounded them whan the heretikes sawe that they myght not withstonde the holy ghoost that spake in hym they begaÌ„ to trete how they myght brynge hym to deth thenne it happed on a tyme as he wente fro câ—mes to melane for to seke the heretykes he sayd openly in a predycacion that the money Was delyuerd for to slee hym whaÌ„ he approched nyghe the cite a man of theretykes whiche was hyred therto ranne vpon hym and smote hym with his fauchon in the heed and gafe and made to hym many cruel woundes he that murmured not ne grutched not suffred pacyently the cruelte of the tyrauntes and abandonned or gafe hym self ouer to suffre the marterdom And sayd his credo and in manustuas commendyng his spyrite vnto the handes of our lord And soo the tyraunt lefte hym in the place for deed And thus tolde the tyraunte that slewe hym And frere Domynyke whyche was his felawe was sleyne wyth hym And after whan the tyraunte sawe that he remeuyd yet his lyppes the cursed and cruel tyraunte came ageyn and smote hym wyth hys knyf to the herte and anone his spyryte mounted in to heuen Thenne was hit wel knowen that he was a veray prophete For the prophecye of his dethe that he had pronounced was accomplysshed After he had the crowne of virgynyte For as his confessours wytnesse that in alle his lyf he had neuer doon dedely synne After he had the crowne of a doctour bycause he had ben a god fast ferme prechour and doctour of holy chyrche after he had the crowne of marterdom as it apperid whan he was slayne The renome herof came in to the cyte of melan and the freres the clergye and the peple came with procession with soo grete companye of people that the prees was so grete that they myght not entre in to the towne and therfore they lefte the body in thabley of Saynt symplycien and there it abode all that nyght and so he sayd the day tofore to his felawe the passyon of saynt Peter ensyewed moche lyke the passyon of our lord in many maners For lyke as our lord suffred for the trouthe of the feythe that he prechyd Soo saynt peter suffred for the trouthe of the feyth that he deffended and lyke as cryste suffred of the Iewes So saynt peter suffred of the peple of his owne contre and of the heretykes Cryste suffred in the tyme of ester so dyd saynt Peter Ihesu cryst was solde for xxx pens saynt Peter was solde for xl pounde Ihesu cryste shewed his dethe to his dysciples and saynt peter shewed it in playne predycacion Ihesu cryst sayd at his dethe lord god in to thy hondes I commende my spyrite right so saynt Peter dyd say the same There was a nonne of almayne of the abbey of combat which had a greuous gowte in her knee whiche had holden hir a yere longe more and there was no mayster ne physicyen that myghte make hir hole She had grete deuotion to saynt Peter but she myght not goo thyder by cause of hir obedyence and by cause hyr maladye was so greuous Thenne demaunded she how many dayes iourneye was fro thens to melane and she founde that there were xiiij iourneyes Thenne purposed she to make thyse iourneyes by her herte and good thoughtes she sayd for euery iourneye a hondred pater nosters and alwey as she wente forthe by hyr mynde in hir iourneyes she felte hyr self more eased and whan she come to the laste iourneye in her mynde She fonde hir self al guarisshed Thenne she sayd that day al the sawter And after retorned al the iourneyes lyke as she had gone by her thoughtes in her herte and after that day she felte neuer the gowte There was a man that had a vylanous malady bynethe in suche wyse that he voyded blood vj dayes contynuelly he cryed to saynt peter deuoutely as he had endyd his prayer he felte hym self al hoole and after he fyl a sleep he sawe in his slepe a frere prechour which had a face grete browne hym semed that he had ben felawe to saynt peter And verayly he was of the same fourme This frere gaue to hym a boxe of oynemente sayd to hym haue good hope in saynt Peter whiche late hath shedde his blood for the feyth for he hath helyd the of the blood that ranne fro the And whan he awoke he purposed to vysyte the sepulcre of Saynt Peter There was a countesse of the castel cassyn whiche had special deuocyon to saynt Peter
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 Thēne 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
bodyes as were bisâ—ten had tolde their comyng and whan they had been a whyle in englond and had conuaynquysshed the heretykes they retorned in to their contrees and propre places On a tyme it happed that saynt germayn laye seek of a malady in a strete and the strete was taken wyth fyre men counceylled hym to be borne thens for perylle of the fyre and thenne he put hym self ageynst the fyre and the flawme brente al aboute and touched no thynge that germayn laye in Another tyme he retorned in to bretaygne for the heresyes and one of his dysciples folowed hym hastely and fyl seek and laye doun in a towne there deyed and whan saynt germayn retorned therby he demaunded to see the sepulture of his dysciple whiche there was deed and dyd doo opene hys sepulture he callyd hym by his name and demaunded hym what he dyd yf he wold no lenger goo wyth hym and that other answerd and sayd that he was wel and alle thynges were to hym softe and swete wold nomore come here and the holy man graunted it hym that he shold abyde in reste And he remysed hym self in his graue and slepte in our lorde He prechyd on a tyme in the contre of bretaygne in suche wyse that the kyng of bretayne forbad hym his hows and his peple also Thenne it happed that the kynges cowherde wente to the pasture with his kyen and receyued hys porcyon atte kynges paleys and bare it to his lytyl hows Thenne wente saynt germayn and his felawshyp for to see where they myght be lodged And the cowherde brought hem to hys hows and sawe that they had grete hungre but he had not mete for them and hym this cowherde had but one calfe he slewe it and gaue it to them and they toke it debonayrly of the litel good that he had and whan they had sowped and sayd graces saynt germayn dyd do gadre to gydre alle the bones of the calfe and layed them vnder the skyn and after made his prayers to god anone thenne the calfe aroos al alyue hole as he was tofore And the next day after saint germayn demaunded the kynge why he had for bode hym his hows and the kynge was moche abasshed câ—ude not answere Thenne sayd saynt germayn to hym thou shalt nomore regne but thou shalt lâ—ue thy royame to one better than the and as they of saxon shold fyght ageynst the brytons and they sawe that they were but fewe sawe the holy man passe by they called hym And thenne saynt germayn and hys felowes prechyd so longe to them that they came to grace of baptesme And on ester day they caste of theyr armures and by grete desyre of feyth purposed them to fyght and whan the other herde that they purposed to goo ageynst them hardely for they were dysseuerd and saynt germayn hydde hym alwey wyth his peple warned hem whan he cryed alleluya they shold answer wyth one voys and whan the sayntes had cryed alleluya and the oâ—â—er had answerd theyr enemyes had so grete drede that they threwe al theyr harneys and armoures aweye and wende certeynly that al the mounteyns shold falle on them and also heuen so they fledde all afrayed On a tyme as saynt germayn passed by angustynence wente to the tombe of saynt cassyen he enquyred how it stood wyth hym he answerd to hym out of the tombe wherin he laye sayd I am in swete reste and abyde the comyng of the redemour he said to hym reste in pees in the name of our lord and praye for vs deuoutely that we may deserue the holy ioyes of the resurrexyon and whan saint germayn came in rauenne he was receyued moche honourably of Placyde the quene and of valentynyen hir sone and atte sowper she sente to hym a grete vessel of syluer ful of delycyous mete The whiche he receyued and gaue the mete to his seruauntes reteyned the vessel of syluer for to gyue to the poure And in stede of this yefte he sente to the quene a dysshe of wood or of tree a barly loof the whiche she receyued gladly and after dyd doo couer that dysshe with syluer and kepte it longe in grete deuocion On a tyme that the sayd quene had desyred hym to dyne wyth hyr he accorded therto gladly and by cause he was wery of trauayle of fastyng watchyng he came vpon an asse fro his hows vnto the paleys And anone as he was at dyner his asse deyed And whan the quene knewe that his asse was deed she was moche sorowful dyd do presente hym a right fayre and good hors and whan the saynt sawe hym so rychely aourned apparaylled he wold in no wyse take hit but said shewe to me where myn asse is For he that brought me hyder shal brynge me home ageyn and thenne he wente to his asse that laye dede and sayd to hym lete vs retorne home ageyn and anone the asse aroos shoke hym as he had rysen from slepe that he had no harme thenne germayn remounted on his asse and rode home But tofore or he departed fro rauenne he said that he shold not be longe in this worlde and anone after he became seek of the feuers the seuenth day after he passed vnto our lord And his body was born in to fraunce as he had requyred to the quene And he deyed aboute the yere of our lord four hondred xx Saynt Germayn had promysed by hys lyue to saynt eusebe bysshop of versayl that whan he retorned he shold halowe hys chyrche that he had founded whan saynt eusebe bysshop of versayl vnderstode that he was dede he wolde hym self halowe his chyrche and made to lyghte the candellys and tapres but the more they lyght them the more were they extyncte and put out And whan eusebe sawe that he apperceyued that the dedycacyon was made or he wold come and doo hit or ellys of somme other bysshop and whan the body of saynt germayn was broughte to versaylle assone as it was entred in to the chyrche alle the tapres were light deuynely Thenne Saynt eusebe remembryd the promesses of saynt germayn and that whiche he promysed lyuyng he wold doo hit beyng deed but it is not to be vnderstonde of the grete eusebe of versayl that this was doon in his tyme For he deyed vnder valente themperour and fro the deth of hym vnto the dethe of saynt germayn was more than fyfty yere fro that one to that other but thys was another eusebe xnder whome this said thynge was doon Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Germayn Here foloweth the lyf of saynt peter thexorcisce or deken SAynt peter the deken was bounden wyth chaynes of yron in pryson oâ— one archenne whos doughter was vexyd of a fende wherfore he was moche sorouful theÌ„ne sayd Saynt peter to hym that Ihesu cryste shold wel hele hyr yf he wolde byleue in
repreue them but had ben neglygent For thys reason Saynt Powle wold not accorde to receyue hym in to the companye of the other Neuerthelesse this departyng that IohÌ„n was thus departed fro the companye of saynt powle fro the other was for no vyce that was in hym but for the sharpenes enspyryng of the holy ghoost to th ende that they myght preche in dyuers places after that it happed after for whaÌ„ barnabe was on a tyme in the cite oâ— ycome a man with a clere shynyng vysage apperyd by nyght to this IohÌ„n aforsaid his cosyn sayd to hym thus Iohan haue in the no doubtauÌ„ce but be stronge vygorous For fro hensforth thou shalt nomore be callyd IohÌ„n but thou shalt be called right hye enhaunced whan he had tolde this to his cosyn saynt barnabe he answerd said to hym kepe the wel that thou telle this vysyon to no man for in the same forme he apperyd to me that nyght after when saynt barnabe saynt paule had longe prechyd in the cyte of antyoche thauÌ„gel of god apperyd to saynt poule said to hym goo hastelye in to Iherusalem for thou shalt fynde there somme of the brethern that abyde the thenne barnabe wold goo in to cipre to vysyte his frendys kynne that were there saynt poul wold goo to Iherusalem thus departed that one fro that other by entysement of the holy ghoost that so had ordeyned hit whan saynt poul had shewed to saynt bernabe thys that thaungel said saynt bernabe answerd to hym the wylle of god be done lyke as he hath ordeyned hit I goo now in to cipre more herafter shal I not see the for there shal I ende my lyf thenne he humbly knelid doun fyl to his feet wepyng saynt poule whych had compassyon of hym said vnto hym thyse wordes by consolacion Bernabe wâ—pe nomore for our lord wyl that hit be so our lord hath apperid to me thys nyght and hath said to me lette not ne gyue none empesshement to barnabe for to goo in to cipre for he shal there enlumyne many folke shal suffre there marterdom On a tyme that barnabas IohÌ„n yssued out of cipre founde an enchauntour named helyas whyche by his enchauÌ„tement had taken aweye the sight from soÌ„me after gyuen it to them ageyn he was moche contrarye to them wold not suffre them entre in to the temple after this barnabe saw on a day men wymmen beyng alle nakyd reÌ„nyng thorugh the towne made theÌ„ne grete feste wherof he was moche angry gaue his malediccion curse to the tâ—mple sodeynly a grete parte therof fyl doun slewe a grete parte of the peple atte last saynt barnabe came in to the cyte of salamyne but this enchauÌ„tour aforsayd moeuyd the peple gretely ageynst hym so moche that the Iewes came toke hym ladde hym thorugh the cite with grete shame wold haue delyuerd hym to the Iuge of the cite for to punysshe hym to put hym to deth but whan they herde say that a grete a puyssauÌ„t maÌ„ was come in to the cite which was named eusebyus was of the lignage of themperour nero the Iewes had doubte that he wold take hym out of her hondes lete hym goo and therfore anone they bonde a corde aboute his necke drewe hym out of the cite there anone brent hym but yet the felon Iewes were not satesfyed to marter hym so For they toke the bonys of hym put them in a vayssel of leed wold haue caste them in to the see but IohÌ„n his disciple with ij other of his disciples went by nyght in to the place toke the holy boones buryed them in an holy place theÌ„ne after that sichilbert sayth they abode in that place vnto the tyme of themperour zenom gelase the pope that was the yere of our lord vC after that thenne as saynt dorathe said they were fouÌ„den by the reuelacion of saynt barnabe hym self were fro thens translated in to another place saynt dorotheus sayth thus barnabe prechyd fyrst at Rome of cryste and was maad bysshop of mylane Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Barnabe Here folowtthe lyues of sayntes vyte and modeste and first the â—nterpretacion of theyr names MOdeste is as moche to saye as attemperate whiche is one of the cardynal vertues and two extremytees goon rounde aboute euery vertue and the vertue abydeth in the myddes thextremytees of wysdom been trycherye and folye thextremytees of attemperaunce been thaccomplisshement of al flesshly desyres and to doo after his wylle Thextremytees of strengthe ben feble corage and folysshe and thextremytees of Iustyce ben cruelte and defaulte And therfore modest was attemperate by the meane of vertues that were in hym Vyte is sayd of vyta that is lyf Saynt austyn in libro de trinitate deuyseth of thre maners of lyf that is the lyf doyng that apperteyneth to actyf lyf a lyf ydle that apperteyneth to ydlenes and a lyf spyrituel which apperteyneth to lyf contemplatyf and this grete manere of lyuyng was in hym Or vite is as moche to saye as vertu or right vertuous ¶ Of Saint vite and Saynt modeste SAynt Uite was a chylde moche noble that suffred marterdom in the age of xij yere his fader bete hym ofte by cause he despysed the ydolles but neuer for betyng ne smytyng he wold neuer worshyp them whan valeryen the prouost of lukes herde saye herof he made hym to come tofore hym whan saynt vite wold not doo sacrefyse for hym ne for his wordes he dyd doo bete hym wyth grete staues but the handes of theym that bete hym became drye the hondes of the prouoste also in suche wyse that they myght not bewelde them Thenne sayd the prouost alas alas I haue loste myn hondes thenne sayd to hym the chylde vyte calle thy goddes praye them that they helpe the yf they may thenne sayd the prouoste mayst thou hele me the chylde answerd I may wel helâ— the in the name of my lord Ihesu cryste and anone he made his prayer and helyd hym Thenne said the prouaste to his fader chastyse thy sone to th ende that he deye not an euyl dethe Thenne his fader brought hym ageyn to his owne hows and made come to hym harpes pypes al maner Instrumentes that he myght haue and after did do come maydens for to playe with hym and made hym to haue al maner of delyces that he myght gete to mollefye and chaunge his herte and whan he had ben shette enclosed in a chambre one day there yssued a meruallous odour and swete sauour wherof hys fader and the meyne meruayled and whan the fader loked in to the chambre he sawe two aungels syttyng by hys sone and thenne sayd he the goddes ben comen in to myn hows and anone after thyse wordes he was
wyth poles vylaynsly and whan they had so vylaynsly beten hym they put hym out of the cyte but the glorious frende of god bare ful pacyently thys persecucyon and made in a mountayn right nyghe the cyte a lytel lodge of bowes wherin he dwellyd a grete while and by day tyme he came and prechyd in the cyte and at nyght he retorned vnto his lytel lodge where he abode in fastynges and prayers in orysons Thenne whan he had been longe there had conuerted but fewe of the peple he wente ageyn to saynt peter to rome and whan he came thyder he fonde that he had suffred passyon on the crosse and fonde there Saynt clemente in his stede which coÌ„mauÌ„ded and counceylled hym to retorne in to the sayd cyte of xaintes and that in prechyng the commauÌ„dementes of god benygnely he shold abyde the palme of vyctorye for the loue of our lord that is to wete passyon and marterdom Thenne saynt clemente ordeyned hym a bysshop and also saynt denys which was come out of grece to rome many other brethern whiche saynt clemente sente in to fraunce and thus departed they fro Rome and arryued in the cyte of ancerre and there in grete loue they kyssed and enbraced eche other in takyng leue for to departe one fro another and tenderly wepte Saynt denys and his felawes came to parys and saynt eutrope wente to xaintes strongely confermyd fâ—rme in the loue of god alle prest and redy to suffre alle tormentes and moche constauntely prechyd the feyth in suche wyse that many were haptysed Emonge whome the doughter of the kynge of the sayd cyte whiche was named euscelle was baptysed whan hyr fader knewe hit he had therof soo grete Indygnacion that he put hir out of the cyte and anone as she was out for the loue of god she wente strayte vnto the lodge of the holy man and abode there Alwey the fader for loue that he had to his doughter was sory that he had put hyr out and sente oftymes to hir messagers for to come ageyn home to hym To whome she answerd that she had leuer for the feythe of Ihesu crist dwelle out of the cyte thenne to retorne in ageyn to sacrefyse the ydollys For which answer the fader was so angry and wroth that he wyst not what to do and dyd do assemble alle the bouchers of the towne and gafe to theym an hondred and fyfty shyllynges for to put to dethe saynt eutrope and that they shold brynge ageyn his doughter to his hows Thenne the day tofore the kalendys of maye they assemblyd wyth them many sarasyns came to the lodge of saynt Eutrope and fyrst they stonyd hym and after they bete this holy man with staues and scourges leded alle nakyd and after they cleuyd his heed wyth a bochers axe and sawyd hym wyth a sawe The mayde wyth moo other buryed hym by nyght in his teguryon or lodge and kepte hym in vygylles wyth lyghtes and in deuyne obsequyes as longe as she lyued A lytel whyle ater she departed out of thys world right holyly and was buryed besyde hyr mayster as she had requyred by hir lyf After thys a certeyn space of tyme they of xaintes edefyed ouer thys holy corps a moche notable chyrche In whiche alle seck folke of dyuers maladyes and sekenesses haue ben helyd and yet dayly been And also many prysonners ben also by the prayer of thys holy saynt delyuerd of theyr yrons as guyues boltes and other whiche ben hanged in the sayd chyrche in remembraunce that they haue ben losed and vnbounden by the prayers of Saynt eutrope Saynt denys wrote the passyon and marterdom of saynt eutrope in greke and sente it in to grece to his frendes that byleuyd tho in god by the handes of saynt clemente that tho was pope of Rome in exaltyng and glorefyeng the name of god whyche wythout ende regneth and shal regne amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Eutrope And begynneth of saynt Marcial IN the tyme that our lord Ihesu cryst prechyd in Iurye in the lygnage of beniamyn moche peple came to hym for to haue that was necessarye to them as wel of drynke as of mete and in especyall for to here and vnderstonde suche thyng as touched the sauacyon of the sowle On a day in the myddes of al the companye came a man that was of the sayd lygnage of beniamyn the moost noble of alle the Iewes named by his right name marcial and his wyf was callyd elysabeth whiche had bytwene them bothe a chylde of the eage of xv yere that was named also marciall whan they herde our lord Ihesu cryste preche whyche sayd in his predycacion Doo ye penaunce the royame of heuen is nyghe to them that doo penaunce And who that is not regenerate in water by the sacramente of baptesme he may not entre in to the royame of heuen Thenne by the commaundement of our lord Ihesu cryste Marcyal his wyf and theyr sone marcial whyche was a chylde replenysshed in holy doctryne were baptysed of Saynt Peter Thenne Zaches and Ioseph the which buryed our lord were baptysed also and many other of the people of the Iewes whiche were ouer longe to telle here alle theyr names whan alle thys was accomplysshed and that eueriche torned homeward to hys hows The chylde marcyal retorned not wyth his fader and moder but gafe hym self all ouer vnto our lord Ihesu cryste and put hym in the companye as one of his dysciples and helde hym a weye by Saynt Peter whyche was ryght nygh of his kynne and fro than forthon he was soo ensumyned and endoctryned of our lord and of Saynt Peter that he no thynge desyred so moche as for to accomplysshe commaundementes solytayrs After this saynt peter came to rome and prayed to marcyal that he wold goo wyth hym and thus as they had been to gyder endoctryned wyth one holy doctryne and of one merytorye dyleccion In lyke wyse that to gyder they receyue the comyn rewarde of the ioye perdurable thus as they wente they were accompanyed of somme dysciples of antyoche emoÌ„ge whome were alphynyen and austridynyen and many other whan they were entryd wythin Rome they were receyued of a man named marcelle at that tyme consul of the Romayns Thus as they dwellyd there god apperyd to saynt peter and commauÌ„ded hym that he shold sende saynt marciall in to the prouynces of gaule for to preche the feythe and the byleue to the peple whiche were in the bondes of the deuyl of helle Thenne Saynt Peter callyd to hym saâ—nt marcial and tolde hym alle by ordre that our lord had sayd and commaunded hym whan saynt marcyal herde that he began strongely to wepe by cause he doubted the ferre regyon and the peple whych had no knowleche of god whan Saynt Peter sawe hym thus wepe he began moche swetely to comforte hym in sayeng to hym my holy brother be not heuy ne
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 seruauÌ„t 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 coÌ„mauÌ„ded 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 â—e 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 sytâ—e 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 â—â—at she had and a storme tempeste trouâ—â—ed wynde and rayn aroos which 〈◊〉 moche the werkemen She 〈…〉 stretchyng on the erthe in orison 〈◊〉 prayer and our lord shewyd 〈◊〉 a fayr myracle for the rayne fyl 〈◊〉 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 raâ—ne 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 〈…〉 was so sory that she wyste not what to doo For there was no bysshop presente for to blesse hâ—t 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
backe shold be al to broken and his synewys to be drawen out and thys holy man gaue grete thankynges to god for the tormentes that were done to hym and also of that that he abode alwey in veray feythe The duc was moche moeuyd and angry comman̄ded that he shold be put in a brennyng furneys whan saynt vyctor was therin he made his prayers vnto our lord he was therin thre dayes hool wythout greuyng of ony fyre or flamme or fume and wythout ony dōmage and on the thyrd day he was founden hool and sounde after the duc dyd do take venym and to make by an enchauntour mortal mete and maad hym to ete it whiche mete thys holy man ete without ony greuaunce or hurte and yet he dyd do make by the sayd enchaūtour more strenger venym thenne he dyd tofore and gaue it to saynt vyctor whiche ete hit wythout ony hurte lyke as he dyd that other Whan the enchauntour sawe that the venym myght in no wyse greue the holy man he brente alle his bookes and renounced al worldely goodes and conuertyd hym to the feythe of god After alle thyse thynges the duc yet admonested saynt victor that he shold doo sacrefyse to hys goddes Whyche thynge saynt vyctor refused as he dyd tofore Thenne the duc commaunded that al the synewes of his body shold be al drawen out and after put hym in boyllyng oyle and after dyd doo hange hym by chaynes and sette vnto his sydes pottes alle brennyng but neuerthelesse he was alweye in suche wyse recomforted of our lord that he felte no payne Thenne the Iuge was moche abasshed And commaunded to take quycke lyme vynagre medlyd to gyder and made it to auale in to his throte and after dyd doo put out his eyen Thenne saynt victor said to hym spare me not for I am al prest and redy to suffre alle tormentys And thenne the tyraunte commaūded that his feet hynge vpwarde and soo henge thre dayes longe in suche wyse that the moste partye of the blood of his bodye ranne out at his nosethrilles And at the ende of thre dayes the other knyghtes came for to see yf he were deed and they that were blynde came and were nyghe hym by the prayers of this glorious saynt they were enlumyned ageyn and had their sight The whiche knyghtes whan they were retorned to the duc they tolde to hym thys aduenture how by the prayers of this holy man they had receyued theyr syght and that they lefte hym a lyue and hool Thenne the duc commaunded that he shold be flayne and in the mene whyle a wyf of a knyght named corone cryed wyth an hygh voys vyctor thou were borne in a good tyme and thy werkys ben blessyd for thacceptable sacrefyse of the holynes of thy thought the whiche our lord hath receyued in gree as he dyd the sacrefyse of abel whan this woman which was but xvj yere olde had sayd thys and other good thynges and wordes she put more to and sayd loo see ye not thaungels of paradys that brynge two crownes of whiche thou shalte haue the gretter and I the lasse and how wel that I be a feble vayssel neuerthelesse I haue ferme hope in our lord Ihesu cryste that he shal gyue to me his heritage and whan the duc vnderstode the wordes that she had said He commaunded that she shold doo sacrefyse to the goddes she answerd and sayd I am named corone thou requyrest me to lose my corone Whan the duc had herde hir answer he commaunded his knyghtes that by force they shold make two trees to enclyne and bowe doun that one ageynst that other and theron they henge corone and sodaynly lete the trees goo and so they dyd whome by the radour and force of the trees in spryngyng she rendryd hir sowle to our lord in ferme feythe and affyaunce of the lyf eternal And as the two said trees adressyd hyr glorious body abode in two pyeces on the grounde After that the duc commaunded that Saynt vyctor shold be byheded who at the smytyng of of his heed bledde mylke and blood to gyder whyche myracle moche people sawe whyche thenne byleueden in our lord Ihesu cryste Qui cum patre et spiritu sancto viuit regnat deus per omnia secula seculorum AMEN ¶ Thus endeth the passyon of saynt Uyctor marter Of Iohan and Paule COnstance the doughter of constantyn themperour had ij prouostes that one was named Ioh̄n And that other paule It happed in that tyme that gallycan whiche was duc and conduytour of thoste of the romaynes shold goo in batayle ayenst the barbaryns Whyche had taken dacye and the contray aboute he demaūded that cōstance doughter of thēperour shold be gyuen to hym in mariage for a rewarde Themperour wold wel as for hym But he thoughte it myght not be bycause constance after that seynt agnes had heled her wold neuer consent to be maryed for she had a vowed virginyte wherfor she wold rather suffre deth than enclyne therto but neuertheles the mayde that trusted in god said to her fader that at his retornyng fro the batayle yf he had victorye might wel be spoken of the mariage in hope therof she desired to haue ij doughters of gallican for to dwelle with hir that by them she myght knowe the better the maners of their fader she delyuerd to hym her ij pronostes Iohn poul to go with hym to batail which was so don thēne this duc went to batail was descōfyted fledde in to a cite of tharse anon the barbaryns assiged him thēne said seint Ioh̄n seynt poul make thyn avow to god of heuen that thou shalt neuer wedde wyf thou shalt veynquyssh thyn enemyees better thā thou hast thēne he dide after their coūseill on the morne a yonglyng that bare a crosse on his sholder appered to hym said take thy swerde com after me whan gallican the duc had takē his swerd he lede hym thrugh al hys enemyes to the kyng whom he slewe al the host was so aferde that they yelded them al to hym whom thēne he subdued made thē subgettis tributaries to rome whan he went by his enemyes ij knyghtes appered cōfermed hym in the faith after he becam cristē And retorned agayn to rome And was receyued wyth grete honour And thenne he prayed the Emperour to pardonne hym of takyng of hys doughter ¶ For he purposed neuer to haue wyf But kepe hym contynent and chaste And that plesyd wel to the emperour Thenne were hys two doughters also conuerted he lefte hys duchye gaf all to poure peple and hym self serued god dyd after many myracles In so moche that deuyls wicked spirites went out of the bodyes of creatures by his symple regarde syghte And herof the renommee and fame went fro the est vnto the west the
and as seynt lyne sayth he wold dyspute wyth seynt peter and shewe at a day assygned that he was god and peter cam to the place where the stryf shold be and sayd to them that were there Pees to you brethern that loue trouth To whom symon sayd we haue non nede of thy peas For yf peas and concorde wer made we shold not proufyte to fynd the trouth For theuys haue peas among them And therâ—or desyre no peas but bataile for whan ij men fyghten and one is ouercomen thenne is it peas Thenne sayd peter why dredest thou to here of peas Of synnes growe bateylles where ys no synne there is pees In dysputyng is trouthe founden and in werkis ryght wysnes Thenne sayd symon it is not as thou sayest But I shalle shewe to the the power of my dygnyte that anon thou shalte adoure me I am fyrst trouthe and may flee by the ayer I can make newe trees and torne stones in to brede Endure in the fyre wythout hurtyng And alle that I wyll I may doo Seynt Peter disputed ayenst alle thyse And disclosed alle his malefyces Thenne symon magus sâ—eyng that he myght not resyste peter cast alle his bokes in to the see lest seynt peter shold preue hym a magycyen by his bokes And went to Rome where he was hadde and reputed as a god And whan Peter knewe that he folowed and cam to Rome The iiij yere of claudyus themperour peter cam to Rome And satte there xxv yere and ordeyned two bisshoppis as hys helpars Lyne and Clete one within the walles And that other wythoute He entended moche to prechyng of the word of god by whiche he conuerted moche peple to the fayth of cryst And heled many seek men and in his prechyng alleway he preysed and preferred chastyte He conuerted four concubynes of agrippe the prouost So that thei wold nomore come to hym wherfore the prouost sought occasyon ayenst peter After this our lord appered to seynt peter sayeng to hym simon magus and nero purposen ayenst the drede the not for I am with the and shalle gyue to the the solace of my seruaÌ„uÌ„t paule whiche to morn shal come in to rome TheÌ„ne peter knowyng that he shold not long abyde here assembled al his brethern toke clement by the hond and ordeyned hym a bisshop and made hym to sitte in his oune sete after this as our lord had sayd tofore paule cam to rome wyth peter began to preche the fayth of crist Symon magus was so moche byloued of nero that he wend that he had ben the keper of his lif of his helth of al the cite on a day as leo the pope saith as he stode tofore nero sodenly his visage chauÌ„ged now olde and now yong whiche whan Nero sawe he supposed that he had be the sone of god Thenne sayd symon magus to nero By cause that thou shalte knowe me to be the very sonne of god coÌ„maund my hede to be smyten of I shal aryse agayn the third day TheÌ„ne nero coÌ„maunded to his broder to smyte of his hede and whan he supposed to haue byhede symon he byheded a ramme Symon by hys art magyke went away vnhurt and gadred to geder the meÌ„bres of the raÌ„me and hyd hym thre dyees ¶ The blode of the raÌ„me abode and congeled The third day he cam and shewed hym to Nero sayeng commaund my blode to be wasshen awaye For lo I am he that was byheded and as I promysed I haue rysen agayn the third day whom Nero seyng was abasshyd trowed veryly that he had ben the soÌ„ne of god Alle this sayth leo ¶ Somtyme also whan he was with nero secretly wyth in hys conclaue The deuyl in his lyknes spake without to the peple Thenne the romayns had hym in suche worship that they made to hym an ymage and wrote aboue thys tytle ¶ To symon the holy god Peter and paul entred to nero discouerd al thenchantemens and malefyces of Symon magus ¶ And Peter added therto seyeng that lyke as in Cryst ben two substaunces That is of god and man So is in thys magycyen ij substaunces That is of man and of the Deuyll Thenne sayd symon magus as seynt Marcelle and leo witnessen Lest I shold suffre ony lenger thys enemye I shal coÌ„maund my angellys that they shal aueÌ„ge me on hym To whom Peter sayd I drede nothyng thyn angellys but they drede me Nero sayd Dredest thou not simon that by certeyn thynges affermeth his godhed ¶ To whom Peter sayd ¶ yf dygnyte or godhed be in hym late hym telle now what I thynke or what I doo whiche thoughte I shalle first telle to the that he shal not mow lye what I thynk to whom nero sayd come hether and saye what thou thynkest Thenne peter went to hym and sayd to hym secretly commaund som man to bryng to me a barley loof and delyuer hit to me pryuely whan hit was taken to hym he blessyd hyt and hyd hyt vnder his sleue and thenne sayd he Now symon saye what I thynke and haue sayd and doon Symon answerd lat peter saye what I thynke Peter answerd what symon thynketh that I knowe I shal do it whan he hath thought ¶ Thenne Symon hauyng indygnacion cryed a lowde I coÌ„maund that dogges come and deuoure hym And sodenly there appered grete dogges And made an assaulte ayenst Peter He gaf to hem of the brede that he had blessyd And sodenly he made them to flee Thenne sayd peter to nero lo I haue shewed you what he thought ayenst me not in wordes but in dedes For wher he promysed angellis to come ayenst me he browght dogges therby he sheweth that he hath none angellys but dogges Thenne sayd symon here ye peter and paul yf I may not greue you here ye shal come where me shall behoue to Iuge you I shal spare you here ¶ Hec leo ¶ Thenne Symon magus as Egesippus and lynus sayen Elate in pryd auaunted hym that he can reyse dede men to lyf And it happed that there was a yong man deed ¶ And thenne Nero lete calle Peter and Symon And alle gaf sentence by the wylle of Symon that he shold be slayne that myght not areyse the dede man to lyf Symon thenne as he made his incantacoÌ„ns vpon the dede body he was sene meue his hede of them that stode by thenne alle they cryed for to stone peter Peter vnneth getyng scylence sayd yf the dede body lyue lete hym aryse walke and spelie ellys knowe ye that hit is a fantasye that the hede of the dede man meueth lete Symon be taken fro the bedde and the body abode vnmeuable ¶ Peter stondyng aferre makyng hys prayer cryed to the dede body seyeng yong man aryse in the name of Ihesu cryst of nazareth crucified And anon he arose lyuyng and walkyd thenne whan the peple wold haue stoned Symon magus peter sayde he is in payne ynough
may auenge them of theyr enemyes yf they be wroth Thenne demostenes patricyus seeyng that he wold doo no sacrefise delyuerd hym vnto a Centuryon thenne beyng crysten by whos prayer he went in to the strete of lepres And that he shold there hyde hym from the wodnes of the paynems But the peple folowed hym and bete hym vnto the deth where he abode and lyued by the space after of vin dayes And prechyd to hys dyscyples And thenne yaf vp hys spyrite vnto our lord and deyed and there was honowrably buryed aboute the yere of our lord lxx vnder vaspasian of this martir saith saynt ambrose in his preface appollynare most worthy bisshop was sent fro petâ—r prynce of the appostles to rauenne for to shewe the name of IhÌ„u vnto the paynems who didde merueyllous signes of vertues to them that byleue in Cryst And was al to rente torn wyth wode â—etynges of the wicked paynems And by cause the crysten men shold not doubte He dyde and performed merueyles lyke to thappostles after his tormentes he reysed a mayde from deth to lyf to blynd men he yaf syght and to a dombe man he restored his speche One that was vexyd wyth a deuyl he delyuerd He clensyd a lepre he heled the membres broken wyth a pestelence sekenes of another The symylacre of the god Iubyter wyth the temple he ouerthrewe O most worthy bisshop of merueyllous praysyng thou deseruedest the power dygnyte of thappostle O most strong champyon of our lord whyche in thyn olde age constantly prechest our lord IhÌ„u cryst redemer of the world Thus endeth the lyf of Seynt Appollynare Here foloweth the lyf of seynt Cristyne And first the interpretacion of her name CRistyne is as moche to saye as enoynted wyth crisme She had sothly the bame of good odour sauoure in conuersacion And oyle of deuocion in mynde and also the benedyction of grace CRistyne was born in tyre in Italye and was comen of Noble kynrede of fader and moder And by cause of her beaute her fader enclosed her in a certayn tour wyth xij chamberers to serue and awayte on her And ordeyned ther wyth her goddes of syluer and of gold and bycause of her grete beaute she was desyred of many noble men for to haue wedded her but her fader in no wyse wold gyue her to no man but wold haue her contynue in her virgynyte to do worshyp and sacrefyse to the goddes But she beyng enspired of the holy ghoost abhorâ—ed the sacrefyse of thydolles And thencence that was delyuerd to her to do sacrefise wyth she hidde it in a wyndowe and whan her fader cam the maydens and chamberers sayde to hym Thy doughter despyseth to offre to our goddes And sayth that she is crysten Thenne her fader prouoked her with swete and fayre wordes for to doo sacrefyse to theyr goddes To whom she sayde Calle not me thy doughter but thys to whom sacrefyse belongeth I wil not offre to no dede goddes but to god of heuen I offre sacrefyse of lande and preysyng thenne sayd her fader to her O my douyhter thou oughtest not to offre to one god leste the other be wroth to the to whom she sayde thou hast sayd wel not knowyng the trouthe I offre truly sacrefyse to the fader and to the sone and to the holy ghoost thenne seyd the fader yf thou worshyppest thre whi wilt thou not adoure the other To whom she sayd They thre be but one god After thys Crystyne brake alle the goddes and the gold and syluer she gaf to pour peple her fader thenne cam agayn for to worshyppe his goddes and he not fyndyng them demaunded of the maydens what crystyn had don to them And whan he had knowleche what she had don commaunded her to be despoyled and to be beten with xij men vnto the tyme that they began to fayle and were so wery that they myght no more theÌ„ne crystyn sayd to her fader O thou that wythout honour and wyth shame art abhomynable to god For they that bete me fayle and be faynt requyre thy goddes that they gyue to them strength yf they may Thenne be dyd do bynde her wyth cheynes of yron and dyd doo sette her in pryson and whan her moder herd that she rente her clothes and cam to the pryson and fil doun at her doughters feet and sayd my doughter Crystyn the lyght of myn eyen haue pyte on me To whom she sayd why callest thou me thy doughter wotest thou not wel that I haue the name of my god And whan she myght nothyng make her to torne fro her fayth She retorned to her husbond and tolde to hym what she hadde ansuerd to her thenne the fader commaunded that she shold be brought to fore hym in Iugement And sayd to her doo sacrefyse to our goddes or â—llys thou shalt suffre many tormentes and shalt no more be called my doughter To whom she sayd Thou hast goten to me grete grace For now thou callest not me doughter of the deuyl what is born of the deuyl is a deuyl thou art the sone of the same sathanas theÌ„ne he coÌ„mauÌ„ded that her flesshe shold be alle to rente and drawen with hokes of yron and her tendre membris be all to broken and departed fro other crystyne thenne toke parte of her flessh and threwe it in to the vysage of her fader sayeng O tyraunt take the flessh whiche thou hast goten and ete it Thenne her fader sette her vpon a whele and put vndre fyre and oyle And the flame yssued out so grete that it slew and brent vC men The fader ascrybed al thys werke to nygromancy and sayd she had don that by wytchecraft and commaunded her agayn to pryson and badde her seruauntes whan it was nyght that they shold bynde a grete stone to her necke and cast her in to the see and anon as they hadde so don Angellys toke her vp and Cryst descended and baptysed her in the see sayeng I baptyse the in the name of god my fader and in me IhÌ„u cryst his sone and in the holy ghoost And commytted her to mychel the arkangelle whiche ledde her to the londe and whan her fader herd that she was come agayne to londe he smote his forhede and sayde to her By what wythe craft doost thou thyse thynges that in the see thou excersysest thy cursed werkys To whom crystyne sayde O thou fool and vnhappy I haue receyued thys grace of crist Thenne he commaunded that she shold be put in pryson and on the morn to be byheded And that same nyght vrbane her fader was founded deed Thenne after hym folowed and succeded a wycked and euyl Iuge named dyon whyche dyd do make a tubbe of yron And dydde do put theryn pitche oyle and rosyn and sette them a fyre And whan it was redy he made Crystyne to be cast therin and made four men meue the tubbe that she shold be the sonner consumed
not answere Thenne he sayd to the kyng goo out and leue thy royame to one better than thou art And thenne seynt germayn ordeyned the cowherd to be gouernour of the royame Thenne as the saxons fought ayenst the brytons and sawe that they were but a fewe men and sawe the holy men passe by them they called hem and the seyntes prechyd so moche to them that they cam to the grace of bapteme â— And on ester day they cast of theyr armour and thrugh brennyng charyte of fayth purposed to fyghte whan that other partye herd that they purposed to goo ayenst them hardely And seynt Germayn hyd hym self aparte with his peple warned them whan he shold crye Alleluya that they shold answer Alleluya And whan the sayde seynt germayn had cryed Alleluya And the other had answerd Theyr enemyes had so grete fere that they cast away alle theyr armours and had wend veryly that alle the montayns had fallen on them and heuen also and so al affrayed fledde awaye On a tyme as seynt germayn passed by augustynence and went to the tombe of seint cassyen and enquyred of hym how it was with hym And he answerd hym out of the tombe and sayd I am in swete reste and abyde the comyng of our redemer and he said agayn reste thou thenne stylle in the name of our lord and pray for vs deuoutly that we may deserue the holy Ioyes of the resurrection And whan Seynt germayn cam in to rauenne he was receyued moche honourably of the quene placida And of valentynyen her sonne and at the houre of souper she sent to hym a right grete vessell of siluer ful of delycious mete the which he reteyned for to gyue to pour men And in stede herof he sent to the quene a dysshe of tree and a barley loof the whiche she receyued gladly and after dyde do couere the dysshe with syluer and kepte it long wyth grete deuocoÌ„n On a tyme whan the lady had boden hym for to dyne wyth her he graunted it debonayrly and bycause he was wery of traueyle and fastynges he rode from hys hostel vnto the paleys vpon an asse and whyles he dyned his asse deyed And whan the quene knewe that his asse was dede She was moche sorouful and dyd do presente to hym a ryght good hors of right grete beaute and grete whan he sawe hym so rychely aourned and arayed he wold not take it but sayd shewe me myn asse For he that brought me hyther shal bryng me home And went to the deed asse and said arise late vs retorne home anon he aroos and awoke as he had slepte and as he had had no harme and thenne Seynt germayne mounted on his asse râ—de to hys lodgyng but er he departed fro rauenne he sayde that he shold not belong in thys world and a while after he fyl seek of the feuers or accesse and the seuen day after passyd out of thys world vnto our lord and hys body was borne in to ffraunce lyke as he had desired of the quene and he deyed aboute the yere of our lord CCCC xxj Seynt germayn had promysed to seynt Eusebye whiche was bysshop of versayle that whan he retorned he wold halowe his chirche that he hed founded And whan seynt eusebe vnderstode that he was deed he wold hym self halowe his chyrche and dyd do lyght the tapres But the ofter they lyght them so ofte they went out and were quenchyd and whan Seynt Eusebe sawe this he apperceyued well that the halowyng was doon or ellys it shold be doon an other tyme or it shold be reserued to an other bysshop and whan the body of seynt germayn was brought to versayl assone as his body was brought in to the chyrche alle the tapers were lyght by them self by goddes grace Thenne seynt eusebe remembred of the promesse of Seynt germayne and that whiche he had promysid lyuyng He accomplisshed iâ— beyng deed But it is not to be vnderstande that this was the grete eusebe bysshop of versayl That this was don in his tyme ffor he deyed vnder valent themperour And fro the deth of hym vnto the deth of seynt germayn was more than fyfty yere But thys was another Eusebe vnder whom this thyng was don Thenne late vs praye vnto thys holy germayn that he praye for vs to god almyghty that after this lyf we may come to euerlastyng blysse in heuen Amen Thus endeth the lyf of Seynt Germayn Here nexte foloweth the lyf of Seynt Eusebe And first of his name EUsebe is sayde of eu whiche is as moche to say as good And sebe that is eloquence or stacoÌ„n Or Eusebe is as moche to saye as worshyp he had bounte in sanctificacion Eloquence in defense of the faith stacion in the stedfastnes of martirdom And good wyrshyppyng in the reuerence of god ¶ Of seynt Eusebe EUsebe was alway a vyrgyne and whyles he was yet yonge in the fayth he receyued bapteme and name of Eusebe the pope In whiche bapteme the handes of angellis were seen that lift hym out of the fonte On a day a certayn lady was esprised of his beaute and wold haue goon to his chambre And thangellis kepte the dore in suche wyse that she myght not entre and on the morn she went to hym and kneled doun at his feet and requyred of mercy and foryeuenes of that she had ben in wyll to haue made hym synned and he pardonned her debonayrly And whan he was ordeyned to be a preest he shone in so grete holynesse that whan he sang the solempnytees of the masses the angellys serued hym After this whan the heresye of the arryans had enfected al Italye and Constantyn themperour fauouryng them Iulyus the pope sacred Eusebe in to bysshop of versaylle the cyte the whiche helde the pryncipate of the other citees in Italye and whan the heretiques herd say that they shitte faste the doores of the chirche whiche was of our blessyd lady and blessyd virgyne seint marie thenne the blessyd saynt knelyd doun and anon the dores opened by his prayer Thenne put he out eugenyen bysshop of melan Whiche was corrumped of this euyll heresye and ordeyned in hys place denys a man right catholyque And thus Eusebe purged alle the chirche of thoccident And anastase purged thoryent of the heresye arryen Arrius was a preest of Alysaunder whyche sayd and affermed that cryste was a pure creature And sayd that he was not god and for vs was made that we by hym as by an Instrument were made of god And therfor constantyn ordeyned a counseyl at nycene where as this errour was condempned And after this arryen deyed of a myserable deth For he voyded alle his entrayles bynethe at this foundement and Constancien sone of constantyne was corrupte with thys heresye For whyche cause this constancien had grete hate ayenst Eusebe And assembled a counseyl of many bysshoppis And callyd denys and sent many
was wouÌ„den and wrapped in a clene sudary and was leyd vpon the bed and lampes brente full bryght aboute her Oyggnementes gaf a grete and fragraunt odour the louynges and preysynges of angels resowned And thappostles other that were there songe dyuyne songes And the Arke of oure lorde was borne in to Mount of syon vnto the vale of Iosephat vpon the â— heedes of the Apostles And the Angels wente to fore some And somme folowed the body And other conueyed her And she was accompanyed of alle the plente of the chirche And some of the Iewes herd hit in their euyl malyce descended doune fro the Mount of syon one of them whiche was a membre of the deuylle ranne folyly vnto the holy body And assaylled it for to haue cast it to the erthe drawyng hit with bothe hys handes both his handes cleuyd to the bere were departed fro the body lyke as two staues had ben sawed of soo he was lyke a tronke til that fâ—yth chaÌ„ged his thought And he waylyng soroufully repented hym they tâ—at bare the bere taryed made that Iewe worshipe touche the holy body theÌ„ne cam his handes ageyne in to their fyrst estate theÌ„ne was the body borne vnto the vale of Iosephat ther it was emâ—raced kissed songes songen of holy â—ouynges preysynges ther were wepte many teres theÌ„ne that holy body was leid in the tombe honourably but her sowle was not left in helle ne her flesshe felte neuer corrupcion And they sayden that she was the welle whiche neuer was dygged the felde not â—red The vygne not cut tholyue berynge fruyte whiche shalle not be holden in the bosome of the erthe For hit apperteyneth that the moder be enhaunced with the sone And that she mounte to hym like as he descended in to her And that she that hath kepte her virgynyte in her childyng ought to see no corrupcion And she that bare the creatoure of alle the world in her bely ought to duelle in dyuyne tabernacles And that she whome the fader had taken to espouse were kepte in the chambres celestyalle And tho thynges that longe to the sone ought to be posseded of the moder And alle this sayd Iohan damascene ¶ Yet of thassumpcion of oure lady aftir saynt Austyn SAynt Austyn sheweth autentyckly in a sermon of the right holy assumpcion of oure blessid lady sayenâ— we that haue begoÌ„nâ— to speke of the body of the Vyrgyn perâ—urable of thassumpcion of her blessid sowlâ— We say thus Fyrst that we fynde nothyng of her wreton syth that oure lord hangyng on the Crosse commaunded her to his disciple sauf that Luke recordeth in his wrytynges sayeng that all they were by one courage perseueryng with the Vyrgyne Marye moder of our lorde Ihesu cryste what is thenne to saye of her deth and of her assumpcion Wherof the scripture remeÌ„bryth no thynge It is thenne as me semeth to be enquyred thynge whiche is acordynge to trouthe withoute whichâ— Auctoryte is nothyng we remembre the condicion humayne We doubte not to saye that surely she wente to temporall deth And yf we saye that she is resolued in to comyn putrefaction in wormes and in to asshes or dust It behoueth vs to weye and thynke suche thyng as apperteyneth to soo grete holynesse and to the seygnorye of suche a chambre of god We knowe wel that it was sayd to the fyrst fader thou art poudre and in to poudre thou shalt retorne but the flessâ— of Ihesu Cryst escaped fro this condycion For his flesshe suffred neuer corrupcion Thenne is excepte fro this generall sentence the nature taken of tâ—e Vyrgyne And god sayd to the woman eue I shal multyplye thy dyseases and thou shat bryng forth chyldren with payne and sorowe But marye suffred neuer suche dyseases of whome the swerde of sorowe perced 〈◊〉 sowle But Marye childed withoute sorowe And thenne yf she were ouyte and had no parte of sorowe in childyng thenne ought she not to haue paâ—te of dyseases ne of corrupcion â—ut she is excepte of somme other generalytees by cause that the dignyte gafe to her suche seygnorye And though we saye that she suffred deth yet is she not reteyned with the bondes of dethe yf oâ—re lord wold kepe his moder entyer and hoole and the chastyte of her vyrgynyte Wherfor may he not kepe hâ—r withoute corrupcion of stenche of rotynnesse It apperteyneth thenne vnto the debonayrte of oure lord to kepe thonour of hys moder whiche was not come to breke the lawe but to accomplysshe it And in his lyf had worshiped hâ—r to fore al other by the grace of her conceyuyng And therfor we ought well to byleue that he honoureth her at her dethe wyth synguler saluacion and of special grace And rotynes and wormes ben but reproche of humayne condycyon And whan Ihesu cryst is oute of thâ—t reproche the nature of Marye is excepted the whiche is the nature that he toke of her For the flessh of Ihesu cryste is the flessh of Mary the whiche he bare aboue the sterres in worshypyng man aboue nature and in worshypynge more his moder yf he be sone of the very moder Thenne is it couenable thynge that she be moder of the same sone Not as to the vnyte of the Persone but to the vnyte of bodyly nature yf grace withoute propyrte of especial teÌ„porell nature may make vnyte how moch more theÌ„ne may the grace of corporall and especiall natyuyte make vnyte of grace lyke as the disciples in Ihesu Crist of whome he sayth hym self that they ben one as we be And after he sayth Fader I wylle that where I am they be wyth me And thenne yf he wyll haue with hym them that ben ioyned soo wyth hym in the feythe and that they be Iuges with hym what shalle thenne be iuged of his moder Where is she worthy to be but in the presence of her sone Therfor I vnderstonde and byleue that the sowle of marye be honoured of her sone by a right excellent prerogatyf possedyng her body gloryfyed in Ihesu Crist whome she conceyued And why shold not she possede her body gloryfyed by whiche she conceyued For so grete an halowyng is more worthy to be in heuen than in erthe The sete of god the Chambre of oure lord and the worthy tabernacle of Ihesu Cryste ought and apperteyneth better to be there as he is than els where and soo right precious tresoure is more worthy to be in heuen than in erthe And by ryght no resolucion of rotynnes maye not folowe so grete entyernes of thyng not corumpable And by cause I fele not that the ryght hooly body be not delyuerd in to mete of wormes I doubte to saye it And by cause that the yefte of grace incomparable surmounteth gretely thys estymacion that I fele that the consideracion of many scriptures admoneste me to saye trouthe God sayth somtyme to his mynystres
ne whâ—ther whâ—rof he merueyled and soo dyde al his houshold And the next dyner he sette a dellcate loof on the lord whiche anone the hound by his newe maner took aweye and bare it to Rocke and Gotard folowed after and cam to the lodge of saint Rocke and there beheld how famylyarly the hounde delyuerd the brede to saynt Rocke thenne gotard reuerently salewed the holy man and approched to hym but saynt Rock dredyng leste the contagyous ayer of the pestylence myght enfecte hym sayd to hym Frende goo fro me in good pees For the moost vyolente pestylence holdeth me Thenne Gotard wente his wey lefte hym and retorned home where by goddes grace he sayd thus to hym self alle stylle This poure man whome I haue lefte in the wood and deserte certeynly is the man of god syth this hound withoute reason bryngeth to hym brede I therfore that haue sene hym doo soo ought sonner to doo it whiche am a cristen man By this hooly medytacion Gotard retorned to Rocke and sayd hooly pylgrym I desyre to doo to the that thou nedest and am auysed neuer to leue the Thenne Rock thanked god whiche had sente to hym gotard And he enformed gotard besyly in the lawe of Cryst And whan they had ben a whyle to geder the houÌ„d brought no more brede Gotard axyd couÌ„ceyll how he myght haue brede for more and more he hongred and axed remedye of saynt Rock Seynt Rock exhorted hym after the text sayeng In the swette of thy vysage thou shalt ete thy brede and that he sholde retorne to the Towne leue all his goodes to his heyres and folowe the wey of cryst and demaunde brede in the name of Ihesu Thenne gotard was ashamed to doo so where he was knowen but at the last by the besy admonycion of saynt Rock Gotard wente to placence where as he had grete knowlege and beggeth brede and almesse at the dore of one his gossyb That same gossyb thretened sharpely Gotard and sayd he shamed his lygnage and frendes by this fowle and indecent beggyng And put hym awey beyng wrothe and scornyng hym For whiche cause Gotard was constreyned to begge besyly at the dores of other meÌ„ of the Cyte And the same day the gossyb that so had said to gotard was taken sore with the pestylence and many other that denyed almesse to gotard And thenne anone the Cyte of placence was enfect with contagyous pestylence and gotard retorned to the woode told to saynt Rocke all that was happed And saynt Rock tolde to gotard to fore that his gossib shold hastely dye whiche was done in dede And saynt Rocke meued with pyte and mercy beyng full seke wente in to placence beyng ful of pestylence And left gotard in the woode And though seynt Rock were sore vexed with the pestylence yet he with grete labour wente to placence And with touchynge and blyssyng he helpe and heled them alle And also cured thospytal of the same Cyte And he beyng sore seke and almost lame retorned ageyne to Gotard in to the wode And many that herde that he and Gotard were in the place of the desert valeye cam te them whome he found al with Rocke And to fore them alle he dyde these myracles the wylde heestes whiche wandred in the woode what hurte sekenes or swellyng they had they ranne anone to saynt Rocke and whan they were heled they wold enclyne their heedes reuerently and goo theyr weye And a lytel whyle after Gotard and his felawes for certeyne necessitees and erandes retorned in to placence And lefte that tyme saynt Rock allone in the valleye and saynt Rock made his prayers to almyghty god that he myght be delyuerd fro the wouÌ„des of pestylence And in this prayer he fyl a slepe And in the mene whyle retorned fro the Cyte And whan he cam and ioyned hym to Rock slepyng he herde the vois of an angel sayeng O Rock frende of god oure lord hath herd thy prayers lo thou arte delyuerd fro the pestylence and arte made al hoole And oure lorde comaundeth that thou take the weye towarde thy countre with this sodeyn voys gotarde was astoned whiche neuer to fore knewe the name of Rocke And anone Rock awoke and felte hym self al hole by the grace of god like as the Angel saide And Gotarde tolde vnto Rock how he had herde the aungel and what he had said thenne saynt Rock prayd gotarrd that he shold kepe his name secretâ— to telle it to noman For he desired noo worldly glorye Thenne after a fewe dayes saynt Rocke with gotard and his felawes abode in the desert enformed them alle in godly werkes And they thenne beganne to wexe hooly wherin he exhorted them and confermed and lefte them in that deserte valeye And saynt Rocke as a pylgrym doyng peuauÌ„ce entended brennyng in the loue of god toward his Countrey and cam to a prouyuce of bombardye called Anglerye and applyed hym toward almaynewhere the lord of his prouynce made warre with his enemy whoos knyghtes took saynt Rock as a spye delyuerd hym to thr lord as a traytour This blessid saynt alweye confessynge Ihesu crist was deputed vnto an hard and strayte pryson And the blessid Rocke pacyently wente in to pryson suffred it gladly where day and nyght remembryng the name of Ihesu commeÌ„dyd hym to god prayeng that the pryson shold not disproufyte hym but that he myght haue it for wyldernes penaunce And there he abode fyue yere in prayers ¶ In the ende of the fyfthe yere whan god wold that his sowle sholde be brouÈt in to the felaushyp of his sayntes and be alweye in the syght of god he that bare mete to saynt Rocke in to the pryson as he was acustomed euery day he sawe a grete light and shynnng in the pryson And saint Rocke knelyng on his knees prayeng whiche alle these thynges he told to his lord And the fame herof ranne all aboute the cyte soo that many of the Cytezeyns ranne to the pryson by cause of the nouelte of this thyng And there sawe and byhelde it and gaf laude therof to almyghty god and accused the lord of cruelte and woodenes Thenne at the last whan saynt Rock knewe by the wyll of god that he shold fynysshe his mortal lyf called to hym the kepar of the pryson and prayd hym that he wold goo to his lord and to exhorte hym in the name of god and of the glorious vyrgyn Marye that he wold sende to hym a preest of whome â—â— he deyd he wold be confessid whiche thynge was anone done And whan he hadde confessid hym to the prâ—est and deuoutely taken his blessyng he prayd hym that he myght abyde allone thre dayes next folowyng for to be in his contemplacion by whiche he myght the better haue mynde of the moost hooly passion of oure lorde For Rocke felte wel tho that the cytezeyns prayd the lord for his delyueraunce whiche thynges the
his doctryne and blessyd in glorye Possidonius bisshop of Calamente compyled his lyf as Cassiodore sayth in the book of noble men Of saynt Austyn doctour and Bisshop SAynt Austyn the noble doctoure was borne in Auffryke in the Cyte of Cratage And was comen of noble kynrede And his fader was named Patryce and his moder Monica he was sufficiently instruct in the artes lyberalle soo that he was reputed for a suffysaunt philosopher and a right noble doctour For he lerned al by hym self withoute mayster in redyng the bokes of Arystotle and alle other that he myght fynde of artes lyberalle And he vnderstode them as he hym self wytnessith in the booke of Confessions sayeng Alle the bookes that ben callyd of the artes lyberall thenne I mooste wretchyd seruaunt of al couetyses redde them by my self allone and vnderstode alle them that I myght rede and alle them of the craft of spekyng and of deuysyng Alle them of dyuysyons of figures of Musyke and of nombres I redde and vnderstode them with oute grete difficulte and withoute techynq of ony man this knowest thow my lord god For the hastynes of myn vnderstondyng and the yefte of lerynge is of the only and cometh of thy name but I haue not sacryfyed to the therfore And therfor scyence withoute charyte edefyeth not but swellyth in therrour of manychâ—ens whiche afferme that Ihesu cryst was fantastyke renye the resurection of the flessh And in the same errour Austyn fylle and abode therin nyne yeres whyles he was an adolescent and was broughte to byleue the truffes and Iapes that saye that the fygge tree wepeth whan his fygges ben taken awey or leues And whan he was xix yere of age he begaÌ„ne to rede in the book of philosophy in whiche he was taught to despyse the â—anytees of the world And by cause that book plesyd hym wel but he beganne to be sory that the name of Ihesu Crist whiche he had lerned of his moder was not therin And his moder wepte ofte and enforced her moche to brynge hym to the veryte of the feythe And as it is redde in the book of Confessions she was in a place moche heuy and her thought that a fayre yong man was to fore her that enquyred of her the cause of her heuynes And she sayd I wepe here the losse of my sone Austyn and he answerd be thou sure For where thou arte he is and she saw her sone besyde her and whan she had told this to Austyn he said to his moder thou arte deceyued moder hit was not said soo but where that I am thou arte and she sayd contrary sone it was not said so to me but where I am thou arte And thenne the moder ententyfly prayd and requyred a bisshop instantly that he wold praye for her sone auguâ—tyn And he beynge ouercomen sayd to her by the voys of a prophete goo thy way surely For a sone of soo many tâ—rys may not by possibilyte perysshe And whanne he had certayne yeres taught Rethoryke in cartage he cam to Rome secretely withoute the knowlege of his moder And assembled there many disciples And his moder hadde folowed hym vnto the yate to make hym abyde or elles that she sholde go with hym And he abode that nyght but he departed secretely on the morn And whan she apperceyued hit she replenysshed the eeres of our lord with clamour And wente in the mornyng and at euen to the chirche and prayd god for her sone In that tyme they of Melane requyred a doctour of Rethoryke of Symache the prefecte of Rome that he myght rede Rethoryke at Melan And that tyme Ambrose seruaunt of god was bisshop of that Cyte and augustyn was sente at the prayer of them of Melane and his moder myght not reste but dyde moche payne to come hym ¶ And fonde hym that he ne was very manachyen ne very catholyque And thenne it happed that augustyn beganne to haunte with saynt Ambrose and ofte herde his predicacions And was moche ententif to here yf ony thyng were sayd ageynst the Manychyens or other heresyes On a tyme it happed that saynt Ambrose disputed ageynste the errour manychyen long and condempned it by open and euydent resons and by auctorytees soo that this erroure was al put oute of the herte of augustyn And what byfelle to hym afterward he reherceth in the book of his confessions and seith whan I knewe the fyrst thou betest awey thynfyrmyte of my syÈte shynyng in me forcybly And I tremblyd for drede of good loue and I fond my self right fer fro the in a Regyon of vnlykelyhode lyke as I herd thy voys fro heuen on hyhe sayeng I am mete of gretenes encreced and thou shalt ete me thou shalt not chaunge me in the as mete of thy flessh but thou shalt be chaunged in me And as he reherceth there the lyf of Ihesu cryst plesyd hym moche well but he doubted yet to goo in suche distresses but our lorde anone putte in his mynde that he shold goo to Symplycyen in whome all dyuyne grace shone for to refrayne his desyres and for to saye to hym what maner was couenable to lyue for to goo in the weye of god in whiche that other wente For all that was done displesyd sauf the swetenes of god and the beaute of the hows of god whiche he loued And Symplycyen beganne to exhorte hym And saynt Augustyn exhorted hym self and sayd how many children and maydens serue in the chirche of god to our lord And mayst not thou doo that they doo in them self and not in their god wherfore taryest thou cast thy self in hym and he shall receyue the and rewarde the And among these wordes Vyctoryn cam to his mynde Thenne Symplycyen was moche gladde and tolde to hym how Vyctoryn was yet a paynym and deserued to haue a grete ymage to his lykenes in the markette of Rome And how he oftymes said that he was a cristen man To whome Symplycyen said I shalle not bileue it but yf I see the in the chirche And he answerd meryly The walles make not a man Crysten At the laste whan he cam in to the chirche he brought to hym secretely a booke wherin the Credo of the masse was bad hym rede And he ascended vppon hyghe with voys on hyghe pronounced it wherof Rome merueyled and the chirche was ioyefull And alle cryed sodenly Vyctoryn Victoryn And anone they helde hir pees for ioye And after that ther cam fro Auffryke a frende of Augustyn whiche was named Poncyen And recounted to hym the lyf and myracles of the grete Antonye that had ben dede before vnder CoÌ„stantyn themperour And by the Ensamples Austyn enforced hym strongly soo that he assailled his felawe Alippe as wel with chere as mynde and cryed strongly what suffre we what here we vntaught peple and folyssh rauysshe and take heuen And we wyth oure connyng and doctrynes plonge synke in to helle And
This fyue fold beaulte had saynt Iheroâ—me in hym self For he had spyrytuall in dyuersyte of vertues The morall he hadde in thoneste of his lyf he had intellectual in thexllence of purete He had the substancyell in brennynge charyte He had the celestyal in the perdurable and excellent clerenes or clartee He Iuged the speches and wordes his owne wel examyned in clerely pronouncynge The others beyng trewe in confermyng The fals condempnynge and confusyng And the doubteful in expownyng ¶ Of saint Iheromme IHerome was the sone of a noble man named Eusebe borne of the town Strydone whiche is in the vtter ende of Dalmace and of panonye he beyng yet a child went to Rome was there taught in lettres of grece latyn hebrewe he had for his techer in gramair Donate In Rethoryque Vyctoryn thoratour he was day nyÈt occupyed and exercysed hym self in dyuyne scriptures which he drewe coueÈtously And after shedde hit oute haboundauntly And as he wryteth in an Epystle to Eusâ—ochium that on a tyme as he red on a day plato And in the nyght Tullye desyrously by cause that the booke of the prophetes plesyd hym not he was aboute mydlente taken with a sodayne and brennynge feuer that alle his body was cold In suche wyse that ther was no vytal hete sauf a lytell whiche he felte in his breste And as thexequyes for his dethe was makynge redy he was sodenly broughte to the Iugement of god And there he was demaunded of what condicion he was And he answerd boldly that he was a Crysten man And the Iuge sayd thow lyest thou art a Cyceronyan and no crysten man where as thy tresour is ther is thy hert Thenne saynt Iheromme was stylle sayd no thyng And anone thenne the Iuge commaunded that he shold be sore beten thenne he cryed and sayd haue mercy on me lord haue mercy on me Thenne they that were assistynge our lord prayd hym that he wold forgyue thyis yonge man his trespaas And he thenne bganne to swere say lord yf euer I rede or here more seculer bookes I shalle forsake the And with the wordes of this promesse and oth he was late goo And anone he reuyued And thenne he sawe hym self al bywepte And of the stâ—okes of the betynges that he receyued to fore the Trone of our lord the tokens of the strokes and lasshes were sene on his sholdres ryght horryble and grete And fro than forthon he becam good and redde dyuyne bookes with as grete studye as euer he hadde redde the bookes of poetry and of paynyms And when he was nyne and twenty yere old he was ordeyned Cardynal preest in the Chirche of Rome And whan Lyberius was deed all the peple cryed to haue saynt Ieromme souerayne preest And whanne he beganne to blame the Iolyte and Lauays lyf of some clerkes and Monkes they had indignacion and despyte of hym and laye in a wayte to hurte and sclaundre hym And as Iohan Beleth sayd they scorned and mocqued hym by the clothynge of a woman For on a nyghte whan he arose to matyns as he was a custommed and fonde a womans clothyng lyenge by his bedde whiche his enemyes had leyd there And he wenynge that they had ben his owne dide them on and soo clothed cam in to the chirche and this dyd they that had enuye at hym by cause other shold wene that he hadde a woman in his chambre And whan he sawe that he eschewed their woodenes wente vnto Gregory Nazanzenne bisshop of constantinople And whan he had lerned of hym the hooly scripture and hooly lâ—ttres he went in to deserte where what and how moche he suffryd for Crystes sake he recounted to Eustochium and sayd that whan he was in that greete deserte waste wildernes whiche is so brente by the sonne that it gaf to the Monkes a ryght drye habytacâ—â— I supposed me thenne to be at Rome among the delyces and my membres scalded brente made drye and blacke lyke to the skynne of a Moryan or an Ethyope And I was alwey in teres and wepynges And whan the very slepe cam and oppressyd me ageynst which I ofte repugned thenne I leyd my dryed bones on the bare erthe of metes and drynke I speke not For they that were seke vsed only cold water And for to take ony thynge boylled or rosted it was to them lecherye and yet neuertheles I was ofte felawe vnto scorpions wylde beestes yet the carollis of maidens thembracementis of lechery grewe in my cold body and in my flesshe wherfor I wepte contynuelly for to adaunte subdue my prowde flesshe I rose at mydnyght alle the weke long ioynyng ofte the nyght with the daye and I cessid not to bete my brest prayenge our lord to rendre to me the peasyble pees of my flesshe And I also doubted my propre celle as feryng my consaytes and thoughtes wherfor I wente and departed wrothe and reuengynge my self passed allone thurgh the sharpe thycke desertes And as our lord is wytnesse aftir many wepynges and teeres It semed me that I was among the company of angels this duryng four yere Thenne his penaunce thus doon He retorned to the towne of Bethlehem where as a wise a prudent beest offryd hym self to abyde by the Crybbe of our lord And thenne his hooly byble whiche with studye he had translated and other bookes he redde and lad the daye forth with fastyng vnto euen And there he assembled many disciples vnto hym for to laboure there in his hooly purpoos and abode there in the translacion of holy scrypture lv yere and sixe monethes and remayned a pure vyrgyne vnto the ende of his lyf And how well that it be sayd in his legende that he was euer a virgyne yet neuertheles he wrote of hym self to palmacyen I bere vyrgynyte in to heuen Not for that I haue virgynyte but for I meruayle more that I haue it not Thenne at the last he beyng wery for to trauaylle laye doune in his bedde wherouer henge a corde on a beme wheron he leyd and helde hys hondes for to lyfte vp hym self that he myght done the seruyce of god as moche as he myght On a day toward euen Ieromme satte with his bretheren for to here the hooly lesson And a lyon cam haltynge sodenly in to the monastery whan the bretheren saw him anon they fled and Ieromme cam ageynst hym as he shold come ageynst his ghest and thenne the lyon shewed to hym his foote beynge hurte thenne he callyd his bretheren commanded them to wasshe his feet and dylygently to seche and serche for the wounde And that done the plante of the foote of the lyon was sore hurte prycked with a thorne Thenne this hooly man put therto dylygent cure and heled him And he abode euer after as a tame best with hem Thenne saynt Ieromme sawe that god hadde sente hym to them not only for the
helthe of his foote but also for theyr prouffyte ioyned to the lyon an office by thaccord of his bretheren And that was that he shold conduyte lede an asse to his pasture whiche brought home woode shold kepe hym goynge comyng so he dide For he dyde that whiche he was comanded ladde thasse thus as an herdman kepte hym wysely goyng comyng was to hym a right sure kepar defendour alwey atte houre acustomed he and the asse cam for to haue their refection for to make the asse to doo the werke acustomed On a tyme hit happed that the asse was in his pasture And the lyon slepte fast And certayne marchauntes passed by with camellys and sawe the asse allone and stale hym lad hym away anon after the lyon awoke and whâ—n he fonde not his felaw he ranne groynynge hyder thyder whan he sawe that he coude not fynd hym he was moche soroufull durst not come in but abode at the yate of the chirche of the monastery was ashamed that he cam withoute the asse And whan the bretheren sawe that he was comen more late than he was wonte without the asse they supposid that by constraint of honger he had eten the asse wold not gyue to hym his porcion acustomed said to hym go ete that other parte of the asse that thow hast deuoured fylle thy glotonnye And by cause thâ—y doubted they wold wyte yf he had so eten they went to the pastures of the Towne to see yf they couâ—he haue ony demonstraunce of the deth of thasse they fonde no thyng retorned told it to Ierome thenne he comanded them to enioyne hym to doo thoffyce of thasse thenne they hewed donne busshes and bowes leid vpon hym and he suffrid it payssybly And on a daye whan he had done hys offyce he wente oute to the feldes and beganne to renne hyder and thyder desyrynge to knowe what was done to his felawe And sawe fro ferre marchauntes that cam with camellys charged and laden and the asse goyng before them It was the maner of that Regyon that whan the people wente ferre with camellys they had an asse or an hors goynge to fore with a corde aboute his necke for to conduyte the better the camellys And whan the lyon knewe the asse with a grete rerynge he ranne on them soo tereybly that alle the marchauntes fledde And he so fered the camellys with betynge the erthe with his taylle that he constrayned them to goo strayte vnto th celle with al their charge and ladynge And whan the bretheren sawe this they told it to Ieromme and he sayd bretheren wesshe the feet of oure ghestes and gyue them mete And abyde ye the wylle of oure lord herupon And thenne the lyon beganne to renne ioyously thurgh oute al the monastery as he was woned to doo and kneled doune to euery broder and fawned them with his tayle lyke as he hadde demaunded pardon of the trespas that he had done And saynt Iheromme whiche knewe wel what was to come sayd to his bretheren Goo and make ye redy alle thynges necessary for ghestes that be comynge to vs And as he thus sayd there cam to hym a messager sayeng to hym that ther were ghestes at the yate that wold speke with thabbot And assone as they were come they knelyd to thabbot and requyred of hym pardon And he reysed made them to stande vp goodly And commaunded them to take theyr owne good and not to take aweye other mennes And thenne they prayde the hooly saynt that he wold take the half of their oylle And he reffused hit And at the last he commaunded to take a mesure of oylle And thenne they promysed that they shold brynge euery yere a mesure of oyle to that chirche and theyr heyres after them It was auncyently the customme that who someuer wold myght synge in the chirche soo that Theodosyan themperour as Iohan Beleth sayth requyred and prayd damase the pope that he wold commyse to somme wyseman of the chirche to ordeyne the offyce and ordynal of the Chirche And thenne he knewe wel that Iheromme was a man that knewe the langages of greke latyn and hebrewe and in all scyence and commysed to hym the seid souerayne offyce And thenne Iherom deuyded the psaulter by feryes and to euery ferye a nocturne propre he assigned And establysshed in th ende of euery psalme to be sayd Gloria patri And after he ordeygned resonably to be songen the epystles and gospels and alle other thynges appertenaunt sauf the songe whiche he sente from bethlehem vnto the pope whiche al was â—pproued and ratefyed of hym and of the cardynals for to be vsed perpetuelly and soo confermed After this in the mouthe of the spelunke or caue in whiche our lorde laye he dyd do make his monumente or sepulture And whan he had accomplysshed lxxxviij yere and sixe monethes he was there buryed In what reuerence saynt Austyn hadde hym in It apperyth in his epystles that he sent to hym In one of the whiche he wrote in this maner To his right dere frende moost best bylouyd and most clâ—ne in obseruynge and enbracynge of Charite vnto Iheromme Austyn etcetera And in another place he wryteth thus of hym Saynt Ieromme preest lerned in lettres of greke latyn and Hâ—brewe and in holy wrytynges approued vnto his last eage Of whome the noblenesse of his fair eloquence hath resplendyd from the eeste vnto the weste lyke vnto the clerenes of the sonne Prosper sayth also of hym in his cronyques Iheromme preest was in bethlehem somtyme clere to alle the world of noble engyne And lyued in translatynge and wrytynge of hooly scripture and with hyhe and noble studye seruyd the vnyuersal chirche He sayd also of hym self to Ambygen I neuer enforced me soo moche fro myn enfancye as for teschewe a swellyng courage and enhaunced heed and callyng ageynste hym the hate of god And euer I haue dred the sure thynges haue entended with al my herte to the Monasterye and to hospytalyte and haue receyued gladly al comers saufe Heretykes and haue wesshen their fete Isydore sayth thus in the booke of Ethymologye Iheromme was wyse in thre langages whoos Interpretacion is taken to fore other For hit is more holdynge and clere by wordes and it is interpreted of a very cristen It is wreton also of Iheromme in the dyalogue of Seuere disciple of saynt Martyn whiche was in his tyme Ieromme withoute the meryte of the faythe and dowayre of vertues is not only Instruct in lettres of latyn but in greke and Hebrewe soo that none ought be comparyd to hym in euery science the whiche had were perpetuel ageynst the wycked men The heretykes hated hym for he lefte neuer to Impugne ayenste them The Clerkes hated hym For he repreuyd their synnes theyr lyf But playnly good men louyd hym and
mayst happely knowe somme wordes that haue suche myghte and vertue And pawle sayde I shal write to fore the forme of the wordes whiche ben these In the name of Ihesu Cryste borne of the vyrgyne crucyfyed and deed whiche aroos ageyne ascended in to heuen and from thens shal come for to Iuge the world See And by cause that alle suspecion be taken awey Pawle seyd to Denyse that he hym self shold pronounce tho wordes And whanne Denyse had seyd those wordes in the same maner to the blynd man Anone the blynd man recouerd his syghte And thenne Denys was baptysed And Damare hys wyf and alle his meyny And was a trewe Crysten man And was Instructe and taughte by seynt Powle thre yere and was ordeyned Bisshop of Athenes And there was in predycacion And conuertyd that Cyte and grete paÌ„te of the regyon to crysten feith And it is seyd that seynt Powle shewed to hym that he sawe whanne he was rauysshed in to the thyrd heuen lyke as seynt Denyse seyth shewyth in dyuerse places wherof he speketh so clerly of the gerarchyes of Aungels of the ordres and of the disposicions offyces of them soo that it is not supposed that he lerned of ony other but only of hym that was rauysshed vnto the thyrdde heuen and hadde sene alle thynges He flouryd by the spyryte of prophecye lyke as it appieryth in an epystle that he sente to Iohan theuangelyst in the yle of pathmos to whiche he was sente in exyle where as he prophecyed that he shold come ageyne sareng thus Enioye thou veryly byloued very wonderfulle and to be desyred ryÈt well byloued thow shalt be laten oute fro the kepynge that thow hast in pathmos And shalt retorne vnto the land of Asye And thou there make there the folowynge of thy good god and the good werkes of hym and shalt delyuer them to them that shalle come after the And as it is sene and shewed in the booke of the names dyuyne he was at the deyenge of the blessyd virgyne Marye And whanne he herd that peter powle were enprysoned at Rome vnder Nero he ordeyned a Bisshop vnder hym and cam for to vysyte them And whanne they were martryd and passyd to god And Clement was sett in the see of Rome After a certayne tyme he was sente of the seyd Clement in to Fraunce and he hadde in his companye Rustyke and Elentherye And thenne he cam with them to parys and conuerted there moche peple to the faith and dyde doo make many Chirches sette in them clerkes of dyuerse ordres And thenne he shone by soo grete heuenly grace that when the Bisshops of thidolles moeued by stryf the peple ayeâ—st hym And the peple cam for to destroye hym Anone as they had sene hym they lefte alle their cruelte And knelyd doune at his feet where they hadde soo grete drede that they fledde aweye from hym for fere But the deuylle whiche had enuye and sawe euery day his power mynnysshed and destroyed And that the chirche encreaced and hadde vyctorye of hym and moeued Domycyen themperour in soo grete cruelte that he made a commaundement that who someuer myght fynde ony cristen man that he shold constrayne them to doo sacryfyse or tormente them by dyuerse tormentes And thenne he sent the prouost sysynnyeÌ„ of Rome to paris ageynste the Crysten men And fonde there the blessyd denyse prechynge and made hym cruelly to be beten bespytte and despysed and fast to be bounden wyth Rustyke and Elentherye and to be brought to fore hym And whan he sawe that the sayntes were constaunt and ferme in the knowlechynge of oure lord he was moche heuy and soroufull Thenne cam thyder a noble matrone whiche sayd that her husbond was fowly deceyued of these enchaunteurs And thenne anone the husbond was sente fore And he abydynge in the coÌ„fession of our lord was anone putte to deth And the sayntes were beten cruelly of twelue knyÈtes and were straytly bounden with chaynes of yron put in pryson the day folowynge Denys was leyd vpon a gredyron and stratched al naked vppon the celes of fyre And there he sange to our lord sayeng Lord thy word is vehemently firy And thy seruaunt is enbraced in the loue therof And after that he was putte amonge cruel beestes whiche were excited by grete hongre and famyne by longe fastynge And as soone as they cam rennynge vpon hym he maade the signe of the crosse ageynste them anone they were made mooste meke tame And after that he was cast in to a fornais of fyre and the fyre anone quenchyd And he hadde neyther payne ne harme And after that he was putte on the crosse and theron he was longe tormentid and after he was taken doune and put in to a derke pryson with his felawes And many other Crysten men And as he song ther the masse and communed the peuple our lord appyeryd to hym with greete lyght and delyuerd to hym brede sayenge Take this my dere frende For thy reward is moost grete with me After this they were presented to the Iuge and were put ageyne to newe tormentes And thenne he dyde do smyte of the hedes of the thre felawes that is to seye denyse Rustyke and Elentherye in the name of the hooly trynyte this was done by the temple of Mercurye And they were byheded wyth thre axes And anone the body of saynt Denys reysed hym self vp and bare his heede bitwene his armes as the aungels ladde hym two leghes fro the place whiche is sayd the hylle of the martirs vnto the place where he now resteth by his election and by the purueaunce of god And there was herd soo grete and swete a melodye of Aungels that many of them that herd hit byleuyd in oure lorde And Laâ—sia wyf of the forsaid prouost lubye sayd that she was Crysten And anone she was byheded of the wycked felons was baptysed in her blood and soo deyed And Lysbyen his sone whiche was a knyght at Rome vnder thre Emperours cam afterward to parys and was baptysed and putte hym self in the nombre of the Relygyous and the wycked paynyms doubted that the good Crysten men wold burye the bodyes of Rustyke and Elentherye and commaunded that they shold be caste in to sayne the Ryuer And a noble woman badde them to dyne that bare them And whyles they dyned this lady toke aweye the bodyes and buryed them secretely in a felde of heerys And after whanne the persecucion was cessyd she tooke them thens and leyde theym honourably with the body of seynt Denys And they suffred deth aboute the yere of our lord four score and sixten vnder domycyan the yere of the age of saynt Denys four score and ten On a tyme whanne Regulus the holy bisshop songe masse at Arelatence reherced the names of thappoostles in the canone he added and ioyned to the blessid martirs Denyse Rustyke and Elentherye whiche soo sayd many
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 â—usruris 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 theÌ„ne 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
prayers And anone he was delyuerd of the maladye ne neuer was seke after of that sekenes ne neuer hurte hym after by reason of that maladye ¶ Another myracle Allexandryne of Perouse had in her body a ryght felonnous deuylle whiche had soo vtterly power ouer her that made her descende from a rocâ—e that stode vpon a Ryuer of water and made her to flee ouer the water as she had ben a byrde and made her to lyghte vpon a lytell bough of a tree whiche henge ouer the Ryuer And cessid not to playe there Also for her synne hit happed that she lost her lyft syde and was lame of that one honde And she assayed moche yf she myghte be heled by ony medycyne but alle the medycynes that she took auaylled her not And thenne she cam to the tombe of saynt clare with grete repentaunce of hert And beganne to requyre saynte clare that she wold helpe her And anone she was heled and redressyd in alle helthe And her syde was hole and honde also and delyuerd of the possession of the deuylle whiche was in her And of many other sekenesses and maladyes to fore the sepulcre of saynt clare Of one beynge madde that she heled A man borne in Fraunce cam on a tyme fro the courte and fylle in a maladye that he was oute of his wytte and myght not speke and so demened his body that he myght haue no reste and was moche ouer straunge and hydous to loke on Noo man myght so hold hym but that he brake fro them maulgre them that helde hym and brake a sondre cordes or ony other thynge that they bonde hym wyth and they of his countre brought hym to saynte clare and anone he was hehed and wel delyuerd of his maladye ¶ Another myracle There was a man named Ualentyne despole whiche hadde an horryble maladye that he fylle of the fowle euylle wel sex tymes in a day And therwith he was lame of one thye soo that he myght not goo but was sette vpon an Asse whiche broughte hym where as saynt clare lyeth and he was sette to fore her tombe thre nyghtes and two dayes and on the thyrd day with oute touchyng of ony body his thye beganne romble and made soo grete a noyse that it semed that the bone brake and forthwith he was hole of bothe dyseases Of a blynd man that had his sight ageyne Iacob the sone of Spoletyne had ben two yere blynd so that he must be ladde For whanne he hadde no leâ—ar he wente here and there and on a tyme the child that lad hym lete hym go allone and he fyll so that the brake his arme And a grete wounde in his hede And hit happed on a nyght as he slepte by the brydge of Margue ther appieryd to hym in his slepe a lady and sayd to hym Iacobel wherfor comest thou not to me for to be hoole And on the morne he recounted hys dreme vnto two other blynde men alle tremblynge And the blynd men tolden to hym that ther was newely dede a lady in the Cyte of Assyse For who me god shewed many myracles to them that camen to hir tombe seke and dyseased And whanne they shold departe were alle hole And anone as he herd that he was not slowe but hasted hym and cam fyrst to polete And that nyght he sawe the same vysyon that he had fyrst sene that other nyghte to fore On a tyme he wente and ranne by the waye And for the desyre to haue his syght he wente that nyght to Assyse And whanne he cam thyder he fonde so moche peple in the monasterye And lyenge to fore the tombe of the holy vyrgyne that he myght not entre ne come in to the monasterye ne to the tombe where the vyrgyne laye And thenne he leyd a stone vnder his hede and abode there with grete deuocion sorowynge and angry that he myghte not entre And the same nyght as he slepte he herd a voys that sayd to hym Iacobel yf thou mayst come and entre here in god shall do well to the And on the morne whanne he was awaked he beganne to praye with grete teres that the peple wold gyue and make to hym waye for the loue of god And besought the peple cryenge them mercy that they wold brynge hym in And the peple beganne to make hym waye And anone he dyd of his hosen shone and despoylled hym by grete deuocion And he put his gyrdle about his necke and so wente to the tombe and there beynge in grete deuocion fylle a slepe a lytell And saynte Clare appiered to hym and sayd to hym Aryse vp for thou art all hoole And anone he aroos and sawe cleryly And when he sawe that he was enlumyned and sawe the clerenes of the day by the meryte of saynt Clare he preysed gloryfyed oure lord that had done to hym so moche bounte and prayd the good peuple to gyue praysynges and thankynges to god ¶ Of a man that was heled of his honde ¶ Ther was a man of Perouse whiche was named Good Iohan the sone of Martyn and wente for to fyghte ageynste them of Fulmes and as that one part and that other began the stryf and beganne to caste stones so grete and fast that this Iohan had his one hand al to frusshed and broken of a stone And by cause he hadde grete desyre to be heled he dispended moche money on maystres and surgyens but he couthe fynde none that coude hele hym but that he abode alweye lame on his honde ne myght do nothyng ne werke therwith wherof he had so grete sorowe that he hasted hym for to haue hit smeton of many tymes but whan he herd the grete meruâ—ylles that oure lord had done for saynte Clare he auowed that he shold vysyte her And thenne cam to the sepulture of saynte Clare the holy vyrgyne and bare thyder an ymage of wax in his hond and leyd hym doune vpon the tombe And anon he was parfyghtely heled of his honde ¶ Another myracle ¶ There was a man named petrius of the castel of byconne whiche hadde ben thre yere seke and was soo febled that by the strengthe of his maladye he was al dryed vp and hadde so moche payne in his raynes that he was becomen so croked that he went lyke a beest For whiche cause his fader ladde hym to the best maystres and medycynes that he myght fynde and knowe and also to suche as entremeted of broken bones the fader wold well haue spente all his goodes on the coÌ„dicion to haue his sonehool when he herdâ— say of the maystres that no physyque no man myght hele hym of his maldy Thenne he thoughte to go to saynt clare and lede his sone thyder And soo he dyde and leyd hym to fore the sepulture of the holy vyrgyne And he had not ben longe there but by the grace of god and by the merytes of the hooly vyrgyne he was al
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 whyâ—he 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 contyneÌ„ce 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 â—y 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 cloystâ—e 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 theÌ„ne 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
dore where as she sawe our sauyour Ihesu cryste with a grete multitude of aungellys whos beaute is Impossyble to be thoughte or wryton of erthely creature of whos syght this blessyd vyrgyne was fulfylled with so grete swetenesse that it can not be expressyd To whome our blessyd lady benygnely sayd Moste souerayn honour ioye and glorye be to you kynge of blysse my lord my god and my sone loo I haue brought here vnto your blessyd presence your humble seruaunte ancylle katheryne whiche for your loue hath refused al erthely thynges and hath at my sendyng obeyed to come hyther hopyng and trustyng to receyue that I promysed to hir Thenne our blessyd lord toke vp his moder and sayd moder that whiche pleseth you pleseth me and your desyre is myn For I desyre that she be knytte to me by maryage emonge al the virgynes of the erthe and sayd to hir katheryne come hyther to me and assone as she herde hym nempne hir name so grete a swettenes entred in to hir sowle that she was as al rauysshed therwyth our lord yafe to hir a newe strengthe which passyd nature said to hir come my spouse yeue to me your hande there our lord espoused hir in ioynyng hym self to hir by spirituel maryage promysyng euer to kepe hir in all hyr lyf in this world after this lyf to regne perpetuelly in his blysse in token of this set a rynge on hir fyngre which he commaūded hir to kepe in remēbraūce of this said drede ye not my dere spouse I shal not departe fro you but al weye comforte and strengthe you Thenne sayd this newe espouse o blessyd lord I thanke you with alle myn herte of alle your grete mercyes besechyng you souerayn lord to make me dygne and worthy to be thy seruaunte and handmayde and to plese you whome my herte loueth and desyreth aboue alle thynges and thus thys gloryous maryage was maad wherof al the celestyal courte ioyed and songen thys verce in heuen Sponsus amat sponsam saluator visitat illam wyth soo grete melodye that no herte may expresse ne thynke it Thys was a gloryous and synguler maryage to whiche was neuer none lyke before in erthe wherfore thys gloryous virgyne katheryne ought to be honowred lawded praysed emonge alle the vyrgynes that euer were in erthe and thenne our blessyd lord after this maryage sayd vnto the blessyd katheryne Now the tyme is come that I muste departe vnto the place that I came fro wherfore what that ye wyl desyre I am redy to graunte to you and after my departyng ye muste abyde here wyth olde adryan x dayes tyl ye be perfytely enformed in alle my lawes and wylle And whan ye shal be comen home ye shal fynde your moder deed but drede ye not for ye were neuer myssed there in al this tyme For I ordeyned there one in your stede that alle men wene it were your self and whan ye come home she that is there in your stede shal voyde Now fare wel my dere spouse and thenne she cryed wyth a ful pyteous voys A my souerayne lord god and al the ioye of my sowle haue euer mynde on me and wyth that he blessyd hir and vanysshed aweye from hir syght and thenne for sorowe of his departyng she fyl in a swowne so that she laye stylle a large houre wythout ony lyf and thenne was adryan a sory man and cryed vpon hir so longe that at the laste she came to hir self and reuyued lyfte vp hir eyen and sawe noo thynge aboute hir saufe an olde celle and the olde man adryan by hyr wepynge For al the ryalte was voyded bothe monasterye and paleys and al the comfortable syghtes that she had seen And specyally he whiche was cause of all hir ioye and comforte and thēne she sorowed morned and wepte vnto the tyme that she sawe the rynge on hir fyngre and for ioye therof yet she swowned and after she kyssed it a thousand sythes with many a pyteous tere and thenne adryan comforted hir the best wyse he couthe wyth many a blessyd exortacion and the blessyd virgyne katheryne toke al his comfortes and obeyed hym as to hyr fader and dwellyd with hym the tyme that our lord had assygned hir tyl she was suffycyently taughte al that was nedeful to hir and thenne she wente home to hir paleys and gouerned hir holyly in conuertyng many creatures to the cristen feythe of Ihesu cryste on whom al hir ioye was hooly sette and euer he was in hyr mynde so dwellyd stylle in hyr paleys neuer ydle but euer contynued in the seruyce of our lord ful of charite where a whyle I lete hir dwelle fulfylled of vertues and grace as the dere and synguler sponse of almyghty god And thenne in this mene tyme maxencyus that was thenne emperour and vycyous to goddes lawe and cruell tyraunte consyderyd the noble and ryal cyte of alysaunder and came thyder and assemblyd al the peple ryche poure for to make sacrefise to thydolles and the crysten men that wolde not make sacrefyse he lete slee this holy virgyne was at that tyme xviij yere of age dwellyng in hir paleys ful of rychesses and of seruauntes allone wythout parentes and kynne herde the brayeng and noyse of beestys the ioye that they made and songe and meruaylled what it myght be sente one of hir seruauntes hastelye to enquyre what it was and whan she knewe it she toke sōme of the peple of hir paleys garnysshed hyr with the signe of the crosse went thyder and fonde there many cristen men to be ledde to do sacrefyse for fere of dethe thēne was she strongely troubeled for sorowe and wente forthe hardely to the emperour and sayd in thys wyse And thenne demaunded they for what cause they were callyd from soo ferre partyes and the emperour answerd and sayd 〈…〉 a mayden none comparable to hyr in wytte and wysdom whyche confoundeth alle wyse men and she sayth that our goddes ben deuylles and yf ye surmounte hem by honoure I shall sende you ageyn in to your contreye wyth ioye And one of them had herof despyte and sayd by dysdayn thys is a worthy counceyl of an emperour that for one mayde yonge and fraylle he hath doon assemble so many sages and fro so ferre contrees and one of our clerkys or scolers may ouercome hyr and the kynge sayd to them I may wel by strengthe constreygne hyr to sacrefyse but I had leuer that she were ouercomen by your argumentes Thenne sayd they lete hyr be broughte tofore vs and whan she shal be ouercomen by folye she may knowe that she neuer sawe wyse man and whan the virgyn knewe the stryffe of the dysputacion that she abode She commaunded hir al vnto our lord and an aungel cam to hir and sayd that she shold kepe hir fermelye for she shold not be vaynquysshed but she
and take out my sowle fro this pryson and whan he had sayd thys one of the bouchyers smote of his heed Thenne the crysten men came pryuelye and toke aweye the body and buryed it honourably and he suffred dethe the v kalendes of decembre Thus endeth the grete passyon Of Saint Iames the marter ¶ Here foloweth the lyf of the holy and venerable preest bede THe holy and venerable bede was borne in englond whan he was seuen yere of his age he was delyuerd to benette bysshop of gyrwy for to lerne after his dethe he was put to colfrydus abbot of the same place and lerned prouffyted moche in holy lyf and connyng and the xix yere of his age he was made deken of Iohan bysshop of yorke and in the thyrty yere of hys age he was made preest Thenne began he to wryte and to studye to expowne holy wrytte where vpon he made many noble omelyes and not withstondyng his grete besynesse was dayly in the seruyse of relygyon as in syngyng prayeng in the chyrche he had grete swetenes and lykyng to lerne to teche and to wryte he wrote lxxviij bookes he acounted the bookes yeres fro the beygnnyng of the world in hystorya anglyeana In the book of polycronycon is reherced that is wonder that a man that was so wythoute vse of scole made so many noble volumes in soo sobre wordes in soo lytell space of his lyf tyme It is sayd he wente to Rome for to shewe there hys bookes for to see them accordyng to holy wrytte and to the lore of holy chyrche but herof somme doubte and saye that he neuer wente to Rome Also it is sayd that whan he was blynde he wente aboute for to preche his seruaunte that ladde hym brought hym where as were many hupples of stones to whome he maad a noble sermone and whan he had al fynysshed his sermone the stones answerden sayden amen Also it is sayd that he fonde a wrytyng of thre R and thre F ouer the yate of rome whiche he expowned thus the fyrst R betokened regna the second ruent the iij rome that is regna ruent rome and the firste f betokeneth ferro the second flamma the thyrd fame that is ferro flaÌ„ma fameque Also pope sergyus wrote a letter to thabbot colfrydus and prayed for to haue beda come to Rome for to assoyle certeyn questyons that were there moeuyd here is to be noted that how noble and worthy the courte of rome helâ—e hym whan so noble a courte had nede to haue hym for to declare and assoyle the questyons that there were moeuyd also we ought to holde noble and holy by the manere of hys lyuyng and his techyng he must nedes be vertuous and eschewe vyces that was so wel ocupyed in spendyng his wytte and thought in expownyng of holy wryte and his clennesse was moche seen at his laste ende For hys stomacke had Indygnacyon of mete seuen wekes contynuelly of drynke so that vnnethe he myght reteyne ony mete and was strayte and shorte brethed but for al that he spared not the trauayle of lecture and of bookes euery day emonge the detty trauaylle of seruyse and of psalmes he taughte his dyscyples in lessons and in questyons he translated saynt Iohans gospel in to englysshe and sayd to his scolers lerne ye my smale children whyles I am a lyue and wyth you I wote not how longe I shal abyde wyth you and alwey emonge he said that sawe of saynt ambrose I haue not so lyued emonge you that me shameth to lyue neyther me dredeth to deye for we haue a good lord on nyghtes tyme whan he had no man to teche thenne wold he deuoutely be in yrayers and thankyng our lord of al his yeftes The tewesday tofore assencyon day his dethe approched and his began to swelle he was howseld enoynted kyssed his brethern and prayed them al to rememembre hym and he yaue to dyuers of his seruauntes thynges that he had in pryuyte On the assencyon day the heer was spredde and he layed hym doun theron and prayed for the grace of the holy ghoost and sayd O kynge of blysse and lord of vertues that hast the prys and arte this day styed vp aboue alle heuenes leue thou vs not faderlesse but sende thou in to vs that byheste of the fader the ghoost of sothfastnesse And whan he had ended that he yaue vp the laste brethe with a swete odour and sauour and there he was thenne buryed but the comune fame tellyth that he now lyeth at durham wyth saynt cutberde There was a deuoute clerke whyche laboured in hys mynde for to make his epytaphye and in no wyse he coude make trewe metre wherfore on a tyme he wente to the chyrche and prayed god to gyue hym connyng to make a trewe verse And after came vnto his tombe and sawe there wryton by an aungel Hic sunt in fossa bede venerabilis ossa Thenne lete vs praye to this holy man that he praye for vs that after thys lyf we may come to euerlastyng lyf amen ¶ Here endeth the lyf of the holy Bede And here foloweth the lyf of Saynt Dorothe THe glorious virgyn and marter saynt dorathe was borne of the noble lygnage of the senatours of Rome hir fader hyght Theodore In that tyme the persecucion of the cristen peple was grete about rome wherfore this holy vyrgyn saint dorathe despysyng the worshyppyng of ydolles counceylled hir fader hir moder and hir two susters crysten and calestyn to forsake theyr pocessyons and so they dyd and fledde in to the royame of capadoce and came in to the cyte of cezarye wherin they set saynt dorathe to scole sone after she was crystened of the holy bysshop Saynt appollynare and he named hir dorathe and she was fulfylled with the holy goost and in grete beaute aboue all the maydens of that royame and she despysed al worldly vanytees and brennyd in the loue of almyghty god and loued pouerte and was ful of mekenes chastyte Wherof the fende hauyng enuye at hir blessed lyuyng prouoked and sette a fyre in hir loue the prouoste soo that he wold haue hir to his wyf and anone sente for hir in al haste and whan she came he desyred to haue hir to his wyf and promysed to hir rychesse or worldelye good wythout nombre whan thys holy virgyne vnderstood hys desyre requeste refused it and denyed it vtterlye and alle his rychesses settyng at nought and more ouer she know leched hir self to be crysten and that she had auowed hir vyrgynyte vnto Ihesu cryste whome she had chosen to hir spouse and wold neuer haue other and whan the prouoste fabrycyus herde thys he was nyghe fro hym self for angre and commaunded that she shold be put in a tonne of breÌ„nyng oyle wherin she was preserued by the power of hir spouse Ihesu criste that she felte none dysease ne harme
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 theÌ„ne 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 hâ—we hym in to smale pyeces the pyeces were caste to byrdes beestys to be deuoured but he was fyrst baptysed receyued the hoâ—y 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 yâ—londe 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 moÌ„ke 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 thyâ—â—â— 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 sâ—ace 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 sâ—yppe 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
mekelye our lord of theyr delyueraunce fro this grete perylle but they were in grete heuynesse by cause theyr vytaylles were nyghe spente but by the ordenaunce of our lord there came a byrde and broughte to them a grete braunche of a vygne ful of rede grapes by whiche they loued fourtene dayes and thenne they came to a lytel ylonde wherin were many vygnes ful of grapes and they there londed and thanked god gadred as many grapes as they lyued by xl dayes after alwey sayllyng in the see in many storme tempeste as they thus sayled sodeynly cam fleyng toward them a grete grype which assayled them was lyke to haue destroyed them ¶ Wherfore they deuoutelye prayed for helpe and ayde of our Lord Ihesu cryste And thenne the byrde of the tree of the yle londe where they had holden theyr ester tofore came to the grype and smote out bothe his eyen after slewe hym wherof they thanked our lord and thenne sayled forth contynuelly tyl saynt peters day thenne songen they solempnely their seruyce in thonour of the feste and in that place the water was so clere that they myÈt see al the fysses that were aboute them wherof they were ful sore aghast and the monkes counceylled saynt brandon to synge noo more for al the fysshes laye thenne as they had slepte and thenne saynt brandon sayd drede ye not for ye haue kepte by two esters the feste of the resurrexyon vpon the grete fysshes backe therfore drede ye not of thyse lytel fysshes and thenne saynt brandon made hym redy and wente to masse and bad his monkes to synge the beste wyse they coude thenne anone al the fysshes awoke and came aboute the shyppe so thycke that vnnethes they myght see the water for the fysshes and whan the masse was done al the fysshes departed so as they were nomore seen And seuen dayes they saylled alweye in that clere water And thenne there came a south wynde and droof the shyppe â— northward where as they sawe an ylonde ful derke and ful of stynche and smoke and there they herde grete blowyng and blastyng of belowes but they myght see noo thynge but herde grete thonderyng wherof they were sore aferde and blessyd them ofte and sone after there came one stertyng out al brennyng in fyre and stared ful ghastlye on them with grete staryng eyen of whome the monkes were aghaste and at his departyng fro them he made the horryblest crye that myght be herde and sone ther came a grete nombre of fendes and assayled them with hokes and brennyng yron mallys whiche rannen on the water folowyng their shyppe faste in suche wyse that it semed al the see to be on a fyre but by the plesure of our lord they had no power to hurte ne greue them ne theyr shyppe wherfore the fendes began to rore and crye threwe theyr hookes and malles at them And they thenne were sore aferde and prayed to god for comforre and helpe for they sawe the fendes al aboute the shyppe and them semed thenne al the ylonde and the see to be on a fyre And with a sorowful crye al tho fendes departed fro them and retorned to the place that they came fro and thenne saynt brandon tolde to them that this was a parte of helle and therfore he charged them to be stedfaste in the feythe for they shold yet see many a dredeful place or they came home ageyn and thenne came the south wynde and droof theym ferther in to the northe where they sawe an hylle al of fyre a foule smoke and stynche comyng fro thens and the fyre stood on eche syde of the hylle lyke a walle al brennyng and thenne one of his monkes began to crye and wepe ful sore and sayd that his ende was comen and that he myght abyde no lengyr in the shyppe and anone he lepte out of the shyppe in to the see and thenne he cryed rored ful pyteously cursyng the tyme that he was borne and also fader and moder that bygate hym by cause they saw no better to his correccion in hys yonge age for now I must goo to perpetuel peyne and thenne the sayeng of saynt brandon was verefyed that he sayd to hym whan he entryd Therfore it is good a man to do penaunce and forsake synne For the houre of dethe is incerteyn and thenne anone the wynde torned in to the northe and droof the shyppe in to the southe whiche saylled seuen dayes contynuelly and they came to a grete rocke stondynge in the see theron sat a naked man in ful grete myserye payne for the wawes of the see had so beten hys body that alle the flesshe was gone of and noo thynge lefte but synewes and bare bonys And whan the wawes were goon there was a canuas that hynge ouer hys heed whyche bete hys body ful sore wyth the blowyng of the wynde and also there were two oxe tonges and a grete stone that he satte on whyche dyd hym ful grete ease and thenne Saynt brandon chargyd hym to telle hym what he was And he sayd my name is Iudas that solde our lord Ihesu cryst for xxx pens whiche sytteth here thus wretchydlye how be it I am worthy to be in the grettest payne that is but our lord is so mercyful that he hath rewarded me better thenne I haue deserued For of ryght my place is in the brennyng hell but I am here but certeyn tymes of the yere that is fro crystemasse to twelfth day and fro ester tyl whytsontyde be paste and euery festeful day of our lady and euery satyrday none tyl sonday that euensonge be doon but all other tymes I lye stylle in helle in ful brennyng fyre wyth pylate herode cayphas Therfore acursed be the tyme that euer I knewe hem and thenne Iudas prayed saynt brandon to abyde stylle there al that nyght and that he wold kepe hym there stylle that the fendes shold not fetche hym to helle and he said with goddes helpe thou shalte abyde here alle this nyght and thenne he asked Iudas what cloth that was that henge ouer his heed and he sayd it was a clothe that he gaue to a lepre whiche was boughte wyth the money that he stale fro our lord whan I bare his purs wherfore it dothe to me ful grete peyne now in betyng my face wyth the blowyng of the wynde and these two oxe tonges that hange here aboue me I gafe them somtyme to two prestys to praye for me them I boughte wyth myn owne money and therfore they ease me by cause the fisshes of the see gnawe on them spare me and this stone that I sytte on laye somtyme in a desolate place where it eased no man and I toke it thens leyed it in a fowle waye where it dyd moche ease to them that wente by that waye and therfore it easeth me now for euery good dede shal be rewarded
and euery euyl dede shal be punyssled and the sonday ageynst euen ther came a grete multytude of fendes blastyng and roryng and bad saynt brandon goo thens that they myght haue theyr seruaunte Iudas for we dare not come in the presence of our mayster but yf we brynge hym to helle with vs and thenne sayd saynt brandon I lete not you to do your maysters commaundemente but by the power of our lord Ihesu I charge you to leue hym thys nyght tyl to morowe how darest thou helpe hym that so solde his mayster for thyrty pens to the Iewes and caused hym also to deye the moste shameful dethe vpon the crosse and thenne saynt brandon charged the fendes by his passyon that they shold not noye hym that nyght thenne the fendes wente theyr weye roryng cryeng towarde helle to their mayster the grete deuyll thenne Iudas thanked saunt brandon soo ruthefully thot it was pyte to see on the morne the fendes came wyth an horryble noyse sayeng that they had that nyght suffred grete payn by cause they broughte not Iudas sayden that he shold suffre double payn the vj dayes folowyng and they toke thenne Iudas tremblyng for fere with them to payne and after saynt brandon saylled southward thre dayes and thre nyghtes and on the fryday they sawe an yle londe and thenne Saynt brandon began to syghe and sayd I see the ylonde wherin saynt poule thermyte dwellyth and hath dwellyd there xl yere wythout mete and drynke ordeyned by mannes honde and whan they came to the londe saint poule came and welcomed them humbly he was olde and forgrowen so that no man myght see his body of whome saynt brandon said wepynge now I see a man that lyueth more lyke an aungel thenne a man wherfore we wretches may be ashamed that we lyue not better Thenne Saynt Poule sayd to Saynt brandon thou arte better thenne I for our lord hath shewed to the moo of his preuytes thenne he hath doon to me Wherfore thou oughtest to be more praysed than I To whome saynt brandon sayd we ben monkes and must labour for our mete but god hath prouyded for the suche mete as thou holdest the plesed wherfore thou arte moche better than I To whome Saynt poule sayd somtyme I was a monke of Saynt patrykes abbey in yrelonde and was wardeyn of the place where as men entre in to saynt patrykes purgatorye and on a day there came one to me and I asked hym what he was and he sayd I am your abbot Patryke and charge the that thou departe from hens to morne erly to the see syde and there thou shalt fynde a shyppe in to whiche thou muste entre whiche god hath ordeyned for the whos wylle thou must accomplysshe and so the nexte day I aroos and wente forthe and fonde the shyppe in whiche I entred and by the purueaunce of god w I as brought in to this ylonde the seuenth day after and thenne I lefte the shyppe wente to londe and there I walked vp and doun a good whyle and thenne by the purueaunce of god there came an otter gooyng on his hyndre feet and brought me a flynte stone an yron to smyte fyre wyth in his two fore clawes of his feet and also he had aboute his necke grete plente of fysshe whiche he caste doun before me wente his waye and I smote fyre and made a fyre of styckes and dyd sethe the fysshe by whyche I lyued thre dapes and thenne the ottyr came ageyn and brought to me fisshe for other iij dayes and thus he hath done this lj yere thorugh the grace of god and there was a grete stone out of whiche our lord made to sprynge fayr water clere and swete wherof I drynke dayly thus haue I lyued one and fyfty yere and I was fourty yere olde whan I came hyther and am now an hondred and xj yere olde and abyde tyl it please our lord to sende for me and yf it plesyd hym I wold fayn be dyschargyd of thys wretched lyf and thenne he bad saynt brandon to take of the water of the welle and to carye in to hys shyppe for it is tyme that thou departe for thou hast a grete iourneye to doo for thou shalt sayle to an ylonde whiche is fourty dayes sayllyng hens where thou shalte holde thyn ester lyke as thou hast doon tofore where as the tree of byrdes is and fro thens thou shalte sayle in to the londe of byheest and shalte abyde there fourty dayes and after retorne home in to thy contre in saufete And thenne thyse holy men toke leue eche of other they wepte bothe ful sore and kyssed eche other thenne saynt brandon entryd in to his shyppe and sayled xl dayes euyn southe in ful grete tempeste and on ester euen cam to theyr procuratour whiche maad to them good chere as he had before tyme and from thens they came to the grete fysshe wheron they sayd matyns and masse on ester day and whan the masse was doon the fysshe began to meue and swāme forth faste in to the see wherof the monkes were sore agaste whiche stode vpon hym for it was a grete meruayl to see suche a fysshe as grete as alle a contre for to swymme so faste in the water but by the wylle of our lord this fysshe sette al the monkes a londe in the paradys of byrdes all hole and sounde and thenne retornyd to the place he came fro and thenne Saynt brandon and his monkes thankyd our lord of theyr delyueraunce of the grete fysshe and kepte theyr estertyde tyl trynyte sonday lyke as they had doon before tyme and after this they took theyr shyppe and saylled eest xl dayes and at the fourty dayes ende it began to hayle ryght faste therwyth came a derke myste whiche lasted longe after whyche feryd Saynt brandon and 〈◊〉 monkes prayed to our lord to kepe and helpe them and thenne anone came theyr procuratour and bad them to be of good chere for they were come in to the londe of byheest and sone after that myste passed aweye and anone they sawe the fayrest contre eestward that ony man myght see and was so clere bright that is was an heuenly syght to beholde and al the trees were charged wyth rype fruyte and herbes ful of floures In whyche londe they walked fourty dayes but they coude see none ende of that londe and there was alweye day and neuer nyght and the londe attemperate ne to hote ne to colde and at the laste they came to a fayr ryuer but they durste not goo ouer there came to them a fayre yonge man and welcomed them curtoysly and called eche of them by his name dyd grete reuerence to saynt brandon and sayd to them be ye now ioyeful for thys is the londe that ye haue soughte but our lord wyl that ye departe hens hastelye and he wyl shewe to you more of
hys secretes whan ye come ageyn in to the see and our lord wyl that ye lade your shyppe wyth the fruyte of thys londe and hye you hens for ye may no lenger abyde here but thou shalte sayle ageyn in to thyn owne contree and sone after thou comest home thou shalt deye and thys water that thou seest here departeth the world a sondre for on that other syde of thys water may no man come that is in thys lyf and the fruyte that ye see here is alle waye thus rype euery tyme of the yere and alwey it is here lyght as ye now see and he that kepeth our lordes hestys at al tymes shal see thys londe or he passe out of thys world And thenne saynt brandon and his monkes toke of that fruyte as moche as they wolde and also toke with them grete plente of precyous stones and thenne toke theyr loue and wente to shyppe wepyng sore by cause they myght no lenger abyde there and thenne they toke theyr shyppe and came home in to yrelonde in saufete whome theyr brethern receyued wyth grece ioye gyuyng thankynges to our lord whiche had kepte them al that seuen yere fro many a peryl and brouÈt them home in saufete To whome be yeuen honour glorye world without ende amen And sone after this holy man Saynt brandon wexe feble and seek and had but lytel ioye of thys world But euer after his ioye mynde was in the ioyes of heuen and in shorte tyme after he beyng ful of vertues departed out of thys lyf to euerlastyng lyf And was worshypfully buryed in a fayr abbey whiche he hym self founded Where our lord shewyth for thys holy saynt many fayr myracles Wherfore lete vs deuoutely praye to thys holy saynt that he praye for vs to our lord that he haue mercy on vs to whome be gyuen lawde honour and empyre world withouten ende amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Brandon And here foloweth the lyf of saint erkenwolde bysshop SAynt erkenwolde was borne of noble lygnage Hys fader was named offa and was kyng of eest englond and he had also a suster named alburgh whiche Erkenwolde and alburgh were of right parfyte lyf and how be it that theyr fader was a paynym yet were thyse two chyldren crysten whan erkenwolde was in parfyte age he wente in to relygyon and was made first abbot of chirchesey where he lyued an holy lyf and after he was made bysshop of london his suster alburgh was his trewe folower in good werkys and was a woman of relygyon and for hir holy lyf she was made abbesse of berkynge Thys holy man by the Informacion of saynt Austyn mellyte was enformed in the feythe in suche wyse that he vtterly forsoke the world ordeyned and buylded ij monasteryes one for hym selfe at chyrcheseye another for hys suster at barkyng whiche after hir baptesme was named ethelburga and saynt erkenwolde counceylled his suster to flee worldely vanytees and so he dyd hym self and gaue hym in to deuyne contemplacyon gaue gladly suche goodes as he had besyde them that he spente in the fondacyon and buyldyng of the sayd monasteryes to poure peple and he chaunged his erthely herytage his worldly dygnyte and hys grete patrymonye in to the herytage and lyuelode of holy chirche for to haue hys herytage in heuen and he dyd al thyse expencis or he was called to be bysshop of london and the holy theodore archebysshop of caunterburye dyd do consecrate hym bysshop of london and hys suster was sette in berkyng with other vyrgynes for to be alweye ocupyd in the seruyce of our lord and it happed on a tyme as thartyfycers that bylded the monasterye at berkynge were ouer seen in takyng the mesure of a pryncipal beme for it was to shorte wolde not accorde to the place that it was ordeyned for wherfore they made moche sorowe Thenne this holy man saynt erkenwolde and his suster seyng thys mysfortune toke the same beme bytwene theyr hondes and drewe it out in suche wyse that it had suffycyente lengthe and accorded vnto the propre place that it was ordeyned to whiche myracle was anone knowen openlye to the people and at that tyme were noo nonnes in englonde wherfore saint erkenwolde sente ouer see for a deuoute relygyous woman named hyldelyth to whome he bytoke his suster for to be enformed in the relygyon as wel in connyng as in good maners and vertuous doctryne in which she prouffyted in suche wyse that she passed all hir felawes in connyng sone after she was made abbesse and chyef of al the monasterye and it happed sone after that the bysshop of london deyed whos name was cedda by consente of the kynge and alle the people thys holy man of god erkenwolde was bysshop of london and what someuer he taughte in worde he fulfylled it in dede for he was parfyte in wysedom softe and dyscrete in worde bysy in prayer chaast of body hooly yeuen to goddes lore and was planted in the rote of charyte and afterward whan he had suffred moche trybulacion wyth many ghoostly bataylles he began to waxe ryght seek and thenne he commaunded to make redy his chare that he myght goo and preche in the cytee the Worde of god wherfore it was kepte in custome longe tyme after of his dyscyples and many other to touche hym and kysse hym and what someuer sekenesse that they had they were anone delyuerd therof and were made parfytelye hool In a day of somer as thys blessyd saynt saynt erkenwolde rode in hys chare for to preche the word of god It fortuned that the one whele of the chare fyl of fro the axtre and that notwythstondyng the chare went forth right wythout fallyng whyche was ageyn nature and reson and a fayre myracle for god guyded the chare it was meruaylle to alle them that sawe it ¶ O mercyable god and meruayllous aboue al thyng to whom alle brute beestys be made meke and wylde thynges been obedyente thou vouchesauf to calle to thy mercy thy blessyd seruaunte to make hym partable of thy excellente ioye thou yeue vs grace by his prayer which knewe by reuelacyon that his sowle shold be losed from the body by temporall dethe to be preserued fro al manere euyl and euerlastyng dethe whan thys blessyd saynt erkenwolde as god wold came to berkyng he fyl in to a grete sekenesse in whiche he ended his temporalle lyf for soo moche as he knewe it before he sente for his seruauntes and suche as were drawyng to hym yaue to them holsom and swete lessons and blessyd them with grete deuocyon emonge them he yelded vp hys spyrite to almyghty god in whos passyng was felte a merueyllous swete odour as the hous had be ful of swete bawme And whan the hyghe channons of Saynt Powles at london herde thys and the monkys of chyrcheseye also anone they came to this holy body for to
he toke them alle and dyd do brenne them after thys Innocente the thyrd crowned Otto emperour and toke of hym an othe that he shold kepe the ryghte of holy chyrche and anone he dyd ageynste his othe that same day and dyd doo robbe despoyle them that cam to rome on pylgremage wherfore the pope cursyd hym and deposed hym fro the empyre In that tyme was saynt elysabeth doughter of the kyng of hongary whiche was wyf to the lantgraue of thurynge and hessyn which emonge other Innumerable myracles she reysed xvj dede men and gaue syght to one that was borne blynde Out of whos body oylle floweth vnto thys day Whan otto was deposed Frederyke sone of henry was chosen and was crowned of honorye the pope And thys man made ryght noble lawes for the lybertee of the chyrche and ageynst heretykes and this emperour habounded aboue alle other in glorye and in rychesses but he abused them euyll by pryde and was a tyraunte ageynste the chyrche and sette two cardynalles in pryson and suche prelates as pope gregory had do be assemblyd at the counceyl he took them and therfore he was acursed of the same pope And after gregory deyed whiche was oppressyd with many greuous trybulacyons And thenne was Innocente the fourth made pope whyche was of the nacyon of Iene and he assemblyd a counceyl at lyons where he deposed the emperour and thenne was th empyre voyde Thus endeth the storye of the lombardes ¶ Here foloweth of Saynt Symeon SAint Symeon was borne in antyoche was moche vertuous and fro the tyme that he was in his moders bely he was chosen of god and whan he was xij yere olde he kepte his faders shepe on a tyme he behelde the chyrche and anone as he that was replenysshed wyth the holy ghoost lefte hys shepe wente to the chirche and he accompanyed hym wyth a good auncyent man and sayd to hym in thys manere Fayre fader what thynge is that that is here redde I praye you enseygne teche it me for I am symple and ygnoraunte Thenne this good aunciente man began to speke of the vertues of the soule and how this poure presente lyf ought to be despysed and not with stondyng that the vertues ben accomplysshed of many truly and laudably and by the helpe of god in relygyon they ben accomplisshed more lightlye Thenne saynt Symeon fyl to the feet of thys good olde man and said to hym verayly from hens forthon thou shalte be my fader and my moder For thou arte mayster of good werkys after this good counceyl I shal goo in to the chyrche where as good shal ordeyn for me and thenne he expowned to hym the rule and thordre of relygyon and tolde hym how he must haue moche payne and afflictyon and hym behoueth to haue moche pacyence and perseueraunce Thenne anone he toke loue of hym and wente to the chyrche of saynt Tymothe and layed hym tofore the gate and abode there thre dayes thre nyghtes without mete or drynke Thenne the abbot came and lyfte hym vp and demaunded wherfore he was comen thyder Thenne Saynt Symeon answerd to hym and sayd I desyre moche to be seruaunte of our lord I praye the that thou receyue me in to thy monasterye and that thou commauÌ„ce me to serue al thy brethern he was receyued of the abbotte and was there syx monethes obeyeng to the brethern humbly Whan the other fastyd fro morne to euensonge tyme he after vij dayes toke hys refeccion and the other dayes he gaue his prouende to poure peple On a tyme he came to the pytte of the place and fonde there a coâ—â—e whiche he toke and bonde faste aboute his body fro his reynes to hys sholdres he strayned so sore and faste that hys flesshe roted vnder the corde soo moche that the corde wente to the bones and vnnethe myght the corde be seen On a day one of the brethern apperceyued that he gafe his mete vnto the poure peple he and the other tolde it to the abbotte and also they said that so grete stynche yssued out of his body that none myght abyde by hym that the vermyne that came out of it had fylled alle hys bedde The abbotte was moche angrye bad despoyle hym naked whan he sawe the corde he escryed sayeng O man fro whens comest thou me semeth that thou wylte destroye the rule of our relygyon whan thou wylte not serue god by dyscrescion as other doo I praye the departe hens and goo where thou wylte wyth grete payne they toke of the corde wyth whyche he was bounden and helyd hym after he departed fro the place wythout wytyng of ony of hem and entred in to a pytte in deserte wythout water where as wycked spyrytes dwellyd That nyght the abbotte had a reuelacion that a grete multitude of men of armes had enuyronned the abbay and sayd wyth an hyghe voys gyue to vs the man of god or ellys we shal breÌ„ne the and alle the abbay for thou haste dryuen aweye the man Iuste and debonayr Thabbot tolde thys to hys brethern and the nexte nyght came the semblable vysyon he was al abasshed and sente his monkes for to serche and fetche hym and they fonde hym not thenne the abbot wente wyth them and they came to the pytte and there maad theyr prayers and descendyd therin and broughte hym ageyn by force to thabbey The brethern of thabbay knelyd tofore hym and axyd hym foryeuenesse and after he abode an hole yere and after secretelye he departed ageyn and wente vnto a montayne faste by a cloystre of stones and dwellyd so thre yere Thenne his neyghbours cam thyder by deuocion enhannced his celle foure cubytes of heyghte and there he dwellyd seuen yere after and after they made to hym another of twelue cubytes of heyght in which he dwellyd after they made another of twenty cubytes after that another of xxx and there he abode foure yere and by syde hym he dyd do make ij chapellys and many seek men were heled by hys vertue and he conuertyd many sarasyns to the feythe after thys hys thye roted an hole yere and al that yere he helde hym on that other fote but the vermyn fyl to the grounde from hys thye he had a felowe whiche was called anthonye whyche wrote hys lyf and helde hym companye whyche gadred vp the vermyn and delyueryd them to hym and he toke them and layed them vpon his sore sayeng ete ye thys that god hath gyuen you There was a kynge a sarasyn named balyssyke that herde the fame renome of hym and came to hym in veray feythe and whyles the holy man prayed one of the vermyn fyl out of hys thye and the hethen kyng toke it vp and whan he loked on it hit was a precious stone Thenne sayd to hym this holy man O man this is not happed ne made by my meryte but it is made by
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 aâ—ouchemente â—atche 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 sucâ—essyon 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 chastytâ—e 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 trauayllâ—d 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 conâ—allesshed 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
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 caâ—icem 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 grâ—cias 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
aromatike had flowed oute of the Tombe And they fonde the palle that lay next hys body as hoole and as fayre as it was whan he was buryed And whan the palle was take of they drewe forthe his armes they moeued his fyngers and his toes and they were bowyng and hoole as they hadde be newely buryed And in his flesshe was fouÌ„den no corrupcion but it was faire fressh of colour pure and bryghter than glas whytter than snowe And it semed a body gloryfyed And they fered to discouere his vysage but gundulph whiche was hardyer than another with deuocion vnbonde his hede And the first that appyeryd was the fayre hoor here of his hede thenne he thought to take some therof for a relyque with reuerence drede plucked ther at but he coude none haue out for they were as fast as they were when he was a lyue TheÌ„ne said thabbot ffader suffre hym to lye in reste ateÌ„tpte not to mynuysshe that that our lord hath so long prescruyd kept hole Thenne the palle in whiche the holy body was wrappid was taken awey and another of the same valure was fette the holy body leid therin couerd ageyne his tombe with ful grete reuerence abydyng the grete resurection How vengeaunce was shâ—wed to a damoiselle that blasphemyd saynt Edward In the Cyte of london there was a noble woman whiche was ryÈt connyng in sylke werke whiche was desyred tembrawdre certayne garmentes to the countesse of gloucettre whiche thenne was yong lusty fresshe and newely wedded wold haue them made in short space And when the festful day of saynt Edward approchyd this noble woman was sore troublid in her mynde for she dradde thyndignacion of the grete lady yf her garmentes were not redy at tyme sette And also she dradde to werke on the day of saynt Edward for it was bothe synful perillous Thenne she sayd to a yong damoiselle that was felawe with her wrought in the same werke what thynke ye best now either to displese this lady or els this good saynt Edward and she answerd is this not that Edward whom the chorles of the countrey worshipe as he were a god she saide yet more what haue I to do with hym I wyl no more worshipe hym than yf he were a chorle theÌ„ne this noble woman was sore abasshyd and moeuyd with her that said suche wordes of blasphemy to this holy saynt And she all to bete her forto be in pees she of frowardnes blasphemyd hym more more thenne sodenly she was smeton wyth a palsey so that her mouthe was drawen to her ere also she had lost her speche foomyd atte mouth lyke a bore gruÌ„ted her teeth to gydre merueylously was sore punysshed in all her membris whan this noble woman sawe thie she was ful heuy that she had beten her by cause almyÈty god had so punysshed her wepte ful bytterly whan hit was knowen in the cyte her neyÈbours cam some for to comforte her some to wondre vpon her so lyeng theÌ„ne ther cam a worshipful man to visyte her counceiled that she shold be caryed by water vnto the shryne of saint edward to pray to god ther that by the merytes of the hooly saynt Edward he wold shewe some myracle for her and whan she was so brought thyder moch peple praid for her but they had not their entent anon but abode in her prayers tyl mydnyght that matyns began and thenne they praid the Monkes to praye for her And whan they hadde done matyns they come to the shryne also praid for this damoiselle whiche lay there in full grete payne torment whan the holy monkes had praide for her a good whyle thenne this damoyselle arose vp al hole demanded why they wepte and made so moche sorowe And whan they sawe hir mouth in his ryght place al hir membrys restored ageyne they were full of ioye yaf laude thankynges vnto almyghty god to his holy kyng Confessoure saint Edward How a Monk was heled of a feuer quartane In thabbay of westmynstre ther was a vertuous monke and connyng named Gylberd whiche was sore vexyd with a feuer quartane fro the moneth of Iuyl to Crystemas consumed lyke a drye ymage wherfor he praide god to relece his payne or take hym oute of thys world And on Cristemasse nyghte he toke herte to hym and wente to matyns with his bretheren And whan he herd the gospell how a lytell chyld was borne and yeuen to vs fro the fader of heuen whos moder was a pure vyrgyne he hadde so grete deuocion that his mynde was rauysshed with so grete ioye that he felte no dysease two dayes after And after tho two dayes the feuer cam ageyne and vexyd hym contynuelly vnto the fest of saint Edward whiche is alwey in the vygyle of the pyphanye that daye in the hyhe masse tyme he cam to the tombe of saint Edward fyll doun plat in grete deuocion wepyng sayd thus O thow my lord and my kynge how long wilt thou forgete me how long shall I suffre this payne how long shalt thou torne thy face fro me where ben alle the grete myracles that our faders haue told to vs done in theire dayes thou hast holpen many straungers but me that am in thyne owne chirche thow forgetest And closest to me the yate of thy pyte wold god that I myÈt deye I am norisshed in payne may not deye my lyf is sorowe to me but it can haue none ende I desyre deth can not haue it what shal I stryue with the but I beseche the good kyng laudable prynce swete patrone moeue thy bowellis of mercy on me yf it plese the yeue me helthe or els late me deye anon amoÌ„ge these wordes the teres brake oute of his eyen and sobbynges fro his herte that he coude not speke with hys mouthe but with his affection And whan masse was done he aroose vp fro prayer alle hoole and felte alle his membrys merueylously refresshyd with a newe strengthe And entryd in and axyd after mete and drynke anon he felte hym self that he had receyued ageyne his strengthe And euer after he was moeued with grete deuocion vnto the glorious saynt Edward by whoos merytees he was delyuerd fro his sekenes and dysease And in lyke wyse a knyght named Geryn was heled that same day a yere after of the feuer quartane whiche cam that same day vnto the shryne herde the same Monke that had soo be heled whiche thenne was pryour make a sermon in whiche he told of the myracle how he was hoole And after the Sermon this knyght thought he wold not ceesse but deuoutely pray this holy saynt tyll he were hole and abode there prayenge alle that daye and nyghte folowyng tyl the Monkes cam to matyns whome he praid to
praye for hym And whanne they had prayd a good whyle he felte hym self made parfyghtly hole And thenne he with alle the peple gaf thankynges to our lord almyghty god and saynt Edward for his delyueraunce Also a nonne of berkynge that had ben seke twelue monethes and nyghe consumed awey had a vision on a nyght by whiche she vnderstode that she shold go to saint Edword be hoole And she makynge her prayers to saint Edward and at suche tyme as her sekenes cam she entryd in to her oratory And said the seuen psalmes and letanye whan she dyd so twyes al her payne was gone was made parfiÈtely hole thanked almyghty god whiche by the merytes of saynt Edward had heled her soone after cam to westmynstre in pylgremage And there dide shewe this myracle told how she was made hole Also ther was a MoÌ„k of Westmynstre which was acustomed to saye euery day v psalmes in the worship of god saint Edward whiche Monke was greued with thre manere sekenesses For he had on his arme a congellacion of blood in manere of a postomme he hadde also in his breste a straytnes that vnnethe he myght drawe his brest Also he had in his foote a merueylous swellyng and a grete that he myght not goo but with grete payne And whanne the yerely feest was halowed he sawe his bretheren go to the chirche at mydnyght for to rynge the bellys And he was ryghte sory that he myght not doo the same Notwithstondyng he payned hym self and wente thyder said the seuen psalmes and whan he had done sawe his bretheren rynge meryly he sayd in his prayer to saynt Edward O thow my good kynge I beseche the to praye for me that I may haue strengthe to doo as I see my bretheren do For I commytte me fully to thy myght And I byleue veryly that thou wylt suffre me no lenger in this grete dysease And whan he had made an ende of his prayers he arose vp and went to the bellys for to rynge them And anone the postomme of his arme brake And whan the fowle mater was oute he felte hym self hole of that dysease Thenne his moost payne was in his breste and he wente ageyne to praye and to yeue thankynges to god and to saynt Edward of the delyueraunce of his postomme And there he prayd full deuoutely that he myght be delyuerd of the dysease of his breste whan he aroos fro prayer he felt his herte made all hole fro the sekenes that he had in his brest Thenne he felt no dysease but on his foote whan he come amonge his bretheren in the fraitour he told them hou he was delyuerd fro tweyne of his sekenesses when they sawe hym they meruayled gretely and besought almyghty god saynt Edward that he myght be delyuerd of that disese in his foote And at nyght whan he went to his bed he put hym self holy in the merites of saynt Edward And when he arose he felte no payne but put doune his hond to his fote to fele how it was he felte that the swellyng was gone he lepe out of his bedde told to his bretheren with ful grete ioye how he was made parfightly hole as euer he was Thenne they al were ful glad went with hym to the chirche to yeue thankynges praisynges to almyÈty god to his holy confessour saint Edward for these myracles for his delyuerauÌ„ce fro the ij sekenesses wherfor god be praised in his seruaÌ„t without end ameÌ„ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Edward kyng and Confessour ¶ Here foloweth of saint Luke Theuangelist And first of his name LUke is as moche to saye as arysynge or enhauncynge hym self Or Luke is sayd of lyght he was reysyng hym self fro the loue of the world and enhauncyng in to the loue of god And he was also lyght of the world for he enlumyned the vnyuersal world by holy predicacion And herof sayth saynt Maâ—hewe Mathei quinto ye ben the lyght of the world the lyght of the world is the sonne And that lyzt hath heyght in his sete or syege And herof sayth Ecclesiastes the xxvj Chapytre the sonne rysynge in the world is in the ryght hyhe thynges of god he hath delyte in beholdyng And as it is sayd Ecclesiastes vndecimo The lyght of the sonne is swete And hit is delytable to the eyen to see the sonne He hath swyftnes in his moeuyng as it is sayd in the second book of Esdre the fourthe chapytre The erthe is grete and the heuen is hyhe And the cours of the sonne is swyft and hath prouffyte in effect For after the philosophre man engendâ—th man and the sonne And thus Luke had hyhenes by the loue of thynges celestyalle delectable by swete conuersacion Swyftnes by feruent predicacion And vtylyte and prouffyte by consceypcion wrytynge of his doctryne ¶ Of saynt Luke euangelyst LUke was of the nacion of Syrye And Anthyochyen by arte of medycyne And after somme he was one of lxxij disciples of our lord Seynt Iheromme sayth that he was discyple of thappostles and not of our lord And the glose vpon the xxv chapytre of the booke of Exodi sygnefyeth that he ioyned not to oure lorde whan he prechyd but he cam to the faith after his resurection But it is more to be holden that he was none of the lxxij disciples though somme holde oppynyon that he was one But he was of ryght grete perfection of lyf moche well ordeyned as toward god And as touchynge his neyghbour as touchynge hym self and as towchynge his offyce in signe of these foure maners of ordenaunces he was descryued to haue four faces that is to wete the face of a man the face of a lyon the face of an oxe and the face of an egle eche of these bestes had foure faces foure wynghes as it is sayd in Ezechyell the fyrst chapytre And by cause it may the better be sene late vs ymagyne some beest that hath his hede four square in euery square a face so that the face of a man be to fore and on the ryght syde the face of the lyon on the lyft syde the face of the oxe behynde the face of thaygle by cause that the face of thaygle appyerid aboue thother for the lengthe of the necke therfor hit is sayd that this face was aboue and eche of these foure had foure pennes For whanne euery beest was quadrate as we may ymagyne In a quadrate ben foure corners and euery corner was a penne By these foure beestes after that sayntes sayen ben signefyed the foure euangelystes Of whome eche of them had foure faces in wrytyng that is to wete of humanite of the passion of the resurection and of the dyuynyte how be it these thynges ben syngulerly to synguler For after saynt Iheromme Mathewe is signyfyed in the man For he was syngulerly meued to speke of thumanyte