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
sayeng suffre ye hym brethern and late hym curse me loo I haue thys lx yere blasphemed by my werkys Cryst and may not I not bere one blame or vice of thys man And he comanded that a sack of money full shold be brought to fore thys poure man that he shold take as moche as he world On a tyme after that the gospell was redde in the chyrche the peple wente out and talked ydle tales And thys holy patriarke apperceyued them and folowed after and satte doun emong them and said to them Sones there as the sheep been there must the sheepherde be also And therfor eyther ye muste entre with me in to the chyrche or ellys I must abyde wyth you here And thus he dyde tweyes And therby he taught the peple to abyde stande in the chyrche Another tyme ther was a yongman had rauysshed anonne And the clerkys repreued the yong man therof to fore saynt IohÌ„n And said he ought to be cursid therfor by cause he had lost ij sowles his owne and the nonnes Thenne saynt Iohan withstode theyr sentence sayeng not so my sones not so I shal shewe to you that ye coÌ„myse two synnes Fyrst ye doo ayenst the comandement of god whyche saith Iuge ye not and ye shal not be Iuged Secondly ye wyte not for certayn whether they haue synned in to thys day and haue not be penytent and haue repented them It fyll many tymes that saynt IohÌ„n was rauysshyd in hys prayers and was in a traunce And he was herd dyspute with our lord in thyse wordes So good lord Ihesu cryst so I in partyng and thou in mynystryng late vs see who shal ouercome On a tyme whan he was seek vexid wyth the feures and sawe that he approched hys ende he said I yelde to the thankynges For thou hast herd my wretchidnes prayeng thy goodnes that at my deth shold be fouÌ„de wyth me but one besaunt or one pece of money and that yet I comande to be gyuen to the poure And thenne he yelded hys soule vnto all myghty god And his venerable body was put in a sepulcre where the bodyes of ij bysshoppis were buryed And the two bodyes by myracle gaf rome and place to the body of saynt IohÌ„n For they remeued eche fro other and left the mydle voyde for his body A lityl tyme to fore hys deth ther was a woman had coÌ„mysed a grete and horryble synne And durst not be shryuen therof ne â—hewe it to noman saynt IohÌ„n bad here wryte hit and seale it and brynge it to hym And he wold praye for her she assented therto she wrote her synne and dylygently closed and sealed it And delyuerd it to saynt IohÌ„n And anon after saynt IohÌ„n waxe seek and deyde And whan she herd that he was deed she supposed her self confused and shamed For she wende that he hath delyuerd it to somÌ„e other man and she cam to hys tombe and there wepte cryed moche lamentably sayeng Alas Alas I supposed to haue eschewid my coÌ„fusion now I am made confusion vnto all other wepte bytterly prayeng saynt IohÌ„n that he wold shewe to here where he had lefte her wrytyng And sodenly saynt IohÌ„n cam and appiered to her in thabyte of a bysshop on eyther syde of hym a bysshop and said to the woman why troblest thou me so moche and thies sayntes wiâ—h me and suffrest not vs to haue reste loo here our clothes ben alle weet of thy teeris And thenne delyuerd to her her scrowe agayn sealed as it was to fore sayeng to her Se here thy seall opene thy wrytyng and rede it whyche anoÌ„ she opened and all her synne was disfaced and clene out and she fonde therin wreton Alle thy synne is foryeuen and put away by the prayer of IohÌ„n my seruaunt And thenne she rendred thaÌ„kynges to our lord god and to saynt IohÌ„n And thenne saynt IohÌ„n with the two bysshoppis retorned in to theyr sepulture Thys holy man saynt IohÌ„n flowrid in the yere of our lord vjCv in the tyme of foke themperour Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Iohan the Almosner Of the conuersion of saynt paule of the name of conuersion COnuersion is sayd of conuertor I am torned or is as moche as to gydre torned from synnes and euyllis he is not conuerted that shryueth hym to the preest of one synne and hydeth an other It is said conuersion For saynt paule thys day was conuerted to the fayth leuyng hys vices why he is said paule it shal be said afterward ¶ Of the conuersion of saynt Paule THe conuersion of saynt Paule was made the same yere that cryste suffred hys passion and saynt stephen was stoned also not in the yere naturell but appieryng For our lord suffred deth the viij kalendes of apryll And saynt stephen suffred deth the same yere the thyrde day of august And was stoned and saynt paule was conuerted the viij kalendis of feuerer And thre reasons ben assigned wherfor the conuersion of saynt paule is halowed more than of other saynctes Fyrst for thensample by cause that no synnar what someuer he be shold despayre of pardon whan he seeth hym that was in so grete synne to be in so grete Ioye Secondly for the Ioye For lyke as the chyrche had grete soâ—owe in hys persecucion So had she grete Ioye in his conuersion Thyrdly for the myracle that our lord shewde whan of j so cruel a persecutour was made so trewe a prechour The conuersion of hym was merueyllous by reson of hym that made hym and of hym that ordeyned hym and of the pacient that suffred it by reson of hym that made hym to be conuerted that was Ihesu cryst whyche shewde there his merueillous puyssaunce in that he said it is harde to the to stryue ayenst the alle or prycke and in that he chaunged hym so sodaynly For anon as he was chaunged he said lord what wylt thou that I doo vpon thys word sayth saynt Austyn the lambe slayn of the wulues hath made of a wulf a lambe For he was redy for to obeye that to fore was wood for to persecute Secondly he shewd hys merueyllous wysedom hys merueyllous wysedom was in that that he toke fro hym the swellyng of pryde in offryng to hym the inward thynges of humylyte and not the heyghte of mageste For he said I am Ihesus of nazareth And he called not hym self god ne the sone of god but he said to hym take thynfirmytees of humanyte and caste away the squames of pryde Thyrdly he shewde hys pyteous debonayrte and mercy whyche is signefied in that that he that was in dede and in wylle to persecute he conuerted how be it he had euyl wyll as he that desyred alle the menaces and thretenynges had euyll purpoos as he that wente to the prynce of preestis as he that had a Ioye in hys euyl werkis that he ladde the crysten men bounden to Iherusalem And therfor hys Iourneye and
among other thynges The blessâ—d appostle Betylmewe prechid fyrst in lychaone and after in ynde and at the laste in Albane a Cyte of grete armenye and ther was fyrst slayn and afterward his hede smyton of and there he was buryed and whan he was sent of oure lord to preche as I suppose he herd how oure lorde sayd to hym go my disciple to preche voyde out of this Countre and goo fight and be capax of perylles I haue fyrst accomplysshed and fynysshed the werkes of my fader and am fyrst wytnesse Fyll thou the vessell that is necessarye and folowe thy maystre loue thy lord gyue thy blood for his blood and thy flesshe for his flesshe and suffre that whiche he hadde suffred late thyn armoure be delonairte in thy swetynges and suffre swetely among wycked peple And be pacyent among them that perysshe the And the Appostle recuylled not but as a trewe seruaunt and obeysaunt to his mayster wente forth Ioyeng and as a lyght of god enlumynyng in derkenes the werke of hooly chirche lyke as the blessyd saynt Auistyn wytnessyth in his booke that lyke a tylyer of Ihesu Cryst he prouffyted in spyrytuel tylyeng Seynt Peter thappostle taught the naaoÌ„s but saint Bertylmew dyde grete myracles Peter was crucyfyed the hede dounward And Bertylmewe was flayn quyck and had his hede smyton of And they tweyne encreced gâ—â—tely the chirche by the yeftes of the holy gho ost And right as an harpe gyueth a right swete sowne of many stâ—â—nges in lyke wyse alle thappostles gaf swete melodye of the vnyte dyuyne And were establysshyd by the kyng of kynges And they departed amonge them alle the world And the place of Armenye was the place of Bertylmewe that is fro eiulath vnto gabaoth There thou maist see hym with the plough of his tonge erye the feldes vnresonable sowyng in the depnesse of the herte the word of the fayth and in plantyng the vygnes of our lord and trees of paradys And to eueryche settyng medycynally the remedyes of the passions And threwe thornes not intellygyble and cutte doune trees of felonnye and closed them aboute with hedges of doctryne But what reward yelded the tyrauntes to their curate They gaf to hym dishonour for honour cursyng for benediction paynes for yeftes trybulacion for reste And right bytter deth for restfull lyf And syth that he had suffred many tormentes he was of them discoryate and flayn quyck and deyde not And yet for all that he hadde them not in despyte that slewe hym but admonested them by myracles and taught them by demonstraunces that dyde hym harme But ther was noo thyng that myght refrayne theyr bestyal thoughtes ne withdrawe them from harme what did they afterward they enforced them ageynste the hooly body And the malades and seke men refused their medycyne and heler the cyte refused hym that enlumyned theyr blyndenes gouerned them that were in perylle and gaf lyf to them that were dede And how caste they hym oute certeynly they threw the body in to the see in a cheste of leed And that cheste cam fro the regyon of armenye with the chestes of foure other martirs For they dide also myracles and were throwen with hym in to the see And the foure wente bifore a grete space of the see dyde seruyce to thappostle lyke as seruauntes in a maner so ferre that they cam in to the partyes of Cecylle in an yle that is named Lyparys lyke as it was shewed to a bisshop of hostyence whiche thenne was present And thyse ryght ryche tresour cam to aright poure woman ¶ And these right precious Margarytes cam to one not noble The right shynyng lyghte cam to one right heuy And thenne the other four cam in to other londes and lefte the hooly appostle in that yle and he leste the other behynde hym And that one whiche was named Papyen wente in to a Cyte of Cecylle And he sente another named Lucyen in to the Cyte of Messenne And the other tweyne were sente in to the londe of Calabre sente gregory in to the Cyte of Colompne And Achare in to a cyte named Chale where yet at this day they shyne by theyr merytes And thenne was the body of the appostle receyued wyth ympnes louynges and candellys honourably And ther was made and bylded a faire chirche in thonoure of hym And the MouÌ„tayn of Vulcan is nyhe to that yle and was to hit moche greuous by cause it receyued fire the whiche Mountayne was withdrawe by the merytes of this hooly saynt fro that yle vn myle withoute to be sene of ony body and was suspended toward the see And yet apperith it at this day to them that see hit as hit were a figure of fire fleynge aweye Now thenne therfore I salewe the Bertylmewe blessid of blessid sayntes whiche art the shynyng lyght of hooly chirche Fssyhar of fisshes resonable hurteâ— of the deuylle whiche hurted the world by his thefte Enioye the sone of the world enlumynyng alle erthely thynges mouthe of god Fyry tongue pronouncyng wysdom Fontayne spryngyng goodly ful of helth whiche halowest the see by thy goynges and wayes not remeuable whiche makest the erthe reede with thy blood whiche repayrest in heuenes shynyng in the myddle of the dyuyne company clere in the resplendisshour of glorye And enioye the in the gladnes of Ioye insacyable Amen And this is that theodore sayth of hym ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Bertylmewe Here foloweth the lyf of saÌ„ynt Austyn doctour And first thexposicion of his name· AUstyn this name was sorted to hym for thexcellence of his dignyte Or for the ferueÌ„te loue that he had or for thexposicion of his name For thexcellence of his dignyte For like as themperour Augustus precellyd all other kynges Ryght soo he excelled al other doctours after that Remygie sayth The other doctours be compared to sterres And this to the sonne As hit apperyth in the epystle that is songen of hym he shyneth in the Temple of god lyke to the sonne shynyng Secondly for the feruent loue For lyke as the moneth of August is hote by hete soo is he enchauffed of the fyre of the dyuyne loue wherfor he saith hym self in the booke of Confessions Thou hast thorugh perced my hert with thy charyte Also in the same thou hast brought me in to a desyrous affection within forth whiche can not be aswâ—ged And I wote not to what swetâ—nes it is made in me I wote not what it shalle be I wote wel hit shall not be in this lyf Thyrdly for thexposicion of the name Augus is as moche to saye as growyng and styn is a Cyte And ana is as moche to saye as souerayne And theÌ„ne Augustyn is as moche to saye as encrecyng the cyte souerayne And it is songen of hym this is he that may well encrece the Cyte of god Or it is said in the glosarye Austyn is sayd grete blessyd and clere he was grete in his lyf clâ—re in
his resurrection And thyes fyue representeth the preest in his masse whan he tourneth hym fyue tymes to the peple but the thirde tornyng is in silence whiche signifyeth tapparicion made to saynt peter whiche is not knowen when it was made ne in what place Sixthly he appyered the eight day to his disciples whan saynt thomas was there whiche had said that he wold not byleue it til that he had seen the woundes the naylles and that he had put his hande in his syde The seuenth tyme he appiered to his disciples fysshyng IohÌ„is vltiÌ„o And that signyfieth prechers whiche ben fysshers of men The viij tyme he appered to his disciple in the mount Thabor Mathei vltimo And that signifyeth them that ben contemplatyf For in the said hylle was our lord transfygured The ix tyme he appered to xj disciples where they satte atte table where as he repreued their incredulite and hardnes of herte By whiche we vnderstonde the synnars in the xj nombre of transgressyon sette whome our lord by his mercy somtyme vysiteth The tenth tyme he appiered to to his disciples in the mount of olyuete by whiche is sygnefyed theÌ„ that ben ful of mercy and that loue compassion to whom our lord appierith whiche is fader of mercy and of pyte fro this place he ascended vp in to heuen Ther ben thre other maner of apparicioÌ„s of whiche is made mencion whiche were made the day of the resurrection but they be not had in the texte of the gospel The first was that he appered to saynt Iames the lasse whiche is named Iames alphei of whiche thou shalt fynde in his legeÌ„de The seconde that he appered was to Ioseph as it is red in the gosppell of Nychodeme For whan the Iewes had herde that Ioseph had demanded the body of Ihesus of pylate And that he had put it in his monument They were angry and had indignacion on hym And toke hym and put hym in a secrete place where diligently they closed hym and kepte hym and wold haue slayn hym after their sabbat day And Ihesus the nyght of his resurrection entred in to the hows where he was in and ouer lyft vp the iiij corners of the hows and wyped clensid his visage kyssed hym And without brekyng of ony locke or seall he brought hym in to his hous in Arimathye The thirde is after that it is byleued he appered vnto his moder marye the gloryouse virgyne and how be it that the holy euangelystes speke nothyng herof the chirche of Rome appproueth it For the same day is made stacion at our lady the maiour And yf we shold not byleue by cause theuuaÌ„gelistes make no mencioÌ„ therof it shold folowe that after his resurrection he appiered not to her but that ought not to be byleued that suche a sone shold not leue his moder without vysytyng and doo to her so lytyl honour And peraueÌ„ture the euangelystes speke no worde of her by cause it apperteyneth not to them but to sette wytnes of the resurrection And the virgyne marye ought not to be sette in for no wytnes For yf the wordes of straunge wymen were reputed for lesynges moche more shold the moder be by cause of the loue that she had to hym that was her sone And thaugh the euangelistes haue not wreton it yet they knewe wel for certayn that it is right that first he shold enhaunce and comforte her that had most payne and sorowe for his deth And that witnesseth saynt ambrose in the thirde book of virgynes Vidit maria cÌ„ Marye sawe the resurrection and she byleued it parfyghtly Marye magdalene sawe it and yet she doubted it ¶ Of the seuenth how Ihesus crist drewe the holy fadres out of helle and what he made there The euangelist telleth not clerly Neuertheles saynt Austyn in a sermon and Nichodemus in his gospell shewe it somwhat and saynt Austyn saith Anone as Ihesu Crist had rendred the spyrite the soule that was vnyed to his godhed was quyk and lyuyng in the depnes of helle descended And whan he was atte deppest of the derkenes lyke as a Robber shynyng and terrible to the tirantis of helle They behelde hym and began to demaunde and enquyre who is he that is so stronge so terryble so clere and so shynyng ¶ The world whiche is to vs subget sente to vs neuer suche one deed ne he sente to vs ne uer suche yeftes in to helle who is he thenne that is so constant that is entred in to the ferthest ende of our parties and he doubteth not only our tormentes but yet he hath vnbound them of their bondes whom we helde and kepte And they that were wonte to waylle wepe vnder our tormeÌ„ts assayllle vs now by theyr helthe And now not only they fere vs but now threten and manace vs And they sayd to their prynce what prynce art thou all thy gladnesse is perisshed and all thy Ioyes ben conuerted in to wepynges whan thou hengest hym in the crosse thou knewest not what domage thou sholdest suffre in helle After thise cruell wordes of them of helle Atte commandement of our lorde all the lockes alle the barres and shyttynges ben broken and to frusshed And loo the peple of sayntes that come knelyng to fore hym in cryeng with pytous voys sayeng Oure redemptor thou art comen for to redeme the worlde we haue abyden the euery day thou art descended in to helle for vs And leue vs not but that we be with the whan thou shalt retorne to thy brethern lord swete god shewe that thou hast despoylled helle And bynde the auctour of deth wyth his bondes rendre to the world now gladnes And quenche the paynes And for thy pyte vnbynde the caytyfs fro seruitude whyles thou art here and assoylle the synnars whan thou desceÌ„dest in to helle them of thy partye this saith saynt Austyn And it is redde in the gospell of nychodemus that Carinus and lencius sones of old symeon aroos with Ihesu Crist And they were adiured and sworn of anne of Cayphas of Nichodeê° of Ioseph of gamaliel that they shold telle and saye what Ihesus dyde in helle And they rehersed and sayde whan we were wyth our faders in the place of obscurte and derknes sodenly it was also lyght and clere as the colour of the sonne lyke purple gold and lyght ryall whiche enlumined alle thabitacion vpon vs And anon Adam the fader of thumayne lygnage begaÌ„ to enioye Sayeng This lyght is the lyght of the creatour of the lyght sempyternel whiche promysid to sende to vs hys lyght perpetuell And ysaye cryed This is the lyght of god the fader lyke as I seide lyuyng in therthe the peple that were in derknes sawe a grete lyght Thenne cam our fader Symeon And in Ioyeng sayde gloryfye ye our lord For I receyued Cryst a chyld born in the world in to myn hondes in the temple And I was constrayned by the holy goost to
ende that in the space of his presence corporell the faith of techyng was necessarye we ought to gyue thankynges to the dyuyne dyspensacion for the tardyue creaūce of holy fadres to vs necessarye for they doubted of that which we doubte not Secōdly he abode for the cōsolacion of thappostles For the cōsolacion dyuyne surmounte the tribulacions temperall And the tyme of the passyon was the tyme of trybulacyon to thappostles And therfor ther ought to be moo dayes vnto thascencion than to the resurrection Thyrdly for the mysterye of the comparacion for to gyue to vnderstonde that the consolacions dyuyne ben compared to trybulacions as the day vnto an hour and the yere vnto a daye ¶ And that this be trew it appereth by the wrytyng of the prophete ysaye ¶ I shal preche a yere playsaunt to our lord and a day of vengeaunce to god ¶ Loo for one day of trybulacion he rendrith a yere of consolacion And that is by comparison as the day to an hour it appiereth by that that our lord was deed and laye in the sepulcre xl houres whiche was the tyme of trybulacion And by xl dayes after his resurrection he appiered to his disciples Whiche was the tyme of consolacion And this saith the glose by cause that he was fourty houres deed After he was xl dayes lyuyng er he ascended in to heuen As to the thirde poynt how he ascended it appierith how that he ascendeth myghtyly For by hys puyssaunce and vertue saith Ysaye he ascēded in to heuen Ysaye lxvij And also Saynt Iohan saith Noman ascended in to heuen by his oune puissaunce and myght but the sone of man that is in heuene And how be it that he ascended in a clowde he had no ne ned but by cause that he wold shewe that euery creature is redy to serue his creatour he ascended in his propre vertue and in this is the difference After that scolastica historia saith of Ihesu crist of Enoch and helye For Enoch was translated helye was born but Ihesu cryst by his owen myght is ascended in to heuen after saynt gregorye The first that is to wyte Enoch was engendred of a man And he was engendryng The seconde that is to saye Helye was engendred not engendryng The thirde that is to wyte Ihesu Cryst he was born not engendryd of a man ne engendryng Secondly he ascended openly For seeyng his disciples he ascended wherof is said Ioh̄is xvj Vado ad eum qui me misit c̄ I goo to my fader none of you demaundeth whyther gost thou the glose saith I goo so openly that noman demanded of that they sawe atte eye And therfore he wold ascende in theyr presence by cause they myght bere wytnesse And that they shold enioye of that they sawe nature humayne ascende to heuene and that they shold desire to folowe hym Thyrdly he ascended Ioyously For the aūgellis syngyng and enioyeng he ascended in to heuene in gladnes wherof saith saynt Austyn Ascendente xpristo pauet c̄ Ihesu cryst ascēdyng the heuene abasshed the sterres merueylled the companyes of heuene enioyed the trompe sowned And alle the syeges of the playsaunt place made melodyes ¶ Fourthly he ascended lightly wherof dauid saith he styed vp as a gyaunt with a grete paas and moche hastely and lighly he ascēded whan he passed so grete a space in a momente Raby moyses whiche was a grete philosopher reherceth that euery cercle or euery heuen of eche planete hath the thyknes and the waye of vC yere that is to saye as one may goo in a playne waye in vC yere And that is the distaunce by twene heuen and heuen and bytwene cercle and cercle after that whiche is said so grete and as ther bē seuen heeuenes after his sayeng fro the centre of therthe vnto the concauite of the heuen of saturne whiche is the vij waye of vijM yere And vnto the concauite of the eyght heuen vijM and vijC yere that is as moche space as one shold goo in playn waye in vijM and vijC yere yf a man myght lyue so longe And that euery yere be of iijClxv dayes And the way of euery day be of x◠myle euery myle be of two thousand paas or cubytes And this saith Raby moyses whiche was a grete philosopher yf it be trouthe or no god knoweth For he that all hath made created in certayn nombre in certayn poys and weyght and in certayn mesure he knoweth all Thenne this leep or spryngyng was grete that Ihesus cryst made fro therthe to heuene Of this leep and dyuerse other leepes of Ihesu cryst seynt ambrose saith Ihesu cryst cam in to this world to make a leep he was with god the fader he cam in to the virgyne marye And fro the virgyne marye in to the crybbe or racke he descended in to flom Iordane he ascended vpon the crosse he descended in to his tombe Fro the tombe he aroos after ascended vp in to heuen and sytteth on the right honde of the fader As to the fourth poynt is wyth whom he ascended he ascended with a grete praye of men and grete multitude of aūgellis And that he ascēded vp with the praye of mē it appereth by this that dauid saith Ascendisti in altum cepisti captiuitatem c̄ Lord thou hast ascended on hye And hast taken them that were captiues enprisonned and the seruytude thou hast affranchysed And also that he ascēded with a grete multitude of angellis it appereth by the Interrogacions that thangelis made of the desputacions to them bynethe whan Ihesu cryst ascended in to heuen as ysaie recordeth ysaie lxiij Quis est iste qui venit de edom c̄ Who is he that come fro edō with his clothes dyed where as saith the glose that somme of thangellis that knewe not playnly the mysterye of thyncarnacion of his passion and of his resurrection that sawe our lord ascende with all a grete multide of angellis and of sayntes by his owen vertue merueylled and said to thangellis that accompanyed hym who is this that cometh fro edom And yet they said who is this kynge of glorye c̄ Saynt denys in the booke of gerarchye of holy angellis in the vij chapytre saith Thus semeth it that he said that thre questions were made to thangellis whan that Ihesus ascended The first were the firste to them self The second were the pryncipalis to Ihesu Cryst that ascended The thirde were the lasse to the grettest Of whiche they demaunded emong them who is this that cometh fro Edom his clothis dyed of bosra This worde Edom is as moche to saye as ful of blood this word bosra is to saye anguisshe and tribulacion Thus as they wold haue said who is this that cometh fro the world ful of blode by the synne of the world and of malyce ayenst god And our lord answerd I am he that speketh in Iustice ¶ And saynt denys saith thus that
whiche was crucyfyed and buryed And veryly this propre flessh is in thys sacrameÌ„t Our sauour Ihesu cryst saith Lo this is my propre body to fore the benedictioÌ„ of the celestial wordes it is another especie but after the consecracion it is the propre body of our lord ¶ For assone as the consecracion is preferred and said the substaunce of the brede is conuerted in to the blessid body of Ihesu cryst and in lyke wyse of the wyne and water in the chalys after the wordes of consecratyon said is the veray body of our lord also hool in flessh and blood All the remenaunt that is said in the masse ben praysynges and lonynges to our lord and also prayers for the chirche for the kynges and for the peple But whan this holy sacrament is consecrate the presâ—e vseth not his owen worrdes but he speketh the propre wordes of Ihesu cryst so consacreth the sacrement the whiche worde of Ihesu cryst is it by whiche alle thyng was made the heuen the erthe and the see thenne mayst thou see what a werker is the word of Ihesu cryst ¶ And syth that so moche myght and power is in the word of Ihesu cryst that it whiche neuer had ben began to be ¶ Thenne by moche more reason may he make that is to be conuerted in to other substaunce And thus that whiche was brede to fore the consecracion is the propre body of Ihesu crist after the consecracion And thus hath our blessyd lord lefte to vs his blessyd body for to be honoured and worshyppyd here in erthe ¶ And by reason me thynketh he myght doo no lasse consyderyng our Instablenes and how prone the people haue ben to worshipe fals godes and ydolles ¶ And how ofte his owen chosen peple the Iewes departed fro his lawes and toke to them fals goddes notwithstondyng the grete myracles merueyllous that he dyd and shewd for them than to leue his owne propre body here emonge vs dayly to be remembryd in eschewyng of all ydolatrye for the saluacion of our soules Whom we byseche that we maye receyue vnto our perpetuall saluacion Amen ¶ Thus endeth the feste of corpus xpristi The Dedicacion of the Temple or of the chirche THe Dedicacion of the chirche is solempnly halowed emonge the other feestes of the chirch And by cause that it is double chirche or Temple that is to wete materiall and spyrytuell And therfor it is to be seen shorthly of the dedicacion of this double temple As to the dedicacion of the temple materyall iij thynges ben to be considered first wherfor it is halowed or dedicate Secondly how it is halowed Thirdly by whom it is halowed And by cause that ij thynges ben in the chirche that ben halowed that is the aulter and the temple therfor it is first to be seen how the aulter is halowed The aulter is first halowed for thre thynges First to make sacrefise to god as it is said genesis viij Noe edyfyed first an aulter to our lord toke of all the birdes of all the beestes of the world offred them vpon the aulter the sacrefise that we make vpon the aulter is the body blood of IhÌ„u crist that we sacrefye in memoire of the passioÌ„ of our lord after that he coÌ„maÌ„ded vs said Doo ye this in my memorye we haue iij memoryes of the passion of our lord that one is the mynde of the passioÌ„ hym of that we haue in wrytyng that other ymagyned in figure that is to the sight for thymage of IhÌ„u crist of the other ymages that beÌ„ in the chirche for the remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of IhÌ„u crist of his sayntes is for to moeue the deuocioÌ„ of the people Thise ben also as the bookes of the laye peple thise ij memoryees ben but one The secoÌ„d memorye is in worde that is the passioÌ„ of our lord prechid this mynde is as to the heeryng The thirde mynde is the passion of our lord traÌ„sfigured in to this sacremÌ„t which is verily the soule body blood of IhÌ„u crist this mynde is as to the tastyng and yf the passioÌ„ of IhÌ„u crist whiche is wreton enbraceth the taleÌ„te that which is prechid eÌ„braceth it yet more Moche more ouht this sacremÌ„t enflaÌ„me in whiche it enprynted so signyficatly Secondly as for to calle the name of our lord wherof is said genesis xij abrahaÌ„ edefyed an aulter to our lord this inuocacion or-callyng ought to be made after that thappostle saith to thymothee or by prayers made by admyracioÌ„ for to take away the euyllis fro vs Or by orysons made to gete the goodes or by requestes made teÌ„creace the goodes to kepe them The first that is made vpon the aulter is said ê“prely a messe by cause that IhÌ„u crist is sente fro heuen And this worde messe ê“prely is said of sendyng and to the messe IhÌ„u crist is sente from his fader and sacreth the same hâ—ste For first we haue hym fro hys fader sent to vs by his incarnacion And after sent of vs to his fader by hys passyon And first he began to be with vs by sacrefyeng And we with hym by this oblacion that he praye for vs And it is to wete that the messe is songen in thre langages that is in greek in hebrew and in latyn And is for to represente the tytle whiche was sette on the crosse in his gloryous passion whiche was in greek hebrew and latyne And also for to signefye that alle maner langage ought to preyse god The tongue latyn is thoffyce gospell and pystell And the songe in greek is the kyryes whiche ben said ix tymes that we may come to the ix ordres of Angellis ¶ The hebrew is Alleluya Sabaoth and Osanna Thirdly it is halowed for to synge on And herof saith the book of ecclesiaste the xlvij chapitre he ordeyned them power ayenst theyr enemyes and made them to be put away fro aboute the aulter and made the syngers to synge and to gyue swete melodyes in theyr sowne and said melodyes in plurel nombre after that hugo de sancto victore saith ther ben thre sownes that make thre melodyes For ther is a sowne by smytyng by wynde and by songe the touchyng or smytyng apparteyneth to the harpe And the wynde to thorganes And the voys to the songe And this concordaunce of songe and touchyng of tharpe may be assâ—gned to the concordaunce of good maners For as to the touchyng of tharpe it may be reported to the werke of the handes and blowyng of thorganes to the deuocion of the thought ¶ And the songe of the voys to the prechyng of the word of god but in this what proufyteth the swetnes of the voys wythout the swetnes of the herte She breketh the voys but the wyll kepeth the concordaunce of the voys and of good maners so that by ensample he accorde hym to his neghbour and by his good wylle he accorde hym
and all his goodis and delyuerd the men of Sodom that were taken and the women ¶ And they of Sodom cam agayn hym and Melchisedech cam and mette with hym and offrid to hym brede wyn this melchisedech was kynge and preest of IhrlÌ„m all the contree And blessid abram there abram gaf to hym the tythes of all that he had the kynge of sodoÌ„ wold that abraÌ„ shold haue had suche pray as he toke but he wold not haue as moche as the lachet of a shoo thus gate abraÌ„ moche loue of all the peple After this our lord apperid to abraÌ„ in a visioÌ„ saide AbraÌ„ drede the nothyng I am thy ê“tector And thy reward and mede shal be grete Abram answerd lord god what wylt thou gyue me thou wotest welle I haue no children and sith I haue non I wil wel that eleazar the sone of my baily be myn heyr Nay said our lord he shal not be thyn heir but he that shal yssue come of thy seed shal be thyn heyr our lord ledde hym out bad hym beholde the heuen nombre the sterres yf thou mayst said to hym so shal thy ofspryngyng seed be And abram byleuyd it gaf faith to our lordes wordes it was reputed to hym to Iustice And our lord said to hym I am the lord that ladde that out of the londe of hur of the chaldeeis for to gyue to the this londe in to thy possession and abram said lord how shal I knowe that I shal possede it A voys said to abraÌ„ thy seed after the shal be exiled in to egipte by the space of iiijC yere and shal be there in seruitude after I shal brynge theÌ„ heâ—her agayn in the fourthe generacioÌ„ thou shalt abyde here vn to thy good age shal be buryed here goo with thy faders in pees sara was yet with out childe she had an handmayd named Agar an egypcian she on a day sayd to abram her housbond thou seyst I may bere no chyld wherfore I wold thou toke Agar my maide lye by her that thou myght gete a chylde whiche I myght kepe holde as for myn x yere after that Abraham had dwellid in that londe he toke agar gate her with chylde anon as she felte her self with chylde she despised her maistresse thenne sara said to abraÌ„ thou dost euyl I gaf the licence to lye with my seruant now syth she is conceyued by the she hath me in despyte god Iuge this bytwene the me to whom abraÌ„ answerd thyn haÌ„dmaid is in thyn haÌ„des chastise her as it pleseth the after this sara chastised agar put her to so grete affliction that she wente away and as she wente an auÌ„gel mette with her in the wildernes by a wel and said agar whens comest why ther goost thou She answerd I flee away fro the face of my lady sara to whom the angele sayde Retorne agayn submytte the by humblenes vnto thy lady and I shal multeplye thy seed so moche peple shal come of it that it can not by noÌ„bred for multytude he said forthermore thou haste coÌ„ceyued shal bere a child shalt calle hym ysmael he shal be a fiers man he shal be agayn alle men and alle men agayn hym TheÌ„ne agar retorned home and seruyd her lady and sone after she was delyueryd of ysmael Abram was lxxxvj yere old whan Ismael was born whan abram was lxxxxix yere our lord apperid to hym saide Abram loo I am the lord almyghty walke thou bifore me be parfyght and I shal kepe couenauÌ„t bitwene me the And shal multeplye thy seed gretly And abram fyll doun lowtyng lowe to therthe thaÌ„ked hym TheÌ„ne our lord said I am my couenauÌ„t I shal kepe to the thou shalt be fader of moche peple Thou shalt nomore be called abram but abraham For I haue ordeyned the fader of moche peple I shal make the tencrece most habondantly kynges prynces shal come of the and shal stablisshe my couenauÌ„t bytwene me the thy seed in thy generacioÌ„s I shal gyue to the to thy seed after the the londe of thy pylgremage all the londe of canaan in to their possession I shal be theyr god yet said god to abrahaÌ„ And thou shalt kepe thy couenaÌ„t to me thyn heyres after the in theyr generacions and this shal be the couenauÌ„t that ye shal kepe and thyn heyres after the Euery man chyld and male shal le circuÌ„siced in his preuy membre that it be a tokeÌ„ bytwene me you Euery chyld masculyn that shal be born shal be circuÌ„cysed whan he is viij dayee old And I Wyl that this signe shal be in your flesshe And see that the men in your generacion be circuÌ„cised begynne at thy self thy chyldren alle that dwelle in thy kynred who of yow that shal not be circuÌ„cised in his flesshe shal be caste put out for euer fro my peple by cause he obeyeth not my statute ordenauÌ„ce And thy wyf Saray shal be callid nomore Saray but she shal be called Saâ—a and I shal blesse her and shal gyue to the a sone of her whom I shal blesse also I shal hym encrece in to nacions And kynges of peples shal come of hym AbrahaÌ„ fyl doun his face toward therthe and lawhed in his herte sayeng may it be that a woman of lxxxx yere may coÌ„ceyue bere a chyld beseche the lord that Ismael may lyue to fore the Our lord said to abraham sara shal brynge forth a sone whoÌ„ thou shalt name ysaaâ— and I shal kepe my couenauÌ„t to hym for euermore and to his heyres after hym And I haue herd thy request for ysmael also I shal blesse hym encrece shal multeplye his seed in to moche peple xij dukes shal come of hym I shal kepe my couenauÌ„t to ysaac whom Sara shal brynge forth the next yere whan thise wordes were fynysshed abrahaÌ„ toke Ismael his sone all the men smale and grete strauÌ„gers other that were in his hows circuÌ„cised the Ismael was xiij yere old whan he was circuÌ„cised abraham was .99 yere whaÌ„ he hym self was circuÌ„cised And thus that same day he his sone Ismael all the men in his hows as wel strauÌ„gers of what degre they were receyuyd this newe lawe of circuÌ„cision wherby they were knowen from other peple After this on a tyme as abrahaÌ„ satte beside his hous in the vale of mambre in the hete of the day as he lifte vp his eyen he sawe iij yongmen comyng to hym anon as he sawe thise iij standyng by hym he ran to them worrshipped one allone he sawe thre and worshippid but one That bytokeneth the tryuyte prayd theÌ„ to be herberowed with hym toke water wesshe their feet prayd hem to tarye vnder the tree and he wold brynge brede
for me Abraham loked behynde hym sawe emonge the breres a RaÌ„me faste by the hornes whiche he toke offrid hym in sacrefyse for his sone He called that place the lord seeth The aÌ„gele called Abraham the second tyme sayeng I haue sworn by my self saith the lord By cause thou hast don this thing and hast not spared thyn only sone for me I shal blesse the and shal multeplye thy seed as the sterres of heuen lyke the granel that is on the see syde Thy seed shal possede the yates of theyr enemyes And in thy seed shal be blessyd all the peple of therthe for thou obeydest to me Abraham theÌ„ne retorned to his seruantes wente vnto bersabee and dwellyd there Sara lyuyd an Cxxvij yere deyed in the cyte of Arbee whiche is hebron in the londe of Canaan For whom abrahaÌ„ made sorow and wepte And bought of the children of heth a felde and buryed her worshipfully in a dobble spelunke Abraham was an old man and god blessyd hym in all his thingis he said to the eldest vpperist seruaunt of all his hows I charge and coniure the by the name of god of heuen of erthe that thou suffre not my sone ysaac to take no wyf of the doughtres of Canaan emonge whom I dwelle but goo in to the contre where my kynrede is and take of them a wyf to my sone And the seruaunt answerd yf no womaÌ„ there wil come with me in to this contre shal I brynge thy sone in to that coÌ„tre fro whens thou camest Abraham said beware that thou lede not my sone theder The lord of heuen of erthe that toke me fro the hows of my fader and fro the place of my natyuyte hath said and sworn to me sayeng to thy seed I shal gyue this londe he shal sende his angele to fore the and thou shalt take there a wyf for my sone yf no woman wil come with the thou shalt not be bouÌ„den by thyn oth but in no wyse lede my sone thyder his seruauÌ„t theÌ„ne swore and promysyd to hym that the wold soo doo he toke x cameles of the flock of his lord and of alle his goodes bare with hym wente in to mesopotany vnto the toun of Nachor And he made the cameles to tarye without the toun by a pytte syde at suche tyme as the women ben wonte to come out for to drawe water And there he prayd our lord sayeng lord god of my lord abraham I beseche the to helpe me this day and do mercy vnto my lord Abraham Lo I stonde here nyhe by the welle of water the doughters of the dwellers of this toun come hether for to drawe water Therfore the mayde to whoÌ„ I saye sette doun thy potte that I may drynke and theÌ„ne she sette doun her potte and saye I will gyue to the drynke and to the camelis that I may vnderstande therby that she be the mayde that thou hast ordeyned to thy seruaunt ysaac and thou shewest thy mercy to my lord abrahaÌ„ he had not fully fynysshid these wordes with in hym self but that Rebecca doughter of batuel sone of melche wyf of Nachor brother of Abraham cam out of the toun hauyng a potte on her sholder whiche was a right faire mayde and moche beautevous and vnknoweÌ„ to the man She wente doun to the welle and fylled her pot with water and retorned The seruaunt of abraham ranne to her and saide I praye the to gyue me a lytil of the water in thy potte for to drynke whiche said drynke my lord and lyghtly toke the potte fro her sholdre and helde it and gaf hym drynke and whan he had dronke she said yet I shal gyue to thy camels drynke and drawe water for them tyl alle haue dronken And she poured out the water in to a vessel that was there for beestis to drynke and ran to the pytte and drewe water that eueriche dranke his draughte he thenne thought in hym self secretly that god had made hym to haue a prosperous Iourney After they had dronke he gaf her ij rynges to hange on her eeris weyeng ij sycles as many armyllis weyeng x sycles asked her whos doughter she was yf ther were ony Rome in her faders hous to be lodged she answerd I am doughter to bathuel nachors sone and in my faders hows is place ynough to lodge the thy camels plente of Chaf heye for them And the man enclyned doun to the grouÌ„de And worshipped god sayeng blessid be the lord god of my lord abraham which hath not take away his mercy ne hys trouthe fro my lord and hath brought me in my Iourney right in to the hous of my lordes brother The mayde Rebecca ran and tolde at home alle that she had herd Rebecca had a brother named â—abaÌ„ whiche hastely wente out to the man where as he was whan he had seen the ryngis in his susters eeris her poynettis or armylles on her handes and had herd her saye alle that the man saide he cam to the man that stode by the welle yet and said to hym Come in thou blessyd of god why standest thou withoute I haue made redy the hows for the and haue ordeyned place for thy camels ¶ And brought hym in strowed his cameles gaf them chaf and heye and water to wasshe the camels feet the mens feet that cam with hym And they sette forth brede to fore hym whiche saide I shal not ete tyl I haue don myn erande and said wherfor I am comen it was answerd to hym saye on he saide I am seruaunt of Abraham And god hath blessyd magnefyed hym gretly and hath gyuen to hym Oxen sheep syluer and gold seruauntes men wymen Cameles and asses And Sara his wyf hath brought hym forth a sone in her olde age and he hath gyuen to hym alle that he had And my lord hath charged and adiured me sayeng In no wyse late my sone ysaac haue no wyf of the doughters of canaan in whos londe he dwelleth but goo vnto the hows of my fader and of my kynrede of them thou shalt take a wyf to my sone wherfore I am comen hether and told alle how be prayd god of som token and how rebecca dyde to hym And in conclusion desired to haue Rebecca for his lord ysaac yf he wold not that he myght departe and goo in to some other place on the right side or the lyft to seke a wyf for his lordes sone Thenne bathuel and laban said to hym This worde is comen of god agayn his wille we may nothyng do Lo Rebecca standeth to fore the take her and goo forth that she may be wyf vnto the sone of thy lord as our lord hath said whiche wordes whaÌ„ Abrahams seruauÌ„t had herde fylle doun to the grouÌ„d thanked our lord And anon toke forth syluer vessell of gold and good clothis
his brethern answerde Shalt thou be our kyng And shal we be subgette obey thy comandement Therfor this cause of dremes of thyse wordes mynystred the more fume of hate and enuye Ioseph sawe another sweuene and told to his fader and brethern Me thought I sawe in my sleep the sonne the mone and xj sterres worshipe me whiche whan his fader and his brothern had herd the fader blamed hym and said what may betokene this dreme that thou sawest Trowest thou that I. thy moder and thy brethern shal worshipe the vpon therthe his brethern had grete enuye here at The fader thought and consydered a thynge secretly in hym self ¶ On a tyme whan hys brethern kepte theyr flockes of sheep in Sichem Israhel said to Ioseph Thy brethern fede their sheep in Sichem Come and I shal sende the to them Whiche answerd I am redy and he saide goo and see yf all thynge be wel and prosperous at thy brethern and beestis and come agayn and telle me what they doo He wente fro the vale of Ebron and cam vnto Sichem there was a man fonde hym erryng in the felde and axed hym what he sought And he answerd I seche my brthern telle me were they fede their flockes The man said to hym They ben departed fro this place I herde them saye late vs goo in to Dothaim whiche thenne whan his brethern sawe hym come fro ferre to fore he approched to them they thoughte to slee hym and spack to gydre sayeng Loo see the dremer cometh Come and lete vs slee hym and put hym in to this olde cisterne And we shal saye that som wilde euyl beest hath deuoured hym And thenne shal appere what his dremes shalle proufyte hym Ruben heeryng this thought for to delyuer hym fro their handes and said Late vs not sle hym ne shâ—de his blood but kepe your hondes vndefowled This he said willyng to kepe hym fro theyr handes and rendre hym agayn to his fader Anon thenne as he cam they toke of his motley cote and sette hym in to an olde cisterne that had no water As they satte for to ete brede they sawe ysmaelites come fro Galaad and theyr camels bryngyng spyces and Reysyus in to egypte Thenne said Iudas to his brethern What shold it prâ—â—ffyte vs yf we 〈◊〉 our brother and shedde his blood 〈◊〉 better that he be sold to 〈◊〉 and our handes be not 〈◊〉 he is our brother and our flessh 〈◊〉 brethern agreed to his wordes And drewe hym out of the cysterne solde hym to the Madyanytes marchantes passyng forth by to Ismalytes for xxx pecis of syluer whiche â—ad hym in to egypte At this tyme whan he was sold Ruben was not there but was in another felde with his beestis And whan he retorned cam vnto the cysterne and fonde not Ioseph he taâ—e his clothes for sorow and cam to his brethern and said the chyld is not yonder whyther shal I goo to seche hym he had supposed his brethern had slayn hym in his absence they told hym what they had don and toke his cote and besprenklid it wyth the blood of a kyd which they slowe and sente it to their fader sayeng See whether this be the cote of thy sone or not this we haue fouÌ„den whiche anon as the fader sawe it saide This is my sones cote an euyl wylde beeste haue deuouryd hym SoÌ„me beste hath eten hym reÌ„te his clothis dyde on hym a sacke cloth bewayllyng sorowyng his sone a long tyme Alle his sones gadred them to gyder for to comforte their fader and aswage his sorowe but he wold take no comforte but saide I shal descende to my sone in to â—elle for to bewaylle hym there ¶ And thus he abydyng in sorow the madianytes caryed Ioseph in to egypte solde hym to putiphar eunuche of pharao maister of his knyghtes thus was Ioseph ledde in to egypte putiphar prynce of the oost of pharao an egypcian bought hym of the handes of Ismaelites Our lord god was alway with Ioseph and he was wyse redy prosperous in alle maner thynges he dwellyd in hys bordes hous plesed so wel his lord that he stode in his grace that he made hym vpperist aboue all other betoke hym the rule gouernauÌ„ce of alle his hows which wel wysely gouerned the houshold alle that he had charge of Our lord blessyd the hows of egypte for Iosephs sake multeplyed as wel in beestis as in feldes all his substauÌ„ce Ioseph was fair of vysage wel fauoured after many dayes the lady his maisters wyf behelde caste her eyen on Ioseph said to Ioseph come slepe with me which anon refused that wold not attende ne listeÌ„ vnto her wordes ne wold not consente to so synful awerke said to her Lo hath not my lord delyueryd to me all that he hath in his hous he knoweth not what he hath ther is nothyng therin but that it is in my power at my coÌ„mandemÌ„t exepte the which art his wyf how may I doo this euyl synne to my lorde suche maner or seÌ„blable wordes he saide dayly to her and the womaÌ„ was the more desirous greuous to the yong maÌ„ he alway forsoke refused the synne hit happed on a day that Ioseph eÌ„tred in to the chaÌ„bre aboute certayn nedes that he had to doo she caught hym by hys mantel helde it faste said to hym come lye with me who anon wold not agree to her but fledde forth out of the doores lefte hys maÌ„tel behynde hym in her haÌ„de and whan the lady sawe that she was refused his mantel in her hande She cryed called the meÌ„ of the hous said to heÌ„ Loo this ebrewe is comen to my chaÌ„bre wold haue enforced haue leyn by me whan I cryed he fledde out of the chaÌ„bre and lefte for hast his mantel that I helde behynde hym in to witnes of trouthe she shewde to her husbond the mantel whan he cam home saide Thy seruauÌ„t hebrew whom thou hast brought in to this hous is entred in to my chaÌ„bre for to haue leyn by me And whan I cryde he lefte his maÌ„tel that I held fledde away whan the lord herde this anon he gaf faith byleuyd hys wyf And beyng sore wroth sette Ioseph in pryson where as the prysoners of the kyng were kept he was ther faste sette in Our lord god was with Ioseph had mercy on hym and made hym in the fauour grace of the chief kepar of the pryson in so moche that he delyueryd to Ioseph the kepyng of all the prysoners what he dyde was doon the chyef gayler was plesid with all Our lord was with hym directed all his werkis After this it fylle so that ij offycers of the kynges trespaced vnto their lord wherfor he was wroth with hem comanded theÌ„
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
what our lord had doÌ„ to pharao to thegypcyeÌ„s for Israhel all the labour that they endured how our lord had delyuered theÌ„ Ietro was glad for alle thise thynges that god had so sauyd theÌ„ fro the handes of thegypcieÌ„s said Blessid by the lord that hath delyuerid you fro the hand of thegypcyens of pharao and hath sauyd his peple now I know that he is a grete lord aboue all goddes by cause they dyde so proudly ayenst theÌ„ And Ietro offred sacrefyces offryngis to our lord Aaron alle the senyors of Israhel cam ete with hym so fore our lord the next day moyses satte Iuged demed the peple fro mornyng vnto euenyng whiche whan his cosyn sawe he said to hym what doost thou why sittest thou allone all the peple â—arye fro the morn til euen to whoÌ„ moyses answerd The peple come to me demauÌ„dyng sentence the dome of god whaÌ„ ther is ony debate or dyfference emonge theÌ„ they come to me to Iuge hem to shewe to them the preceptes â—â—wes of god TheÌ„ne said Ietro thou â—ost not wel ne wysely For by folye thou consumest thy self the peple with the thou doost aboue thy myght Thou maist not allone susteyne it but here me doo ther after our lord shal be with the Be thou vnto the peple in tho thynges that apparteyne to god that thou telle to theÌ„ what they shold do the cerymonyes ryte to worship god the way by whiche they shold goo what werk they shal doo Poruyde of all the peple wyse men dredyng god in whom is trouth and them that hate auaryce couetyse ordeyne of them trybunes centuriones denes that may in all tymes Iuge the peple And yf ther be of a grete charge weight late it be referrid to the And late them Iuge the smale thinges it shal be the esyer to the to bere the charge whan it is so parted yf thou doo soo thou shalt fulfylle the comandement of god and susteyne his preceptis And the peple shall goo hom to theyr places in peâ—s which thynges whaÌ„ Moyses had herde vnderstonden he dyde all that he had couÌ„ceyllyd hym And chase out the streÌ„gest wysest peple of all Israhel ordeyned theÌ„ prynces of the peple tribunes CeÌ„turiones quinquagenaries and denes whiche at alle tymes shold Iuge and deme the peple And alle the grete weyghty maters they referryd to hym demyng and Iugyng the smale causes And thenne his cosyn departed and wente in to his contre ¶ The thirde moneth after the children departed out of egypte that same day they caÌ„ in to the wyldernesse of Synay and ther a boute the regyon of the mounte they fyxed theyr tentes Moyses ascended in to the hylle vnto god ¶ God callid hym on the hylle and said this shalt thou saye to the hows of Iacob and to the chyldren of Israhel ye your self haue seen what I haue don to the egypciens And how I haue born you on the whynges of Egles and haue taken you to me yf ye therfor here my voys and kepe my couenaunt ye shal be to me in the regne of preesthod and holy peple thyse ben the wordes that thou shalt saye to the chyldren of Israhel Moyses cam doun and gadred all the most of byrthe and expowned in them alle the wordes that our lord had comaunded hym Alle the peple answerd Alle that euer our lord hath said we shal doo Whan Moyses had shewd to the peple the wordes of our lord our lord said to hym Now I shal come to the in a clowde that the peple may here me spekyng to the that they byleue the euer after ¶ Moyses wente and told this to the peple our lord bade them to sanctefye the peple this day and to morow and late them wesshe their cloâ—hes be redy the thirde day The thirde day our lord shal desceÌ„de to fore all the peple on the mount of Synay And ordeyne to the peple the markes and termes in the circuyte said to them Beware that ye ascende not on the hylle ne towche the endes of it who someuer towcheth the hylle shal dye by deth ther shal no hande towche hym but with stones he shal be oppressid and with castyng of them on hym he shal be tolben whether it be man or beest he shal not lyue whan thou herest the trompe blowen thenne ascende to the hylle Moyses wente doun to the peple sanctefyed halowed theÌ„ and whan they had wasshen herr clothis he said to them Be ye redy at the thirde daye and approche not your wyues whan the thirde daye cam and the mornyng wexed clere they herde thondre lyghtnyng and saw a grete clowde coure the mouÌ„te and the crye of the trompe was so shrylle that the peple was sore aferd whan moyses had brouht them forth vnto the Rote of the hylle they stode there all the mounte of synay smoked for somoche as our lord descended on it in fyre And the smoke ascended fro the hylle as it had be fro a fornays The mount was terryble and dredeful the soun of the troÌ„pe grewe a lytyl more and contynued lenger Moyses spack And our lord answerd hym Our lord descended vpon the toppe of the mounte of synay euen on the toppe of hit And called Moyses to hym whiche whan he come said to hym Goo doun and charge the peple that they come not to the termes of the hylle for to see the lord for yf they doo moche multitude shal perisshe of them the preestis that shal come late them be sanctefyed lest they be smeton doun And thou and Aaron shal ascende the hylle Alle the peple and preestes late them not passe theyr boundes leste god smyte them Thenne moyses descended and told to the peple alle that our lord hath said After this our lord callyd Moyses And said I am the lord god that brought you out of egypte and of thraldom And gaf hym the comandemeÌ„tis first by spekyng and many cerymonyes as ben rehersed in the byble whiche is not requysyte to be wreton here but the ten comandementes euery man is bounden to knowe And er Moyses receyued them wreton he wente vp in to the mount of Synay and fasted there xl dayes and xl nyghtes er he receyuyd them In whiche tyme he comanded hym to make many thynges and to ordeyne the lawes and cerymonyes which now ben not had in the newe lawe also as doctours saye moyses lerned that tyme all thystoryes to fore wreton of the makyng of heuen erthe of adam noe abraham ysaac Iacob of Ioseph with his brethern And atte laste delyueryd to hym two tables of stone bothe wreton with the honde of god whiche folowen Here folowen the ten comandemens of our lawe THe first comandement that god comanded is this Thou shal not worshipe no straunge ne dyuerse goddes that
peryll And in this comandement is defended alle synne ayenst nature in what maner it be don in his persone or other ¶ The seuenth comandement is that thou shal do no thefte This comandement forbedeth to take away other mēnes thynges what someuer they bee without reson ayenst the wyll of them that owe or make them in this comādement is defended Rauayne vsure Robberye and deceyte and begylyng other for to haue theyr hauoyr or good And he that doth ayenst this comandement is bounden to make restitucion yeld agayn that he hath so goten or taken yf he knowe to whom he ought to rendre it ¶ And yf he knowe not he is bounden to gyue it for goddes sake or doo by the counseyl of holy chirch For who reteyneth wrongfully and without Reson other mennes good agayn theyr wyll synneth dedely yf he paye not where as he oweth yf he knowe where and be in his power and hath wherof And yf he knowe not late hym doo by the counseyl of holy chirche And who so doth not so synneth ayenst this comandement dedely ¶ The viij comandement is that thou shalt not bere false witnesse ayenst thy neyghbour in this comandement is forboden that noman shall lye wetyngly For who so lyeth doth ayenst this comandement And also that he forswere not hym in Iugement ne make no lesynges to noye ne greue another ner he ought not to myssaye ne speke euyl of other in entencion tenpayre his good name and fame For it is dedly synne Ayenst this comandement do they that saye euyl of good men behynde them and bacbyte them And do this wetyngly by malyce whiche is called detraction And also they that accuse somme of theyr folye or herkene by maner of adulacion or flateryng whan they that men speke of be not present they that doo thus and saye suche wordes doo ayenst this comandement for they be all false witnessis The nyne comandement is that thou shalt not desyre the wyf of thy neyghbour ne shalt not coueyte her in thyn herte that is to saye thou shalt not consente to synne with her with thy body This comandement defendeth to desyre to haue companye with all maner wymen out of maryage And the euyl sygnes that ben without forth make men for to drawe them to synne as the euyl wordes of suche matere or the foule and euyl attouchyng kyssyng handlynge and suche other And the dyfference bytwene this comandement and the syxthe aforsaid is that the syxthe comandement forbedeth the dede wythout forth And this forbedeth the consentyng within forth For the consentyng withinforth to haue companye with a woman that is not his by maryage is dedely synne after the sentēce of the gospel that saith Who that seeth a woman and coueyteth her in his herte he hath now synneth in his herte and dedly This is to vnderstonde of the consentyng eypresse in his thought The tenth comandem̄t is that thou shalt not coueyte nothyng that is or longeth to thy neyghbour This comandement defendeth wylle to haue thynges that longe to other men by euyll rayson or wrongfully In this comandedemēt is defended ēuye of other mēnes wele of other mennes grace or welfare For suche enuye cometh of euyl couetytyse to haue suche good or suche grace or fortune as he seeth in other And this couetyse is whan the consentyng and thoughte be certaynly one thenne is it dedly synne And yf ther be ony ylle mouynges without wyll consentyng of damage or hurte of other this is not dedly synne yf he synne herin it is but venyel synne thyse ben the ten comdement of our lord or whiche the iij first belonge to god And the vij other ben ordeyned for our neyghbours Euery persone that hath witte and vnderstandyng in hym self and age is bounde to knowe them and tobeye kepe thise ten comandemens aforsaid or ellis he synneth dedly Thus moyses abode in the hill xl dayes and xl nyghtes And receyued of Almyghty god the tables with the comandements wreton with the hond of god and also receyued and lerned many cerymonyes and statutes that god ordeyned by whiche the children of Israhel shold be reuled and Iuged by and whiles that Moyses was thus with our lord on the mounte The children of Israhel sawe that he taried and descended not and somme of them said that hewas dede or goon away and wold not retorne agayn And som̄e said nay but in conclusiō they gadred them to gydre ayenst Aaron and said to hym Make to vs somme goddes that may goo to fore vs we knowe not what is befallen to Moyses Thēne Aaron saide take the gold that hangeth in the eeris of your wyues and your chyldren and brynge it to me The peple dyde as he bad and brought the gold to Aaron whiche he toke and molte it And made therof a Calf Thenne they sayd thyse ben thy goddes Israhel that brought the out of the londe of Eypte And the peple made an aulter to fore it and made grete Ioye and myrthe and ete and dronke and daunced and pleyed to fore the Calf and offrid and made sacrefises therto Our lord spack to Moyses sayeng Goo hens and descend doun thy peple haue synned whom thou hast brought fro the lond of egypte They haue sone forsake and lefte the waye which thou hast shewd to them They haue made to them a Calf blowen and haue worshyped it and offred sacrefyses therto sayeng ◠Thise be thy goddes Israhel that haue brought the out of the londe of egypte yet sayd our lord to Moyses I see wel that this peple is of euyl disposicion Suffre me that I may wreke my wrath on them and I shal destroye them I shal make the gouernour of grete peple Moyses thenne prayd our lord god sayeng why art thou wroth lord ayenst thy peple that thou hast brought out of the londe of egypte in a grete strengthe and a boystous hande I beseche the lord late not thegypcyens saye that their god hath locked them out for to slee them in the montayns I praye the lord that thy wrath may aswage and be thou pleysid and benygne vpon the wickednes of thy peple Remembre Abraham Ysaac and Iacob thy seruaūtes to whom thou promysyst and swarest by thy self sayeng I shal multeplye your seed as the sterres of heuen And the vnyuersal londe of whiche I haue spoken I shal gyue to your seed And ye shal possede and haue it euer And with thise wordes our lord was pleased that he wold do no harme as he had said vnto his peple And moyses retorned fro the moūt beryng two tables of stone wreton both with the hande of god And the scripture that was in the tables were the ten comandementis as fore be wreton ¶ Iosue heering the grete noyse of the chyldren of Israhel said to Moyses I trowe they fyght benethe whiche answerd and said it is no crye of exortyng men to fyght ne noyse to compelle men to flee but I here
the handes of all the kynges that were your enemyes pursyewed you and ye haue forsaken our lord god that hath only delyuryd you from all your euyll trybulacions haue said Ordeyne vpon vs a kynge wherfor now staÌ„de euerich in his tribe we shal lote who shal be our kyng the lotte fylle on the tribe of beniamyn in that trybe the lotte fylle vpon saul the sone of Cys And they souht hym coude not fynde hym it was told hem that he was hyd in his hous at home the peple ran thyder fette hym sette hym amyddes all the peple And he was heyer than ony of alle the peple fro the sholdre vpward Thenne samuel saide to the peple nowe ye see beholde whoÌ„ our lord hath chosen For ther is none lyke hym of all the peple And thenne all the peple cryed viuat Rex lyue the kynge Samuel wrote the lawe of the Royame to the peple in a book put it to fore our lord Thus was saul made the first kynge in Israhel And anon had moche warre For an all sides mâ—n warrid on the chyldren of Israhel he defended them And saul had dyuerse bataylles had victorye samuel cam on a tyme to saul said god comanded hym to fight agaynst Amalech that he shold slee destroye man woman chyld Oxe cowe camel asse sheep spare nothyng Thenne Saul assemblyd hys peple had ijCM footmen xxM meÌ„ of the tribe of Iuda weÌ„te forth fought ayeÌ„st Amalech and slewe them sauf he sauyd Agag the kynge of Amalech alyue alle other he slewe but he spared the best flockes of sheep of other beestis also good clothis wethers all that was good he spared what someuer was fowle he destroyed And this was shewd to Samuel by our lord sayeng Me forthynketh that I haue ordeyned saul kynge vpon Israhel For he hath forsaken me not fulfylled my comandements Samuel was sory here fore waylled all the nyght On the morn he roos cam to Saul and Saul offrid sacrefise vnto our lord of the pyllage that he had taken And samuel demauÌ„ded of saul what noyse tâ—at was that he herde of sheep beestis And he saide that they were of the beestis that the peple had brouht fro Amalech to offre vnto our lord And the residue were slayn They haue spared the best fattest for to doo sacrefyse with vnto thy lord god Thenne said samuel to saul Remembrest thou not that where thou were leste emong the trybus of Israhel thow were made vpperist and our lord enoynted the and made the kynge And he said to the goo and slee the synners of Amalech and leue none alyue man ne beest why hast thou not obeyed the comandement of our lord And hast ronâ—e to Roberye And don euyl in the sight of god ¶ And thenne said Saul to Samuel I haue taken Agag kynge of Amalech and brought hym wyth me but I haue slayn Amalech the peple haue taken of the sheep and beestis of the beste for to offre vnto our lord god And thenne said Samuel â—rowest thou that our lord wold Rather haue sacrefise and offrynges then not toleye his comandements Better is obedyence than sacrefise and better it is to take â—â—de to doo after thy lord than to offre the fatte kedeneys of the weders For it is a synne to withstande and to repugne ayenst his lord lyke the synne of ydolatrye And by cause thou hast not obeyed our lord and caste awaye his worde Our lord hath caste the away that thou shalt not be kynge TheÌ„ne said saul to samuel I haue synned for I haue not obeyed the word of god thy wordes but haue dredde the peple obeyed to theiâ— request but I pray the to bere my synne trespaas retorne with me that I may worshipe our lord samuel answerd I shal not retorne with the And so sammuel departed yet er he departed he dyde do sle Agag the kyng And Samuel sawe neuer Saul after vnto his deth Thenne our lord bad Samuel to goo and enoynte one of the sones of ysay otherwise called Iesse to be kynge of Israhel And so he cam in to bethleem vnto Iesse and bad hym brynge his sones to fore hym This Iesse had viij sones he brought to fore Samuel vij of them And Samuel said ther was not he that he wold haue Thenne he said that ther was no moo sauf one whiche was yongest and yet a chyld and kept sheep in the felde And Samuel said sende for hym For I shal ete no brede tyl he come And so he was sente for and brought he was rough and fayr of vysage and wel fauoured And samuel aroos and toke an horne with oyle and enoynted hym in the myddle of his brethern And forthwyth the spyryte of our lord caÌ„ directly in hym that same day euer after Thenne Samuel departed cam in to Ramatha the spyryte of our lord weÌ„te away fro saul an euyl spirite ofte vexid hym TheÌ„ne his seruants said to hym Thou aft orte vexid with an euyl spirite it were good to haue one that coude harpe to be with the whaÌ„ the spirite vexeth the thou shalt bere it the lyghter And he said to his seruauÌ„tes prouyde ye to me suche one and theÌ„ne one said I saw one of ysayes sones pleye on a harpe a fayr chyld strong wyse in hys talkyng our lord is with hym TheÌ„ne Saul sente messagers to ysaye for dauid ysaye sente dauid his sone with a presente of brede wyn a kydde to saul and alway whan the euyl spyryte vexid saul dauid harped to fore hym anon he was easyd the euyl spyryte weÌ„te his waye After this the philisteis gadred theÌ„ in to grete hoostes to make warre agaynst Saul the chyldren of Israhel And Saul gadred the children of Israhel to gidre caÌ„ agayn theÌ„ in the vale of therebinthi The philisteis stode vpoÌ„ the hille on the one parte Israhel stode vpoÌ„ the hille on the other parte the valeye was bytwene them And ther caÌ„ out of the hoost of the philisteis a grete geauÌ„t named golye of Geth he was vj cubytes hye a palme a helme of brasse on his heed was cladde in a habergeon The weight of of his habergeon was of vM sicles of weight of metal he had botes of brasse in his cartes his sholdre were couerid with plates of brasse his glayue was as a grete colestaf ther was the roÌ„ vj sicles of yroÌ„ his squyer weÌ„te to for hym cryde ayenst theÌ„ of Israhel and said that they shold chefe a man to fight a synguler batail ayeÌ„st golyas yf he were ouercomeÌ„ the philisteis shold be seruauÌ„tes to Israhel yf he preuaile ouercome his enemye they of Israhel shold serue the phylisteis thus
clothis And on the morn Saul sente spyes for dauid And it was answerd to them that he laye seke in his bedde thenne after this sente saul messagers for to see dauid said to them brynge hym to me in his bedde that he may be slayn whaÌ„ the messagers cam they fonde a symylacre or an ymage in his bedde and ghotes skynnes on the heed Thenne said Saul to mychol his doughter Why hast thou mocked me so and hast suffrid myn enemy to flee And mychol answerd to Saul and said He said to me late me goo or I shal slee the Dauid wente to samuel in Ramatha and told hym all that Saul had don to hym And it was told to saul that Dauid was with Samuel and he sente theder messagers to take hym And whan they cam they fonde hem with the companye of prophetes and they satte prophecied with them and he sente moo And they dyde also so And the thyrde tyme he sente mo messagers and they also prophecyed And thenne Saul beyng wroth askyd where Samuel and dauid were and wente to them and he prophecyed whan he cam also and toke of his clothis and was naked alle that day and nyght byfore Samuel Dauid thenne fledde from thens and cam to Ionathas and complayned to hym sayeng what haue I offended that thy fader secheth to slee me Ionathas was sory therfore For he louyd wel Dauid After this Saul euer sought for to slee dauid And on a tyme Saul wente in to a Caue for to ease hym And dauid was within the caue to whom his sauyer said ¶ Now hath god brought thyn enemye in to thyn hand now go and slee hym And dauid said god forbede that I shold leye ony honde on hym he is enoynted I shal neuer hurte ne greue hym late god doo his playsyr ¶ And he wente to Saul and cutte of a gobet of his mantel and kepte it And whan Saul was goon out Sone after yssued dauid out and cryed to Saul sayeng loo Saul god hath brought the in my handes I myght haue slayn the yf I had wolde but god forbede that I shold leye honde on the my lord enoynted of god And what haue I offended that thou sechest to slee me who art thou said Saul Arte not thou Dauid my sone Yes said dauid I am thy seruaunt And kneled doun and worshiped hym ¶ Thenne said Saul I haue synned and wepte and also saide Thou arte rightfuller than I am Thou hast don to me good And I haue don to the euylle And thou hast wel shewde me this day that god had brought me in to thyn hande and hast not slayn me God rewarde the for this that thou hast don to me Nowe I knowe wel that thou shalt regne in Israhel I praye the to be frendly to my seed and destroye not my hows and swere and promyse me that thou take not away my name fro the hows of my fader ¶ And Dauid sware and promysed to Saul And thenne Saul departed and wente home ¶ And Dauid and his peple wente in to surer places Anon after this Samuel deyde and was buryed in hys hows in Ramatha And alle Israhel bewaylled hym gretly ¶ Thenne ther was a riche man in the mounte of Carmel that on a tyme he share clypped his sheep to whom dauid sente certayn meÌ„ bad them saye that dauid grette hym wel where as afortymes his shepherdes kepte his sheep in deserte he neuer was greuoê° to theÌ„ ne they lost not as moch as a sheep as loÌ„ge as they were wyth vs that he myght aske his seruantes for they coude telle and that I wold now in their nede sende them what it pleased hym Nabal answerd to the children of Dauid Who is that Dauid ¶ Trowe ye that I shal sende the mete that I haue made redy for theÌ„ that shere my sheep and sende it to men that I knowe not The men retorned told to dauid alle that he had sayd Thenne said dauid to his men late euery man take his swerd and gyrde hym wyth alle And Dauid toke his swerd and gyrde hym And Dauid wente and iiijC men folowed hym and he â—â—fte ijC behynde hym One of the seruauÌ„tes of Nabal told to abygayl Nabals wyf how that dauid had sente messagers fro the deserte vnto his lord and how wroth and weyward he was also he said that tho men were good ynough to hem whan they were in deserte ne neuer perisshed beest of our as longe as they were there They were a wal a shelde for vs both day nyht all the tyme that we kepte our flockes there wherfor coÌ„sydere what is to be don they purpose to do harme to hym to his hous For he is the sone of belial in suche wise that noman may speke with hym TheÌ„ne abygail hyed her toke ijC loues of breed ij botellee of wyn v weders sothen and v mesures of potage C bondes of grapes dreyde ijC masses of cariacares and leyde all this vpon asses said to her seruauÌ„tes goo ye to fore I shal folowe after She told herof nothyng to her husbond nabal theÌ„ne she toke an asse rode after whaÌ„ she cam to the foot of the hille dauid his meÌ„ desceÌ„ded to whoÌ„ she ran dauid said I haue for nought sauyd alle the beestis of this nabal in deserte ther perisshed nothyng of his that perteyned to hym hath yelded euyl for good by the lyuyng god I shal not leue as moche of his alyue as shal pisse ayenst a walle as sone as abigail sawe dauid she desceÌ„ded fro her asse fill doun to fore dauid vpon her visage worshipped hym on therthe fylle douÌ„ to his feet said In me said she my lord be this wickednes I beseche that I thyn handmayde may speke to thyn eeris that thou wilt here the wordes of me thy seruaunte I praye requyre the my lord late not thy herte be sette ayeÌ„st this wicked man nabal For acordyng to his name he is a fool And folye is with hym I thyn handmayde sawe not thy chyldren that thou sendest Now therfor my lord for the loue of god of thy soule suffre not thy hond to shede no blood I beseche god that thyn enemyes may be lyke nabal they that wold the harme and I beseche the to resseyue this blessyng presente whiche I thyn handmayde haue brought to the my lord gyue it to thy men that folowe the my lord Take away the wyckednes fro me thy seruaunt And I beseche god to make to the my lord a hous of trouthe For thou my lord shal fight the bataillis of our lord god And late no malyce be fouÌ„de in the neuer in alle the dayes of thy lyf yf euer ony man aryse ayenst the or wold pursiewe or wold hurte the I beseche god to kepe the And whan our lord god hath accoÌ„plisshid
to the my lord all that he hath spoken good of the hath constytued the duke vpon Israhel late this not be in thy thought ne scropule in thy herte that thou sholdest shede blood not gylty ne be thou not now auengid And whan our lord god hath don wel to the my lord haue thou ramembrauÌ„ce on me thy handmayde doo wel to me And dauid said to abygayl Blessid be god of Israhel that sente the this day to mete me And blessyd be thy speche And blessid be thou that hast withdraweÌ„ me fro blood shedyng that I auengyd me not on myn enemye with my hande Elles by the lyuyng lord god of Israhel yf thou haddest not comen vnto me ther shold not haue blyuen vnto nabal to morn in the mornyng one pyssyng ayenst a walle Thenne dauid receyuyd alle that she brouht and said to her Goo pesibly in to thy hous Loo I haue herde thy voys I haue honoured thy visage and so abygail cam vnto nabal dauid retorned in to the place he caÌ„ fro Nabal made a grete feste in his hows lyke the feste of a kynge And the herte of Nabal was Iocunde he was dronken And Abygail his wyf told to hym no worde tyl on the morn lytyl ne moche On the morn whan Nabal had dygestid the wyn his wyf told hym alle thyse wordes And his herte was mortefyed wythin hym and he was deed lyke a stone For the tenthe day after our lord smote hym and he deyde And whan Dauid herde that he was deed he said Blessyd be the good lord that hath Iuged the cause of myn obprobrye fro the hand of Nabal and hath kepte me his seruaunt from harme And our lord hath yolden the malyce of Nabal on his owen heed Thenne Dauid sente to Abygayl for to haue her to his wyf And she humbled her self and said she his handmayde was redy to wasshe the feet of his seruauntes And she aroos and toke with her fyue maydens whiche wente a foote by her and she rood vpon an asse and folowed the messagers and was made wyf to dauid and Dauid also toke another wyf called Achynoem of Iesrahel And bothe two were hys wyues After this Saul alway sought Dauid for to slee hym And the peple called Zyphei told to Saul that Dauid was hyd in the hille of Achylle whiche was on the after part of the wyldernes ¶ And Saul toke with hym thre thousand chosen men and folowed and sought Dauid Dauid whan he herde of the comyng of Saul wente in to the place where as Saul was And whan he was a slepe he toke one with hym and wente in to the tente where Saul slepte and Abner with hym and alle his peple ¶ Thenne said Abysay to Dauid God hath put thyn enemye this day in thy handes Now I shal goo and smyte hym thurgh with my spere and thenne after that we shal haue no nede to drede hym And Dauid said to Abysay Slee hym not who may extende his hande in to the enoynted kyng of god and be InnoceÌ„t dauid said yet more by the lyuyng god but yf god smyte hym or the dayes come that he shal deye or perisshe in batayl god be mercyful to me as I shal not leye my hond on hym that is enoynted of our lord Now take the spere that stondeth at his heed and the cuppe of watir and late vs goo ¶ Dauid toke the spere and the cuppe and departed thens and ther was not one that sawe them ne awaked For they slepte alle Thenne whan Dauid was on the hylle fer from hem Dauid cryed to the peple and to abner saieng Abner shal not thou answere And abner answerd who art thou that cryest and wakest the kynge And Dauid said to abner Art not thou a man and ther is none lyke the in Israhel why hast not thou therfor kepte thy lord the kynge Ther is one of the peple goon in to slee the kynge thy lord by the lyuyng lord it is not good that ye doo but ye be worthy to dye by cause ye haue not kepte your lord enoynted of our lord Now loke see where the kynges spere is and the cuppe of water that stodâ— at his heed Saul knewe the voys of Dauid and said Is not this thy voys my sone Dauid and Dauid said it is my voys my lord kynge For what cause doost thou my lord pursyewe me thy seruaunt what thyng haue I don and what euyl haue I coÌ„mysed with my hand Thou seest wel I myght haue slayn the yf I wold god Iuge bytwene the and me And Saul saide I haue synned Retorne my sone I shalle neuer herafter doo the harme ne euyl For thy soule is precious in my sight this day hit apâ—perith Now that I haue don folily and am IgnourauÌ„t in many thynges thenne said dauid lo here is the spere of the kynge late a chyld come fetche it Our lord shal reward to euery man after his Iustice and faith Our lord hath this day brought the in to my handes And yet I wold not leye myn honde on hym that is enoynted of our lord And lyke as thy sowle is magnyfyed this day in my syght So be my sowle magnefyed in the sight of god and delyuer me from all anguysse Saul said thenne to dauid Blessyd be thou my sone dauid dauid wente thenne his waye and Saul retorned home agayn dauid said in his herte SoÌ„tyme it myght happe me to falle come in to the haÌ„des of saul it is better I flee fro hym and saue me in the londe of the phylysteis And wente thens with vjC men and cam to Achis kynge of geth and dwellyd there ¶ And whan Saul vnderstode that he was with Achis he cessed to seche hym And Achis delyueryd to dauid a toun to dwelle in named Sychelech ¶ After this the philisteis gadred and assembled moche peple ayenst Israhel And Saul assemblid alle Israhel and cam vnto gelboe And whan Saul sawe alle thoost of the phylysteis his herte dredde and faynted sore he cryed for to haue couÌ„seylle of our lord And our lord answerd hym not ne by sweuenes ne by preestis ne by prophetes Thenne said Saul to his seruantes Fetche to me a woman hauyng a phiton other wyse callyd a phytonesse or witche And they said that ther was suche a woman in end or Saul thenne changed his habyte and clothyng and dyde on other clothyng and wente and two men with hem and cam to the woman by nyght and made her by her crafte to reyse Samuel And Samuel said to Saul why hast thou put me fro my reste for to aryse And Saul said I am coarted therto For the phylysteis fighte ayenst me and god is goon fro me and wyl not here me neyther by prophetes ne by sweuenes And Samuel said what axest thou of me whan god is gon fro the and goon vnto dauid God shal doo to the as he hath said
toke the only sheep of the poure man and made mete therof to his gheest dauid was wroth said to nathan by the lâ—uyng god the maÌ„ that hath so doo is the childe of deth the man that hath so doo shal yelde therfore iiij double Thenne said NathaÌ„ to Dauid thou art the same maÌ„ that hath don this thynge This said the lord god of Israhel I haue enoynted the kynge vpon Israhel and I haue kept the fro the hande of Saul and I haue gyuen to the an hows to kepe in thy houshold and wyues in thy bosom I haue gyuen to the the hous of Israhel and the hous of Iuda And yf thyse be smale thynges I shal adde and gyue to the moche more and gretter why hast thou therfor despysed the word of god and hast don euyl in the sight of our lord Thou hast slayn vrye with a swerd And his wyf hast thou taken vnto thy wif And thou hast slayn hym with the swerd of the sones of Ammon Therfor the swerd shal not goo fro thy hows world withoute ende For as moche as thou hast despysed and hast taken vryes wyf vnto thy wyf This said our lord I shal reyse euyl ayenst the And shal take thy wyues in thy sight and gyue them to thy neyghbour and shal lye wyth thy wyuys to fore thyn eyen Thou hast don it pryuely but I shal make this to be don and open in the sight of alle Israhel And thenne said dauid to Nathan peccaui I haue synned ayenst our lord Nathan said Our lord hath taken away thy synne thou shalt not dye but for as moche as thou hast made the enemyes to blaspheme the name of god Therfor the sone that is born to the shal dye by deth And nathan retorned home to his hous And for this synne dauid made this psalme Miserere mei deus whiche is a psalme of mercy For Dauid dide grete penauÌ„ce for thyse synnes of aduoultrye and also of homycyde For as I ones was by yonde the see Rydyng in the companye of a noble knyght named Syr IohÌ„n Capons and was also doctour in bothe lawes was born in malyorke and had ben viceroye and gouernour of Aragon and Catelone that tyme CouÌ„ceyllour vnto the duc of bourgonye Charloys It happend we comened of the hystorye of Dauid and this said noble man told me that he had redde that dauid dyde this penauÌ„ce folowyng for thyse said synnes that he dalf hym in the ground standyng nakyd vnto the heed so longe that the wormes began to crepe in his flesshe and made a verse of this psalme Miserere and theÌ„ne cam out and whan he was hole therof he wente in agayn and stode so agayn as longe as afore is said and made the second verse and so as many tymes he was doluen in the erth as ben verse in the said psalme of Miserere mei deus and euery tyme was abydyng therin tyl he felte the wormes crepe in his flesshe This was a grete penaunce and a token of grete repentaunce For ther ben in the psalme xx verses And xx tymes he was dolueÌ„ Thus thys noble man told me rydyng bytwene the toun of Gaunt in Flaundres and the toun of Bruxellis in Braband Therfor god toke away this synne and forgaue it hym but the sone that she brought forth deyed and after this bersabee that had ben vryes wyf conceyuyd and brought forth another sone named SalomoÌ„ whiche was welbyloued of god and after Dauid Salomon was kynge After this Dauid had moche warre and trouble and angre in so moche that on a tyme Ammon oldest sone of Dauid louyd thamar his suster This thamar was Absalons suster by the moder syde and Ammon forced and laye by her and whan he had don his pleasir he hated her and threwe her out of his chambre and she complayned her vnto Absalon Dauid knewe herof and was right sory for it but he wold not rebuke his sone Ammon for it For he louyd hym by cause he was his first begoten sone Absalon hated Ammon euer after And whan Absalon on a tyme dyde do shere his sheep he prayd alle his brethern to come ete with hym And made hem a feste lyke a kynges feste At whiche feste he dyde do slee his brother Ammon And anon it was told to the kynge dauid that Absalon had slayn all the kynges sones wherfor the kynge was in grete heuynes and sorowe But anon after it was told hym that ther was nomo slayn but Ammon And the other sones cam home And Absalon fledd in to gessur and was there thre yere durst not come home And after by the moyen of Ioab he was sente for and cam in to Iherusalem but yet he myght not come in his fader the kynges presence and dwellyd there two yere myght not see the kynge his fader This Absalon was the fayrest man that euer was For fro the sole of his foot vnto his heed ther was not a spotte he had so moche heere on his heed that it greuyd hym to bere wherfore hit was shorn of ones a yere it weyed two hondred cycles of good weight Thenne whan he abode so longe that he myght not come to his faders presence he sente for Ioab to come speke with hym and he wold not come he sente agayn for hym and he cam not Thenne Absalon said to his seruauÌ„tes knowe ye Ioabs felde that lyeth by my felde They said ye Goo ye sayde he And sette fyre in the barle that is ther in and brenne it And Ioabs seruauÌ„tes cam and told to Ioab that AbsaloÌ„ had sette fyre on his corn Thenne Ioab cam to Absalon said why hast thou sette fyre on my corn And he said I haue sente tweys to the prayeng the to come to me that I myght sente the to the kyng and that thou sholdest saye to hym why I cam fro gessur It had be better to me for to haue abyden there I praye the that I may come to his presence and see hys vysage And yf he remembre my wickednes late hym slee me Ioab wente in to the kynge and told to hym all thyse wordes Thenne was Absalon callyd and entred in to the kynge he fylle doun and worshipped the kynge And the kyng kyssyd hym Aftir this absalon dyde doo make for hym self Chares and horsmen and fyfty men to goo byfore hym And walked emong the tribus of Israhel and grette and salued them takyng them by the hond and kyssed hem by whiche he gate to hym the hertes of the peple and said to hys fader that he had auowed to make sacrefise to god in hebron and hys fader gaf hym leue And whan he was there he gadred peple to hym and made hym self kynge And dyde doo crye that all men shold obeye wayte on hym as kynge of Israhel whan Dauid herd this he was sore abasshed and was fayn to flee out of Iherusalem And Absalon cam wyth hys
peple and entrid in to Iherusalem in to his faders hows and laye by his fadres concubynes And after pursyewid his fader to depose hym and dauid ordeyned his peple and batayll ayenst hym and sente Ioab prynce of his hoost ayenst Absalon and deuyded hys hoost in to thre partyes and wold haue gooÌ„ with them but Ioab counceyllid that he shold not goo to the batayll what someuer happid And thenne dauid badde them to saue his sone Absalon And they wente forth and fought And AbsaloÌ„ with his hoost was ouer throwen and put to flyght And as Absalon fledde vpon his mule he cam vnder an Ooke and his heere flewe aboute a bowhe of the tre and helde so fast that absalon henge by his heer and the mule ran forth ther cam one to Ioab and told hym how that Absalon henge by his heer on a bowhe of an oke And Ioab said why hast thou not slayn hym The man said god forbede that I shold sette hoÌ„de on the kynges sone I herde the kynge saye kepe my sone Absalon a lyue and slee hym not Thenne Ioab wente and toke thre speres and fyxed them in the herte of absalon as he heÌ„ge on the tree by his heer And yet after this x yong men squyes of Ioab ranne and slewe hym theÌ„ne Ioab tromped and blewe the retrayt And reteyned the peple that they shold not pursyewe the peple fleyng And they toke the body of absalon and caste it in a grete pytte And leyde on hym a grete stone And whan dauid knewe that his sone was slayn he made grete sorow said O my sone absalon my sone Absalon who shal graunte to me that I may dye for the my sone absalon Absalon my sone It was told to Ioab that the kynge wepte sorowed the deth of his sone Absalon and all their vyctorye was torned in to sorowe and wayllyng in so moche that the peple eschewed to entre in to the cyte thenne Ioab entrid to the kynge said thou hast this day discoraged the chere of alle thy seruauntes by cause they haue sauyd thy lyf and the lyues of thy sones and doughtres of thy wyues and of thy cancubynes thou louest them that hate the And hatest them that loue the And shewyst wel thys day that thou settyst lityl by thy dukes and seruauntes and truly I knowe now wel that yf Absalon had lyuâ—d and alle we thy seruauntes had ben slayn thou haddest ben plesyd Therfor aryse now and come forth and satisfye the peple or ellis I swere to the by the good lord that ther shal not one of thy seruauntes abyde with the tyl to morow And that shal be worse to the than all the harmes and euylles that euer yet fylle to the Thenne dauid the kynge aroos and satte in the yate And anoÌ„ it was shewd to all the peple that the kyng satte in the yate And thenne all the peple cam in to fore the kyng And they of Israhel that had ben with Absalon fledde in to their tabernacles And after cam agayn vnto dauid whaÌ„ they knewe that Absalon was deed And after one Siba a cursid man rebellyd and gadred peple ayenst dauid Ayenst whom Ioab with the hoost of Dauid pursyewed and drof hym vnto a cyte whiche he byseged and by the meane of a woman of the same cyte Sibas heed was smeton of and delyured to Ioab ouer the walle And so the cyte was saued and Ioab plesid After this dauid callid Ioab bad hym nombre the peple of Israhel And so Ioab walked thurgh alle the tribus of Israhel fro dan to bersabee And ouer Iordan and all the contre And ther were founden in Israhel viijCM strong men that were able to fight and to drawe swerd And of the tribe of Iuda fyfty thousand fyghtyng men And after that the peple was nombred the herte of dauid was smeton by our lord and was heuy said I haue synned gretly in this dede but I praye the lord to take away the wickednes of thy seruauÌ„t for I haue don folyly Dauid was on the morn erly and the word of our lord cam to Gad the prophete sayeng that he shold goo to Dauid and bidde hym 〈◊〉 one of thre thyngis that he shold 〈◊〉 to hym Whan god cam to dauid â—e said that he shold câ—se whether he wold haue vij yere hungre in his londe or thre monthes he shold flee his aduersaryes enemyes or to haue thre dayes pestylence Of this thre god biddeth the chese whiche thou wylt Now auyse the and conclude what I shal answere to our lord Dauid said to Gad I am constrayned to a grete thyng but it is better for me to put me in the haÌ„des of our lord for his mercy is moche more than in men And so he chees pestylence Thenne our lord sente pestylence the tyme constytute And ther deyed of the peple fro dan to bersabee lxxM men And whan the angele extended his hond vpon Iherusalem for to destroye it Our lord was mercyful vpon thaffliction and said to the Angele so smytyng It suffiseth nowe withdrawe thyn hand Dauid said to our lord whan he sawe thangele smytyng the peple I am he that haue synned and don wickedly what haue thyse sheep don I beseche the that thy hand torne vpon me and vpon the hows of my fader Thenne cam god to dauid and bad hym make an awter in the same place where he sawe thaungel and bought the place and made the aulter And offred sacrefises vnto our lord And our lord was mercyful and the plaghe cessed in Israhel Dauid was old and feble and sawe that his deth approched and ordeyned that his sone Salomon shold regne and be kynge after hym how be it that Adonyas hys sone toke on hym to be kynge duryng dauids lyf For whiche cause bersabee and Nathan cam to dauid and to fore them he said that Salomon shold be kynge and ordeyned that he shold be sette on his mule by hys prophetes Nathan Sadoch the preest and Banayas and brought in to Syon And ther sadoch the preest and Nathan the prophete enoynted hym in kynge vpon Israhel blewe in a trompe and saide lyue the kynge Salomon And fro thens they brought hym in to Iherusalem and sette hym vpon his faders sete in his fadres trone And dauid worshipped hym in his bedde and said Blessid be the lord god of Israhel that hath suffred me to see my sone in my trone sete And theÌ„ne Adonyas and all they that were with hym were aferd and dredyng Salomon ran away and so cessed Adonyas The dayes of dauid approched faste that he shold deye and dyde do calle Salomon to fore hym ther he comanded hym to kepe the comaÌ„dementis of our lord walke in his wayes to obserue his cerymonyes his preceptes and his Iugementis as it is wreton in the lawe of Moyses And said our lord conferme the in thy Regne And sende to the wysedom to
considered hys myserye they tare theyr clothis and caste duste on theyr heedys and satte by hym seuen dayes and seuen nyghtes and noman spake to hym a word seeyng hys sorow Thenne after that Iob and they talked and spoken to gydre of hys sorowe myserye of whyche seynt Gregory hath made a grete book callyd the Morallys of seynt Gregory whiche is a noble book and a grete werk but I passe ouer all tho maters and retorne vnto the ende how god restored Iob agayn to prosperyte It was so that whan thyse thre frendes of Iob had ben longe wyth Iob and had sayd many thynges eche of them to Iob and Iob agayn to hem our lord was wroth with thyse thre men and said to them ye haue not spoken ryghtfully as my seruauÌ„t Iob hath spoken Take ye therfore seuen bulles seuen weders And goo to my seruaunt Iob and offre ye sacrefise for you Iob my seruaunt shal praye for you I shal receyue hys prayer shal take hys vysage They wente forth and dyde as our lord comanded them And our lord beheld the vysage of Iob and sawe hys penaunce whan he prayd for hys frendes And our lord added to Iob double of all that Iob had possessyd Alle hys brethern came to hym and alle hys susters and all they that to fore had knowen hym And ete with hym in hys hows and meuyd theyr heedys vpon hym and conforted hym vpon all the euyl that god had sente to hym And eche of theÌ„ gaf hym a sheep and a golde ryng for hys eere Our lord blessyd more Iob in hys last dayes than he dyde in the begynnyng ¶ And he had thenne after xiiij thousand sheep vj thousand camellys a thousand yok of Ox ij a thousand asses And he had vij sones and thre doughtres And the first doughters name was diem the seconde Cassiam and the thyrde Cornustibu Ther were nowher founden in the world so fair wymeÌ„ as were the doughters of Iob Theyr fader Iob gaf to them herytage emong their brethern thus Iob by his pacience gate so moche loue of god that he was restored double of all his lossis And Iob lyuyd after one hondred and xl yere And sawe hys sones the sones of hys sones vnto the fourth generacion and deyed an old man and ful of dayes Thus endeth the storye of Iob Here foloweth thystorye of tobye whyche is red the thyrde sondaye of Septembre THobye of the tribe of the cyte of Neptalym whiche is in the ouerpartyes of galylee vpon Nasâ—n after after the waye that ledeth men westward hauyng on his lyfte syde the cyte of Sâ—pheth was taken in the dayes of Salmanasar kynge of thassyryens and put in captyuyte yet he forsoke not the waye of trouthe but alle that he had or coude gete he departed dayly with his brethern of hys kynred which were prysoners wyth hym And how be it that he was yongest in alle the trybe of Neptalym yet dyde he nothyng chyldesly Also whan alle other wente vnto the golden Calues that Iheroboas kynge of Israhel had made this thobye only fledde the felowships of them alle and wente to Iherusalem in to the temple of our lord And there he adowred and worshypped the lord god of Israhel offryng truly hys fyrst fruyteâ— and tythes in so moche that in the thyâ—de yere he mynystred vnto proselytys and straungers alle the tythe suche thynges and other lyke to thyse he obseruyd whylis he was a chylde And whan he cam to age and was a man he toke a wyf named Anne of hys trybe and gate on her a sone namyng after hys owne name thobye whom fro hys chyldehode he taught to drede god and absteyne hym fro alle synne TheÌ„ne after whaÌ„ he was brouht by captyuyte wyth hys wyf his sone in to the cyte of nynyue with alle hys trybe And whan alle ete of the metes of the gentyles and paynems Thys thobye kepte hys sowle clene was neuer defowled in the metes of them And by cause he remembryd our lord in all hys herte god gaf hym grace to be in the fauour of Salmanasar the kynge whiche yaf to hym power to goo where he wold hauyng lyberte to doo what he wolde he wente thenne to alle them in captyuyte and gaf to them warnynges of helthe whaÌ„ 〈◊〉 cam on a tyme in Rages cyte of the Iewes he had suche yeftys as he had be honoured wyth of the kynge ten besauntes of syluer And whan he sawe one gabele beyeng nedy whych was of hys trybe he lente hym the sayd weight of syluer vpon hys oblygacion longe tyme after thys whan Salmanasar the kynge was deed Sennacheryb hys sone regned for hym And hated and loued not the chyldren of Israhel And Thobye wente vnto alle hys kynred and conforted them and deuyded to euerich of them as he myght of hys facultees and goodes he fedde the hungry and gaf to the naked clothes And dylygently he buryed the dede men and them that were slayn After this whan sennacheryb retorned fleyng the plaghe fro the Iewery that god hath sente hym for hys blasphemye And he beyng wroth slewe many of the chyldren of Israhel And thobye alwaye beryed the bodyes of them whiche was told to the kynge whyche comanded to slee hym And toke awaye all hys substaunce Thobye thenne with hys wyf and hys sone hyd hym and fledde away all naked For many louyd hym wel After thys xlv dayes the sones of the kynge slewe the kynge ¶ And thenne retorned thobye vnto hys hous and all hys facultees and goodes were restored to hym agayn ¶ After this on an hye festful day of our lord whan that thobye had a good dyneâ— in hys hows he said to hys sone Goo and fetche to vs soÌ„me of our trybe dredyng god that they may come and ete with vs And he wente forth and anon he retorned tellyng to hys fader that one of the chyldren of Israhel was slayn and laye deed in the strete ¶ And anon he lepe out of his hows leuyng hys mete and fastyng cam to the body toke it and bare it in to hys hows pryuely that he myht secretly berye it whan the sonne weÌ„te douÌ„ And whan he had hyd the corps he ete his mete with waillyng and drede remembryng that worde that our lord said by amos the prophete The daye of youre fâ—ste shal be torned in to lamentacion and wayllyng And whaÌ„ the sonne was gon doun he wente and buryed hym Alle hys neyghbours repreuyd and chydde hym sayeng for thys cause thou were comanded to be slayn and vnneth thou escapedest the comandement of deth and yet thou beryest dede men But thobye more dredyng god than the kynge toke vp the bodyes of dede men and hyd them in hys hows and at mydnyht he buryed them hit happed on a day after thys that he was wery of beryeng dede men cam home and leyde hym doun by a walle and slepte And fro a
swalows neste aboue ther fylle doun hote donge of them on hys eyen and he was therof blynde Thys temptacion suffred god to falle to hym that it shold be example to theÌ„ that shal come after hym of hys pacience lyke as it was of holy Iob For fro hys Infancye he dredde euer god and kepte hys preceptis and was not grutchyng ayenst god for hys blyndnes but he alode vnmeuable in the drede of god gyuyng and Rendryng thankyngis to god aâ—â—e the dayes of hys lyf For lyke as Iob was assaylled So was thobye assaylled of hys kynnesmen skoâ—nyng hym and sayeng to hym wher is now thy hope and reward for whiche thou gauest thy almesses and madest sepultures Thobye blamed them for suche wordes sayeng to them In no wyse saye ye not soo For we be the sones of holy men and we abyde that lyf that god shal gyue to them that neuer shal chaunge theyr faith fro hym anna hys wyf wente dayly to the werke of wenyng and gate by the labour of her handes theyr lyuelode as moche as she myght wherof on a day she gate a kydde brought it home whan thobye herde the voys of the kyd bletyng he saide See that it be not stolen yelde it agayn to the ownar For it is not leeful to vs to ete ne touche ony thyng that is stolen To that hys wyf all angry answerd Now manyfestely and openly is thyn hope made vayne And thy almesses lost And thus wyth suche and lyke wordes she chydde hym Thenne thobye began to syghe and began to praye our lord with theris sayeng O lord thou art rightful And alle thy domes ben trewe and alle thy wayes ben mercy trouthe and Ryghtwisnes And now lord remembre me and take thou no vengeance of my synnes ne remembre not my trespaces ne the synnes of my fadres For we haue not obeyed thy comandementis therfore we ben betaken in to dyrepcyon â–ª captyuyte deth fables and in to repreef and shame to alle nacions in whiche thou hast dysperâ—lyd vs And now lord grete be thy IugemÌ„ts For we haue not don accordyng to thy preceptes ne haue not walkyd wel to fore the And nowe lord doo to me after thy wylle and comande my speryte to be receyuyd in pees It is more expedyeÌ„t to me to dye than to lyue The same day it happed that Sara doughter of Raguel in the cyte of medes that she was rebuked herde repeâ—â— of one of the handmaidens of her fader For she had be yeuen to vij men And a deuyl named Asmodeus slewe them assone as they wold haue gon to her therfor the mayde repreuyd her sayeng we shal neuer see sone ne doughter of the on the erthe thou slear of thy husbondes wilt thou slee me as thou hast slayn vij men wyth thys voys and Rebuke she wente vp in the vpperist cubicle of the hows And thre dayes and thre nyghtes she ete not ne dranke not but was contynuelly in prayers besechyng god for to delyuer her fro this repreef and shame And on the thirde day whan she had accomplysshed her prayer blessyng our lord she said Blessyd be thy name god of our fadres For whan thou art wroth thou shal doo mercy And in a tyme of trybulacion thou forgyuest synnes to theÌ„ that calle to the vnto the lord I conuerte my vysage And vnto the I addresse myn eyen I aske and requyre the that thou assoylle me fro the bonde of the repreef and shame or certaynly vpon the erthe kepe me Thou knowest wel lord that I neuer desired man but I haue kepte clene my sowle from all comcupyscence I neuer medlyd me with players ne neuer had parte of them that walke in lightnes I consented for to take an husbond wyth thy drede but I neuer gaf consente to take one with my luste Or I was vnworthy to them or happely they were vnworthy to me or happely thou hast coÌ„seruyd and kepte me for som other maÌ„ Thy counseyl is not in mannes power this knoweth euery maÌ„ that worshippeth the For the lyf of hym yf it be in probacion shal be crowned and yf it be in trybulacion it shal be delyuerd and yf it be in correction it shal be lâ—efull to come to mercy Thou hast none delectacion in oure perdicion For after tempeste thou makest tranquyllyte And after wepynge and shedyng of teeris thou bryngest in exultacion Ioye Thy name god of Israhel be blessyd world without ende In that same tyme were the prayers of them bothe herde in the sight of the glorye of the hye god And the holy angele of god Raphael was sente to hele them bothe of whom in one tyme were the prayers recyted in the syght of our lord god ¶ Thenne whan Tobie supposed his prayer to be herd that he myght deye he called to hym his sone thobye said to hym here my sone the wordes of my mouth and sette them in thy herte as a fundameÌ„te whan god shal take away my sowle burye my body thou shalt worshippe thy moder alle the dayes of her lyf Thou owest to remeÌ„bre what how many peryllis she hath suffred for the in her wombe whan she shal haue accomplisshid the tyme of her lyf burye her by me Alle the dayes of thy lyf haue god in thy mynde And beware that thou neuer consente to synne ne to disobeye ne breke the comandements of god Of thy substance doo almesse and torne neuer thy face fro ony poure man So doo that god torne not hys face fro the as moche as thou mayst be mercyful yf thou haue moche good gyue habundantly yf thou haue but lytyl yet studye to gyue and to depte therof gladly Thou makeste to the therof good tresour and mede in the daye of necessyte For almesse delyuerith a man fro alle synne and fro deth and suffreth not hys sowle to goo in to derknesse Almesse is a grete sykernesse to fore the hye god vnto all them that doo it beware my sone kepe the fro alle fornycacion And suffre not thy self sauf with thy wyf to knowe that synne And suffre neuer pryde to haue domynacioÌ„ in thy wytte ne in thy worde that synne was the begynnyg of alle perdicion who someuer werke to the ony thynge anon yelde to hym hys mede and hyre late neuer the hyre of thy seruaunt ne mede of thy mercenarye remayne in no wyse wyth the That thou hatest to be don to the of other sâ—e that thou neuer doo to an other ete thy brede wyth the hungry and nedy And couer the naked wyth thy clothis Ordeyne thy brede and wyn vpon the sepulture of a rightwysman but ete it not ne drynke it not wyth synners Aske and demaunde counseyl of a wyseman Alleway and in euery tyme blesse god and desyre of hym that he adresse thy wayes and late all thy counseilles abyde in hym I telle to the my sone that whan thou were a lytyl chylde I lente to gabele x besauntes of syluer
had not be deed Man had neuer be made mmortal And thenne said Egeas Telle to thy dyscyples suche vanytees And obeye thou to me make sacrefise vnto the goddes almyghty And thenne said saynt Andrewe I offre euery day vnto god almyghty a lambe wythout spotte And after that he is receyuyd of alle the peple so lyueth he and is all hole Thenne demandeth Egeas how that myght be And Andrewe saide take the forme for to be a dyscyple thou shal knowe it wel I shal demande the said Egeas by turmentis Thenne he beyng alle angry comanded that he shold be enclosed in pryson And on the morne he cam to Iugement And the blessyd saynt Andrewe vnto the sacrefyse of the ydolles And Egeas comanded to be said to hym yf thou obeye not to me I shal doo hange the on the crosse For so moche as thou hast praysed it And thus as he menaced hym of many turmentis seynt Andrewe said to hym Thynke what turment that is most greuous that thou mayst doo to me and the more I suffre the more I shal be agreable to my kynge by cause I shal be most ferme in the turmentis payne Thenne comanded Egeas that he shold be beten of xxj men And that he shold be so beten bounden by the feet and handes vnto the crosse to th ende that hys payne shold endure the lenger And whan he was ledde vnto the crosse ther ran moche peple theder sayeng The blode of thynnocent is dampned without cause And thappostle prayd them that they shold not empesshe ne lette hys turment ne martirdom And whan he sawe the crosse fro ferre he salewed it and sayd Alle hayl crosse whyche art dedycate in the body of Ihesu cryst and were aourned with the mēbres of hym as of precious stones To fore that our lord Ascended on the thou were the power erthly Now thou art the loue of heuen Thou shalt receyue me by my desyre I come to the surely gladly so that thou receyue me gladly as dyscyple of hym that henge in the For I haue alway worshyppid the and haue desyre the tembrace O thou crosse whyche hast receyued beaute and noblesse of the membres of our lord whō I haue so longe desyred and curiously loued and whom my corage hath so moche desyred and coueyted take me fro hens and yeld me to my mayster to th ende that he receyue me by the that redemyd me by the And in thys sayenge he dyspoylled and vnclad hym and gaf hys clothys vnto the bochyers And thenne they henge hym in the crosse lyke as to them was comanded And there he lyuyd two dayes and prechyd to twenty thousand men that there were Thenne all the company swore the deth of egeas and said The holy man and debounayre ought not to suffre thys Thenne cam theder egeas for to take hym doun of the crosse And whan andrewe sawe hym he said wherfore arte thou come to me Egeas yf it be for penaunce thou shalt haue it And yf it be for to take me doun knowe thou for certayn thou shalt not take me herof alyue For I see nowe my lord and kynge that abideth for me therwith they wold haue vnbounden hym And they myght in noo wyse touche hym For theyr armes were bynomen and of no power And the holy saynt Andrew sawe that the world wolde haue taken hym doun of the crosse he made thys oryson hangyng on the crosse as saynt Austyn saith in the boke of penaunce Syre suffre me not descēde fro this crosse a lyue For it is tyme that thou comande my body to the erthe For I haue born longe the charge And haue so moche watched vpō that which was comanded to me and haue so longe traueyllyd that I wold now be delyuerd of thys obedyence and be taken away fro thys agreable charge I remēbre that it is moche greuous in prowd beryng in doubtyng vnstedfast in nouryssyng And haue gladly laboured in the refraynyng of them Syre thou knowest how ofte the world hath entented to withdrawe me fro the purete of contemplacion how ofte he hath entended to awake me fro the slepe of my swete reste how moche and how ofte tymes he hath made me to sorowe And as moche as I haue had myght I haue resysted it ryght debonayrly in fyghtyng ayenst it And haue by thy werke and ayde surmounted it And I requyre of the Iuste and debonayr gwerdon and reward And that thou comāde that I not goo agayn therto but I yelde to the that whyche thou hast delyuerd me Comande it to another and empesshe me nomore but kepe me in the resurrection so that I may receyue the meryte of my labour Comande my body vnto the erthe so that it behoueth nomore to wake but late it be stratched frely to the whiche art fontayne of Ioye neuer fayllyng ¶ And whan he had said thys ther cam fro heuen a ryght grete shynyng lyght whiche enuyroned hym by the space of half an our in suche wyse that noman myght see hym And whan this light departed he yelded and rendryd therwith hys spyryte And maximilla the wyf of Egeas toke away the body of thappostle and buried it honnourably And or that Egeas was comen agayn to hys hows he was rauysshyd with a deuyl by the waye and deyed to fore them alle and it is said that out of hys sepulcre cometh manna lyke vnto mele And oylle whyche hath a right swete sauour and odour And by that is shewed to the peple of the contrey whan ther shal be plente of goodes For whan ther cometh but lytyl of manna Therthe shal brynge forth but lytyl fruyt And whan it cometh habundantly The erthe bryngeth forth fruyt plentyuously And thys myght wel happen of olde tyme For the body of hym was transported in to Constantynoble ¶ Ther was a bysshop that ledde an holy and relygyous lyf And louyd saynt Andrewe by grete deuocion and worshypyd hym aboue all other sayntes so that in alle hys werkys he remembryd hym euery day and sayd certayn prayers in thonour of god saynt Andrewe in suche wyse that thenemye had enuye on hym and sette hym for to deceyue hym with alle hys malyce ¶ And transfourmed hym in to the fourme of a ryght fayr woman And cam to the palays of the bysshop and sayd that she wold be confessyd to hym And the bysshop bad her to goo confesse her to hys penytaūcer which had playn power of hym And she sente hym word agayn that she wold not releue ne shewe the secretes of her confessyō to none but to hym And so the bysshop comanded her to come And she said to hym Syre I praye the that thou haue mercy on me I am so as ye see in the yeres of my yongthe and a mayde and was delycyously nourisshed fro my Infancye and born of ryal lygnage but I am come allone in strange habyte For my fader whyche is a ryght
myghty kynge wold gyue me to a prynce by maryage wherto I answere that I haue horrour of alle beddes of maryage and I haue gyuen my vyrgynyte to Ihesu cryste for euer ¶ And therfor I may not consente to carnal copulacion And in th ende he constrayned me so moche that I muste coÌ„sente to hys wyll or suffre dyuerse tormentes so that I am fled secretly away and had leuer be in exyle than to breke and corrupte my fayth to my spouse And by cause I here the preysyng of your right holy lyf I am fledde vnto you to your garde in hope that I may fynde with you place of reste where as I may be secrete in contemplacion and eschewe the euyl peryllys of thys present lyf and flee the dyuerse trybulacions of the world Of whyche thyng the bysshop meruayllyd hym gretly as wel for the grete noblesse of her lignage as for the beaulte of her body for the brennyng of the grete loue of god And of the honeste fayr spekyng of thys woman so that the bysshop answered to her with a meke playsaunt voys doughter be sure doubte nothyng For he for whos loue thou hast despysed thy self and thyse thynges shal gyue to the grete thynge In thys tyme present is lityl glorye or Ioye but it shal be in tyme to come And I whiche am sergeant of the same offâ—e me to the and my goodes And châ—se the an hows where it shal plese the And I wyl that thou dyne with me thys day And she answered and said fader requyre me of no suche thynge For by auenture somÌ„e euyl suspectyon myght come therof And also the resplendour of your good renomee myght be therby empayred to whom the bysshop answerd we shal be many to gydre and I shal not be with you allone And therfore ther may be no suspection of euyll Thenne they cam to the table and were sette that one ayenst that other And the other folke here and ther and the bysshop entendeth moche to her and behelde her alleway in the vysage and he merualled of her grete beaute And thus as he fyxed hys eyen on her hys corage was hurte And thauncyent enemye whan he sawe the herte of hym hurte with a greuous dart And this deuyl apperceyuyd it and began tencrece her beaute more and more in so moche that the bysshop was thenne redy for to requyre her to synne whaÌ„ he myght Thenne a pylgryme cam and began to smyte strongly at the yate oc dore and they wold not opene it thenne he cryde and knocked more strongly And the bysshop axed of the woman yf she wold that the pylgrym shold entre And she said men shold axe first of hym a question greuous ynowh and yf he coude answere therto he shold be receyuyd and yf he coude not he shold abyde wythout and not come in as he that were not worthy but vnwetyng And alle agreed to her sentence and enquyred whiche of them were suffysaunt for to put the questyon And whan none was founde suffysauÌ„t the bysshop said none of vs is so suffyssaunt as ye dame For ye passe vs alle in fayr spekyng and shyne in wysdom more than we alle propose ye the question Thenne she said demande ye of hym whyche is the grettest meruaylle that euer god made in lityl space And thenne one wente and demanded the pylgrym The pylgrym answerd to the messager that it was the dyuersyte and thexcellence of the faces of men For emonge also many men as haue ben sith the begynnyng of the world vnto th ende ij men myght not be founden of whom theyr faces were lyke and semblable in alle thynges And whan thanswer was herde alle they meruaylled and said that thys was a veray and ryght good answere of the question Thenne the woman sayde late the seconde question be proposed to hym whiche shal be more greuous to answere to for to preue the better the wysedoÌ„ of hym which was thys Whether the erthe is hyer than alle the heuen And whan it was demanded of hym the pylgrym answerd In the heuen Imperyal where the body of Ihesu cryst is whyche is the fourme of our flesshe he is more hye than all the heuen Of thys answere they meruaylled all whaÌ„ the messager reported it and praysed meruayllously hys wysedom ¶ Consequently she said the thyrde questyon whiche was more derke and greuous tassoylle for to preue the thyrde tyme hys wysedom and that thenne he be worthy to be receyuyd at bysshops table demande axe of hym how moche space is fro the abysme vnto the same heuen Thenne the messager demanded of the pylgrym And he answerd hym goo to hym that sente the to me and axe of hym this thynge For he knoweth better than I and can better answere to it For he hath mesured thys espace whan he fyl fro heuene in to the abysme And I neuer mesured it Thys is nothyng a woman but it is a deuyl whyche hath taken the forme of a woman And whan the messager herd this he was sore aferd and told to fore them all this that he had herde And whan the bysshop herde this and all other they were sore aferd And anon forthwith the deuyl vanysshyd away to fore her eyen And after the bysshop cam agayn to hym self and repreuyd hym self bytterly wepyng repentyng and requyryng pardon of hys synne And sente a messager for to fetche and brynge in the pylgryme but he fonde hym neuer after Thenne the bysshop assemblyd the peple and told to them the maner of this thynge And prayd them that they all wold be in orysons and prayers in suche wyse that our lord wold shewe to somme persone who this pylgryme was whyche had delyueryd hym fro so grete peryl And thenne it was shewde that nyght to the bysshop that it was saynt Andrewe whyche had put hym in thabyte of a pylgrym for the delyuerance of hym Thenne began the bysshop more and more to haue deuocion and remembrauÌ„ce to seynt Andrewe than he had to for ¶ The prouoste of a Cyte had taken away a felde fro the chyrche of saynt Andrewe And by the prayer of the bysshop he was fallen in to a stronge feuer And thenne he prayd the bysshop that he wold praye for hym And he wold yelde agayn the felde And whan the bysshop had prayd for hym and had hys helthe he toke the felde agayn Thenne the bysshop put hym self to prayer orysons and brake all the lampes of the chyrche and said Ther shal none of them be lighted tyl that our lord hath vengyd hym on hys enemye and that the chyrche haue recouerd that whyche she hath loste And thenne the prouoste was strongly turmentid with feures and sente to the bysshop by messagers that he shold praye for hym And he wold yelde agayn hys felde and another semblable Thenne the bysshop answerd I haue here to fore prayd for hym and god herd
whete to euery man after that he had nede in suche wyse that it suffyced for ij yere not only for to selle but also for to sowe ¶ And in thys contre the peple seruyd ydollis and worshippid the fals ymage of the cursed deane And to the tyme of thys holy man many of them had somÌ„e customes of the paynems for to sacrefyse to dyane vnder a sacred tree But thys thys good man made them of alle the contre to cesse thenne thyse custommes And comanded to cutte of the tree Thenne the deuyll was angry wrot ayenst hym and made an oylle that brenned ayenst nature in water and brenned stones also And thenne he transformed hym in the guyse of â— relygyouse woman and put hym in a lityl lote encouÌ„tred pylgryms that saylled in the see toward thys holy saynt and aresonued them thus and saide I wold fayn goo to this holy man but I may not wherfor I pray you to bere thys oylle in to hys chyrche and for the remembrauÌ„ce of me that ye enoynte the walles of the halle and anon he vanysshed away Thenne they sawe anon after another shyp wyth honeste persones emong whome ther was one like to saynt Nicholas which spack to theym softly what hath this woman said to you And what she hath brought And they told to hym alle by ordre And he said to theym thys is the euyl and fowl dyane And to th eÌ„de that ye know that I saye trouthe caste that oylle in to the See And whan they had caste it A grete fyre caught it in the see And they sawe it longe brenne ayenst nature Thenne they cam to thys holy man and said to hym verely thou art he that appered to to vs in the see and delyuerdest vs fro the see and awaytes of the deuyll And in thys tyme certayn men rebelled ayenst thmperour And themperour sente ayenst them thre prynces Nepocien Versyn and Appollyn And they cam to the port Andrieu for the wynde whyche was contrary to them And the blessid Nicholas comaÌ„ded theym to dyne with hym For he wold kepe his people fro the Rauayne that they made And whylis they were atte dyner The consul corrupte by money had comanded thre Innocent knyghtes to ben byheded And whan the blessyd Nicholas knewe this he prayd thise iij prynces that they wold moche hastely goo with hym And whan they cam there where they shold be byheded he fonde them on theyr knees and blyndfeld And the righttar brandysshid hys swerd ouer their heedes Thenne saynt Nicholas enbraced with the loue of god sette hym hardyly ayenst the righter and toke the swerd out of hys hond and threwe it fro hym and vnbonden the Innocentis and ladde theym with hym alle sauf And anon he wente to the Iugement to the Consul and fonde the the yates closed whyche anon he opened by force And the Consul cam anoÌ„ and salewed hym And thys holy man hauyng thys salutacioÌ„ in despyte sayd to hym Those enemy of god corumper of the lawe wherfor hast thou consented to so grete euyl and felonye how darst thou loke on vs And whan he had sore chyden and repreuyd hym he repentid and atte prayer of the iij prynces he receyueâ— hym to penaunce After whan the messagers of themperour had receyued hys benediction they made theyr geer redy and departed and subdued theyr enemyes to th empyre without shedyng of blood And syth retorned to themperour and were worshypfully receyuyd And after thys it happed that somÌ„e other in theÌ„perours hous had enuye on the weel of thyse thre prynces And accused them to themperour of hye trayson And dyde so moche by prayer and by yeftes that they caused themperour to be so ful of yre that he comanded them to pryson And without other demaunde he comanded that they shold be slayn that same nyght And whan they knewe it by ther kepar they rente their clothes and wepte bytterly And thenne Nepocyen remembryd hym how seynt nycholas had delyuerd the thre Inncentes And admonested the other that they shold reâ—â—yre hys ayde and helpe and thus as they prayed seynt nycholas appiered to theym And after appiered to constantyn themperour and sayd to hym wherfor hast thou taken thise thre prynces wyth so grete wrong and hast Iuged them to deth wythout trespaas Arise vp hastely and commaunde that they be not executed Or I shall praye to god that he moeue bataile ayenst tâ—e in whiche thou shalt be ouer throwen and shalt be made mete to bestes and themperour demaunded what art thou that art entred by nyght in to my paleys and darst saye to me suche wordes And he sayde to hym I am nycholas bysshop of myrre and in lyke wyse he appiered to the preuost and fered hys sayeng with a ferdful voys Thou that hast lost mynde and wytte wherfor hast thou consented to the deth of Innocentis Goo forth anone and doo thy part to delyuer theym Or ellis thy body shal rote and be eten with wormes And thy meyne shal be destroyed And he asked hym how art thou that so menaceâ—t me And he answerd knowe thou that I am Nicholas the bisshop of the cyte ef Mirre TheÌ„ne that one awoke that other and eche told to other theyr dremes and anon sente for theym that were in pryson To whom themperour said what art magyke oâ— sorcerye can ye that ye haue this nyght by Illusion caused vs to haue suche dremes And they said that they were none enchaunters ne knewe no witchecraft and also that they had not deseruyd the sentence of deth TheÌ„ne themperour said to theym knowe ye wel a man named Nicholas And whan they herd speke of the name of the holy saynt they held vp theyr handes toward heuene and prayd our lord that by the merytes of saynt Nicholas they myght be delyuerd of this present peryll And whan themperour had herd of theym the lyf myraclis of saynt Nicholas he said to them Go ye forth and yelde ye thankynges to god whiche hath delyuereth you by the prayer of this holy man worshipe ye hym and bere ye to hym of your Iewellis and praye ye hym that he thretene me nomoore but that he pray for me and for my Royame vnto our lord ¶ And a whyle after the said prynces wente vnto the holy maÌ„ And fylle doun on their knees humbly atte hys feet sayeng uerayly Thou art the sergeant of god and the veray worshypper and louer of Ihesu cryst and whan they had all tolde this said thynge by ordre he lyft vp hys hondes to heuen and gaf thankynges praysynges to god And sente agayn the prynces wel enformed in to theyr contrees ¶ And whan it pleased our lord to haue hym departe out of thys world he prayd our lord that he wold sende hym hys angellis And enclynyng hys heed he sawe thaungellis come to hym wherby he knewe wel that he shold departe began this
holy psalme In te domine speraui vnto In manus tuas And so sayeng lord In to thyn hondes I comende my spyrite he rendrid vp hys sowle and deyde the yere of our lord thre honderd and xliij with grete melodye songen of the celestiall company ¶ And whan he was buryed in a tombe of marble a fontayne of oylle sprange out fro the heed vnto hys feet And vnto this day holy oylle yssueth out of hys body whiche is moche vayllable to thelthe of sykenesses of many men And after hym in hys see succeded a man of good holy lyf whiche by eÌ„uye was put of hys bysshopriche And whan he was out of his see the oylle cessed to renne And whan he was restored agayn therto the oylle ranne agayn ¶ Longe after this the turkes destroyed the cyte of myrre And thenne caÌ„ theder iiij knyghtes of Bar and iiij Monkes shewed to theym the sepulcre of saynt Nicholas And they opened it And fonde the bones swymyng in the oylle And they bare them away honourably in to the cyte of bar in the yere of our lord Mlxxxvij Ther was a man that had borowed of a Iewe a somÌ„e of moneye And sware vpon the aulter of saynt Nicholas that he wold rendre and paye it agayn as sone as he myght and gaf none other pledge And thys man helde thys monye so longe that the Iewe demaunded and axed hys moneye And he said that he had paid hym Thenne the Iewe made hym to come to fore the lawe in Iugement And throth was gyuen to the debttour And he brought with hym an holow staff in whiche he had put the money in golde And he lente vpon the staf And whaÌ„ he shold make his oth and swere he delyuerd hys staf to the Iewe to kepe hold whilys he shold swere And thenne sware that he had delyuerd to hym more than he ought to hym and whan he had made the oth he demaÌ„ded hys staf agayn of the Iewe And he nothyng knowyng of hys malyce delyueryd it to hym Thenne this deceynour wente hys waye and anon after hym lyste sore to slepe and leyde hym in the way And a carte with iiij whelis cam with grete force and slew hym and brake the staf wyth gold that it spredde a brood And whan the Iewe herd this he cam theder sore moeued and sawe the frawd And many said to hym that he shold take to hym the gold And he refused it sayeng but yf he that was deed were not reysed agayn to lyf by the merytes of saynt Nicholas he wold not receyue it And yf he cam agayn to lyf he wold receyue baptesme and become crysten Thenne he that was deed aroos And the Iewe was crystened ¶ Another Iewe sawe the vertuous myracles of saynt Nicholas and dyde do make an ymage of the saynt and sette it in hys hows and comanded hym that he shold kepe wel hys hows whan he weÌ„te oute And that he shold kepe wel all hys goodes sayeng to hym Nicholas lo here be alle my goodes I charge the to kepe theym And yf thou kepe theym not well I shal auenge me on the in betyng and tormentyng the And on a tyme whan the Iewe was oute theuys cam and Robbed alle his goodes and lefte vnborn away only thymage And whan the Iewe cam home he fonde hym robbed of alle hys goodes he aresonned thymage sayeng thyes wordes Syre Nycholas I had sette you in my hows for to kepe my goodes fro theues wherfore haue ye not kepte theym ye shal receyue sorow and turmentes and shal haue payne for the theues I shal auenge my losse and refrayne my wodnes in betyng the And thenne toke the Iewe the ymage and bete it and turmented it cruelly Thenne happed a grete meruaylle For whan the theuys departed the goodes The holy saynt lyke as he had be in his araye apyeryd to the theuys and said to them wherfore haue I be beten so cruelly for you and haue so many turmentis See how my body is hewen and broken See how that the rede blood renneth doun by my body goo yee faste and restore it agayn or ellis the yre of god almyghty shal make you as to be one out of hys wytte and that all men shal knowe your felonnye and that eche of you shal be honged and they saide who art thou that saist to vs suche thynges he said to them I am Nicholas the seruaunt of Ihesu Cryst whom the Iewe hath so cruelly beten for hys goodes that ye bare away ¶ Thenne they were aferde and cam to the Iewe and herd what he had don to thymage and they tolde hym the myracle and delyuerd to hym agayn all hys goodis And thus cam the theuys to the waye of trouthe and the Iewe to the waye of Ihesu cryst ¶ A man for the loue of hys sone that wente to scole for to lerne halowed euery yere the feste of saynt Nicholas moche solempnly On a tyme hyt happed that the fader had do make redy the dyner and called many clerkys to thys dyner And the deuyl cam to the yate in thabyte of a pylgrym for to demande almesse And the fader anon comanded hys sone that he sholde gyue almesse to the pylgrymÌ„e he folowed hym as he wente for to gyue to hym almesse And whan he cam to the quarfâ—xr the deuyl caught the chylde and strangled hym And whan the fader herde thys he sorowed moche strongly and wepte and bare the body in to hys chambre and began to crye for sorowe and saye right suete sone how is it wyth the saynt Nicholas is thys the guerdon that ye haue don to me by cause I haue so longe seruyd you ¶ And as he said thyse wordes and other semblable The chyld opened hys eyen and awoke lyke as he had ben aslepe and aroos vp to fore alle was reysed fro deth to lyf ¶ Another noble man prayd to saynt Nicholas that he wold by hys merites gete of our lord that he myght haue a sone And promysed that he wold brâ—nge his sone to the chirche wold offre vp to hym a cuppe of gold TheÌ„ne the sone was born caÌ„ to age the fader comaÌ„ded to make a cuppe the cuppe plesid hym moche reteyned it for hym self dide do make another of the same value as they weÌ„te saylyng in a shippe toward the chirche of saynt Nicholas And whan the child wold haue fylled the cuppe he fille in to the water with the cuppe And anon was lost caÌ„ nomore vp yet neuertheles the fader perfourmed hâ—s auowe in wepyng moche tendrely for hys sone and whan he caÌ„ to the aulter of saynt Nicholas he offred the second cuppe And whaÌ„ he had offrid it If fyl doun lyke as one had cast it vnder the aulter And he toke it vp sette it agayn vpoÌ„ the aulter and theÌ„ne yet was caste ferther than tofore And yet he toke
it vp remysed it the thyrde tyme vpon the aulter And it was throweÌ„ agayn ferther than to fore of which thyng all they that were there merueylled men caÌ„ for to see thys thyng And anon the chyld that had fallen in the water in the see cam agayn prestly to fore them alle brought in hys hondes the first cuppe and recounted to the people that anon as he was fallen in the see the blessyd saynt Nicholas cam kept hym that he had none harme And thus hys fader was glad offrid to saynt Nicholas bothe the two cuppes ¶ Ther was another riche man that by the merites of saynt Nicholas had a sone and callid hym deus dedit god gaf And this riche man dyde do make a chapel of saynt Nicholas in hys dwellyng place and dyd do halowe euery yere the feste of saynt Nicholas And thys manoyr was sette by the londe of Agariens thys chylde was taken prysoner and deputed to serue the kynge The yere folowyng and the day that hys fader helde deuoutly the fest of saynt Nicholas the chylde helde a precious cuppe to fore the kynge And remembrid his pryse the sorowe of hys frendes and the ioye that that day was made in the hous of hys fader And began for to sighe sore hye And the kynge demaunded hym what hym eyled and the cause of hys sighyng And he tolde to hym euery word hoolly ¶ And whan the kynge knewe it he said to hym what someuer thy Nicholas doo or doo not thou shalt abyde here wyth vs And sodaynly ther blewe a moche stronge wynde that made alle the hows to tremble And the chyld was rauysshyd wyth the cuppe and was sette to fore the yate where hys fader helde the solempnyte of saynt Nycholas in suche wyse that alle they demened grete Ioye And somÌ„e saye that this chyld was of Normandye and wente ouer see and was taken by the sowdan whiche made hym ofte to be beten to fore hym And as he was beten on a saynt Nicholas day and was after sette in pryson he prayd to saynt Nicholas as wel for hys betyng that he suffred as for the grete Ioye that he was wonte to haue on that day of saynt Nicholas ¶ And whan he had long prayed and syghed he fyl a slepe And whan he awoke he fonde hym self in the chappel of hys fader where as was moche Ioye made for hym ¶ Late vs thenne praye to thys blessyd saynt that he wyl praye for vs to oure lord Ihesu cryst whyche is blessyd in secula seculorum Amen Here endeth the lyf of saynt Nicholas Here foloweth the Concepcion of our blessid lady Of the Fest of the Concepcion of our blessyd lady MAria inuemsci graciam apud dominum Luce primo capitulo Whan the Aungel gabriel had grete our lady for to shewe to her the blessyd concepcion of our lord For to take from her alle doubtes and dredes he comforted her in sayeng the wordes aforsaid Marie thou hast founden grace at the lord Ther ben foure maner of peple of whiche the ij ben good And the two ben euyll For somÌ„e ther ben that seche not god ne hys grace as peple out of the byleue Of whom may be said as it is wreten who that byleueth not on his lord god shal deye perpetuelly And other ther ben that seche god hys grace but they fynde it not For they seche it not as they ought to doo as Coueytous men that sette alle their loue in hauoyr and in solace of the world ¶ Suche peple ben lykened to them that seche flowres in wynter wel seche they flowres in wynter that seche god and hys grace in the couetise of the world which is so colde of alle vertues that it quenchyth alle the deuocion of the loue of god ¶ And wel is callyd the world wynter in holy scripture For hys euyllis and vices make synners and colde to serue god And therfore saith the holy ghoost to the sowle that is amerouse Canticorum primo capitulo Arise vp thou my fayr sowle the wynter is passed ¶ Iam enim hyemps transiit For thou hast vaynquysshyd the temptacions of the world whiche kele my loue and therfore come in to my Royame where thou shalt fynde deduyte of alle flowres of the somer there as the synners may not come by cause they seche not god as they ought to doo by uery repentauÌ„ce of herte ¶ And therfor sayth our lord Iohannis vij capitulo Queritis et non inuenietis Item Iohannis octauo capitulo 〈◊〉 voâ— queritis me et in peccato moriemmj Ye seche me and fynde me not Item Lo ye seche me and in synne ye shal deye ¶ The thyrde maner of peple that seche not god And yet neuertheles they fynde hym They ben chyldren that deye in their Innocencie and ben purged by lapâ—esme Of whom god said by hys prophete Ysaye lxiiij capitulo Inuenerunt qui non quesierunt me I am founden of them that sought me not And that is for defaulte of Age ¶ The fourth maner of peple that seche god and fynde hym ben they that sette alle theyr desyre to serue god and loue hym lyke as the blessyd vyrgyne marye that sith she was in her enfancye she put her euer in the seruyce of god and loue of hym and vowed to hym chastete afore alle other wymen And therfore with right myght the Aungel wel saye to her Maria inuenisti graciam apud dominum Marye thou hast founden grace at god our lord We fynde in the scripture that thys gloriouse virgyne marye hath founden grace in thre maners For her comyng was longe afore prophecied And her byrthe anunciat and shewd by thaungel And in the wombe of her moder er she was born sanctefyed and halowed Fyrst her comyng was shewd and prophecied in many maners and by many fygures For Balaam prophesyed Numeri vicesimoquarto Capitulo Orietur stella ex Iacob et consurget virga de Israhel That is to saye that the virgyne marye shal be born of the lignage of Iacob patriarke it is a custome whaÌ„ folke wyl preyse a persone they wylle compare hym to a valyant man lyke as it said comunely of an hardy man Thys is a right alisaundre And of a symple man Thys is a right Iob Thus Balaam the prophete compared our lady to a sterre for thre causes First for she is aourned and gyueth beaute to alle humayne creature lyke as the sterre doth on the firmament For she hath opened to vs the yate of ê‘radis like as it is songe in holy chirche paradisi porta ê“ â—uaÌ„ cuÌ„ctis claâ—sa â— et per beatam virginem mariam iterum patefacta est The yate of paradys whyche by eue was closed fro all men is now opened by the blessyd vyrgyne marye Secondly lyke as the sterre enlumyneth the nyght by hys clerenes In lyke wyse the gloryous lady enlumyneth by her lyf all holy chirche
amynyssyd but I haue multeplyed encresed it but abyde til I am departed out of thys world And thenne forthon doo as it shalle please the Seynt lucye sayd swete moder here my counseyl he is not byloued of god that for his loue gyueth that whiche he may not vse hym self but yf thou wylt fynd god debonayr to the gyue for hym that whiche thou mayst despende for after thy deth thou mayst in no wyse vse thy goodes that whiche thou gyuest whan thou shalt dye thou yeuest it by cause thou mayst not bere it with the gyue thenne for goddes sake whyles thou lyuest as to suche good as thou oughtest to gyue to me wyth an husbond or spouse begyn to gyue all that to pour peple for the loue of Ih̄u cryst herof spake alway seynt lucye to her moder euery day they gaf almesse of theyr goodes whan they had almost solde theyr patrymony theyr Iewels tidynges cam to the knowleche of her spouse that shold haue wedded her and that she was promysed to the whiche he demaunded herof the trouth of the norice of seynt lucie wherfor they sold thus theyr patrymony she answered cautelously sayd that they did it by cause that seynt lucye whyche shold haue ben his wyf had foūden one whiche had a more fayrer noble herytage than his was the which they wold bye tofore or they shold assemble by maryage the fool bileued it for he ūderstode carnally this that the norice had said to hym spirytuelly helpe thē to selle their heritage but whā he vnderstode that she gaf al for goddes loue that he felte hym self deceyued anon he complayned on lucye and made her to come to fore a Iuge named Paschasyus whyche was a mescreaunt hethen man it was by cause she was crysten And that she dyde ayenst the lawe of themperours Pascasius blamed her and admonested her to worshippe and doo sacrefise to the ydolles She saide sacrefise whiche pleised god is to vysite the wydowes and orphannes and to helpe theym in their nede I haue not cessed thyse thre yeres passed to make to god suche sacrefise And for as mache as I haue nomore of which I may make yet suche sacrefice I offre to hym my self lete hym doo with hys offryng as it pleaseth hym Pascasius said Thou myghtest saye thyse wordes vnto Crystē peple semblable to the but to me which kepe the comandemens of themperours thou saist them in vayn Seynt Luchye sayd yf thou wilt kepe the lawe of thy lordes I shal kepe the lawe of god Thou doubtest to angre theym And I shal kepe me that I angre not my god Thou wilt playse theym And I coueyte only to playse our lord Ihesu cryst Pascasius saide Thou hast despended thy patrymonye with the Rybauldes And therfor thou spekest thus as a rybaulde She said I haue sette my patrymonye in a sure place vnto the corrupcion of my herte ne body I neuer agreed ne suffred it Pascasius said who ben they that corrupte the herte and the body She said ye be that corrupte the hertes of whom thappostle said The euyl wordes corrupte the good maners ye counseylle the sowles to forsake theyr creatour and tensyewe the deuyll in makyng sacrefise to the ydolles The corrupteurs of the body ben they that loue the short delectacions corporall and despyte delytes spyrytuell that endure euer Pascasius said thyse wordes that thou saist shal fynysshe whan thou shalt come to thy paynes She said the wordes of god may not ende ne fynysshe Pascasius said how thenne art thou god She said I am the handmayde of god and for so moche I saye they be the wordes of god For he saith ye be not they that speke to fore the prynces and Iuges but the holy ghoost speketh in you Pascasius said and therfor the holy ghoost is in the She said Thappostle saith that they ben the tēple of god that lyue chastely and the holy ghoost dwelleth in them Pascasius said I shal do brynge the to the bourdel where thou shal lose thy chastyte And thenne the holy ghoost shal departe fro the She said the body may take no corrupcion but yf the herte and wyl gyue therto assentyng For yf thou madest me to do sacrefyce by my handes by force to the ydollis ayenst my wyll god shal take it only but a derision For he Iugeth only of the will and consentyng And therfore yf thou make my body to be defowled without myn assente and ayenst my wyll my chastete shal encreace double to the meryte of the crowne of glorye Thynge that thou dost to the body whiche is in thy power that bereth no preiudice to the handmayde of Ihesu cryst Thenne comanded pascasius that the ribauldes of the toun shold come to whom he deliuerd saynt lucye sayeng Calle other to you for to defoule her and laboure her so moche tyl that she be deed Anon the rybauldes wold haue drawen her from thens where she was and haue brought her to the bourdell But the holy ghoost made her so peysaunt and heuy that in no wyse they myght moue her fro the place wherfore many of the seruauntes of Iuge put honde to for to drawe with the other And she abode stylle Thenne they bonde cordes to her handes feet and all drewe but she abode alleway stylle as a mōtayne without moeuyng Wherof pascasius was al anguysshous and angry And dyde do calle hys enchaunters whiche myght neuer moeue her for alle enchaunterye Thenne pascasius dyde do yoke for her oxen many for to drawe her And yet they myght not moue her fro the place Thenne Pascasius demanded her For what reson myght it be that a fraylle mayde myght not bedrawen ne moeuyd by a thousand men She said it is the werke of god And yf thou settest therto yet ten thousand they shold not moeue me Of thyse wordes the Iuge was sore tormented And saynt lucye sayd to hym wherfor tormentest thou thy self thus yf thou hast preued assayed that I am the temple of god byleue it yf thou hast not assayed lerne to assaye And herof was the Iuge more tormēted For he sawe that she made but her mocquery with hym Wherfore he dyde do make aboute saynt lucye a right grete fyre and made to be caste on her pytche Rosyn and boyllyng oylle and she abode all stylle to fore the fyre and said I haue prayd to Ihesu Cryst that this fyre haue no domynacion in me to th ende that the crysten men that byleue in god make of the theyr derysion And haue prayd for respyte of my martirdom for to take away fro the cristen men the feer and drede to dye for the feith of Ihesu cryst And to take away fro the mescreaunts the auauntyng of my martirdom The frendes of the Iuge sawe that he was confused by the wordes of saynt lucye of the drawyng moche gretly tormented and therfor they roof a
and consecrate on that one side of Ephesee And fro mydnyght forth he ceassed not to preche to the people that they shold establysshe them and be stedfast in the crysten faith and obeyssaunt to the comandemens of god And after thys he said the masse and howselyd and comuned the peple and after that the messe was fynysshed he bad and dyde do make a pytte or a sepulture to fore the aulter And after that he had taken hys leue and comanded the peple to god he descended doun in to the pytte or sepulture And helde vp hys handes to heuen and said Swete lord Ihesu cryste I yelde me vnto thy desyre and thanke the that thou hast vouchedsauf to calle me to the yf it plaise the receyue me for to be with my brethern with whom thou hast somoned me Opene to me the yate of the lyf permanable And lede me to the feest of thy wel and best dressed metes thou art Cryst the sone of the lyuyng god whyche by the comandemÌ„t that of fader hast saued the world To the I rendre and yelde grace and thankynges world wythouten ende thou knowest wel that I haue desired the with al my herte After that he had made hys prayer moche amerously and pyteously anon cam vpon hym grete clerenes and light And so grete brightnes that none myght see hym And whan thys lyght and bryghtnes was goon and departed ther was nothyng founde in the pytte or graue but manna whiche cam spryngyng from vnder vpward lyke as fonde in a fontayn or spryngynge welle where moche peple haue ben delyuerd of many diseases sekenesses by the merytes prayers of thys gloryous saynt SomÌ„e saye and afferme that he deyed without payne of deth And that he was in that clerenes born in to heuen body and sowle wherof god knoweth the certaynte And we that ben yet here bynethe in this myserye ought to pray deuoutly to hym that he wold impetre and gete to vs the grace of our lord whiche is blessyd in secula seculorum Amen Ther was a kyng an holy Confessour and virgyne named seynt Edward whiche had a specyal deuocion vnto saynt IohÌ„n euangelist and it happed that thys holy kyng was atte halowyng of a chyrche dedycate in thonour of god and of this holy appostle and it was that saynt IohÌ„n in lyknes of a pylgryme cam to thys kynge and demaunded hys almesse in the name of saynt IohÌ„n And the kyng not hauyng his amoner by hym ne his chamberlayn of whom he myght haue somwhat to gyue hym but toke hys rynge whyche he bare on hys fyngre and gaf it to the pylgryme ¶ After thys many dayes it happened ij pylgryms of englond for to be in the holy londe And saynt IohÌ„n appiered to them And bad them to bere thys Rynge to theyr kynge and to grete hym wel in hys name And to telle hym that he gaf it to saynt IohÌ„n in lykenes of a pylgryme and that he shold make hym redy to departe out of thys world For he shold not longe abyde here but come in to euerlastyng blysse And so vanysshed fro them And anone as he was goon they had grete lust to slepe and leyd them doun and slepte and thys was in the holy land and whan they awoke they loked aboute them and knewe not where they were And they sawe flockes of sheep and shepherdes kepyng them to whom they wente to knowe the waye and to demaunde where that they were and whan they axed them they spack englyssh and said that they were in englond in kente on beram downe And thenne they thanked god and and saynt JohÌ„n for theyr good speed and cam to this holy kynge saynt Edward on Cristemas day and delyuered to hym the rynge and dyde their erand wherof the kynge was abasshyd and thanked god and the holy saynt that he had warnyng for to departe and on the vygyle of thepyphanye next after he deyde and departed holyly out of thys world And is buryed in thabbiye of westmestre by london where as is yet in to thys day the same rynge Ysidore in the book of the lyf and deth of holy sayntes and fadres sayth thys Saynt JohÌ„n theuaÌ„gelist transformed and torned roddes of trees in to fyn gold the stones and grauel of the see in to precious geÌ„mes and owches the smale broken pyeces of gemmes he reformed vnto their first nature he reysed a wydowe fro deth And brought agayn the sowle of a yong man in to hys body he dranke venym without hurte or peryll And them that had ben deed by the same he recouerid in to the state of lyf Here endeth the lyf of saynt Iohan theuangelist Here foloweth Thystorye of Thynnocentes THe Innocentis callyd Innocentis for iij reasons First by cause reason of lyf and by reason of payne and by reason of Innocence By reason of lyf they be sayd Innocentis by cause they had an Innocent lyf They greued no body neyther god by inobedyence ne their neyghbours by vntrouthe ne by conceyuyng of ony synne And therfor it is said in the psaulter Thynnocentes and rightwys haue Ioyned them to me Thynnoâ—â—ntis by theyr lyf rightwys in the faith by raison of payne For they suffred deth Innocently and wrongly wherof Dauid saith they haue shed the blood of Innocentes by reason of Innocencye that they had by cause that In thys martirdom they were haptysed and made clene of thorigynal synne of whiche Innocence is said in the psaulter kepe thou Innocencye of baptesme And see equyte of good werkes HOly chyrche maketh feste of the Innocentis whyche were put to deth by cause of our lord Ihesu cryst For herode Ascalomer for to fynde and pute to deth our lord which was born in bethleem he dyde doo slee alle the chyldren in bethleem and ther aboute fro the age of two yere and vnder vnto one day vnto the somÌ„e of an CxliiijM chyldren For to vnderstonde whyche herode it was that so cruelly dyde do put so many chyldren to deth It is to wyte that ther were thre herodes and all thre were cruel tyrauÌ„tes And were in their tyme of grete fame and moche renoÌ„med for their grete malyce The first was herode Ascolamer he regned in Iherusalem whan our lord was born The seconde was herodes Antipas to whom pylate sente IhÌ„u cryst in the tyme of hys pâ—ssiâ—n And he dyde do smyte of saynt JohÌ„n baptystes heed The thyrde was herodes agrippa whyche dyde do smyte of saynt Iames heed said in galyce sette saynt peter in pryson But now late vs come to thys fyrst herode that dyde do slee the Innocente chyldren hys fader was named Antipater as hystorye scolâ—styke sayth and was kynge of 〈◊〉 and paynem he toke a wif whiche was Niece to the kynge of arabe on whom he had iij sones a doughter of whome that one was named herode Ascalomer Thys herode seruyd so wel to Iulyen theÌ„perour of Rome that he gaf to
Anthonye of grete age and feble of fastyng and not stronge ne myghty whan he was comen to hys abbaye two of hys disciples to hym most secrete demaunded of hym sayeng Fair fader where haue ye ben so longe and he answerd Alas I wretchyd synner whyche bere falsely the name to be a monke I haue seen hely the propâ—â—te I haue seen IohÌ„n the baptyst in deserte and certes I haue seen saynt poul in paradys Thus spekyng and betyng hys breste he brought the mantel out of hys celle And alle stylly without mo wordes he wente agayn the longe way all allone thurgh the deserte vnto saynt poul thermyte hauyng grete desyre to see hym For he was aferde leste he shold deye er he myght come agayn to hym It happed in the seconde Iourney where saynt Anthony wente thurgh the deserte the thyrde hour of the day he sawe the sowle of saynt poule shynyng ascende in to heuen emonge a grete company of Angellis of prophetes and also of appostlis And anoÌ„ he fylle doun to therthe wepyng and wayllyng and cryeng with an hye voys Alas poul wherfore leuest thou me so soone whyche haue so lytil seen the Thenne he had so grete desyre to see the corps or body that he passed all the remenaunt of hys waye as sone as a byrde fleyng lyke as he was woond to telle and reherce And whan he caÌ„ to the celle of saynt poul he fonde that the body was right vp on hys knees and the vysage and hondes adressyd toward heuen and supposed he had ben alyue and had made hys prayers but whan he had aduysed it he knewe wel that he was passed out of this world what wepynges and what wayllynges he made vpon the body it were a pytouse thynge to here emong all other he said O holy sowle thy body sheweth to be deed this that thou dydist in thy lyf After thys he was moche abasshed how he shold burye the body For he had none Instrument to make hys sepulture Thenne cam two lyons whyche moche debonairly made a pytte after the quantyte of hys body And saynt Anthony buryed hys body therin And he toke wyth hym the cote of saynt poul whyche was made fastned to gydre wyth the leues of a palmyer in maner of a matte And afterward for grete reuerence saynt Anthonye ware thys cote and clad hym wyth alle in grete and solempne festes Thus thys holy man saynt poul deyed in the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord ijClxxx and viij Late vs thenne praye to hym that he Impetre and gete vs remyssyon of our synnes that after thys lyf we may come to euerlastyng Ioye and blysse in heuen Amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Poul the first hermyte Here foloweth of saynt Remyge and first the interpretacion of hys name REmigius is said of remi that is to saye fedyng and geos that is erthe as who saith fedyng therthely people wyth doctryne Or of geon that is a wrasteler for he was a pastour and a wrasteler he fedde hys flock with the worde of prechyng with suffragies of prayeng and with example of conuersacion Ther is thre maner of armour that is for the deffence the shelde for to fight the swerd for hys sauacion and helthe the habergeon and helme he wrastled ayenst the deuyl with the sheld of fayth with the swerd of the word of god and wyth the helme of hope Ignacius Archebysshop of Raynes wrote hys lyf Of the lyf of saynt Remige REmigius an holy doctor and confessour gloryous of our lord was to for hys byrthe prouyded of our lord and forseeÌ„ of an holy heremyte Whan the persecucion of the wandles had almost wasted and destroyed neygh alle fraunce ther was a man recluse holy and vertuous whiche had lost his sight whyche ofte prayd to our lord for pees welfare of the chirche of frauÌ„ce he had on a tyme a vysion hym semed an angel cam to hym and said knowe thou that the womaÌ„ that thou knowest named Alyne shal brynge forth a sone that shal be named Remyge whyche shal delyure alle the contre fro thys persecucion And whaÌ„ he awoke he cam to the hows of thys Alyne And tolde to her hys vysion And she wold not byleue it by cause of her age the recluse said it shal he soo as I haue saide And whan thou hast gyuen thy chyld souke thou shalt gyue to me of thy mylke to put vpon myn eyen and therwith I shal be hool and recouure my sight agayn And lyke as he said all thyse thynges happened And thys womaÌ„ had a chyld named Remyge whyche whan he cam to the age of discrecion he fledde the world and entred in to a reclusage And sith after for the grete Renomee of hys holy lyf whan he had ben xxij yere therin he was electe and chosen to be Archâ—bysshop of Raynes he was so debonayr that lityl byrdes caÌ„ and ete on hys table and toke mete at hys hand It happed on a day that he was lodged in an hows of a good woman whyche had but a lytyl wyn in her tonnel or vassel And saynt Remyge wente in to the celer and made the signe of the crosse vpon the tonne And prayd a whyle Anon the tonne was so ful that it leeep ouer by the merytes of the good saynt Now it happed that clodomus the kynge of fraunce whyche was a paynem myght not be conuerted for ony prechyng that hys wyf myght doo whyche was a a crysten woman vnto the tyme that a grete hoost of AlemaÌ„s cam in to fraunce Thenne by thadmonestement of his wyf made a vowe that yf the god that hys wyf worshipped wold gyue hym victorye he wold be baptised at hys retornyng fro the bataylle thus as he demanded he vaynquysshid the batayll and after cam to Raynes to saynt Remyge and prayd hym that he wold crysten hym And whan saynt Remyge baptised hym he had no cresme redy thenne a douue descended fro heuen whyche brought the crysme in an Ampull of whyche the kynge was enoynted And thys Ampull is kept in the chyrche of saynt Remyge at Raynes of whyche the kynges of fraunce ben enoynted whaÌ„ they ben crowned Saynt Remyge had a nyece whyche was maryed to a clerke named genebaldus whyche by deuocion lefte hys wyf for to entre in to religion Thenne saynt Remyge sawe that the see of Raynes was ouer grete And ordeyned a see of a bysshopryche at laon and made genebald first bysshop of that place whan genebald was bysshop hys wyf cam theder to see hym and remeÌ„bred of the pryuete that they were wonte to haue to gydre and laye on a nyght with her and engendred on her a chyld whan hys wyf knewe that she was grete and lete hym haue knowleche therof and whan he wist that it was a sone he comanded that it shold be named theef by cause he had engeÌ„dryd it by thefte After for to quenche the suspection
as saynt basylle prayd holdyng the honde of the yong maÌ„ the cedule whiche he had made was brought in thayer in the sight of alle was leyde in the honde of saynt basylle the which receyued it said to the chyld brother knowest thou â—hyse lettres he answerd them I know theÌ„ well For they were wreton with my honde TheÌ„ne saynt basylle brake them ladde the chyld to the chyrche so or deyned disposed hym that he was worthy to receyue the holy sacrament after he beyng enseygned taught delyuerd to hym a Rewle how he shold kepe hym delyuerd hym to hys wyf Also ther was a woman that had coÌ„mysed many synnes the whyche she all wrote And atte ende ther was one more greuous than the other whyche in the wrytyng delyuerd to saynt basylle prayeng hym to praye for her And that by his prayers her synnes myght be foryeuen and theÌ„ne he prayde for her the woman opend the bylle wherin she founde all the synnes deffaced put out exept the greuous synne And she cam to saynt basylle sayd thou holy saynt of god haue mercy on me and gete me foryefnes for thys lyke as thou hast don for the other And saynt basylle sayd to the woman leue goo fro me woman For I am a man synnar as thou art whyche haue nede of pardon as moche as thou And as she that was besy and greuous to hym he said to her goo vnto the holy man that is named effraym and demaunde of hym that he may gete pardon for the And whan she cam to the holy man Effraym and had tolde to hym wherfor she was sente to hym fro saynt basylle he sayd to her goo fro me for I am a synful man but goo agayn to saynt basylle And it is he that may gete the foryefnes for thys synne lyke as he dyde for the other And haste the to th eÌ„de that thou maist fynde hym alyue And whan she cam in to the cyte saynt basylle was born to the chyrche for to be buryed And she bygan to crye sayeng god be Iuge bytwene me and the For thou mayst wel appease god for me And thou hast sente me to an other and anon she threwe the bylle vpon the coueryng of the byere ¶ And anon after she toke it agayn and opend it and founde hyt alle playn and out clene of the bylle ¶ And thenne wyth other she gaf thankynges to god ¶ To fore or saynt basylle deyde he beyng in the maladye that he deyde he dyde do come a Iewe to hym which was moche expert in physyke And he louyd hym by cause he sawe that he shold be conuerted to the fayth And whan he was come he felte hys puls and sawe that he was nyghe hys ende and sayd to hys meyney Make ye redy suche thyng as byhoueth for hys sepulture For he shal deye anon whyche worde saynt basylle herd and sayd to hym thou woste not what thou sayest And the Iewe named Ioseph sayd to hym thys day shalt thou dye whan the sonne shal goo doun in the weste To whom saynt basylle sayd what shal thou saye yf I deye not tâ—ys day to whom Ioseph sayd Syre it is not other wyse possyble thenne sayd saynt basylle yf I lyue vnto the morowe none what shalt thou doo And Ioseph sayde yf thou lyue vntyl the morow that houre I shal deye And saynt basylle sayd thou sayst trouthe thou shal dye that is synne shal dye in the to th eÌ„de that thou lyue in IhÌ„u criste Ioseph said I wote wel what thou saist and yf thou lyue vnto that tyme I shal doo that thou saist TheÌ„ne saynt basille said how wel that by nature he shold haue deyde anon forthwith yet he gate and Impetred of god space that he shold not theÌ„ne deye lyued vnto the morn at none which thyng seyng Ioseph merueylled moche and byleued in Ihesu crist Saynt basille theÌ„ne toke herte ouercam the feblenes of the body aroos out of his bedde wente to the chirche and with his propre handes baptysed the Iewe And after retorned to his bedde anon gaf vp his spirite rendryd his sowle vnto god aboute the yere of our lord iijClxx Thenne latâ— vs praye to hym that he gete vs grace of our lord Ihesu cryst that he wyll foryeue vs all our synnes Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Basille Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Iohan the Almosner SAynt Iohan the Almosner was patriack of IhÌ„rlm he sawe on a tyme in a vision a moche fair mayde which had on her hede a crowne of olyue and whaÌ„ he sawe her he was gretly abasshid demauÌ„ded her what she was this maide answere to hym I am mercy which brought fro heueÌ„ the sone of god yf thou wilt wedde me thou shalt fare the better TheÌ„ne he vnderstandyng that tholyue bitâ—keneth mercy he begaÌ„ that same day to be mercyful in suche wise that he was called almosner or amener and he called alleway the poure peple his lordes TheÌ„ne he called his seruants said to theÌ„ goo thurgh the cite write ye all the names of my lordes and whan he sawe that they vnderstode not his wordes he said to them they ben they that ye calle poure meÌ„diauÌ„tes I calle theÌ„ my lordes and I saye they be my helpers and trust it wel that they mowe helpe gete me the kyngdoÌ„ of heuene And by cause he wold styre the peple to do almesse he said that whan the poure men were ones to gydre wermyng theÌ„ ayenst the sonne they begaÌ„ to telle who were good almesmen theÌ„ wold they â—reyse and blame them that werr euyll emong all other he told this narracion Ther was somtyme a tollar named peter in a cite was a moche riche maÌ„ but he was not pyteous but cruel to poure peple For he wold hunte chace away poure peple beggars froÌ„ his hous with indignacion angre Thus wold no poure man come to hym for almesse TheÌ„ne was there j poure man said to his felaws what wil ye gyue me yf I gete of hym an almesse this day And they made a wager with hym that he shold not which don he wente to this tollars hous stode at the yate demanded almesse And whan this riche man cam and sawe this poure man at his yate he was moche angry and wold haue caste somwhat at his heed but he coude fynde nothyng tyl atte last cam one of his seruants beryng a basket ful of brede of Rye and in a grete angre he toke a rye loof threwe it at his hede as he that myght not here the crye of the poure man and he toke vp the loof ranne to his felaws sayd truly that he had receyued that loof of petres owne hande And theÌ„ne within ij dayes after this riche man was seke lyke for to deye And as he laye he was
thaÌ„ god is not worthy to be with god A man that semed to be her frende sente her word on a tyme that she had grete nede to kepe wel her brayne For by cause of thardeur that she had in vertues she semed to be out of her witte And she answerd In thys world we be reputed as fooles for the loue of Ihesu cryst And our lord said to his appostles the world hateth you For ye be not of the world yf ye were of the world that is to saye of the conuersion of the world the world shold loue you Fayr lord god we mortyfye our self allewaye and we be reputed as sheep that be brought to deth by cauâ—â— that without playnyng we mortefye our bodyes In suche pacience was she vnto the deth and suffred humbly thenuye of them that were euyll She had in her mynde the holy scriptures And she helde her more to the spyrituel vnderstondyng than to thystoryes of the scripture She coude parfyghtly hebrewe greke latyn frensshe and redde coursably the scriptures in thyse foure langages who may recounte wythout wepyng the deeth of this woman She fylle in a maladye mortall and sawe wel that she shold deye For all her body bycam cold And she felte that her spirite helde her in her brest Thenne said she wythout playnyng and with out hauyng ony charge sauf to god Fayr swete lord I haue coueyted the beaute of thy hous for to be in thyn habytacion that is so fayr My sowle hath desired to be in thy Royame And whaÌ„ I demaunded her wherfor she spack nomore And she wold not answere me and I asked yf she suffred grete payne she said to me in grekis tongue that she was wel and in good peas And anone she lefte spekyng te me and closed her eyen in sayeng to god Lord lyke as the herte desireth to come to the fontayne so desireth my sowle to come to the Alas whan shal I come to the fayr lord god And in sayeng thyse wordes she made a crosse vpoÌ„ her mouth There were bysshoppis prestes clerkes chanones and monkes wythout nombre And atte laste whan she herd her spowse Ihesu cryst whyche callid her sayeng Aryse and come to me my swete loue and fayr espowse For the wynter is passed she answerd gladly the flowres ben shewde in our contrey And I byleue that I shal see the goodes in the Royame of heuene of my lord Ihesu cryst And thus she rendred her sowle and passed out of thys world And anone all the congregacioÌ„ of vyrgynes made no crye in wepyng as don the peple of the world but redde deuoutly their psaltier not only vnto the tyme that she was buryed but all the day all the nyght with grete payne coude not EustochiuÌ„ her venerable doughter the virgyne be withdraweÌ„ fro her but she kyssed her and embraced her pyteously in wepyng the deth of her moder And Ihesus wytnesseth that saynt paulyne left not one peny to her doughter she hadde so gyueÌ„ almesse of alle her grete Rychesse many gyue largely for goddes sake but they gyue not somoche but somÌ„e abydeth whan she was passed as said is her lyppes ne her face were not pale but was as reuerent to loke on as she had ben yet alyue She was buryed in a sepulture in bethleem wyth right grete honour bÌ„y the bysshoppis preestis clerkes monkes vyrgyns and all the poure peple of the contrey whyche playned that they had loste their good moder that had nourisshed them She lyued in Rome holyly xxxiij yere And in bethleem xx yere And alle her age was liij yere vij monethes and xx dayes fro the tyme of honoure Emperour of Rome Thenne late vs praye to thys holy woman that she praye for vs Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Pawlyne Here foloweth of saynt Iulien the bysshop And first the interpretacion of hys name IUlien is as moche to saye as Iubilus Syngyng and ana that is an hye And therof Iulyen as goyng to hye thynges in syngyng Or it is said Iulius that is as moche to saye as not wyse and anus that is old For he was old in the seruyce of god and not wyse in reputacion of hym self SAynt Iulyen was bysshop of cenomanence It is said that it was he that was said SymoÌ„ the lepre wham our lord heled of hys meselâ—rye and bad Ihesu cryst to dyner And after thascencion of our lord he was ordeyned of thappostles bysshop of Emaus full of grete vertues he appyered to the world he reysed thre dede meÌ„ and after he ended hys dayes in grete preysyng of god Of thys saynt Iulyen somÌ„e saye that this is he that pylgryms and weyfaryng men calle and requyre for good herberowe by cause our lord was lodged in hys hows but it semeth better that it is he that slewe hys fader and moder ignorauÌ„tly of whom thystorye is here after Ther was another Iulyen born in almayne whyche was of noble lygnage and yet more noble in fayth and in vertue whyche for the grete desire that he had to be martir he offrid hym self to the tyrauntis where he had not forfayted Now it happed that crispmus whyche was one of the gouernours of rome sente to hym one of hys mynystres for to put hym to deth anon as the mynystre cam to hym he yssued out of hys place And cam to fore hym And offred to hym to suffre deth And hys heed was smeten of And they toke the hede and shewde it to saynt Feryel that was hys felowe And sayd they wold so doo of hym yf he sacrefyed not And by cause he wold not obeye to them they slewe hym And toke the heed of saynt Iulyen and the body of saynt Feryoll and buryed them bothe in one pytte And a grete whyle after saynte mamertyne bysshop of vyane fonde the heed of saynt Iulyen bytwene the handes of saynt feryol also hoole as it had be buryed that same day ¶ â—mong the other myracles of saynt Iulyen it is said that a deken toke alle the whyte sheep that were of the chyrche of saynt Iulyen And the shepherdes defended them but he sayd to them that saynt Iulyen ete neuer no motoâ— And anon after a feuer toke hym so grete and hooot that he knowleched that he was of the martir so brente And he dyde water to be caste on hym for to cole hym And anon yssued out of hys body suche a fume and smoke and therwith so grete a stenche that all they that were present were constrayned to flee and anon after he deyde ¶ Another myracle happed of a man of a vyllage that on a sâ—nday wolde ere hys londes and whan he toke the share to make clene hys cultre hyt cleuyd to hys hond and two yere after atte prayer of saynt Iulien in the chyrche he was helâ—d ¶ Ther was another Iulyen whyche was brother to one named Iulie Thyse two brethern wente to themperour Theodose whyche was a very crysten man
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
comforted and heled me After foure dayes quyncianus made her to be brought to fore hym in Iugement and sayd to her that she shold doo sacrefise to thydollis She answerd thyse wordes ben vayn and thy comandemeÌ„tis euyl they make the ayer to stynke he is moche meschaunt that byleueth in a stone and wythout entendement And leueth our lord the very god that hath heled me and hath restored to me agayn my pappes Quincianus demanded her who is he that hath heled the She saide Ihesu crist Quincianus said namest thou yet IhÌ„u cryst She answerd I shal haue in my herte Ihesu cryst as longe as I shal lyue Quincianus said yet shalt thou see yf he may helpe and hele the And thenne he made her all naked to be rolled vpon brennyng brondes And anon the grounde where the holy vyrgyne was rolled on began to tremble lyke an erthe quaue and a parte of the walle fyl doun vpon syluayn counseyllour of quyncianus and vpon fastion hys frende by whos counseyll she had be so tormented And thenne all the cyte of Cathanence was abasshyd And the peple cam rennyng vnto the hows of Quincianus sayeng in a grete bruyt that the cyte was in a grete paryll for the tormentis that he dyde to saynte Aghate Quincianus redoubted the bruyte of the peple And went â–ª out by hynde comanded that she shold be remysed in pryson whan she cam in to the pryson she Ioyned her handes holdyng them vp to heuenward and sayd in prayeng ¶ Lord god Ihesu cryst whyche hast created me of nought And sith my yougth hast kept me hast suffred me to lyue wel in my yougth which hast taken fro myn herte the loue of the world and hast made me to ouercome the tormentis and hast lente me pacience emong the paynes I pray the that thou take my speryte For it is tyme that thou make me to departe fro thys world and to come to thy mercy Thys â—ryson and prayer made she an hye to fore many persones and anon after she gaaf vp the ghoost and rendred her sowle The yere of our lord ijC and liij in the tyme of decius themperour of Rome After thys the crysten peple toke the body for to burye it worshipfully And whylis they arayed it wyth oynementis for tenbawme the corps Anone cam a yong man clad in silke and wel an hondred that folowed hym richely clothed which were neuer to fore seen in the cyte ne neuer after also thys yong man whoÌ„ folowed the fayr companye sette hym on that one side of the tombe in whiche the body shold be put And whan the body was enbamed wythin the tombe thys yong man sette atte hede of the body a shorte table of marble stone in whyche was wryton thys scripture Mentem sanctam spontaneam honorem deo patrie liberacionem whyche is as moche to saye The holy saynt Aghate had alleway holy thought and pure And gaf honoure to god wyth a free wyll in all her werkis And pourchaced by her prayers peas and delyuerauÌ„ce to all the contreye After that the table conteynyng thys scripture was sette at her hede the yong man and all his companye departed fro the tombe beyng closed wythout appyeryng ony more afterward wherfore it is supposed that thys yong man was her good angele Thys was publysshyd ouerall wherof the Iewes and sarasyns began to synge and worshyppe the sepulcre of the tombe of saynt aghate Quincianus the prouost deyde of an euyl deth in the waye as he wente for to seche the goodes and Rychesses of saynt Agathe and also for to haue taken her parents And neuer after coude be knowen wher hys body be cam And for to preue that she had prayd for the sauacion of the câ—ntrey Atte the begynnyng of feuerer the yere after her martirdom ther aroos a grete fyre and cam fro the montayne toward the cyte of Cathanence and brente the erthe and stones it was so feruent Thenne ranne the paynems to the sepulcre of saynt agathe and toke the cloth that laye vpon her tombe and helde it abrode ayenst the fyre And anon on the ix day after whyche was the day of her feste ceassed the fyre as sone as it cam to the cloth that they brought from her tombe shewyng that our lord kepte the cyte from the sayd fyre by the merytes of saynt agathe To whome praye we that she by her prayers may gete and Impetre grace of our lord to be kept from all parillis of fyre in thys world And whan we shal departe hens teschewe the perpetuell fyre and to come to the glorye Ioye in heuene amen Here endeth the lyf and passyon of saynt Agathe Of saynt Amande and fyrst thynterpretacion of hys name AMande is as moche to saye as amyalle For he had in hym thre thynges that make a man amyable The first is to be courtoys and gracious in companye As salamon sayth in his prouerbes the xix chapitre Vir amabilis ad societatem The second is to be honest in conuersacion as it is sayd of hester hester secundo Quod omnibus oculis amabilis videlatur The thyrde is to be vertuons in fayth of prowesse as it is sayd in the book of paralipomenon the second chapytre Saul Ionathas amabiles et decori Of the lyf of saynt amande SAynt amand was born of noble fader and moder On a tyme he entred in to a monastery And as he walked and wente in the chyrch he fonde a grete serpente whom by the vertue of hys prayer and wyth the signe of the crosse he made hym to yssue out And to entree in to the grete pytte out of whyche he neuer yssued after And after saynt amande cam to the sepulcre of saynt martyn and there abode xv yere where he lyued wyth barle brede and water and ware alleway the hayer After that he wente to rome And wente in to the chyrche of saynt peter and abode there by nyght the kepar of the chyrche put hym out right rudely And saynt peter appyered to hym as he laye and slepte to fore the chyrche dore And sente hym in legacion in to fraunce where he fonde the kyng dagobert the whyche he repreued strongly of hys synnes The kynge was angry and put hym out of hys Royame After whan the kynge had no sone he made hys prayer to god that he myght haue one And god sente hym one And whan he was born he thought moche sorowed who shold baptise hym And it cam vnto his mynde that he wold that saynt Amande shold baptyse hym Saynt amaÌ„de was sought and brought to the kyng and assone as he was come the kynge fyl doun to hys feet and prayd hym that he wold pardone hym of that he had trespaced to hym And that he wold baptyse hys sone And saynt amande graunted benyngly to the kyng his request the first peticion but not the second request for he dredde that he wold haue desired
aboute somÌ„e wordly occupacion or seculer thyngis of whych he wold not gladly entremete and wente hys waye and departed but atte last as vaynquysshyd by the prayers of the kyng he graunted hym And thus thenne as he baptised the chyld noman answered the chyld wyth a clere voys sayd and answerd Amen And after thys the kyng promâ—ted hym to be bysshop of sence And â—â—han he sawe that the word of god in predicacion was despised and not sette by he wente in to Gascoygne where he sawe a Iogeler mocqued hys wordes The feend toke hym and with hys owen treth he tare hym and confessid that he had don Iniurye to the persone of god and anon deyd myserably Now it happed on a tyme that he weesshe hys handes and a bysshop made the water to be kepte of whych water a blynde man had hys sight agayn It happed that in that place by the wyll of the kyng he wold edeffye a monasterye of monkes thenne a bysshop that was of the next cyte toke it greuously and was moche angry therwith and comanded hys seruantes to caste hym out or ellis they shold slee hym And anon they came to hym and sayd to hym in gyle and treson that he shold goo wyth them and they wold shewe to hym a place apte and good and water ynough for to edyfye vpon a monastery for monkes And he that knewe theyr malyce and theyr euyl purpoos wente with them vnto the toppe of an hye moÌ„tayne where as they wold haue slayn hym And he desired moche the martirdom for the loue of our lord and for to come in to hys companye but anon sodenly descended fro heuen suche a tempest of Rayne and of orage that it couerd alle the montayne so moche that that one coude not see that other and supposed to haue deyde sodenly And they fyl doun to therthe on their knees praieng hym to pardonne them And that they myght departe thens alyue For whom he put hym self to prayer and anone the storme was appeasid and the wether fayr They wente to theyr place And saynt amande thus escaped fro thys perill And many other myracles he shewde and dyde in thonour of our lord And fynysshyd in holy vertues hys lyf and departed out of thys world in the tyme of heraclius themperour abou the yere of our lord vjCliij Here endeth the lyf of saynt Amande Here next foloweth the lyf of saynt Uedaste SAynt Uedaste was ordeyned bysshop of arras by the hand of saynt remyge And saynt vedast was of moche grete holynesse and clennesse For whan he cam to the yate of Arras he fonde there ij poure men of whom the one was lame and that other blynde Thyse two poure men demaunded of hym somÌ„e almesse And saynt vedast answerd to them and said I haue neyther gold ne siluer but thys that I haue I gyue to you Thenne he made them bothe hool by the vertue of hys prayer ¶ It happed on a tyme he caÌ„ in to a chyrche destroyed and fonde there a wulf emong the busshes And he comaÌ„ded hym that he shold goo his way And anon he obeyed to hym fledde so that sith that tyme he was not seen Atte laste whan he had conuerted moche peple by hys word and predicacion to the fayth of god and also by good ensamples shewde euydently to the peple in the fourtythe yere of hys bysshopryche he sawe a douue of fyre that cam fro heuen to hys hows And by that he vnderstode wel that he shold fynysshe and passe out of thys world And so he dyde For he dede anon after aboute the yere of our lord vCl whan hys body shold be translated Saynt omer whyche was blynde for age was sory that he myght not see the body of saynt vedast and anon our lord enlumyned hym and rendryd to hym hys sight And sawe the body of saynt vedaste but anon after he was blynde agayn as he had ben to fore late vs praye to hym cÌ„ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Uedaste Here begynneth the lif of seynt Ualentyne and first thynterpretacion of hys name UAlentyne is as moche to saie as conteynyng valeur that is perseueraunt in grete holynesse valentyn is sayd also as a vayliaunt knyght For he was a right noble knyght of god And the knyght is said valiaunt that fleeth not and smyteth defendeth valiantly and ouercometh moche puyssauntly And so saynt valentyn wythdrewe hym not fro hys martirdom in fleyng he smote in dystroyng thydolles he deffeÌ„ded the faith he ouercam in suffryng Of saynt Ualentyn the martre SAynt Ualentyne frende of our lord and preest of grete auctoryte was at Rome It happed that Claudius themperour made hym to come to fore hym And said to hym in demandyng what thyng is that whiche I haue herd of the valentyn why wilt thou not abyde in our amyte and worshyppe thydolles and renounce the vayne opynyon of thy creaunce Sayyt valentyne answerd hym yf thou haddest very knowleche of the grace of Ihesu cryst thou sholdest not saye thys that thou sayest but sholdest renye thydolles and worshyppe veray god TheÌ„ne sayd to saynt valentyn a prynce Thenne said to saynt valentyn a prynce whiche was of the couÌ„ceylle of themperour what wylt thou saye of our goddes and of theyr holy lyf And saynt valentyn answerd I saye none other thyng of them but that they were men mortall and meschaunt and full of all ordure and euyll Thenne sayd claudius themperour yf Ihesu cryst be god veryly wherfor saist not thou the trouthe And saynt valentyn sayd Certaynly Ihesu cryst is only very god And yf thou byleue in hym veryly the sowle shal be saued thy Royame shal multyplye and he shal gyue to the alleway vyctorye of thyn enemyes Thenne claudius torned hym vnto all them that were there and said to them lordes Romayns here ye how wysely and resonably thys man speketh Anone the prouoste of the cyte sayd Themperour is deceyued and bytrayed how maye we leue that whyche we haue holden and acostomed to holde sith our enfancie wyth thyes wordes themperour torned and chaunged hys corage And saynt valentyne was delyuerd in the kepyng of of the prouoste whan saynt valentyn was brought in an hows in pryson Thenne he prayd to god sayeng lord Ihesu cryst very god whyche art very lyght enlumyne thys hous in suche wyse that they that dwelle therin may knowe the to be veray god And the ê“uost said I meruaylle me that thou sayst that thy god is very light neuertheles yf he may make my doughter to here and see whyche longe tyme hath ben blynde I shal doo all that thou comandest me and shal byleue in thy god Saynt valentyn anon put hym in prayers And by hys prayers the doughter of the ê“uoste receyued agayn her sight And anon all they of the hows were conuerted After theÌ„perour dyde do smyte of the heed of saynt valentyn the yere of our lord ijClxxx Thenne late vs praye
that he had ben a paynem And he torned to the chyrche of saynt peter wayllyng for thorrour of the mescreaunce of traian Thenne answerd a voys fro god sayeng I haue now herd thy prayer and haue spared traian fro the payne perpetuell By thys thus as som̄e saye the payne perpetuel due to traian as a mescreaunt was somdele take away but for al that was not he quyte fro the pryson of helle For the sowle may wel be in helle and fele ther no payne by the mercy of god And after it is sayd that the angele in hys answere sayd more to thus by cause thou hast prayd for a payneme god graunteth the to chese of ij thynges that one which thou wylt Or thou shalt be ij dayes in purgatorye in payne or ellis all the dayes of thy lyf thou shalt languysshe in sekenesse Thenne answerd saynt gregory that he had leuer to haue sekenesse all his lyf in this world than to fele by ij dayes the paynes of purgatorye And euer after he had contynuelly the feures or axces or the goute in hys feet And herof hym self maketh mencion in one hys epystle and sayth I am so moche tormented of the gowte in my feet and of other sekenesses that my lif is to me a grete payne euery day me semeth that I ought to deye And alleway I abyde the deth Som̄e tyme my payne is lityl somtyme right grete but it is not so lityl that it departeth fro me ne so grete that it bryngeth me to deth And thus it is that I that am alleway redy to deye am withdrawen fro deth It happed that a wydowe that was wonte euery sonday to brynge hoostes to synge masse wyth shold on a tyme be houselyd cōmuned And whan saynt gregory shold gyue to her the holy sacrament in sayeng Corpus dominj nostrj c̄ that is to saye the body of our lord Ih̄u cryst kepe the in to euerlastyng lyf Anone thys woman began to smyle to fore saynt gregorye And anon he wythdrewe hys honde and remysed the sacrament vpon th aulter And he demaunded her to fore the peple why she smyled And she sayd by cause that the brede that I haue made with my propre handes thou namest it the body of our lord Ihesu cryst Anone saynt gregory put hym self to prayer wyth the peple For to praye to god that herupō he wold shewe hys grace for to conferme our byleue And whan they were rysen fro prayer saynt gregorye sawe the holy sacrament in figure of a pyece of fhessh as grete as the lytil fynger of an honde And anone after by the prayers of saynt gregorye the flesshe of the sacrament torned in to semblaūce of breed as it had be to fore And therwyth he comuned and howseled the woman whiche after was more relygyous and the peple more ferme in the fayth Saynt gregorye made and ordeyned the songe of thoffyce of holy chirche and establysshed at Rome two scoles of songe that one beside the chyrche of saynt peter And that other by the chyrche of saynt Ioh̄n latian where the place is yet where he laye and taughte the scoliers and the rodde wyth whiche he menaced them And the anthyphoner on whyche he lerned them is yet there he put to the canon of the masse thse wordes Diesque nostros in tua pace disponamus atque ab eterna dampnacione nos eripias et in electorum tuorum iubeas grege numerari Atte laste whan saynt gregory had ben pope xiij yere vj monethis and x dayes he beyng ful of good werkes departed out of thys world in the yere of our lord vjCvj yere in the tyme whan foca was Emperour of rome Lete vs thēne praye to saynt gregory that he gete vs grace that we may amende so our self here in thys lif that we may come vnto euerlastyng lyf in heuen Amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Gregorye Here begynneth of saynt longius the lyf LOngius whyche was a puyssaūt knyght was wyth other knyghtes by the comandement of pylate on the side of the crosse of our lord and percyd the side of our lord wyth a spere And whan he sawe the myracles how the sonne lost his light and grete erthequauyng of therthe was whan our lord suffred deth and passion in the tre of the crosse Thenne byleued he in Ihesu cryst Som̄e saye that whan he smote our lord wyth the spere in the syde the precious blood aualed by the shafte of the spere vpon hys hondes And of auenture wyth hys hondes he touched hys eyen And anon he that had be to fore blynde sawe anon clerly wherfor he refused all cheualrye and abode wyth thappostles of whom he was taught and crystened and after he abandonned to lede an holy lyf in doyng almesses and in kepyng the lyf of a mōke aboute xxxviij yere in cesaree and in Capadoce And by hys wordes and hys example many men conuerted he to the fayth of cryste And whan thys cam to the knowleche of octouian the prouoste he toke hym and wold haue constrayned hym to do sacrefise to thydollis And saynt longius said Ther may noman serue two lordes whyche ben contrary to other Thyn ydollis ben lordes of thy malices corruptours of all good werkis and enemyes to chastyte humylite and to bounte And frendes to all ordure of luxurye of gloutonnye of ydelnesse of pryde and of Auaryce And my lord is lord of sobrenesse that bryngeth the peple to the euerlastyng lyf Thenne sayd the prouoste it is nought that thou saist Make sacrefice to thydollis And thy god shal forgyue the by cause of the comandement that is made to the longius said yf thou wylt becomē cristen god shal pardonne the thy trespaces Thenne the prouost was angry and made the teeth of saynt longius to be drawen out of hys mouth and dyde do cutte hys mouth open And yet for alle that longius lost not hys speche but toke an axe that he there fonde hewe and brake therwith thydollis and said now may we see yf they be very goddes or not And anon the deuyllis yssued out and entred in to the body of the prouoste amd hys felaws And they brayed lyke beestes and fyll doun to the feet of saynt longius and sayd we knowe wel that thou art seruaunt vnto the souerayn god And saynt longius demaunded of the deuylles why they dwellyd in thyse ydollis and they answerd we haue foūden place in thyse ydolles for vs For ouerall where Ihesu crist is not named ne hys signe is not shewd there dwelle we gladly and by cause whan thyse paynems come to thyse ydolles for to adoure and make sacrefise in the name of vs thenne we come and dwelle in thyes ydolles wherfor we pray the man of god that thou sende vs not in in thabysme of helle And saynt longius said to the peple that there were what saye ye wyll ye haue thyse deuylles for
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
vs praye to the gloryouse virgyne marye that she kepe vs fro the deuyll And that we may by her come to the glorye of heuen To the whyche brynge vs the fader the sone and the holy ghoost amen Thus endeth the anunciacion of our blessyd Lady Here begynneth the lif of saynt Seconde knyght SAynt seconde was a noble and valyaunt knyght and gloryous martir of our lord Ihesu cryst And suffred hys passion and was crowned wyth the palme of martirdom in cyte of Astence by whos gloryous presence the sayd cyte was enbelisshyd and for a synguler patron eÌ„noblysshid And thys holy man seconde was enformed in the fayth of the blessyd maÌ„ Calatero whyche was holden in pryson by the prouoste Sapryce in the sayd cyte of Astence And whan marcianus was holden in pryson in the cyte of tredonence Sapryce the prouost wold goo thyder for to make hym do sacrefyse And saynt seconde moche desiryng to see saynt marcyane wente wyth hym as it had ben by cause of Solace And anone as they were out of the cyte of Altence a whyte douue descended vpon saynt secondes heed To whom sapryce sayd See seconde how our goddes loue the whyche sende byrdes fro heueÌ„ to vysite the And whan they cam to the ryuer of tanagre saynt seconde sawe thangele of god goyng vpon the flood and sayeng to hym Seconde see that thou haue ferme fayth and thus shalt thou goo aboue them that worshâ—ppe ydolles Thenne Sapryce sayd brother seconde I here the goddes spekyng to the To whom saconde sayd late vs walke vnto the desyres of our herte And whan they cam to another flood that hyght buryn that same angel aforesayd saide Seconde byleuest thou in god or parauenture thou doubtest To whom seconde sayd I byleue veryly the trouthe of hys passion Thenne sayd Sapryce what is that I here And seconde sayd nothyng whan they shold entre in to trydone by the comaÌ„dement of the angele Marcianus yssued out of pryson and appierid to seconde sayeng Seconde entre in to the waye of trouthe and receyue the victorye of fayth Sapryce sayd who is he that speketh to vs as it were in a dreme To whom Seconde sayd it may be wel to the a dreme but to me it is Admonicion and a comforte After thys seconde wente to melane And the angele of god brought faustyn Ionathan whyche were holden in prison out of the cyte to seconde And of them he receyued baptesme And a cloude mynystred water for to baptyse hym wyth And sodenly a douue descended fro heuen bryngyng vnto faustyn and Ionatyn the blessyd sacrament And faustyn delyuerd it to seconde for to bere it to marciane Thenne seconde retorned whan it was nyght weÌ„te to the Ryuer named pade And the angele of our lord toke the brydle of the hors and ledde hym ouer the Ryuer ladde hym vnto trydone and sette hym in the prysone where marciane was And seconde delyuerd to marciane the yefte that faustyn had sente to hym And receyuyng it sayd the blessid body of our lord Ihesu cryste be wyth me in to euerlastyng lyf ¶ Thenne by the comandement of thangele Seconde wente out of pryson and wente vnto hys lodgyng ¶ After thys marciane receyued sentence to haue hys heed smeton of And so it was don And thenne seconde toke hys body and buryed it And whan sapryce herd herof he dyde do calle seconde to hym and sayd By thys that I see the doo I see wel that thou art a crysten man To whom seconde sayd Veryly I know leche me to be a crysten man thenne sapryce said Loo how desirest thou to deyâ— an euyl deth To whoÌ„ seconde sayd that deth is more due to the than to me And whan seconde wold not sacrefyse to thydollis he comanded to be despoylled all naked And anon the angele of god was redy hym cladde in a better clothyng than he had to fore Thenne Sapryce comanded hym to be hanged on an instrumÌ„t named eculee of which two endes stonde on the ground and ij vpward lyke saynt Andrews crosse and theron he was honged tyl hys Armes were out of Ioynte but our lord restored hym anon to helthe And thenne he was comanded to goo in to pryson And whan he was there thangele of our lord cam to hym and sayd Aryse Seconde and folowe me And I shal lede the to thy maker And he ledde hym fro thens vnto the cyte of Astence And brought hym in to the pryson where Caleocerus was and our blessyd saueour wyth hym And whan seconde sawe hym he fyl doun at hys feet And our sauyour sayd to hym Be not aferd seconde For I am thy lord god that shal kepe the from all euyl And thenne he blessyng hym ascended to heuene On the morn Sapryce sente vnto the pryson whyche they fonde fast shette but they fonde not second Thenne sapryce wente fro trydone the cyte vnto Astence for to punysshe Caleocere And whan he was come he sente for hym for to be presented to fore hym And they said to hym that seconde was wyth hym And anon he comanded that they shold be brought to fore hym to whom he said By cause that my goddes knowe you to be despysers of them they wyl that ye bothe deye to gydre And by cause they wold not doo sacrefise to hys goddes he dyde do mylte pitche and rosyn comanded to be caste vpon theyr heedes and in theyr mowthes They dranke it wyth grete desyre as it had ben most swetest water And sayd wyth a clere voys O lord how thy wordes ben swete in our mowthes Thenne sapryce gaf vpon them sentence that saynt Seconde shold be beheded in the cyte of Astence And Caleocerus shold be sente to Albigarye and there to be punysshyd whan thenne saynt Seconde was byheded thangellis of our lord toke hys body buryed it with moche worshyppe and praysyng he suffrid hys deth the thyrde kalendes of apryl Late vs praye thenne that he praye for vs to our lord Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Seconde martir Here begynneth the lyf of Marie Egypciaca MArye the Egypcien whyche was called a synnar ledde and lyuyd the most strayt lyf and sharp that myght be xlvij yere in deserte In that tyme was a good holy and relegious monke named zozimas and wente thurgh the deserte whyche lyeth by yonde the flome Iordan And moch desired to fynde somÌ„e holy fadres And whan he cam fer and depe in the deserte he fonde a creature which was all black ouer all her body of the grete hete and brennyng of the sonne whyche wente in that deserte And that was thys marye egypciaca aforsaid But assone as she sawe Zozimas come she fledde and Zozimas after And she taryed And sayd Abbote Zozimas wherfore folowest thou me haue pyte and mercy on me For I dar not torne my face toward the by cause I am a woman also naked but caste thy mantel vpon me by
whyche I may thenne without shame loke and speke wyth the And whan Zozimas herd hym self named he was gretly esmerueylled And anon he caste to her hys mantell And humbly prayd her that she wold gyue to hym her blessyng And she answerd It apperteyned to the fayr fader to gyue the benediction and nothyng to me For thou hast the dignyte of presthode whan he herd that she knewe his name and hys offyce he had yet more meruaylle and of that she axid so mekely hys blessyng After she sayd Blessyd be god the sauyour of our sowles Thenne she lyft vp her handes vnto heuen in makyng her prayer And Zozimas sawe in prayeng to god her body was lyft vp fro therthe wel hye a foot and an half And began to thynke that it had ben somÌ„e euyl spyryte Thenne Zozimas coniured her by the vertue of god that she shold telle to hym her estate and her condicion And she answerd Fayr fader spare me therof For yf I shold recouÌ„te myn estate ye shold flee away fro me like as fro a venymous serpente And thy holy eeres shold be made fowle of my wordes And the ayer shold be ful fowl of corrupcion and whan she sawe that Zozimas wold not be satisfyed so Thenne she sayd Fayr fader I was born in Egypte and whan I was in the age of xij yere I wente in to Alexandrye And there I gaf my body openly to synne by the space of xvij yere and abandouned it to lecherye and refused noman After it happed that men of that contre weÌ„te for adoure and worshippe the holy crosse in Iherusalem And I prayed to one of the maronners that he wold suffre me to passe wyth the other people the see and whan he me demanded payement for my passage I answerd Fayr syres I haue nothyng to paye you wyth but I abandonne my body to doo wyth alle your playsir for my passage they toke me by that condicion whan I was come in to Iherusalem vnto the entree of the chyrche for to worshyppe the holy crosse with the other I was sodenly Inuysibly put a back many tymes in suche wyse that I myght not entre in to the chirche And theÌ„ne I retorned thoughte in my self that thys cam to me for the grete synnes that I had commysed in tyme past And began to smyte my breste and wepe tenderly and sighe greuously And I behâ—ld there thymage of our lady And I fyl doun and prayd her all wepyng that she wold Impetre and gete me pardon of my synnes of her swete sone wold suffre me to entre in to the chyrche for to worshyppe the holy crosse promysyng to forsake the world And fro than forthon to lyue chaast whan I hadde thus prayd and to our blessyd lady thus faythfully promysid I wente agayn to the dores of the chyrche And wythout ony Impedyment I entred in to the chyrche And whan I had deuoutly worshypped and adoured the holy crosse A man gaf to me iij pens of whyche I bought thre loues of breed And after I herd anon a voys yf thou wylt passe and goo ouer slome Iordan thou shalt be sauf And thenne I passed Iordan and cam in to thys deserte where I neuer saw man by the space of xvij yere Thyse thre loues that I bare wyth me bycam hard by the drought of the tyme as a stone of whyche I toke my sustynaunce and suffysed to me xvij yere And after I ete herbes my clothes ben Roten longe syth And thise xvij first yere I was moche tempted by the brennyng of the sonne moche asprely And many delectacions that I haue had in mete and drynke the good wynes and doyng the desires of my body all thyse cam in my thought Thenne he bewaylled them on the erthe And prayd for helpe to our blessyd lady in whom I hadde sette all my affyaunce And I wepte moche tenderly And anon I sawe comyng aboute me a grete light by the whyche I was all recomforted and loste all the thoughtes whyche ofte and greuously tempted me And sith I haue ben delyuerd of alle temptacions and am nourisshyd of spirituel mete of the word of our lord And thus haue I be alle my lyf as I haue tolde to the And I praye the by thyncarnacion of Ihesu criste that thou praye for me synful creature Thenne the olde fader Zozymas fyl doun vnto grounde and thanked our lord god that had thus saued hys seruaunte And she sayd I praye the fayre fader that thou wylt come ageyn on the next sherethorsday and brynge wyth the the body of our lord for to howsel me For sythe I entred in to thys deserte I was neuer howseled ne receyued the holy sacramente And theÌ„ne I shal come to flomiordan ageynst the Zozymas wente to his abbey and after the yere passed on sherethorsday he came ageyn in to the place lyke as the holy woman had prayed hym And whan he was comen to flomiordan he sawe on that other syde the holy woman which made the sygne of the crosse vpon the water and wente on hit and came ouer to hym Whan Zozymas saw this myracle anone he fyl doun to the feet of the holy woman for to doo to hyr honour and reuerence but she forbad and deffended hym and sayd Thus oughtest thou not to doo For thou art a preest and berest the holy sacramente the whiche she receyued in ryght grete deuocion and sayd in wepyng lord god please hit to the to receyue me in pees For myn eyen hath seen my sauyour how wel that she had alwey wept and shedde teerys so haboundauntly that it semed that she had lost hyr sight And after she sayd to Zozymas I praye the that at the ende of thys yere thou wylt come hyder ageyn to me praye for me synful creature anone after she made the sygne of the crosse vpon the ryuere and passed ouer the water with drye feet as she tofore came And Zozymas wente ageyn to hys abbey But he repented moche that he had not demaunded the name of the woman And after the yere passed he came ageyn to the deserte like as he had promysed to thys holy woman And he founde hyr deed and the body ordynatly leyed as hyt shold be beryed Zozymas began thenne anone tenderly to wepe durst not approche ne touche the body but sayd to hym self I wold gladly berye this holy body yf I knewe that I shold not dysplese hyr And whan he was in thys thought he sawe lyeng by hyr heed a letter that sayd in this manere Zozymas burye right here the body of the poure marye and rendre to the erthe his ryght and praye to god for me At whos commaundemente the second day after I receyued hym he called me fro thys world Thenne zozymas was moche glad that knewe the name of the saynt But he was gretely esmayed how he myght burye the body For he had no thynge for to delue therthe
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
hym self And it is supposed that hys passyon is founden in the book of geruase and prothase ¶ Of saynt vytal SAynt Vytal was a knyght and a consull and of valeria his wyf he gate saynt geruase saynt prothase he weÌ„t to rauenne wyth paulyne that was Iuge of the contree and whan he came thyder and sawe that thys paulyne made a physicien named vrsianum to suffre many tormentes bycause he wold not renye his feythe and at the last whan they wold haue byheded hym he was so a frayed that he wold haue renyed god Thenne sayd saynt vytal to hym Havrsyan doo not soo thou were wonte to hele other and now wylt delyuer thy self to perdurable dethe Thou were come to the vyctorye now thou arte in perylle to lose thy crowne whyche was redy for the whan thys physycien had herde thyse wordes he was al recomforted and repentyd of his euyl purpoos and suffred gladly marterdom And saynt vytal dyd do burye hym moche honourably ne neuer after wold saynt vytal not goo in the companye of the Iuge paulyn ¶ Thenne he had so grete Indygnacion of that he had dâ—fended vrsyan to make sacrefyse and of thys that he daygned not to come to hym And bycause he shewed hym a crysten man he dyd hym to be hanged by the armes on a gybette Thenne sayd to hym vytal thou arte ouermoche a fool yf thou wene to dysceyue me whiche haue alweye delyuerd the other Thenne sayd paulyn brynge hym for to doo sacrefyse And yf he doo hit not make a depe pyâ—tâ— vnto the water and put his heed there vnder and so they dyd and there buryed hym quycke in the yere of our lord lvij And the preest of thydolles that had gyuen thys counceyl was anone taken of the deuyl and cryed vij dayes contynuel and sayd Saynt vytal thou brennest me the seuenth day the deuyl threwe hym in the ryuer and there deyed shamefully And the wyf of saint vytal whan she came to melane she fonde there of hyr peple sacrefyeng thydolles which prayed hyr to ete wyth them of theyr sacrefyses to whome she answerd I am a crysten woman and it is not lawful to me to ete of your sacrefyses Thenne they heeryng that bete hyr soo longe and so sore that they lefte hir fordeed And hir men that were with hir broughte hir to melane halfe lyuyng and there the thyrd day she deyed holy And the body of saynt vytal lyeth now at coleyn in the chyrche of our lady ¶ Thus endeth The lyf of saynt Vytal ¶ Here foloweth The lyf of saynt Peter of mylane and first thynterpretacion of his name PEter is as moche to saye as knowynge or vnhosyng or peter is sayd of petros that is constaunte and ferme and by that ben vnderstonden thre preuyleges that Were in saynt Peter he was a moche noble prechour and therfore he is said knowyng For he had perfyte knowlege of scrypture and knewe in his predycacion what was behofful to eueryche Secondly he was pure and a vyrgyn and therfore he was sayd vnhosyng For he vnhosed and dyd of his wyll fro his feet and despoyled al mortal loue in so moche that he was a vyrgyn and not onely of body but also of mynde Thyrdly he was a marter glorious of our lord and therin he was constaunte and ferme to the ende that he shold suffre stedfastlye marterdom for the deffence of the feythe ¶ Of saynt peter of melane SAynt Peter the newe marter of thordre of the frere prechours was borne in the cyte of veronne in lombardye his fader moder were of the secte of tharryens Thenne he descendyd of thyse people lyke as the rose that cometh of the thorne and as the lyght that cometh of the smoke At the eage of vij yere whan he lerned at the scole his credo One his eme which was an heretyke demaunded of hym his lessoÌ„ the chylde said to hym credo tyl to creatorem celi et terre hys vncle said to hym that he shald nomore say so for god hath not made temporall thynges the chylde affermed that he oughte to saye none otherwyse but soo as he had lerned that other began to shewe hym by auctorytre his purpoos but the chylde whiche was ful of the holy ghoost answerd so wel wysely that his vncle departed al confus and alle achauffed said to the fader that he shold take aweye his sone fro scole for he doubted whan he shal be grete that he shold turne ageynst theyr lawe feyth that he shold confounde them and so it happed soo he prophecyed lyke as cayphas dyd but god ageynst whome none may do wold not suffre it for the grete prouffite that he attended of hym Thenne after whan he came to more eage he saw that it was no sure thynge to dwelle with the scorpyons he had in despyte fader and moder and lefte the world whyles he was a clere a pure vyrgyn he entred in to thordre of the frere prechours there where as he lyued moche holyly the space of xxx yere or theraboute ful of al vertues and especyal in deffendyng the feythe For loue of whyche he brente he dyd moche abstynence for to brynge hys flesshe lowe he fasted he entended to wake by nyght in studyeng and in prayer whan he shold haue slepte and rested And by day he entended to the prouffyte of the sowles in prechyng in confessyng and in counceyllyng in desputyng ageynste the heretykes and arryens And in that he had a specyal grace of Ihesu cryste For he was ryght sore founded in humylyte he was merueylously pyteous and debonayre ful of compassyon of gretâ— pacyence of grete charyte and of stedfastnesse So rype and so wâ—l ordeyned in fayre manere That euery man myght beholde as in a myrrour in hys contynence and in hys conuersacyon He was wyse and dyscrete and soo enprented in his herte that alle hys wordes were ferme and stable Thenne he prayed many tymes to our lord that he wold not lete hym deye but by suffrance of marterdom for hym and for hys faythe And thus as he prayed god accomplysshed in the ende He dyd many myracles in his lyf For in the cytee of melane on a tyme whan he examyned a bysshop of the Arryens that the crysten men had taken and many bysshoppes relygyous and grete plentee of other peple of the cyte were there assembled and was thenne right hâ—te This arryan said to saynt Peter tofore them al O thou peter peruerse yf thou arte so holy as this peple holdeth the fore wherfore suffrest thou thys folysshe peple deye for hete and prayest not god that he wold shadowe them Thenne saynt peter answerd and sayd yf thou wylt promyse that thou shalt holde the veray feythe and thou wylt loue thyn heresye I shal praye therfore to our lord thenne al they that were on the partye of the arryens cryed that he shold promyse hym for they
and fasted alweye his vygyl Now it happed that she offred a candell to th aulter of saynt peter and anone the preest for his couetise quenchyd the candel but anone after the candel was lyhht ageyn by hym self he quenched it ageyn ones or twyes alle weye as sone as he was gone it lighted anone ageyn thenne he lefte that put out another candel which a knyght had offred in thonour of saynt peter whiche knyghte fasted also hys euen and the preest assayed ij tymes yf he myght put it out but he myght not Thenne said the knyght vnto the preest what deuyl seest thou not well the myracle that saynt Peter wyl not that they be quenchyd Thenne was the preest abasshed all the clerkes that were there with hym in so moche that they fledde out of the chirche tolde the myracle oueralle There was a man called roba whyche had lost hys gowne and alle the money that he had whan he came vnto hys hows and sawe hym self in soo grete pouerte he called the deuylles and gaue hym self to them thenne came to hym thre deuyls whiche cast doun roba vpon the solyer after toke hym by the necke it semed that they wold haue estrangled hym in suche wyse that he vnothe myght speke whan they that were in the hows bynethe herde hym crye they went to hym but the deuylles said to them that they shold retorne they had supposed that roba had sayd so retorned and after anone he began to crye ageyn thenne apperceyued they wel that they Were the deuyls fette the preest which coniured in the name of saynt Peter the deuyls that they shold goo their waye Thenne two of them wente awaye and the thyrd abode his frendes brought hym on the morne to the chyrche of the freres Thenne there came afrere named guyllam of versel this frere guyllame demaunded What was hys name the fende answerd I am called buthsephast thenne the frere commauÌ„ded that he shold goo out anone the fende called hym by his name as he had knowen hym said guyllam guyllam I shal not gone out for the for he is oures and hath gyuen hym self to vs thenne he coniured hym in the name of saynt peter the marter thenne anone he went his waye the man was all hoole toke penaunce for his trespace was after a good man Saynt peter whiles he lyued it happed that he dysputed with an heretyke but this heretyke was sharpe aygre soo full of wordes that saynt peter myght haue of hym none audyence whan he sawe that he departed fro the dysputacion wente prayed our lord that he wold gyue to hym place and tyme to susteyne the feythe that the other myght be stylle speke not whan he came ageyn he fonde this heretike in suche caas that he myght not speke Thenne the other heretykes fledde al confused and the good cristen men thanked our lord The day that saynt peter was marterd a nonne that was of the cite of florence sawe in a vysyon our lady that styed vp in to heuen with her two persones one on the ryght syde that other on the lyfte in the habyte of freres whiche weren by hir whan she demaunded who it was A voys said to hyr that it was the sowle of saynt Peter And was founden certeynly that same day he suffred deth therfore thys Nonne whiche was grouously seek prayed to saynt peter for to recouer her helthe and he gate it for hir entyerly There was a scoler that wente fro maloygne vnto monpellyer in lepyng he was broken that he myght not goo Thenne he remembryd of a woman that was helyd of a cancre by a lytel of the erthe of the sepulcre of saynt peter anone he had truste in god and cryed to saynt peter in suche manere as she had doon anone he was hoole In the cyte of compostelle there was a man that had grete leggys swollen lyke a barelle his wombe lyke a woman with chylde and his face foule horryble so that he semed a monstre to loke on and it happed that he wente with a staffe beggyng his breed and in a place where he demaundd on a tyme almesse of a good woman she sawe hym so swollen that she said that it were better for hym to haue a pytte to be buryed in than ony other thynge For he was no better than dede yet neuerthelesse sayd she I counceyl the that thou goo in to the chirche of the frere prechours praye saynt peter that he make the hoole and haue in hym veray faythe I hope he shal make the al hole This seek man wente on the morne to the chyrche but he founde it shette closed Thenne he slepte atte dore he sawe in his slepe that a man in the habyte of a frere broughte hym in to the chyrche And couerd hym wyth his cope whan he awoke he fouÌ„de hym self in the chirche was perfytely hole Wherof moche peple merueyled by cause they had seen so shorte tyme tofore hym like as he shold haue deyed forthwith There be many mo myracles which were ouer grete a laboure to wryte al for they wold ocupye a grete book theÌ„ne lete vs praye to thys holy marter saynt Peter that he praye for vs ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Peter the marter ¶ Here foloweth of saynt Phelip thappostle fyrst of thynterpretacyon of his name PHelyp is as moche to saye as the mowthe of a lampe or the mouthe of handes or it is sayd of philos that is as moche to saye as loue and of ypus that is to saye souerayn so phelyp is as moche to saye as loue of souâ—rayne thynges thenne is it said mowthe of a lampe for his clere prechyng and mowthe of the handes for hys besy werke loue of thynges souerayn for his celestyal loue and contemplacion Of the lyf of Saynt phylyp SAint phylip whan he had preched in sychye by the space of xx yere he was taken of the Paynyms whiche wold constrayne hym to make sacrefise to ydolles whiche was called mars theyr god anone vnder thydol yssued out a right grete dragon whiche forthwith slewe the bysshoppes sone that apoynted the fyre for to make the sacrefyse the ij prouostes also whos seruauÌ„tes helde saint phylip in yron bondes and the dragon corrupted the peple with his breethe that they al were seek saynt philyp said beleue ye me breke thys ydol sette in his place the crosse of IhÌ„u crist after worshyp ye it they that been here dede shal reuyue al the seek peple shal be made hole they that were seek cryed to saynt philip and said yf thou mâ—y do so moche that we may be guarisshed hole we shal gladly doo hit anone saynt philyp commauÌ„ded the dragon that he shold
goo in to deserte wiâ—hout greuyng or doyng ony harme to ony persone anone he departed with out apperyng after forthwith saynt phylip heled al them that were seek reysed the thre that were dede were al baptised preched to them the space of a yere the fayth of Ihesu crist whan he had ordeyned prestes dekens after he departed came in to the cyte of Ierapolym in asye where he destroyed the heresye of the Iheronyques whiche sayd preched that Ihesu crist had not taken veray flessh humayn but onely the semblauÌ„ce of the body humayn In this cite were his ij doughters by whome our lord had conuerted moche peple to the cristen feyth saynt phelip tofore his deth made to come tofore hym al the bisshoppes vij dayes tofore his deth also al the preestes said to them these vij dayes hath our lord gyuen to me respyte for to warne you to do wel he was of the age of lxxxvij yere after this the paynyms toke helde hym fastenyd hym to the crosse like vnto hys mayster so he yelded vp his sowle deyed his body was worshypfully buryed there his ij doughters deyed longe after hym and were also buryed that one on the right syde that other on the lyfte syde of the body of their fader Ysodore writeth in the book of the lyf deth of sayntes saith that philip preched to the frensshmen to men that were in derkenes he enlighted them in the feyth after be was taken in the cite of Iherapolym of the paynyms and of them stoned crucefyed of whome the martiloge of holy chirche speketh not but of another philip which was one of the vij dekens saynt Iherom saith in the martilogye that he was buryed in the cite of cezayr where god shewed many fayre myracles for hym besyde whome iij of his doughters ben buryed and the fourth doughter lyeth at ephesym The fyrst phylyppe differenceth fro this philip For he was apostle this was a dekene thappostle resteth at Iherapolym and the dekene at Cezaire he had two doughters and this foure Though historia ecclesiastico saith that philippe the appostle had iiij doughters prophetesses but it is 〈◊〉 more to byleue saynt Iherome Thenne lete vs praye to the holy appostle saynt phelyppe that he praye for vs to oure lord that we may come to his blysse amen ¶ Thus endeth The lyf of the blessyd appostle saynt philip ¶ And here foloweth of saynt Iames the lasse IAmes is as moche to say as supplantour or supplantyng a feste or makyng redy or Iames is said of Ia of cobar which is as moche to saye as the burthen or weyght of god or Iames may be said of Iaculo a darte cope smytyng which is to say smeten with a darte or smeten with glayues he was said a supplantour of the world for he despysed hit in supplantyng the feste for he supplanted the deuyl he is said makyng redy for alweye he made redy his body to do wel for as gregore of nycene saith we haue in vs thre euyl passyons whiche comen of euyl norisshyng or of right false conuersacion or of euyl custome of the body or of the vyce of ignorauÌ„ce they ben cured by good conuersacion for to haunte studyes of good exersitacion of doctryne So theÌ„ne the blessid Iames is escryed for he was alwey redy in his body to al good he is sayd the burthen or weyghte of good or godly maners that he vsed by exercitacion of vertues he was smeten wyth glayues by marterdom ¶ Of saynt Iames the lasse IAmes the appostle is said the lasse how wel that he was elder of age than was Saynt Iames the more by cause lyke as is in relygyon he that entred fyrst is called ayne and grete he that cometh after shal be called lasse though he be the older and in this wyse was thys saynt Iames called the lasse he was called also the broder of our lord by cause he resembled moche wel our lord in body in vysage and of manere he was called Iames the Iuste for his right grete holynesse Far saint Iherome recordeth that he was so holy that the peple sâ—râ—f how they myght touche the hemme of his robe or mantel he was also called Iames the sone of alphey this Iames was euer holy after that he yssued out of his moders wombe he neuer dranke wyne mede ne sydre ne neuer ete flesshe ne neuer rasour touched his heed ne he neuer baygned he knelyd so ofte in prayers that his knees were as harde as the horne of a camel he sange in Iherusalem the fyrst masse that euer was songe therin he was fyrst bysshop of Iherusalem Ioseph recordeth that he had auowed at the deth of our lord that he wold neuer ete tyl our lord were rysen fro deth to lyf theÌ„ne on ester day our lord apperid to hym said 〈◊〉 the table fayr broder ete for the sone of the virgyn is rysen fro deth to lyfe Thenne toke he the breed and made the benediction and gaue it to hym The seuenth yere after the appostles assembled in Ierusalem on ester day there saynt Iames demaundyng what god had done by them tofore the peple that they shold telle and whan saynt Iames had preched seuen dayes in the temple with the other appostles Cayphas and somme other wold haue ben baptyzed And thenne entryd in a man sodeynly in to the temple and said cryeng O ye syrres what wyl ye doo why suffre ye thus to be dysceyued of thyse enchauntours be ye ware kepe you that they dysceyue you not he moeuyd so moche the people that they wold haue stoned the appostles Thenne thys felowe wente vp to the lectron where as saynt Iames preched and threwe hym doun bacwarde and fro thenne forthon euer after he halted And thys was doon the vij yere after the ascencion of our lord And he was bysshop there by the space of xxx yere And in his xxx yere whan the Iewes sawe that they myght not slee Saynt Poule bycause he had appeled to the Emperour to Rome and was sente forthe to Rome they torned al theyr persecusyon ageynst saynt Iames and sayd to hym the peple is dysceyued for they supposed that your Ihesus were messyas Thenne for as moche as thou arte moche byleuyd we praye the that thou assemble the peple and that thou stonde vp on hye and shewe to them that it is not he For thou arte so iuste that We alle shal byleue in the Thenne saynt Iames wente vp on the fronte of the temple on ester day and alle the peple were assembled bynethe Thenne sayde the Iewes to hym wyth an hye voys Right Iuste trewe man we knowe wel that thou shalt not lye Shewe to vs of Ihesus that was hanged vpon the crosse that whiche thou knowest for al the world is dysceyued Thenne answerd he with
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
to symon my fader And my fader sayd to me at his dethe â—e wel ware that for no tormente that ye may suffre telle not where the crosse of Ihesu criste was leyde For after that hit shal be founden the Iewes shal reygne nomore but the crysten men that worshypped the crosse shall thenne reygne And verayly this Ihesus was the sone of god Thenne demaunded I my fader wherfore had they hanged hym on the crosse sythe it was knowen that he was the sone of god thenne he sayd to me fayre sone I neuer accorded therto But gayn said it al were but the pharisees dyd it bycause he repreuyd theyr vyces but he aroos on the thyrd day and his dysciples seeyng he ascended in to heuen Thenne by cause that stephen thy broder byleued in hym the Iewes stoned hym to dethe Thenne when Iudas had sayd thyse wordes to his felawes they answerd we neuer herde of suche thynges neuerthelesse kepe the wel yf the auene demaunde the therof that thou say nothynge to hyr whan the auene had called them and demaunded them the place where our lord Ihesu cryste had be crucefyed they wold neuer telle ne ensygne hyr Thenne commaunded she to brenne them alle but thenne they doubted and were aferde delyuerd Iudas to hyr and sayd lady thys man is the sone of a prophete and of a Iuste man and knoweth right wel the lawe can telle to you al thynge that ye shal demaunde hym Thenne the quene lete al the other goo and reteyned Iudas wythout moo Thenne she shewed to hym his lyfe dethe bad hym chese whyche he wold Shewe to me sayd she the place named golgata where our lord was crucefyed by cause and to the ende that we may fynde the crosse ¶ Thenne sayd Iudas it is two hondred yere passed more I was not thenne yet borne Thenne sayd to hym the lady by hym that was crucyfyed I shal make the perisshe for hungre yf thou telle not to me the trouthe Thenne made she hym to be caste in to a drye pytte and there tormented hym by hungre and euyl reste whan he had been seuen dayes in that pytte thenne sayd he yf I myght be drawen out he shold say the trouthe Thenne he was drawen out and whan he came to the place anone the erthe moeuyd and a fume of grete swettenesse was felte in suche wyse that Iudas smote his hondes to gyder for ioye and sayd in trouthe Ihesu cryste thou arte the sauyour of the world It was so that adryan the Emperour had doo make in the same place where the crosse laye a temple of a goddesse by cause that all they that came in that place shold adoure that goddesse But the quene dyd doo destroye the temple Thenne Iudas made hym redy and began to dygge and whan he came to xx paas depe he fonde thre crosses and broughte them to the quene And by cause he knewe not whiche was the crosse of our lord he leyed them in the myddel of the cyte and abode the demonstraunce of god and aboute the houre of none there was the corps of a yonge man brouhgte to be buryed Iudas reteyned the byere and layed vpon hit one of the crosses and after the second and whan he leyed on hit the third anone the body that was dede came ageyn to lyf Thenne cryed the deuyll in the eyre Iudas what hast thou doon thou hast doon the contrarye that thother Iudas dyd For by hym I haue wonne many sowles and by the I shal lose many by hym I reygned on the peple And by the I haue loste my royame neuerthelesse I shal yelde to the this bountee For I shal sende one that shal punysshe the and that was accomplysshed by Iulyan the appostata which tormented hym afterward whan he was bysshop of Iherusalem and whan Iudas herde hym he cursed the deuyl and sayd to hym Ihesu cryste dampne the in fyre pardurable After this Iudas was baptyzed and was named quyryache And after was made bysshop of Iherusalem ¶ Whan helayn had the crosse of Ihesu cryste and sawe she had not the nayles thrune she sente to the bysshop quyriache that he shold goo to the place and seke the nayles Thenne he dyd dygge in therthe so longe that he founde them shynyng as golde thenne bare he them to the quene and anone as she sawe them she worshypped them wyth grete reuererence Thenne gafe saynt helayn a parte of the crosse to hir sone And that other parte she lefte in Iherusalem closyd in golde syluer and precious stones And hyr sone bare the nayles to themperour And the emperour dyd do sette them in his brydel and in hys helme Whan he wente to batayle This reherceth Eusebe Whiche was bysshop of Cezayr how be it that other say other wyse Now it happed that Iulyan the appostata dyd doo slee quyriache that was bysshop of Iherusalem by cause he had founde the crosse for he hated hit soo moche that where someuer he founde the crosse he dyd hit to be destroyed For whan he wente in batayle ageynst them of perse he sente and commaunded quyriache to make sacrefyse to thydolles and Whan he wold not doo hit he dyd do smyte of his righte honde and sayd wyth this honde hast thou wryten many letters by whyche thou repellyd moche folke fro doyng sacrefyse to our goddes Quyriache sayd thou wood hounde thou hast doon to me grete prouffyte For thou hast cut of the hande wyth whiche I haue many tymes wreton to the synagoges that they shold not byleue in Ihesu cryste and now sythe I am cristen thou hast taken fro me that whiche noyed me thenne dyd Iulyan do melte leed cast it in his mowthe and after dyd doo brynge a bedde of yron and made quyriache to be layed and stratched theron and after leyed vnder brennyng cooles and threwe therin grece and salte for to tormente hym the more and whan quyryache moeuyd not Iulyan themperour said to hym outher thou shalt sacrefye our goddes or thou shalt say at the leste thou arte not crysten And whan he sawe he wold doo neuer neyther he dyd doo make a depe pytte ful of serpentes and venemous bestys and caste hym therin whan he entred anone the serpentes were al deed Thenne Iulyan put hym in a cawdron ful of boylyng oyle and whan he shold entre in to hit he blessyd it sayd Fayre lord torne thys bayne to baytym of marterdom ¶ Thenne was Iulyan moche angry commaunded and that he shold be ryuen thorugh his herte wyth a swerde and in this manere he fynysshed his lyf The vertue of the crosse is declared to vs by many myracles For it happed on a tyme that one enchauntour dysceyued had a notarye and broughte hym in to a place where he had assembled a grete companye of deuylles and promysed to hym that he wold make hym to haue moche rychesse and whan he came
sanctoruÌ„ wherin thys holy saynt dunston had grete ioye he had a special grace of our lord that suche heuenly ioyes and thynges were shewed to hym in thys wretchyd world for his grete comforte and after this he became alle seek and feâ—le and vpon holy thorsday he sente for al his brethern and asked of them foryeuenesse and also forgaue them alle trespaces â—nd assoyled them of al theyr synnes aâ—d the thyrd day after he passed out of this world to god ful of vertues the yere 〈◊〉 our lord ix hâ—ndred lxxxviij and hys sowle was borne vp to heuen with 〈◊〉 songe of aungels al the peple heryâ—â— that were at his dethe and his â—â—dy lyeth at caunterburye in a worshypâ—â—l shryne where as our lord sheweth 〈◊〉 his seruaunt saynt dunston many 〈◊〉 and grete myracles wherfore our lord be praysed world wythouten ende amen Here endeth the lyf of Sayâ—t dunston Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Aldelme SAynt aldelme the confessour was borne in englond his fader hyght kenton he was broder vnto Iue kyng of this londe and whan kyng Iue was dede kenton was made kynge after hym and thenne this holy chylde aldelme was sette to scole in the hows of malmesburye where afterward he was maad abbot And thenne he dyd there grete ceste in byldyng and dyd doo make there a ful ryal abbey and whan the 〈◊〉 herde of his grete holynesse he sent for hym to come to rome whan he was there the 〈◊〉 welcomed hym was moche glad of his good lyuyng and tâ—ere he abode longe tyme with the pope and gate ful grete pryuyleges and lybertees to the hows of malmesburye in suche wyse that no bysshop in englond shold uysyte ne haue to doo there ne the kynge to lette them of theyr free elâ—â—cion but chese theyr abbot emonge the couent them self and whan he had goten alle this of the pope he was full glad and ioyeful and lyuyd there ful holyly longe tyme And on a day as he said masse in the chirche of saynt Iohan latrans and whan masse was doon there was no man that wold take his chesyble fro hym at the ende of the masse and thenne he sawe the sonne beme shyne thorugh the glasse wyndowe henge his chesybâ— theron wherof al the peple merueyled greteâ—â— of that myracle and the same châ—sâ—â—le is yet at malmesburye the câ—lour therof is purple and within shorte tyme after he came ageyn in to englond brought with hym many preuylegys vnder the 〈◊〉 seal which after kyng 〈◊〉 confermed alle that the pope had gâ—â—unted to the hows of malmesbury Tâ—is was aboute the yere of our lord seuen hondred and vj â— And that tyme thâ—re fyl a grete varyaunce emonge the bysshoppes of this loÌ„de for the holâ—yng of ester day but saynt aldelme mâ—ad a book that alle men shold knoâ—â— for euer whan estern day shall 〈◊〉 the whiche book is yet at malmesburye And that abbay he dyd do make in the worshyp of our blessyd lady And brightwold that was archebysshop of caunterburye herde of aldelmus holy lyuyng and he sente for hym to be his counceyllour and they lyued to gyder ful holyly longe tyme and eche was ful glad and ioyeful of other And on a day as they stood at the sâ—e syde by douer castel they sawe a shyp laden with marchaundyse not ferre fro them and saynt aldelme callyd to them to wyte yf they had ony ornament longyng to holy chirche within theyr shyp to selle but the marchauntes had dysdaygne of hym and thoughte he was not of power to bye suche thynges as they had to selle and departed from the holy man but anone fyl on them soo grete a tempest that they were in paryl for to perysshe and thenne one of hem said we suffre this trouble bycause we had dysdayne of the wordes of yonder holy man and therfore lete vs all mekely desyre hym to praye for vs to our lord Ihesu cryste they dyd so and anone the tempest cesed and theÌ„ne they came to this holy man and brought to hym a ful fayre byble the whiche is yet at malmesbury vnto this day and foure yere before his deth he was maad bysshop of dorset by the archebysshop of caunterburye and by other bysshoppes but within shorte tyme after he deyed and lyeth buryed at malmesburye there as he was abbot And after that saynt egewyn came to offre 〈◊〉 his tombe feteryd with chaynes of yron faste locked fro thens he wente so to rome to the pope alwey weryng tho feteris whiche was to hym grete payne god rewarde hym his mede ¶ And Saynt Aldelme or he deyed cursed alle them that dyd ony wronge in brekyng of the preuyleges of the sayd abbey of malmesburye and them that helpe the hows to mayntene goddes seruyce shall haue goddes blessyng and his And whan he had layen longe in the erthe he was translated and layed in a ful ryche shryne where as our lord sheweth dayly for hys holy seruaunte many fayre myraclâ—s Thenne lete vs praye saynt Aldelme to praye for vs vnto our lord god that we may in thys wretchyd 〈◊〉 of â—his world soo bewayle our synnes and amende our lyuyng that we may come to euerlastyng lyf in heuen amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Aldelme Of Saynt austyn that brouÈt crystendom in to englond SAynt austyn was an holy monke and sente in to englond to preche the faythe of our lord Ihesu cryste by saynt gregory thennâ— kyng pope of rome the whyche had a grete zele and loue vnto englond as is reberced alle alonge in his legende hâ—w that he sawe children of englond in the marlet of rome for to be solde whiche we 〈◊〉 fayre of vysage for whiche cause he demaunded lycence and opteyned to goo in to Englond for to conuerte the peple therof to crysten feythe And he beyng on the weye the pope deyed and he was chosen pope was countremaunded came ageyn to rome And after whan he was sacred in to the papacye he remembryd the royame of englond and sente saynt Austyn as heed and chyef other holy monkes preestes with hym to the nombre of xl persones vnto the royame of englond as they came toward englond they came in the prouynce of Andegauence purposyng to haue restyd alle nyght at a place called pounte Say a myle fro the cyte and ryuer of ligerym but the wymmen scorned and were so noyous to them that they droof theym out of the towne and they came vnto a fayre brode elme and purposyd to haue restyd there that nyght but one of the wymmen which was more cruel than the other purposed to dryue them thens came so nyghe them that they myght not reste there that nyght And thenne Saynt Austyn toke hys staffe for to remeue fro that place and sodeynly his staffe sprange out of hys honde with a grete vyolence the space of thre furlonges thens and there styked faste
in the erthe and whan saynt austyn came to his staffe and pulled hit out of the erthe in contynente by the myght of our lord sourded sprange there a fayre welle or fontayn of clere water whiche refresshyd hym wel and al his felawshyp aboute that welle they restyd alle that nyght and they that dwellyd there by sawe alle that nyght ouer that place a grete lyght comyng fro heuen which couerd all that place where these holy men laye And on the morne saynt austyn wrote in therthe with his staffe besyde the welle these wordes folowyng here had austyn the seruaunte of the seruauntes of god hospytalite whome saynt gregory the pope hath sente to conuerte englond On the morne whan the holy men the dwellers of the coostes therby whyche sawe the lyght in the nyÈt tofore came thyder and fonde there a fayre welle of the whiche they merueyled gretely And whan they sawe the scrypture wreton in the erthe thenne they were gretely abasshed by cause of theyr vnkyndenesse and repented them ful sore of that they had mocked them the day before and after they edefyed there a fayre chyrche in the same place in the worshyp of saynt austyn the whyche the bysshop of andegaueuse halowed And to the halowyng therof came soo grete multitude of peple that they trad the corne in the feldes doun al playne lyke vnto a flore clene swepte For there was no sparyng of hit Not wythstondyng at the tyme of repyng that grounde so troden bare more corne better thenne ony other feeldes besyde not troden dyd And the hyghe aulter of that chyrche standeth ouer the place where saynt austyn wrote wyth his staffe by the welle and yet vnto this day may no woman come in to that chyrche but there was a noble woman that sayd that she was not gylty in offendyng saynt Austyn and toke a tapre in hir honde and went for to offre hit in the said chyrche but the sentence of almyghty god may not be reuoked for as soone as she entryd the chyrche hir bowellys and synowes began to shrynke and she fyl doun dede in ensaumple of alle other wymmen Wherby we may vnderstonde that Iniurye doon ageynste a saynt dysploseth gretely almyghty god and fro thens saynt austyn and his felawshyp came in to englond and arryued in the yle of thanet in este kente and kyng athelberte regned that tyme in kente which was a noble man and a myghty To whome saynt austyn sente shewyng the entente of hys comyng from the courte of rome and sayd that he had broughte to hym right ioyeful and plesaunt tydynges And sayd that yf he wold obeye and do after his prechyng that he shold haue euerlastyng ioye in the blysse of heuen shold regne with almyghty god in his kyngdom And thenne kynge adelston heeryng this coÌ„mauÌ„ded that they shold abyde and tarye in the same yle And that al thynges shold be mynystred to them that were necessarye vnto the tyme that he were otherwyse aduysed And sone after the kynge came to them in the same yle and he beyng in the felde saynt austyn with his felowshyp came and spake with hym hauyng tofore them the sygne of the crosse syngyng by the weye the letanye besechyng god deuoutely to strengthe them and helpe and the kyng receyued hym and hys felawshyp in the same place saynt austyn preched a glorious sermone declared there to the kynge the crysten feythe openlye and the grete meryte auayle that shold come therof in tyme comyng and whan he had ended hys sermon the kyng sayd to hym your promyses ben ful fayre that ye brynge but by cause they be newe haue not ben herde here before we may not yet gyue consente therto Neuerthelesse by ceuse ye be come as pylgryms fro ferre contres we wyl not be greuous ne harde to you but we wyl receyue you mekely mynystre to you suche thynges as ben necessarye neyther we wyl forbede you but as many as ye can conuerte to your feythe and relygyon by your prechyng ye shal haue lycence to baptyse them and to accompanye them to your lawe And thenne the kynge gaue to them a mancion in the cyte of dorobernence whiche now is called caunterburye And whan they drewe nye the cyte they came in wyth a crosse of syluer and with processyon syngyng the letanye prayeng almyghty god of socour helpe that he wold take aweye his wrathe fro the cytee and tenflawme the hertes of the peple to receyue hys doctryne And thenne saynt austyn and hys felawshyp began to preche there the word of god aboute there in the prouynce and suche peple as were wel dyspysed anon were conuerted and folowed this holy man and by the holy conuersacion and myracles that they dyd moche pâ—ople were conuerted and grete fame aroos in the contre And whan it came to his ere anone he came to the presence of saint austyn desyred hym to preche ageyn and thenne the word of god soo enflamed hym that Incontynente assone as the sermone was ended the kâ—nge fyl doun to the feet of Saynt austyn and sayd soroufully alas woo is me that I haue erryd so longe and knowe not of hym that thou spekest of Thy promesses ben so delectable that I thynke it alle to longe tyl I be crystened wherfore holy fader I requyre the to mynystre to me the sacramente of baptesme And thenne saynt austyn seyng the grete mekenesse and obedyence of the kynge that he had to be crystened he toke hym vp wiâ—h wepyng teerys and baptysed hym wyh alle his howsholde meyne enforâ—â—d them dyligently in the cristen â—â—ythe with grete ioye and gladnesse and whan alle thys was doon saynt austyn desyryng the helthe of the peple of englond wente forthe on fote to yorke and whan he came nyghe the cyte there mette wyth hym a blynde man which sayd to hym O thou holy austyn helpe me that am ful nedy To whome saynt austyn sayd I haue no syluer but suche as I haue I gyue the In the name of IhÌ„u cryste aryse and be alle hole and with that worde he receyued his syght and bylonyd in our lorde and was baptysed And vpon crystemas day he baptysed in the ryuer named swale x thousand men wythout wymmen and chyldren And there was a grete multitude of peple resortyng to the sayd ryuer whiche was so depe that no man myght passe ouer on foot and yet by myracle of our lord there was neyther man woman ne chylde drowned But they that were seek were maad ho ole bothe in body and in sowle and in the same place they bylded a chyrche in the worshyp of god and saynt austyn And whan Saynt Austyn had preched the feythe to the peple and bad confermed them stedfastly therin he retorned ageyn fro yorke and by the weye he mette a lepre askyng helpe and whan saynt austyn had sayd these wordes to hym
In the name of Ihesu Cryste be thou clensyd from al thy lepre Anone alle hys fylthe fyl aweye and a fayre newe skyn apperyd on hys body so that he semed alle a newe man Also as Saynt Austyn came in to oxford shyre to a towne that is called comâ—on to preche the worde of god To whome the curate sayd holy fader the lord of thys lordshyp hath ben oftymes waâ—ned of me to paye his tythes to god and yet he wythholdeth them therfore I haue cursed hym I fynde hym the more obstynate To whome saynt austyn sayd sone why payest thou not thy tythes to god and to the chyrche knowest thou not that the tythes be not thyn but bylongen to god And thenne the knyght sayd to hym I knowe wel that I tyle the grounde wherfore I ought as wel to haue the tenthe sheef as the ix and whan saynt austyn coude not torne the knyghtes entente thenne he departed from hym and wente to masse or he began he charged that al they that there were acursed shold goo out of the chyrche thenne roos a dede body wente out in to the chircheyerde with a whyte clothe on his heed stood styl there tyl the masse were doon And thenne saynt austyn wente to hym and demaunded hym what he was and he answerd and said I was somtyme lord of thys towne bycause I wold not paye my tythes to my curate he acursed me and so I deyed and wente to helle and thenne saynt austyn bad hym brynge hym to the place where his curate was buryed And thenne the caryon broughte hym thyder to the graue by cause that al men shold knowe that lyf and deth ben in the power of god saynt austyn said I commauÌ„de the in the name of god to aryse for we haue nede of the theÌ„ne he aroos anone and stood before al the peple To whome saynt Austyn sayd thou knowest wel that our lorde is mercyful and I demaunde the broder yf thou knowest this man and he said ye wold god that I had neuer knowen hym for he was a wythholder of hys tythes and in al his lyf an euyl doar thou knowest that our lord is mercyful and as longe as the paynes of helle endure lete vs also be mercyful to al crysten and thenne saynt austyn delyuerd to the curate a rodde and there the knyght knelyng on his knees was assoyled and thenne he commaunded hym to goo ageyn to his graue and there to abyde tyl the day of dome and he entryd anone in to his graue and forthwyth fyl to asshys and pouldre And thenne saynt austyn sayd to the preest how longe hast thou layen here he sayd an hondred fyfty yere and thenne he askyd how it stood with hym and he said wel holy fader for I am in euerlastyng blysse and thenne sayd saynt austyn wylt thou that I praye to almyghty god that thou abyde here wyth vs to conferme the hertes of men in veray beleue and thenne he said nay holy fader for I am in a place of reste and thenne sayd saynt Austyn goo in pees and praye for me and for al holy chyrche and he thenne entred ageyn in to his graue and anone the body was torned in to erthe Of this syght the lord was sore aferde and came al quakyng to saynt austyn and to his curate and demaunded foryeuenes of his trespaas and promysed to make amendes and euer after to paye his tythes and to folowe the doctryne of saynt austyn After this saynt austyn entryd in to dorsetshyre and came in to a towne where as were wycked peple refused his doctryne and prechyng vtterly droof hym out of the towne castyng on hym the tayles of thornback or like fisshes wherfore he besought almyghty god to shewe his Iugement on them and god sente to them a shameful token For the chyldren that were borne after in that place had tayles as it is sayd tyl they had repented them It is sayd comynly that thys fyl at strode in kente but blessyd be god at this day is no suche deformyte Item in another place there were certeyn people whiche wold in no wyse gyue feyth to his prechyng ne hys doctryne but scorned and mocqued hym wherfore god toke suche vengeauÌ„ce that they brennyd with fyre Inuysâ—ble soo that theyr skyn was reed as blood suffred so grete payne that they were constrayned to come and axe foryeuenes of saynt austyn and theÌ„ne he prayed god for them that they myght be acceptable to hym and receyue baptesme and that he wold relece theyr payne and thenne he crystened them that brennyng hete was quenchyd and they were made parfytely hool and feâ—â—e neuer after more therof On a tyme as Saynt austyn was in his prayers our lord apperyd to hym and comfortyng hym wyth a gentyl famylyer speche sayd O thou my good seruaunt and trewe be thou comforted and doo manly For I thy lord god am with the in al thyn affeccion and myn eerys ben open to thy prayers for whome thou demaundest ony petycion thou shalt haue thy desyre And the yate of euerlastyng lyf is open to the where thou shalt ioye with me without ende and in that same place where our lord sayd these wordes he fyxed his staffe in to the grounde and a welle of clere water sourded sprange vp in that same place the whiche welle is called cerne and it is in the contre of dorsete where as now is bylded a fayre abbey and is named cerne after the welle And the chyrche is bylded in the same place where as our lord apperyd to saynt austyn Also in the same contre was a yonge man that was lame dombe and deef and by the prayers of saynt austyn he was made hole and thenne sone after he was dyssolute and wanton and noyed and greuyd the peple wyth iangelyng and talkyng in the chyrche And thenne god sente to hym his olde Infyrmyte ageyn by cause of his mysguydyng and atte laste he fyll to repentaunce and asked god foryeuenes and saynt austyn and Saynt austyn prayed for hym and he was made hole ageyn the second tyme and after that he contynued in good and vertuous lyuyng to his lyues eyde And after this Saynt Austyn ful of vertues departed out of thys world vnto our lord god and lyeth buryed at caunterbu rye in the abbay that he founded there in the worshyp rewle Where as our lord god sheweth yet dayly many myracles and the thyrd day before the natyuyte of our lady is halowed the translacion of saynt austyn In whiche nyght a cytezeyn of caunterburye beyng that tyme at wynchestre saw heuen open ouer the chirche of saynt austyn and a brennyng laddre shynyg ful bryght and aungels comyng doun to the same chyrche And thenne hym thought that the chirche had brennyd of the grete lyght and bryghtnes that came doun on the laddre and
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
and hyr moder the holy damoysel came dwellyd at parys for to assaye and proue hir there and for to auayle the more she was seek of the palsye so moche that it semyd that hir membris were dysioyned and departed that one fro that other wherof she was so sore tormentyd that duryng thre dayes she was kepte as for deed for there apperyd on hir noo sygne of lyf sauf that hyr Iowes were a lytel reed In thys space and tyme as she confessyd after an aungel ledde hir in spyryte where as the reste was of good folke and where the tormente was of euyl peple afterward she shewyd to many the secretes of theyr consciences as she that was taught and enseygned of the holy ghoost The second tyme saynt germayn retorned fro englond and came to parys The peple almoste al went ageynst hym with grete ioye tofore al other thynges saynt germayn demauÌ„ded how genouefe dyd but the people whiche more is Inclyned to say euyl of good peple thenne wel answerd that of hir was no thynge in blamyng hir whiche was to hyr a praysyng of other mennys preysyng is none the better ne of others blamyng is none the werse therfore the holy man sette nought of theyr ianglyng but assone as he entryd in to the cyte he wente strayte to the hows of the holy vyrgyn whome be salewed in soo grete humylite that al they meruaylled shewyd to them that dyspraysyd hyr the grouÌ„de wete of hir teerys and recyted to them the begynnyng of hir lyf and how he fonde at nancerre that she was chosen of god and recommendyd hir to the peple Tydynges came to parys that aceylle the felon kynge of hougrye had enterprysed to destroye and waste the partyes of fraunce and to subdue them to his domynacion The bourgeyses of parys for grete drede that they had sente theyr goodes in to other cytees more sure Saynt geneuefe warned and admonested the good wymmen of the town that they shold wake in saftynges and in orysons by whiche they myght asswage the yre of our lord and eschewe the tyrannye of their enemyes lyke as dyd somtyme the two holy wymmen Iudyth and bester They obeyed hir were longe many dayes in the chirche in wakynges fastynges in orysons She sayd to the bourgeyses that they shold not remeue theyr goodes ne sende them out of the towne of parys for the other cytees that they supposed shold be more sure shold be destroyed and wasted but by the grace of god parys shold haue none harme and somme had Indygnacion at hir and sayd that a false prophete was rysen and apperyd in theyr tyme and began emonge them to aske and trete whether they shold drowne hyr or stone hyr whyles they were thus tretyng as god wolde came to parys after the decees of saynt germayn tharchedeken of ancerre whan he vnderstood that they tretyd to gyder of hir deth he came to them said fayre syrres for goddes sake do not this myschyef For she of whome ye trete saynt germayn wytnesseth that she was chosen of god in hyr moders bely And loo here been the letters that he hath sente to hyr in which he recoÌ„mendeth hym to hyr prayers Whan the bourgeyses herde thyse wordes recyted by hym of saint germayn and sawe the letters they meruaylled ferâ—d god and lefte theyr euyl counceyl and dyd nomore therto Thus our lord kepte hyr fro harme which kepeth alle weye them that be his deffeÌ„deth after that thappostle saith for hir loue dyd so moche that the tyrauntes approchyd not parys Thanke and glorye to god honoure to the vyrgyne This holy mayde dyd grete penauÌ„ce in tormentyng hyr body al hyr lyf and became bene for to gyue good exaumple For syth she was of the age â—f xv yere vnto fyfty she fastyd euâ—â—y day sauf sonday and thursday In her refection she had no thynge but barly brede and somtyme venes the whiche soden afâ—â—r xiiij dayes or thre wekys she ete for alle delyces alway she was in prayers in wakynges and in penaunces she dranke neuer wyne ne other lycour that myght make hyr dronke in al hyr lyf whan she had lyued and vsyd thys lyf fyfty yere the bysshoppes that were that tyme sawe and behelde that she was ouer feble by abstynence as for age warned hir tencrece a lytel hyr fare ¶ The holy woman durst not gaynsaye them For our lord sayth of the prelates who hereth you hereth me and who despyseth you dyspyseth me and soo she began by obedyence to ete wyth hir brede fysshe and mylke and how wel that she so dyd she behelde the heuen and wepte wherof it is to byleue that she sawe appertly our lord Ihesu cryste after the promesse of the gospel that sayth that blessyd be they that be clene of herte for they shal see god she had hir herte and body pure and clene There ben twelue vertues vyrgynal saith hermes pastour wyth out whiche no vyrgyne may be agreable to god that is to wete feythe abstynence pacyence magnanymyte symplesse Innocence concorde charyte dysciplyne chastyte trouthe and prudence Thise vertues accomplysshed the holy vyrgyne by werke she taughte and enseygned by worde and shewed ofte by ensaumple Ofte and tofore alle other holy places she vysyted the place where as restyd saynt denys and his felawes had grete deuocyon to edefye vpon the said holy bodyes a chyrche but she had not wherof On a tyme came to hyr the preestys as ofte they had doon tofore to whome she sayd reuerente faders in god I praye and requyre that eche of you doo his power and his deuoyr to assemble matere wherof myght be made and edefyed a chyrche in the honoure of the glorious marters saynt Denys and his felawes for the place where they reste ouÈt moche to be worshyppâ—d and doubted whyche first taughte to ouâ—â—â—ncestres the feythe Dame 〈◊〉 the preestys we wold fayne and haue grete wylle therto but we can gete no chalke ne lyme Thenne said the holy vyrgyn with a glad chere in prophecyeng as she that was replenysshed wyth the holy ghoost Goo ye I praye you to parys vpon the grete brydge and brynge that ye shal fynde there they wente thyder abode there a whyle meruaylled and abasshed And anone came by them two swyne herdes spekyng to gyder of which that one sayd as I wente yesterday after one of my sowes I fonde a fourneil of lyme meruelously grete That other answerd and I fonde in the wood vnder the rote of a tre that the wynde had throwen doun a fournel of lyme of whyche I trowe was neuer none taken aweye Whan the preestys herde this they had grete admyracion and blessyd our lord that had gyuen suche grace to geneuefe his handmayde They demauÌ„ded where the fournels were and after retorned and tolde to the vyrgyne what they had founden She began to wepe for ioye and assone as the preestys were gone and
that she had brought she departed them and gaue for the loue of god to somme poure wulle and to other hool loues of breed and somtyme she so hasted for pyte that she toke the loues hote out of the ouen secretely and gaue it to the poure The wymmen meruayled why she toke theyr loues but they spake ne sayd no thynge And they moche doubted that they shold not fynde theyr counte ne tale But notwythstondyng that she had so taken by the grace of god they fonde al theyr loues and lacked none by the merytes of the holy saynt hyr hope was no thynge in worldly thynges but in heuenly for she byleuyd in the holy scrypture that saith who so yeueth to the poure leneth for a uayle The rewarde whiche they receyue that gyue to poure peple the holy ghoost had she wyd to hyr longe tofore and therfore she cessyd not to wepe to adoure and to doo werkys of pyte For she knewe wel that she was none other in thys world but a pylgryme passyng There was at meaux a bourgeys that by the space of foure yere he myght not here ne goo he dyd hym be broughte to the holy vyrgyn whiche dwellyd at parys requyred hir that she wolde restore to hym hys helthe and heryng she touched his eerys blessyd hym and anone he was hole and wente herde as he dyd before thankyng our lord On a tyme the holy vyrgyne wente to orlyaunce a woman named fraterne was in grete sorowe for hyr doughter that laye deyeng anone as she wyste the comyng of the holy virgyne she wente to hir to saynt aiguen where she fonde hyr in prayer fraterne fyl doun to hir feet sayeng Dame geneuefe gyue me ageyn clode my doughter Whan geneuefe sawe the good feythe of hyr she sayd dyscomforte the no thynge thy doughter is in helthe the which by the meruayllous puyssaunce of god at the worde of the holy vyrgyne was brought fro the wycket of dethe and came al hool ageynst hir moder and mette wyth hir at the portal of the hows The people thankyd our lord for thys fayre myracle In the sayd cyte there was o 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
ansuerd he lyeth wythoute the towne wyth one of his felawes and his visage is couerd with thy keuerchief and she answerd sayd I haue now seen peter and paul entre in to the cyte clad with right noble vestementis and also they had ryght fair crownes vpon theyr hedes more cleer and more shynyng than the sonne And hath brought agayn my keuerchyef alle blody whiche he hath deliuerd me For whiche thyng and werk many beleued in our lord and wer baptised And this is that seynt dyonyse sayth And whan Nero herd saye this thyng he doubted hym and began to speke of al these thynges with his phylosophres and with his frendes as they spake to gydre of thys mater paule cam in and the yates shitte and stode tofore Cezar and sayd Cezar loo here is tofore the poul the knyght of the kyng perdurable and not vaynauysshed Now bileue thenne certeynly that I am not deed but alyue But thou Chaytyf shalt deye of an euyl deth By cause thou hast sleyne the seruauntes of god And whan he had sayde thus he vanysshyd awaye And nero what for drede and what for angre he was nygh out of his witte and wist not what to doo Thenne by the counseyl of his frendes he vnbonde patrocle and barnabe and lete them goo where they wold And the other knyghtes longynus mayster of the knyghtes and aggestus cam on the morn to the sepulcre of poul and ther they found two men prayeng that were luke and titus And bytwene them was poule And whan luke titus sawe them they were abasshyd began to flee anon poul vanyshyd awaye and the knyghtes cryed after them and sayd we come not to greue you but know ye for trouth that we come for to be baptised of yow Lyke as paul hath said whom we sawe now prayeng with you whan they herde that they retorned and baptysed them with grete Ioye The hede of seynt paul was cast in a valey And for the grete multitude of other hedes of men that Wer there slayn and throwen there it coude not be knowen which it was It is redde in thepystle of seynt Dyonyse that on a tyme the valey shold be made clene And the hede of seynt poul was cast out with thother hedes And a shepherde that kept sheep toke it with his staffe and sette it vp by the place where his shepe grased he sawe by iij nyghtes contynuelly and his lord also a ryght grete lyght shyne vpon the sayd heed Thenne they went and tolde it to the bisshop to other good cristen men whiche anon sayde truly that is the hede of seynt poule And thenne the bisshop wyth a grete multitude of cristen men toke that hede wyth grete reuerence sette it in a tablette of gold and putte it to the body for to Ioyne it therto thenne the patriarke answerd we knowe wel that many holy men ben slayn and theyr hedes ben desperpled in that place Yet I doubte whether this be the hede of poul or noo but late vs sette this hede atte feet of the body and praye we vnto almyghty god that yf it be his hede that the body may torn and Ioyne it to the hede whiche plesed wel to them alle and they sette the hede atte feete of the body of poul And thenne alle they prayed And the body torned hym in his place Ioyned hym to the hede thenne alle they blessyd god and thus knewe verily that that was the hede of seynt paul this sayth seynt dionyse And seynt Gregory telleth that there was a man that fylle in despayre in the tyme of Iustyn themperour And made redy a corde to hang hym self alwaye he cryed on seynt poul sayeng Seynt paul helpe me Thenne cam ther a black shadowe sayeng to hym Hye the good man make an ende of that thou hast begonne And he allewaye made redy the corde sayeng most bussyd paule helpe me And whan alle was redy there cam another shadowe as it had ben of a man sayd to hym that stired hym Fle hens thou moste wretche For paul the aduocate is comeÌ„ Thenne the foule shadowe vanysshed a waye and the man comyng agayn to hym self and castyng awaye the corde toke condigne penaunce for his offence and trespas In the same epistle a for sayd seynt denyse bewayleth the deth of his mayster paule with mylde wordes sayeng who shal yeue teres to myn eyen and to my browes a fountayn of water that I may wepe day and nyght that the lyght of the chirche is extyncte And who is he that shall not wepe wayle and clothe hym wyth clothes of mornyng and sorowe And in hys mynde be gretly abasshid Loo Peter the foundament of the chirche glorye of seyntes and holy appostles is goon fro vs And hath lefte vs orphaÌ„ns Paule also the techer and comfortoure of the peple is fayled to vs and shalle nomore be found whiche was fader of faders doctour of doctours pastour of pastours profoundnesse of wysedom a tromp sounyng hye thynges And a prechour of trouthe I say verily paul to be moste noble of thappostles neuer wery of prechyng of the worde of god he was an erthly angelle an heuenly man ymage and symylytude of dyuynyte and hath vs alle forsaken â—edy and vnworthy in thys dyspysed world And is goon vnto cryst hys god his lord and frende Alas my brother thymothee best byloued of my soule where is thy mayster thy fader and louer Fro whens shal he grete the ony more loo thou art made an orphane and remaynest allone Now he shal nomore wryte to the wyth hys owne hond my derest sonne woo to me my brother thymothee what is happed to vs of heuynes of derknes harme By cause we be made orphanes Now come not his epistles to the In whiche he wrote paule the lytel seruaunte of Iesu crist Now he shal no more write to the citees sayeng receyue ye my welbelouyd sonne Shette my brother the bokes of the prophetes and clapse them For we now haue none enterpretour of the parablys ne paradygmes ne theyr dictes Dauyd the prophete bewayled his sonne and sayd wo to me who shal graunte me to deye for the my sonne wo to me And I may say woo to me mayster myn veryly wo to me Nou the concourse of thy dysciples comyng to rome and sechyng cesseth and fayleth Now no man sayth late vs goo and see our doctours and aske we them how vs behoueth to rule the chirches to vs commysed And shalle enterprete and expoune to vs the seyenges of our lord Iesu cryst and of the prophetes veryly wo to thyse sonnes my brother thymothee that ben depryued of thayr spirituel fader And also to vs that ben depriued of our spirytuel maysters whiche gadred to gyder vnderstondyng and scyence of the olde and newe lawe And put theym in theyr epistlis where is now the renewyng of paule and the labour of hys
holy feet Where is the mouth spekyng and the tongue counseyllyng and the spirite wel plesyng hys god Who shal not wepe and waylle For they that haue deserued glorye honour toward god ben put to deth as malefactours and wicked men wo to me that be helde in that hour his blessyd body alle bewrapped in his innocent blood Alas my fader and doctour thou were not gilty of suche a deth now whyther shal I go for to seche the the glorye of crysten men and preysyng of good trewe men who shalle stynt thy voys that sowned so hye in the chirch in prechyng the worde of god loo thou hast eÌ„trid in to thy lord and thy god whom thou hast desyred wyth alle thyn affectyon Ierusalem and Rome be euyl frendes For they ben egall in ylle Ierusalem hath crucifyed our lord IhÌ„u crist and rome hath slayn his appostles IhÌ„rlm seruyth hym that they crucyfyed And Rome in solempnysyng glorifyeth them that it hath sleyne and nou my broder thymothee thise ben they whom thou louedest and desyredest with alle thy herte lyke as saul and Ionathas that wer not departed in lyf ne in deth and so I am not departed fro my lord and mayster but whan ylle and wycked men departe vs And the separacyon of one hour shalle not be alwaye For his soule knoweth them that loue hym though they speke not to hym whyche now ben fâ—r from hym And at the day of the grete resurrectyon they shalle not be departed from hym Hec dyonysyus Seynt IohÌ„n Crisostm saith in the boke of praysyng of seynt poul and commendeth this glorious appostle moche sayeng what is founden suffycyent in commendacoÌ„n of hym syth al the goodnes that is in man the soule possedeth it only And hath it in hym And not only of a man but also of the aÌ„gelis And in what maner we shal say to yow heer after Abel offred sacrefyce and of that he was preysed but we shal shewe the sacrefyse of paul And it shal appere greter in as moche as heuen is heyer than the erthe For paul sacrefyed hym self euery day And offrid double sacrefyse in herte and in bodye whiche he mortefyed he offrid not sheep ne nete but he sacrefyed hym selfe in double wyse and yet that suffised hym not but he studyed to offre to god alle the world For he enuiroÌ„ned alle the world that is vnder heuen and made angellis of men And more ouer the men that wer lyke fendes He chaunged them to angellis who is he that is founde parayle or lyke to thys sacrefyse whiche poul with the swerd of the holy goost offred vp to the autar which is aboue heueÌ„ Abel was slayn by treson of his brother but paul was slayn of them whom he desyred to with drawe saue fro Innumerable euillys His dethes were so many that thei may not wel be nombred he had as many as he leuyd dayes Noe as it is redde kepte hym self his wyf his children in the ark but paul in a more perriâ—oê° and older flood in an arke not made with bordes with pitche glewe But with epistles made for bordes delyuerd and saued the vnyuersal world fro the flodes of errour and of synne Thys Arke or shippe was not born to one place but it was sent through the vnyuersal world ne lymed with pitche ne glewe but the bordes therof were enoynted wyth the holy ghoost He toke them that were worshippers of resonable bestes almost more foles than vnresonable bestes for to be the folowers of angellis He ouercam that arke in whiche was receyued the crowe and sent hym out agayn and closyng a wolf therin whoos wodenes he coude not chaunge But thys poule toke fawcons and kytes and made of them douues And excluded alle wodenes and ferocite fro them and broughte to them the spirite of mekenes Somme meruaille of abraham that at the commaundement of god lefte hys contrey and kynredde but how may he be com compared to paule whiche not onlye lefte his contree and kynrede but also hym self and the worlde also he forsoke and dyspised alle thyng and required to haue but one thyng and that was the charite and loue of Ihesu crist Ne he desyred thynges present ne thynges to come cÌ„ but abraham put hym selfe in parel for to saue his brothers sonne But paule susteyned many parellis for to bryng the vnyuersal Worlde fro perellys of the deuyl and brought other to grete surete wyth his own deth Abraham wold haue offred his sonne ysaac to god but paule broughte neyther frende ne neyghboure But offred hym self to god a thousand tymes SoÌ„me meruele of the paciens of ysaac For he suffred the pittes that he made to be stopped but paule not beholdyng the pyttes stopped with stones ne his owen body beten only But them of whom he suffred grete peynes he studied to bryng to heuen And the more this welle was stopped so moche the more it flowed out stremes in shedyng of water of scripture of mekenes and of pacyence ¶ Of the pacyence of Iacob scripture merueylleth whiche abode vij yere for hys spouse But who hath that soule of an ademant that may folowe the pacyence of paule For he abode not only vij yere for crist his spouse but all his lyf tyme he was not only brent with the hete of the day ne suffred only the frost of the nyght But suffryng temptacions now wyth betynges now stonyd with stones And alway emoÌ„g his tormentis caught the sheep drewe them to the fayth from the mouth of the deuyll And also he was made decorate and made fayr wyth the chastite of Ioseph And here I doubte lest soÌ„me wold take it for a lesyng for to preyse here paule whiche crucifyeng hym self not only the beaute of mennis bodyes but alle suche thynges that wer seen to be fayre and clere that he behelde sette no more by them then we do by a lytel asshes or fylthe and abode vnmeuable as a dede man to a dede man alle men wondre at Iob for he was a meruelous champyon but paule was not only troubled by monethes but many yeres enduryng in agonye and alle wey apperid clere He put not away the wodenes of his flessh with a sherde or shelle but he ran dayly as the vnderstondyng mouth of a lyon and faughte ayenst innumerable temptacions whiche were more tollerable than a stone which not of iij or iiij ffrendes but of alle men and of his brethern he suffred obprobryes and was confused and cursed of them alle and he toke euer mekelye and paciently Iob was a man of grete hospitalyte and had cure of poure peple and that he dyd was to susteyne the fylth of the flesshe But seynt poul laboured to help the sekenes of the sowlis ¶ Iob opened his hous to euery man that cam But the soule of paule shewed hym to the vnyuersal worlde Iob had sheep and oxen Innumerable And of them
she sawe hym she went to prayer after aroos and the fende cam to her and toke her by the hond and sayde It suffyseth to the that thou hast don But now cesse as to my persone She caught hym by the hede and threwe hym to the ground and sette her ryght fote on his necke sayeng lye styl thou fende vnder the feet of a woman The deuyll thenne cryed O blessid margarete I am ouercomen yf a yong man had ouercomen me I had not retchyd But alas I am ouercomen of a tendre virgyne wherfor I make the more sorowe For thy fader and moder haue ben my good frendes She thenne constrayned hym to telle why he cam to her And he answerd that he cam to her to counseylle her for to obbeye the desyre and request of the prouoste Thenne she constrayned hym to saye wherfore he tempted so moche and so ofte crysten people To whom he answerd that naturally he hated vertuous men and though we be ofte put abacke from hem yet oure desyre is moche to exclude hem from the felicite that they fil fro for we may neuer obteyne ne recouer our blysse that we haue lost And she thenne demaūded what he was and he answerd I am named veltis one of them whom Salamon closid in a vessel of brasse And after his deth it happed that they of babylon fond thys vessel And supposed to haue founden grete tresour therin and brake the vessel thenne a grete multitude of vs deuellis flewe out fylled ful the ayer alway awaytyng espyeng where we may assayle rightful men And whan he had sayde thus she toke of her fote and sayd to hym flee hens thou wretchid fende and anon therthe opened the fende sanke in Thenne she was sure For whan she had ouercome the mayster She myhht lyghtly ouercom the mynystre Thenne the next day folowyng whan alle the peple was assembled she was presented tofore the Iuge And she not doyng sacrefyse to theyr fals goddes was cast in to the fyre and her body broyled wyth brennyng brondes in suche wyse that the peple merueylled that so tendre a mayde myght suffre so many tormentis And after that they put her in a grete vessel ful of water fast bounden that by chaungyng of the tormentis the sorowe and felyng of the payn shold be the more but sodenly the erthe trembled and the ayer was hydous and the blyssyd virgyne with out ony hurt yssued out of the water sayeng to our lord I beseche the my lord that thys water may be to me the fonte of baptysme in to euer lastyng lyf And anon there was herde grete thondre and a douue descended from heuen and sette a golden crowne on her hede Thenne vM men byleued in our lord and for crystes loue they al wer byheded by the commaundement of the prouost Olybryus that tyme in campolymeth the cyte of Aurelya Thenne Olybryus seyng the fayth of the holy margarete Inmeuable And also feryng that other shold be conuerted to the crysten fayth by her gaf sentence commaunded that she shold be byheded Thenne she prayed to one malcus that shold behede her that she myght haue space to praye And that goten she prayed to our lord seyeng ffader almyghty I yeld to the thankynges that thou hast suffred me to come to this glorye besechyng to pardonne them that pursiewe me And I beseche the good lord that of thy haboundant grace thou wylt graunte vnto all them that write my passyon rede it or here and to them that remēbre me that they may deserue to haue playn remyssyon forgyfnes of alle theyr synnes And also good lord yf ony woman with chylde traueylyng in ony place calle on me that thou wylt kepe her fro peryl and that the chyld may be delyuerd fro her bely wythout ony hurt of hys membrys And when she had fynysshed her prayer ther was a voys herd fro heuen sayeng that her prayers wer herde and graunted And that the yates of heuen were opene and abode for her and bad her come in to the contreye of euer lastyng reste thenne she thankyng our lord aroos vp and badde the hangman accomplysshe the commaundement of the prouost To whom the hangman sayde God forbede that I shold slee the vyrgyn of cryst to whom she sayd yf thou doo it not thou mayst haue no parte wyth me Thenne he beyng aferde and tremblyng smote of her hede he fallyng doun at her fete gaf vp the ghoost Thenne Theofynus toke vp the holy body and bare it in to antyoche and buryed it in the hous of a noble woman and wydowe named sinclecia And thus this blessyd holy virgyne seynt margarete suffred deth receyued the crowne of martirdom the xiij kalendes of auguste as is founden in her storye and it is redde in an other place that it was the iij ydus of Iuyll Of this virgyne wryteth an holy man and sayth The holy and blessyd margarete was ful of the drede of god sad stable and worshipful in religyon arayed with compunctyon laudable in honeste and synguler in pacience and nothyng was founden in her contrarye to crysten relygyon hateful to her fader and by loued or our lord Ih̄u Cryst thenne late vs remembre this holy virgyne that she praye for vs in our nedes c̄ Here endeth the lyf of Seynt Margarete Here foloweth of Seint prayede virgyne SAint prayede was suster of seynt potenciane whiche wer susters of the seyntes Nonati thymothe whiche were enformed in the fayth of thappostles And whan the cruell persecucion was of many crysten men and were martred and sleyne they buryed the bodyes of the holy martirs gaf alle theyr goodes and facultees to poure peple for goddes loue and atte laste they slept in our lord and deyde aboute the yere of our lord Clx vnder Marke Antonye the prouost Here foloweth the lyf of seynt Marye magdalene And first of her name MArie is as moche to saye as bytter or a lyghter or lyghted by thys ben vnderstonden thre thynges that ben thre the best partes that she chaas That is to say parte of penaunce parte of contemplacion wythin forth And parte of heuenly glorye and of thys treble partye is vnderstanden that is sayde by our lord Marye hath chosen the best parte whiche shal not be taken fro her The first parte shalle not be taken from her by cause of th ende whiche is the folownyg of bles sydnes The second by cause of contynuaunce ffor the contynuaunce of her lyf is cōtynued with the contemplacion of her contrary The third by reson of perdurablenes And for as moche as she chafe the best parte of penaunce she is sayde a bitter see ffor therin she had moche bitternes And that appiered in that she wepte so many teres that she weshe therwyth the feet of our lord And for so moche as she chaas the parte of contemplacion
wythinforth she is a lyghtar ffor there she toke so largely that she spradde it habundantly She toke the lyght there wyth whiche afterward she enlumyned other And in that she chaas the best parte of the heuenly glorye she is sayde the lyght For thenne she was enlumyned of parfyght knowlege in thought with the lyght in clernes in body magdalene is as moche to saye as abydyng culpable Or magdalene is Interpreted closed or shette or not to be ouercomen Or ful of magnyficence by whiche is shewed what she was to fore her conuersion and what in her conuersion and what after her conuersion For to fore her conuersion she was abydyng gylty by oblygacion to euer lastyng payne In the conuercion she was garnysshyd by armour of penaunce She was in the best wyse garnysshed wyth penaunce For as many delyces as she had in her So many sacryfyses were founden in her And after her conuersion she was praysed by ouer haboundaunce of grace For where as synne habounded grace ouer habounded and was more cÌ„ Of marye Magdalene MArie Magdalene had her sur name of Magdalo a castel and was born of ryght noble lygnage parentis whiche were descended of the lygnage of kynges And her fader was named Sirus and her moder Eucharye She with her broder lazare and her suster Martha posseded the castel of magdalo whiche is two myle fro nazareth and bethanye the castel whiche is nygh to Ierusalem and also a grete parte of Ierusalem whiche all thyse thynges they departed emong them In suche wyse that marye had the castel magdalo Wherof she had her name magdalene And lazare had the parte of the cite of Ierusalem martha had to her parte bethanye And whan Marye gaf her self to all delyces of the body And lazare entended alle to knyghthod martha whiche was wyse gouerned nobly her brothers parte also her susters and also her owen and admynestred to knyghtes And her seruauntes and to pouer men suche necessytes as them neded Neuertheâ—â—s after thascencion of our lord they sold all thyse thynges and brought the valwe therof and leyde it at the feet of the appostlys Thenne whan magdalene habounded in rychesses And by cause delyte is felawe to rychesses and haboundaunce of thynges and for so moche as she shone in beaute gretly and in rychesses so moche the more she submysed her body to delyte and therfore she bost her ryght name and was callyd customably a synner and whan our lord IhÌ„u cryst prechyd there and in other places She was enspyred wyth the holy ghoost And went in to the hous of Symon leprous where as our lord dyned Thenne she durst not by cause she was a synner appere tofore the Iust and good peple but remayned behynde atte feet of our lord and wesshe his feet wyth the teres of her eyen and dryed them wyth the heer of her hede and enoynted hem wyth precyous oynement For thenabytantes of that regyon vsed baynes and oynementes for the ouer grete brennyng heet of the sonne And by cause that Symon the pharysee thought in hym self that yf our lord had ben a very prophete he wold not haue suffred a synful woman to haue touched hym Thenne our lord repreued hym of hys presumpsion and foryaf the woman alle her synnes And this is she that same marie magdalene to whom our lord gaf so many grete yeftes And shewed so grete signes of loue that he toke from her seuen deuyls he enbraced her alle in his loue and made her right famylyer wyth hym he wold that she shold be his hostesse And his procuresse in his Iourney he oft tymes excused her swetely For he excused her ayenst the pharyse whyche sayde that she was not clene and vnto her suster that sayde that she was ydle and vnto Iudas sayd that she was a wastresse of good and whan he sawe her wepe he coude not wythholde his teres And for the loue of her he reysed lazare whiche had be four dayes deed and heled her suster fro the fluxe of blood which had holden her seuen yere And by the merites of her he made marcelle chambriere of her suster martha to saye that swete word blessyd be the womb that bare the and the pappes that gaf the souke but after seynt ambrose it was martha that sayde so And thys was her chambriere This marie magdalene sayd it is she that wesshe the feet of our lorde and dryed them wyth the heer of her hede enoynted them with precyous oynement and did solempne penaunce in the tyme of grace And was the first that chaas the best parte whiche was at the feet of our lorde an herde his prechyng whiche enoynted his hede and at his passyon was nygh vnto the crosse whiche made redy oynementis and wold enoynt hys bodye and wold not departe fro the monumente whan hys descyples departed To whom Ihesu cryst appyered first after his resurectione and was felawe to the appostlys and made of our lord appostolesse of thappostles TheÌ„ne after thascencion of our lord the xiiij yere fro his passyon long after that the Iewes had sleyn seynt Stephen and had caste out the other dyscyples out of the Iewery whiche went in to dyuerse contrayes and preched the word of god Ther was that tyme wyth thappostles seynt maxyme whiche was one of the lxxij dyscyples of our lord to whom the blessyd marie magdalene was commysed by seynt peter and thenne whan the descyples wer departed Seynt maxyme marye magdalene and lazar her brother martha her suster Marcelle chaumberer of martha and seynt cedonye whiche was born blynde after enlumyned of our lorde alle thyse to gydre many other crysten men were taken of the mescreauntes and put in to a shyppe in the see wythout ony takyl or rother for to be drowned but by the puruyaunce of almyghty god they cam al to marcelle where as none wold receyue them to be lodged they duellyd and abode vnder a porche to fore a teÌ„ple of the peple of that contray And whan the blessyd marie magdalene sawe the peple assembled at this temple for to doo sacrefyse to thydollis she aroos vp peasibly with a glad visage a dyscrete tongue and wel spekyng And began to preche the faythe lawe of Ihesu cryst and withdrewe them fro the worshippyng of thydollis Thenne were they admerueylled of the beaute of the reson and of the fayr spekyng of her And it was no merueylle that the mouth that had kyssed the feet of our lord so deboneyrly and so goodly shold be enspyred with the worde of god more than the other And after that it happed that the prynce of the prouynce and hys wyf made sacrefise to thydollis for to haue a chyld And marie magdalene prechid to them IhÌ„u cryst And forbade them tho sacrefyses And after that a lytil whyle marie Magdalene apperyd in vysion to that lady sayeng wherfor hast thou so moche rychesse and
suffrest the pour peple of our lord to deye for hungre for colde And she doubted and was aferd to shewe thys vysion to her lord And thenne the seconde nyght she appered to her agayn and seyd in lyke wyse and adiousted therto menaces yf she warned not her husbond for to comforte the poure and nedy And yet she said nothyng therof to her husbond And theÌ„ne she appered to her the third nyght whan it was derke and to her husbond also with a frownyng angri visage lyke fire lyke as al the hous had brennyd And sayd thou tyraunt membre of thy fader the deuyl with that serpent thy wyf that wil not saye to the my wordes thou restest now enemy of the crosse whiche hast filled thy bely by glotonye wyth dyuers maner of metes and suffrest to perisshe for hungre the holy Seyntes of our lord Lyest thou not in a paleys wrapped with clothes of sylke And thou seest hem wythout herberough descomforted And goost forth and takest no regarde to them Thou shalt not escape so ne departe wythout punysshement thou tyraunt and felon bycause thou hast so long taryed And whan marie magdalene had sayd thus she departed awaye Thenne the lady awoke and sighed And the husbond syghed strongly also for the same cause and trembled And thenne she sayde sir hast thou seen the sweuen that I haue seen I haue seen sayd he that I am gretly amerueylled of And am sore afferde what we shalle doo And hys wyf sayde It is more prouffytable for vs to obey her Thenne to renne in to the yre of her god whom she prechyth For whyche cause they receyued them in to theyer hous and mynystred to them alle that was necessarie and nedeful to them Thenne as Marie magdelene prechyd on a tyme The sayde prynce sayd to her wenest thou that thou mayst defende the lawe that thou prechest And she answerd Certaynly I am redy to defende it as she that is confermed euery day by myracles and by the predycacion of our mayster seynt peter whiche now sitteth in the see at rome To whom thenne the prynce sayde I and my wyf ben redy to obey the in alle thynges yf thou mayst gete of thy god whom thou prechest that we myght haue a chylde And thenne marie magdalene sayde that it shold not be left therfor And thenne prayed vnto our lord that he wold vouchesauf of his grace to yeue to them a sone And our lord herd her prayers And the lady conceyued Thenne her husbond wold goo to seynt peter for to wyte yf it were trewe that marie magdalene had prechyd of Ihesu cryste Thenne hys wyf sayde to hym What wyll ye doo sir wene ye to goo wyth out me nay whan thou shalt departe I shalle departe with the and whan thou shalt retorne agayn I shal retorne and whan thou shal reste and tary I shal rest tary To whom her husbond answerd and sayde dame it shal not be soo For thou art grete and the perylles of the see ben wythout nombre thou myghtest lyghtely perysshe thou shalt abyde at home take hede to our posessyons And this lady for no thyng wold not chauÌ„ge her put poos But fyl doun on her knees at hys feet sore wepyng requyryng hym to take her wyth hym And so atte laste he consented and graunted her request thenne marie magdalene sette the signe of the crosse on theyr sholdres to th ende that the fende shold not enpesshe ne lette them in thayer Iourney Thenne charged they a shyppe habundantly of alle that was necessarye to them And left alle theyr thynges in the kepyng of marie magdalene And went forth on theyr pilgrymage And whan they had made theyr cours and sayled a day and a nyght ther arros a grete tempest and orage And the wynde encresed and grewe ouer hidouse in suchâ— wise that this lady which was grete and nygh the tyme of her chyldyng began to wex feble had grete anguysshes for the grete wawes and troublyng of the see and sone after bygan to traueyle and was delyuerd of a fair sone by accasyon of the storme and tempest And in her chyldyng deyed and whan the chyld was born he cryed for to haue comforte of the tetes of his moder and made a pyteous noyse Alas what sâ—rowe was thys to the fader to haue a sone born whiche was cause of the deth of his moder And he myght not lyue for ther was none to norisshe hym Alas what shal thys pylgrym doo that sceth his wyf dede and hys sone cryeng after the brest of his moder And the pylgrym wept strongly and sayd Alas caytyf alas what shal I doo I desired to haue asone and I haue lost both the moder and the sone and the maroÌ„ners thenne said this dede body must be cast in to the see or ellis we al shal perysshe for as long as she shal abyde with vs thys tempest shal not cesse And whan they had taken the body for to caste it in to the see the husbond sayde abyde suffre a litil and yf he wil not spare to me my wyf yet atte lest spare the lityl chylde that cryeth I praye you to tary a whyle for to knowe yf the moder be a swowne of the payne and that she myght reuyue and whiles he thus spacke to them the shypmen espyed a montayn not fer fro the shyppe And thenne they said that it was best to set the shippe toward the lond and to burye it there and so to saue it fro deuouryng of the fysshes of the see and the good man dyd so moche with the maronners what for prayers and for money that they brought the body to the montayn and whan they shold haue dygged for to make a pytte to lay the body in they fond it so hard a Roche that they myght not entre for hardnes of the stone they left the body theer lyeng couerd it with a mantel and the fader leyde his lityl sone atte brest of the deed moder sayd wepyng O marie magdalene why camest thou to marsele to my grete losse euyl aduenture why haue I at thyn InstauÌ„ce entreprysed this Iourney hast thou requyred of god that my wyf shold conceyue and shold deye at the chyldyng of her sone for now it behoueth that the childe that she hath conceyued and born perysshe bycause it hath no norice Thys haue I had by thy prayer and to the I commaunde them to whom I haue commendyd alle my goodes And also I commende to thy god yf he be myghty that he remembre the soule of the moder That he by thy prayer haue pyte on the chyld that he perysshe not Thenne couerd he the body alle about wyth the mantel and the chyld also And thenne retorned to the shyppe And helde forth hys Iourney And whan he cam to Seint peter seynt peter cam ayenst hym And whan he sawe the signe of the crosse vpon hys sholdre He
And made of them wythout nombre to be drowned in the see And thus the deuyll aduenged hym on them And many of them that escaped bycam cristen ffor whan they wold haue goon vp on the montayne wyth the other they myght not go vp so sharpe roches in suche wyse that they that went vp were alle to cutte with the stones And the other were drowned in the see and weren alle deed And whan the other wolde haue doon the same and tarryed by cause they wyst not what was happed of the other certayn fysshers goyng by them told what was fallen of the other and thus they that myght escape retorned and wente not after the other And al thise thynges ben conteyned in the said historye The fourth cause of the Instytucion of this feste may be assygned here in this wyse â— For our lord delyuerd seynt Peter out of his chaynes by myracle And gaf hym power to bynde and vnbynde ffor we be holden and bounden vnto the londe of synne and haue nede to be assoyled Therfor we worship the solempnyte of the chaynes afor sayd For as he deserued to be vnbounde of the bondes of his chaynes so receyued he power of our lord IhÌ„u crist to assoyle vs And thys last reson may be lyghtly apperceyued For thou seest that thepystle accordeth thabsolucoÌ„n and losyng of the chaynes made to thappostle And the gospell recordeth the power that was gyuen to hym for tassoyle And thoryson of the dethe requyreth that absolucion be made to vs And thys that somtyme he gyueth absolucion And assoylleth the dampned otherwhyle by the power of the kayes whiche he receyued It apperyth in a myracle of the blessid virgyne marrie On a tyme there was a monke a scolyer whiche was in the cyte of coloyne in the monastery of seynt peter whiche monke was synful and whan this monke was supprysed with sodeyn dethe the deuyllis accused hym and cryed on hym that he had don alle maner synnes That one sayd I am couetyse whiche so oft thou hast coueyted ayenst the commaundement of god And another sayd I am vayne glorye of whyche thou hast enioyed the in makyng a vaunte emong men And another sayde I am thy lesyng in whiche thou oft synâ—edest in lyeng And other in lyke wyse And contrarye to them some good werkys that he had don excused hym sayeng I am obedyence whyche thou dydest to thyn elders and soueraynes Another sayd I am the song of psalmes that thou hast songen to god moche ardantly seint peter to whom he was a monke went to god for to pray for hym and our lord ansuerde to hym hath not the prophete sayd by my Inspyracion OneÌ„ quis hitabit in tabernaculo tuo lord who shal dwell in thy tabernacle or who shal reste in thy hye holy montayn he that shall be wythout spotte of synne how may this man thenne be saued whiche is not entred wythout spotte Ne hath doon no rightwisnesse And yet peter prayed for hym with the blessid virgyne moder of god Thenne our lord gaf vpon hym this sentence that the soule shold retorne agayn to the body and that he shold doo penaunce And thenne seynt peter with the kay that he held in his hond fered the deuyllis and made them to flee and after delyuerd the soule to a monke of the same monastery and commaunded hym that he shold bryng it to the body and he bare it to hym and requyred of hym for his rewarde that he had brought it agayn that he shold say euery day for hym the psalme Miserere mei deus and that he shold of te swepe his sepulture kepe it clene And thus he reuyued fro the deth and cam agayn to the world and dyde hys penaunce and recompted to alle the peple this that had happed to hym Thenne late vs praye this gloryous appostle seynt peter to be our aduocate to our lord Ihesu cryste that we may by the power of the kayes gyuen to hym haue very absolucion of oure synnes that after the accomplysshemeÌ„t of this short transitory lyf we may come to euer lastyng lyf in heuen amen Thus endeth thistorye of seint Peter ad vincula Here foloweth the lyf of seynt Stephen the Pope WHan seynt stephen the pope had conuerted many of the paynems vnto the cristen fayth both by word and by example and had also buryed many bodyes of the marters in the yere of our lord two hondred lx he was sought by grete studye of valeryen and of galyen thenne empereurs For by cause that he and his clerkes shold doo sacrefyse vnto theyr ydolles or ellis to be slayne by dyuers tormentis and the sayd emperours made ordynaunce that who someuer broughte them he shold haue all theyr substauÌ„ce and for that cause x of his clerkes were taken and brought forth and anon wythout audyence were byheded And the day folowyng seynt Stephen the pope was taken and brought to the temple of mars theyr god to th ende that he shold adoure and doo honour to thydolle or ellys he shold haue sentence to be byheded But whan he was entred in to the temple he prayed to our lord IhÌ„u cryst that he wold destroy the temple and anon a grete party of the temple fylle And alle they that were there ffledde for drede that they had and thenne he went to the Cymetoyre of seynt luke and whan valerien herd that he sent to hym mo knyghtes than he dyd tofore and whan they cam they fond hym syngyng masse And anon he fynysshed deuoutly that which he had begonne And that doon theâ— byheded hym in his seete ¶ Thus endeth the passyon of seynt Stephen the pope Here foloweth thynuencion of seynt Stephen prothomartir THe Inuencion of the holy body of seynt Stephen prothomartir was made in the yere of our lord iiijCxvij in the xvij yere of honorius themperour The Inuencion of hym the translacion and the coniunction were made by ordre For a prest named lucyen of the contray of IhÌ„rlm Of whom gerard recompteth emong the noble men and wryteth thus that on a fryday Whan he was in his ledde rested and vnnethe awoke He sawe an auncient man of noble stature wyth a long berd wyth a semely vysage enuyronned in a Whyte mantel In whiche there were litil ouches crosses of gold tissued he was hosed wyth hosen browdred with gold aboue which helde in his honde a rodde of gold wyth whiche he touched hym and sayd Goo and with grete dylygence opene our tombes For We ben leyde in a place dyshonest and of despyte Goo thou therfor vnto IohÌ„n the bysshop of Iherusalem and say to hym that he lay vs in a more honourable place And by cause that drought and tribulacion is thrugh the world God hath ordeyned to be debonayr and merciful to the world by our suffragyes and prayers And lucian sayd to hym Syre who art thou I am sayd he gamaliel which norisshed thappostle poule enseygned hym
their forn goers haue receyued it And hyderto endure the wordes of the sayd Sermon ¶ Yet of thassumpcion of our blessid lady VEryly Iohan damascene whiche for the tyme was a greke sayth many merueilous thynges of thassuÌ„pcion of the right holy and gloryous vyrgyne marye For he sayth in his sermons that this day the right holy and sumptuous Arke whiche bare within her her maker was brought sette in the temple whiche was not made of hondes On this day the right holy culuer or douue Innocent and symple fled fro the arke that is to say fro the body in whiche god receyued and fonde reste On this day the vyrgyn that conceyued not knowyng the passions erthely but enduced by thenteÌ„dements celestyall shalle nat fayle but shalle be called very heuen sowle dwellyng in the celestyal tabernacles And how be hit that the right holy sowle be separate fro her blessid body And that her body was leyd in sepulcre neuertheles it is not dede ne shal not be corrupte by rotyng That is to wete the body of whome childyng the vyrgynyte remayned withoute ony hurtyng or dissolucion is transported to better more hooly lyf withoute corrupcion of deth for to remayne in the tathrnacles perdurable And lyke as the sonne shynyng clere otherwhyle is hyd and apperyth faylyng a short tyme yet she hath nothyng lost of her lyght but in her self is the fontayne of lyght perdurable And thou arte the fontayne of lyght withoute wastyng the tresour of lyf how be it that by shorte interualle or space of tyme thou shalt be brought to corporell dethe Neuertheles thou gyuest to vs habundantly clerenes of lyght with oute defaute And thyn holy dormycion or shepyng is not called deth but a passyng or departyng or more propyrly a comyng For thou departyng fro the body camst to heuen And Ihesu Cryst Angels and Archangels And al the heuenly company cam to mete the The fowle and dampned spyrytes doubte moche thy noble and excellent comyng And thou blessid and glorious vyrgyn thou wentest not to heuen as dyde Helye and thou mountest not as powle dyde vnto the thyrd heuen only â—ut thou camest and touchedest the syege ryall of thy sone The dethe of other sayntes may wel be sayd deth for that deth maketh them blessid but she hath no place in the For thy deth ne thy traÌ„smygracion or thy perfection or thy departyng maketh the not ne gyueth to the surete to be blessid for thou arte begynnynge myddell and ende of alle weles and goodes whiche excede thought humayne Thy surete thy very perfection and thy concepcion withoute sâ—ed And thy dyuyne habytacion haue made the blessid wherof thou saydest thy self that thou art not made blessid by thy deth but of thy concepcion in all generacions And deth hath not made the blessid but thou hast ennoblysshed the deth in takyng awey the heuynes and sorowe therof conuertyng it in to Ioye For god sayd lest parauenture the first forme of man that is to wete Adam put forth his hande and take of the tree of lyf and lyue perdurably how thenne shalle not she lyue in heuen perdurably that bare this lyf which is perdurable and withoute ende Somtyme god putted oute of paradys the fyrst parentes whiche slepte in the dethe of synne buryed fro the begynnyng of in obedyence and glotony and now she that hath borne lyf to all humayne lignage and was obedyent god the fader and putte awey fro her all ordure of synne how shalle not she be in heuen Wherfor shold not she enioye the yates of heuen Eue stretched her ere to the serpent of whom she tooke the venym mortal And by cause she dyd it for delyte she was subdued to beryng and bryngyng forth children in sorow and payne and was condempned with Adam But this blessid vyrgyne that enclyned her ere to the word of god whom the hooly ghoost replenysshed whiche bare in her wombe the mercy of tâ—e fader whiche conceyued withoute knowlege of man and childed withoute payne and sorowe how durst deth swolow her how myyht ony thyng haue corruâ—cion that bare lyf And yet sayth tâ—e sayd damascene in his sermons Veryly the Apostles were departed thorugh the world in al couÌ„trees enteÌ„ded to preching to men to draw them out of the depe derkenesse by one hooly word broughte them to the table celestyall to the solempne espousaylles of God And thenne the dyuyne commaundement which is a nette or a clowde brought them fro alle the partyes of the world in to Iherusalem in assemblyng them bytwene his wynges And thenne Adam and Eue our fyrst parentes cryed Come to vs ryght hooly and holsome Celyer whiche fulfyllest oure desyre And the company of sayntes whiche was there sayd ageyn Remayne with vs our comfort And leue vs not orphelyns thou art the comforte of oure trauaylles refresshyng of oure swetynges that yf thou lyue hit is to vs a gloryous thyng to lyue with the And yf thou dye it is gloryous to vs to deye with the how sholde we be in thys lyf and shalle be detestable fro the presence of thy lyf And as I suppose suche thynges and semblale sayden thappostles with grete plente of them of the chirche with grete waylynges and syghes in compleynyng them fro the departyng And she retornyng toward her sone sayde Syre I pray the to be very comfortour to my sones whom it plesyd the to calle bretheren whiche ben heuy and sorouful of my departyng And with that I shalle blysse them with my honde gyue to them thy blyssyng vpon my blyssyng And thenne she stretched oute her honde and blessyd alle the college of good Crysten men And thenne sayd after lord I commende my spyryte in to thy handes receyue my sowle thy loue whiche thou hast kepte withoute blame of synne to thy self And I commende my body to the erthe for to kepe it hoole or where it shalle plese the to enhabyte it transporte me to the soo where thou arte theÌ„fantement or fruyte of my wombe that I be duellyng wiâ—h the Alle these wordes herd thappostles Thenne sayd oure lord Aryse vp my beloued and come to me O thou moost fayr among wymmen my loue thou arte fayre and no spotte of fylthe is in the And whan the right blessid Vyrgyn herd that she commended her spyryte in to the handes of her sone Thenne thappostles were bedewed with teres and kyssed the tabernacle And by the blessyng and holynes of the hâ—ly body who someuer touched the bere deuoutely were heled of what someuer sekenes they had deuyls were chaced fro demonyakes The ayer and the heuen Were puryfyed by thassumpcion of the sowle and the erthe by the deâ—â—sicion of the body And the water was sayntyfyed by the wasshyng of the body For the body was wasshen with ryght hooly water and clene And the hooly body was not made clene by the water but the water was halowed of her And after the holy body
thou wel now arte thow wel herd of the peple and arte reputed wyse of them alle And the hooly man felyng hym to be put in this temptacion rested taryed a whyle and thought whether he myght saye more or make an ende â–ª And anone he was comforted by dy uyne ayde answerd softely to hym that temptyd hym I neyther beganne by the ne I shalle not ende by the And soo perfourmed surely all his Sermon ¶ A Monke that hadde be a Rybaude in the world and a player tempted by a wycked spyryte wolde retourne ageyne to the world ¶ And as saynt Bernard reteyned hym he demaunded hym wherof he sholde lyue And he answerd to hym that he couthe well playe at the dyse and shold well lyue ther by ¶ And saynt Bernard sayd to hym Yf I delyuer to the ony good wylt thou come ageyne euery yere that I maye parte halfe gayn with the ¶ And he hadde grete Ioye therof And promysed hym so to doo ¶ And thenne saynt Bernard sayd that there shold be delyuerd to hym twenty shyllynges And he went with al And this hooly man dyde this for to drawe hym ageyne to the relygyon as he dyde after And he went forth and loste alle And cam ageyne al confused to fore the yate ¶ And whan saynt Bernard knewe hym there he wente to hym ioyously and opened his lappe for to parte the gayne And he sayd fader I haue won ne nothyng but haue lost your catayll receyue me yf it plese yow to be your cataylle And saynt Bernard answerde to hym swetely yf it be so it is better that I receyue the than lese bothe that one and that other On a tyme saynt Bernard roode vpon an hors by the waye and mette a vylayn by the way whiche sayd to hym that he had not his herte ferme and stable in prayeng And the vylayn or vp londyssh man had grete despyte therof and sayd that he had his herte ferme and stable in alle his prayers And saynt Bernard whiche wold vaynquysshe hym and shewe his folye sayde to hym departe a lytell fro me and begynne thy pater noster in the best entente thou canst And yf thou canst fynysshe it withoute thynkyng on ony other thynge withoute doubte I shalle gyue to the the hors that I am on And thou shalt prom yse to me by thy fayth that yf thou thynke on ony other thyng thou shalt not hyde it fro me And the man was gladde and reputed the hors his and graunted it hym and wente a parte and began his pater noster And he had not said the half whan he remembryd yf he sholde haue the sadle with all And ther with he retourned to saynt Bernard and sayd that he had thought in prayeng and after that he had no more wylle to auaunce hym There was a Monke of his named broder Robert nyghe to hym self as to the world had he deceuoed in his childehode by thentysement of somme persones And was sente to thabbey of cluny thonourable maÌ„ lefte hym a whyle there And he wold calle hym ageyne by lettres And as he endyted the lettre by clere day and another Monke wrote hit A rayne cam sodenly vâ—on them And he that wrote wolde haue hyd the parchemyn fro the rayne And saynt Bernard said this werke is the werke of god wryte on harâ—yly and doubte the no thynge And thenne he wrote the letter in the myeÌ„des of the rayne withoute beynge wete And yet hit rayned all aboute them For the vertue of charyte tooke aweythe moysture of the rayne fro them A grete multitude of flyes had taken a chirche that he had do make soo that they dyde moche harme to alle them that cam thyder And he sayd I curse and excomyne them ¶ And on the morne they were founden al dede He was on a tyme sente fro the Pope to Melane for to recouncyle the Chyrche And whanne he hadde done and was retorned A man of Melan brought to hym his wyf whiche was demonyake And anone the deuyllâ— beganne to myssaye hym thorugh the mouthe of the wretchyd woman and sayd thou etar of porrette wene thou to take me out of myn hows nay thou shalt not And the hooly man saynt Bernard sente hym to saynt Syre in his Chirche And the sayd saynt Syre gaf the honoure to his hoste And heled her not And thus was she brought ageyne to saynt Bernard And thenne the deuyll beganne to crye and saye neyther Syre ne Bernard shalle putte me oute And saynt Bernard sayde Syre ne Bernard shalle not putte the oute but oure lord shalle put the oute And assone as he made his prayer the wycked spyryte sayde Ha A how gladly wolde I yssue from hennes For I am here tormented greuously But I maye not For the grete lord wylle it not And the hooly man sayd who is that Lord And he sayd Ihesus of Nazareth And saynt Bernard sayd sawest thou hym euer And he answerd ye Bernard sayd where sawest thow hym And he sayd in his glorye And saynt Bernard asked hym and were thou in glorye And he sayd ye How wentest thou fro thens he said with lucifer many of vs fil all these he sayd by the mouth of the woman that euery man herde Thenne sayd to hym the holy maÌ„ woldest not thou go ayene in to that glorye And he sayd mowyng merueylously it is to lade TheÌ„ne the hooly man prayde and the wicked spyryte yssued oute of that woman but whan the man of god was departed thens the wycked spyryte entrid ageyne And her husbond cam after the hooly man and told hym what was happed and he made to bynde a wrytyng aboute her necke conteynyng these wordes I commaunde the in the name of our lord Ihesu cryst that thou be not so hardy to touche more this woman and he durst neuer after touche her Ther was a pyteous woman in Guyan whiche was vexyd with a deuyll that duellyd in her vexyd her merueilously six yere duryng in vsyng her his lechery And the hooly man saynt Bernard cam in to tho partyes And the deuylle menacyd her yf she wente to hym that it shold not proufyte her And yf she wente he that was her loue shold be to her a cruel persecutour but she wente surely to the hooly man And told to hym weppyng strongly what she suffred And he sayd take this staf whiche is myn and leye it in thy bedde And yf he may doo ony thyng late hym doo it and she dyde so and leyd it in her bedde And he cam anon but he durst not go to his werk acustomed ne presumed to approche her bedde but he thretened her ryght egrely that whan he was gone he wold auenge hym right cruelly on her And whan she had sayd this to Bernard he assembled the peuple that eueryche shold holde a candel brennynge in his hande and cam to this deuyl and with all them that were there he cursyd hym and excomyned
and defended that neuer after he shold soo doo to her ne to none other And thus was she all delyuerd of that Illusion And whan on a tyme as this holy man as a legate in to that prouynce for to reconcyle the duke of guyan to the chirche And he refused to be reconciled in al maners The hooly man wente to the aulter for to synge masse And the duke abode withoute the chirche as excommyned And whan he had sayd Pax domini he leyd the body of our lord vppon the patene and bare it withoute the chirch And wente oute with a face flammyng and brennyng and assayled the duke by ferdfull wordes sayeng We haue prayed the and thou hast despysed vs boo here is the sone of the vyrgyne whiche is comen to the whiche is lord of the chirche whome thou persecutest this is thy Iuge in the name of whome al knees bowe in the handes of whome thy sowle shalle come despyse hym not as thou hast his seruauntes resyste hym yf thou mayst TheÌ„ne anon the duke wax all styf and was inpotent in alle his membrys And thenne he fylle doune at his feet And the holy man put his fote at hym and commauÌ„ded hym to aryse and to here the sentence of god he thenne tremblyng aroos and accomplysshed anon that the holy man commaunded On a tyme as this holy man saynt Bernard entryd in to Almayne for tappease a grete discord ther was an Archebisshop that sent an honourable clerke ageynst hym And whan the clerke sayd to hym that he had be sent fro his maystre ageynst hym the hooly man answerd to hym and sayd another lord hath sente the And be merueyled and sayd that he was sent of none other but of his lord tharâ—hâ—bisshop And saynt Bernard sayd sone thou arte deceyued our lord Ihesu Cryste whiche hath sente the is gretter mayster And whan the clerke vnderstode hym he sayd syre wenest thou that I wylle be a Monke nay I thought it neuer ne hit cam neuer in my herte yet after in the same vyage he forsoke the world and receyued thabyte of this hooly man saynt Bernard He took also on a tyme in to the 〈◊〉 a noble knyght And whan he had folowed saynt Bernard a lytel tyme he beganne to be greuously tempted and whan a broder sawe hym so heuy he enâ—uyred hym the cause of his heuynes And he answerd hym I wote well I shalle neuer be glad And the brother tolde it to saynt Bernard he prayd to god moch enteÌ„tifly for hym And anone that broder that was so pensyf and soo heuy semed more ioyous than the other and more gladde than he hadde ben to fore heuy And the broder blamed hym by cause he had sayd that he shold neuer be ioyous And he answerd and sayd I wote wel I sayd I shold neuer be glad but I saye now that I neuer shall be soroufull whan saynt Malachyel bisshop of Irlond of whome he wrote the lyf full of vertues passid oute of this world oute of his monasterye blessydly to our lord Ihesu cryst And saynt Bernard offryd to god for hym sacryfyce of helithe he sawe the glory of hym by reuelacion of our lord and by thyn spyracion of god he chaunged the forme of prayer after the communyon sayeng thus with Ioyous voys God that hast acompanyed saynt Malachyell by his merytes with thy sayntes we praye the to gyue to vs that we that make the feste of his precious deth may folowe the examples of his lyf And whan the chantour herd hym he sayd to hym and shewed that he erred And he sayd I erre not but I know wel what I saye and thenne wente to the body and kyssed his feete And in a tyme that the lente approched he was vysyted of dyuerse knyghtes And he prayd them that at the leste in these holy dayes they shold absteyne them fro theyr vanytees their Iolytees and doyng outrages and they in no wyse wolde agree therto And thenne he bad make redy wyn and sayd to them drynke ye the helthe of your sowles whan they had dronken the wyn they were sodenly chaunged and wente to their howses they that had denyed to doo a lytell tyme they gaf to god after all the tyme of their lyf and ladde a ryght hooly lyf At the last the holy saynt Bernard approchyng to the deth sayd blessydly to his bretheren I requyre and commaunded yow to kepe thre thynges the which I remembre to haue kepte to my power as long as I haue ben in this present lyf I haue not wylled to sclaundre ony persone and yf ony haue fallen I haue hydde hit as moche as I myght I haue euer trusted lasse myn owne wytte than ony others Yf I were hurte I neuer requyred vengeaunce of the hurter I leue to yow charyte humylyte and pacyence and after that he had done many myracles and had made Clxxj monasteryes and had ordeyned many bookes and trayttyes he accomplysshed the dayes of his lyf the lxiij yere of his age in the yere of oure lord a MClvj he slepte in oure lord amonge the handes of his sonnes and his glory shewed his departyng hens to moche peple He appyered to an abbotte in a monasterye and admonested hym that he shold folowe hym and he soo dyde And thenne saynt Bernard sayde we be comen to the Mount of Lybane thou shalt abyde here And I shalle ascende vp an hyhe And he asked hym wherfor he wold gone vp And be sayd for to lerne I wyl go vp And he beyng gretely admerueyled said what wylt thou 〈◊〉 fader to whome we byleue that ther is none to the lyke ne holden soo wyse in scyence as thou arte And he sayd here is no scyence ne here is no knowlege of trouthe but ther aboue is plente of scyence And on hyghe is the veery knowlege of trouthe And with that word he vanysshed aweye And thenne that Abbotte marked that daye and found that saynt Bernard was thenne passed to oure lord whiche shewed for hym many myracles And Innumerable To whome be gyuen laude and preysyng euerlastyng Amen Thus endeth the lyf of the glorious doctor saynt Bernard Of saynt Thimothe and interpretacion of his name THimothe is as mohe to saye as holdynge drede Or of timore that is drede and theos a word of greek whiche is deus in latyn and god in Englysshe as the drede of god Of saynt Thymothe SAynt Thymothe was taken vnder New of the prouoste of Rome and was greuously beten and had quyk lyme put in his throte and vppon his wonndes And he rendryd thankynges to god with al his herte And thenne two Angels cam to hym sayeng lyfte vp thyn hede to heuen And thenne he byheld and sawe the heuen open and Ihesu Cryste whiche helde a double crowne and said to hym thou shalt receyue this of my hand And a man named Appollynare sawe this thyng and dyd hym to be baptysed And therfor the prouost
our lord as it is sayd myght not be brente And this sayd fyngre was founden of the sayd monkes whiche afterward as it is had in historia Scolastica Seynt Tecle brought it ouer the Montayns and sette it in the chirche of saynt Martyn And thys wytnesseth Mayster Iohan Beleth sayeng That the sayd saynt Tecle brought the same fyngre fro beyonde the see in Romayn And there buylded a chirche in thonoure of saynt Iohan whiche chirche as it is sayd was dedycate and halowed this same day wherfor it was stablysshed of our hooly fader the pope that this day sholde be halowed thorugh the world And Gobert sayth that a moche deuoute lady toward saynt Iohan was in Fraunce whiche moche prayd to oure lorde that he wold gyue to her somme relykes of the sayd seynt Iohan And whan she sawe that it prouffyted not in prayeng to god She beganne to take affyaunce in god and auowed that she wold faste and neuâ—â—ete mete tyll she had of hym somme relyque And whan she had fasten â—â—â—tayne dayes she sawe vpon the table to fore her a fyngre of merueylous whytenes And she receyued with grete ioye that yeft of god Thenne after cam thyder thre Bisshops and eche of them wold haue parte of the fyngre Thenne by the grace of god the fyngre dropped thre droppes of blood vppon a cloâ—h by which they knewe that eche of them had deseruyd to haue a droppe And thenne Theodolye quene of the lomâ—â—rdes founded at 〈◊〉 besyde Meâ—â—n a noble chirche in thonour of saynt Iohan baptist And lyke as Powle witnessith in thystorye of lombardes anâ— the tyme passed vnto Constaunce themperour whiche wolde haue take ytalye fro the lombardes And he demaunded of an hooly man whiche had a spyâ—yt of prophecye how he shold do with 〈◊〉 bataylle whiche he hadde enterprysed And that man was all nyght in prayer and cam to theÌ„perour and ansuerde to hym and sayde The quene hath deâ— made a chirche of saynt Iohan baptist And prayeth contynuelly for the Lombardes And therfore thou mayst not surmounte them but the tyme shall come that that place shalle be despised And thenne they shalle be ouercomen Whiche was accomplysshed in the tyme of Charlemayne On a tyme cam a man of grete vertu as saynt gregorye sayth in his Dyalogue whoes name was sanctyn and hadde receyued in his kepyng a dâ—ken that was taken of the lombardes by suche a conâ—icion that yf he fledde he shold haue â—is hede smyten of The sayd Sanctyn constrayned the deken to flee and delyuerd hym And whanne the â—â—ken was gone they toke the same sanctyn and ledde hym forth to be byheded And they chese a stronge tyraunt to doo hit And he had no doubte to smyte of his hede att one stroke And thenne the sayd Sanctyn stretched forth his necke And the strong Boucher lyfte vp his arme with the swerd and Sanctyn cryed saynt Iohan receyue my sowle And thenne anone the arme of the Boocher was so styf that he couthe not bryng it doune ageyne ne bowe it in no maner And thenne that Boucher made his othe that he wold neuer after in his lyfe smyte no Crysten man And the good man Sanctyn prayd for hym And anone the arme cam doune and was all hoole Thenne late vs praye vnto this hooly saynt saynt Iohan baptist to be a moyen bytwene god and vs that we may so lyue vertuously in in this lyf that whan we shalle departe we may come to euer lastyng lyfe in heuen Amen Thus endeth the fest of decollacion of saynt Iohan baptist Here foloweth of saynt Felix And first of his name FElix is said of fero fers that is to saye as to here And of this word lis litis whiche is as moche to saye as stryf For he bare stryfe for the feythe of our lord Ihesu Cryste ageynst alle the myscreauntes and the ydolles and destroyed them alle by his blowyng ¶ Of saynt Felix SAynt Felix was a preest and so was his broder and was named also Felix And they were presented to Maximyan and to dyoclesyan whiche were Emperours for to sacryfyse vnto the goddes of whom tholdest of them assone as he was brought to the temple of Serapis for tâ—do sacryfyse vnto thidols he blewe in his vysage And as soue as he had don so the ydolle fylle to the erthe and all to brake And theÌ„ne he was ladde to thydolle of Mercurye on whiche he blewe also and fylle doune thenne to the erthe And after he was lad to the third ymage whiche was of Dyane and dyde lyke as he had to that other And thenne he was tormented with the grete tormente of Eculee that is a torment whiche is made lyke a Crosse Thenne he was brought after to the tre of sacryfyse for to sacryfyse there And the hooly man kneled doune and prayd and blewe ageynst the tree And Incontynent the tree tourned the rote vpwarde and fylle doune and in the fallyng destroyed the symylacre with the aulter and Temple And whan the prouost herd that he commaunded that he shold there be byheded And that the body shold be lefte to houndes and beestes And there sprang a maÌ„ in the myddle among them confessyng hym frely to be a Crysten man And bothe of them kyssyng other were ther byheded to geder The Crysten men not knowyng his name callyd hym a dauctum by cause he wente soo hardely to saynt Felyx and sayd he was a Cristen man whan he suffred martirdome And there were they byheded bothe tweyne to geder thenne Crysten men toke the bodyes and buryed them in the pytte where the tree fylle And after the paynyms wold haue taken hem out And anone they were taken of the deuyll And they suffred deth aboute the yere of our lord CClxxxvij ¶ Thus endeth the lif of saynt Felix and Audacte martirs Here foloweth of saynt sauyen And first of his name SAuyen may be sayd of sale whiche is as moche to say as bitter For he was bytter toward god For he was a paynym And sythe he was paysyble to hym whanne he was conuerted to hym by the pees of Crysten faythe and was bytter to hym self For he had leuer haue deyde than not to vnderstonde the lettre For he myght not vnderstonde paynym speche And was right bytter to his fader For he wold neuer obeye hym ne adoure his goddes ¶ Of saint Sauyen SAynt Sauien and Sauyne his suster were children of Sauayn a ryght noble paynym and was twyes maryed he had Sauyen of his fyrst wyf And of the second he hadde Sauyne his doughter And gaf to them that name On a tyme sauyen redde this verse Asperges me do mine And anone he demaunded what it was to saye but he myght not vnderstonde what hit was to saye and he entryd in to his chambre and ware the hayre And kneled within his chambre and sayd to hym self that he had leuer deye there than he shold not
of Bethlehem And they were bothe Iuste and withoute reproche or reprehencion in the commauÌ„dementes of our lord And deuyded alle theyr substaunce in thre partyes that one partye was for the Temple That other they gaf to the poure and pylgryms And the thyrdde was for them self and theyr meyny to lyue wyth And thus lyued twenty yere in maryage withoute hauyng ony lignage And thenne they auowed to oure lord that yf he sente to them ony lygnage they shold gyue hit to hym for to serue hym For whiche thyng they wente euery yere in to Ierusalem in thre pryncypal feestes so that in the fest of Euâ—enye that was the dedycacion of the Temple Thenne Ioachym wente vnto Ierusalem with his kynrede and cam to the aulter with the other and wold haue offryd his offryng ¶ And whan the preest sawe hym he put hym a parte by grete despite and repreuyd hym by cause he cam to the aulter of god and said to hym that it was couenable that a man cursyd in the feyth shold not offre to our lord ne he that was barayne shold be among them that had fruyte as he that had none to thenerece of the peple of god And thenne Ioachym al confused for this thynge durst not go home for shame by cause they of his lygnage and his neyghbourghs whiche hadde herd it shold not repreue hym And thenne he wente to his herdmen and was there longe And thenne the aungell appered to hym only and comforted hym with grete clerenes And sayd to hym that be shold not doubte ne be aferd of his vysyon and sayd I am the Aungel of oure lord sente to the for to denounce to the that thy prayers haue auayled the and ben herd And thy almesses ben mouÌ„ted to fore oure lord I haue sene thy shame And herd the reproche that that thou art baraynâ— is to the no reproche by ryght and god is venger of synne and not of nature And whan he chosed the bely or wombe he werketh sâ—o that he openeth it after more merueylously And the fruyt that shall be borne shold not be sene to come forthe by lecherye but that it be knowen that it is of the yefte of god The fyrst moder of your peple was Sara And she was barayne vnto the nyenty yere And had only ysaac to whome the benediction of al peple was promysed And was not Rachel longe barayne And yet had she after Ioseph that helde alle the seygnorye of Egypte whiche was more strong than Sampson and more hooly than Samuel And yet were theyr moders barayne Thus mayst thou byleue by reason by ensample that the childynges long abyden be woned to be more merueylous And therfor Anne thy wyf shal haue a doughter And thow shalt calle her Marye she as ye haue auowed shall be fro her Infancy sacred vnto oure lord and shalle be ful of the hooly ghooste sythe the tyme that she shalle departe fro the wombe of her moder and she shalle dwelle in the temple of our lord and not withoute emong the other peple by cause that none euil thyng shall be had in suspecion of her and ryght as she shall be borne of a barayne moder soo shalle be borne of her merueylously the sone of a ryght hyhe lord Of whome the name shalle be Ihesus And by hym shalle helthe be yeuen to alle the peuple And I gyue to the the signe that whan thow shalt come to the golden yate at Ierusalem thou shalt mete there Anne thy wyf whiche is moche amoeued of thyâ—â—ng taryeng and shal haue ioye of thy comynge And theÌ„ne the Aungel whan he had sayd this he departed fro hym And as whan Anne wepte bytterly and wyste not whither her husbond was gone The same Aungel apperyd to her and sayde all that he hadde sayd to her husbonde And gase to her for a signe that she shold go in to Ierusalem to the golden gate and tâ—ere 〈◊〉 shold mete wyth her husbond whiche was retourned And thus by the commaundement of thaungel they mette and were ferme of the lignage promysed and glad for to see eche other and honoured our lord retorned home abydyng ioyously the promesse dyuyne And Anne conceyued and brought forth a doughter and named her Marye And thenne whan she had accomplysshed the tyme of thre yere and had lefte sowkyng they broughte her to the Temple wyth offrynges And there was aboute the Temple after the xv psalmes of degrees xv stappes or grees to ascende vp to the Temple by cause the Temple was hyghe set And no body myght go to the aulter of sacryfyses that was withoute but by the degrees And thenne our lady was set on the lowest steppe and mounted vp without ony helpe as she had be of parsyght age And whanne they hadde perfourmed theyr offrynge they lefte their doughter in the Temple with the other Vyrgyns And they retorned in to theyr place And the vyrgyn marye prouffyted euery daye in all holynesse and was vysyted dayly of Aungels and had euery day dyuyne visyons Iheromme sayth in a pystle to Cramacyen and to Helyadore that the blessid Vyrgyne Marye hadde ordeyned thys customme to her self that fro the mornynge vnto the hour of tierce she was in â—ryson and prayer And fro tierce vnto none she entended to her werke And fro None she cessed not to praye till that thaungel cam and gaf to her mete And in the fourtenthe yere of her age the bisshop commaunded in comyn that the vyrgyns that were Instituted 〈◊〉 the Temple and had accomplysshed the tyme of age shold retorne to theyr howses and shold after the lawe be maryed alle thother obeyed his commaundement But Marye answerd that she myght not do so by cause her fader and moder had gyuen her alle to the seruyse of oure lord And thenne the bisshop was moche angry by cause he durste not make hyr to breke hir auowe ageynst the scripture that sayth auowe ye vowes and yelde them to god And he durst not breke the customme of the peple And thenne cam a feste of the Iewes And he called aâ—le the auncyent Iewes to counceylle and shewed to them thys thyng And this was all theyr sentence that in a thyng soo doubtable that counceylle shalle be axed of oure lord And thenne wente they al to prayer and the bisshop that was gone to axe counceylle of our lord anone cam a voys oute of thoracle and sayd that alle they that were of the hows of dauyd that were couenable to be maryed and hadde no wyf that eche of them shold brynge a rodde to the aulter And the rodde that flourysshed and after the sayeng of ysaye the hooly ghost sytte in the forme of a douue vp on it he shold be the man that shold be desponsate and maryed to the Vyrgyne Mary And Ioseph of the hous of dauyd was there among the other And hym semed to be a thyng vncouenable a man of soo old
Thenne late vs contynuelly gyue laude and praysyng to her as moche as we maye and late vs saye with saynt Ie romme this Response SaÌ„ncta et inmaculata vyrginitas And how this hooly Response was made I purpose vnder correction to wryte here It is so that I was at Coleyn and herd reherced there by a noble doctour that the hooly and deuoute saynt Ieromme had a custome to vysyte the chirches at Rome And so he cam in to a Chirche where an ymage of our blessyd lady stoode in a chappell by the dore as he entryd and passyd forthe by withoute ony salutacion to our lady And wente forthe to euery aulter and made his prayers to all the sayntes in the chirche eche after other And retourned ageyne by the same ymage without ony saleweng to her Thenne our blessyd lady called hym and spak to hym by the sayd ymage and demaunded of hym the cause why he made no salutacion to her seyng that he had done honoure worship to alle the other sayntes of whom the ymages were in that chirche And thenne saynt Ieromme kneled doune and sayd thus Sancta et inmaculata vyrginitas quibus the laudibus referam nescio Quia quem celi capere noÌ„poterant tuo gremio contulisti whiche is to say Holy and vndefowled virgynyte I wote neuer what lawde praysynges I shalle gyue vnto the For hym that alle the heuenes myght not take ne conteyne thou hast borne in thy wombe So syth this holy man thought hym self insuffycyent to gyne to her lawde thenne what shal we synful wretches doo but put vs hooly in her mercy knowlechyng vs insufficient to gyue to her due lawe and praysyng but late vs mekely byseche her taccepte oure good entente and wylle and that by her merytes we maye atteyne after this lyf to come to her in euerlastyng lyf in heuen Amen Thus endeth the lif of the natiuite of our blessid lady Of saint Adrian martir And first of his name ADrian is saide of A whiche is as moche to saye as withoute of ydros that is water For after that he confessyd to be Crysten he was withoute water of synne Or he may be sayd of Andor that is to saye lyght and dyan that is to say god For he was enlumyned with lyghte dyuyne by passion of martirdome ¶ Of Saint Adrian martir ADrian suffred deth vnder Maxymyen Emperour For when the sayd Maxymyen was in the Cyte of Nychomedye where as he sacrefysed to the ydolles And by his commaundement they sought alle crysten men Somme sought them for drede And somme for lâ—ue And somme for promesse of syluer soo that neyghbour brought his neyghbour to martirdome and cosyn his cosyn Among whome thre and thyrtty were taken of them that they sought and brouÈte to fore the kyng And the kyng said to them haue ye not herd what payne is ordeyned ageynste the crysten men And they sayd to hym We haue herd the commaundement of thy folye Thenne the kyng was angry commaunded that they shold be beten with rawe synewes and their mouthes beten with stones And that eche of theyr tongues shold be perced wyth yron and that they shold be bounden and closed in pryson And thenne Adryan whiche was fyrst in thoffice of knyghthode sayd to them I coniute yow by your god that ye telle to me the Reward that ye entende to haue for these tormentes And the hooly men sayde that neuer eye sawe ne ere herd ne hert of man myghte thynke tho thynges that oure lord maketh redy for them that louen hym parfyghtely And Adryan leep in the myddel among them and sayd a compte ye me with them here For I am a Crysten man And whanne themperour herd that and that he wold doo no sacryfyce he dyde doo bynde hym and threwe hym in pryson And whan Natalye his wyf knewe that her husbond was in pryson for the faythe of Ihesu Cryste she was glad and ranne to the pryson and kyssed the chaynes that her husbond was bouÌ„den with and also of the other for she was crysten secretely but she durst not publysshe it for drede of the persecucion And she sayd to her husbond Blessyd arte thow my lord Adryan For thow hast founden the Rychesse Which thy fader and moder neuer left to the whiche haue nede of them that possede many thynges and shalle haue therof grete nede whan they shalle haue noo tyme to borowe ne to take whan that one shalle not delyuer that other fro payne ne the fader the sone ne the moder the doughter ne the seruaunt the maystre ne one frende another frende ne Rychesse them that owe them And whan she had admonested hym that he shold despyse all worldly glorys and frendes and kynrede and that alwey he shold haue his herte vnto celestial thynges Adryan sayd to her Goo now my suster the tyme of our passion hasteth of whiche thou shall see oure ende Thenne she recommaunded her husbond vnto the other sayntes that they shold comforte hym And thenne she retorned vnto her hows And after Adryan heryng whan the daye of his passion shold be and gaf yeftes to the kepars of the prysonne And delyuerd to hem the other sayntes in pledge and wente to his hows for to calle Natalye lyke as he had promysed by othe that she shold be present at their passion And a man that sawe hym come ranne to fore hym and said to Natalye Adryan is delyuerd see loo where he cometh And whan she herd it she byleuyd it not and sayd And who maye delyuer hym fro his boundes god forbede that he be losed of his bondes and departed from the sayntes And as she sayd these wordes a childe of the meyne cam that sayd Certes my lord is late goo And she supposed that he had fled fro his martirdome and wepte bytterly whan she sawe hym she shytte hastely the dore ageynste hym late hym be ferre from me said she that is fallen awey fro god god forbede that I speke to the mouthe of hym that hath renyed his lord And thenne she torned to hym and sayde O thou wretche withoute god who constrayned the to empryse and take whiche thow mayst not perfourme who hath taken the fro the sayntes or who hath deceyued the for to departe from them Saye to me wherfor art thou fledde to fore thou sawest the bataylles How arte thou hurte Certayne hit is of none arowe that was shoten to the Certes I shold haue merueyled yf ony of the peple of the felons and with oute god hadde be offryd to god and how vnhappy and how caytyf am I what shalle I doo that am ioyned to hym that is of the lygnage of felons It is not grauÌ„ted to me to be the wif of a martir but for a tyme but now I shalle be callyd the wyf of a renegate and transgressour My Ioye certaynly hath lytel endured And it shall be to me a reproche long tyme And in
merytees haue taken theyr sorte in the nombre of Cherubyn For cherubyn is sayd the plenytude of scyence And as pawle sayth the plenytude of the lawe is loue and charyte And these ben they that enbraced in the brennyng loue of supernal contemplacion wysshe only to be in the desyre of theyr maker They desyre no thynge of this world but only ben fedde in the loue of the lord perdurable they eschewe al erthely thynges and ouer passe by thought al temporal thynges they loue they brenne and reste in that brennynge loue they brenne in louynge And ben enflammed in spekynge And alle that euer they touche in ony maner by worde they make them anone to brenne in the loue of god And where shalle these take theyr sorte but among the nombre of Seraphyn Hec Gregorius this saith saynt gregory Fourthly they ought to be honoured by cause that they be berars of oure soules in to paradys And this done they in thre maners The fyrste in makynge redy the waye as Malachiel sayth in the thryd chapytre loo here I sende myn angel which shal make redy thy waye to fore thy face Secondly in beryng them to heuen by the way made redy lyke as it is seyd in Exodo the four and twenty chapytre I sende to the myn angel whiche shalle kepe the in thy waye shall brynge the to the lond whiche I haue promysed to thy faders Thyrdly in settyng them in heuen herof sayth lucas luce xv It was done whan the beggar deyd his sowle was borne of angels in to Abrahams bosome Fyftly they ought to be honoured by cause they ben representers of oure sowles to fore god and this representacion is in thre maners first they represente our prayers to fore god and this sayth Thobye the xij chapytre whan thou praydest with teres And buryedest the dede men I offred thy prayer to our lord Secondly they alledge for vs to fore our lord And herof sayth Iobe the xxxiij Chapytre yf ther were an aungell spekynge for hym sayd one of lyke thynges that he shewe the equyte of the man our lord shold haue mercy and pyte on hym Also Zachee primo And thaungel of our lord answerd and sayd O lord of all strengthes shalt not thow haue pyte of Iherusalem and of the cytees of Iuda To whome thou art wrothe This is the lxx yere Thyrdly they shewe the sentence of god as it is sayd in danyell that the angel gabryell fleynge sayde Syth the begynnynge of the prayers the word yssued oute that is to wete the sentence of god and I am comen for to shewe it to the For thou arte a man of desyres Of these thre thynges sayth Bernard vpon the Cantyques The aungel secheth moyen bytwene the loue and the louer in offrynge the desyres and bryngyng yeftes and meueth her and plesyd hym Sixthly they ought to be honoured For they ben the ryght noble knyghtes of the kynge perdurable after that Iob saith in the xxv chapytre Is not this the noble nombre of his knyghtes For as we see in the knyghtes of somme kynge that somme of them dwelle alwaye in the halle of the kyng and accompanye the kyng coueyte honour solace to the kyng some other kepe the cytees castels of the kyng other fyÈt ageynst the enemyes of the kyng Thus is it of the knyghtes of Cryste Some ben in the halle ryall that is to seye in the heuen Imperyal accompanye alwey the kynge of kynges and synge alwey songes and gladnesse to his honour and glory sayenge Sanctus sanctus sanctus blessyng and clernes and wysedome And the other kepe the cytees the townes the castellys and the fawbourghs they ben deputed to the kepyng of vs kepyng the state of vyrgyns of contynentes of maryed peple and the castellys of Relygyon Wherof ysaye sayth Vppon the walles of Iherusalem I haue establysshed kepars Other ther ben that fyght vaynquysshe the enemyes of god Of whom it is sayd in thapocalypsis Ther is a bateyll made in heuen that is after som exposycyon in the chirche mylytaunt Mychel and his angels foughten with the dragon The seuenthe and the laste they ought to be honoured by cause they ben comfortours of them that ben in trybulacion And herof sayth Zacharye in the fyrst chapytre Thangel that spak to me good wordes were wordes of comfort And this done they in thre maners Fyrst in comfortyng strâ—ng thyng danielis decimo For where as danyel fyll the aungel of our lord touched hym sayd be not aferd ne drede the no thyng pees be to the Comforte thy self and be boystous Secondly in kepyng fro Impacyence and this sayth Dauyd He hath commaunded his Aungels to kepe the in al thy wayes Thirdly in refresshynge and lassyng that trybulacion and that is signefyed in Danyel the third chapytre There where as the angel of our lord descended in the fornays with thre children and made the myddel of the fornays as it had ben a wynde blowyng with a soft dewe By these ensamples we may vnderstande that we ought to gyue honour to the hooly company of Aungels And to praye them to kepe vs in this wretchid lyf from oure enemyes the deuylle the world and the Flesshe that after whanne we shalle departe they presente our soules vnto almyghty god in heuen there to duelle and abyde sempyternally with them qd ipse prestatur qui sine fine viuit et regnat in secula seculorum Amen Thus endeth the Historye of saint Mychel and thaungels Here foloweth the lyf of saint Ieromme And first of his name IHeromme is said of Ihera that is hooly And of nemus that is to saye a wood And soo Iherome is as moche to saye as an hooly wood Or it is sayd of norma that is to saye lawe wherof is sayd in his legende that Iheromme is interpreted an hooly lawe He was ferforth hooly that is to saye ferme or clene or dyed of blood or deputed to hooly vsage lyke as vessels of the Temple ben sayd holy For they ben ordeyned to hooly vsage he was hooly that is to saye stâ—dfast in hooly werke by longe persâ—ueraunce he was clene in mynde by purete he was dyed in blood by thynkynge of the passion of our lord Ihesu cryste he was deputed to hooly vsage by â—hexposicion of hooly scripture he was said an hooly woode by the conuersacion that he somtyme dyde and abode in the woode And he was sayd lawe for the rewles of his disciplyne whiche he taught to his Monkes or by cause he expowned and interpreted the holy lawe and scripture Iheromme also is interpreted the vision of beaulte or Iugyng wordes ther is beaute manyfold Fyrst is spyrytuall whiche is in the sowle Second morale whiche is in honeste of maners The thyrd is intellectuall whiche is in the aungels The fourthe is substancyall whiche is dyuyne the fyfthe is heuenly whiche is in the Countrey of sayntes
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
meruayled of hym For they that demed hym an Heretik were madde he was al in lessons all in bookes he ne rested day ne nyghte but alway redde or wrote Hec Seuerus And lyke as it apperyth by these wordes And also he wytnessyth hym self He suffred many persecutours detractours whiche persecucions he suffred pacyently and goodly as it apperid in an Epystle that he sente to asselle I yeue thankynges to oure lord god that I am worthy that the world hate me And that wycked men and Ianglers holde me for euylle For I knowe wel that men come to heuen by the dyffame of wycked men more than by good renommee And I wold that the companye of myscreauntes shold pursewe and persecute me for the name and ryght of oure lord My wylle is that the repreef of the world aryse more feruently ageynst me soo that I myghte deserue to be preysed of our lord and that I may hope the reward of his promesse Temptacyon is desyrous and agreable whoos merite in resystynge is to be hoped reward of Cryste in heuen Ne the cursynge ne malediction is not greuous whiche is chaunged in to dyuyne laude and praysynge He deyed aboute the yere of our lord CCC lxxx and eyghte ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Iheromme Here foloweth the lyf of seint Remyge And first of his name REmyge is said of Remige that is a boteman or a rower Or hit is sayd of Remys whiche ben Instrumentes by whiche the shippe is rowed and conduyted and of gyon â—hat is to saye wrastlynge He gouerned the Chirche and kepte it fro paryll of wrake and brought it to the porte of heuen And for the chirche he wrastlyd ageynst the assaultes of the deuylle Of saint Remyge SAint Remyge conuertid to the fayth the kynge the peuple of Fraunce The kynge had a wyf named Rotilde whiche was Crysten And she enforced her moche to conuerte her husbond to the Crysten fayth but she myght not And whan she hadde a childe She wold haue Crystened hym But the kynge deffended it to her And she rested not til at the last the kyng grauÌ„ted that it shold be crysten And after that it was cristened it deyde anone Thenne said the kynge Now hit apperith well that Cryst is a vyle god for by cause he may not kepe hym whiche in his faythe shold haue ben enhauÌ„ced in my kyngdome after me And she said to hym Now fele I wel that I am louyd of my god by cause he hath receyued the fyrst fruyte of my wombe he hath enhaunced to a better kyngdom my sone and to regne perpetuelly with outen ende whiche is moche better than thy kyngdome is And sooâ—e after she conceyued ageyne and had a fayr sone whome with grete prayers she baptysed as she dyd the fyrste but anone after he was seke soo that they hadde none hope of his lyf And thenne the kynge sayd to his wyf Certeynly this is a feble god whiche may not coÌ„serue ne kepe none that is baptysed in his name And yf thou haddest a thousand and dydest them to be baptysed al shold perisshe yet neuertheles the child reuyued was hole so that he regned after his fader And the faythful quene enforced her to brynge her husbond to the faythe but he reffused it in alle maners It is sayed in that other feste whiche is after thepyphanye how the kynge was conuertid to the fayth And the forsayd kynge Clouys when he was crystened sayd that he wold gyue to saynt Remige for tendowe his chirche as moche lond as he myght go aboute whyles he slepte at mydday And soo it was done but ther was a man whiche had a mylne within the circuyte whiche saynt Remyge hadde closed And as saynt Remyge wente aboute it the Mylnar putted hym out with indignacion and grete despyte And saynt Remyge sayd to hym frende haue no desdayne and late it not be to harde yf we haue also this Mylne with that other Neuertheles the Mylnar put hym out And anone the whele of the Mylne beganne to torne contrarye And thenne the Mylnar cryed after saynt Remyge and sayde Seruaunt of god come and late vs haue the mylle to gydre And saynt Remyge sayd nay hit shalle neyther be myn ne â—hyn And anone the erthe opened and swolewed in all the mylle And saynt Remyge knewe by the spyrite of prophecye and by the wylle of god that a grete famyne shold come And assembled in a Towne grete plente of whete And the dronken Vylayns of the Towne mocqued and scorned hym of his prouydence And sett the garners a fyre And when he knewe hit he cam thyder And by cause he was cold for age and his last tyme approchyd fast he satte doune by the fyre and warmed hym and sayd with a peasyble herte the fyre is alwey good Neuertheles they that made that fyre and alle the men of theyr lygnage were broken in her membres And the wymmen gowty And this endured in the same Towne vnto the tyme of Charles whiche chaced and maade them goo theyr waye and soo disperplyd them And it is to be knowen that the feste of saynt Remyge that is halowed in Ianyuer is the feste of his blessyd deth and deposicion and thys is the feste of the translacion of hys blessyd body For when after his deth the hooly body shold have be broughte to the chirche of saynt Thymothe and Appollynare with the shryne and cam nyghe vnto the chirche of saynt Cristofre it beganne to weye soo moche that they myght not meue hit fro thens in no manere At the last they prayd our lord that he wold vouchesauf to shewe them yf it were his wylle that the body shold be buryed in that chirche where as no relyques reste And thenne anone they took vp the body lyghtely ynowe and buryed hym there honourably And many myracles were ther shewed soo that they enlarged and made the chirche more ample and large And thenne they made an oratoyre behynde the aulter and wold haue do lâ—â—en for to haue leyd the body in that oratoyre but they couthe not meue hit in no manere Thenne they watched and prayd vnto oure lord and att mydnyght they fylle all a slepe And on the morne they fonde the sepulcre with the body in the place whiche aungels had borne thider whyle they slepte And this was the k lendes of octobre whiche afterward by long tyme on the same daye it was translated in to a feretre or shryne of syluer he flowrid about the yeres of our lord CCCC four score and ten ¶ Thus endeth the translacion of saint Remyge Here foloweth the lyf of seint Logier And first of his name LOgier is said of leos that is to saye peple and of ganos that is to saye angell Logyer was aungel of the peple For an angel is propyrly lyght And is a messagyer for to shewe the peuple good werkes And soo he shewed to the peple to fore the
shal haue remyssyon and foryeuenes of my synnes I axe of the but the space of thre houres And after that I shal goo whyder someuer thou wylt and shalle doo that whiche thow shalt commaunde me· And when he had gyuen to her that terme and assigned her whyder she shold come thenne she took all tho goodes that she had wonne with synne and brought them in to the myddle of the cyte to fore the peple and brent them in the fyre sayeng Come ye forth alle that haue synned with me and see ye how I brenne that whiche ye haue gyuen to me And the valewe of the goodes that she brente was of fyue honderd pound of gold And when she had all brente it she wente to the place whiche thabbot had assigned to her And ther was a monasterye of vyrgynes and there he closed her in a celle and sealed the dore with leed and the celle was lytell and strayte And but one lytel wyndowe opene by whiche was mynystred of her poure lyuynge For thabbot commaunded that they shold gyue to her a lytel brede water And whanne the Abbot shold departe Thaysys sayd to hym Fader Where shalle I shede the water and that whiche shal come fro the conduytes of nature And he sayd to her in thy selle as thou arte worthy And thenne she demaunded how she sholde praye And he ansuerde thou arte not worthy to name god ne that the name of the Trynyte be in thy mouthe ne stratche thy handes to heuen by cause thy lyppes ben fulle of iniquytees And thyn handes full of euyll attouchynges and fowle ordures but loke only towards the eest And saye ofte these wordes Qui plasmasti me miserere mei lord that hast fourmed me haue mercy on me And whanne she had ben there thre yere closed thabbot pafuncius remembryd and sorowed wente to thabbot Anthonye for to requyre of hym yf god had forgyuen her her synnes And the cause told saynt Anthonye called alle his disciples commaunded them that they shold all wake that nyght and be in prayer soo that god shold declare to somme of them the cause why thabbot Pafuncius was come And thenne as they prayd withoute ceassynge thabbot paule the grettest disciple of saynt Anthonye sawe sodenly in heuen a bedde arraed with precious vestymentes which thre vyrgynes arayed with clere vysages And these thre vyrgynes were named the fyrst was drede which drewe thaysys from euylle And the Second shame of the synnes that she commysed and that made her to deserue pardon And the thyrd was loue of ryÈtwysenesse whiche brouÈt her to hye souerayne place And whanne Powle had sayd to them that the grace of this vysyon was only by the merytes of saynt Anthonye A goodly voys answerd that it was not by the meryte of Anthony his fader but by the meryte of thaysis the synnar And on the morne whanne thabbot powle recounted his vysyon And they had knowen the wylle of god thabbotte pafuncius departed with grete ioye and wente anone to the monasterye where she was and opened the dore of the Celle And she prayd hym that she myght yet abyde there enclosed in and thabbotte sayd to her yssue and go out For god hath forgeuen to the thy synnes And she answerd I take god to wytnesse that syth I entryd herin I haue made of all my synnes a somme and haue sette them to fore myn eyen And lyke as the brethe departeth not fro the mouthe ne the nosethrellys soo the synnes departed neuer fro myn eye but alwey haue bewepte them To whome the Abbot pafuncius sayd god hath not pardonned the thy synnes for thy penaunce but by cause that thow hast had alwey drede in thy courage And he took her oute fro thens And she lyued after xv dayes and thenne she rested in our lord Thabbot Effrem conuertyd in lyke wyse another comyn woman For whanne that comyn woman wold haue drawen saynt Effrem for to haue synned dyshonestly he sayd to her folowe me and she folowed And whanne they cam in a place where a grete multytude of men were he sayd to her sytte doune here that I may haue to doo with the and she sayde how may I this doo amonge soo grete multitude of peple here standynge And he sayd yf thow be ashamed of the peple thow oughtest haue gretter shame of god whiche seeth alle thynges hydde And she wente awey all ashamed ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Thaysis Here foloweth the lyf of saint Denyse And first of his name DEnyse is as moche to saye as hastely fleynge or Denyse is sayd of dya whiche is as moche to saye as two and nysus whiche is to saye y lyft vp For he was lyft vp after two thynges that is after the body and the sowle Or denys may be sayd of Dyane that is Venus the goddesse of beaute and of syos that is to saye god as who sayth he is fayre to god or as somme saye he is sayd of Dyonisia that is after ysydore a precious stone black whiche is good ageynste dronkenesse he was hasty in fleynge the the world by parfyght renonciacion He was lyft vp by contemplacion by thynges within forth he was fayre to god by beaute of vertues He prouffyted to synnars ageynste dronkenesse of vyces And he had many names to fore his conuersyon For he was called Ariopogita for the strete that he dwellyd in he was called theosophus that is to saye wyse to god Also of the wyse men of grece he is sayd vnto this daye perystera vranos that is to say the wynghe of heuen For he flewe merueilously with the wynghe of spyrytualle vnderstandynge in to heuen Also he was sayd Macharius that is blessyd Also he was sayd of his Countreye Ionicus Ionica as sayth papye is one of the langages of grekes Or Ionyces ben sayd a maner of round pylers or Ionicum is sayd a foote of versyfyenge whiche hath two syllabes shorte and tweyne longe By whiche he is shewed that he was wyse knowynge god by Inquysycyon of thynges preuy and hydde Wynghe of heuen by loue of thynges celestyall and blessyd by possession of euerlastyng goodes By other thynges it is shewed that he was a merueilous Rethour by eloquence a susteynour and a berar vp of the chirch by doctryne shorte to hym self by humylyte and longe to other by Charyte Saynt Austyn sayth in the eyght booke of the Cyte of God that Ionyque is a kynde of Philosophres ytalyens whiche ben toward ytalye and Ionyques ben of the part of grece And by cause that denys was a souerayne philosopher· he was named Ionyque And Methodins of Constantynople endyted his lyf and his passion in grekesshe tongue And Anastasius in latyn Whiche was a writar of the byble of the chirche of Rome as ygnarus bisshop of Raynes sayth ¶ Of saint Denyse SAint Denyse Ariopagyte was conuertyd to the faythe of Ihesu Cryst of saynt powle thappostle And he was callyd
honoure in the same place where they now reste yf thow lord sende to me lâ—f helthe oportunyte and space And whan kyng Canute had regned in Englond xx yere hauyng two sones by the said Emme that is to wete Harold hardeknoute he deyde when his fyrst sone had regned four yere he exyled his owne moder and deyde sone after And after hym regned his broder a lytell tyme deyde also as oure lord had ordeyned thenne was Englond delyuerd fro the greuous tribute of thraldom of the danes theÌ„ne the lordes the comyns of Englond remembrid the othe that they maade in the parlement whiche sware that Edward whiche was thenne in his moders wombe shold be their kyng And anone sente in to Normandye for this hooly child Edward And the lordes and the comyns receyued hym with grete gladnes And thenne the archebisshop of Caunterbury and tharchebisshop of yorke with other bisshops dyde consecrate hym enoynted and crowned hym kyng of Englond O good lord what ioye and gladnes was thenne in Englond For whanne the old felycyte of this lond was almost despayred theÌ„ne it was kyndeled ageyn by the comynge of this blessyd kyng saynt Edward TheÌ„ne had the comyns reste pees the lordes gentil men reste honour And thenne holy chirche receyued alle her lybertees ageyne Thenne was the sunne lyfte vp and the mone sette in his ordre that is saye preestes shyned in wysedome in holynes The monasteryes flouryd in deuocion by holy relygyon The Clerkes gaf lyght prosperyd in their offices to the plesure of god The comyn peple were content and were ioyefull in their degree and in this kynges dayes ther was no venym that myght thenne corrupte the erthe with pestylence and in the see none outragyous tempestes the londe plentyuous of all maner of fruytes And in the Clergye nothynge inordynate and amonge the comyng peple was no grutchyng And the renomee and fame of this holy kyng saynt Edward sprange so merueyllously aboute to other nacions in suche wyse that alle Crysten kynges desyred to haue pees with hym The kynge of Fraunce whiche was nyghe of his kyn made with hym a generalle pees soo that it myght be sayd of hym as it was sayd of Salamon Alle the kynges of therthe desyred to see his face and to here his wysedome excepte only denmarke Whiche yet conspyred ageynste this Royamme of englond And what fylle therof it shal be declared here after more openly for this holy kynge Edward was euer full of mekenes and of vertue And neuer lyft vp by vayne glorye but euer he remembryd the wordes of oure lord that sayth I haue sette the prynce of the peple but be not therfore lyfte vp in vayne glorye but be thou amonge them as one of them He was amonge his houshold men egall and famylyer among preestes meke and debonayre to his peple amyable chyerful To wretchis and nedy men ful of compassion and large of almesse yeuynge He was also moche deuoute in the seruyse of god And dylygent to repayre and reedefye Chirches that were destroyed by the danes And in Iugement fulle discrete consideryng no mans persone but only the weyght of his cause as well to the riche as to the poure and he hadde rychesse ynough And his tresour semed comyn to alle poure men his wordes were sad discrete medlyd with myrthe spekyng ofte of Ihesu Cryst the second persone in the Trynyte And of oure blessyd lady his moder And somtyme he spak sharply as he sawe nede correctyng trespassours gentyl swete to good men He was neuer elate ne enhaunced in pryde no dishonest by glotonye He wolde not be compellyd by wrathe ne enclyne for yefte He despysed rychesse and was neuer sory for losse of worldly goodes and rychesses ne the more gladde for wynnynge therof in suche wyse that alle men merueyled of the sadnes of hym And aboute the kyng were dyuerse coueitous men whiche said to the kyng how his tresoure wastyd faste And yf the danes come ageyne he hadde not where with to defende hym wherfor they counceiled hym to reyse an ayde amonge his comyns lyke as kynge Canute hadde done dyuerse tymes An ayde was thenne cleped the dane ghelte And they counceiled to doo in lyke wyse And he said nay And he wold not agree therto Notwithstondynge they dayly cryed vpon hym when he sawe them so importune shewed so grete peryls thenne at the laste he saide to them to preue them late vs see how ye wyll do And whan they herd that of his owen mouthe were ryght gladde sente out commyssiones for to gadre it spared no countrey but made them paye in the largest wyse whan this money was leueyed brought in to the kynges tresorye thenne they brought the kyng thyder for to see it The kyng theÌ„ne standyng a fer fro it sawe the deuyll in lykenes of an ape sittyng vpon the tresour And sayd what haue ye done what money haue ye broughte to me Forsoth there shalle not one peny be spente to myn vse but I charge yow for to delyuer to eche man his money ageyne but therto they were moche lothe saide that they myght spende it in dedes of charyte Thenne the kyng saydâ— god forbede that I shold spende the goodes of other men For what almesse shold I make with the godes of poure comyns lauborers see ye not how the deuyll sytteth vpon the hepe of money maketh grete ioye that he hath taken vs in his snare wherfor I charge you on paine of dethe that ye delyuer this money ageyne there as ye had it euery peny Thenne they obeyed the kyng and repaid it vnto them of whome they had receyued it and durst neuer after moeue the kyng to suche maters ne in none other lyke so that all the dayes of saint Edward was neyther taske ne tayllage leueyed amoÌ„ge his comyns whiche was a grete ioye to the royame In a tyme the kynge was seke lyeng in his bedde And ther stode in his chaÌ„bre a cheste open full of gold syluer And a clerke cam in supposynge the kynge had slepte and took oute of it a certayne somme of money wente his way And soone after he cam agayne wold haue taken more thenne the kyng said Forsothe now thow arte vnwyse to come ageyne For thou haddest suffycyently ynow to fore therfore beware For yf the tresorer come fynde the thou arte lyke to deye therfore wherfor yf thow loue thy lyf flee fast awey with that that thow hast And anone after cam the tresorer and fond hou of the tresour was born aweye a grete parte And sought and enquyred dylygently for the theef that stale hit And the kyng seyng the grete trouble and sorowe of the tresorer demaunded hym the cause of his heuynes And whan he had told to the kyng the kyng sayd to hym sorowe no more therfore For
peraduentur he that hath it hath more nede to it than we And so the theef escaped was not pursued after when all thynges were quyete in the Royamme the counceill of the londe assemblyd for to treate for a maryage for the kyng whiche thyng whan it was moeued he was gretely abasshed dredyng to lese the tresour of his vyrgynyte whiche was kepte in a fraylle and brutyll vessell and what he shold doo or say he wyst not For yf he shold obstynatly denye it he dradde lest his auowe of chastyte shold be openly knowen and yf he consentid therto he dred to lese his chastyte wherfor he commended hym self only to god sayenge these wordes O good lord thow delyuer dest somtyme thre Chyldren fro the flamme of fyre in the chymeney and fornais of the chaldyes and by the lorde Ioseph escaped with his chastyte fro the wyf of putyphar she holdyng his mantell And yet by thy mercy he escaped good lord by thy vertu Susanne was delyuerd fro the dethe to the whiche thold vnchaste preestes hadde dampned her to And by thy myghte lord Iudyth escaped whan she hadde slayne Holofernes And reseruyd her fro defowlyng escaped withoute hurte And aboue all other thow hast preseruyd thy blessyd moder moost best swettest lady she beynge bothe wyf vyrgyne thenne beholde on me thy seruaunt and sone of thyn handemayde that am in grete drede I lyft vp myn herte to the bisechyng the that arte my lord and thy moder my swettest lady to helpe me now in this moost nede that I may so receyue the sacrament of wedlok that I falle not in parylle of my chastyte And with this condicyon in his herte he consentid to matrymony Thenne was al the counceyl ryght glad serchid for a vyrgyne that were acordyng to his astate And amonge all the virgyns of the londe Edithe doughter of erle goodwyn was founden moste acordyng to hym by her vertuous condicions and her fader maâ—d grete meanes to the kynges counceille for to accomplysshe this maryage by whiche he myght come in the kynges conceyte And by his wysedom for his grete myÈt power he had his entent whan the maryage was solempnysed and accomplysshed by the holy sacrament He and the quene auowed to lyue to gydre chaste secretely that noman knewe it but god allone The was bitwene them a lonyng spousehede withoute bodyly knowyng of dede Chast embracynge withoute defloracion of vyrgynyte Ther was bytwene them veryly chast loue withoute flesshely towchynge and knowyng Afterward somme of the Royamme grutchid sayeng he had taken a wyf by compulsion ageynste his wylle of an vnkynde lygnage And wold not knowe his wyf by cause he wold not bryng forth mo tyrauntes And this none knewe the veray trouthe of his chast lyf whyles he lyued but the very clennesse of his mynde was suffycyent wytnes of his chastyte ¶ Hit happend on a wytsonday as the kyng was crowned at westmestre in his astate And knelyng made his prayers deuoutely for the tranquyllyte pees of his londe byfore the aulter of the blessyd trynyte atte leuacion of the blessyd sacrament he fylle in a softe demure lawhyng soo that the lordes that were there present awaytyng on hym merueyled gretely but durst saye no thyng to hym tyll the seruyse was done Thenne one that was hardyer than another demaunded of hym the cause of his lawhyng And thenne he told to hym how the danes had assemblyd a grete power of peple ageynste the Royamme of Englond And were entrynge in to their shippes And as the kynge of denmarke wold haue entryd in to the shippe sodenly his strengthe was taken from hym And soo fell in to the See bytwene two shippes was drowned by whoos dethe the peple of denmarke and also of Englond were delyuerd fro synne and parylle They herynge this merueyled gretely and sent in to denmarke to knowe the trouthe And when the Messagers retorned they reported that it was trewe as the kynge had sayd And that the kyng of denmarke was drowned that same tyme that saynt Edward lowhe After this the noble saynt Edward remembryd his auowe and promesse to vysyte saynt peter at Rome whiche he made in Normandye wherfore he lete calle his comyns and his lordes to a Counycelle to fore hym wherof he come ned with them how and in what maner he myght departe and of the gouernaunce of the Royamme in his absence what peuple sholde be conuenyent for taccompanye hym And what Money shold suffyse hym and his meyny and when the lordes and comyns herd this they were full heuy and sorowful that he shold departe from them And he seyng their heuynesse comforted them said how that our lord had sent to them pees by his good grace shold contynue the same in his absence yet notwithstondyng the peple requyred hym to sende vnto the pope to be assoylled of his auowe or els dylaye it tyl another tyme And the kynge seyng the sorowe and lamentacion of his peple· whiche wepte wrong their handes as peple amased withoute a defendour and kepar comforted them graunted tabyde stylle with them And ordeyned certayne Bisshops for to go to Rome to aske of oure holy fader counceylle how he myght be assoilled of this auowe that he had made to visite saint Peter And thenne tharchebisshop of yorke bisshop of wynchestre ij abbots with dyuerse clerkes laye men went to Rome when they cam to Rome the pope had made that tyme a grete coÌ„gregacion of clerkes of dyuerse grete maters belongyng to holy chirche when the pope wist of their comyng he was ryght glad sent for them the pope badde them telle the cause of her comynge anon scylence was made they exposed the cause of their comyng recited the auowe the desyre of kyng Edward the peryl of the Royame the trouble the drede of the peple the brekyng of the pees the clamour of the poure comyns the ieopardy of the kynge in his absence the piteous destruction which the danes had late made by their cruelte also declared the grete deuocion that he had to visite the holy appostles Peter Powle thenne the pope the clergye merueiled gretely gaf lawde praisynge vnto almyÈty god that he had sent so deuoute vertuous a prynce in the angle of the world to mayntene by his wisedom the cristen faithe And how dredefull he was to offende ageynst the hooly Chirche And whanne the pope vnderstoode how his peple louyd hym how soroufullâ— they wold be of his departyng They merueyled gretely and thouÈte veryly that he was gretely bylouyd of god was with hym in alle his werkes For they sawe in hym the mekenes of dauyd the chastyte of Ioseph and the Rychesse of Salamon And yet he sette nought ther by thenne the pope consyderynge the grete perylles that myghte ensiâ—we by his departyng dispensid with hym
thynnocentes he herd masse in the new Chirche of Westmynstre whiche he had reedefyed And thenne he gyuyng than kynges vnto almyghty god retorned in to his chambre sore seke there abydyng the mercy of our lord And all the lordes gentiles and comyns were in grete heuynesse whanne they vnderstode that the kynge myght not lyue remembrynge what welthe and prosperyte the lond had ben in duryng his dayes And what Ieopardy hit was lyke to stande in after his dyscees Thenne alle thynges were commytted to the quene whome he louyd specially And she fulle dylygently mynystred to hym alle thynges necessary And whan he was soo feble by sekenes that his naturalle hete was almoost gone he laye nyghe two dayes in a traunce as a man that hadde ben rauysshed And whanne he cam to hym self ayene they that were aboute hym merueyled gretely For they wende veryly that he shold nomore haue spoken Notwithstandynge after he spack with an hole spyryte these wordes O thow merciful lord god that arte infynyte almyghty In whos power alle thynges ben put whiche chaungest Royammes and empyres yf tho thynges ben trewe that thow hast shewed to me so graunte to me space and strengthe to declare them to my peple that yf peraduenture they gyue them to penaunce they may haue grace and foryeuenes Thenne almyÈty god yaf to hym a newe strengthe that passyth al mannes reason And that myght not be withoute myracle For before that tyme he spack so softe that for feblenes he myght not wel be herd And at that tyme he spak with an hole breste these wordes folowyng Whanne I was yong and dwellyd in Normandye I louyd well the felauship of good men For he that spak most relygyously and goodly wyth hym was I most conuersaunt And amonge alle other ther were tweyne to whome I drewe moche for theire honest conuersacion and for the holynes of theyr lyf swetnes of their maners and their comfortable wordes whome I sawe translated in to heuen For many yeres gone they deyde and now they haue appyered to me by the suffraunce of god and haue shewed to me the state of my peple and what synnes regne among them And what vengeaunce shalle be taken on them for theyr synnes Prestes haue offendyd For they mynystre the holy sacramentes with vnclene thoughtes and pollute handes And as an hyred man and not as a veray shepeherde defende not their shepe ne fede them And as for prynces and gentils they ben founden fals and vntrewe and felawes to fendes theuys and Robbers of the Countre whiche haue no drede of god ne honoure hym And trewe lawe is a burthen to them and hadde in despyte and cruelnes moche vsed and the prelates kepe not rightwysnes they correctâ— not their subgettis ne teche ne enforme them as they shold doo And therfore our lord hath now drawe oute his swerd of vengeaunce to smyte his peuple This punysshement shall begynne within this yere bothe by swerde and wastyng this Royamme pytously And thâ—nne I beganne to syghe and morne for the trouble that was comyng to my peple And sayde yf they wold be torned and doo penauÌ„ce shall not they haue foryeuenes and god shalle blesse them ageyne And it was answerd to me the hertes of the peple ben soo Indurate and so blynded and theire eeris so stopâ—ed that theywylle not here of no correction ne they be not moeued ne prouoked by no benefayttes that our lord yeueth them Thenne I axyd yf ther were ony remedye that myght attempre the wrath of our lord To whome it was ansuerd in these wordes A grene tree cutte fro his stocke shalle he deuyded fro his propre rote the space of thre furlonge And withoute mannes honde shalle torne ageyne to his old rote take ageyne his sappe and floryssheth and bryngeth fourthe fruyre And when this is done ther may come remedy And when this was sayde they were sodanly gone oute of my syghte Ther was aboute the kyng that tyme the quene Duke Harold her brother Robert kepar of the palais And Stygande whiche had defouled his faders bedde For whyles Robert tharchebisshop of Caunterbury lyued the said Stygande put hym doune and cam in by symonye wherfor he was suspendid by the pope And afterward god took vengeaunce vpon hym soo that his bely bracke and his bowellis fylle oute And soo he deyd wretchidly This Stygande gaf no credence to the kynges wordes but descryued it to his age and to the feblenes of the kyng made it but a fantasye but other that were better auysed wepte sorowed and wrange their handes and sente to our holy fader the pope yeuyng hym Informacion of the same vysion And our hooly fader wrote Epistles to Englond exhortyng the peple to do penaunce but his writyng prouffited not But when kyng Harold hadde broken the othe that he had made to duke william therfor he was slayne in bataille thenne they knewe wel that the prophecye of saint Edward was comen For theÌ„ue the lyberte of Englond made an ende And thenne cam in bondship and thraldome That tyme Englond was al chaunged And I vnderstond saynt Dunston prophecyed the same trouble comyng And after a certayne tyme he promysed comfort also Wherfor this forsayd vysyon maye be conuenyently expowned as here foloweth The tree signefyeth the Royame of Englond Whos grenesse and fayrenesse bitokeneth Rychesses plentyuous and honour of Englond of Whome alle worshippe procedeth whiche worshippe hath proceded of the trewe blood of the londe and of the trewe lygnage whiche descended fro Alured whom our holy fader the pope crowned and enoynted kynge as for the firste kynge of the trewe lygne of Englond vnto this hooly kynge Edward by succession The tree is cut doune fro the stocke whan the Royame is deuyded and translated from one seed or lygnage to an other The space of thre furlonges is the tyme of thre kynges that is to saye Harold william Conquerour and william his sone The comyng ageyne of the tree to the stocke withoute mannes helpe was whanne kynge Henry the fyrste cam in to this Royamme not by mannes strengthe but by very trewe loue of his comyns He took his sappe and his very strengthe whan he wedded Molde the doughter of the nece of saint Edward ioynynge to gydre the seed of Englond and of Normandye And by the tree flowrysshed whome Maulde themperesse sprange of their seed And it brougth forthe fruyte whan of her cam Henry the second And thus this two people were ioyned to gydre yf this exposycion displese ony man late hym expowne it better or els late hym abyde a tyme tylle it be fulfylled so that the prophecye of kyng Edward acorde to the prophecye of saynt Dunston This holy kyng saynt Edward knowyng that his houre drewe nyghe spack to them that stode wepyng aboute hym And in comfortyng them sayde Forsothe yf ye louyd me ye wold pray that I shold passe fro this world to the fader
of heuen there to receyue the ioye whiche is promysed to alle trewe Crysten men put ye awey your wepyng spede forth my iourney with prayers with holy psalmes· and wyth almesse dedes For though myn enemy the feÌ„de may not ouercome me in my faithe yet ther is none founden so parfiÈte but he wyll assaye tempte to lette or to feer hym And thenne he commaunded the quene to her broder in commendynge her vertues vnto his lordes and declared to them their pure chastyte For she was to hym in open places as his wyf and in secrete places as his suster And he commaunded also that her dowayre shold be made sure to her And they that come with hym oute of Normandye shold be put to theyr chois whether they wold abyde stylle in Englond and to be endowed wyth lyuelode after their degree or els to retorne ageyne in to NormaÌ„dy with a suffycyent reward And he chaas his place for his sepulture in the chirche of seynt Peter whiche he had newe bylded And sayde he sholde not longe abyde in this world And whanne he behelde the quene and sawe hir wepe syghe amonge he said to her oftymes My doughter wepe not for I shal not dye but I shall lyue shalle departe fro the lond of deth And byleue to see the goodnes of god in the londe of lyf And thenne he sette his mynde al in god and yaf hym self hooly to the faythe of the Chirche in the hope and promyses of Cryst vnder the sacramentis of the chirche And amonge these wordes of praysynge he yelded vp his spyryte vnto god In the yere of our lord M lxvj whan he hadde regned in this londe xxiij yere and sixe monethes and xxvij dayes the fourthe day of Ianyuer And as his Cosyns and his louers stode aboute this holy body whan the spyryte was passed they sawe a merueylous beaute an heuenly sighte in his face And whan they loked on his naked body they sawe it shyne with a merueylous brightnesse for the clernes of his vyrgynyte And thenne they wrapped the holy body in pallys And beryed it with grete reuerence and worship and largely almesse was gyuen for hym And all the lordes spyrytuell and temporel were present at the beryeng of hym than kynge god of the grete benefaittes that he shewed in this lond duryng the lyf of the hooly saynt and kynge saynt Edward wherfor lawde glorye and honour be gyuen to almyÈty god world withoute ende Amen The eyght day after his beryeng ther cam a crepil to his Tombe to be holpen of his grete dysease whiche many tymes afore had receyued almesse of the kynges honde And he had be wasshen of the kynges honde on cenethursdaye Notwythstondyng the myracle of his curynge was prolonged by the prouysyon of god and not shewed in his lyf tyme by cause that many myracles god shewed for hym In lyke wyse he wold shewe after his deth This Crepyl was called Rauf And was a norman borne and the synewes of his arme were shronken to gyder that his feet were drawe vp to his buttokkis that he myght not goo neyther on his feet ne on his knees but sat on an holowe vessel in maner of a basyn drawyng his body after hym with his hondes And whan he cam to the Tombe he besought almyghty god and saynt Edward deuoutely that he myght be cured and heled of his dysease whiche in his lyf tyme had mooste lyuyd by his almesse And whanne he had contynued a whyle in his prayers other peuple that had compassion of hym praid for hym also And atte last he lyft hym self vp and felte his synewes losed And thenne he arose vp and stode on his feet and felt hym self made parfyghtely hole for to doo what he shold We haue redde of the vertues that saint Edward had in helyng blynde men in his lyuyng whiche our lord hath not withdrawe from hym after his dethe It happed that thyrtty dayes after his beryeng ther cam to his Tombe a man whiche had but one eye ledyng after hym sixe blynde men eche of them helde other by the skyrte And all they deuoutely prayd to god and to saynt Edward that they myght haue their sight and to be delyuerd of the grete myserye that they stode in And moche peple cam thyder for to see what shold befalle of this thyng And whan they sawe how hertely these blynde men prayde thenne alle the peple beynge moeuyd wyth pyte knelyd doune deuoutely and prayd for them to god and to this hooly seynt And anone as they had endyd their prayers Alle they receyued parfyghtely theire sight And thenne eche of them that had ben blynde lokyd fast on eche other And thought it a newe world with them and eche enquyred of other yf they myght see and they said ye And alle knelyd doune thankyng god ful hertely that by the meryces of saynt Edward had restored to them their siÈt parfyghtly And also to theyr leder whiche had but one eye at his comyng And had syght of the blynde eye also And soo alle had their parfyght syght And after they retourned home eche in to his Countrey gyuynge lawde and thankynges to god and this holly kynge After this Harold Arphage kyng of Norwey and Tostyn broder of kynge Harold of Englonde cam with a grete nauye and a grete hoost and arryued in humbre and there made werre entendynge to conquere this londe how be it the peple beganne to resyste them but they were not of power to ouercome them And when Harold vnderstode this he reysed a grete multitude of peple to withstonde them Thenne saynt Edward on a nyght appyered to an holy Monke whiche was Abbot of Rammesey And bad hym go and telle to Harold that he shold ouercome his enemyes the which entended to destroye and consume this Royamme of Englond And saye to hym that he drede not For I shal so conduyte hym and his hoost that he shall haue vyctorye For I maye not see ne suffre this Royamme of Englonde to be destroyed And whan thou hast tolde to hym this he wyâ—le not byleue the wherfor thow shalt proue thy vision in this maner late hym thynke and set his mynde on what thyng he wille And thow shalt telle hym what he thynketh For god shalle shewe that to the And thenne he shalle yeue credence to thy wordes On the morn the abbot of Rammesey named Alexis went to kyng harold and told to hym this visionn And how he shold by the aide of saint Edward ouercome his enemyes And when he herde hit fyrste he supoosed hit had ben a fantasye And when he shewed to hym his preuy thought thenne he gaf faith therto And wente to the bataille how be it he was thenne seke in his grynde of a pestilence botche And slewe Tostyne his brother and Harold Harfage And right fewe or none escaped a lyue fro the bataille Wherfor the Englisshmen thanked god and saynt Edward of their
and tremblyng of the erthe And the sonne had wythdrawen her lyght and rayes And he taught moralyte whan he taught maners in his blessidnes he taught resonable thynges whan he sayd he that is trewe in lytel thynges he is trewe in grete thynges And withoute this treble wysedome the mysterye of the Trynyte ne of our faithe may not be that is to wete Wysedome naturelle Resonable and Moralle And this is that saynt Ambrose sayth Thyrdly His gospell is embelysshed and made fayre wyth moche honeste soo that the style and manere of spekyng is moche honeste and faire And thre thynges be conuenyent to this that somme men holde in his dictes honeste and beaute the whiche saynt Austyn techeth That is to wete that it please that it appyere and moeue that it please he ought to speke ornatly that it appyere that he ought to speke apertly that it moeue that he speke feruently And this maner hadde Lucas in wrytyng and in prechyng Of two the fyrst hit is sayd in the viij Chapytre to the Corynthyens We sente with hym a broder the glose Barnabe or Luke of whome the praysynge is in al Chirches of the gospell In this that he sayd the praysyng of hym is sygnefyed that he spak ornatly in this that he sayde in alle Chirches hit is signefyed that he spak apertly And that he spak feruently hit appieryd whanne he sayd was not thenne oure herte brennyng within vs in the loue of Ihesu whanne he spake wyth vs in the waye Fourthly his gospelle is auctorysed by Auctoryte of many sayntes What merueyle was it though it were auctorysed of many whan it was auctorysed fyrst of the fader wherof Iheromye seyth in the xxxj Chappytre Lo the dayes shalle come our lord saith I shal make a newe couenaunt with the hous of Israell and of Iuda not after the couenaunt that I made with theyre faders but this shal be the couenaūt saith oure lord I shalle gyue my lawe in to the bowellys of them And he speketh playnly to the letter of doctryne of the Gospel Secondly hit is enforced of the Sonne For he sayth in the same Gospel the one and twentyest Chapytre Heuen and erthe shal passe And my word shal not perysshe Thirdly he is enspyred of the holy ghoost wherof saint Iheromme sayth in his prologue vpon Luke He wrote this gospel in the partyes of Achaye by admonestment of the hooly ghost ¶ Fourthly he was to fore fygured of the Angels For he was prefygured of the same Aungel Of whome thappostle sayth in the xiiij Chapytre I sawe the Angel fleyng by the myddes of heuen And had the gospel perdurable This is sayd perdurable For it is made perdurable that is of Ihesu Cryst Fyfthly the Gospel was pronounced of the prophetes that Ezechyel the prophete pronounced to for this Gospel Whan he sayd that one of these beestes shold haue the face of an oxe wherfor the gospel of Luke is signefyed as it is said to fore And whan Ezechyel seid in the second Chapytre that he had sene the book that was wreton without and within In whiche was wreton the lamentacion songe ¶ By this booke is vnderstonde the gospel of Luke that is wreton within for to hyde the mysterye of profoundenesse and withoute for the shewynge of thystory In whiche also ben conteyned the lamentacion of the passion the Ioye of the resurection and the woo of the eternal dampnacion as it appieryth the xj Chapytre where many woes ben putte Sixtly the gospel was shewed of the vyrgyne For the blessyd vyrgyne marye kepte and heled dylygently al these thynges in her herte as it is sayd Luce secundo to the ende that she shold afterward shewe them to the wrytars as the glose sayth that alle thynges that were done and sayd of oure lord Ihesu cryst she knewe and reteyned them in her mynde So that when she was requyred of the wrytars or of the prechers of thyncarnacion and of al other thynges she myght expresse them suffycyently lyke as it was done and were in dede wherof seynt Bernard assygneth the reason why the Aungel of our lord shewed to the blessyd vyrgyne the conceyuyng of Elyzabeth The conceyuynge of Elyzabeth was shewed to Marye by cause of the comynge now of oure sauyour and now of his messager that cam to fore hym The cause why she reteyned the ordynaunce of these thynges was by cause that she myght the better shewe to wrytars and prechours the trouthe of the Gospel This is she that fully fro the begynnyng was Instruct of the celestyal mysteryes And it is to be byleuyd that theuangelystes enquyred of her many thynges And she certyfyed them truly And specially that the blessyd Luke had recours to her lyke as to the Arke of the testament And was certyfyed of her many thynges And specially of suche thynges as apperteyned to her as of the salutacion of the Angel Gabryel of the natyuyte of Ihesu Cryst and of suche other thynges as Luke speketh only ¶ Seuenthly the Gospel was shewed of the Appostles For Luke had not ben with Cryste in alle his actes and myracles therfore he wrote his gospel after that thappostles that had ben present shewed and reported to hym lyke as he sheweth in his prologue sayenge lyke as they that hadde sene hym fro the begynnynge and had ben mynystres with hym and herd his wordes enformed and told to me And by cause hit is accustomme in double maner to bere wytnesse It is of thynges sene and of thynges herde Therfor sayth saynt Austyn oure lord wold haue two witnesses of thynges sene they were Iohan and Mathewe And two of thynges herd and they were marke and Luke And by cause that the wytnesse of thynges sene ben more ferme and more certayne than of thynges herde Therfor saith saynt Augustyn ¶ The two gospels that ben of thynges sene ben sette fyrst and last And the other that ben of herynge ben sette in the myddle lyke as they were the strenger and more certeyne of and by the other tweyne Eyghtly this gospel is merueylously approuyd of saynt Powle whanne he bryngeth the Gospel of Luke to the confirmacion of his sayenges and dictes wherof saynt Ieromme sayth in the booke of noble men That somme men haue suspecyon that alwey Whanne Saynt Powle sayth in his Epystles Secundum euangelium meum that is after my Gospel that is sygnefyed the volume of Luke And he approuyd his gospell whan he wrote of hym Secundo ad Coryntheos octauo of whome the laude and praysynge is in the gospell in all the chirche It is redde in thystorye of Antyoche that the Crysten men that were besyeged of a grete multitude of turkes and dyd to them many mescheues and were tormentid with hongre and ylle happe But whan they were pleynly conuertid to our lord by penaunce A man full of clerenes in whyte vestymentes appyeryd to a man that woke in the chirche of oure lady of Trypolyn And whan he
demaunded hym who he was he sayde that he was Luk that cam fro Antyoche where our lord had assemblyd the chyualrye of Heuene and his appostles for to fyghte for his pilgryms ageynst the Turkes Thenne the Cristen men enhardyed them self and disconfyted alle the hooste of the Turkes ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Luke theuangelist Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Crisaunt And first of his name And of saint Daria And of her name CRysaunt is saide as growen and multyplyed of god For whan his Fader naturelle wold haue made hym to sacrefyce vnto thydolles God gaf to hym force and power to contrarye and gaynsaye his fader and yelde hym self to god Daria is sayd of dare to gyue and of dya whiche is as moche to saye as tweyne For she gaf her to two thynges Fyrst wylle to do euyll whan she hadde wylle to drawe Crysaunt to sacrefyse thydolles And after she gaf her to good wylle whan Crysaunt had conuertid her to God ¶ Of saint Crisaunt and Seynt Daria CRisaunt was sone of a ryght noble man that was named Polyme when the fader sawe that his sone was taught in the fayth of Ihesu cryst And that he couth not withdrawe hym ther fro and make hym doo sacryfyce to thydolles he commaunded that he shold be closed in a stronge holde and put to hym fyue maydens for to wyth drawe hym with blaundysshyng and fayre Wordes And thenne he prayd god that he shold not be surmounted with no flesshely desyre of these euylle bestes and anone these maydens were soo ouercome with slepe that they myght not take neither mete ne drynke as long as they were there but assone as they were oute they took bothe mete and drynke And one Daria a noble and a wyse virgyne of the goddesse vesta arayed her nobly with clothes as she had ben a goddesse And prayd that she myght be laten entre in to crysaunt And that she wold restore hym to thydolles and to his fader And whanne she was comen in Crysaunt repreuyd her of the pryde of her vesture And she answerd that she had not done it for pryde but for to drawe hym to doo sacryfyce to thydolles and restore hym to his fader And thenne Crysaunt repreuyd her by cause she worshiped them as goddes For they had ben in their tymes euyll and synners and haunted comyn wymmen And Daria answerd the philosophres felte thelementes by the names of men and Crysaunt saide to her yf one worshipe therthe as a goddesse And another ere and laboure the erthe as a Chorle or a plough man To whome gyueth the erthe most It is preuyd that it gyueth more to the ploughman than to him that worshipeth it And in lyke wyse he sayd of the see and of other elementes And thenne Crysaunt and Daria conuertid of hym coupled them to gydre by the grace of the holy ghoost fayned to be ioyned by carnal maryage and conuertid many other to ouâ—e lord For claudyen whiche had ben tormentour of them they conuertid to the faythe of oure lord with his wyf and Children and many other knyghtes after this Crysaunt was enclosed in a stynkynge pryson by the commaundement of Numeryne but the stenche was anone torned in to a ryght swete odour and sauoure And Daria was brought to the bordel but a lyon that was in the Amphyatre cam and kepte the dore of the bordelle And thenne ther was sente thyder a man to defloure and corrumpe the vyrgyne but anon he was taken of the lyon And the lyon beganne to loke on the vyrgyne lyke as he demaunded what he shold do with the caytyf And the vyrgyne comanded that he shold not mysdo hym but late hym go And anone he was conuertid and ranne thorugh the cyte And beganne to crye that Daria was a goddesse And thenne hunters were sente thyder for to take the lyon And they anone fylle doune to the feet of the vyrgyne and were conuertid by her And thenne the prouost commaunded to make a grete fyre within thentre of the bordell soo that the lyon shold be brente with Daria And the lyon consyderynge well this thyng dredde and wrynge took lycence of the vyrgyne and went whyder he wold withoute hurtynge of ony body And whan the prouoste had done to Crysaunt and daria many dyuerse tormentes myght not greue theym at the last they beyng maryed withoute corrupcion were put in a depe pytte and throwen on them erthe and stones And so were conseâ—â—ate martirs of Cryste Thus endeth the lyf of saint Crisaunt And of Daria ¶ Here foloweth the passion of enleuen thousand vyrgyns THe passion of enleuen thousand vyrgyns was halowed in this manere In Brytayn was a cristen kyng named Notus or Maurus whiche engendryd a doughter named Vrsula This doughter shone full of merueylous honeste wysedome and beaute And her fame and renoÌ„mee was born al aboute And the kyng of Englond whiche thenne was ryght myghty And subdued many nacions to his empyre herd the renommee of her and sayde that he shold be well happy yf this vyrgyne myght be coupled to his sone by maryage And the yong man had grete desyre and wyll to haue her And there was a solempne embassade to the fader of vrsula and promysed greete promesses and sayd many fayre wordes for to haue her and also made many manaces yf they retourned vaynly to their lord And thenne the kyng of Brytayne beganne to be moche anguysshous by cause that she that was ennoblysshed in the faythe of Ihesu Criste shold be wedded to hym that adoured ydolles by cause that he wyst well she wold not consente in no manere And also by cause he doubted moche the cruelte of the kyng And she that was dyuynely inspyred dyd soo moche to her fader that she consented to the maryage by suche a condycion that for to solace her he shold sende to her fader x vyrgyns And to her self and to them ten other virgyns he shold sende to eche a thousand vyrgyns and sholde gyue to her space of thre yere for to dedycate her vyrgynyte And the yonge man shold be baptysed and in these thre yere he shold be enformed in the faith sufficiently soo that by wyse counceylle and by vertue of the condycyon made he shold withdrawe fro her his courage but this yonglyng receyued this condicyon gladly and hasted his fader and was baptysed And commaunded alle that vrsula had requyred shold be done And the fader of the vyrgyne ordeyned that his doughter whome he moost louyd and the other that had nede of comforte of men and seruyse ordeyned in their company good men for to serue them Thenne virgynes cam fro alle partyes and men cam for to see this grete companye And many Bisshops cam for to goo with them in theyr pylgremage Emonge whome was pantulus Bisshop of Basyâ—e whiche wente with them to rome And retorned fro thens with them and receyued martirdome Saynt
Countre ordeyned these two yong men his sones mooste couenable aboue al other for to go with the maister of the chyualrye And thenne whan the maister sawe these yong men of noble fourme and aourned honestly with good maners they plesyd hym moche And ordeyned that they shold be with the fyrst of his table Thenne he wente thus to the bataylle And whan he had subdued his enemyes to hym he made his hoost to reste thre dayes in a Towne where his wyf dwellyd and kepte a poure hostelery And these two yong men by the purueaunce of god were lodged in thabytacion of their moder withoute knowynge what she was And on a tyme aboute mydday as they spack that one to that other of their enfancye And their moder which was there herkened what they sayd moche ententifly soo that the grettest sayd to the lasse whan I was a chyld I remembre none other thyng sauf that my Fader whiche was maister of the knyghtes and my moder whiche was ryght fair had two sones that is to saye me and another yonger than I and was mothe fayre And they took vs and wente oute of her hows by nyght and entryd in to a ship for to go I wote not whyder And whan we wente oute of the ship oure moder was lefte in the shyppe I wote not in what manere but my fader bare me and my broder and sore wepynge And whanne he cam to a water he passyd ouer with my yonger broder and lefte me on the banke of the water And whan he retorned a wulf cam and bare aweye my broder And er my fader myght come to me a grete lyon yssued oute of the forest and toke me vp and bare we to the wood but the herd men that sawe hym took me fro the mouthe of the lyon and was nourysshed in suche a Towne as ye knowe well ne I couthe neuer knowe what hapned to my broder ner where he is And when the yonger herd this he beganne to wepe and saye Forsothe lyke as I here I am thy broder For they that nourisshed me sayde that they had taken me fro a wulf And thenne they beganne to embrace and kysse eche other and wepe And whan their moder had herd alle this thynge she consydered longe in her self yf they were her two sones by cause they had sayd by ordre what was befalle them And the next daye folowynge she wente to the mayster of the chyualrye And requyred hym sayenge Syre I pray the that thou commaunde that I may be brought ageyn to my Countrey for I am of the countrey of the Romayns And here I am a straunger And in sayeng these Wordes she sawe in hym signes and knewe by them that he was her husbond And thenne she myght no lenger forbere but fylle doune at his feet and seid to hym Syre I pray the to telle of thy fyrst estate For I wene that thou art placidas maistre of the knyghtes whiche otherwyse arte called Eustace whome the saueour of the world hath conuertid ¶ And hast suffrid suche temptacion and suche And I that am thy wyf was taken fro the in the see whiche neuertheles haue be kepte fro all corrupcion and haddest of me two sones Agapyte and theospyte And Eustace herynge this and dylygently considâ—red and behelde her anon knewe that she was his wyf and wepte for ioye and kyssed her and glorifyed moche our lord god whiche comforted the discomforted And thenne sayd his wyf Syre where ben oure sones and he sayd that they were slayne of wylde beestes and recounted to her how he had lost them And she sayd late vs yeue thankynges to god For I suppose that lyke as god hath gyuen to vs grace eche to fynde other so shal he gyue vs grace to recouer our sones And he sayd I haue told the that they be deuoured of wylde beestes And she thenne sayd I sat yesterday in a gardyne and herd two yonglynges thus and thus expownynge their Infancye And I byleue that they be oure sones Demaund them and they shalle telle to the the trouthe Thenne Eustace called them and herd their enfancye and knewe that they were his sones Thenne he embraced them the moder also and kyssed them also Thenne all the hoost enioyed strongly of the fyndynge of his wyf and chyldren and for the vyctorye of the barbaryns And whanne he was retorned Tcaian was thenne dede And Adrian succeded in th empyre which was werst in al felonnyes And as well for the vyctory as for the fyndyng of his wyf Children he receyued them moche honourably and dyde do make a grete dyner and feest And on the next day after he went to the Temple of thydolles for to sacrefyse for the vyctorye of the Bâ—rbaryns And thenne themperourâ— seyng that Eustace wold not doo sacrâ—fyse neyther for the victory ne for that he had founden his wyf and children warned and commaunded hym that he shold doo sacryfyce To whome Eustace saide I adoure and doo sacryfyse to oure lord Ihesu Cryst and only serue hym And thenne themperour replenysshed with yre put hym his wyf his sones in a certeyne place And dide to go to them a ryght cruel lyon the lyon ranne to them and enclyned his hede to them lyke as he hadde worshiped them and departed Thenne the Emperour dyde do make a fyre vnder an oxe of brasse or copper And whan it was fyre hote he commaunded that they shold be put therin al quyck and a lyue And thenne the sayntes prayde and commaunded them vnto our lord And entred in to the oxe And there yelded vp theire spyrytes vnto Ihesu Cryst And the third day after they were drawen oute to fore thempereur and were founden al hoole and not touched of the fyre ne as moche as an heere of them was brente ne none other thynge on them And thenne the Crysten men toke the bodyes of them and leyd them in a ryght noble place honourably and made ouer them an oratory And they suffred deth vnder Adryan themperoure whiche beganne aboute the yere Cxx in the kalendes of Nouembre ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Eustace ¶ Here foloweth the solempnyte of al halowes THe feeste of all the Sayntes was establysshed for foure causes Fyrste for the dedycacion of the Temple secondly for supplement of offences done Thirdly for to take awey neclygence And Fourthly for to gete more lyghtly that thynge whiche we praye fore This feest was establisshed pryncipally for the dedycacion of the Temple For the Romayns sawe that they seygnouryed ouer alle the world And therfor they made a ryght grete Temple And sette theyr ydolle in the myddle And al aboute this ydolle they sette the false ymages of all the prouynces soo that al tho ymages behelde ryght thydolle of Rome And it was ordeyned by arte of the deuylle that whanne a prouynce wold rebelle ageynst the Romayns Thymage of that prouynce shold torne his backe to thydolle of
hath acomplisshed the commaundement of the gospell For he had two cotes and hath gyuen to hym that had none and thus sayd he ye ought to doo he was of grete power to chace awey the deuyls For he put them oute oftymes fro dyuerse peple It is redde in the same dyalogue that a Cowe was tormentid of the deuylle and was woode And confounded moche peple And as saint Martyn and his felauship shold make a vyage this wode Cowe ranne ageynst them And saynt Martyn lyfte vp his hand and commaunded her to tarye And she abode stylle withoute moeuynge Thenne saynt martyn sawe the deuylle whiche satte vpon the backe of the cowe and blamed hym and sayde to hym Departe thou fro this mortall beest and leue to tormente this beest that noyeth no thynge And anon he departed And the cowe kneled doune to the feet of this holy man And at his commaundement she retorned to her company ful mekely He was of moche grete subtylyte for to knowe the deuylles they coude not be hydde fro hym For in what place they put them self in he sawe them For somtyme they shewed them to him in the fourme of Iupyter or of Mercurye And otherwhyle they transfygured them in lykenes of venus or of my nerue whome eueryche he knewe and blamed them by name It happed on a day that the deuylle appierid to hym in the forme of a kynge in purpre and a crowne on his hede wyth hosen and shone gylte with an amyable mouthe and gladde there and vysage And whanne they were bothe stylle a whyle the deuylle sayde Martyn knowe thow whom thou worshippest I am Crist that cam descended in to erthe And wylle fyrst shewe me to the And as saynt Martyn all admerueyled sayd no thynge yet the deuylle sayd to hym wherfore doubtest thou Martyn to bileue me whan thou seest that I am Cryst And thenne Martyn blessyd of the holy ghoost saide Oure lord Ihesu Criste sayth not that he shalle come in purpre ne wyth a Crowne resplendysshynge I shalle neuer byleue that Ihesu Cryste shalle come but yf hit be in habyte and fourme suche as he suffryd deth in And that the signe of the Crosse be borne to fore hym And with that word he vanysshed aweye and all the halle was was fylled with stenche ¶ Seynt Martyn knewe his dethe long tyme to fore his departynge the whiche he shewed to his bretheren And whyles he vysyted the dyocise of â—â—ul for cause to appease discord that was was there And as he wente he sawe in a water byrdes that plonged in the water whiche awayted and espyed fysshes and ete them And thenne he saide In this maner deuylles espye foles they espye them that be not ware they take them that knowe not but ben ignoraunt and deuoure them that ben taken And they may not be fulfilled ne saciate with them that they deuoure And thenne he commaunded them to leue the water and that they shold goo in to deserte Countrees And they assembled them went vnto the wodes and montaynes And theÌ„ne he abode a lytell in that dyocyse and beganne to wexe feble in his body and sayd to his disciples that he shold departe and be dissolued Thenne they alle wepyng sayde Fader wherfore leuest thou vs or to whome shalt thou leue vs all desolate and discomforted The rauysshynge wulues shalle assaylle thy flock and beestes And he theÌ„ne moeued with theyr wepynges wepte also and prayd sayenge Lord yf I be yet necessary to thy peuple I refuse nothynge the labour thy wylle be fulfylled He doubted what he myghte lest doo For he wolde not gladly leue them ne he wold not longe be departed fro Ihesu Cryst And whanne he had a lytell whyle ben tormentid wyth the Feuers And his disciples prayde hym where as he lay in the asshen dust and hayre that they myght laye some strawe in his cowche where he laye he sayde It apperteyneth not but that a Crysten man shold deye in hayre and in asshes And yf I shold gyue to you another ensample I my self shold synne And he had his handes and his eyen toward the heuene And his spyrit was not losed fro prayer And as he lay toward his bretheren he prayd that they wold remeue a lyâ—ell his body And he sayde Bretheren late me beholde more the heuene than the erthe soo that the esperyte maye adresse hym to oure lord And this sayenge he sawe the deuylle that was there And saynt Martyn saide to hym wherfore standest thow here thow cruell beest thou shalte fynde in me noâ—hynge synfulle ne mortalle the bosome of Abraham shalle receyue me And wyth this word he rendryd and gaf vp vnto our lord his spyrite in the yere of oure lord thre honderd Foure score and lviij And the yere of his lyf foure score and one And his chere shone as it had ben gloryfyed And the voys of Aungels was herd syngynge of many that were there And they of poytyers assembled at his dethe as well as they of Tours and ther was grete altercacion For the poyteuyns sayd he is oure Monke we requyre to haue hym And the other sayde He was taken from yow and gyuen to vs And at mydnyght alle the poyteuyns slepte And they of Tours putte hym oute of the wyndowe and was borne with grete ioye and had ouer the water of leyre by a bote vnto the Cyte of Tours And as Seuer Bisshop of Coleyne on a sonday after matyns vysyted and went aboute the holy places the same houre that saynt Martyn departed oute of this world he herde the Aungels syngynge in heuen Thenne he called his Archedeken and demaunded hym yf he herd ony thynge And he sayd nay And the Bisshop badde hym to herkene dilygently And he beganne to stratche forth his necke and adresse his eres and lente vpon his staf Thenne the Bisshop put hym self to prayer for hym Thenne he sayde that he herde voyces in heuene To whome the Bisshop sayde It is my lorde saynt Martyn whiche is departed oute of this world And the Angels bere hym now in to heuene And the deuyls were at his passynge but they fonde nothynge in hym And wente awey all confused And the archedeken marked the daye and the houre and knewe veryly after that saynt Martyn passyd oute of this world that same tyme And Seuere the Monke whiche wrote his lyf as he slepte a lytelle after matyns lyke as he wytnessyth in his Epystle Saynt Martyn appiered to hym cladde in an aulbe His chere clere the eyen sparklynge his heere purple holdynge a booke in his ryghte honde whiche the sayd Seuere hadde wrâ—ton of his lyf and whanne he had gyuen hym his blessynge he sawe hym mounte vp in to heuen And as he coueyted for to haue gone with hym he awoke And anone the Messagers cam whiche sayde that that same tyme seynt Martyn departed oute of this world And in the same day saynt Ambrose Bisshop of Melane sange
fele the delytes that ben in Ihesu Cryst She lerned thoffice of the crosse of saynt Fraunceis whiche loued her truly And she said it as gladly to her power as he dyd She gyrd to her flesshe a corde wheron were thyrten knottes which were ful of brochettes of smale nedles and theron smale rynges And this dyde she in the remembraunce of the woundes of our lord It happed on a tyme on the holy sherthursdaye whiche is the day whanne oure lord made his maundy or souper where as is remembryd how god louyd vnto th ende his disciples aboute the houre of euyn whanne god beganne the wrastlynge of hys passion Thenne saynt Clare beynge heuy and sorowful enclosed her in the chambre of her celle And hit happed that she prayd god longe and was soroufull vnto the dethe in that sorowe and heuynes she drewe a feruent loue ful of desyre For she remembryd how Ihesus in that hour was taken estrayned haled forth and mocked in so moche that of this remembraunce she was alle dronken and satte in her bedde Al that nyght was she so rauysshyd and on the morne that she wyste not where her body was The eyen of her hede loked stedfastly in one place withoute meuynge or lokynge a syde And the eye of her herte was so fixed in Ihesu Cryst that she felte no thyng One of her doughters more famylyer and secrete with her than other wente ofte to her for to see her and alwey she fonde hyr in one poynte The nyght of the satirday this good deuoute doughter brought a candell brennynge and withoute spekynge maade a sygne to her blessyd moder Clare that she shold remembre the commaundementes of saynt Fraunceis For he hadde commanded that euery day she shold eie somwhat Thenne as she stode before her with a candell brennynge Saynt Clare cam ageyne to her astate And her semed that she was comen from an another world And she sad Fayre doughter what nede is of a candell is it not yet day And she answerd Ryght dere fayr moder the nyght is passed and the day is gone and that other nyght is comen Fayre doughter sayd saynt Clare This slepe that I haue made be blessyd For I haue moch desyred it And god hath gyuen hit to me but beware that thou saye it neuer to creature as longe as I lyue Whanne our lord knewe and apperceyued how wel and how moche this holy Clare louyd hym And the ryghte grete loue that she had to the very crosse for the loue of hym he so enlumyned and pryueleged her in suche manere that she hadde power to make tokenes and myracles by the Crosse For when she made the signe of the very crosse vp on them that were seke anon the maladye fledde awey and so many myracles god shewed for her Of whiche I shalle telle yow somme Fyrst of a frere that was oute of his wytte On a tyme it happed that saynt Fraunceis sente to saynt Clare a frere named steuen and was al madde fro hym self that she shold make vpon hym the signe of the Crosse For he knewe well that she was a woman of grete perfection And he honoured her moche for the vertue that was in her And she that was obeyssaunt and good doughter of obedyence blessid the Frere by the commaundement of saynte Fraunsoys and made hym to slepe a lytelle And after she tooke hym by the hond And he aroos al hoole and wente to saynte Fraunsois clene delyuerd of al his maladye This blessyd saynt Clare was a good maystresse and trewe for tenforme yonge peple that knewe but lytell of relygyon And she was president and vpperyst of the maydens of oure lord and enformed them in good custommes and taughte them ryght well to doo penaunce She nourysshed them by so grete loue that vnnethe ony tongue may expresse she taughte them pryuely to flee ale noyse of the world by cause they shold ioyne to our lord And also she exhorted them that they shold put fro them all carnal affection and flesshely loue of their frendes And that they shold not be ouer tendre ouer them ne loue them ouermoche ne howses ne londe but make them strong to please and serue god She counceylled them and warned that they shold hate to doo the wyll of the body And that the delytes and flesshely desyrs of the flesshe they sholde with all their herte and good reason go ther ageynste she sayde to them the fende of helle lyeth in a wayte and leyeth his hokes and grynnes subtylly for to take and bynde the holy sowles and yet they tempte more the good peple than them of the world She wold that they shold wake and laboure with her propre handes in suche werkes as she had establisshed to them She wold that whanne they had done their bodyly trauaylle they shold goo to prayer For prayer is a thynge that plesyth moche god And she wolde that in prayeng they shold rechauffe their bodyes and that they shold leue and depresse neclygence and al coldenesse of herte and be kyndeled and lyghted in the holy loue of god soo that in stede of coldenes they shold be hote in deuocion In no place ne in no cloystre was scylence better kept ne holden ther was no lauas in their speche ne euylle but they were sobre and soo good that they shewed wel that in their hertes was none euyl but al godenes The good maystresse saynt Clare her self spack so lytil that she restrayned them and thought merueyllously on theyr wordes How be it that in her herte ne in her thought was but al holynes This good lady pourueyed to her doughters the word of god by deuoute prechynges And hadde so moche ioye and gladnes perfoundely in her herte in herynge the wordes of the holy predicacion that al her delyte was in oure lord Ihesu Cryst her espouse For on a tyme as Frere phelyp A dryen prechyd a ryght fayre child was to fore saynt Clare and abode there a grete parte of the sermon and beheld merueylously and graciously saynte Clare wherof hit happed that he that was worthy to knowe and see so hyhe thynges of saynt Clare receyued in that syght and beholdynge soo grete a swetenes in his hert and so grete comfort that it myght not be sayd ne expressyd And how be hit that she was not letâ—â—ed yet herd she more gladly the sermons in latyn thaâ— in her vulgar tongue She knewe wel that with in the shelle was the kernel she herd the sermons ententyuely and assaueured them more swetely She coude moche wel drawe to her that was mooste prouffitable for her sowle And wel knewe she that it was no lesse cunnynge to gadre fayr floures amonge the sharp thornes than to ete the fruyte of a fayre tree that is to saye that she louyd better a rude sermon well edyffyeng than a fayre polysshed lytell prouffytynge On a tyme hit happed that the pope gregory deffended that no frere
shold go to the hows of the ladyes withoute his leue And whanne the holy moder saynt clare knewe that she had moche sorowe in her herte by cause she sawe wel that she myght not haue that whiche was nedefull whiche was the noreture of holy scrypture And sayd to her susters with a soroufull herte Now forthon wel may the pope gregorye take fro vs alle the freres whanne he hath taken fro vs them that nourysshed oure sowles with the word of god And anone she sente ageyne all the Freres of her howâ— to the maystre or mynystre For she sayd she hadde nothyng to do to haue freres to gete them bodyly brede whanne they failled them that nourysshed her and her susters with the word of god Anone as the pope gregory herd this tydynge he repeled that whiche he had deffended and set all at the wylle of god This hooly good Abbesse loued not only the sowles of her good doughters but thought well in her herte oftymes how she myght serue their bodyes most charytably For whanne it was ryght colde she couerd by nyghte them that were feble And vysyted them moche swetely And yf she sawe ony trouble by ony temptacion or ony anger whiche happeth somtyme she wold calle them secretely And comforted them all wepyng And other whyle she wold falle doune to the feet of her doughters that were mate and heuy And knelyd to fore them so that the swetenes and debonairte that the ladyes sawe in her good moder that she alleged and toke awey theyr sorow wherof the ladyes her doughters couthe her moche thanke And thus lerned they to doo wel by deuocion and to loue their good moder more swetely and folowed by the ryÈt weye the werkes of their good Abbesse And they meruaylled moche of the grete habondaunce of holynes that god hadde gyuen to his spouse Whanne she hadde ben fourty yere in the state of ryght holy pouerte hit pleased to oure lord to calle her to be rewarded in heuen and sente to her a grete maladye and multyplyed her languoure and sekenes She hadde somtyme done so sharp penaunce that her body ne her flesshe hadde no strengthe And at the last she was ouer seke and moche more than she was wonte to be For as our lord had gyuen to her in her helthe rychesse of merytes of good vertues and of good werkes Ryght so wold god enriche her in her sekenes to th ende that she shold suffre for hym ryghte grete payne and tormentes For in suffrynge of sekenes is vertue parfyghte how and in what wyse she was vertuous in her maladye and parfyght ye maye here For how be it that she hadde ben eyght and twenty yere in langueur and maladye yet neuer she grutched ne murmured ne playned but allewey sayd holy wordes and rendryd thankynges to our lord how be it that she was merueylously agreued and seke so that it semed that she hasted moche to drawe to her ende Hit pleasyd neuertheles to our lord that he respyted her fro the dethe vnto the tyme that her ende myght be honoured and enhaunced her by the presence of the pope and of the cardynals to whome she was especial doughter for when the pope and the cardynals hadde abyden a grete whyle at lyons Seynt clare was theÌ„ne merueyllously 〈◊〉 by sekenes soo that her doughters hadde grete sorowe at their hertes that them semed that a glayue had perâ—â—d them or that they haue be ryuen with a swerd But our lord shewed anon a vysyon to one his haÌ„dmayde which dwellyd at saynt powles For hit semed to her that she and her susters were at saynt Damyans to fore saynt clare whiche was ryght seke And her semed that this Clare laye in a moche fayr bedde and moche precious And her semed that her doughters wepte whanne the soule shold passe oute of the body And anone she sawe a ryght fayr lady at the hede of the bedde and sayd to them that wepte Faire doughters wepe no more for this lady shall ouercome all And knowe ye that she shalle not deye tyll that oure lord and his disciples shalle come And she shal not abyde longe after that the pope and the Courte of Rome shalle come to perouse And anone as the Bisshop of Hostence herd saye that this holy woman was seke anone in grete haste he wente to see and vysyte the spouse of Ihesu Cryst For he was her ghostely fader and had the cure of her soule And nourysshed her with pure herte and pure wylle For he hadde alweye deuoutely loued the holy vyrgyne And thenne he gaf to her in her maladye the body of our lord For that is the very fedyng of the sowle And he comforted the other doughters by his sermons and holy wordes Thenne the holy good moder wepynge praid hym moche swetely that he wold take heede of her doughters ther beynge and of all the other And that for the loue of our lord he wold remembre her And aboue alle other thynges she prayd hym that he wolde do so moche that her pryuelege of pouerte myghte be confermed of the pope and of the cardynals And he that loued veryly her and the relygyon and that hadde alwey truly ayded her promysed that he shold doo and dyde hit In the yere after cam the pope and the cardynals to Assyse for to see the departyng of the holy vyrgyne and to putte to effect the vysyon that hâ—dde be sene and signefyed of her For the pope is the hyhest man in erthe vnder god and that best representeth the persone of Ihesu Cryst For lyke as our lord hadde his disciples which were ioyned to hym in erthe In lyke wyse the pope hath his cardynals the whiche ben ioyned to hym in the hooly chirche Our lord god hasted hym as he that knewe the ferme purpos of his spouse saynte Clare And hasted for to honoure her and to sette in the palais of the kynge of paradys his poure pilgryme and the good lady also coueyted and wysshed with alle her herte that she myghte be delyuerd of her mortal body And that she myght see in heuen Ihesu cryst as she that hadde ensiewed hym in therthe with al her hert in very pouerte Her membres were brused and troubled by grete sekenes that the body myght not endure For it was ouer moche enfebled soo that our lord called her fro this world and ordeyned for her helthe perdurable Thenne pope Innocent the fourthe the cardynallis cam with hym for to vysyte thandmayde of god of whom he hadde better proued the holy lyf than of ony woman that was in his tyme And therfor he knewe certaynly that it was reason that he shold come and honoure her with his presence And whanne he cam in to the hows of the ladyes he went thyder where as this holy saynte laye And took to her his hond for to kysse And the pope whiche was curtois stode vpon a tree and tooke to her
his fote to kysse by grete humylyte And she took it and kyssed it moche swetely and after enclyned her self to the pope moch humbly and requyred hym with a swete chyere that he wold assoille her of alle her synnes To whome he sayde wold god that we hadde nomore nede of absolucion of synnes that we haue done than ye haue And thenne he assoylled her of all her synnes and gaf to her largely his benediction And whanne they were al departed for as moche as she hadde receyued that day by the handes of the mynyster prouynciall the very body of oure lord She lift vp her eyen to oure lord to heuen and ioyned her handes to gyder And sayde thenne Ha my right swete fair doughters our lord Ihesu crist by his debonairte hath done to me soo grete good and gyuen to me so grete a yefte that heuen ne erthe maye not knowe For I haue receyued this day a moche hyhe lord and also haue sene his vycayre The good doughters were aboute the bedde which wepte and abode for the orphalyns Wherof they hadde moche grete sorowe in their hertes For the deth of their moder percyd their hertes lyke as it were a swerd which doughters departed not fro her ne for hongre ne for thurst ne for no slepe ne they thouÈt neyther of bedde ne of table Alle the delytes that they had was for to crye to wepe to make sorowe And amonge alle the other her suster whiche was a moche deuoute vyrgyne wepte many teres sayd to saynt Clare her suster Fayre and ryght swete suster departe not awe ye fro me And leue me not here allone And saynt Clare answerd to her moche swetely Faire swete saster It plesyth to god that I departe fro thys world but wepe no more fayr suster For ye shalle come hastely to oure lord hastely after me And also I say you that oure lord shalle doo to yow grete comforte and consolacion to fore or ye deye After this holy and good Clare drewe fast to her ende And the folke and peple had to her grete deuocion And the prelates and cardynals cam ofte to see her And honoured her as a very saynte But there was a merueylous thynge to here For she was by the space of twelue dayes that neuer entryd in to her body no corporall mete And she was so stronge by the suffraunce and grace of god that she comforted in the seruyse of god alle them that come to fore her And desyred and charged them to doo well And whanne Frere Reynald whiche was debonayr cam for to see her And beheld the grete sekenes that she hadde long tyme suffred he prechyd to her and prayd her moche to haue pacyence And anone she answerd to hym frely and debonayrly Syth that the holy man saynt Fraunceis the seruaunt of Ihesu Cryst hath shewed to me the weye of trouthe And that I haue felte and knowen the wylle and grace of Ihesu cryst by the aduertysement of saynt Fraunceis knowe ye ryght dere broder that no paynes displease me ne no penaunce greueth me ne no sekenesses ben to me hard ne displesen then answerd she to the frere whanne she felte oure lord knocke at her yate for to take her sowle oute of this world And requyred that good folke and spyrytuel shold be with her that she myght here of them the holy wordes of god and specially the wordes of the dethe and passion of Ihesu Cryste And amonge alle other cam a Frere named vynberes whiche was one of the noble prechers that was in erthe and that oftymes spacke and sayd noble and holy wordes ardaunt and good of whos comynge she was moche glad And prayd hym that yf he hadde made redy ony newe thynge that he shold saye it And thenne the frere opened his mouthe and beganne to saye so swete wordes that they were lyke sparklys of fyre and of ardaunt feruour or hete wherof the holy vyrgyne had moche grete consolacion Thenne she tourned her and sayd to her doughters Swete doughters I recommauÌ„de to yow the holy pouerte of our lord And gyue ye to hym thankynges for that he hath done to yow Thenne she blessyd all them that had deuocion to her and to her ordre And gaf largely and wysely her blessynge to alle the poure ladyes of her ordre that were to fore her there The two felawes of saynt Fraunceis that were there of whom that one was named Aungel comforted them that were ful of sorowe And that other Frere kyssed deuoutely and holyly the bedde of her that shold passe to oure lord The hooly ladyes sorowed moche the losse of their moder And as moche more as they cryed and wepte without forth so moche more were they ardauntly greuyd within forth Thenne saynt clare began to speke to her soule al softely Go sayd she go surely For thou hast a good guyde and conduytour in the waye where as thou shalt go whiche shall lede the well the righte way Go sayde she hardyly for he that made the and sanctyfyed the shalle kepe the For he loueth the also tenderly as the moder doth her childe Lord god sayd she blessyd be thou that madest me And thenne one of her susters demanded her to whome she spack I haue sayd she spoken to my blessid sowle And withoute faylle her glorious conduy tour is not fer fro her Thenne she called one of her doughters and seyd to her Fair doughter seest thou the kynge of glory whome I see but the doughter sawe hym not For the wylle of god was that one shold see that an other sawe not For ther was an happy wydowe and comfortable whiche sawe hym with the eyen of her heede among the teres that she wepte And yet neuertheles she was wounded to the herte with a darte full of swetenes and of sorowe Thenne she torned her syght toward the dore of the hows And sawe a grete companye of vyrgyns entre in to the hows alle cladde with whyte clothes And eche of them bare a crowne of gold in her hede And amonge alle other there was one moche more clere and fayrer than the other whiche bare a crowne of gold wyndowed oute wherof yssued a ryght grete clerenes that all the hows was so clerly lyght that it semed the nyght to be clere day And this lady that was soo clere approched to the bedde where as the spouse of her sone laye And she enclyned vpon her and embraced her moche swetely Thenne the vyrgyns brought a mantell of ryght grete beaute And the vyrgyns enforced them to serue and to couer the body of saynt Clare And wel to make redy the hows And on the morne was the fest of saynte Laurence And thenne deyde and departed oute of this mortall lyf the holy lady and frende of our lord And anone the sowle of her was crouned in euerlastynge ioye The spyryte of her was moche benyngnely and ioyously losed and
wold see them And thanked god and saint Clare that she had her child ageyne rendryd to her Ther was a mayde of the Castel conuary whiche satte on a tyme in a feld And another woman hadde leyd her hede in her lappe And in the mene whyle there cam a wulf whiche was acustomed to renne on the peple And cam to this mayde swalowed the vysage all the mouth And so ranne with her toward the wode And the good woman that rested in her lappe whan she sawe it was moche abasshed and beganne to calle on saynt Clare And sayd helpe helpe saynt Clare and socoure vs I recommāde to the at this tyme this mayde And she whome the wulf bare sayd vnto the wulf Arte not thou aferd to bere me ony ferther that am recommaunded to so grete and worthy lady And with that word that the mayde sayd the wulf al confused and shamed sette softely the mayde doune and fled aweye lyke a theef And soo she was delyuerd Thenne late vs pray vnto thys glorious vyrgyn saynt Clare to be our Aduocate in all our nedes And by the merytes of her we maye so amende our lyf in this world that we may come vnto euerlastynge lyf and blysse in heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Clare ¶ Here begynnneth the lyf of saint barbara IN the tyme that maxymyen reygned there was a ryche man a paynym whiche adoured and worshypped the ydolles whiche man was named dyoscorus thys dyoscorus had a yonge doughter whiche was named barbara for whome he dyd doo make an hyghe and stronge toure in which he dyd to kepe and close thys Brbara to the ende that no man shold see hyr by cause of hyr grete beaulte Thenne came many prynces vnto the sayd dyoscorus for to treate with hym for the maryage of hys doughter Whiche wente anone vnto hir sayd my douggter certeyn prynces be comen to me whiche requyre me for to haue the in maryage wherfore telle to me thyn entente and what wylle ye haue to doo Thenne saynt barbara retorned al angrye toward hyr fader and sayd my fader I praye you that ye wyl not constreyne me to marye for therto I haue no wylle ne thoughte After thys he departed fro hir went in to the towne where there was one makyng a cysterne or a pyscyne For he had many werkmen for to perfourme thys werke And also he had tofore ordeyned how he shold paye vnto eche of theym theyr salayre and after this he departed thens and wente in to a ferre contreye where he longe soiourned Thenne saynt barbara the an lle of our lord Ihesu cryste descended fro the toure for to come see the werke of hyr fader and anone she perceyurd that there were but two wyndowes onelye That one ageynste the southe that other ageynste the northe wherof she Was moche abasshed admeruaylled and demaunded of the werkmen why they had not made no moo wyndowes and they answerd that hyr fader had so commaunded and ordeyned ¶ Thenne saynt barbara sayd to them make me here another wyndowe They answerd dame we fere and drede to angre your fader whiche commaunded vs to make no moo ne we dar not therfore make no moo e The blessyd mayde sayd do and make that I commaunde you and I shal contente my fader shal excuse you ageynst hym Thenne dyd they that she commaunded to them by the manere that she enseygned and shewed them whan the holy saynt barbara walked and came vnto the cysterne she made wyth hir fyngre toward thorryent a crosse wyth hyr thombe in the stone of marble the whiche crosse is there yet vnto thys day Whych euery man may see that cometh thyder by deuocyon whan she came vnto the syde where as the water descended in to the sayd cysterne she blessyd it made the signe of the crosse and Incontynente the water was halowed in Whiche al they that Were seek receyued helthe yf they had parfyte byleue in god in the blessed mayde In thys same cysterne was this holy mayde baptysed of an holy man and lyued there certeyn space of tyme in takyng onelye for hyr refeccion hony socles and locustes folowyng the holy precursour of our lord Saynt Iohan baptyste thys cysterne or pyscyne is semblable to the fontayn of Syloe in whyche he that was borne blynde recouerd there hys syght ¶ Hyt is also lyke to the pisyne named robatyca In whyche thympotente by the worde of god was made hole Thyse pyssynes or pecynes ben fontaynes perpetuelles in whiche al manere seek men in what someuer maladye they were greuyd or tormented that wente therin receyued fully theyr helthe In thys fontaygne is lyuyng water and it is the water that the samarytane requyred of our lord to haue of the holy pecyne On a tyme thys blessyd mayde wente vp vpon the toure and there she behelde the ydolles to whiche hir fader sacrefyed and worshypped and sodeynlye she receyued the holy ghoost and became meruayllously subtyl and clere in the loue of Ihesu cryste For she was enuyronned wyth the grace of god almyghty of souereyn glorye and of pure chastyte Thys holy mayde Barbara aourrned wyth feythe surmounted the deuyl for whan she behelde thydolles she cratched them in theyr vysages in despysyng them alle and sayenge alle they ben made lyke vnto you whyche haue made you to erre and alle them that haue affyaunce in you thenne she wente in to the toure and worshepped our lord and whanne the werke was ful parfourmed hyr fader retorned from hys vyage whan he sawe there thre wyndowes he demaunded of the werkemen wherfore haue ye made thre wyndowes they answerd your doughter hath commaūded so Thenne he made his doughter to come afore hym and demaunded hyr why she had do make thre wyndowes and she answerd to hym and sayd I haue doon them to be maad by cause thre wyndowes lyghten alle the world and alle creatures but ij make derkenesse ¶ Thenne hyr fader toke hyr wente doun in to the pyscyne demaundyng hir how thre Wyndowes gyue more lyght thenne two saynt Barbara answerd Thyse thre fenestres or wyndowes betokene clerely the fader the sone and the holy ghoost the whyche ben thre persones one veray god on whome we oughte to byleue and worshyppe Thenne he beyng replenysshed wyth furour Incontynente drewe hys swerde to haue slayne hyr but the holy vyrgyn made hyr prayer and thenne meruayllously she was taken in a stone and borne in to a montaygne on whiche two shepherdes kepte theyr sheep the whiche sawe hyr flee and thenne hir fader Whyche pursewed after hyr wente vnto the sheepherdes and demaunded after hyr And that one whiche wolde haue preserued hyr sayd that he had not seen hyr but that other whyche was an euyl man shewed and poynted hyr wyth his fyngre whome the holy saynt barbara cursyd and anone hys sheep
that two wycked tyrauntes that one named hynguar and that other hubba camen out of denmarke and arryued in the contre of northumberlonde and robbed and destroyed the contre and slewe the peple wythout mercy in euery place where they came Thenne the one of hem named hynguar came in to the contre where thys most cristen saynt edmond reygned and vnderstode that he was in his flowryng age stronge and myghty in batayle and demaunded of the people where theyr kynge was resydente and dwellyd whyche that was moste abydyng in a towne named thenne eglesdon and now is called burye Now the danes had all weye acustom that they wold neuer fyghte batayle sette ne apoynted but euer lye in a wayte how they myght by sleyght and deceyte preuented falle on good crysten men and so slee and destroye them lyke as theuys lye in awayte to robbe and slee good trewe men wherfore whan he knewe where thys holy kynge was he adressyd one of his knyghtes to hym for to espye what strengthe he had and what peple aboute hym and hynguar hym self folowed wyth al his hoost to th ende that sodaynly he shold falle vpon this kyng vnaduysed that he myght subdue hym vnto his lawes and commaundementes Thenne thys sayd knyght came to thys holy kyng saynt edmonde and made hys legacion and message in thys wyse Our most drad lord by londe by see hynguar whiche hath subdued dyuers contrees londes in this prouynce vnto his seygnorye by strengthe of armes purposeth wyth alle his shyppes and armye to wynter hym in thyse marches sendeth to the his commaundemente that thou Incontynente come and make allyaunce and frendshyp wyth hym And that thou departe to hym thy paternal tresours rychesses in suche wyse that thou mayst regne vnder hym Or certeynly thou shalt deye by cruel dethe And whan the blessed kynge Saynt Edmonde had herde this message anone he syghed and called to hym one of his bysshoppes and demaunded counceyl of hym what how he shold answer vpon thys demaunde that was axyd of hym whyche bysshop sore dredyng for the kynges lyf exhorted hym by many exaumples for to consente and agree to this tyraunte hynguar and the kyng a whyle said no thynge but remembryd hym wel after many deuoute wordes atte laste he answerd to the messager in thys wyse and sayd This shalt thou saye to thy lord knowe thou for trouthe that for the loue of temporal lyf the crysten kynge edmonde shal not subdue hym to a paynym duc Thēne vnnethe was the messager gone out but hynguar mette hym bad hym vse shorte wordes and telle hym hys answer whiche message tolde vnto hynguar Anone the cruel tyraūte commaunded to slee alle the people that were wyth saynt edmonde and destroye them but they shold holde and kepe onelye the kynge whome he knewe rebelle vnto his wycked lawes Thenne this holy kynge was taken and bounden hys handes behynde hym and is broughte tofore the duc and after many obprobryes wordes at the laste they ladde hym forthe vnto a tree whiche was therby To whyche tree his aduersaryes bonde hym and thenne shotte arowes at hym so thycke and many that he was thorugh wounded and that one arowe smote out another and alweye thys blessyd kynge cessyd not for alle his woundes to gyue lawde preysyng vnto almyghty god Thenne thys wycked tyraunte commaunded that they shold smyte of his heed whiche they so dyd he alwey prayeng and sayeng his orysons to our lord god Thenne the danes lefte the body there lyeng and toke the hede bare it in to the thycke of the wood hyd it in the thyckest place emonge thornes and brerys to th ende that it shold not be founden of the crysten men but by the purueaunce of almyghty god there came a wulfe whiche dylygently kepte the holy hede fro deuowryng of beestys and fowles And after whan the danes were departed the crysten men fonde the body but they coude not fynde the heed wherfore they sought it in the wood as one of them spake to another where arte thou whiche were in the thycke of the 〈◊〉 and cryed where arte thou 〈◊〉 heed answerd and sayd here here here and anone thenne alle they came thyder and sawe it and also a grete wulfe syttyng enbracyng the heed betwene his forleggys kepyng it fro alle other beestys and thenne anone they toke the heed and brought it vnto the body and sette it to the place where it was smyten of and anone they ioyned to gyder and thenne they bare thys holy body vnto the place where it is now buryed the wulfe folowed humbly the body tyl it was buryed and thenne he hurtyng no body retorned ageyn to the wood and the blessyd body and heed ben so ioyned to gyder that there apperyth no thynge that it had be smyten of saufe as hyt were a reed shynyng threde in the place of the departyng where the heed was smyten of in that place where he now lyeth so buryed is a noble monastarye made and therin monkes of the ordre of saynt benette whiche been richely endowed In whyche place almyghty god hath shewed many myracles for this holy kynge and marter ¶ Thus endeth the lyf and passyon of saint edmond kyng and marter Here foloweth of saint Cecyle vyrgyne and marter fyrste of hyr name CEcylle is as moche to say as the lyle of heuen or a waye to blynde men Or she is sayd of celo and lya or ellys cecilia as lackyng blyndenes Or she is sayd of celo that is heuen and leos that is peple she was an heuenly lyle by clennes of vyrgynyte a weye to blynde men by Informacion of example heuen by deuoute contemplacion lya by besy operacyon lackyng blyndenes by shynyng of wysedom and heuen of the people ¶ For the people behelde in hyr as in folowyng the spyrytuel heuen the sonne the mone and the sterrys that is to say shynyng of wysedom magnanymytee of feythe and dyuersyte of vertues Or she is sayd a lylye for she had the whytenes of clennesse a good concience and adoure of good fame Or she is sayd heuen for ysodore saith that the phylosopres sayen that heuen is meuable rounde and brennyng In lyke wyse was she moeuyng by besy operacion rounde by perseueraūce and brennyng by fyry charyte ¶ Of saint Cecillye SAynt cecillye the holy vyrgyn was comen of the noble lygnage of the Romayns and fro the tyme that she laye in hir cradle she was fostrid and nourisshed in the feythe of cryste and alle weye bare in hir breste the gospel hyd and neuer cessyd day ne nyght from holy prayers but recommaunded to god all weye hir vyrgynyte and whan thys blessyd vyrgyne shold be spoused to a yonge man named valeryan the day of weddyng was comen was cladde in ryal clothes of golde but vnder she ware the hayre and she heeryng
the mene tyme tydynges came to rome how that grete brytaygne whiche now is called englond rebellyd ageynst the empyre wherfore by the aduys of the consulate it was concluded that constancius kynge of ermonye shold goo in to brytaygne to subdue them whiche adressyd hym thyder in shorte tyme after he entryd in to the londe by his prowesse and wysdom he appeasyd the royame and subdued it ageyn to the empyre of Rome And also he was so acceptable to the kynge of brytayne named coel that he maryed his doughter heleyne whyche afterward fonde the holy crosse And in shorte tyme he gate on hir constantyn whyche after was Emperour And thenne sone after deyed constancyus and constantyn after the dethe of kynge Coel by his moder was crowned kynge of brytaygne And costus the fyrste sone of constancyus wedded the kynges doughter of cypre whyche was heyre of whom as shal be here after was engendred Saynt katheryne whiche came of the lignage of constancyus Now foloweth the lyf of saint Katheryne IN the yere of our lord two hondred regned in cypre a noble and prudent kynge named costus which was a noble semely man ryche and of good condycyons and had to his wyf a quene lyke to hym self in vertuous gouernaunce whiche lyued to gyder prosperously but after the lawe of paynyms and worshypped ydolles Thys kynge by cause he loued renommâ—e wold haue his name spradde thorugh the world he founded a cyte in whyche he edefyed a temple of his false goddes named that cyte after his name costy whiche after to encrece his fame the peple named it fama costi and yet in to thys day is called famagous in whiche cytee he and the quene lyued in grete welthe and prosperyte and lyke as the fayr rose spryngeth emonge the brerys and thornes Right soo betwene thyse two paynyms was brought forth thys blessyd vyrgyn saynt katheryne and whan this holy virgyn was borne she was so fayr of vysage and so wel formed in hir membrys that alle the peple enioyed in hir beaute and whan she came to vij yere of age anone after she was sette to scole where she prouffyted moche more thenne ony other of hir age and was enformed in the artes lyberal wherin she dranke plenteuously of the welle of wysdom for she was chosen to be a techer enformer of euerlastyng wysdom The kynge costus hir fader had soo grete ioye of the grete towardnes and wysdom of his doughter that he lete ordeyne a toure in hys paleys with dyuers studyes and chambres in which she myght be at hir plesure and also at hir wylle and also he ordeyned for to wayte on hir seuen the best maisters and wysest in connyng that myght be goten as in tho partyes and wythin a whyle they that came to teche hir they after that lerned of hyr and became hir dyscyples and whan thys vyrgyne came to the age of xiiij yere hir fader kynge cosâ—us deyed thenne she was lefte as quene heyre after hym and thenne the estates of the londe came to this yonge lady katheryne and desyred hir to make a parlemente in whiche she myght be crowned and receyue the homage of hyr subgettes and that suche rule myghte be sette in hir begynnyng that pees prosperyte myght ensyewe in hir royame and thys yonge mayde grauÌ„ted to them theyr askynge and whan the parlamente was assemblyd and the yonge quene crowned with grete solempnyte and she syttyng on a day in hir parlamente and hyr moder by hir with al the lordes eche in his place a lord aroos by thassente of hir moder the other lordes and comyns knelid doun tofore hir sayeng thyse wordes Ryght hyghe and myghty pryncesse and our moste souerayn lady please it you to wyte that I am commaunded by the quene your moder by alle the lordes comyns of thys your royame to requyre your hyenes that it may plese you to graunte to them that they myght prouyde soÌ„me noble kyng or prynce to marye you to th ende that he myght rule and deffende your royame and subgettes lyke as your fader dyd before you and also that of you myght procede noble lygnage whyche after you may reygne vpon vs whiche thynge we moste desyre and herof we desyre your good answer This yonge quene katheryne heeryng thys request was abasshed troubled in hir corage how she myght answer to contente hir moder the lordes and hir subgettes and to kepe hyr self chaste For she had concluded to kepe hir virgynyte and rather to suffre deth than to defoule it and thenne wyth a sadde chere and meke loke she answeryd in thys wyse Cosyn I haue wel vnderstonde your requeste and thanke my moder the lordes and my subgettys of the greâ—e loue that they alle haue to me to my royame as touchyng my maryage I truste verayly there may be no peryll consyderyng the grete wysedom of my lady my moder and of the lordes wyth the good obeysauÌ„ce of the comyns trustyng in their good contynuaunce wherfore we nede not to seke a straunger for to rule vs and our royame for wyth your good assystaunce and ayde we hope to rule gouerne kepe this our royame in good Iustyce pees and reste in lyke wyse as the kynge my fader helde you in Wherfore at thys tyme I praye you to be contente and to cesse of thys matere and lete vs procede to suche maters as ben requesyte for the rule gouernauÌ„ce and vnyuersal wele of thys royame and whan this yonge quene katheryn had achyeued hir answer The quene hir moder and al the lordes were abasshed of hir wordes and wyst not what to say for they consyderyd wel by hyr wordes that she had no wylle to be maryed and thenne there aroos stood vp a duc whiche was hir vncle and with due reuerence sayd to hir in thys wyse My souerayn lady sauyng your hygh and noble dyscrescion this answer is ful heuy to my lady your moder and to vs al your humble lyege men wythout ye take better aduys to your noble corage wherfore I shal moeue to you of four notable thynges that the grete god hath endowed you before al other creatures that we know which thynges ought to cause you to take a lord to your husbond to th ende that tho plentyuous yeftes of nature and grace may sprynge of you by geeracion whiche may sucorde by ryght lygne to reygne vpon vs to the grete comforte and ioye of alle your peple subgettes the contrarye shold torne to grete sorowe and heuynesse Now good vncle sayd she what been thyse iiij notable thynges that so ye repute in vs madame sayd he the fyrst is this that we be acerteyned that ye be comen of the moste noble blode in the world the second that ye be a grete enherytour and the grettest that lyueth of woman to our knowleche the third that is that ye in science connyng and
said to hym yf thou wylt consente to the prynce I shal spare the and gyue to the medecyne To whome Iames sayd haste not thou seen the strock of the vygne that whan the braunches been cutte of the knotte that remayneth in his tyme whan the erthe achauffeth It germeth and bryngeth forth newe buddes in al the places of the cuttyng thenne yf the vygne be cutte by cause he shold burgyne brynge forth fruyte in his tyme how moche more ought a man burgyne more plenteuously in the feyth that he suffreth for the loue of Ihesu cryste whyche is the veray vygne and thenne the boucher cutte of the forfyngre Thenne sayd Saynt Iames lord receyue two braunches whiche thy ryght honde hath planted he cutte of the thyrd and Iames sayd I am delyuerd fro thre temptacions I shal blysse the fader the sone and the holy ghoost and lord I shal confesse thâ— with the thre chyldren that thou sauedest fro the chymney of fyre and Ihesu cryste I shal synge to thy name in the quere of marters thenne the fourth was cutte of and saynt Iames sayd O protectour of the chyldren of Israhel whiche in the fourthe blessyng were pronounced receyue of thy seruaunte the confessyon of the fourthe fyngre lyke as the benedyccion was in Iuda and thenne the fyfthe fyngre was cutte of and he sayd my ioye is accomplisshed and thenne the bouchers said to hym spare thy lyf that thou perysshe not and angre the not though thou hast loste one hande for there ben many that haue but one hande that haue moche honour and rychesses And the blessyd Iames sayd to them whan the shepeherdes shere theyr sheep they take not onely the ryght syde 〈◊〉 also the lyfte syde thenne yf the lamâ—â— whiche is but a brute beest wyl lese his flese for his mayster how moche more thenne I that am a man resonable ouÈt to be smyton in pyeces for the loue of god and thenne the felonne bouchers wente to that other hande and cutte of fyrst the lytel fyngre and saynt Iames sayd lord whan thou were grete thou woldest be made lytel for us and therfore I yelde to the body and sowle whiche thou madest and redemyst wyth thy propre blood Thenne the seuenth fyngre was cutte of and he sayd lord I haue said to the seuen tymes in the tyme preysynges Thenne they cutte the viij fyngre and he sayd Ihesu cryste was circumcysed the eyght day and thebrewes were circumcised the eyght day for to accomplysshe the commaundementes cerymonyalles of the feythe and lord lete the mynde of thy seruaunte goo fro thyse Incircumcysed and that I may haue the prepucye vndefouled that I may come and beholde thy face lord Thenne the nynthe fyngre was cutte of and he sayd the nynthe houre Ihesu cryste rendryd his spyryte in the crosse to his fader and therfore lord I confesse me to the in the sorowe of the ix fyngre and thanke the Thenne the tenthe fyngre was cutte of and he sayd the tenthe nombre is in the commaundementes of the lawe Thenne somme of them that were there sayden right dere frende confesse thou our goddes tofore our prynce soo that thou mayst lyue how be it that thy handes be cutte of there ben right wyse leches that shal wel hele the and ease the of thy payne To whome saynt Iames sayd god forbede that in me shold be ony false dyssymylacion no man that put his honde to the ploughe loketh bacwarde is not couenable to come to the kyngdom of heuen Thenne the bouchyers hauyng despyte and cutte of the grete too of the ryght foot and saynt Iames sayd the foot of Ihesu cryste was persyd and blood yssued out The second was cutte of and he sayd this day is grete to me tofore all other dayes this day I conuerted shal goo sothely to the stronge god thenne they cutte the thyrd and threwen it tofore hym and saynt Iames sayd smylyng goo thou thyrd too to thy felowes for lyke as the grayne of whete rendryth moche fruyte so shalte thou do wyth thy felawes and shalt reste in the last day The fourth was thenne cutte of and he said my sowle wherfore arte thou sorowful and why troublest me hope in god for I shal confesse to hym that is the helthe of my chere and my god The fyfthe was cutte of and he sayd I shal now begynne to say to our lord dygne praysyng for he hath made me worthy felawe to his seruauntes Thenne they came to his lyfte foot and cutte of the lytel too and saynt Iames sayd lytel too be comforte for the grete and lytel shal haue one resurrexyon an heer of the heed shal not perisshe and thou shalte not departe fro thy felawes And after they cutte of the seconde too and he sayd destroye ye the olde hows for a more noble is maad redy The thyrd was cutte of and he sayd by suche kuttynges shal I be pourged fro vyces and they cutte of the fourth too and he sayd comforte me god of trouthe for my sowle trusteth in the Thenne the fyfthe was cutte of and he sayd O lord loo I offre and sacrefyse to the twenty tymes and thenne they cutte of his right fote and saynt Iames sayd Now I shal offre a yefte to god for whos loue I suffre this Thenne they cutte of the lyfte fote he sayd thou arte he lord that makest meruaylles here thou me lord and saue me They cutte of after his right hande and he sayd lord thy mercyes helpe me they cutte of his lifte hande and he sayd lord thou arte he that louest the ryghtful and they cutte of the ryght arme and he sayd my sowle prayse the our lord I shal gyue lawde to our lord in my lyf and shal synge to hym as longe as I shal lyue and thenne they cutte of the lyfte arme and he sayd the sorowes of dethe haue enuyronned me and I shal thynke ageynst them thenne they cutte of the ryght legge to the thye Thenne saynt Iames was greued in grete payne and sayd lord Ihesu cryste helpe me for the wayllynges of deth come about me and he sayd to the bouchyers our lord shal clothe me wyth newe flesshe so that your wouÌ„des shal neuer appere in me and thenne the bouchyers began to fayle and were wery fro the first houre of the day vnto the nynthe they had swette in cuttyng his membyrs and after they came to them self and cutte of the lyfte legge vnto the thye and thenne the blessyd Iames escryed and sayd o good lord here me halfe a lyue thou lord of lyuyng men and dede lord I haue no fyngres to lyfte vp to the ne handes that I may enhaunce to the my feet be cutte of and my knees soo that I may not knele to the and am lyke to an hows fallen of whome the pylers ben taken aweye by whiche the hows was born vp and susteyned here me lord Ihesu cryste
thou knowest wel how thou haste taughte me and yf thou deffende the feyth that I haue lerned of the I shal abyde in thy doctryne to the ende of my lyf and yf thou be ouercomen I shal auenge me anone on the myn Iniurye and shall plucke out the tonge out of thyn heed wyth myn handes gyue it to dogges to th ende that thou be not so hardy to put a kynges sone in errour And whan nachor herde that he was in grete fere and sawe wel that yf he sayd contrarye he were but dede and that he was taken in his owne snare and thenne he aduysed that it were better to take and holde wyth the sone thenne wyth the fader For to eschewe the perylle of deth For the kynge had sayd to hym tofore them all that he shold deffende the feythe hardelye without drede thenne one of the maysters sayd to hym thou arte balaam whiche hast deceyued the sone of the kynge and he sayd I am Balaam whyche haue not put the kynges sone in ony errour but I haue broughte hym out of errour and thenne the mayster sayd to hym right noble and mearuyllous men haue worshypped our goddes how darest thou thenne adresse the ageynst them and he answerd they of caldee of egypte and of greâ—e haue erryd and sayden that the creatures were goddes the chaldees supposeden that the elementes had ben goddes whiche were created to the prouffyte of men and the grekes supposed that cursyd men and tyrauntes had be goddes as saturne whom they sayd ete his sone and Iubyter whiche as they say gheldyd his fader threwe his membrys in to the see wherof grewe venus and Iubyter to be kynge of the other goddes by cause he transformed ofte hym self in lykenesse of a beest for to accomplysshe his aduoultrye and also they saye that venus is goddesse of aduoultrye and somtyme mars is hyr husbond and somtyme adonydes The egypcyens worshyppe the beestys that is to wete a sheep a calfe a swyne or suche other and the crysten men worshyppe the sone of the ryght hyghe kynge that descended fro heuen and toke nature humayne And thenne nachor beganne clerelye to deffende the lawe of crysten men garnysshed hym wyth many resons so that the maysters were al abasshed and wyste not what to answere and thenne Iosaphat had grete ioye of that whiche our lord had deffended the trouthe by hym that was enemye of trouthe and thenne the kynge was ful of wodenesse and commaunded that the counceyl shold departe lyke as he wold haue tretyd ageyn on the morne of the same fayte Thenne Iosaphat sayd to his fader lete my mayster be wyth me thys nyght to the ende that we may make our collacion to gyder for to make to morowe our answeres and thou shalt lede thy maysters wyth the and shal take counceyl wyth them yf thou lede my mayster wyth the thou doest me no ryghte wherfore he graunted to hym nachor by cause he hoped that he shold deceyue hym and whan the kynges sone was comen to his chambre and nachor with hym Iosaphat sayd to nachor Ne wenest thou not that I knowe the I wote wel that thou arte not balaam but thou arte nachor the astronomyen and Iosaphat prechyd thenne to hym the waye of helthe and conuertyd hym to the feythe and on the morne sente hym in to deserte and there was baptysed and ledde the lyf of an hermyte Thenne there was an enchauntour named theodas whan he herde of this thynge he came to the kyng and sayd that he shold make his sone retorne and byleue in hys goddes And the kyng said to hym yf thou do so I shal make to the an ymage of golde and offre sacrefyses therto lyke as to my goddes and he sayd take aweye al them that ben aboute thy sone and put to hym fayre wymmen and wel aourned and commaunde them alle waye to abyde by hym and after I shal sende a wycked spyryte that shal enflamme hym to luxurye and there is noo thynge that may so sone deceyue the yonge men as the beaulte of wymmen and he sayd yet more there was a kynge whyche had wyth grete payne a sone the wyse maysters sayden that yf he sawe sonne or mone wythin ten yere he shold lose the syghte of his eyen Thenne hit was ordeyned that thys chylde shold be nourisshed wythin a pytte made in a grete roche and whan the ten yere were passyd The kynge commmaunded that hys sone shold be brought forth and that all thynges shold be broughte tofore hym by cause he shold knowe the names and tho thynges and thenne they brought to fore hym Iewelles horses and beestys of al maners and also golde syluer precyous stones all other thynges and whan he had demauÌ„ded the names of euery thynge and that the mynystres had tolde hym he sette nought therby and whan his fader saw that he retched not of suche thynges theÌ„ne the kynge made to be broughte tofore hym wymmen quayntely arayed and he demaunded what they were For they wold not soo lyghtly telle hym wherof he was anoyed and after the mayster squyer of the kyng sayd iapyng that they were deuylles that deceyue men Thenne the kynge demaunded hym what he lyeuest had of al that he had seen and he answeryd fader my soule coueyteth noo thynge so moche as the deuylles that deceyue men and therfore I suppose that none other thynge shal surmounte thy sone but wymmen whiche moeue men alle waye to lecherye thenne the kynge put out alle his mynystres and sette therin to be about his sone rizt noble fayre maydens whyche alweye hym admonested to playe and there were none other that myght speke ne serue hym and anone the enchauntour sent to hym the deuyl for to enflame hym whiche brennyd the yonge man wythinforth the maydens wythoutforth and whan he felte hym soo strongelye trauaylled he was moche angry and recommaunded hym self alle to god and he receyued deuyne comforte in suche wyse that al temptacyon departed from hym after this that the kynge sawe that the deuyl had don no thynge he sente to hym a fayre mayden a kynges doughter whyche was faderles To whome this man of god prechyd and she answerd yf thou wylte saue me and take me aweye fro worshyppyng of thydolles conioyne the vnto me by couplyng of maryage for the patryarkes prophetes and peter the appostle had wyues and he sayd to hir woman thyse wordes sayest thou now for nought It apperteyneth wel to crysten men to wedde wyues but not to them that haue promysed to our lord to kepe vyrgynyte And she sayd to hym now be it as thou wylte but yf thou wylte saue my sowle graunte to me a lytel requeste lye wyth me onelye this nyght and I promyse to the that to morne I shal be made crysten For as ye say the aungels haue more ioye in heuen of one synnar doyng penaunce
of Rome and to the empyre how be it they had receyued the feyth And thenne pepyn the grettest prynce of the hows of fraunce was deed and charles hys sone succeded hym whyche was also named Eutydes and he dyd many bataylles and had many vyctoryes and lefte two sones prynces of the ryall halle charles and Pepyn but charles leuyng the pompe of the worlde was maad a monke of cassynence and Pepyn gouernyd moche nobly and worshypfully the hows of Fraunce And for as moche as Chylderyk the kyng was not prouffytable Pepyn came vnto the Pope and axyd counceyl whether he shold be kynge that had but onelye the name of the kyng or he that gouernyd the Royame And thenne the Pope answerde that he ought to haue the name of the kyng that gouernyd wel the royaulme And the frensshe men were enhardyed wyth thys answer and made Pepyn kyng and closed chylderyk in a monasterye aboute the yere vijC l And thenne whan astulphus kynge of the Lombardes had despoyled the chyrche of Rome of hyr possessyons and seygnorye Stephen the Pope whyche came after Zacharye requyred ayde and helpe of Pepyn the kyng of Fraunce ageynste the Lombardes and came hym self in to fraunce and thenne pepyn assemblyd a moche grete hoost and came in to ytalye and besyeged the kynge astulphus vaynquysshed hym and took of hym fourty hostages that he shold restore ageyn to the chyrche of rome alle that he had taken aweye that he shold nomore tormente it But whan Pepyn was departed he dyd noo thynge of that he had promysed and sone after as he wente on hontyng he deyed sodeynlye and desydere succeded hym aboute the yere of our lord v hondred xliiij dagoberte kynge of fraunce as it is conteyned in a cronycle whiche had regned longe tyme tofore Pepyn began fro his chyldehode to haue saynt denys in grete reuerence for whan he feryd the angre of his fader lothare he fledde anone to the chirche of the blessyd saint denys and after whan he was maad kyng he loued honoured hym strongelye and after whan he was dede It was shewed to an holy man in a vysyon that his soule was brought to the Iugemente many sayntes opposed ayenst hym that he had robbyd her chyrches as the wicked spirites wolde haue rauysshed lad hym to payn the blessyd denys cam delyuerd hym or ê‘auenture the sowle of hym was restored to the body dyd penauÌ„ce the kyng clodoneus of frauÌ„ce vncouerd saint denis more dyshonestly than he oughte to doo and brake the boonys of hys arme and bare hem aweye couetouslye and anone he wexe madde In that tyme was beda the honourable clerke in englonde and how be it that he is acounted in the cathologue of sayntes yet he is not called of holy chyrche saynt bede but worshypful bede and thys for double cause The fyrste is for his olde age he was blynde and he had one that ledde hym by townes and castellys where as he prechyd the worde of our lord in euery place and on a tyme he ledde hym by a valeye ful of grete stones and his leder mockyng hym sayd that there were assemblyd moche peple that were stylle for to here his predycacion And thenne beganne he to preche moche ardantlye and at the last ende he concluded with per omnia secula seculorum and anone the stones answerde wyth an hye voys amen our honourable fader by cause that the stones callyd hym honourable so the chyrche may say wel that he is honourable The second cause is that after his dethe a moche deuoute clerke desyred to make a vers to sette on hys tombe and began in thys wyse Hac sunt in fossa and was ended wyth bede sancti ossa but it was no trewe vers and whan he coude not brynge it to a trewe metre he was ful of thouÈt alle a nyght on the morne he fonde grauen on his tombe by the handes of aungellys the vers ful maad in thys manere Hac sunt in fossa bede venerabilis ossa whos body is worshypped by grete deuocyon in gene In the tyme of aboute the yere of our lord seuen hondred bachortus kyng of fryse shold haue ben baptysed had thenne one foot in the fontstone and that other without and demaunded whether the more parte of his predecessours were in helle or in heuen and whan he herde that moo of them were in helle than in heuen he said it is more holy to folowe the more parte than the lesse withdrewe his foot that was in the fonte and so was he deceyued of the deuyl whiche promysed vnto hym goodes without nombre and the fourth day after he deyed sodeynlye and perysshed perdurably In the champayn of ytalye whete barley and corne fyll doun fro heuen lyke rayne It is redde that in the same tyme the yere of our lord seuen hondred and fourty whan the body of saynt benet was broughte to the monasterye of floriacence and the body of saynt scolastyca his suster was broughte to ceromane Charles the grete wold haue borne the body to the castel of camense but by myracles that were shewyd it was forboden In that tyme was a grete tremblyng of the erthe by whyche cytees were torned and sonken and other wyth montayns and hylles were borne and transported hole and sauf seuen myle thens The body of saynt pernelle doughter of saynt Peter the appostle was transported fro thens where it was and was founde wryton in marble by the honde of Saynt Peter thys is the tombe of the golden petronelle my doughter and as sygeberte sayth they of thyre tourmentyd them of armenye and whan the pestylence had been somtyme in theyr londe they of the contreye by the admonestemente of crysten men shaued theyr hedes in manere of a crosse and by cause that by that sygne they receyued theyr helthe they reteyned that maner of shauyng At the laste Pepyn after many vyctoryes was deed and charles the grete his sone succeded hym in his reygne and in his tyme adryan the pope satte in his see at Rome sente messagers to charles the grete and requyred hym of helpe ageynst desyderye kynge of the lombardes whiche tormented strongely the chyrche lyke as astulphe his fader dyd and charles obeyed to the pope and assemblyd a grete hoost and entryd by the montayns in to ytalye assyegyd puyssauntlye the ryal cytee of pauye and took desyderye and hys wyf and his prynces and sente hem in exyle in to fraunce and restablisshed to the chyrche alle the droytes and ryghtes that had be taken from them In that tyme were in the hooste of charlemayne Amys and Amelyon whyche were two ryght noble knyghtes of our lord Ihesu Cryste Of whome ben redde meruayllous actes whiche fyl and deyed at mortarye where as charles ouercame the lombardes and there thenne faylled the regne of the lombardes For after that tyme they had
and he in despyte sayd goo your waye For in no maner shal ye neuer haue lycence of me that this newe songe shal be song and whan the feste of saynt nycholas come The brethern sayd theyr matyns alle in heuynesse and their vygylles whan they were alle in theyr beddes Saynt nycholas apperyd vysybly and moche ferfully to the pryour and drewe hym out by the heer and smote hym doun on the pamente of the dortour began to synge the hystorye O pastor eterne and at euery note he smote hym wyth a rodde that he helde in his honde right greuously on his backe and sange melodyously thys antheme vnto the ende and thenne the pryour cryed so lowde that he awoke al hys brethern and was borne to hys bedde as halfe deed and whan he came to hym self he sayd goo ye and synge the newe hystorye of saynt nycholas from hens forth In that same tyme the abbotte of the couente of molesyne and xxj monkes wyth hym went for to dwelle in deserte for to kepe more straytelye the professyon of theyr pale and there establysshed a newe ordre out of the ordre Hyldebrande pryour of clugny was made pope and was callyd gregory and whan he was in the lasse ordres and was sente as a legate he conuaynquysshed meruayllously at lyons the archebysshop of ebronycence of symonye For thys archebysshop had corrumped alle his accusers soo that he myght not be conuaynquysshed And thenne the legate commaunded hym that he shold saye In nomine patris et filij and he myght not say et spiritus sancti by cause he had synned in the holy ghoost and thenne he confessyd his synne and was deposed name theÌ„ne the holy ghoost with clere voys and thys myracle reherceth bruno in his book that he made to mathewe the emperour and whan thys henry was dede it was wryton on his tombe where as he was buryed wyth other kynges Here lyeth henry the sone of henry the fader henry the belfader henry the olde belfader and after thys henry reygned henry the fyfthe in the yere of our lord a thousand C and one which toke the pope with the cadynallys and lefte hem in the habyte of bysshoppes and of abhottes took the rynge and the staffe pastoralle In that tyme bernarde his brethern â—ook the relygyon of cysteaulx in the paroche of lyege a sowe bare a pygge hauyng the vysage of a man and an henne had a chykyn with foure feet and after thys henry succeded Lothayre in whos tyme a woman in spayne chylded a monstre whyche had double body and that one ioyned to that other by the backes and tofore had the semblaunce of a man hole of body and membrys ordynatelye and behynde was the semblaunce of a woman hole in alle propertees After Lothayr reygned Conrade the yere a thousand an hondred xxxviij That tyme deyed hughe of saynt vyctor whiche was a right excellent doctour in al scyence and deuoute in relygyon of whome it is sayd that whan he was in his laste Infyrmyte that he myght reteyne no mete yet he requyred alweye to haue the body of our lord wyth grete deuocyon thenne his brethern wold please hym and brought to hym a symple hoost vnsacred in manere of the body of our lord and he knewe it wel in spyryte and sayd God forgyue you brethern wherfore wold ye deceyue me Thys is not my lord that ye brynge to me and anone they were abasshed and ranne and fette to hym the body of our lord and thenne he sawe hym whome he myght not receyue lyfte vp his handes to heuen and sayd now I see the sone ascende to the fader and the spyryte to god that maad hym And wyth thyse wordes he gafe vp his spyryte and the body of our lord vanysshed aweye fro them that helde hym Eugene abbotte of saynt anastase was establysshed pope But he was put out of the cyte by cause the senatours had maad another pope And thenne he come in to fraunce and sente saynt bernarde tofore hym whiche prechyd the waye of our lord dyd many myracles And thenne floured Gylbarte the patryarke Frederyke neuewe of conrade was emperour in the yere of our lord a thousand C liij And that tyme flouryd maister pieter lombard byshop of paris Whiche compyled the book of sentences The glose of the sawter and of the epystles of paule moche prouffytably and in that tyme were seen thre mones in heuen and in the myddes of the thre was the sygne of the crosse and it was not longe after that thre sonnes were seen also ¶ And thenne was Alysaunder chosen ryghtfully for to be pope and ageynste hym were chosen octauyan Iohannes cremensis of the tytle of saynt calyxte and Iohannes perscrumetencis successyfly to the papacye were ennoblysshed by the fauour of the emperour to the see this discorde and scysme endured eyghtene yere Within wyich tyme the almayns whiche dwellyd in toscane for themperour assaylled the Romayns whyche were at mountpourt and slewe fro none to euensonge soo moche people that there were neuer so many romayns slayne how be it that in the tyme of Hanybal there were soo many slayne that thre busshellys were fylled with golde rynges that were taken of theyr fyngres which hanyhal dyd do sende to cartage and many of them were buryed at saynt stephens and saynt laurences and it was wryton vpon theyr sepulture that they were ten tyme a thousand and ten thousand x tymes xvj hondred and an halfe and whan the emperour frederyk vysyted the holy londe and wysshe hym in a ryuer and there he perysshed and deyed and as other saye he waterd his hors and hys hors fyl doun in the water and so he deyed Henry was emperour after hym in the yere a thousand an hondred four score ten In that tyme were soo grete raynes thondres lyghtnynges and tempestes that neuer had been soo grete that ony man myght remembre For stones fyl as grete as egges were square whyche were medlyd wyth the rayne destroyed the vygnes trees and the corne and slewe men beestys crowys and other byrdes and somme fowles were seen fleyng by the ayer in that tempeste whyche bare coles brennyng in theyr bylles and beckes and sette fyre on howses thys henry was alweye a tyraunte ageynste the chyrche of Rome and therfore whan he was dede Innocente the pope opposed ageynst phylyp his sone that he shold not be emperour and helde wyth the partye of otto sone of the duc of Saxone made hym to be crowned kyng af Almayne at acone In that tyme many barons of fraunce went ouer the see for the delyueraunce of the holy londe and they took Constantynoble In that tyme began thordre of freres prechours and of the menours Innocent the thyrd sente messagers to phelyp kynge of fraunce for to assayle the londe of albygeoys for to take fro hem the heresyes and
molten leed brennyng For to brenne hys entraylles quyryache suffred it moche pacyently wythout makyng of ony crye lokyng alweye vp toward heuen and aboute two houres after whan they that were there supposed he had ben dede he lyfte vp his voys sayeng Ihesus fader eternall resplendaunte lyght whiche neuer may be extyncte I blesse the for thou hast made me worthy to haue partycypacyon wyth thy frendes Therfore I requyre the that the pryde and elacion of thys euyl tyraunte may not ouercome me but that thy puyssaunce alweye conferme me in stedfast constaunce of feythe whan he had accomplysshed his oryson Iulyan sayd to hym Quyryace loo how I lete the Iangle I haue herde ofte suche wordes Doo sacrefyse to our Lord Iubyter and thenne thou shalte do wysely ¶ Thenne Quyryace answerd to hym I byleue haue byleued hym that is veray god that shal destroye the and the pryde Thenne Iulyan dyd do brynge a crabat of copper and dyd do laye and stratche out the body theron and put vnder it brennyng coles and dyd doo strawe salte on the body and aboue that dyd do bete hym with roddes to th ende that his bely entraylles shold haue the more payne trauaylle and after they torned his bely toward the fyre bete his backe with roddes and thenne he with an hyghe wys beganne to praye in hebrewe The tyraunte Was moche admeruaylled of the grete pacyence that he had and dyd do shytte hym in a litel hows vnto the tyme that he had deuysed of what deth he myght make hym to deye and aboute two yere after saynt anne the moder of saynt quyryace came to hym and exorted hym to suffre pacyently for the loue of god Anone the mynystres of the deuyll wente and tolde to the tyraunte the whyche commaunded that she shold be brought to hym and whan he sawe that she wold in no wyse do sacrefyse to thydolles he commaunded that she shold be hanged by the hereys and as she henge he made to tere of alle hir nayles or vngles and in this torment she was four houres without spekyng Thenne Iulyen sayd to hir what is thys that they doo to thyn vngles thenne she answerd to hym O hounde out of thy wytte werkar of al Iâ—yquyte yf thou haue ony gretrer tormentes gyue them to me for I am al redy to fyghte ageynst thy fader the deuyl ouer whome I haue hope to haue vyctorye moyenaunt on hym the name of Ihesu cryst ¶ Thenne the tyraunte commaunded to take grete laumpes brennyng and settyng to hyr sydes The holy woman cryed vnto god makyng hir prayers she rendred vp hyr spyryte vnto our Lord The crysten peple that were there buryed hyr after this Iulyan commaunded that Quyryace shold be broughte tofore hym and sayd to hym quyriace say to me of what enchauntementes what euyl crafte hast thou vsed by whiche it semeth that thou felest no tormente and therfore thou wylte not sacrefyse to the ydolles ¶ Thenne Quyriace answerd to hym o cursyd foole and Indygne hounde that peruertest the myght of god to enchauntementes and euyl werkys Wherfore thou shalte be bete by wounde celestyal Thenne commaunded Iulyan to make a grete pytte and by enchauntours dyd doo assemble alle maner of serpentes and venemous beestys and dyd doo put them in to the pytte And after he made to caste the holy man in the myddes of them and as they threwe hym therin he beganne to saye right swete Ihesus I yelde to the graces and thankynges for not onely in the woldest thou verefye and applye the prophecye of dauyd but in vs that been thy lytel creatures whyche thou hast created hast wylled to haue thy grace for loo here it pleaseth the that we goo vpon the serpentes that we marche and trede on the lyon and on the dragon and as he sayd so Iulyan commaunded to brenne alle the beestys ¶ Thenne a knyght callyd Amon sayd to the Emperour Iulyan O kynge out of thy wytte and wood how hast thou the wylle to put thys man to dethe thyn enchauntours and thy goddes whyche ben deceyuable may not make the mernaylles that he dothe and in trouthe now forth on I am certeyn that the god of crysten men is moche myghty For whyche wordes Iulyan commaunded to smyte of his heed and as he was ledde vnto the place for to be byheded he beganne to saye Ihesu cryst whiche arte the god of quyryace receyue my sowle in pees and so sayeng he stratched forthe hys necke and was byheded and thus fynysshed hys marterdom Iulyan callyd quyryace and prayed hym and exhorted that he shold renye the crucyfyxe Thenne quyryace answerd hym O herte peruertyd euyll and wythout pyte that seest no thynge that woldest that I shold leue my god whyche gyueth to me and to other creatures soo many goodes and that I shold become myschaunte and semblable to the ¶ Thenne Iulyan was moche angrye and commaunded to hange a grete cawdron of oyle vpon the fyre whyche oyle was soo hote that they that were there aboute vnnethe myght endure the fume that yssued And he commaunded to sette Saynt quyryace therin whiche entred therin in makyng the sygne of the crosse and sayd lord Ihesu cryste which hast sayntefyed the flome iordan and hast gyuen to me the holy sacramente of baptesme by water See now where I shal be yet baptysed in oylle Yet haue I the thyrd marterdom to do by the Wesshyng of effusyon of blood whyche I haue longe taryed fore Thenne the tyraunte replenysshed of wrathe and of yre more than tofore commaunded that he shold be smyton wyth a sharpe darte in to the breste and as he was soo smyton he prayed god that he myght departe out of the world and thenne gafe vp his soule vnto our lord whiche was the fourth nonas of maye ¶ Thys saynt quyryace of whom we speke was the same Iudas proprely by whome saynt Helayne fonde the veray holy crosse And after that he was baptysed saynt helayne recommaunded hym vnto the bysshop of Iherusalem whyche was at that tyme whan the sayd bysshop was dede Helayne that thenne was in Iherusalem wente to Rome to the Pope Eusebyus whiche ordeyned Iudas to be bysshop of Iherusalem in chaungyng his name and callyd hym quyryace To whome god gafe soo moche grace that he enchaced awey the fendes by his prayer Saynt helayne delyuerd to hym many fayre yeftes for to dystrybute and departe to the poure and at the prayer and requeste also of hyr was made a fayre feste of the Inuencyon of the holy crosse And ye ought to knowe that Whan the veray crosse was founden and by vertue therof a dede man was reysyd The deuyl whiche is of alle good enuyous was herde cryeng in the ayer O Iudas by the I am chaced oute and dymynysshed but I knowe wel that I shal be aduengyd ageynst the I shal reyse another kyng that shal renye the crucyfyxe the whiche by
sekenesse for it conteyneth within wryten the names bothe of the goddes of thaūgels anon yede forth the seruaūte tolde it to his mayster which answerd to hym god that made me may saue me yf it plese hym and without his plesure no thynge may be doon al is his al thyng lyeth in his hande he may wel take that is hys therfore let◠his wylle be doon Soone after these wordes he fyl in a slepe as he wold slepe he herde the voys of saynt demetryen that commaūded hym that he shold make hym self to be borne within his chirche that he shold there recouer his helthe and whan he was borne thyder he fyl yet ageyn on slepe and herde saynt demetryen that sayd god that created the that restoreth to the folke their helthe whan he wyl sende to the comforte helpe whan he was awaked fro sleep he reherced how saynt demetrien tolde hym in his slepe god that heleth seek folke sende to the comforte helpe how at tho wordes our lord sent to hym helthe rendryd to hym the force strengthe of alle hys membris stood vpon his feet and forthwith knelid thanked our lord the glorious marter also the solempnyte of this gloryous marter Saynt demetrien that many vertues hath made is celebred the viij ydus of the month of octobre his lyf was translated out of greek in to latyn by saynt anastaysye sent it to charles the emperour to the preysyng and reuerence of god whom by the merytes of the said glorious marter saint demetrien heleth vs of alle our synnes amen Thus endeth the lyf of Saint demetryen Here foloweth the lyf of saynt rigoberte SAynt rigoberte was archebisshop of raynes euer filled with holinesse regned in that tyme in which two noble kynges dyd regne in fraunce that is to wete childebert daugsberte was extract or come out of the moste excellent lygnage that was in al the regyon Hys fader had to name constantyn and his moder was called francigene whyche was of the contreye of porcyen Saynt rygoberte fro the tyme of his yongthe gafe habandoned hym self to heuenly celestyal dysciplyne he loued chastyte he was redy in watchynges and prayers trewe bothe in worde in dede charitable ful of abstynence founded in humylite aourned of sapyence In Iustyce trewe Iuste prudent wyse in counceyl honeste in al condycions al in good vertues he proceded thus as he grewe perseuerd euer fro better to better in spyritual dedes and that he was of age parfyte by eleccion celesty al he was chosen and enhaunced in to the dygnyte of archebssyhop of raynes in whiche dygnyte by the grace of our lord he mayntened gouernyd hym so that he was bothe louyd dradde of al folke It was no meruaylle yf the good people loued hym for moche they desyred to here his good doctrines monycyons spiritual humbly to serue hym Ne no meruayl it was yf the euyl folke doubted hym whyche for theyr synnes doubted moche to be repreuyd of hym Saynt remy writeth that by hym was as it was by saint peter that dyd appere to them that thought to do wel moche debonayrlye And as saint poule that to the synnars shewed hym Increpatybly for he promysed mysericorde to them that were in synne to th ende that they shold amende them self to the good folke he promysed payne wythout ende yf they fyl from theyr good werkys He feryd the good folke to the ende that they shold take noo vaynglorye within them self for their good dedes the synnars he recomforted to th ende that for their synnes and malyce they shold not be dyspeyred but that they shold be dyligent for to put fro theym theyr synnes to falle in penaunce therfore by his good and dylygente predycacyon he Inuyted many one to doo good werkys By the multyplycacion also of hys good doctrynes many one ledde a lyf of holy conuersacyon by his good ensaumples many one he wythdrewe vnto his holy companye thus he gaue hym selfe to alle folke trauayllyng alweye for theyr saluacyon He was archebysshop of raynes after a man that was ful of grete vertues that men called reole whyche was nyghe cosyn to hym as somme folke saye whan the forsayd reole was deed the syege of rayns vacaunte and was voyde by many yerys for cause of many thynges that were destroyed which by longe processe of tyme had be goten and with grete deuocyon dylygence founded alle the whiche thynges the same glorious saynt Rygoberte repayred and restored in to theyr first estate for he ordeyned a relygyon of chanonnes and clerkes after the nombre that they had be in tyme before passyd suffysauntlye ordeyned for theyr lyuyng to th ende that they shold tende wayte bysyly dyligentelye to the deuyne seruyce They toke not the canonyke breed for the chanonnes that were at the tyme were not of suche reule as the chanonnes be in tyme presente but they gouerned them self after the reule of saynt austyn Neuerthelesse he gafe to them many thynges whyche they kepte as their owne good to the ende that perpetuelly they myght helpe them with at their nede He was also the firste archebysshop of raynes that first ordeyned a comyn tresour in theyr chirche general to al theyr vsages necessarye in tyme to come these werkys he made and many moo Innumerable vertues myracles he fylled with benewred auncyente of dayes by holy perseueracion rendred hys sowle vnto our lord cui honor et Imperium Thus endeth the lif of Saint Rigoberte Here foloweth the lif of saint laudry SAint laudri of whom herafter we ioyefully shal make memorye solempnyte was right glorious bysshop of parys we rede in the cathologe that is made writon of the successyon and of the nombre of bysshoppes in parys how saynt denys was receyued by saynt clemente the which saynt denys wayted euer for to goo there as he wyst the errour of the paynyms regned moost god that guyded hym brought hym to parys there he was the first bisshop there he ordeyned clerkes officers for to serue the chirche after saint denys was they ix bisshop saynt marcel after saint marcel the ix was saynt germayn saint laudry was the ix bisshop after saynt germayn thus it apperyth that he was the xxvij bisshop after saint denys he sat in the chayer of the chyrche cathedral of paris in that tyme that the noble clouys regned kyng in ffraunce which by the grete feruent leue that he had to the chirche of saint denys gafe tothe same many yeftes and made the said chyrche moche ryche as the preuyleges of the religyous there testefyen to this day xxv bisshoppes were in the chayer of the chirche of paris before saint laudri as aboue is said of whom the names ben writon in the pryuyleges of the said chirche neuerthelesse none
ne bere ony lenger euyl or payne enspyred wyth the holy ghoost passed saylled ageyn ouer the hyghe see vnto the holy lande accompanyed wyth the nobles and moche comynaltee of his royame and whan the shyppes were redy for to saylle saynt lowys beholdyng his thre sones specyally dressyng hys wordes toward theldest said sone consyder thou must how as now I am ferforth in age and that ones I haue passed ouer the see also how the quene thy moder is of grete age procedyng nygh hir laste dayes how now blessyd be god we possessen pesably our royame without ony werre in delyces rechesses and honoures as moche as plesyth to vs or apperteyneth loke thenne that for the loue of Ihesu cryste and his chirche I ne spare myn olde age and haue no pyte of thy dyscomforted wooful moder but I leue bothe delyces honoures expose myn owne selfe to perylle for Ihesu cryste whiche thynges I wyl thou here and knowe to th ende that whan thou comest to the successyon of the royalme thou doo so The shyppes thenne redy saylled on the see so longe that the hoost areyued at the hauen of cartage in auffryke where by force of armes the crysten men took the castel and enioyed the londe there aboute and betwyxte thunes and cartage they dressyd theyr tentes for to dwelle there a lytel tyme and in this meane whyle saynt lowys after so many vertuous werkys after soo many paynes and labours which he had suffred for the feythe of Ihesu cryste god that wold benewrely consume his lyf for to yelde to hym fruyte gloryous for his laboures and benefaytes sente to hym an axes contynuel and thenne the holy enseygnementes or techynges whiche before he had writen in frensshe exposed dylygently to phelyp his eldest sone and commaunded that soon they shold be accomplysshed and thenne he beyng of thought syght and heeryng hoole sayeng his seuen psalmes and callyng alle the sayntes deuoutelye took all the sacramentes of the chyrche and at the last he comyng to the last houre stratchyng his armes in manere of a crosse and profferyng the laste wordes I commende my sowle in to thyn handes deyed and passyd vnto our lord the yere a thousand ij hondred lxx The corps of the glorious saint lowes was transported vnto the sepulcres of his faders and predecessours at saynt denys in frauÌ„ce there to be buryed In whiche place also in dyuers other thys gloryous saynt resplendyssheth of many myracles On that day that saynt lowes was buryed a Woman of the dyocyse of Sees recouerd hir syght whiche she had loste sawe noo thynge by the merytes and prayers of the sayd debonayr and medeful kyng Not longe after a yonge chylde of burgoyne bothe dombe and deef of kynde comyng wyth other to the sepulture or graue of the saynt besechyng hym of helpe knelyng as he sawe that the other dyd and after a lytel whyle that he thus knelyd were his eerys openyd and herde and hys tonge redressyd and spake wel In the same yere a woman blynde was ledde to the sayd sepulture and by the merytes of the saynt recoueryd hyr syghte Also that same yere ij men and fyue Wymmen besechyng saynt loyes of helpe recouerd the vse of gooyng whiche they had loste by dyuers sekenesse and langours In the yere that saynt loyes was put or wryten in the cathologe of the holy confessours many myracles worthy to be prrysed befyl in dyuers partyes of the world at thynuoâ—acyon of hym by his merytes and by hys prayers Another tyme at Eureux a chylde fyl vnder the whele of a water mylle grete multytude of people came thyder and supposyng to haue kepte hym fro drownyng Inuoked god our lady and his sayntes to helpe the sayd chylde but our lord wyllyng hys saynt to be enhaunced emonge so grete multitude of peple was there herde a voys sayeng that the sayd chylde named Iohan shold be vowed vnto Saynt Lowys He thenne taken oute of the water waâ— by his moder borne to the graue of the saynt and after hyr prayer doon to saynt Lowys hyr sone beganne to syghe and was reysed on lyue It befyl the same tyme in the dyocyse of beauuays that ten men were broken wythin a quarrye there as they dyd fetche out grete stones for to byâ—â—e wythal For on them fyl a grete quantytâ—e of erthe in soo moche that they were couerd wyth hit A clerke thenne that passyd there foreby heâ—â—e theyr syghyng and hauyng pyte on theym that were nyghe deed knelyd doun to the erthe and remembryng the newe canonyzacion of the blessyd saint lowys fore wepyng made for the forsayd men his prayer to hym and after hys prayer was doon he sawe folke comyng that waye he called them and forthwyth deluyd wyth suche staues as they had so moche that by the merytes of the Saynt to whome they trusted moche they had oute of the quarrye the forsayd ten men the whyche were founde vnhurted and as hoole as euer they were before how be it that in certeyn they were deed It happed on another tyme that a grete walle fyl on a chylde which was reputed as deed by al the folke hys moder vowed hym to the sayd Saynt maad the stones that couerd hym to be had awaye and founde hyr chylde lawghyng and hole of alle hys membrys A woman agreuyd wyth a sekenesse whiche men calle the fyre of saynt anthony came to poyssy there as saynt lowys was borne and before the founte wherin the sayd Saynt was baptysed she knelyd and sore wepyng made hir prayer there to god to the saynt by the merytes of whome hir body was clene delyuerd fro the forsayd sekenesse Item two dayes after thys a worshypful man whyche of longe tyme had be oppressyd and beten with sekenesse of feet that he coude not goo ne stande wythoute he had two â—â—â—ches or staues vnder hys armes came vnto the sayd founte maad there his prayer leefte his staues there â— hoâ—â— he retourned as hole as euer he Was And yet sythe were there are as now doon many other thorugh the prayers and merytes of saynt loyes at the glorye preysyng of our redemptour ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint lowes kyng of fraunce ¶ And here foloweth the lyf of Saint lowes bisshop of marsaylle SAint Lowes of marseylle was borne of ryal lygnage and had to hys fader charles kyng of cecylle and to moder marie quene of cecyle and louyng humylite he refused and forsoke the hyghnesse of regalyte and hys noble lygnage and how be it that al the worthy faytes of his holy lyf with fewe wordes may not al be recouÌ„ted Neuerthelesse somme we shal reherce to the prouffyte and techyng of them that shal rede or here them This glorious saynt thenne as testefyed it is of many dygne of feythe or worthy to be byleuyd beyng of yonge age was with hys brethern holden kepte vnder the cure religyous dyligence of his mayster
and consolacion for after that creature hath doon penaunce by vertu of humylite in wepynges and lamentacions he must lede after ioye and veray consolacion For our lord sayth thus beati qui lugent quoniam ipsi consolabuntur that is to say blessyd been thoo that wepyn by contrycyon For they shal haue veray consolacion And it is to Wete that his worde alleluya is expowned in four maners after foure doctours the fyrst is saynt austyn whiche exposeth it thus alleluya Id est saluum me fac domine that is to say syr saue thou me Saynt Iherome exposeth hit thus alle id est cantate lu id est laudem ya id est deum vel dominum that is to say synge you laudyng to our lord Ihesu cryste Saynt gregore exposeth it thus alle id est pater lu id est filius ya id est spiritus sanctus That is to say the fader the sone and the holy ghoost Or thus he hym self exposeth it Alle id est lux lu id est vita ya id est salus alleluya thenne by the same exposycyon is as moche for to say as lyght lyf and helthe Fourthly mayster peter ansydotoyr expowneth it moche wel and sayth thus Alle id est altissimus leuatus est in cruce lu id est lugebant appostoli ya id est iam surrexit It is as moche for to say the ryght hyghe is lyfte on the crosse for the whyche thynge the appostles haue wepte and sone after he is rysen In the whyche exposycyon thre thynges are shewyd to vs The fyrst is the cruel passyon of our lord Ihesu cryste The second is the sorowe and anguysshe of thappostles And the thyrd is the myrthe ioye of vs for he sayth that our lord is rysen and in tokenyng of that men syngen alleluya after thys Alleluya he sayth the verse whiche sygnefyeth alle swetenesse and vertuous werke by the whyche men retournen to veray Iubylacion and therfore he repeteth the alleluya after that the verse is sayd For by good werke men retourne ageyn to veray consolacion and it is to wete that fro the septuagesme vnto ester day men owe not to say alleluya and in stede of it they say the tracte the whiche tracte sygnefyeth wepynge and lamentacyon for the passyon of our lord Ihesu cryste that cometh nygh that tyme that is to wete the holy tyme of lente and therfore a creature deuoute with alle his herte oweth to drawe to thynke on that same holy passyon and duryng that tyme men saye noo sequence for the sequence sygnefyeth ioye and consolacyon And that tyme of lente ne sygnefyeth but mournynges and it is to wete that the sequence is sayd after alleluya and it is sayd specyally on holydayes and solempne In sygnefyeng the plente and the multytude of myrthes and consolacyon that is sygnefyed by the sayd alleluya and Sequence For in as moche that the day is more solempne thenne other dayes the more oweth creature to lede and make gretter ioye in lawdyng the holy trynyte After al these thynges the preest translateth his book to the synyster parte of the aulter for to say the euangylle in sygnefyeng how our lord whan he cam doun in erthe for to expose the holy euangylle to al creatures he drewe hym to the senyster parte that was toward the Iewes for to anounce to them the holy euangylle for at that tyme the Iewes had drawen them self to the lyfte syde and for thys the preest in that place may represente our lord prâ—chyng and anouncyng the lawe And to the ende that he may excerce or doo that offyce more parfytelye at the begynnyng of it he sayth softelye an oryson that begynneth thus munda cor meum cÌ„ In the whiche oryson he prayeth our lord that he wyl make clene his herte for to anounce his predycacion after that he demaundeth the blessyng of our lord sayeng Iube domine benedicere that is as moche to saye lord commaunde thou that I may haue thy blessyng and anone he as leuetenaunte of our lord answereth and sayth thus our lord be in my herte and in my lyppes so that I may worthely and competently anounce the holy euangylle of god in the name of the fader the sone and the holy ghoost after the preest saleweth the people sayeng dominus vobiscum for ij causes the fyrst cause is to thentente that the peple be the more Incited to here the worde of god therfore the peple draweth toward the euangylle standeth on theyr feet after thordenaunce of anathasy thenne pope sygnefyeth that the peple ought to be redy apparaylled to susteyne the feyth of god and veray loue after for thys that yet the people be more Incyted to here the euangylle of god the preest representeth the place of god and sayth Sequencia sancti euangelij cÌ„ in makyng the sygne of the crosse to the ende that the enemye may not empeche hym Thenne the clerkes and the peple answeryn gloria tibi domine in glorefyeng god that hath sente to them the worde of salute sayeng to the lord be lawdyng yeuen by thy Worde to vs shewyd Thenne the preest sayth the euangylle the whyche sygnefyeth as sayd is the predycacyon of our lord god the whiche fynysshed and said the preest warneth hym self wyth the sygne of the crosse to thentente that the enemye may not take aweye fro the creatures hertes the worde of god After foloweth the crede that is as the testymonage and confyrmacyon of the forsayd euangylle the Whyche was made and composed by the appostles of our lord Ihesu cryste in sygnefyeng that thys that the appostles sayd fermelye they beleuyd and byleuyng anounced it and it is to wete that the crede is sayd on the holy dayes of them that composed it that is the appostles of our lord Ihesu cryst and on the holy dayes of whyche mencyon is made wythin the same crede that is to wete alle sondayes of the yere Crystemasse day Epyphanye or xiij day sherethorsday Ester day whytsonday trynyte sonday and also in alle holy dayes of our lady and of many other of whyche men maketh mencyon and thys may suffyse as to the fyrste parte of the masse Here endeth the firste parte of the masse And here folowtth the second parte AS for the Second parte of the masse that is fro the offryng vnto the pater noster Euery one oweth to vnderstonde that after the creature hath herde the worde of god that is the holy euangylle he adiousteth to it ferme or stedfaste feythe whyche is fygured by the crede he oweth thenne to offre or gyue hys herte to god for therfore foloweth the offrynge And to the ende that the peple be the more Incyted the preest retourneth hym toward the folke and sayth Dominus vobiscum that is to say our lord be wyth you Euen so as he wold say yf our lord be not wyth you ye can doo noo good werke ne
he came to the cyte of Iherusalem they cryed wyth an hyghe wys Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini cÌ„ that is as moche to say blessed be he that cometh in the name of god of hym we requyre pardon and for this benediccion or blessyng whiche is so swete the preest maketh a crosse the whych representeth to vs that it is our lord that cometh to be sacrefysed on the holy crosse and there he descendeth and wyl be consecrate to the ende that men may see hym presentelye and therfore verayly the deuoute people that hereth the masse right there oweth to drawe them self wythin the chambre of hir conscyence to the ende that he may cherysshe therin that swete lambe by deuoute oryson prayeng hym that hys goodelye comyng be consolacion and ioye vnto euery creature and there also they owe to thynke and consydere on her euyl dedes and offences to th ende that they may shewe and declare them by ferme and stedfast contrycyon to hym that presentlye cometh there and thus the creature shal mowe thanke and regracye god by deuoute contemplacion After alle these thynges foloweth the canon whiche is so named canon for the mysterye of the precious sacrament that is made and consecrate and thys same canon is sayd lowe or secretelye for the vertue of the wordes to th ende that they be not holde in fylthe For auncyently they were profferryd and sayd hye wherfore it was knowen of the mooste parte of the folke they sange it thorugh the stretes wherof we fynde that somtyme shepherdes took somme breed put it on a stone and on it they sayd the wordes that are wryton in the canone that same breed was tourned and conuertyd in to a pyece of flesshe and sone after by he wylle of god fyre descendyd fro heuen vpon them and were al combusted and brente and therfore the holy faders stablysshed these werdes to be sayd lowe also that none shold say them wythout he were a preest That same canon conteyneth ix partyes as to the fyrst parte the preest enclyneth hym self before the aulter the whiche enclynacion sygnefyeth or betoâ—keneth the humylite of our lord which he shewed whan he enclyned hym selfe at the crosse and there the preest spekyng to our lord sayth thus Tei gitur clementissime cÌ„ that is to say fader ryght debonayr we the praye thou wylte accepte and blesse these swete oblacyons and these holy sacrefyses wythout corupcyon And there the prest kysseth the aulter sygnefyeng the compassyon that he hath of the passyon of our Lord Ihele cryste and after he maketh thre tymes the sygne of the crosse bothe ouer the breed and ouer the wyne these iij crosses sygnefyen how our lord was geuen offred in thre maners Fyrst of god the fader for our redempcyon Secondly of Iudas to the Iewes by grete treson Thyrdly of the Iewes to pylate by grete detraccion After in the second parte the preest prayeth for al holy chirche vnyuersally sayeng Offerrimus cÌ„ that is to saye we offeren and therfore the preest speketh not in his owne persone but in the persone of holy chyrche There nys none so wycked euyl after that he is preest but he may consecrate the precyous body of our lord Ihesu cryste After in the thyrd parte the preest hath in a specyal mynde alle the subgettes of holy chyrche and specyally in that paas he sayth Ioynynge hys handes Memento eciam domine famuborum cÌ„ that is to say syr haue thou mynde on thy seruauntes and there the preest resteth and hath specyal memorye of alle the creatures for whome he entendeth for to praye and he hath also mynde partyculer on the ê‘sones whome he is bounde to praye for and it is to wete that thys memorye is for the persones that ben on lyue after he prayeth for alle them that heren hys masse wyth feythe and deuocyon after in the fourth parte to th ende that he hym self they also whyche he hath had memorye of may haue partycypacyon in the glorye of paradyse wyth thaungels holy appostles and marters he sayth a deuoute oryson that begynneth thus Communicantes cÌ„ In the whyche oryson the preest maketh specyal commemoracyon of the vyrgyne marye of twelue appostles of Ihesu cryste and of many marters after in the fyfthe parte the preest enclyneth hym sayth an oryson that begynneth thus Hanc igitur oblacionem cÌ„ In whyche oryson he doeth foure thynges Fyrst he prayeth to god that he wyl receyue our seruyce the second is that we may haue veray pees in god the thyrd is that he fro dampnacion wyl kepe vs The fourth is that wyth his chosen he wyl lede us And after the preest comyng nygh to the pryncypal consecracion he sayth Quam oblacionem and there the preest maketh fyue tymes the sygne of the crosse ouer the breed and ouer the wyne in the remembraunce and tokenyng of the v woundes of our lord and of his prayer the sentence may be suche Syr wyth herte we the praye that of the same this oblacion be made and consecrate aproued and confermed in an hoostye ryÈt resonable and in sacrefyse acceptable so that thys breed be transferred in to thy body and thys wyne translated in to the blood of thy right dere sone that for vs suffred grete tormente And therfore he sayth after in the vj parte of the canon of the masse as here after foloweth and here it is to wete that al that the preest doth as to the consecracyon representeth or betokeneth al that our lord dyd to hys dysciples the day of the cene that is on sherethorsday where he toke breed yeldyng graces to god the fader brosyd and gaue it to his dyscyples sayeng take and ete here is myn owne propre body and in the same manere doth the preest in thys syxte parte excepte that ryght there he bruseth not the breed But to that signyficacion or tokenyng the preest enclyneth it bothe to one syde and to other thenne the preest wypeth first thyse thre fyngres on the corporal to the entente that the more clenlye he may take the precyous hoostye And after he taketh it lokyng vpward on hye for to rendre graces to god in techyng and tokenyng that whan we enterpryse a good werke for to do we ought to lyfte vpward to god the eyen of our herte as to hym that is begynnyng and pryncypal of alle good werkys after he blesseth the breed makyng the sygne of the crosse whyche sygnefyeth the blessyd passyon of our lord on the holy crosse And after the preest sayth the wordes that our lord sayd take you and ete thys is myn owne body sayeng fyue wordes sacramentel and soone therwyth is the breed conuerted in to the propre and owne body of Ihesu Cryste that vpon the crosse deyed for vs After our lord in his souper toke the wyne before his drscyples yeldyng graces to god the fader he blessyd
gaue it to his dyscyples sayeng take you and drynke for thys is the chalys of my propre and owne blood that is the confyrmacyon bothe of the newe and olde testamente and mysterye of feythe whyche shal be spylte for you and for my peple in remyssyon of your synnes and as many tymes ye shal doo thys that I shewe you here ye shal do it in the memorye of me and therfore in the seuenth parte of the canon of the masse the preest whan he hath layed doun the body of our lord he taketh the chalys and after lokyng vpward he blessyth it and sayth take you and drynke for here is the chalyce of myn owne propre blood and right soone after the preest hath sayd these forsayd wordes in latyn in mynde of our lord the wyne is conuerted in to the propre and owne blood of Ihesu cryste that same Whyche he spylte for vs on the rood tree And here it is to wete that in thys precyous sacramente we may consyder ix myracles moche meruayllous the whiche may be aprouyd by somme semblaunce or lykenesse of nature The fyrst is that the substaunce of the breed of the wyne is chaunged in to the substaunce of the body precious blood of cryste and thys is shewyd to vs by suche a symylytude or lykenesse naturally that is that of food of brede and wyne bothe flesshe and blode are engendryd in creature moche more stronger our lord that is souerayne nature may doo by vertu of his wordes that the bred and the wyne is conuerted in to his owne body and in to his precious blood The second myracle is that euery day ofte and many tymes the breed is conuerted in to the propre and owne body of our lord not withstondyng none augmentacyon or encrees is don in god ensaumple of nature For yf I wote a thynge secrete I may vttere and reherce hit in many and dyuers places and notwythstondyng I ne wote it the more ne better than I dyd toforne ¶ The thyrd is that euery day our lord is parted and eten and hath no dymynysshyng that is to say that god nor the sacramente is not lesse therfore reason naturalle For yf I haue a candel lyght euery one may take of the lyght of it wythout it be lessyd or dymynysshed therfore Also euery one may take that holy sacramente withoute dymynysshyng of hit but who that taketh it vnworthely he dymynyssheth hym self The fourth myracle is that whan the hoostye is parted god is in eche parte entyerly Ensaumple of the glasse For whan the glasse is parted or broken in to pyeces in euery parte of hit apperyth the fygure of the thynge that is presented before in hit The fyfthe myracle is that yf thys precyous sacramente be taken of an euyl and synful creature the sacramente of hit self is not fowled therfore For we see that the beemes of the sonne passeth thorugh and ouer ordure and fylthe and the sonne is nothynge foule therfore but rather thordure or fylthe is made clene therof Thus it is that somtyme whan the creature hath receyued the body of our lord vnworthely consyderyng that he hath mysdoon to haue receyued his sauyour in to so grete ordure or fylth of synne he conceyueth by bytternesse or smartyng so grete a contrycyon that he therfore retourneth to grace and thus he is pourged or made clene of his synne The syxth myracle is that the body of our lord Ihesu cryste is sode of dethe to the synnars For Saynt paule the appostle sayth that he that eteth it vnworthely he eteth it to his dampnable Iugemente For ryght euen so as stronge wynes and stronge metes is vnprouffytable or lettyng to seeke peple ryght so is the body of our lord Ihesu cryste nuysable and lettyng to the synnars ¶ The seuenth myracle is that so grete a thynge Whyche alle the World may not comprehende is conteyned in soo lytel an hoostye For we see that a grete hylle may be comprysed and perceyued wyth an eye moche more stronger is that the vertu deuyne may be by his puyssaūce comprysed and conteyned in a lytel hoostye The viij myracle is that our lord al entyerly in dyuers places attones is perceyued of dyuers persones In suche manere We see perceyue that the worde of a creature is knowen and perceyued in dyu ers places attones of many and dyuers creatures The ix myracle is whan the breed is conuerted in to the precious body of our lord the accidentes abyden that is to wete whytnesse roundenesse and sauoure and not therfore it is noo breed but it is the body of Ih̄u cryste the which is yeuen vnder the likenesse of breed for thys that that myght be grete horrour a preest to ete rawe flessh and also to drynke blood After thys consecracion these myracles are conteyned and sayth the preest in the viij parte of the canon an oryson that begynneth thus Vnde vt memores c̄ In the whiche oryson the preest Incyteth vs to haue mynde of the passyon of our lord Ihesu cryste of hys resurrexyon and of his glorious ascencyon to th ende that by his passyon we be Incyted to charyte by his holy resurrexyon we be Incyted to feythe and by his glorious ascencion to hope of our helthe ffor his passyon sheweth to vs charyte for thys that by his charyte he wold suffre dethe for vs And therfore the preest in that oryson he maketh fyue tymes the sygne of the crosse in the memorye and mynde of the fyue woundes that our lord receyued on the crosse and there that tyme euery creature ought to sette his herte to thynke on the passyon of cryste And thus doyng the creature shal acquyre veray feythe by the knowleche of the holy resurrexyon and veray hope by his gloryous ascencyon after in thys same partye the preest prayeth that our lord wyl accepte the sacrefyse in suche manere as he dyd of abel of abraham and of melchysedech For specyally these thre were accepted of god as specyal frendes After in the ix parte of the canon of the masse the preest Inclyneth hym whiche Inclynacion representeth or betokeneth thys that our lord after his souper wente to the montayn of olyuete and there he enclyned hym self prayeng to god the fader sayeng Syr I the praye yf it may be that thou transferre fro me thys bytter chalyce and therfore he sayth an oryson that thus begynneth Supplices to rogamus In the whiche the preest remembreth maketh mencyon of the for the forsayd prayer and whan he cometh to saye a worde that is Ex hac altaris perticipacione c̄ he kysseth the aulter the whyche kyssyng betokeneth thys that Iudas made whā he betrayed his mayster our lord Ihesu cryste and caused hym to be taken after in thys same orison the preest maketh thre tymes the syyne of the crosse for thys that our lord prayed in the sayd mountaygne of olyuete he swette blood allonge his body and therfore he maketh
blessyd body medled to gyder and it apperith by thyse verses folowyng that the thre partes of the hoostye sygnefyen the thre maners of creatures before sayd Tres partes signant de xpristi corpore sancto Prima suam carnem scoÌ„sque secuÌ„da sepultos Tercia viuentes hec est in sanguine tincta martirij calicem gus tant in carne fideles After foloweth agnus dei and here it is to wete that the preest sayth thre tymes agnus dei and at the thyrd tyme at th ende of it he sayth Dona nobis pacem And it nys none other thynge to say Lambe of god that taketh aweye the synnes of the world haue mercy on vs and thys is sayd two tymes to thentente that our lord be vnderstonde gooyng on erthe for to haue vs fro our synnes and restyng in the sepulcre for to delyuer vs fro the paynes of helle and therfore in these two fyrst agnus dei the preest sayth miserere nobis the thyrd agnus dei betokenyth thys that our lord be vnderstonde beyng in heuen for to gyue parfyte pees and therfore sayth the preest at th ende of the agnus dona nobis pacem Lord gyue vs pees Sayeng agnus dei the preest enclyneth hym self betyng his brâ—st at euery tyme sygnefyeng that with humylyte compassyon he sayth that same ornson After it is to knowe that at a masse of requiem the preest sayth not at the two fyrst agnus dei miserere nobis ne at the thyrd agnus he sayth not dona nobis pacem but the preest sayth in stede of that dona eis requiem For thys that thre maners of reste ben worthy for the fyables of god dede Fyrst that alle payne he had aweye fro them Secondly that glorye wyth god be gyuen to them Thyrdly that the sowle wyth the body togyder be crownyd And therfore sayth the preest at the laste agnus dona eis requiem sempiternam After this the preest deuoutelye enclyneth hym sayth a deuoute oryson that begynneth thus Domine Ihesu xpriste cÌ„ and that is as moche for to say Lord Ihesu cryste that said to thyn appostles I gyue you my pees I leue you my pees therfore I the praye Instauntelye that thou wylte not consyder my mysdedes and synnes but consyder thou the feyth of the holy chyrche and wylte it vnye peease after thy wylle thou that reygnest wyth the fader in the royame of heuen and after the preest taketh pees kyssyng the corporalle or the lydde of the chalys or the body of our lord Ihesu cryste and that is to teche and shewe to vs that thorugh the holy passyon of our lord veray pees is yeuen to vs of god and also to alle humayn lygne And the preest gyueth pees to the mynystre or clerke that helpeth to saye the masse And that same mynystre or clerke bereth it thorugh the chyrche to the folke and there the creacares kysse it eche after other in token of loue and concorde to the ende that euen soo as flesshe ioyneth it self to flesshe and spyryte to spyryte right soo we be alyed to gyder by vertue of loue And here it is to wete that for thys that our lord sayd to hys dyscyples take ye alle of thys breed and ete it it is myn owne body therfore in thys manere euery one was wonte in tyme passed to be howselyd euery day And for thys that many one took it Indyscretelye and fewe reuerentelye for that it semyd to them that it was not for to doo soo therfore hit was ordeyned to be taken but one tyme in a wyke that is to wete on the sonday Or to take it thre tymes in the yere Or at the leste one tyme in the yere And in that place where thys shold be doon shold be the pees gyuen euery day in token of loue and of veray stedfaste alyaunce And it is to wete that Whan men say masse for the dede men beren not the pees for this that the fyables of god ben oute fro alle the trybulacyons of this world Thus endeth the thyrd parte of the masse Here after foloweth the fourth parte of the masse AFter foloweth the fourth parte of the masse pryncypal and fyrst the percepcyons and here is to wete that after the preest hath taken pees and sente pees to the peple to thentente he may receyue more deuoutelye the body of our lord he sayth bowyng his knees ij orysons Instytued by the auncyent faders the fyrst oryson begynneth Domine Ihesu criste qui ex voluntate patris cÌ„ And is as moche for to say Ihesu crist that by the wylle of god the fader and wytte of the holy ghoost woldest redeme the world by thyn owne deth them to haue ageyn in ioye and blysse with the wylt my body delyuer fro al euyl haue aweye al my synnes fro me and that I may so kepe thy commaundementes that I may be and dwelle with the in heuen where thou mayst reygne as god with the fader and holy ghoost amen The second orison that the preest saith in his percepcion is this Percepcio corporis tui cÌ„ and may be the vnderstondyng of thys oryson suche Ihesu cryste that parfyte lyf hast in heuen wyth herte I the praye that the swete percepcyon of thy precious body whiche by Ialousye of loue I doo take be to me eschewyng of dampnacion that by thy compassion hit may be compunccion to my sowle that in suche place he may come where he may be accepted and graunted amen After the preest medytyng and thynkyng on the passyon of our lord Ihesu cryste sayth Panem celestem accipiam nomen domini Inuocabo cÌ„ That is to say I shal take the heuenly breed I shal calle the name of our Lord After al these forsaid thinges the preest holdyng the precyous body of our lord sayth thre tymes Domine non sum dignus vt Incres sub tectum meum sed tantum dic verbo sanabitur anima mea It is as moche for to saye Lord I am not worthy that thou entrest my hows but say thou the worde and my sowle shal be heelyd there the preest beteth at euery tyme his brest betokenyng that with right veray contrycyon and in stedfast deuocyon he wyl receyue his saluacyon After the preest makyng the sygne of the crosse of the body of our lord sayth Corpus domini nostri Ihesu cristi custodiat animam meam in vitam eternam cÌ„ It is none other thynge to say The precyous body of our lord Ihesu cryste wyl kepe my sowle in lyf pardurable or euerlastyng that is to wete in the companye of our lord and sythe the preest with ioyned handes taketh the body of our lord and vseth it the moost deuoutelye he can after the preest enclyneth hym self and taketh the chalys wherin is the precious blood of our lord sayth Quid retribuam domino pro omnibus que retribuit michi caliâ—em salutaris
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
by cause thou hast fouÌ„den suche couÌ„seyl come therfor to our lord For whan thou shal stonde in his sight he shal accepte that And they ladde her to the tabernacle of holofernes And whaÌ„ she caÌ„ byfor hym anon holofernes was caught by hys eyen And his tirauÌ„t knyghtis said to hym who despised the peple of Iewes that haue so fayr wymen that not for hem of right we ought to fight ayenst heÌ„ so Iudith seeyng holofernes syttyng in hys canape that was of purpure of gold smaragdes precious stones within wouen and whan she had seen hys face she honowrid hym fallyng doun her self vnto therthe And the seruantes of holofernes toke her vp he so comaÌ„dyng TheÌ„ne holofernes said to her Be thou not aferd ne drede the not I neuer greuyd ne noyed man that wold serue Nabugodonosor Thy peple sothly yf they had not despised me I had not reysed my peple ne strengâ—he ayenst theÌ„ now telle to me the cause wâ—y thou wentist fro theÌ„ And that it hath plesith the to come to vs And Iudith said Take the wordes of thy handmayde and yf thou folowe theÌ„ a perfight thyng god shal doo with the Forsothe Nabugodosor is the lyuyng kynge of therthe and thou hast hys power for to chastyse alle peple For meÌ„ only serue not hym but also the beestis of the felde obeyen to hym hys myght is knowen ouer all and the chyldryn of Israhel shal be yolden to the For their god is aÌ„gry with theÌ„ for their wickednes they ben enfamyned lacke brede watre They ben coÌ„strayned to ete their horse beestis to take suche holy thynges as ben forboden by theyr lawe as whete wyn oyle All thyse thynges god hath shewd to me And they purpose to wast suche thyngis as they ought not touche and herfor for their synnes they shal be put in the handes of their enemyes our lord hath shewde me thyse thâ—nges to telle the And I thyn handmayde shal worshipe god shal goon out and praye hym come in telle the what he shal seye to me in suche wyse that I shal brynge the thurgh the myddle of Iherusalem and thou shalt haue all the peple of Israhel vnder the as the sheep ben vnder the shepherde in so moche that ther shal not an hound barke ayenst the And by cause thyse thynges ben said to me by the prouydeÌ„ce of god that god is wroth with them I am sente to telle the thyse thynges Forsothe all thyse wordes plesed moche to holofernes to hys peple And they meruaylleden of the wysedoÌ„ of her one said to another Ther is not suche a womaÌ„ vpoÌ„ erthe in sight in fairnesse in witte of wordes And holofernes said to her god hath doo wel that he hath sente the hether for to lete me haue knowleche and yf thy god do to me thise thynges he shal be my god and thou thy name shal be grete in the hows of Nabugodonosor Thenne comanded holofernes her to goo in wher hys tresor laye to abyde there to gyue to her mete fro his feste to whom she said that she myht not ete of hys mete but that she hath brouht mete with her for to ete Thenne holofernes saide whanÌ„ that mete faylleth what shal we gyue to the to ete And Iudith said that she shold not spende alle tyl god shal do in my hondes tho thynges that I haue thought And the seruantes lad her in to hys tabernacle And she desyred that she myght goo oute in the nyght and byfore daye to praye and come in agayn And the lord comanded hys cubyculyers that she shold goo and come at her playâ—yr thre dayes duryng And she wente out in to the valeye of bethulye and baptysed her in the water of the welle And she stratched her hondes vp to the god of Israhel prayeng the good lord that he shold gouerne her waye for to delyuer hys peple And thus she dyde vnto the fourth day Thenne holofernes made a grete feste And sente a man of hys whyche was ghelded named vago for to eÌ„trete Iudith for to lye with his lord and to come ete and drynke wyn wyth hym And Iudyth sayd what 〈◊〉 I that shold gaynsaye my lordes desire I am at hys comandemÌ„t what somÌ„euer he wil that I doo I shal doo plese hym all the dayes of my lyf And she roos aourned her self with her riche precious clothes wente in stode byfore holofernes And holofernes herte was percyd with her beaute breÌ„ned in the lust desyre of her said to her sitte douÌ„ drynk in Ioye for thou hast fouÌ„den grace byfore me Iudith said I shal drynk my lord for my lyf is magnefyeed this day bifore all the dayes of my lyf she ete dronke suche as her handmayde had ordeyned for her And holofernes was mery dranke so moche wyn that he neuer draÌ„ke so moche in one day in all his lyf was dronken and at eueÌ„ whaÌ„ it was nyght olofernes wente vnto his bedde and vago brought Iudith in to his chaÌ„bre closid the dore and whan Iudith was allone in the chaÌ„bre holofernes laye and slepte in ouermoche droÌ„kenesse Iudith said to her handmayde that she shold stonde withoutforth byfore the dore of the preuy chaÌ„bre and wayte aboute and Iudith stode bifore the bedde prayeÌ„g with teeris with meuyng of her lippes secretly sayeng O lord god of Israhel coÌ„ferme me in this houre to the werkes of my hondes that thou reyse vp the cyte of Iherusalem as thou hast promysed And that I may performe this that I haue thought to doo And whan she had thus said she wente to the pyler that was at his beddes heed And toke hys swerd and losed it and whan she had drawen it out she toke hys heer in her hand said Conferme me god of Israhel in this hour smote twyes in the necke cutte of his heed lefte the body lye stylle toke the heed wrapped it in the canape and delyueryd it to her mayde bad her to put it in her scryppe And they two wente oute after their vsage to pray And they passed the tentes goyng aboute the valeye camen to the yate of the cytee And Iudyth said to the kepers of the walles Opene the yates for god is with vs that hath don grete vertue in Israhel And anon whan they herd her calle they called the preestis of the cyte And they comeÌ„ rennyng for they had supposed nomore to haue seeÌ„ her And lyghtyng lightes all wente aboute her She theÌ„ne entrid in stode vp in â—an hye place comaÌ„ded scylence and said prayse ye the lord god that forsaketh not meÌ„ hopyng in hym And in me hys haÌ„d woman hath fulfyllyd hys mercy that he promysed to the hous of Israhel And hath slayn in my hand thenemye of hys peple this nyght And theÌ„ne she