day lyft vp by the handes of thangellys in to thayer and haue deserued to here with my bodely eeris the ryght swete song of the companye celestyal And bycause it is shewed to me of our lord that I shalle departe out of thys world Goo to Maxymyne and say to hym that the next day after the resurrection of our lord in the same tyme that he is acustomed to arise goo to matyns that he allone entre in to his oratorye and that by the mynysterye and seruyce of Angellys he shal fynd me there And the preest herd the boys of her lyke as it had be the boys of an angelle but he sawe nothyng and thenne anon he went to seynt maxymyn and told to hym alle by ordre Thenne saynt maxymyn was replenysshed of grete Ioye And thankyd gretly our lord And on the sayde day and hour as is aforesayd he entrid in to his oratorye And sawe the blessyd marie magdalene staÌdyng in the quyre or chore yet emong thangellys that brought her and was lyfte vp fro therthe the space of ij or iij cubyttis And prayeng to our lord she held vp her handes and whan Seynt maxymyn sawe her he was aferd to approche to her And she retorned to hym and sayd come hyther myn own fader and flee not thy doughter And whan he approched cam to her as it is redde in the bokes of the said seint maxymyn For the customable vision that she had of angellis euery day the chyere and visage of her shone as cleer as it had ben the rayes of the sonne And thenne alle the clerkes and the prestes a fore sayde were called And marie magdalene receyued the body and blood of our lord of the handes of the bysshop wyth grete habundaunce of tâeres and after she stratched her body tofore the aulter And her ryght blessyd soule departed fro the body and went to our lord and after it was departed ther yssued out of the body an odour so swete smellyng that it remayned there by the space of senen dayees to al them that entrid in ¶ And the blessyd maxymyn enoynted the body of her with dyuers precious oynementis and buryed it honourably And after commauÌded that his body shold be buryed by heers after hys deth Egesippus wyth other bokes of Iosephus accorden ynough wyth the sayd storye ¶ And Iosephus sayth in hys tratye that the blessyd man magdalene After the ascencion of our lord for the brennyng loue that she had to Ihesu Cryste ¶ And for the grief and descomfort that she hadde for the absence of her mayster our lord she wold neuer see man but after whan she cam in to the countray of Ays She went in to deserte and dwellyd there xxx yere wythout knouyng of any man or woman And he sayth that euery day atte vij houres canonyques she was lyft in to thayer of the angellys But he sayth that whan the preest cam to her He fond her enclosed in her celle And she requyred of hym a vestement And he delyuerd to her one whiche she clothed and couered her wyth And she went wyth hym to the chirche and receyued the commynyon and thenne made her prayers with Ioyned handes and rested in pees In the tyme of charles the grete in the yere of our lord vijClxxj Gerard duc of burgoyne myght haue no child by his wyf wherfor he gaf largely almesse to the pour peple founded many chirches and many monasteries whan he had made thabbay of uisiliacense he thabbot of the monasteri sent a monke wyth a good resonable felawshyp vnto ays for to bryng thyder yf they mygt of the reliques of saint marie magdalene whan the monke cam to the sayd cite he fond it all destroyed of paynems Thenne by auenture he fond the sepulcre for the writyng vpon the sepulcre of marble shewed wel that the blessyd lady marie magdalene rested and lay there and thistory of her was merueyllously entayled coruen in the sepulcre and thenne this monke opened it by nyght and toke the relyques and bare them in to his lodgyng and that same nyght marie magdalene apperyd to that monke sayeng doubte the nothyng make an ende of thy werke thenne he retorned homward vntil he cam half a myle fro the monastery But he myght in no wyse remeue the relyques fro thens til that thabbot monkes cam wyth prosessyon and receyued them honestly And sone after the duc had a chyld by hys wyf Ther was a knyght whiche had a custome euery yere to goo a pylgrymage vnto the body of seint marie magdalene whyche knyght was slayne in batayle And as his frendes wepte for hym lyeng on the byere they sayd wyth swete and deuout quarelles why she suffred her deuoute seruaunte to dye wythout confessyon and penaunce Thenne sodenly he that was deed aroos Alle they beyng sore abasshed And made one to calle a preest to hym and confessyd hym wyth grete deuocion And receyued the blessyd sacrament And thenne rested in peas There was a shyppe charged wyth men and women that was perisshed and alle to brake And there was among them a woman wyth chylde whyche sawe her self in peryl to be drouned And cryed fast on marye magdalene for socour and helpe makyng her auowe that yf she myght be saued by her merytes and escape that perylle yf she hadde a sone she shold gyue hym to her monasterye And anon as she had so auowed A woman of honourable habyte and beaute apperyd to her and toke her by the chynne and brought her to the ryuage alle sauf And the other perysshed and were drowned And after she was delyuerd and had a sone and accomplisshed her auowe lyke as she had promysed Some say that marie magdalene was wedded to Seynt IohÌn theuangefist whan crist called hym fro the weddyng and whan he was called fro her she had therof IndignacoÌn that her husbond was taken fro her went gaf her self to alle delyte but by cause it was not couenable that the callyng of seynt IohÌn shold be occasion of her dampnacoÌn therfor our lord conuerted her mercifully to penaunce and bycause he had taken fro her souerayn delyte of the flesshe he replenyshed her with souerayn delyte spirituel to fore al other that is the loue of god it is sayd that he ennoblesshed seynt IohÌn to fore al other with the swetnes of his famyliarite by cause he had takeÌ hym fro the delyte aforsayd there was a man whiche was blynde on both his eyen dyd hym to be ledde to the monastery of the blessid marie magdalene for to visite her body his leder sayd to hym that he sawe the chyrche And theÌne the blynd man âscried and said with an hye voys O blessyd marye magdalene helpe me that I may deserue ones to see thy chyrche And anon hys eyen were opened and sawe clerly all thynges aboute hym There was another man that wrote hys synnes in
bysshopriches to somÌe vertuous men And anon the kynge grauÌted to hym hys desire ordeyned one maistre Roger bysshop of wyncestre and th erle of glouceters sone bisshop of londoÌ named sire Robert And anone after saynt thomas halowed thabbey of Redyng whiche the first henry fonÌded And that same yere he translated saynt edward kynge coÌfessour at westmestre where he was leyd in a riche shryne And in short tyme after by thentycement of the deuyl fil grete debate variaunce stryf bytwene the kyng saynt Thomas the kynge sent for alle the bysshopes to appere to fore hym at westmestre at a certayn day at whyche day they assemblyd to fore hym whom he welcomed after said to them how that tharchebysshop wold destroye hys lawe not suffre hym tenioye suche thynges as his predecessours had vsed to fore hym wherto saynt Thomas answerd that he neuer entended to do thyng that shold displese the kyng als ferre as it touched not the fraunchyse and lyberteâ of holy chyrche Thenne the kynge reherced how he wold not suffre ãâã that were theuys haue thexecucion of the lawâ to which saynt thomas sayd that he ought not execute theÌ but they longeth to the correction of holy chyrche â other dyuerse poyntes to which seynt Thomas wold not agree To the which the kyng said now I see wel yuâholdest fordoâ the lawes of this lonâ whiche haue ben vsed in the dayes of my predecessours but it shal not lye in thy power And so the kyng beyng wroth departed TheÌne the bysshoppis all couÌceylled saynt thomas to folowe the kynges entente or ellis the lond shold be in grete trouble And in lyke wise the lordes teÌporell that were his frendes couÌseylled hym the same And saynt Thomas said I take god to record it was neuer myne entente to displese the kyng or to taake ony thyng that longeth to his right or honour And theÌne the lordes were glad brought hym to the kynge to Oxenford and the kyng dayned not to speke to hym And theÌne the kyng callid alle the lordes spuÌel temporelle to fore hym and said he wold haue alle the lawes of his fornfaders there new coÌfermed there they were confermed by all the lordes spuÌel temporell And after this the kyng charged them for to come to hym to Claryndon to his parlameÌt atte a certayn day assigned on payne to renne in his IndignacioÌ and at that tyme so departed And this parlamÌt was holden at claryndon the xj yere of the kynges regne the yere of our lord xjClxiiij at this parlemÌt were many lordes which all were ayenst saynt Thomas And theÌne the kynge sittyng in his parlemÌt in the presence of all his lordes demanded them yf they wold abyde kepe the lawes that had ben vsed in his forfaders dayes TheÌne saynt Thomas spacke for the ête of holy chirche saide All olde lawes that be good rightful and not ayenst our moder holy chirche I grauÌte with good will to kepe theÌ And theÌne the kynge saide that he wolde not leue one poynt of his lawe and waxid wroth with saynt Thomas And theÌne certayn bysshoppis requyred saynt thomas to obeye to the kynges desire wyll And saynt Thomas desyred respyte to knowe the lawes thenne to gyue hym an answere And whan he vnrdâstode theÌ all to somÌe he consented but many he denyed wold neuer be agreable to them wherfor the kyng was wroth and said he wold holde kepe them lyke as his predecessours had doon byfore hym wold not mynusshe one poynt of them Thenne saynt thomas said to the kyng with ful grete sorow heuy chyere Now my most dere lord and gracious kynge haue pyte on vs of holy chirche your bede men and gyue to vs respyte for a certayn tyme And thus departed eche man and saynt Thomas wente to wynchestre And there prayd our lord deuoutly for holy chyrche and to yeue hym ayde and strength for to defende it For vtterly he determyned to abyde by the lybertees and fraunchyse And fyl doun on hys knees said ful sore wepyng O good lord I knowleche that I haue offended and for myn offence and trespaas thys trouble cometh to holy chyrche I purpose good lord to goo to Rome for to be assoylled of myn offensis And departed toward Caunterburye And anon the kyng sente hys offycers to hys manoyrs and despoylled them by cause he wold not obeye the kynges statutes And the kynge comanded to seasâ alle hys londes and goodes in to hys hondes And thenne hys seruauntes departed from hym And he wente to the see side for to haue goon ouer see but the wynde was ayenst hym and so thryes he toke hys shyppe and myght not passe And theÌne he knewe that it was not our lordes wyll that he shold yet departe and retorned secretely to Caunterbury of whos comyng hys meyne made grete Ioye And on the morn cam the kynges offycers for to haue seased all hys goodes For the noyse was that saynt Thomas had fledde the londe wherfor they had dispoylled all his manoyrs seasid theÌ in to the kynges hoÌde And whan they cam they fonde hym at Caunterbury wherof they were sore abasshed and retorned to the kyng enformyng hym that he was yet at cauÌterbury anon after saynt thomas cam to the kyng to wodestoke for âo pray hym to be better disposed toward âoly chyrche And thenne said the kynge to hym in skorne May not we two dwelle bothe in this londe art thou of so sturdy and hard of herte to whom saynt Thomas answerd sire that was neuer my thoughte but I ãâã fayne plese you doo all that ãâã desire so that ye hurte not the libertees of holy chirche For them will I mayntene whyle I lyue euer to my power wyth whiche wordes the kynge was sore meuyd swore that he wold haue theÌ kept in especial yf a clerke were a theef he shold be Iuged executed by the kynges lawe by no spirituel lawe said he wold neuer suffre a clerke to be hys maister in his owne londe And chargid saynt thomas tappere to fore hym at Norhampton to brynge all the bisshops of this londe with hym and so departid Saynt thomas besought god of helpe socoure For the bysshoppis whiche ought to be with hym were most ayenst hym And after this saynt Thomas wente to norhampton where the kyng helde thenne his grete counseylle in the castell wyth all his lordes And whaÌ he cam to fore the kyng he said I am comen to obeye your comandemÌt but by fore this tyme was neuer bysshop of Canuterbury thus entreted For I am heed of the chyrche of englond And am to you sir kyng your ghoostly fader and it was neuer goddes lawe that the sone shold destroye hys fader which hath charge of hys soule And by your styryng haue made all the bysshops
as saynt basylle prayd holdyng the honde of the yong maÌ the cedule whiche he had made was brought in thayer in the sight of alle was leyde in the honde of saynt basylle the which receyued it said to the chyld brother knowest thou âhyse lettres he answerd them I know theÌ well For they were wreton with my honde TheÌne saynt basylle brake them ladde the chyld to the chyrche so or deyned disposed hym that he was worthy to receyue the holy sacrament after he beyng enseygned taught delyuerd to hym a Rewle how he shold kepe hym delyuerd hym to hys wyf Also ther was a woman that had coÌmysed many synnes the whyche she all wrote And atte ende ther was one more greuous than the other whyche in the wrytyng delyuerd to saynt basylle prayeng hym to praye for her And that by his prayers her synnes myght be foryeuen and theÌne he prayde for her the woman opend the bylle wherin she founde all the synnes deffaced put out exept the greuous synne And she cam to saynt basylle sayd thou holy saynt of god haue mercy on me and gete me foryefnes for thys lyke as thou hast don for the other And saynt basylle sayd to the woman leue goo fro me woman For I am a man synnar as thou art whyche haue nede of pardon as moche as thou And as she that was besy and greuous to hym he said to her goo vnto the holy man that is named effraym and demaunde of hym that he may gete pardon for the And whan she cam to the holy man Effraym and had tolde to hym wherfor she was sente to hym fro saynt basylle he sayd to her goo fro me for I am a synful man but goo agayn to saynt basylle And it is he that may gete the foryefnes for thys synne lyke as he dyde for the other And haste the to th eÌde that thou maist fynde hym alyue And whan she cam in to the cyte saynt basylle was born to the chyrche for to be buryed And she bygan to crye sayeng god be Iuge bytwene me and the For thou mayst wel appease god for me And thou hast sente me to an other and anon she threwe the bylle vpon the coueryng of the byere ¶ And anon after she toke it agayn and opend it and founde hyt alle playn and out clene of the bylle ¶ And thenne wyth other she gaf thankynges to god ¶ To fore or saynt basylle deyde he beyng in the maladye that he deyde he dyde do come a Iewe to hym which was moche expert in physyke And he louyd hym by cause he sawe that he shold be conuerted to the fayth And whan he was come he felte hys puls and sawe that he was nyghe hys ende and sayd to hys meyney Make ye redy suche thyng as byhoueth for hys sepulture For he shal deye anon whyche worde saynt basylle herd and sayd to hym thou woste not what thou sayest And the Iewe named Ioseph sayd to hym thys day shalt thou dye whan the sonne shal goo doun in the weste To whom saynt basylle sayd what shal thou saye yf I deye not tâys day to whom Ioseph sayd Syre it is not other wyse possyble thenne sayd saynt basylle yf I lyue vnto the morowe none what shalt thou doo And Ioseph sayde yf thou lyue vntyl the morow that houre I shal deye And saynt basylle sayd thou sayst trouthe thou shal dye that is synne shal dye in the to th eÌde that thou lyue in IhÌu criste Ioseph said I wote wel what thou saist and yf thou lyue vnto that tyme I shal doo that thou saist TheÌne saynt basille said how wel that by nature he shold haue deyde anon forthwith yet he gate and Impetred of god space that he shold not theÌne deye lyued vnto the morn at none which thyng seyng Ioseph merueylled moche and byleued in Ihesu crist Saynt basille theÌne toke herte ouercam the feblenes of the body aroos out of his bedde wente to the chirche and with his propre handes baptysed the Iewe And after retorned to his bedde anon gaf vp his spirite rendryd his sowle vnto god aboute the yere of our lord iijClxx Thenne latâ vs praye to hym that he gete vs grace of our lord Ihesu cryst that he wyll foryeue vs all our synnes Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Basille Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Iohan the Almosner SAynt Iohan the Almosner was patriack of IhÌrlm he sawe on a tyme in a vision a moche fair mayde which had on her hede a crowne of olyue and whaÌ he sawe her he was gretly abasshid demauÌded her what she was this maide answere to hym I am mercy which brought fro heueÌ the sone of god yf thou wilt wedde me thou shalt fare the better TheÌne he vnderstandyng that tholyue bitâkeneth mercy he begaÌ that same day to be mercyful in suche wise that he was called almosner or amener and he called alleway the poure peple his lordes TheÌne he called his seruants said to theÌ goo thurgh the cite write ye all the names of my lordes and whan he sawe that they vnderstode not his wordes he said to them they ben they that ye calle poure meÌdiauÌtes I calle theÌ my lordes and I saye they be my helpers and trust it wel that they mowe helpe gete me the kyngdoÌ of heuene And by cause he wold styre the peple to do almesse he said that whan the poure men were ones to gydre wermyng theÌ ayenst the sonne they begaÌ to telle who were good almesmen theÌ wold they âreyse and blame them that werr euyll emong all other he told this narracion Ther was somtyme a tollar named peter in a cite was a moche riche maÌ but he was not pyteous but cruel to poure peple For he wold hunte chace away poure peple beggars froÌ his hous with indignacion angre Thus wold no poure man come to hym for almesse TheÌne was there j poure man said to his felaws what wil ye gyue me yf I gete of hym an almesse this day And they made a wager with hym that he shold not which don he wente to this tollars hous stode at the yate demanded almesse And whan this riche man cam and sawe this poure man at his yate he was moche angry and wold haue caste somwhat at his heed but he coude fynde nothyng tyl atte last cam one of his seruants beryng a basket ful of brede of Rye and in a grete angre he toke a rye loof threwe it at his hede as he that myght not here the crye of the poure man and he toke vp the loof ranne to his felaws sayd truly that he had receyued that loof of petres owne hande And theÌne within ij dayes after this riche man was seke lyke for to deye And as he laye he was
this man to thys lady aforsayd and gaf to her also a candell of waxe The whyche lady sawe also come a preest a deken a subdeken all reuestyd goyng to th aulter as for to saye masse And her semed that saynt laurence saynt vynceÌt were deken and subdeken And Ihesu crist the preest And two angellis beryng to fore them candellis And two yong angellis began the Introyte of the masse And alle the companye of the vyrgyns songe the masse And whan the masse was songe vnto thoffryng her semed that thylke virgyne so crowned wente to fore and after all the other folowed and offrid to the preest knelyng moche deuoutly theyr candellis And whan the preest taryed for thys lady that she shold also haue comen to thoffryng The gloryouse quene of virgyns sente to her to saye that she was not curtoys to make the preest so longe to tarye for her And the lady answerd that the preest shold procede in hys masse forth for she wold kepe her kandell and not offre it And the gloryouse vyrgyne sente yet ones to her And she said she wold not offre her candelle The thyrde tyme the quene said to the messager goo and praye her that she come and offre her candell or ellis take it from her by force The messager cam to thys lady And by cause in no wyse she wold not come offre vp her candell he sette honde on the candell that thys lady helde and drew faste and she helde faste And so longe he drewe and haled that the candelle brake in two pyeces And that one half abode stylle in the hand of the lady aforsaid whyche anon awoke and cam to her self and fonde the pece of the candell in her honde wherof she moche merueylled and thanked our lord and the gloryouse vyrgyne marye deuoutly whyche had suffred her that day not to be wythout messe And all the dayes of her lyf after she kepte that pyece of that candle moche preciously lyke an holy relyque And alle they that were touchyd therwyth were guarysshed heled of theyr maladyes and sekenessis Late vs pray thenne humbly to the gloryous vyrgyne marye whyche is confort to them that forsake their synnes that she wyll make our peays to her blessyd sone and Impetre and gete of hym remyssion of all our synnes And after thys lyf to come to the glorye Ioye of heuene to the whyche brynge vs the fader the sone and the holy ghoost Amen Here endeth the purificacion of our lady Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Blase and first of hys name BLase is as moche to saye as glosyng or it is sayd as belacius of bela whiche is habyte sius whyche is to saye lityl And thus he is sayd glosyng by the swetenes of hys word meke by hys habyte of vertues And lytyl by humylyte of maners of conuersion ¶ Of the lyf of saynt Blase SAynt Blase was so swete holy and humble in maners that the cristeÌ men of capadoce of the cyte of Sebaste chees hym to be a bysshop The whyche whan he was bysshop sawe that dioclesian themperour made so many êsecucucions to crysten men that saynt blase sought and wold dwelle in an hermytage in a dyche in whyche place the byrdes of heuene brought to hym mete for to ete And it semed to hym that they cam to serue hym and accompanye hym And wold not departe fro hym tyl he had lyft vp hys hande and blessyd them And also sekemen cam to hym And anon were cured and heled Now it happed that the prynce of thys region sente hys knyghtis to hunte And they coude take noo thyng but by aueÌture they cam vnto the deserte place where saynt blase was where they founde grete multitude of beestes whyche were aboute hym Of whom they coude take none wherof they were all abasshed and shewd this to theyr lord The whyche anon sente many knyghtes for hym And comaÌded to brynge hym and alle the crysten men with hym And that nyght IhÌu cryst appiered to hym thryes which said to hym Aryse vp and make to me sacrefise Lo here ben the knyghtes that come to fetche the atte comandement of the prynce And the knyghtes sayd to hym Come out fro thys place The president calleth the And saynt Blase answerd my sones ye be wel come I see now wel that god hath not forgeten me he wente with them and contynuelly prechyd And dyde many myracles to fore them Ther was a woman that had a sone deyeng in whos throte was a bone of a fysshe thwart whyche estrangled hym And she brought hym to fore hys feet prayeng hym that he wold make her sone hoole And saynt blase put hys honde vpon hym and made hys prayer to god that thys chyld and alle they that demanded benefettes of helthe in hys name that they shold be holpen and opteyne it And anon he was hool and guarysshed Another womaÌ ther was that was poure whyche had a swyne whyche the wulf had born away And she humbly prayd to saynt blase that she myght haue agayn her swyne And he began to smyle sayd good woman Angre the not For thou shalt haue agayn thy swyne And anon the wulf brought agayn to the woman whyche was a wydowe her swyne And anon after he was entrâd in to the cyte the prynce comaÌdâd ãâã put hym in pryson And after another daye he made hym to come to for hym whom he salewed by fayr wordes sayeng to hym be thou Ioyefull blase the frende of god Saynt blase answerd to hym Be thou Ioyous right good prynce but calle not them goddes whom thou worshipest but feendis For they ben delyuerd to fyre perdurabâe wyth them that serue and worshype ââem Thenne was the prynce moche wroth And made to bete saynt blase wyth staues and after to put hym in pryson Thenne sayd saynt blase O mad man wenest thou by thy tormÌtis and paynes to take away fro me the loue of my god whome I haue wyth me and is my helpar And whan thys good wydowe whyche by saynt blase had recouerd her swyne herd herof she slewe hit and the heed and the feet with a litil brede a caÌdell she brought to saynt blase And he thanketh god ete therof he said to her that euery yere she shold offre in hys chyrche a candell And knowe thou that to the and to all them that soo shal doo shall wel happen to them And so she dyde all her lyf and she had moche grete prosperyte After thys that the right cruell prynce had brought hym to fore hys goddes in no wyse myght make hym enclyne for to adoure to their hoddes he made hym to be hanged on a gyâet and hys body to be torn wyth combes of yron And thys don he was remysed agayn to pryson And ther were vij wymen that siewed hym whyche gadred vp the dropes of hys blood whyche wymen anon were taken and constrayned
sorouful for god shal be alweye wyth the lyke as he hath promysed to vs sayeng loo I am alwey and shal be wyth you vnto the consummacion of the world Thus my swete broder he commaunded vs after hys resurrexyon sayeng Goo ye vnto thorugh the vnyuersal world preche the gospel to alle creatures that who shal byleue and shal be baptysed he shal be saued and they that wyl not so do shal be dampned whiche thynges my blessyd broder behoueth vs to kepe and put in effecte to the ende that we forgete not the commaundementes of god anone after thyse blessyd wordes saynt marcial toke leue of saynt peter and broughte with hym the two dysciples aforsayd that is to wete alphynyen and austrudynyen and departed lyke as god had commaunded to saynt peter Thus thenne as they wente and that they were wery and sore traueylled by the waye which was longe and greuous saynt austrudynyen departed out of thys world deyed whan saynt marcial sawe that he was deed he retorned in grete haste to rome and tolde to saynt peter that whiche was byfalle in theyr weye Whan Saynt Peter had herde hym he sayd retorne as hastely as thou mayst and take my burdon in thy honde and thou shalt come where thou hast lefte thy broder touche his body with thys burdon and anone he shal aryse and goo in thy companye as he dyd tofore Whan saynt marcial came ageyn to the corps he touched it wyth the burdon lyke as saynt Peter bad hym And anone he was reysed fro deth to lyf After whan saynt marcial had iourneyed longe by dyuers contreyes in longe prechyng and sowyng the word of god they came in to guyan vnto a castel callyd tulle and there were receyued of a ryche and a myghty man named arnold whiche had a doughter that dayly was tormentyd wyth the enemye Thus as saynt marcyall entryd in to the hows The fende began to crye sayeng I knowe wel now that I must yssue out of the body of thys mayde For the aungels of paradyse that been with the marcyal tormente me right greuously but I praye the by the name of hym that was crucâfyed whome thou prechest of that thou sende me not in to thabisme of helle Thenne saynt marcyal sayd to hym I coniure the in the name of Ihesu cryste that was crucefyed for us that thou yssue out of the body of this mayde neuer retorne ageyn but that thou goo vnto a place deserte where byrde ne fowle ne persone dwellyth with this commaundemente the mayde caste out the enemye and she fyl doun as deed Thenne saynt marcyal toke hyr by the hande and reysed hir vp and delyuerd hyr to hyr fader hool and saufe Holynes benygnyte with al humylite shoon in saynt marcial and was alweye in prayers Another myracle also our lord shewed by the prayere of saynt marcial in the same place The prynce of the sayd castel whiche was called nerua and was cosyn to the emperour nero had a doughter whiche was suffocate and murdred by the fende and was dede Thenne the fader and moder of the chylde that were moche sorouful and heuy wyth a grete parte of the people brought the body of the chylde tofore saynt marcial tenderly wepyng and sayeng to hym O man of god helpe vs at thys tyme thou seest how it is wyth vs whan saynt marcyal sawe the lamentacyon and the sorowe that they maad he had pyte on them and sayd wyth an hygh ãâã I praye you al as wel crysten as paynyms that ye wyl deuoutelye praye god almyghty that by his benygne grace hit please hym to gyue ageyn the lyf to thys chylde The two dysciples of saynt marcial and a fewe of cristen people that were there put theym to prayers and syth saynt marcial hymself made his prayer sayeng Syre I pray the in the name of thy blessyd dere sone and of thy good frende sanyt peter by thordenaunce and commandement of whom I am comen hyther That it please the to reyse thys chyld here to th ende that whan he shal be reysed many may beleue in thyn holy precious name Thenne saynt marcial trustyng in the helpe of god toke the chyld by the hande sayeng to hym In the name of our lord Ihesu cryste That of the Iewes for vs was crucyfyed and the thyrd day rose fro deth to lyf aryse vp and stand right on thy feet Anone the chyld aroos rizt vpon his feet and syth kneled doun to the feet of the holy man sayeng to hym O man of god I requyre the to baptyse me to th ende that I may be saued and marke me wyth the sygne of the holy crosse for other wyse may non be sawed but yf he be baptised anon saynt macial baptysed hym And with hym in the same place were wel crstyned also as wel men as wymen thre thousand and vjC And after this saynt marcyal wente and destroyed the ydolles and brought them to nought For thens wente saynt marcial and his two disciples departed and cam to lymoges where they were benyngly receyued of a matrone that was named susanne In whos presence saynt marcial heled one that was frenatyke whan the good woman susanne sawe the myracle that soo was made in her presence anone she and her meyne were baptysed After this saynt marcyal wente in to the temple where the prestes of the ydoles were The whiche bete hym greuously and syth put hym in pryson On the morn as he made his prayer ther descended a light so grete vpon him that men myght not beholde hym The chaynes of yron to breste and the dores of the pryson opend the kepers and they that were there requyred to be baptysed and the prestes that had so beten hym were smeton to deth by thondre and lyghtnyng Thenne the other that were there cam to saint marcyal in to the pryson and prayd hym that he wolde reyse them that so were smeton to deth by the thondre promisyng to hym that yf he so dyde they al wold be baptysed Thenne our lord by hys prayer reysed them ageyn fro deth to lyf Thenne that same tyme were torned to crysten faith baptysed xijMl creatures as men and wymen ¶ And after thys on a tyme deyde the holy woman susanne and tofore her deth she recomanded to saynt marcyal her doughter that was callyd valeriene whiche had promysed and auowed to our lord chastite as longe as she lyued after whan the holy mayde knewe that ther shold come to lymoges a lord named steuyn whiche was lorde of al the prouynce fro the ryuer of rosne vnto the see She was sore aferd leste he wold do to her ony gryef or noyance ayenst her auowe And gaf away al her richesses to poure folk for the loue of god whan the said steuen was come to limoges he made to do come tofore hym the holy mayde to th ende to haue his wylle of her but whan she
was come and sawe that she wold not consente to do his wylle anon he made her heed to be smyten of Than the squyer that byheded her herde thangels synge that bare the sowle of the holy vyrgyne in to heuen with moche grete Ioye and sollempnyte anon he retorned vnto his maystre and tolde hym al that he had seen herde sythe fyl doun deed at his feet Thenne the duc and al his companye had moche grete drede and the duc hym self clad hym next his flessh in a sharp heyr hard for grete repentaunce and praid saint marcyal that he wold praye god that hit myght plese hym to reyse his squyer fro deth to lyf and he wold beleue in the fayth of Ihesu criste and be crystyned anone after that saynt marcyal had prayd our lord reysed thesquyer Thenne the duc and wel a xvMl persones in his companye were baptysed In this tyme the same duc by the commandement of the emperour Nero wente in to Italye with a grete companye of men of armes whan he had acomplysshyd the commandement of nero they wente to rome for to see saynt peter whom they fonde prechyng to the peple whiche peple were barefote and had clothed them wyth the heyr lyeng on the grounde tofore saynt peter in demaundyng hym pardon of theyr synnes whan Saynt peter sawe the duc and so moche fayre people in his companye he demaunded them what they were of what contre TheÌne the duc tolde hym by ordre how he and his companye had ben conuerted and baptysed of saynt marcyal After whan they were departed from rome they thoughte that they wolde goo see saynt marcial tofore or they retorned in to theyr contrey Thus theÌne as they were lodged nyghe by a ryuer and the sone of the erle of poytiers bayned hym in the sayd ryuer thenemye the deuyl drowned and smored hym to the dethe whan his fader knewe it he wente wepyng tenderly to Saynt marcyal and prayed hym to reyse his sone fro dethe to lyf Thenne Saynt marcyal wente to the place where he was drowned and commaunded to the fende to brynge the body out of the water and that he shold appere in a lykenes vysyble tofore theym alle Anone yssued out of the water thre fendes lyke ethyopyens more blacke than cooles and had terryble feet and eyen and grete heyr that couerd alle the body and caste out at theyr mowthes and nosethrilles fyre lyke sulphre and cryed lyke rauens whan they had tolde to saynt marcyal the harmes and euylles that they had doon He commaunded them that they shold departe and goo in to places deserte where as they myght neuer noye ne greue persone lyuyng Saynt marcial whiche had pyte and compassyon on them that wepte for the dede chylde reysed hym fro dethe to lyf thenne the chylde tolde tofore them alle that were there how the fende had drowned and smoldred hym and how they wold haue bounden hym with chaynes of yron brennyng but an aungel of heuen delyuerd hym and shewyd hym the fyre of purgatorye and fro thens ledde hym to the yate of paradys and as the fendes requyred to haue hym a voys came fro heuen and commaunded that he shold aryse ageyn that he shold lyue yet xxvj yere whan he had tolde al this he gaue hym self al ouer to saynt marcial and fro than forthon lyued in grete abstynence and holy lyf lyke as thaungel had taught hym Saynt marcyal dyd many myracles and vertues There was in that tyme a woman that had an husbond seke of the palseye to whiche woman saynt marcyal delyuerd hys burdon wyth whiche she touched a lytel hyr husbond and Incontynent he was hool Another tyme the fyre was so grete in the cyte of lourdews that alle was on a flame Saynt marcial helde vp his burdon ageynst the fyre and anone âit was quenchyd Another tyme as he wold haue halowed a chyrche at lymoges the prynce aforsayd conueyed and sommoned al the peple poure and riche to come to the dedycacion of this chyrche And whan they were al assemblyd saynt marcial admonested and warned them to be in veray chastyte It happed emonge them whyles the masse was on sayeng that there was a knyght whyche he his wyf were sore vexyd troublyd wyth fendes as they were broughte tofore saynt marcyal he demaunded of the fendes why they vexed theym soo and they answerd to hym thou haste commaunded them that the peple shold mayntene chastite and thyse two haue al this nyght exposed them in lecherye and this is the cause that wherfore we ben entryd in to them saynt marcyal at the requeste of the prynce and peple heled them This same yere that is to say the xl yere after the passion of our lord Ihesu cryste the same our lord Ihesu cryste apperyd to hym shewyd how that hastely he shold departe fro thys world and be wyth hys other frendes in the royame of heuen Thenne he dyd doo assemble alle the crysten people that he had conuerted to them made a moche swete sermone in takyng leue of them Sone after he was seek of the feuers and thenne our lord apperyd to hym with a grete quantyte of aungellys whyche wyth moche ioye and gladnes bare the sowle of saynt marcyal in to heuen vbi est honor gloria in secula seculoruÌ amen This Saynt marcyal of whome we speke here was the same childe as soÌme say on whome our lord layed hys honde vpon his heed whan the contencyon and stryffe was emonge the appostles whiche of them shold be grettest in the royame of heuen and thenne our lord sette the chylde marcyal in the myddle of them layeng his honde vpon his heed as sayd is and said to them yâ ye be not lytel and humble as this chylde is ye shal not entre in to heuen he that shal be leeste emonge you he shal be grettest in my royame as the gospel maketh more playne mencyon the whiche glorious saynt saynt marcial lete vs praye vnto that he procure vnto our sayd lord Ihesu cryste that all we may haue parte wyth hym in the ioye and glorye perdurable amen ¶ Here endeth the lyf of saynt marcial one of the disciples of our lord Ihesu cryste And foloweth the lyf of saynt Geneuefe THe noble saynt Geneuefe was borne at nauÌcerre besyde parys in the tyme of themperours honorius and theodosius the lasse was with hir fader moder vnto the tyme of themperour valentynyen anone after hir natyuyte the holy ghoost shewed vnto saynt germayn of ancerre how she shold serue god holyly virgynely the which thynge he tolde to many after she was sacred of the bysshop of chartres viliques came to dwelle at parys ful of vertues of myracles in the tyme of saynt nychase the marter whom the hongres marterd and after in the tyme of saynt re nyge vnder chyldrik kynge of fraunââ and after vnder cloyus his
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 neuââete mete tyll she had of hym somme relyque And whan she had fasten âââtayne 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 cloâh by which they knewe that eche of them had deseruyd to haue a droppe And thenne Theodolye quene of the lomâârdes founded at ãâã besyde Meâân 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 spyâyt of prophecye how he shold do with ãâã bataylle whiche he hadde enterprysed And that man was all nyght in prayer and cam to theÌperour 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 dâken that was taken of the lombardes by suche a conâicion that yf he fledde he shold haue âis hede smyten of The sayd Sanctyn constrayned the deken to flee and delyuerd hym And whanne the ââken 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 tâdo 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 theÌne 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
the eyght ydus of Iuy let The fourth apparicion is that whiche is in the Ierarchye of the same angels For the fyrst apparicion is sayd Epyphanye that is thapparicion of seuereynes The second s sayd yperphanye that is the mene apparicion And that other is sayd ypophanye that is the moost lowe apparicion And Gerarchye is sayd of gerar that is hooly of Archos that is a prynce And see gerarchye is to saye an holy pryncipate euery gerarchye conteyneth thre ordres of aungels For the souerayn gerarchye after thassygnacion of saynt denys conteyneth Cherubyn Seraphyn and the thrones The myddle conteyneth the domynacions the vertues and the potestates the last conteyneth the pryncipates angels and Archaungels And thordynaunce and disposicion of them may be sene by semblable and like in erthely pryncipates For of the mynystres that ben aboute a kyng som werke inmedyatly aboute the persone of the kyng as cubyculers Counseyllours and thassystentes and they a be lyke vnto the ordre of the fyrst Ierarchye Somme ther ben that haue the rewle of the Royamme somme in one prouynce and somme in another as ben lyeutenauntes Capytaynes of Chyualrye and Iuges And they be lyke vnto the second Ierarchye And other ben assigned to particuler offyces in the dyuerse partyes of the Royamme as Mayres Shereues baylles and suche other lasse offyces And these ben lyke to thordres of the ãâã Gerarchye the thre ordres of the fyrst Gerarchye ben taken in as moche as they assiste god and ben conuertid to hym And therto ben thre thynges necessarye that is to wete souerayne loue And that is as touchyng the ordre of Seraphyn whiche ben sayd fyry parfyght knowlege that is touchyng cherubyn which is as moche to say as plenytude of scyence and perpetuel fruycion or vsauÌce As touchynge the thrones whiche ben sayd syttynge For god sytteth and resteth in them The thre ordres of the myddel Gerarchye ben taken and hadde in as moche as they domyne and gouerne thunyuersyte of peple in comyn This seygnorye and this gouernynge is in thre thynges the fyrste in seygnorye and commaundynge and that apperteyneth to thordre of domynacion whiche seygnoryeth aboue other that ben lower and adresse them in alle the mynystres dyuyne and commaundeth to them alle thynge And that sayth Zacharye in the fyfthe chapytre that one Aungel sayth to another Renne and speke to the child Secondly in doynge And this apperteyneth to thordre of vertues To whome no thyng ne is impossyble to execute whiche that is commaunded to them for to them is gyuen power to doo alle thynges dyffycyle whiche ben perteynynge to dyuyne mysterye And therfore it is attrybued to them to doo myracles Thydrly in constraynynge for to constrayne the Impedymentes destourbles And this apperteyneth to thordre of the potestates And thys is sygnyfyed in Thobye where Raphael bonde the deuyll in the ouerest deserte The thre ordres of the last Gerarchye ben taken after that they haue gouernement and lymyted Some of them seygnorye and gouerne in one prouynce And that ben they of thordre of the pryncipates lyke as the prynce of perses seygnoryeth vpon the persiaÌs lyke as it is redde in danyel in the tenthe Chapytre And somme ben deputed to the gouernaunce of a multitude of a cyte And theybe sayd archaÌgels and the other bencommysed to the gouernance of one persone and they ben sayd Angels and ben sayd to shewe the small thynges and lytel by cause that their seruyse and mynysterye is lymyted vnto one man Archaungels ben sayd more and gretter For the weele of a multytude is better and more worthy than the wele of one man In thassignacion of thordres of the fyrste Gerarchye Gregory accordeth with Dyonyse and Bernard also whiche is taken aboute theyr fruycion whiche is in brennynge loue as touchynge to seraphyn In profounde cognycion as to Cherubyn and in perpetuell retencion as touchynge the thrones but they discordre in thassignacion of the myddle and last two ordres that is pryncipates and vertues Gregory and Bernard haue another consideracion that is to wete that the myddell Gerarchye is in his seygnorye or prelacye and the last is taken in his pyte or mynystracion the prelacye in angels is treble for Angels domyne ouer spirites angelyk And they ben sayd domynacions And they domyne also ouer good werkes And they ben sayd pryncipates And they domyne ouer deuils and they be said potestates and the ordre and the degrees of theire dignyte apperith in these thynges The mynysterye of them is threfold Somme standeth in werkyng somme in techyng in techyng somme more and som lasse The first apperteineth to vertues the second to archaungels and the third to angels The fifthe apparicion is hit whiche is redde in thistorye tripertite Ther is a place besyde Constantinople where as somtyme the goddesse vesta was worshipped but now there is bylded a chirche in thonour of saynt Mychel and is named Mychels place For a man that was named Aquylyne was taken with a ryght grete feuer meuyd of rede colere And the phisiciens gaf to hym soo brennyng in a agne a drynke whiche anone he vomyted oute at his mouthe and what he ete or dranke alweye he vomyted casted oute soo that he was nyghe dede And dyd hym to be borne to that place And supposed wel ther to be soone deed or heled And thenne saynt Mychel apperyd to hym and sayd to hym that he shold make a confection of hony and wyn and peper And what someuer he ete he shold wete therin And so shold he haue playne helthe whiche thynge he dyd and anone he was delyuerd from his maladye how wel that after the Iugement of the Phisicyens that drynke or medycyne was contrary to them that ben Coleric This is had in thystorye trypertite Secondly this solempnyte of saynt Mychel is sayd vyctorye And the victory of saynt Mychell is manyfold And also of other Aungels the first is that saynt mychael gaf to them of Syponte in this maner After a certayne tyme that the place was founde they of Naples were yet paynyms And ordeyned theyr hoost for to fyght ageynst them of Syponte and of Bonyuent And by the counseylle of the Bisshop the Crysten men tooke triews for thre dayes that they myght faste tho thre dayes and requyre theyr patron saynt Mychaell vnto theyr ayde helpe In the thyrd nyght the hooly saynt Mychael appyeryd to the sayd Bisshop and sayd that theyr prayers were herd and promysed them to haue vyctorye And commaunded them to renne on their enemyes atte fourthe hour of the day withoute more taryeng And whan they ronne ageynst them the Montayne of gorgan began strongly to tremble and a grete tempest arose soo that lyghtnyng fleyghe aboute And a derke clowde couerd the Montayne soo that sixe honderd of theyr aduersaryes deyde of the fyry arowes whiche cam fro the ayer And alle the resydue of them that were not
be alweye seek tyll thou haste accomplysshed and fulfylled thyn auowe and anone his Infyrmyte toke hym ageyn and wold not leue hym And afterwarde by the lycence gyuen of his abbot he accomplisshed âis auow and was made al hool There was a mayde demaunded drynke of a seruaunte of hir faders and she gafe hir drynke and sayd the deuyl mote thou drynke and she dranke hir semed that fyre entryd in to hir body Thenne began she to crye hyr bely to swelle lyke to a barelle so that eche man sawe that she was demonyake she was two yere in that estate and after was broughte to the tombe of saynt elysabeth and was made parfytely hool and delyuerd of the fende There was one herman a man of the dyosyse of coloyn whych was holden in pryson and he callyd wyth grete deuocion saynt elysabeth vnto his helpe and the nyght folowyng she apperyd to hym and comforted hym and on the morne sentence was gyuen ageynst hym that he shold be hanged and the Iuge gaue lycence to his frendes to take hym doun of the galowes and they bare hym aweye al deed began to praye saynt elysabeth for hym and anone he aroos fro deth to lyf tofore them al A chylde of foure yere olde was fallen in to a pytte drowned and a man came for to take water espyed the deed chylde was drawen out and thenne they auowed hym to saynt Elysabeth and he was anone restablysshed to hys fyrst lyf helthe There was one frederyk a maronner which was connyng in swymmyng and on a tyme baygned hym in a water he mocaued a poure man whiche saynt elysabeth had enlumyned and yeuen ageyn to hym hys syght And the poure man sayd This holy lady whiche hath helyd me wyl auenge me on the so that thou shalt neuer come out of the water but deed and anone the swymmer loste al hys strengthe myght not helpe hym self but sanke doun to the bottom lyke a stone and was drowned thenne was drawen out of the water and forthwith soÌme of his frendes auowed hym to saynt Elysabeth and she gafe to hym hys lyf ageyn There was a man named dyeryk whyche was greuously vexyd in hys knees and in his thyes so that he myght not goo and he auowed that he shold goo to the tombe of saynt elysabeth and was viij dayes on goyng thyder and abode there a moneth and had no remedye and wente ageyn to hys hows and thenne he sawe in his slepe a woman sprynge water vpon hym and awoke wythal and was angrye and sayd to hyr wherfore hast thou awaked me and caste water on me and thenne she said I haue wette the and thys wetyng shal doo to the prouffyte and ease and thenne anone he aroos al hool and gaue thankynges to god and to saynt elysabeth Thenne lete vs praye to hir that she praye for vs for suche thynges as shal be for the moost prouffyte of our sowles amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Elysabeth ¶ Here foloweth the lyf of Saynt edmunde confessour SAynt Edmunde the confessour and bysshop whyche restyth at pounteney in fraunce was borne in englond in the towne of abendon his moder was named mabely the ryche she was ryÈt holy bothe wyf and wydowe and this said saynt edmond hir sone was borne on Saynt edmondes day the kynge and marter and in his byrthe no clothe was fowled by hym and he was borne in the fyrst spryngyng of the day and laye al that day tyl nyght as he had been deed so that the mydwyf wold haue had hym buryed but hys moder said nay and sone after he reuyued and was borne to chyrche and crystenyd named edmond by cause he was borne on saynt edmondes day as he grewe in eage so encreced he in vertues He had a brother named robert and the moder sette theym bothe to scole Also she had two doughters that one was named marye and that other alyce whiche were bothe made nonnes at cattesby in northamton shyre by the labour of theyr broder edmonde And the moder gaue to them gyftes to faste the fryday and drewe them to vertuous and holy lyuyng by yeftes and fayre byhestys so that whan they cam to more parfyte age it greuyd theym not Theyr moder ware harde heyre for our ladyes loue and ladde hyr lyf in grete penaunce and dayly laboured and on a tyme as she put out wulle for to spynne she delyuerd soo moche for the pounde that the spynners myght not lyue therby whiche compleyned therof to hir sone edmond and he toke the yarne that was spoÌne ãâã pounde and rakyd it in the fyre and a certeyn tyme after he toke hyt out of the fyre and the Iuste pounde was not hurt ne lassed but as moche as was more than a pounde was wasted and brente by the fyre And whan she sawe this she repentyd hyr gretely and dyd so neuer more after After thys she sente hyr two sones to paryâ to scole and delyuerd to them money for ââeyr costes and scolehyre and also two shyrtes of heyre and prayed theym for goddes loue heres that they wold were tho shyrtes ones or twyes in the weke and they shold lacke no thynge nedeful to them and they graunted gladly to do after their moders desyre in so moche that wythin a whyle of custome they ware the heyr euery day laye therin euery nyght This was a blessyd moder that so vertuously broughte forth hyr chyldren and in shorte tyme saynt edmond encreaced so gretely in vertue that euery man had ioye of hym gyuyng lawde to god therof And on a day as his felawes and he wente to playe He lefte their felawshyp and went allone in to a medowe and vnder an hedge he sayd his deuocions and sodeynlye there apperyd tofore hym a fayr chylde in whyte clothynge whiche sayd hayle felawe that goest allone and Saynt edmond beyng abasshed meruaylled fro whens thys chylde came To whom the chylde sayd edmond knowest thou not me and he sayd nay I am thy felawe in the scole and in alle where thou goest I am euer on thy right syde and yet thou knowest me not but leke in my forhede and there thou shalt fynde my name wryton theÌne edmonde loked in his forhede sawe wryton therin with letters of golde Ihesus nazarenus rex Iudeorum and thenne the chylde sayd drede the not edmond for I am Ihesu Cryste thy lord and I shal be thy deffendour here whyle thou lyuest thenne edmond fyl doun mekely thankyng hym of his grete mercy and goodnes And thenne our lord taughte hym to say whan he shal goo to hys bedde or aryse and blysse hym with this prayer Ihesus nazarenus rex Iudeorum fili dei miserere mei in remembrauÌce of my passyon and the deuyl shal neuer haue power to ouercome the thenne anone thys chylde vanysshed aweye and saynt edmond thankyd humbly our lord that it
sekenesse for it conteyneth within wryten the names bothe of the goddes of thauÌgels anon yede forth the seruauÌte 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 letâ 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 commauÌded 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 frauÌce 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 thynuoâacyon 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 byââe wythal For on them fyl a grete quantytâe of erthe in soo moche that they were couerd wyth hit A clerke thenne that passyd there foreby heââe 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 âââches or staues vnder hys armes came vnto the sayd founte maad there his prayer leefte his staues there â hoââ 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 recouÌted 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
THe holy blessed doctour saynt Ierom sayth thys auctoryte do alweye somme good werke to th ende that the deuyl fynde the not ydle And the holy doctour saynt austyn sayth in the book of the labour of monkes that no man stronge or myghty to laboure ought to be ydle for which cause whan I had parfourmed accomplisshed dyuers werkys hystoryes translated out of frensshe in to englysshe at the requeste of certeyn lordes ladyes and gentylmen as thystorye of the recuyel of Troye the book of the chesse the hystorye of Iason The hystorye of the myrrour of the world the xv bookes of Metamorpheseos in whyche been conteyned the fables of ouyde and the hystorye of ãâ¦ã froy of boloyn in the conqueste of Iherusalem wyth other dyuers werkys bookes I nyste what werke to begynne put forth after the said werkys tofore made for as moche as ydelnesse is so moche blamed as sayth saynt bernard the myllyfluous doctour that she is moder of lyes stepdame of vertues it is she that ouerthroweth stronge men in to synne quenchyth vertue nouryssheth pryde maketh the waye redy to goo to helle and Iohan cassyodore sayth that the thouÈt of hym that is ydle thynketh on none other thynge but on lychorous metys vyandes for his bely and the holy saynt bernard aforesayd sayth in an epystle whan the tyme shal come that it shal behoue vs to rendre and gyue acomptes of our ydle tyme what reson may we rendre or what answer shal we gyue whan in ydlenes is none excuse prosper sayth that who someuer lyueth in ydlenesse lyueth in manere of a dombe beest and by cause I haue seen the auctorytees that blame despyse so moche ydlenes also knowe wel that it is one of the capytal and dedely synnes moche hateful vnto god Therfore I haue concluded fermelye purposed in my self no more to be ydle but wyl applye my self to laboure and suche ocupacion as I haue be acustomed to do for as moche as saynt austyn aforesayd sayth vpon a psalme that good werke ought not be doon for fere of payne but for the loue of rightwysnesse that it be of veray souerayn fraunchyse and by cause me semeth to be a souerayn wele to Incyte exhorte men and wymmen to kepe them from slouthe and ydlenesse and to lete to be vnderstonden to suche peple as been not letterd the natyuytees the lyues the passyons the myracles and the dethe of the holy sayntes also soÌme other notorye dedes and actes of tymes passed I haue submysed my self to translate in to englyssle the legende of sayntes which is callyd legenda aurea in latyn that is to say the golden legende for in lyke wyse as golde is moste noble aboue al other metalles in lyke wyse is thys legende holden moost noble aboue al other werkys ageynst me here myght somme persones saye that thys legende hath be translated tofore and trouthe it is but for as moche as I had by me a legende in frensshe another in latyn the thyrd in englysshe whiche varyed in many and dyuers places and also many hystoryes were comprysed in the two other bookes whiche were not in the englysshe book and therfore I haue wryten one oute of the sayd thre bookes which I haue ordryd otherwyse than the sayd englysshe legende is whiche was so tofore made besechyng alle theym that shall see or here it redde to pardone me where I haue erryd or made fawte whyche yf ony be is of ygnoraunce and ageyn my wylle and submytte it hooly of suche as can may to correcte it humbly bysechyng them so to doo and in so doyng they shal deserue a synguler lawde and meryte I shal praye for them vnto almyghty god that he of his benygne grace rewarde them cÌ And that it prouffyte to alle them that shal rede or here it redde and may encreace in them vertue and expelle vyce and synne that by the ensaumple of the holy sayntes amende theyr lyuyng here in thys shorte lyf that by their merytes they and I may come to euerlastyng lyf blysse in heuen amen My Truste Is ANd for as moche as this sayd werke was grete ouer chargeable to me taccomplisshe I feryd me in the begynnyng of the translacyon to haue contynued it by cause of the longe tyme of the translacion also in thenpryntyng of the same in maner halfe desperate to haue accomplissd it was in purpose to haue lefte it after that I had begonne to translate it to haue layed it aparte ne had it be at thynstaunce requeste of the puyssant noble vertuous erle my lord wyllyam erle of arondel whiche desyred me to procede contynue the said werke promysed me to take a resonable quaÌtyte of them when they were achyeued accomplisshed and sente to me a worshypful gentylman a seruaunte of his named IohÌn Stanney whych solycyted me in my Lordes name that I shold in no wyse leue it but accomplisshe it promysyng that my sayd lord shold duryng my lyf yeue graunte to me a yerely fee that is to wete a bucke in sommer a doo in wynter with whiche fee I holde me wel contente Thenne atte centemplacion reuerence of my sayd lord I haue endeuoyred me to make an ende fynysshe thys sayd translacion and also haue enprynted it in the moost best wyse that I haue coude or myght and presente this sayd boook to his good noble lordshyp as chyef causer of the achyeuyng of hit prayeng hym to take it in gree of me Wyllyam caxton hys poure seruaunte that it lyke hym to remembre my fee I shal praye vnto almyghty god for his longe lyf and welfare after this shorte transytorye lyf to come in to euerlastyng ioye in heuen the whiche he sende to hym me vnto al them that shal rede and here this sayd book that for the loue feythe of whome al these holy sayntes hath suffred deth and passyon amen ¶ And to th ende eche hystoryy lyf passyon may be shortely fouÌden I haue ordeyned this table folowyng where in what leef he shal fynde suche as shal be desyred and haue sette the nombre of euery leef in the margyne ¶ Thaduent of our lord folio primo The natyuyte of our lord foure The circumcysyon of our lord fyue The feste of thepyphanye eyghte Septuagesme enleuen Sexagesme folio enleuen Quinquagesme twelue Quadragesme twelue The ymbre dayes thyrtene The passyon of our lord fourtene The resurrexyon eyghtene The letanyes more lasse xxi The ascencion of our lord xxiij The feste of whytsontyde xxvj The feste of corpus xpristi thyrty The feste of dedycacion two thyrty The hystorye of adam seuen thyrty The historye of Noe nyne thyrty The hystorye of abraham fourty The hystorye of ysaac his two sones Esau Iacob four fourty Thystorye
maners in that he is gloryous gloryfyeng and to be gloryfyed And after he excused hym of the blame in moyses in praysyng hym moche and especyally in thre thynges that is to wyte of feruour of loue For he slewe thegypcien that smote thebriew And of the myracles that he dyde in egypte or deserte And of the famyliaryte of god whan he spack to hym many tymes amyably And after thys he excused hym of the thyrde blame that was in the lawe in preysyng the lawe in thre maners Fyrst by cause of the gyuer that was god the seconde of the mynystre which was moyses that was a grete prophete And the thyrde by cause of th ende For it gyueth lyf perdurable And after he purged hym of the blame of the tabernacle and of the temple In preisyng the tabernacle in iiij maners one was by cause he was comanded of god to make it And was shewd in vision it was accomplysshed by moyses and that the arke of wytnes was therin he said that the temple succeded tabernacle And the blessyd Stephen purgyd hym of that whyche was âyde to hym of whyche the Iewes sawe that they myght not ouercome hym in that manere And theÌne they toke the thirde bataylle ayenst hym that they shold surmounte hym by tormentis And whan the blessyd saynt stephen sawe thys he wold kepe the comandement of our lord and enforced hym to refrayne them in thre maners that was by shame by drede and by loue Fyrst by shame in blamyng the hardnes of theyr hertes And said to them ye coÌtrarye alleway the holy goost by your harde heedes and hertes not pyteous lyke as your fadres that persecuted the prophetes and slewe them that shewde the comyng of god And the glose saith that in thre maners they were malycyous The first that they contrarye den to the holy ghoost The seconde that they persecuted the prophetes The thyrde that by theyr euyl malyco they slewe Iesu cryst but by cause they were lyke the comyn woman they coude haue no shame to leue theyr malyce but whan they had herd thyse thynges they wythsayde it in theyr hertes and grennyd theyr teeth ayenst hym After thys he corrected them by drede by cause that he said that he sawe IhÌu cryst on the right syde of god lyke as redy to helpe hym and condempne his aduersaryes For saynt stephen which was ful of the holy ghoost loked vp and byheld the heuen and sawe the glorye of god And said loo I see the heuenes opene and the sone of the mayde stondyng on the right syde of the vertue of god how be it that he corrected theÌ by shame by drede yet they left not their malice but were more werse thaÌ to fore and stopped their eeris to th eÌde that they wold not here hym wherof he blamed them And they cryed with an hye voys and made a grete assault ayenst hym and caste hym out of the cyte all to gydre and stoned hym And they supposed to haue doon after theyr lawe as a blasphemour in comandyng that he shold be stoned out of the castellis And thyes ij false witnessis which after theyr lawe ought to cast the first stone toke of theyr clothes by cause that they shold not be touched of god and to th ende that they myght better lyghtlyer bywelde them to stone hym and they lefte them atte feet of a child that theÌne was callid saulus and after he was called paule And thus he kept the clothes of them that stoned hym And he was stoned of them alle And whan he myght not withdrawe them fro their malice ne by shame ne by drede he toke the thyrde maner so that he wold withdrawe them by loue and the loue that he shewed them was not lytyl whan he prayd for hym for them that hys passyon myght not be dyffered And that the synne shold not be Imputed do them that stoned hym and sayeng lord Ihesu cryst receyue my spyrite And whan he was on hys knees he cryed with an hye voys and said lord establysshe not to theym thys synne And thys was a meruayllous loue whan he prayd on hys knees for theym that stoned hym lyke as yf he had prayd more for them than for hym sylf For he desyred to be more empesshed for theÌ than for hym self And as the glose saith he knelyd for by cause he ought the more humbly to praye for them of whom thynyquyte was grete And in thys he dyde as dyde Ihesu cryste For in hys passyon he prayd for hym self And said Fader I comande my spyryte in to thyn hondes and he said for them that stoned hym Fader foryeuene it theym And whan saynt stephen had so said he slepte in our lord and was not deed For he suffred sacrefyse of dylection And after slepte in hope of resurrection And the stonyng of saynt stephen was made in the same yere that our lord ascended vp in to heuen in the next moneth of august the thirde day entrynâ And saynt Gamalyel and Nycodemus whych were emong the connseyllys of the Iewes for the crysten men buryed hym in the felde of gamalyel made grete wepyng for hym and theÌne was grete persecucioÌ of crysten meÌ that were in IhrlÌm For whan the blessyd saynt stephen whyche was one of the prynces was slayn they began to persecute alle the crysten meÌ in so moche that thappostles whiche were strenger than other in the faith departed out of all the prouynce of the Iewes after that whiche our lord had comaunded to theÌ yf they persecute you in one cyte flee you in to another And the blessyd doctour saynt austyn reherceth that the blessyd saynt stephen was noblysshid by many myracles For he reysed by hys merytes sixe dede bodyes and heled many that were seeke of dyuerse maladyes languors And without this recounteth he other myracles worthy dygne to be remembrid For as he saith in the xxiiij book of the cyte of god the floures that were put on the aultre of saynt stephen were put on the seek men anon they were cured heled And the clothes taken fro the aulter leyde on theÌ that were seek were a medecyne to many For as it is said in the xxiiij chapytre of the cronycles of god thyse floures taken vpon the aulter of saynt stephen were leyd on the eyen of a womaÌ that was blynde and anon she had agayn her sight And also said he in the same book that a man that was maistre of a cyte was named marcial was a paynem wold not be coÌuerted it happed that he was strongly seke and his sone in lawe that was a right good man cam in to the chirche of saynt stephen toke of the flowres leyd vnder the heed of his lord and anon whaÌ he had slepte therupon on the mornyg he cryed that the bysshop shold be brought to hym the bysshop was not in the
For by daye and nyght he hath grete labour in getyng and in kepyng of hit and grete drede to lose that whiche he hath so dere and wyth grete payne goten Syxtly anauntyng and praysyng For the Rychesses gyuen occasion to be vayn gloryous and to prayse and gloryfye hym self And by thys it appyereth that presently is loste the wele of humylyte without whyche the grace of god may not be had And thus is goten for the world come to payne and tormente by ouer grete pryde Escripture thenne nature creature fortune besynes and care aaduauntyng and praysyng ought to make vs withdrawe for to loue richesses ¶ Saynt Iohan approuued to thies two men hys doctryne wyth hys myracles to be trewe and ye in the name of hym dyde myracles to fore that ye were sory and repented you of that that ye had gyuen your Rychesses to poure people Now is that grace from you departed And ye ben bycome meschaunt and wretches whiche were in the faith strong and myghty ¶ And to fore the euyl spyrites had fere and drede of you And by your comandement they yssued out of bodyes humayne Now haue ye fere and drede of them and ben bycome theyr seruauntes For who so loueth the Rychessys of thys world he is seruaunt vnto a deuyll named Mammona ¶ And is bonde and serf in kepyng the Rychesse in whyche he setteth hys affyaunce ¶ And herof fayth the holy ghoost by the prophete Dauid In imaginem pertransit homo cÌ vaynly is the man distroblyd whyche assembleth tresour in this world and knoweth not for whom it is For whaÌ he shal deye he shal here nothyng wyth hym And he wote not who shal despende it For naked we cam vpon therthe and all naked shal we reentre in to it And to a meschauÌt maÌ it suffiseth not whaÌ he hath ynowh but he is besy day and nyght to gete more wythout reste For the Rychesses make hym ferdful to lese that he hath goten and bryngeth to hym many besynesses and euyl reste in makyng worldly delytes And he despourueyd deth cometh whyche taketh all fro hym and bereth nothyng with hym sauf his propre synnes whan saynt IohÌn had said all thys ther was brought to fore hym a yong man deed whiche only had be in maryage xxx dayes And hys moder and frendes wepte sore whyche to fore saynt IohÌn kneled doun on their knees prayeng hym that he wold reyse hym to lyf Saynt IohÌn had grete pyte And whan he had longe wept he bad to lose and vnbynde the body and saide O satheus whyche were blynded with flesshly loue soone thou lost thy sowle And by cause thou knewest not thy maker Ihesu cryst thou art fallen IgnorauÌtly in to the laas of the right euyl fendes wherfore I wepe and praye that thou mayst be releuyd fro deth to lyf and shewe thou to thyes tweyne Actio and eugenio what grete glorye they haue lost and what payne they haue deserued Anon Satheus releued hym in yeldyng thankynges to saynt IohÌn and blamed moche the two disciples in sayeng I sawe your two angellis wepe and the deuylles demene Ioye of your perdicion Also I sawe the Royame of heuen made redy for you and full of all delyces And ye haue folâly goten for you the places of helle derke tenebrous ful of dragons and of all paynes And therfore it behoueth you to praye to thappostle of god that he remyse and brynge you agayn to your sauacion lyke as he hath reysed me goodly And emong alle other paynes This Satheus recyteth thise that ben coÌteyned in two verses folowyng Vermis et vmbre flagellum frigus et ignis Demonis aspectus celerum confusio luctus that is to saye Worme derknes scorges colde hete sight of deuyl confusioÌ of synnes and wayllyng Anon thenne thyse two men by right grete repentance prayd saynt IohÌn that he wold praye for them To whom saynt IohÌn answerd that they shold doo penaÌce xxx dayes longe and praye to god that the Reddes of gold and the precious stones myght retorne to theyr first propre natures ¶ After thyse xxx dayes they cam to saynt IohÌn and said to hym fair fader ye haue alwaye prechyd mysericorde and mercy and comanded that one shold pardone another hys trespaas we ben coÌtryte and repentaunt of our synnes and wepe with our eyen for thys euyl worldly couetyse the whyche we haue by them receyued And therfore we praye you that ye haue mercy on vs And saynt Iohan answerd our lord god whan he made mencion of the synnar he said I wylle not the deth of the synnar but that he be conuerted and lyue For grete Ioye is in heuen of a synnar repentaunt And therfore knowe ye that he hath receyued your repentaunce Goo ye forth and bere the roddes and stones thyder where ye toke theym For they be retorned to theyr first nature Thus receyued they the grace that they had lost so that after they dyde grete myracles in the name of our lord Ihesu cryst And thenne after this whan the blessyd Appostle seynt IohÌn had prechyd thorugh alle Asye and sowen the word of cryste They that worshiped ydolles moeued the peple ayenst saynt IohÌn And cam and drowe hym vnto the temple of dyane for to constrayne hym to doo sacrefice vnto that ydolle To whom saynt IohÌn saide syth ye byleue that your goddesse dyane haue so grete power calle ye vpon her and requyre her by her power she subuerte and ouerthrowe the chyrche of cryst and yf she so doo I shal doo sacrefyce to her and yf she doo it not thenne late me praye vnto my god Ihesu cryst that he ouerthrowe her temple and yf he soo doo theÌne byleue ye in hym To thys sentence the moost parte of the peple consented and so they prayed and nothyng they coude not doo ne preuayle agayn the chyrche of cryst but saynt IohÌn made hys prayers And anon the temple of dyane fyll doun and was ouerthrowen so that the foundement torned vp so doun And thymage of dyane all to dasshed and destroyed And that same day were conuerted to crystes faith xij M men of the gentiles beside wymen and chyldren Thenne Aristodemus bisshop of the ydollis styred and meuyd sedicion emonge the peple in suche wyse that that one partye made them redy to bataylle ayenst that other partye Thenne said thappostle to hym what wylt thou that I doo that thou mayst be pleasid to whom the bysshop said yf thou wilt that I byleue in thy god Ishal gyue to the venym to drynke And yf it hurte not the thenne thy lord is very god thenne said saynt IohÌn do as thou hast said thenne said the bysshop I wyl first that thou see other deye therof to fore by cause thou sholdest the more drede it Thenne wente Aristodemus to the proconsul of the cyte and demaunded of hym ij men Iuged to deth for to haue ben beheded And to fore them
alle he gaf to theÌ to drynke the venym whiche men assone as they had dronken it incontynent deyed Thenne saynt IohÌn toke the cuppe with the venym And blessyd it with the signe of the crosse and dranke it of euerydele And had ne felte none hurte ne harme wherfore alle the peple gaf laude and preysyng to god Aristodemus sayde yet haue I a doubte but and yf thou reyse to lyf agayn the dede men that dranke the venym wythout doubte thenne shal I byleue Thenne thappostle delyueryd hym hys cote to whoÌ he said why gyuest thou to me thy cote and saynt IohÌn said by cause that thou asshamed and confused shalt goo fro and forsake thyn Infydelite To whom he seid Trowest thou that thy cote shal make me byleue and thappostle said goo and leye it vpon the bodyes of the dede men sayeng Thappostle of Crist hath sent me to you that ye aryse in the name of crist whyche whan he had doon anon they aroos fro deth to lyf Thenne thappostle baptysed the bysshop and the proconsul byleuyng in cryst wyth all theyr kynne frendes which anon brake all their symylacres And in the same place edefyed a chyrche in the worshyp of god and of saynt Iohan The holy saynt clement reherceth in the fourth book of historia ecclesiastica that one a tyme saynt IohÌn theuangelist conuerted to the fayth a goodly yong man wel fauoured and stronge And comanded hym vnto the kepyng rule and gouernaunce of a bysshop And within a lytyl whyle after thys yong man forsoke the bysshop and fylle in to euyl companye emong theuys And by cam and was made maister and prynce of them Anon after thappostle cam to the bysshop and demanded for thys yong man And the bysshop was sore abasshed whan saynt Iohan sawe hys contenaunce he demanded more besilier after hym And where he had lefte hym For I aske hym of the whom I delyuerid to the and gaf the so grete charge with hym Thenne said the bysshop to hym Fader truly he is deed in hys sowle And is in yonder montayn wyth theuys and is theyr mayster and prynce And whan he herd that for sorowe he rente hys clothis and said to the bysshop thou art a feble kepar for to suffre thy brother to lese hys sowle Anone he made an hors to be made redy for hym and rode faste to the montayn And whan the yong man espyed and knewe hym he was so sore ashamed that he fled from hym Thenne thappostle forgate hys age and prykyd after and cryed after hym that fledde My most swete sone why fleest thou fro thy fader feble and olde Be thou not aferd sone For I shal yelde acountes for the to Ihesu cryst And truly I shal gladly deye for the lyke as Ihesu cryst deyed for vs Torne agayn my sone torne agayn Ihesu cryst hath sente me to the And he herd hym thus speke he abode with an heuy chyer and wepte repentyng hym bytterly and fylle doun to the feet of thappostle and for penauÌce kyst hys hand And thappostle fasted and prayed to god for hym and gate for hym remyssyon of hys synnes and foryeuenes And lyued so vertuously after that saynt IohÌn ordeyned hym to be a bysshop ¶ Also it is redde in the same hystorye that saynt IohÌn on a tyme entred in to a bath for to wasshe hym and ther he fonde cheryntuÌ an heretyke whome assone as he sawe he eschewed and wente out of it sayeng Late vs flee and goo hens leeft the bayne falle vpon vs in whyche cheryntus thenemye of trouthe wassheth hym And assone as he was out the bayne fylle doun Cassiodor saith that a man had gyuen to saynt IohÌn a partrych lyuyng And he helde it in hys honde strokyng and playeng with it other whyle for hys recreacion And on a tyme a yong man passyd by wyth hys felawshyp and sawe hym playe wyth hys byrde whyche sayd to hys felaws lawhyng See how the yonder old man playeth wyth a byrd lyke a chyld whyche saynt IohÌn knewe anon by tholy ghoost what he had said and callyd the yong man to hym and demanded hym what he held in hys hond and he said a bowe what dost thou with all said saynt IohÌn And the yong man said we shote byrdes and bestes therwith to whom thappostle demaunded how and in what maner Thenne the yong man bente hys bowe and helde it in hys honde bente And whan thappostle said no more to hym he vnbente hys bowe agayn Thenne said thappostle to hym why hast thou vnbente thy bowe and he said by cause yf it shold be long bente it shold be the weyker for to shete with it Thenne said thappostle Soo sone it fareth by maÌkynde and by freylte in contemplacion yf it shold be alway be bente it shold be to weyke And therfor otherwhyle it is expedient to haue recreacion The eygle is the byrde that fleeth hyest and most clerly beholdeth the sonne And yet by necessyte of nature hym behoueth to descende lowe Ryght soo whan mankynde withdraweth hym a lytil fro contemplacion he after putteth hym self heyer by a renewed strengthe and he brenneth thenne more feruently in heuenly thynges Saynt IohÌn wrote his gospellis after the other euangelistes the yere after thascencion of our lord lxvj after this that the venerable bede saith And whaÌ he was requyred and prayd of the bysshops of the contre of ephese to write them saynt IohÌn prayd also to them that they shold faste praye in their dyosices iij dayes for hym to th ende that he myght truly wryte them Saynt Iherome saith of this glorious appostle saynt IohÌn that whan he was so olde so feble and so vnmyghty that hys dysciples susteyned and bare hym in goyng to chirche and as of tymes as he restid he said to his dysciples Fayre chyldren loue ye to gydre and eche of you loue other And thenne hys disciples demanded why and wherfore he said to them so ofte suche werdes he answerd to them and said our lord had so comanded And who someuer accomplisshed wel this comandemeÌt it shold suffyse hym for to be saued And fynably after that he had founded many chyrches and had ordeyned bysshops and prestes in them and confermed them by hys predycacion in the crysten fayth the yere lxviij after the resurrection of Iesu cryst For he was xxxj yere old whan our lord was crucyfyed And lyued after lxviij yere and thus was all hys age lxxxxix yere TheÌne cam our lord with hys dyscyples to hym and said Come my frende to me For it is tyme that thâu come ete and be fed atte my table with thy bretâern Thenne saynt IohÌn aroos vp and said to our lord IhÌu cryst that he had desired it longe tyme And began to goo Thenne said our lord to hym On sonday next comyng thou shalt come to me That sonday the peple came alle to the chyrehe whiche was founded in hys name
waye And saynt Thomas told hym how he knewe by a vysion that he shold suffre deth martirdom for the right of the chirche prayd hym to kepe it secrete duryng his lif After this the kyng of englond cam in to fraunce there told the kyng how saynt Thomas wold destroye his royaÌe And thenne there told how he wold for doo suche lawes as his oldres had vsed to fore hym Wherfor saynt Thomas was sent fore they were brouht to gidres the kyng of frauÌce laboured sore to sette theÌ at accorde but it wold not be For that one wold not mynusshe hys lawes accustomes saynt Thomas wold not grauÌte that he shold not doo contrarye the libertees of holy chirche And thenne the kynge of fraunce helde with the kynge of englond ayenst saynt thomas was wroth with hym and comauÌded hym to voyde hys Royame with all hys kynnesmen And theÌne saynt thomas wiste not whither to goo but coÌfortid hys kynnysmen as wel as he myght purposed to haue goon in to prouynce for to haue begged hys brede And as he was goyng the kyng of frauÌce sente for hym agayn And whan he cam he cryed hym mercy and said he had offended god and hym And bad hym abyde in hys Royame where he wold and he wold paye for the dyspensis of hym and hys kynne And in the mene whyle the kynge of englond ordeyned his sone kynge And made hym to be crowned by tharchebysshop of yorke other bysshoppis whyche was ayenst the statutes of the londe For tharchebysshop of Caunterbury shold haue consented also haue crowned hym wherfor saynt Thomas gate a lulle for do accurse them that so dyde ayenst hym also on them that occupied the goodes longyng to hym And yet after this the kynge labourid so moche that he accorded the kyng of englond saynt Thomas whiche accorde endured not longe For the kyng varied from it afterward but saynt Thomas vpon thys accorde cam home to Caunterbury where he was receyued worshypfully sente for theÌ that had trespaced ayenst hym by thauctoryte of the popes bulle openly denouÌced theÌ accursed vnto the tyme they come to ameÌdement And whan they knewe thys they cam to hym and wold haue made hym to assoylle them by force and sente worde ouer to the kynge how he had doon wherof the kynge was moche wroth and said yf he had men in his londe that louyd hym they wold not suffre suche a trayttre in hys londe alyue And forthwith iiij knyghtes toke their couÌseyll to gydre and thought they wold doo to the kynge a playsir emprysed to slee saynt Thomas and sodenly departed toke their shippyng toward Englond And whaÌ the kyng knewe of their departyng he was sory sente after them but they were on the see and departed er the messagers cam wherfor the kynge was heuy and sory Thyse ben the names of the iiij knyghtis Syr Reygnold bereson Syr hugh moruyle Syr william Tracy and Syr Rychard bryto On Cristemas day saynt Thomas made a sermon at caunterbury in his owen chyrche wepyng praid the peple to praye for hym For he knewe wel hys tyme was nyghe there executed the sentence on theÌ that were ayenst the right of holy chirche the same day as the kyng sate atte mete all the brede that he handled waxed anon mowly hoor that nomaÌ myght ete of it And the brede that they towched not was fair good for to ete thyse iiij knyghtes aforsaid cam to cauÌterbury on the tewesday in crystemasse weke aboute euensong tyme cam to saynt Thomas and said that the kynge comaÌded hym to make amendes for the wronges that he had doon also that he shold assoylle alle theÌ that he had acursed anon or ellis they wold slee hym Thenne said Thomas alle that I ought to doo by ryght that wylle I with a good wylle doo but as the sentence that is executed I may not vndoo but that they wylle submytte them to the correctioÌ of holy chirche For it was doon by our holy fader the pope and not by me Thenne said Syr Reynold but yf thou assoylle the kynge and alle other stondyng in the curse it shal coste the thy lyf And saynt Thomas sayd thou knowest wel ynough that the kynge and I were accorded on Marye Magdaleyn day and that thys curse shold goo forth on them that had offended the chyrche Thenne one of the knyghtes smote hym as he kneled byfore the aulter on the heed And one syre edward gryme that was his croiser put forth his arme wyth the crosse to bere of the strocke the stroke smote the crosse on sondre and hys arme almost of wherfore he fledde for fere And soo dyde alle the monkes that were that tyme at Complyn And thenne smote eche at hym that they smote of a grete pece of the skulle of hys heed that hys brayne fyl on the pauement And soo they slewe martryd hym and were cruelle that one of them brake the poynt of hys swerd ayenst the pauement And thus thys holy and blyssed Archebisshop saynt Thomas suffred deth in hys owen chyrche for the ryght of all holy chyrche And whan he was deed they styred hys brayne And after wente in to hys chambre and toke away hys goodes and hys horse out of hys stable And toke away hys bullys and wrytynges and delyueryd them to syre Robert broke to bere in to fraunce to the kynge And as they serchid hys chambre they fonde in a cheste ij shertes of heire made ful of grete knottes And thenne they said certaynly he was a good man comyng doun in to the chyrche ward they began to drede and fere that the ground wold not haue born them were merueyllously agaste but they supposed that therthe wold haue swolowed them alle quyck And thenne they knewe that they had don amys And anon it was knowen alle aboute how that he was martryd And anone after toke thys holy body And vnclothid hym and fonde bysshops clothyng aboue and thabyte of a monke vnder And next hys flesshe he weryd and hard heyre ful of knottes whych was hys sherte and hys breche was of the same and the knottes styked fast within the skynne and alle hys body full of wormys he suffred grete payne And he was thus martred the yere of our lord xjClxxj And was liij yere old And sone after tydynges cam to the kyng how he was slayn wherfor the kynge toke grete sorowe sente to Rome for hys absolucion Now after that saynt Thomas departed fro the pope the pope wold dayly loke vpon the whyte chesyble that saynt Thomas had said masse in And the same day that he was martrid he sawe it torned in to Reed wherby he knew wel that that same day he suffred martirdom For the right of holy chyrche And comanded a masse of requiem solempnly to be
and the wordes of the peple he suffred that his wif shold come to hym as she dyde to fore And anoÌ after she conceyued a doughter whom he comanded to name a foxes whelpe And after cam to saynt Remyge and confessed hym of hys synne and toke the stole of hys necke wold leue hys bysshoprich âut saynt Remyge after he had confessyd hym coÌforted hym and gaf hym penaunce and shytte hym in a lytil celle vij yere longe and gaf to hym brede and water and in the meane whyle he gouerned the chyrche hym self Atte ende of vij yere an angel cam to the pryson and said to hym that he had doun wel hys penaunce and bad hym goo out of the pryson to whom he said I may not goo out For my lord saynt remyge hath closed the dore and sealed it And the angele said to hym knowe thou that the dore of heuen is opened to the I shal opene thys dore without brekyng of the seal whyche saynt Remyge hath scalled And anon the dore was opened Thenne genebald fylle doun in the myddes of the dore in maner of a crosse and said yf our lord Ihesu cryst cam hether I shal not goo out but yf saynt Remyge whyche shytte and closed me herin come brynge me out And theÌne than gel wente anon and fette saynt remyge and brought hym to laon And he delyuerd hym out of pryson And remysed hym and sette hym agayn in hys see there where he lyued after all the dayes of hys lyf holyly After his deth theef hys sone was made bisshop after hym whiche is also a saynt in heuen And atte laste saynt Remyge after that god had shewed many myracles for hym he departed out of this lyf vnto euerlastyng Ioye the yere of the Incarnacion of our lord vC Here endeth the lif of saynt Remige Here foloweth the lyf of saynt hylare ¶ Thynterpretacion of hys name Hylaire is said of Ioyouste For he was Ioyous in the seruyce of god Or hylaire is said vertuous and hye For he was hye and stronge in science and vertuous in hys lyf Or hylaire is said of yle whyche is to saye derke mater For he had in his dictes grete obscurete profoundnes Of the lif of saynt Hilaire SAynt hilaire which was bysshop of poytiers was born in the contre of Guyan he had a wif wedded and a doughter And where he was in habyte seculer he lyued after the lyf of a monke he prouffyted so moche in holy lyf and sciences that he was chosen Archebisshop of poytiers A maner of an heresye regned in hys contre and thurgh all fraunce whyche was the secte of the Arryans the whyche he destroyed to hys power Neuertheles by the comandemÌt of themperour whiche was of the partye of the heretikes by the suggestion of two byssoppis of that secte he was exiled wyth whyche ij bisshoppis he disputed and ouercam theÌ afterward For they myght not gaynsaye the trouthe of the mater ne coude not bere ne answere to hys eloquence so that he was constrayned to come agayn to poytiers And as he passed by an Ile of the see wicke was ful of serpentes he chaced them away by the vertue of hys comandemÌt and by hys sight only And pyght a staf in the myddle of the yle and gaf to the serpentes liberte to come to that staf and not to passe ferther And the serpentes obeyed hym whiche parte is no londe now but see Whan saynt hylaire cam to poytiers he mette a chyld deed born for to be buryed and the chyld was not baptysed whyche child by the vertu of hys prayer he reysed to lyf For he laye longe in the duste in prayer And whan he aroos out of his prayer the chyld aroos fro deth to lyf Saynt hylayre had a doughter named Apra And wold haue be maryed but saynt hylaire prechyd to her so moche of thestate of virgynyte that she chaunged her purpoos And whan she was confermed in thys wylle and purpoos saynt hylaire doubted that she shold chaunge And prayd our lord for to take her whyles she was in good porpoos And anon she deyde And saynt hylaire buried her And whan her moder the wyf of saynt hylaire sawe that her doughter was deed she prayde to her husbonde that he shold Impetre and gete for her lyke as he had don for hys doughter And anon as saynt hylayre had made hys oryson She deyed And by thys maner he sente to fore hym his wyf and his doughter In thys tyme the pope lyon whyche fauoured heresye called a couÌseyl of bysshoppis but he sente not for saynt hylaire that he shold come therto not wythstondyng saynt hylaire cam theder whan the pope sawe hym comen he comanded that noman shold aryse ayenst hym ne gyue hym no place Thenne said the pope to hym thou art hylaire the cocke and not the sone of an henne And saynt hylaire answerd I am hylaire no cock but a bysshop in gallia that is in frauÌce thenne said the pope thou art hylaire gallus And I am leo of the papal see Iuge to whom hylaire said yf thou be leo yet art thou not of the trybe of Iuda Thenne the pope had grete indignacion and said to hym Abyde thou a lytyl and I shal paye to the thyn hyer And saynt hylayre answerd â yf thou come not agayn who shal paye me for that the pope answerd I shal come agayn shal bete doun thy pryde Thenne the pope wente doun in to the lowe chambre for to ease hym And by the conduyte of hys neyther parte voyded out all the entraylles of his body and so deyde sodaynly thus thenne as he abode the pope saynt hylaire fonde no place to sytte on ne none wold remeue to make hym place And whan he sawe that he sayde Domini est terra therthe longeth to our lord and satte doun vpon therthe And therthe aroos vp by myracle by the wylle of our lord in suche wyse that he satte as hye as the other And anone after worde cam that the pope was deed Thenne saynt hylaire confermed alle the other bysshops that were there in the faith and so confermed eche wente in to hys contrey In th ende whan saynt hylaire had Impetred of god many myracles to be shewde by hys prayer he becam seek and sawe hys deth approche Thenne he called to hym one his chapelayn whom he moche loued and said to hym Goo thou out And brynge to me word what thou hyerest whan he had ben longe withoute he cam in and told to saynt hylaire that he had herd a grete noyse in the cyte And whan it was mydnyght he sente hys chapelayn agayn to herkene as he had don to fore And whan he cam agayn in to the chaÌbre for to telle that he had herd nothynge A grete clere light entred in that the preest myght not behold it And whan the light departed saynt hylaire deyde that was the yere
of grace thre honderd xl Late vs praye to hym that he praye for vs Amen Here endeth the lyf of saynt hylaire And next foloweth thynuencion of saynt fremyn IN the tyme of thynuecion of saynt fremyn the martir was saynt sauue bysshop of Amyans And sawe that to fore hym in the tyme of saynt honoure our lord had don take vp the bodyes of saynt fulcien saynt victorice and saynt gencyen And thought all an hole nyght vpon the body of saynt fremyn the martir And whan it was day thys holy man saynt sauue somoned the clergye and the peple to faste make prayers thurgh the cyte of amyens to the ende that our lord wold shewe them the place where the body of saynt Fremyn the martir laye And on the thyrde day our lord sente suche a myracle that he sente a Raye of the sonne whyche persed the wall of the monastery on the same place where the body laye thenne they began to dygge and delue there And whan they cam nyghe the body ther yssued out so grete a swetenes out of the pytte that all they that were there weende they had ben in paradis And it semed that yf all the espyces of the world had ben stamped to gydre it shold not haue smellyd so well ne so swete thys swete odour spredde thurgh the cyte of amyens and dyuerse cytees aboute that is to wete terwaus Cambray and noyon And the peple of thyse cytees meued them eche from hys place with candellis and offrynges wythout sayer or comaÌder but for the odour that so spredde And cam vnto thys gloryous saynt And as the body was born in the cyte of amyens there were shewed suche myracles that neuer none were lyke founde ne seen to fore of ony saynt For the elymentes meuyd them by the myracle of thys saynt The snowe that was that tyme grete on therthe was torned in to pouldre and duste by the hete that was thenne And the yse that henge on the trees becam flowres and leues And the medowes aboute Amyens flowred and becam grene And the sonne whiche by hys nature shold goo lowe that day ascended as hye as she is on saynt IohÌns day at none in the somer And as men bare the body of thys saynt the trees enclyned and worshipped the body And alle maner seke men of what maladye they had they receyued helthe in the Inuencion of the blessyd body of saynt Fremyn And the burgeyses that were in their gownes and mantellis had so grete hete that they called theyr feruantes and bonde men of whom ther were many that day in Amyens and affranchysed them for to bere their clothes in to the cyte of Amyens Our lord dyde do shewe suche myracles and so ferre sente the odour that the lord of baugensy whiche was at a wyndowe and was seke of lazarye and he smellyd the odour and was anon guarysshyd and hool And he toke hys gold and cam and dyde homage vnto the body of saynt fremyn in the cyte of Amyens Our lord hath shewed many myracles for thys gloryous saynt And moche he ought to be honoured in thys world And thenne praye we vnto this blessid saynt Saynt Fremyn that he praye for vs to our lord that he wyll pardonne vs our synnes and ot troye and graunte to vs the glorye of heuene Amen Thus endeth thynuencion of saynt Fremyn Here foloweth the lif of saynt Machaire And first the interpretacion of his name MAchaire is said of Maca whych is as moche to saye as engyn of Achis whiche is to saye vertue Or machaire is said of Amatham that is to saye smytyng and of Rys that is to saye maystre For he was Ingenyous ayenst the fallace of the deuyl vertuous of lyf Smytyng in chastysyng hys body and maistre in the gouernaunce of prelacye Saynt machaire was in a deserte and entred in to a pytte or sepulture where as had ben buryed many bodyes of paynems for to slepe And he drewe out of thyse bodyes leyde it vnder hys hede in stede of a pylowe Thenne cam theder deuylles for to make hym a ghaste and aferde And saide one to another Come with me to bayne the And the body âhat laye vnder hys hede said I may not come For I haue a pylgrym vpon me lyeng that I may not meue For alle thys saynt machayre was not aferd but he bete the body with hys fyste and sayd aryse and goo yf thou mayst whan the deuylles sawe that they myght not make hym aferde they cried with a grete voys Machaire thou hast veynquysshed ouercome vs twyes On a tyme as machaire was nygh hys hows the deuyl cam with a grete sythe in hys necke And wold haue smeton therwith saynt machaire And the deuyll said to hym Thou dost to me grete vyolence and force for I may not preuaylle ayenst the loo what thou doost I doo thou fastest and I ete not thou wakest and I neuer slepe but ther is one thyng in whych thou ouercomest me And Machaire said what is that to whom the deuyl saide that is humylyte and thy mekenesse by whyche I may not preuaylle ayenst the It happed on a tyme that a grete temptacion cam vpon saynt Machayre and moche tempted hym and anon he fylled a sacke ful of stones and leyd it on hys necke and ââre it many Iourneyes to gydre thurgh the deserte Thenne an other hermyte mette hym and demanded hym why he bare so grete aburthen and he answerd I traueylle my body by cause it suffreth not me in peas And thus I vexe hym that vexid me Thys holy abbot saynt machaire saw passyng to fore hym a deuyll in thabyte of a maÌ whiche was the clothyng of an herawde all lynnen ful of hooles and in euery hool henge a fyolle And he demaÌded hym whyther he wente The deuylle answerd hym I goo for to gyue drynk vnto thies hermytes thenne demanded hym saynt machayre wherfore he bare so many fyolles And he answerd I shal offre to hem one and yf he may not drynke of that one I shal proferre hym another and so the thyrde and of all the other eche after other vntil they may fynde som thyng playsant to them for to falle in to temptacion and whaÌ he cam agayn saynt machaire called hym and demanded hym what he had founden And he answerd that he had euyl spedde For they were all so holy and blessyd that they retched not of hys drynke sauf one only whyche is named theodistus Thenne saynt machaire aroos and cam to thies hermytes and fonde them all in good poynt sauf hym whom the deuyl had tempted Thenne saynt machaire dyde so moche by hys exortacion that he brought hym agayn in to the right way Another tyme saynt machaire mette the deuyl and demanded hym whens he cam and the deuyl answerd I come fro vysytyng thy brethern thenne said saynt machaire how doon they the deuyl answerd euyl and he asked wherfore
themperour of thys that he was ouer cruel to Crysten people And themperour had of hym so grete despyte that he made of the hows of a good womaÌ of whyche saynt marcel had made a chyrche the sayd emperour made it a stable for horses And in the place where saynt marcel had songe masse themperour made hym to kepe hys hors in whyche seruyse saynt marcell was alle hys lyue after and in that seruyse saynt marcell deyed holily the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord two hondred and foure score Here endeth the lyf of saynt Marcell pope Here foloweth of saynt Anthonye and fyrst thynterpretacion of hys name ANthonye is sayd of Ana whyche is as moche to saye as hye and tenens that is holdyng whyche is as moche to saye as holdyng hye thynges and despysyng the world he despysed the world and sayd it is deceyuyng transitorye and bytter And Athanase wrote hys lyf Of the lyf of saynt Anthonye SAynt Anthonye was born in egypte of good relogious fader moder And whan he was but xx yere olde he herde on a tyme in the chirche redde in the gospell that sayd yf thou wilt be êfight goo and selle alle that thou hast gyue it to poure men And theÌne accordyng therto he solde all that he had gaf it to the poure peple becam an heremyte he had ouer many teÌptacions of the deuyll Thenne on a tyme whan he had ouercomen the spiryte of fornycacioÌ which teÌpted hym therin by the vertue of his faith the deuyl cam to hym in the forme of a lityl child all black fille douÌ at his feet and confessed that he was the deuyl of fornycacion whyche saynt Anthonye had desired and prayd to see hym for to knowe hym that so tempted yong people Thenne said saynt Anthonye sith I haue perceyued that thou art so âoul a thyng I shal neuer doubte the After he wente in to an hole or caue to hyde hym And anon he fonde there a a grete multitude of deuylles that so moche bete hym that hys seruant bare hym vpon hys sholdres in to hys hous as he had ben deed whan the other heremytes were assembled and wepte hys deth and wold haue don hys seruyse sodenly saynt Anthonye reuyued and made hys seruaunt to bere hym in to the pytte agayn where the deuyllis had so euyl beten hym And began to somone the deuyllis agayn whyche had beten hym to bataylles And anon they cam in fourme of dyuerse bestes wylde and sauage of whom that one howled another syfled and another cryed and another brayed and assaylled saynt Anthonye that one wiâh the hornes the other with theyr teeth and the other with theyr pawes and vngles and dystourned and alle to rente hys body that he supposed wel to deye Thenne cam a clere bryghtnes And alle the bestes fledde awaye and saynt Anthonye vnderstode that in this grete light our lord cam and he sayde tweyes who art thou the good Ihesu answerd I am here Anthony theÌne said saynt Anthony O good Ihesu where hast thou ben so longe why were thou not here wyth me atte begynnyng to helpe me and to hele my woundes thenne our lord sayd I was here but I wold see and abyde to see thy bataylle And by cause thou hast manly foughten and wel mayntened thy batayll I shal make thy name to be sprad thurgh alle the world Saynt Anthony was of so grete feruour and brennyng loue to god that whan maximus themperour slewe and martred crysten men he folowed the martres that he myght be a martir wyth them and deserue it And was sory that martirdom was not gyuen to hym After thys as saynt Anthony wente in deserte he fonde a plater of siluer in hys way theÌne he thoughte whens this plater shold come seeyng it was no way for ony man to passe And also yf it had fallen fro ony man he shold haue herde it sowne in the fallyng Thenne said he wel that the deuyl âad leyde it there for to tempte hym and sayd Ha deuyl thou wenysâ to tempte me and deceyue me but it shal not be in thy power thenne the plater vanysshed away as a lytyl smoke And in lyke wyse it happed hym of a masse of gold that he fonde in his wayâ whiche the deuyl had caste for to deceyue hym which he toke and caste it in to the fyre and anon it vanysshed away After it happed that saynt Anthony on a tyme was in prayer and sawe in a vysion alle the world ful of snares and grynnes Thenne cryed saynt Anthony and said O good lord who may escape fro thyse snares ¶ And a voâs said to hym veray humylyte shal escape them without moâe whan saynt Anthonye on a tyme was lefte in the ayer the deuylles câm ayenst hym and layde to hym alle the euylles that he had doo fro hys chyldhode tofore the angellis ¶ Thenne said thangellis thou oughtest not to telle the âuyâles that hen deffeted but saye yf thou knowe ony euyl sith he was made a monke thenne the deuyllys contryued many euyllys And whan they myght not preue them the Angellis bare hym hyer than to fore and after sette hym agayn in hys place Saynt Anthonye reââââeth of hym self that he had seen a man so grete and sâ hye that he vaunted hym self to ãâã the vertue and the prouydence of âod and sayd to me ãâã of me what thou wylt and I shal gyue it to the And I spytte in the myddes of hys vysage And anon I armed me wyth the signe of the crosse and âanne vpon hym anon he vanysshid away And after thys the deuyl appyereââ to hym in so grete a stature that he towched the heuen And whan saynt Anthony had demaunded hym what he was He answerd I am the deuyl and demaunde the why thyse monkes and thyes cursed crysten men doo mâ thus moche shame Saynt Anthonye said they doo it by good right For thou doost to them the werst thou canst And the deuyl answerd I doo to theÌ none harme but they trouble eche other I am destroyed and comeÌ to nought by cause that Ihesu cryst regneth ouerall A yonge man passed by seynt Anthonye hys bowe in his honde behelde how saynt Anthonye played with his felawes and was euyl a payd Thenne saynt Anthony said to hym that he shold bende hys bowe and so he dyde and shotte ij or iij shottes to fore hym and anon he vnbente hys bowe Thenne demanded hym saynt Anthony why he helde not hys bowe bente And he answerd that it shold be theÌne ouer weak and feble Thenne said to hym saynt Anthonye in lyke wyse playe the monkes for to be after more stronge to serue god A man demanded of saynt Anthony what he myght doo to plese god and he answerd ouer all where thou shalt be or shal goo haue god to fore thyn eyen and the holy scripture And holde the in one
place all stylle And walke not ne roylle not aboute in the contree doo thyse thre thynges And thou shalt be sauf ¶ An abbote cam to saynt Anthonye for to be couÌseylled of hym what he myht doo for to be saued Saynt Anthonye answerd to hym haue none affyance in the good that thou hast don ne that thou hast kepte thy bely and thy tongue wel sobrely And repente the not of penaunce that thou hast doon I saye For lyke as fysshes that haue ben longe in the water whan they come in to drye londe they muste dye In lyke wyse the monkes that go on out ot theyr cloystre or selles yf they conuerse longe wyth seculâers they muste nedes lese theyr holynesse and leue theyr good lyf It behoueth the monkes that they be solytarye and that they haue thre bataylles that is of heeryng of spekyng and of seeyng And yf he haue but one of thyse bataylles that is of the herte yet he hath ouermoche SomÌe heremytes caÌ to saynt Anthonye for to vysite hym and their abbot was wyth them Thenne sayd saynt Anthony to the heremytes ye haue a good wyse man with you And after he said to the abbot thou hast founden good brethern TheÌne answerd thabbot Truly I haue good brethern but ther is none dore on their hows eche body may entre that wylle and goo in to the stable and vnbynde the asse of within And thys said he by cause that the brethern had ouer moche their mowthes open to speke For anon as they haue thought on a thyng it come to the mowthe Thenne saynt Anthony said ye ought to knowe that ther be thre bodely menynges that one is of nature another of ouermoche plente of metes and the thyrde of the deuyll Ther was an hermyte that had renouÌced the world and not perfighly For he had somwhat propre to hym self whom saynt Anthonye sente to the market to bye flesshe And as he was comyng and brought the flesshe the dogges assaylled hym and alle to taââ hym and toke the flesshe from hym And whan he cam to saynt Anthonye he told hym what was happed to hym And thenne said saynt Anthonye to hym thus as the houndes haue doo to the so doon the deuyllis to monkes that kepe money and haue somÌe propre to theym self On a tyme as saynt anthony was in wyldernes in hys prayer and was wery he said to our lord lord I haue grete desyre to be saued but my thoughtes lette me Thenne appiered an angele to hym and said doo as I doo and thou shalt be sauf And he wente oute and sawe hym one whyle laboure and another whyle praye do thus and thou shalt be saued On a tyme whan the brethern hermytes were assembled to fore saynt Anthonye they demaunded of hym of the state of sowles whan they be departed fro the body And the next nyght after a voys callyd saynt Anthonye And said aryse and goo out and see vp on hye whan saynt Anthonye byheld vpward on hye he sawe one longe and terryble whos heed touched the clowdes whyche kept peple hauyng wynges that wold haue âledde to heuen ¶ And thys grete man reteyned and caught somÌe and other he myght not reteyne ne lette for they flewhe forth vp Thenne he herde a noyse fulle of Ioye another ful of sorowe And he vnderstode that thys was the deuyll that reteyned somÌe sowles that wente not to heuen And the other he myght not holde ne reteyne wherfore he made sorowe and for the other he made Ioye And so he herde the sorowe and Ioye medled to gydre It happed on a tyme that saynt anthony laboured with hys brethern the hermytes And he sawe a vision moche sorowfull And therfor he kneled doun on his knees and prayd our lord that he wold empesshe the grete sorowe that was to come Thenne the other hermytes demauÌded what thyng it was And he said that it was a grete sorowe For I haue seen grete plente of bestes whyche enuyronned me whyche fered alle the contre And I wote wel that thys is to saye that ther shal come a grete trouble of men lyke vnto beestes that shall defoule the sacramentes of holy chyrche Thenne cam a voys from heuen to seynt Anthony that saide that grete abhomynacion shal come to myn aulter And anon after the heresie of Arryens begaÌ And moche troubled holy chyrche and dyde many euyllis They bete monkes and other all naked to fore the peple and slewe crysten men lyke sheep vpoÌ the aultres and in especial one balachyn dyde grete persecucion to whom saynt Anthony wrote a lettre whyche said I see the yre and male talente of our lord comyng vpon the yf thou suffre not the crysten lyue in peas Thenne I comande the that thou doo to them nomore vylonnye or thou shalt haue a meschaunce hastely The vnhappy man receyued thyes lettres and began to mocque saynt Anthonye and spytte on hyt and bete wel hym that brought the lettre And sente agayn to saynt Anthonye thyse wordes yf thou hast so grete charge of thy monckes come to me and I shal gyue to the my disciplyne But it happed that the xv day after he mounted vpon an hors ouer debonayr And neuertheles whan the horse felte hym vpon hym he bote hym on the legges and thyes that he deyde on the thyrd daye It happed an other tyme that the hermytes were comen to saynt Anthonye and demaunded of hym a collacion Thenne sayd saynt Anthonye doo ye thys that is wreton in the gospel yf one gyue to the a stroke on that one cheke shewe hym that other And they answere we may not doo so Thenne said he suffre ye it ones debonayrly they answerd we may not Thenne said saynt Anthony to hys seruaunt gyue them to drynke good wyn For thyse monckes ben ouer delycious Fayr brethern put your self to prayer For ye haue moche grete nede Atte laste saynt Anthonye assembled the heremytes And gaf to them the peas and deyde and departred out of thys world holyly whan he was of the age of an honderd and v yere praye we to hym that he praye for vs Here endeth the lyf of saynt Anthonye Of saynt Fabian and thynterpretacion of hys name first FAbian is as moche to saye as makyng soueuerayn beatitude or blessidnes that is to wyte in getyng in thre maner wises or maners First by right and reson of adopcion of byeng in achate and by vyctorye Of saynt Fabian the martir SAynt Fabian was a cytezeyn bourgeys of Rome And it happed whan the pope was deed that the people assembled for to chese another pope And saynt fabian cam to the election for to knowe who shold be electe and chosen to that dygnyte And anone a whyte douue descended from heuen rested vpoÌ his hede And whân the peple sawe that they merueylled moche And all they by comyn accorde chees hym for to be pope Thys holy man fabian after whan he was
is ful of myserye also fals sith the begynnyng of the world hath deceyued all his frendes conquerd all them that haue affiance in hym For she hath lyed in her promyse yet doth she dayly in this lyf more harme For she maketh gloutons And other she maketh lecherons she maketh theeues for to slee And the angry cruell and the lyars fals deceyuable She putteth discorde emong wedded and maryed peple and debate emong the peasible By the world cometh alle malyce and alle felonnye Thys euylle doo they that in this lyf putte theyr desyres And wene longe to lyue therin And whan they that thus serue the world haue vsed theyr lyf in dooyng thise euyll aforsaid Thenne gyueth she to them her doughter that is the deth perpetuelle that is the reward that the lyf of thys world gyueth to her seruaÌtes that departe froÌ thys world despourueyed And bere nothyng with them but their synnes After thys saynt sebastien torned hym to their parentis and frendes and said to them in thys maner O ye my frendes lo here the lyf of thys world which deceyueth you in suche wise that ye discounseylle your frendes fro the euerlastyng lyf ye destrouble your chyldren that they shold not come to the companye of heuene and to the honoure permanable and to thamytye of themperour celestyall by your folyssh wordes and your false wepynges yf they shold assente to your repeell they shold but a whyle dwelle wyth you And after shold departe fro your companye where ye shold see them in tormentes that shold neuer ende where as cruel flamÌe deuoureth the soules of mescreants and worshippers of ydollis And the dragons eten the lippes of cursid men And the serpents destroye them that ben euyll there where is herd nothyng but wayllyngis wepyngis and horryble cryes of sowles whyche brenne contynuelly in the fyre of helle and euer shal brenne without deyeng Suffre ye that your sones escape thyse tormentes And thynke how ye may escape And late theÌ suffre deth for the loue of Ihesu cryste thenke not but they whan they shal be thus departed fro you goon for to make redy your place and your mansion in heuen where ye and youre chyldren may be in Ioye perpetuel In thys houre and tyme that saynt sebastyan that was in habite of a knyght clad with a mantel and gyrd wyth a gyrdle of gold and had sayd thyse wordes anone cam a grete light in the whyche appiered a yonglyng clad with a whyte mantel emong vij angellis And gaf to saynt sebastyan the peas sayeng thou shalt be alleway with me Thys sawe the wyf of nychostratus named Zoe in whos hows marcus marcellianus were in pryson whyche had ben muet dombe vj yere by a sekenes that she had But she had vnderstaÌden that whyche saynt sebastian had said had seen the lyght aboute hym And she fyll doun to hys feet And by signes of her haÌdes made prayers to hym And after whan saynt Sebastyan knewe that she had loste her speche Anone he said to her yf I be the seruant of Ihesu cryste and yf all that that I haue said be trewe thenne I praye hym that he wyl rendre to the thy speche agayn that opened the mouth of Zacharye the prophete And anon escryed thys woman moche hye and said The worde that thou hast said is veray trewe And blessyd be thou And the word of thy mouth and blessyd ben alle they that by the byleue in Ihesu cryst the sone of god For I haue seen certaynly vij angellis to fore the holdyng a book in whiche was wreton all that whiche thou hast said Blessid be all they that byleue that whiche thou hast said And cursid be they that byleue the not And Nichostratus husbonde of this woman and the fader and moder and alle the frendes of marcellianus marcus receyueden the crysten faith And were all baptised by policarpus the preest vnto the nombre of lxxviij persones men wymen and chyldren And ten dayes duryng they abode to gydre in orysons and in prayers and thankyd god of hys benefettes Emong them was tarquyllynus fader vnto the holy martirs aforsaid whyche had xj yere duryng the gowte in hys feet handes And assone as policarpus had baptysed hym he bicam as hool and sound in his feet hondes as a chyld After the ten dayes agrestyn and Comatyn prouostes of Rome made Tarquillinus their fader to come to for hym And demaunded of hym how hys sones were aduysed and counseylled And he answerd moche wel dyde ye whan ye gaf to them respyte For in the mene tyme they that shold haue deyde haue founde lyf and Ioye And the prouost supposed that hys sones had ben torned And said to moân I shal see how thy sones shal make sacrefyse to thydolles by whom thou and they may dwelle in peas And tarquillinus said gentyl man yf thou wylt Iustly adoure werke aboute me and my sones thou shal fynde that the name of crysten men is of grete vertue And the prouoste said tarquillinus art thou wood And he answerd I haue ben out of my wytte but assone as I bileued in Ihesu cryst I resseyued helth of body and of sowle The prouoste said I see wel that the respyte of thy sones haue brought the in errour Tarquillinus sayde knowe of what werkis come errour The prouost bad hym saye And he said The first errour is to leue the waye of lyf and goo by the waye of deth for to dyspute that men whyche ben deed for to be goddes and to adoure their ymages made of wood or of stone The prouoste said thenne be they no goddes that we adoure Tarquillinus said It is redde in our bokes what men they were that ye adoure for goddes how euyl they lyued and how meschauntly they deyed Saturnus whom ye worshippe for god was lord of Crete and ete the flessh of hys chyldren how is not he one of your goddes And Iupiter hys sone whom ye adoure whyche slewe hys fader and toke hys suster to hys wif what euyl was thys how art thou in grete errour that adourest thys cursid men And saist to the ymage of stone thou art my god And to the stock of tree helpe me The prouost said yf ther be none but one god inuisible that ye adoure wherfor thenne adoure ye Ihesu cryst whome the Iewes crucyfyed Tarquillinus answerd Yf thou knowest a ryng of gold in whyche were a precious stone lyeng in the myre of a valeye thou woldest sente thy seruaÌts for to take vp this ryng And yf they myght not lefte it vp thou woldest vnclothe thy self of thy clothes of silke and doo one a course cote and woldest helpe to take vp thys rynge and make grete feste The prouost said wherfor hast thou put forth this proposicioÌ now Tarquillinus answerde For to shewe to the that we adoure one only god The prouost said what vnderstondest
herd all this he was despayred as he that was taken in blynde loue and was ouer fore tormented in so moche that he laye doun seke in hys bedde for the grete sorowe that he had Thenne cam the fysiciens anon knewe hys maladye and sayd to hys fadre that he languysshid of carnal loue that he had to somÌe woman Thenne the fader enquyred and knewe that it was thys woman And dyde doo speke to seynt agnes for hys sone and said to her how hys sone languysshid for her loue seynt agnes answerd that in no wise she wold breke the faith of her first husbond vpon that the prouost demaÌded who was her first husbond of whom she so moche auaunted and in hys power so moche trusted Thenne one of her seruauntes said that she was crysten and that she was so enchaunted that she said Ihesu cryste was her espowse And whan the prouoste herde that she was crysten the prouost was moche glad by cause to haue power on her For thenne the crysten peple were in the wylle of the lord yf they wold not renye theyr god and theyr byleue all theyr goodes shold be forfayted wherfore theÌne the prouoste made saynt agnes to come in Iustice And he examyned her swetely and after cruelly by menaces Saynt agnes wel comforted sayd to hym doo what thou wylt For my purpoos shalt thou neuer chaunge whan she sawe hym nowe flateryng and now terrybly angry she scorned hym And the prouost said to her beyng all Angry One of two thyngis thou shalt chese eyther doo sacrefyse to our goddes wyth the vyrgyns of the goddes vesta or goo to the bordell to be abandonned to alle that thyder come to the grete shame and blame of alle thy lygnage Saynt Agnes answerd yf thou knewest who is my god thou woldest not saye to me suche wordes but for as moche as I know the vertue of my god I sette nothyng by thy menaces For I haue his angele which is kepar of my body Thenne the Iuge all araged made to take of her clothys and all nakyd to be ledde to the bordell And thus saynt agnes that refused to doo sacrefyse to thydollys was delyueryd nakyd to goo to the bordell but anon as she was vnclothed god gaf to her suche grace that the heeris of her heed bycam so longe that they couerd all her body to her feet so that her body was not seen And whan saynt agnes entred in to the bordell anon she fonde thangele of god redy for to defende her and enuyronned saynt agnes with a bryght clernes in suche wise that noman myht see her ne come to her There made she of the bordel her oratorye And in makyng her prayers to god she sawe to fore her a whyte vesture And anon therwith she clad her and saide I thanke the Ihesu cryst whyche accomptest me wyth thy virgyns and hast sente me thys vesture Alle they that entred made honour and reuerence to the grete clerenes that they sawe a boute saynt Agnes And cam oute more deuoute and more clene than they entred Atte laste cam the sone of the prouoste with a grete coÌpanye for taccomplysshe his foule desires and lustes And whan he sawe hys felaws come out and yssue all abasshyd he mocqued them and callyd them cowardis And thenne he all araged entryd for taccomplyssh hys euyl wyll and whaÌ he cam to the clerenes he auaunced hym for to take the virgyne And anon the deuyl toke hym by the throte and strangled hym that he fyl doun deed And whan the prouoste herde thyse tidynges of his sone he ranne wepyng to the bordel and began cryeng to saye to saynt agnes O thou cruel woman why hast thou shewde thyn enchantemÌt on my sone and demaunded of her how hys sone was deed and by what cause To whom saynt agnes answerd he toke hym in to hys power to whom he had abaundonned hys wylle why ben not all they deed said he that entred here to fore hym For hys felawes sawe the myracle of the grete clernes and were aferd and wente theyr waye vnhurte For they dyde honour to my god whyche hath clad me wyth thyse vestement and hath kept my body but your vylaynous sone assone as he entred in to thys hows began to braye and crye and whan he wold haue leyde honde vpon me anon the deuyl slewe hym as thou seest yf thou maye reyse hym said he It may wel appere that thou hast not put hym to deth And saynt agnes answerd how wel that thy creance is not worthy to impetre ne gete that of our lord neuertheles by cause it is tyme that the vertue of god be shewed Goo ye all oute that I may make my prayer to god And whan she was in her prayers thangele cam and reysed hym to lyf And anon he wente out and bygan to crye wyth an hye voys that the god of crysten men was very god in heuen and in erthe and in the See And that thydolles were vayne that they worshypped whyche myght not helpe them self ne none other Thenne the bysshops of thydolles made a grete discorde emonge the peple so that alle they cryed Take away this sorceresse and witche that torned mennes myndes and alyeneth theyr wyttes whaÌ the prouoste sawe thyse merueylles he wold gladly haue delyuerd saynt agnes by cause she had reysed hys sone but he doubted to be banysshyd And sette in hys place a lyeutenauÌt named aspasius for to satisfye the peple and by cause he coude not delyuere her he departed soroufully Thys aspâsius dyde do make a grete fyre emong alle the peple and dyde do caste saynt Agnes therin Anon as thys was doon the flamme departed in to two partyes brente them that made the discordes she abode alle hole wythout felyng the fyre The peple wente that she had don all by enchauntement Thenne made saynt agnes her oryson to god thankyng hym that she was escaped fro the paryll to lese her virgynyte and also fro the brennyng of the flamme And whan she had made her oryson the fyre loste all hys hete and quenchyd it aspasius for the doubtance of the peple comanded to put a swerd in her body And so she was martred Anon cam the crysten men and the parentis of saynt Agnes and buryed her body but the hethen defended it and caste so stones at them that vnnethe they escaped She suffred martirdom in the tyme of constantyn the grete whyche began to regne the yere of our lord CCCix Emong them that buryed her body ther was one Emerenciana whyche had be felaw to saynt Agnes how be it she was not yet cristened but an holy virgyne she cam also to the sepulces of saynt agnes whyche constaÌtly repreued the gentyles and of theÌ she was stoned to deth and slayn Anon thenne cam a erthe quaue lightnyng and thondre that many of the paynems perisshed so that forâhon the
of god said to hym Aryse vp noble martyr surely aryse vp For thou shalt be our felawe be accoÌpanyed wyth sayntes O knyght inuyncible strengest of alle stroÌge now thise aspre tormÌtes cruell doubte the now a vaynquer prudencien saith thou art only noble of the world thou berest only the victorie of double batayll thou hast deserued ij crownes to gydre Praye we theÌne to hym that he Impetre grace of our lord Ihesu Cryste that we may deserue to come vnto hys blisse Ioye in heueÌ where he regneth ¶ Amen Here endeth the lyf and passion of saynt vyncent Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Basylle bysshop and first of the interpretacion of hys name BAsille is said of basis in greke which is as moche to saye as a fouÌdement leos that is peple For he was fouÌdement of them that wold go to their maker or ellis it is sayd of basilisco a serpente For he ouercam the serpentâ enemye of mankynde Of the lyf of saynt Basille SAynt Basille was a venerable bysshop and a solempne doctour of whom Amphilonus bysshop of ycome wrote the lyf And it was shewde in a vision to an hermyte named effraym how moche holy he was On a tyme as the said effâaim was in a traunse he sawe a pyler of fyre whos hede areched heuens a voys ther vpon sayeng Suche is basille lyke vnto thys pyber that thou seest And after thys the hermyte caÌ to the cite for to see at the daye of epiphanye so noble a maÌ whan he sawe hym he was clad with a whyte vesture goyng honourably with the clergie theÌne thermyte said to hym self I see wel that I haue laboured in vayn for nought he that is sette in suche honour may not be suche as I haue seen we that haue born the burthen labour of the hete of the day in grete payne we had neuer suche thynge he here whiche is sette in suche honour also thus acoÌpanyed is a colompne of fyre Now I haue grete merueylle what this may be And saynt basylle that sawe this in spirite made hym to be brought to hym And whan he was comen he sawe a tongue of fyre spekyng in hys mouth Thenne said effraim Truly basille is grete truly basille is the pyler of fyre And verily the holy ghoost speketh in his mouth And Effraim said to saynt basille Sire I praye the that thou Impetre of god that I may speke greek to whom saynt basille saide thou hast demaunded an hard thyng Neuertheles he prayd for hym and he spack greek Another hermyte sawe saynt basille how he wente in thabyte of a bysshop demed euyll in hys thought how he delyted in this estate in vayn glorye And anon ther cam a voys that sayd to hym thou delytest the more in playng and handlyng thy catte than basille doth in all hys araye and ââurnementis Malens themperour whych susteyned tharryens heretikes toke away a chyrche fro the crysten men and gaf it to the Arryens to whome saynt basylle sayd O thou Emperour it is wreton honor regis Iudicium diligit Thonour of the kynge requyreth true Iugement And the dome of a kyng is Iustyse And wherfore thenne hast thou coÌmanded that the catholyque crysten men ben put out of holy chyrche And themperour said to hym yet retornest thou to saye vylonye to me It apperteyneth not to the To whom saynt basille said It apperteyneth wel to me and also do deye for Iustyce Thenne demostenes prouost of the metes of themperour vpholder of tharryens spack for them and made an answere corruÌped in langage for to make satisfaction And saynt basille said to hym it apperteyneth to the to ordeyne for the metes of themperour and not to enquyre of the techynges dyuyne the whiche as confused held hym stylle said not And theÌperour said to saynt basille Now goo thou forth and Iuge thou bytwene them and not for fauour ne ouer grete loue that thou hast to that one partye ne for hate that thou hast to that other Thenne saynt basille wente to them and said to fore tharryens and to the catholyques that the doores of the chirche shold be shette faste and sealid wyth the sealis of eyther partye And that euery shold praye to god for hys right and that the chyrche shold be delyueryd to theÌ at whos prayer it shold opene And thus they accorded The arryens put them to prayer iij dayes and thre nyghtes And whan they caÌ to the doores they opened not Thenne saynt basille ordeyned a procession and cam to the chyrche and knocked a stroke wyth hys croche sayeng Attollite portas principes vestras cetera and anon as he had sayde the verse the dores opened and they entryd in and gaf lawde and preysynd to god and so was their chyrche rendryd to them agayn And after the emperour dyde promyse to saynt basylle moche good honour yf he wold consente to hym And saynt basille sayd that was a demande to make to chyldren For they that be fulfylled wyth dyuyne wordes wyl not suffre that one only syllable of the dyuyne science be corrupte Thenne themperour had grete Indygnacion of hym and toke a penne for to wryte the sentence on hym that he shold be exyled And the first penne brake and the second and also the thyrde And hys hande began to tremble for fere thenne in grete Indygnacion he alle to rente the cedule Ther was an honest worshypful man named heradius whiche had but one doughter whom he dysposed to consacre to god but the fende enemy to mankynde enflamed made one of the seruauÌtes of the same to breÌne in the loue of thys mayde And whan he remeÌbred that he was but a seruant hym thought not possyble that euer he shold atteyne to come to hys desyre of so noble a virgyne he wente to an enchaaunteur to whom he promysed grete quantyte of moneye yf he wold helpe hym to whom theÌchantour answerd that he coude not do it but I shal sende the to the deuyll whych is my mayster and lord And yf thou doo that he shal saye to the thou shalt haue thy desyre And the yong man sayd he wold so doo And this enchanteur sente a lettre by hym to the deuyll thus conteynyng My lord and mayster by cause that I must hastly besily drawe alle them that I may fro the religion of crystendom brynge them to thy wyll to th ende that thy partye alleway growe and multeplye I sende to the thys yong man esprysed in the loue of the mayde And demandeth that hys desyres may be accomplysshyd that herin I haue glorye honour And that fro now forthon I may gadre to the drawe moo TheÌne he gaf hym hys lettre had hym goo and at mydnynght stande vpon the toÌbe of a paynem calle the deuyll And hold vp thys lettre in thayer And anon he shal come to the
maystres of that science Now it happed on a day that as hys maistre was oute he began allone to rede thynuocacions And a grete multitude of feendis cam aboute hym and made hym aferd and he made the signe of the crosse and anon they vanysshed away And whaÌ his maistre was retorned he told hym what was happend to hym but his maistre said to hym that alleway he had hated fered that signe whan theÌne he was emperour he remeÌbrid the rof by cause he wold vse the craft of deuyll ouerall where he fonde the signes of the crosse he destroyed theÌ persecuted crysten men by cause that he knewe well that otherwyse the feendes wold not doo for hym Now it happed that he descended in to a regyon that is called perside And fro thens he sente in to thoccident a deuyl for to haue answere of that he sayd to hym And this deuyl wente abode x dayes in one place wythout meuyng by cause ther was a monke contynuelly in prayer nyght day And whan he myght not doo he retorned Thenne Iulien demanded hym where he had ben so longe he answerd I haue ben in a place where I fonde a monke nyght daye prayeng And I supposed to haue troubled hym that he shold nomore pray And all this whyle I coude neuer torne hym fro his prayer And thus I am retorned wythout doyng ony thyng Thenne Iulien thapostata had grete Indignacion sayd whan he cam thider he wold auenge hym of the monke And whan he wente in to perse the deuylles promysed hym that he shold haue victorye of a cyte The maister of enchantemens whyche deuyned by the deuyl for hym said to a crysten man what dooth the smythis sone he said that he made a sepulture for Iulyen his maistre and as it is redde in thistorye of saynt basille he cam in cesarâe of capadoce And saynt basille cam ayenst hym presented thre louys to hym whyche he sente to hym And Iulien had grete Indygnacion of this yefte And for the breed he sent to saynt basille heye sayeng Thou hast sente to me mete for dombe beestis therfor take this that I sende to the Saynt basille said we haue sente to the suche as we ete thou sendest to vs of that thou nourisshest thy beestis with Of whiche answere Iulien was wroth said whan I shal haue don in perse I shal destroye this cyte in suche wyse that it shal be better ordeyned for to ere and sowe than peple to dwelle in and the nyght syewyng saynt basille sawe in a vision in the chyrche of our lady that a grete multitude of angellis and in the myddle of them a woman beyng in a trone whyche said to them Calle to me mercurye whom Iulien thappostata hath slayn whyche blasplemeth me and my sone Mercurye was a knyght that for the fayth of god had be slayn of Iulyen and was buryed in the same chyrche Thenne anone Mercurye with alle his Armes that were kept was present And at the comandement of the lady he wente to bataylle Seynt basylle awoke all affrayed And wente to the tombe where the knyght was buryed in And opened the sepulcre but he fonde neyther body ne Armes Thenne he comanded of the kepar who had take away the body And he sware that in the euen to fore it was there Saynt basylle after on the morn retorned and fonde the body the armures and the spere all blody And anone cam one fro the bataylle whyche sayd that Iulyen thapostata and Emperour was in the bataylle And thyder cam a knyght vnknowen all armed wyth hys spere whych hardyly smote hys hors wyth hys spores and cam to Iulyen themperour and brandysshyd his swerd and smote hym thurgh the body and sodenly he departed and was neuer after seen to gydres And yel whan he shold dye he toke hys hand ful of blood and caste it in to the ayer sayeng ¶ Thou hast vaynquysshed man of Galile thou hast ouercomen And in cryeng thus myserably he espyred and deyed in grete payne and was left wythout sepulture of all hys men And he was flayn of the perses And of hys skynne was made to the kyng of perses a vndercoueryng And thus he deyed cursedly Thus enden the lyues of foure holy sayntes euerich named Iulien And of one that was a fals Apostata Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Ignacien bysshop And fyrst thynterpretacion of hys name IGnacien is said as one suffryng fyre and brennyg For he was embraced and alle esprysed of the deuyne and brennyng loue of god ¶ Of saynt Ignacien Saynt IgnacieÌ was disciple of saynt Iohan Euangelist And was bysshop of Anthioche And after that as somÌe saie he sente a lettre vnto our lady or an epistle in this wise vnto marye the virgyne that bare IhÌu cryst in her body I humble Ignacien her seruauÌt sende gretyng I that am yet a nouyse In the fayth dysciple to Ihesu cryst to IohÌn thy dere frende desyre to haue of the somÌe comforte and consolacion of som good enseygnemÌt and techyng For of Ihesus thy sone I haue herde saye many merueylles of whiche I am enioyed to here only of the which hast ben alleway in his companye thou knowest wel the secret desires of hym thou hast be playnly enformed And they that be yet yong in the fayth with me truste moche to be endoctryned of the enformed in their creaunce and byleue lady god salewe the And to this lettre answerd the gloryous virgyne marye in this manere Ignace good disciple of Iesus his especyal frende the humble handmayd of IhÌu cryst sendeth to the gretyng I doo the to wete that all that IohÌn hath sayd to the of Ihesu cryst And all that thou hast lerned of hym is trewe doctryne thyng certayne Goo alleway in good creaÌce byleue kepe fermly the promesse of thy crystyn fayth and doo thy werkes acordyng to the same I shal come wyth IohÌn for to visite the other cristen meÌ with the hold the alleway well in the fayth in good werkes And late no persecucioÌ ne aduersite that thou shal suffre moeue the fro thy fayth ne fro thy creaunce but haue solaas affyaunce in IhÌu crist thy sauyour This was thanswere of his lettre Saynt Ignacien was a man right wel lerned And the thyrde bysshop after saynt peter thappostle of the chirche of Anthyoche And moche desired to be a martir for the faith of Ihesu crist It happed that Traian whych was emperour of Rome passyd by Anthioche To whom Ignace shewed to hym blamed of thys that he persecuted crysten men wherfor themperour dyde hym to be taken and put in yrons And in that wyse by x knyghtes to be ladde to Rome There he was presented to fore themperour and alle the senatours of Rome And was constrayned by promesses by menaces And by tormentis many grete and horryble for to adoure
wryteth his hystorye and lyf of hym the whyche IohÌn the dekene afterward moche dylygently compyled and ordeyned SAynt Gregorye was born of the parentele of senatoures of Rome whos fader was named Gordyane and hys moder siluia And whan he had so moche lerned that he was a maystre in phylosophye and also was ryche of patrymonye he thoughte that he wold leue all the rychesses that he had and wold entre in to religyon for to serue god but in thys that he put thys thought in respyte he conseyued another purpoos that was that hym semed he shold better serue god in a seculer habyte in dooyng thoffyce of the pretorye of the prouost of Râme ¶ For to gyue to eche man duely reson after the right of hys cause but he fonde in this office so grete seculer besynesse that it began to dysplese hym by cause by thys grete besynesse he wythdrewe hym ouer for fro god In thys mene whyle hys fader and moder deyden in suche wyse that he was ryche of patrymonye and puyssaunt that atte begynnyng he founded and endowed wyth rentes vj abbeyes in zecylle And the seuenth he founded wythin the walles of Rome in thonour of saynt Andrew thappostle in the whyche he becam a monke And the remanaunt of his patrymonye he gaf for goddes sake So that he that to fore wente clothed in clothes of gold and of silke and aourned wyth precious stones in the cyte whan he was monke seruyd in a poure habyte the monkes There was atte begynnyng of hys conuersacion of so parfayt a lyf that it myght be sayd wel that he was all parfayt he made grete abstynences in etyng in drynkyng in wakyng and in prayeng in so moche that he was so trauaylled that vnnethe he myght susteyne hym self he had put out of hys herte alle seculier thynges so that hys conuersacion was in heuen For he had adressid alle hys desyre for to come to the Ioye permanable On a tyme it happed that saynt gregorye in hys selle of the same abbaye where as he was abbote wrote somme thyng And an Angele appered to hym in semblaunce of a maronner whyche semed as he had escaped fro the tempest of the see And prayd hym wepyng to haue pyte on hym Thenne saynt gregorye comanded that ther shold be gyuen to hym vj pens And thenne he departed The same day the angele cam agyan in lyke wyse as he dyde to fore And sayd that he had lost all hys good and prayd hym that he wold yet helpe hym on whoÌ saynt gregorye had yet pyte and dyde do be gyuen to hym vj pens more yet atte thyrde tyme he cam and made grete crye and wepte and prayd hym that he wold yet helpe hym to ward hys grete losse so that saynt gregorye comanded hys prouoste that he shold yet gyue to thys poure man an almesse And the prouoste sayd that ther was nomore siluer in all thabbaye but a disshe of siluer in whyche hys moder was wonte to sende hym potage And saynt gregorye comanded anon that that dysshe of siluer shold be gyuen to hym And the angele toke it wyth grete Ioye And lytyl whyle after thys angele appyeryd to saynt gregorye and sayd to hym that god hath sente hym so to hym It happed afterward that as saynt gregory passed thurgh the market of Rome and sawe there two fair chyldren whyt and rody of vysage fayr yelow heer whiche were for to selle And saynt gregory demaunded fro whens they were And the marchauÌt answerd of englond After saynt gregory demaunded yf they were crysten and he answerd nay but that they were paynems Thenne sight saynt gregorye and sayd Alas what fayr peple hath the deuyl in hys doctryne and in hys domynacion After he demaunded how thyse peple were called he answerd that they were called englyssh men thenne he said they may well be so called for they haue the vysage of angelles And for that saynt gregory wente to the pope And by grete prayers he Impetred and had grauÌte that he was sente in to englond for to conuerte the peple of the same contre but whaÌ the Romayns herd saye that gregorye was sent in to englond Anon they wente to the pope and sayd to hym Thou hast angred saynt peter thou hast destroyed al Rome And hurte all holy chyrche in this that thou hast lete gregorye goon out of Rome Of whyche word the pope was angry and moche abasshed And sente anone his messagers after saynt gregory And comanded hym to retorne and come agayn to Rome whyche thenne was goon on hys Iourney thre dayes and for hys noble and good renomee the pope made hym cardynal deken After for the corrupcion of thayer the pope pelagius deyed And thenne saynt gregorye was electe of alle the paple to be pope but he refused it and sayd that to that dygnyte he was not worthy And for the ryght grete mortalyte er that he was sacred pope he made to the peple a sermon and said Ryght dere brethern wel ought we to haue doubte of the scorge of god er that we fele it And yet we ought to fere it to torne and forsake our synnes loo ye may beholde the peple deye er they bywepe theyr synnes Thynk ye thenne in what poynt he cometh in the presence of the Iuge that hath had no tyme to bewaylle hys synnes The howses ben voyde the chyldren deye in the presence of fader and moder sodaynly so that they haue lytyl tyme to deye wher fore euery man amende hys lyf whylis he hath tyme for to repente hym of hys euyl dedes and synnes er that the Iuge calle hym fro the mortal body he sayth by the prophete I wylle not the deth of a synnar but I wyl that he retorne and lyue moche soone the Iuge hereth the synnar whan he conuerteth fro hys synnes and amendeth hys lyf By suche manere admonested he to the peple theyr helthe And he or deyned to make processyon in alle the chyrches moche solempnly for to impetre and gete mercy for thys mortalyte whan the processyon was doon he wold haue goon pryuely out of Rome for thescewe thoffyce of the papalyte but ayenst that the gates were kepte so that he myght not yssue Atte laste he dyde do chaunge hys habyte And so moche dyde wyth the marchaunts that they brought hym out of Rome in a tonne vpon a carte And whan he was ferre out of the toun he yssued out of the tonne and hydde hym in a dyche And whan he had ben therin iij dayes the peple of Rome sought hym all aboute Anone they sawe a pyler shynyng descende fro heuen strayt vpon the dyche in whyche saynt gregorye was And a recluse an holy man sawe that by that pyler angellis descended fro heuen to saynt gregory and after wente vp agayn Anone thenne saynt gregory was taken of the peple and after thordynaunce of holy chyrche he was ordeyned and sacred pope ayenst hys wyll
your goddes and worshyppe them Or haue ye leuer that I hunte them out of thys world in the name of Ihesu cryst And the peple sayd wyth an hye voys Moche grete is the god of crysten peple holy man we praye the that thou suffre not the deuylles to dwelle in thys cyte Thenne comanded saynt longius to the deuyllis that they shold yssue out of thys peple in suche wyse that the peple had grete Ioye and byleued in our lord A lytyl tyme after the euyl prouost made saynt longius come to fore hym and sayd to hym that all the peple were departed by hys enchauÌtement had refused thydollis yf the kynge knewe it he shold destroye vs and the cyte also Afrodisius answerd how wilt thou yet tormÌâ thys good man whyche hath saued vs and hath don so moche good to the cyte And the prouost said he hath deceyued vs by enchantrye Afrodisius said hys god is grete and hath none euyll in hym Thenne dyde the prouost cutte out the tongue of afrodisius wherfore saynt longius sighed vnto god And anone the prouoste becam blynde and loste all hys membres whan afrodifius sawe that he said lord god thou art Iuste And thy Iugement is verytable And the prouost said to afrodisius Fayr brother praye to saynt longius that he pray for me For I haue don yll to hym And Afrodisius said haue not I wel told it to the do nomore so to longius Seest not thou me speke wythout tongue And the prouoste sayde I haue not only lâst myn eyen but also my herte and my body is in grete payne And saynt longius said yf thou wylt be hool and guarysshed put me appertly to deth And I shal pray for the to our lord after that I shal be deed that he hele that And anon thenne the prouost dyde do smyte of hys heed And after he cam and fyll on the body of saynt longius and sayd all in wepyng Syre I haue synned I knowleche and confesse my fylthe And anon cam agayn his sight and he receyued helthe of hys body And buryed honourably the body of saynt longius And the prouoste byleuyd in Ihesu cryst And abode in the company of crysten men and thanked god and deyde in good astate All thys happed in Cesaree of Capadoce to the honour of our lord god to whom be gyuen laude and glorye in secula seculorum Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Longius Here begynneth the lif of saynt Maure THe yere that saynt benet deied he sente seynt Maure foure felaws wyth hym in to fraunce that is to wete fuscinien symplicien Antoninien and constantinen atte prayer of varricam the bysshop of maulx for to founde an abbaye which the said bisshop wold make of hys owen good And gaf to saynt maure a book in whyche he had wreton the rule of hys hande And as they passed the montaynes of mongus sourgus one of theyr seruantes fyll fro hys hors vpon a grete stone and hys lyft fote was all to frusshed but assone as saynt maure had blessyd it and made hys oryson he was guarisshed and al hool After thys he cam in to the chyrche of saynt mauryce And ther was at entre a blynde man beggyng that had seten there xj yere and was named lieuyn whyche for the longe vsage that he had ben there he knew all thoffice of the chirche by heryng that he had lerned ther by wythout more he coniured saynt maure by the vertue of the martirs that he wold helpe hym And anone he was guarisshid and had agayn hys sight by hys prayer And thenne saynt maure comaÌded hym that he shold serue alle hys lyf in the chyrche as he had don On a nyght thys holy man and hys felawe herberowed in the hows of a wydowe whiche was named themere the whyche had a sone that was so seke that eche man sayd that he was deed And thys holy man heled hym And whan he was hool he said to saynt maure thou art he that by thy merytes and by thy teeres hast delyuerd me fro the Iugement where I was in condempned to the fyre of helle Thus as they helde theyr waye on the good fryday in thabbaye of whyche seynt Romayn was abbot And saynt maure sayd to saynt Romayn Seynt benet shal departe out of thys world to morowe On the morn after the hour of tierce as saynt maure was in hys prayers he sawe the waye by whyche saynt benet mounted in to heuen and he was aourned wyth palles and grete foyson of clerenes and thys vision sawe two other monkes Also whan saynt maure hys felowe cam to orlyance they herd saye that the bisshop varicam of maulx was deed And he that was in his place wold not receyue them Thenne saynt maure and hys felawe wente in to a place that is callyd restis And there founded âe fyrst an hows for to adoure god there in thonour of saynt martyn and comaâded that he shold be buryed therin A clerke that was there named langyso fyl doun of an hie steyer vpon an hepe of stones and was all to frusshed but saynt maure heled hym anon And after flocus whyche was one of the grettest frendes of the kynge had hym in so grete reuerence that he durst not approuche but yf he bad hym Thre werkmen that wrought in that hows bygan to saye shrewdly of saynt maure and saye that he coueyted ouer moche vayne glorye but anon they be cam so madde that that one of hym lost forthwyth hys lyf And the other ij to tare them self wyth theyr teeth the holy man anon put hys hande in theyr mouthes and made the feende to goo out benethe And after he reysed the thyrde to lyf whyche had be deed and comanded hym yf he wold lyue that he shold nomore entre in to that hows And thys comaÌded he for theschewe the fauour of the world Theodebers kyng of frannce cam for to visite hym and prayd to saynt maure and the brethern that they wold pray for hym And he gaf to them of that hows the fee Ryall of that buscage and alle the rentes therto belongyng and the townes On the morn saynt maure wente to see the yeft that the kyng had gyuen And there he heled one hauyng the paleseye whyche had be vij yere seke The second yere that thys hows was founded cam many noble men of the contre whyche demanded that theyr chyldren myght be clothed and receyued in to the religion And ther cam so many that the xxvj yere of the fondacion of thabbaye there were an hondred fourty brethern saynt maure comandeth that they shold abyde in that nombre wythout more or lasse and not tencreace ne mynuysshe that nombre After thys âlotaire the kynge cam in to thys abbeye And gaf therto the chyef of blason and the toun longchamp therwith And after thys tyme saynt maure wold nomore yssue out of thabbeye but he wente and abode in a
sayntes were buryed in vlster in the cyte of Dunence as it were in a caue wyth thre chambres her bodyes were founden atte first comyng of kyng Iohan kyng harry the secondes sone in to yrelond vpon whos tombes thyse verses folowyng were wryton Hic iacent in duno qui tumilo tumilantur in vno Brigida Patricius atque columba pius Whyche is for to say in englysshe In duno thyse thre been buryed alle in one sepulture Bryde Patryke and Columba the mylde Men say that this holy bysshop Saynt Patryke dyd thre grete thynges One is that he droof with his staffe alle the venemous bestys out of yrelond The second that he had graunte of our lord god that none yrysshe man shal abyde the comyng of antecryst The iij wonder is redde of hys purgatorye whyche is more referred to the lasse saynt Patryk thabbot And this holy abbot by cause he founde the people of that londe rebelle he went out of yrlond came in to englond to the abbey of glastenberye where he deyed on a saynt bartylmewes day He flouryd about the yere of our lord viijCL the holy bysshoy deyed the yere of our lord foure hondred iiij score x in the hondred and xxij yere of his age to whome praye we that he praye for vs ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of Seynt patryke ¶ Of saynt benet thabbot And first the interpretacion of hys name BEnet is sayd by cause he blessyd moche peple or ellys bycause he had many benedyccions in this lyf Or for as moche as he deseruyd for to haue blessynges or benediccions perpetuel And the holy doctour Saynt gregory wrote his lyf ¶ Of saynt benet thabbot TAynt benet was borne of the prouynce of Nurcia And was sente to Rome for to studye but in hys Infancye he lefte the scoles and wente in to a deserte and his nouryce whych tenderly loued hym weÌt alweye wyth hym tyl they came to a place named offyde And there she borowed a vessel for to pourge or wyne we whete but the vessel fyl to therthe by neclygence and was broken in two peces And whan saynt Benet sawe his nouryce wepe he had grete pyte made his prayers to almyghty god after made hit also hole as it had been tofore Thenne they of the contre tooke hit and henge hit on the fronte of the chyrche in wytnesse of one soo fayre a myracle Thenne lefte saynt benet hys nourice and fledde secretely and came in to an hermytage where he was neuer knowen of no man but of a monke named romayn whiche mynystred to hym mete for to ete And bycause that there was no waye fro the monasterye of romayn vnto the pytte where Saynt Benet was he knytte the loof in a corde so lete hit doun to hym And bycause he shold here whaÌ romayn shold lete doun the breed he bonde a belle on the corde and by the sowne therof he receyued his breed But the deuyl hauyng enuye of the charitee of that one and of the refeccion of that other cast a stone and brake the belle but neuerthelesse Romayn lefte not to mynystre hym It happed that there was a preest on an estern day that had arayed his dyner for hym self and our lord appered to hym and sayd thou ordeynest for thy self delycious metes and my seruaunt deyeth for hunger in suche a pytte and named hym the place Thenne the preest aroos and bare his mete wyth hym sought soo longe that he fonde Saynt benet in grete payne whan he had founden hym he sayd to hym Aryse and take thy mete and refeccion For it is ester day He answerd I knowe wel that hit is the feste of paske bycause that I see the The preest sayd to hym Certeynly thys day is the day of ester and saynt benet wyst hyt not by cause he had dwellyd there so longe and so ferre fro people Thenne sayd they graces and made the benedyccion and toke theyr refeccyon It happed after thys that a blacke byrde that is called a merle came on a tyme to saynt benet and peckyd with his bylle at his vysage And greuyd and noyed hym so moche that he coude haue no reste for it and coude not put it from hym but assone as he had made the signe of the crosse anone the birde vanysshyd away And after that cam to hym a grete temptacioÌ of the flessh by the whyche the deuyl tempted hym in shewyng hym a womaÌ and brente sore and was enflamed in hys corage but anon he cam agayn to hym self and after he despoylled hym self all naked and wente emong thornes and walowed emong the nettels so that his body was torn and payned by whyche he heled the woundes of his herte Thenne after that tyme he felte nomore temptacion of hys flessh ¶ It happed that thabbot of a monastery was deed And for the good renomâe of thys holy man saynt benet All the monkes of thabbaye gaf theyr voys and electe saynt benet for theyr abbot But he accorded not therto ne agreed to them For he said that hys condicions and maners were not acordyng to theyres Notwythstondyng he was vaynquysshyd and so Instauntly requyred that atte laste he consented But whan he sawe they lyuyd not ne were not ruled acordyng to theyr religion and rewle he repreued and correctyd them vigorously And whan they sawe that they myght not doo their wylles vnder hym They gaf hym venym medlyd wyth wyn for to drynke but saynt benet made the signe of the crosse ouer it and blessyd it and anon the vessell brake in pieces whyche was of glasse whan saynt benet theÌne knesoe that in that vesselle was mortal drynke whyche myght not abyde ne suffre the signe of the crosse he roos vp and sayd god haue mercy on you fair brethern I sayde to you wel atte begynnyng that my condicions and maners apparteyne not to youres Fro hensforth gete to you another fader For I may no lenger dwelle here Thenne wente he agayn to deserte where god shewed for hym many signes myracles and founded there two abbeyes Now it happed that in one of thyes two abbeyes was a monke that myght not endure longe in prayers And whan the other of hys felawys were in prayer he wold goo out of the chyrche Thenne thabbot of that abbaye shewd thys to saynt benet And anone he wente for to see yf it were trewe And whan he cam he sawe that the deuyl in lyknes of a lytyl blaâk chyâd drewe hym out of the chyrche by hys cowle Thenne sayd saynt benet to the abbot and to saynt maure See ye not hym that draweth hym out they sayd naye thenne sayd late vs praye to god that we may see hym whan they had made theyr prayers saynt maure sawe hym but the abbot myght not see hym The next day saynt benet toke a rodde and bete the monke And thenne he abode in prayer lyke as the deuyl had be beten
vs praye to the gloryouse virgyne marye that she kepe vs fro the deuyll And that we may by her come to the glorye of heuen To the whyche brynge vs the fader the sone and the holy ghoost amen Thus endeth the anunciacion of our blessyd Lady Here begynneth the lif of saynt Seconde knyght SAynt seconde was a noble and valyaunt knyght and gloryous martir of our lord Ihesu cryst And suffred hys passion and was crowned wyth the palme of martirdom in cyte of Astence by whos gloryous presence the sayd cyte was enbelisshyd and for a synguler patron eÌnoblysshid And thys holy man seconde was enformed in the fayth of the blessyd maÌ Calatero whyche was holden in pryson by the prouoste Sapryce in the sayd cyte of Astence And whan marcianus was holden in pryson in the cyte of tredonence Sapryce the prouost wold goo thyder for to make hym do sacrefyse And saynt seconde moche desiryng to see saynt marcyane wente wyth hym as it had ben by cause of Solace And anone as they were out of the cyte of Altence a whyte douue descended vpon saynt secondes heed To whom sapryce sayd See seconde how our goddes loue the whyche sende byrdes fro heueÌ to vysite the And whan they cam to the ryuer of tanagre saynt seconde sawe thangele of god goyng vpon the flood and sayeng to hym Seconde see that thou haue ferme fayth and thus shalt thou goo aboue them that worshâppe ydolles Thenne Sapryce sayd brother seconde I here the goddes spekyng to the To whom saconde sayd late vs walke vnto the desyres of our herte And whan they cam to another flood that hyght buryn that same angel aforesayd saide Seconde byleuest thou in god or parauenture thou doubtest To whom seconde sayd I byleue veryly the trouthe of hys passion Thenne sayd Sapryce what is that I here And seconde sayd nothyng whan they shold entre in to trydone by the comaÌdement of the angele Marcianus yssued out of pryson and appierid to seconde sayeng Seconde entre in to the waye of trouthe and receyue the victorye of fayth Sapryce sayd who is he that speketh to vs as it were in a dreme To whom Seconde sayd it may be wel to the a dreme but to me it is Admonicion and a comforte After thys seconde wente to melane And the angele of god brought faustyn Ionathan whyche were holden in prison out of the cyte to seconde And of them he receyued baptesme And a cloude mynystred water for to baptyse hym wyth And sodenly a douue descended fro heuen bryngyng vnto faustyn and Ionatyn the blessyd sacrament And faustyn delyuerd it to seconde for to bere it to marciane Thenne seconde retorned whan it was nyght weÌte to the Ryuer named pade And the angele of our lord toke the brydle of the hors and ledde hym ouer the Ryuer ladde hym vnto trydone and sette hym in the prysone where marciane was And seconde delyuerd to marciane the yefte that faustyn had sente to hym And receyuyng it sayd the blessid body of our lord Ihesu cryste be wyth me in to euerlastyng lyf ¶ Thenne by the comandement of thangele Seconde wente out of pryson and wente vnto hys lodgyng ¶ After thys marciane receyued sentence to haue hys heed smeton of And so it was don And thenne seconde toke hys body and buryed it And whan sapryce herd herof he dyde do calle seconde to hym and sayd By thys that I see the doo I see wel that thou art a crysten man To whom seconde sayd Veryly I know leche me to be a crysten man thenne sapryce said Loo how desirest thou to deyâ an euyl deth To whoÌ seconde sayd that deth is more due to the than to me And whan seconde wold not sacrefyse to thydollis he comanded to be despoylled all naked And anon the angele of god was redy hym cladde in a better clothyng than he had to fore Thenne Sapryce comanded hym to be hanged on an instrumÌt named eculee of which two endes stonde on the ground and ij vpward lyke saynt Andrews crosse and theron he was honged tyl hys Armes were out of Ioynte but our lord restored hym anon to helthe And thenne he was comanded to goo in to pryson And whan he was there thangele of our lord cam to hym and sayd Aryse Seconde and folowe me And I shal lede the to thy maker And he ledde hym fro thens vnto the cyte of Astence And brought hym in to the pryson where Caleocerus was and our blessyd saueour wyth hym And whan seconde sawe hym he fyl doun at hys feet And our sauyour sayd to hym Be not aferd seconde For I am thy lord god that shal kepe the from all euyl And thenne he blessyng hym ascended to heuene On the morn Sapryce sente vnto the pryson whyche they fonde fast shette but they fonde not second Thenne sapryce wente fro trydone the cyte vnto Astence for to punysshe Caleocere And whan he was come he sente for hym for to be presented to fore hym And they said to hym that seconde was wyth hym And anon he comanded that they shold be brought to fore hym to whom he said By cause that my goddes knowe you to be despysers of them they wyl that ye bothe deye to gydre And by cause they wold not doo sacrefise to hys goddes he dyde do mylte pitche and rosyn comanded to be caste vpon theyr heedes and in theyr mowthes They dranke it wyth grete desyre as it had ben most swetest water And sayd wyth a clere voys O lord how thy wordes ben swete in our mowthes Thenne sapryce gaf vpon them sentence that saynt Seconde shold be beheded in the cyte of Astence And Caleocerus shold be sente to Albigarye and there to be punysshyd whan thenne saynt Seconde was byheded thangellis of our lord toke hys body buryed it with moche worshyppe and praysyng he suffrid hys deth the thyrde kalendes of apryl Late vs praye thenne that he praye for vs to our lord Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Seconde martir Here begynneth the lyf of Marie Egypciaca MArye the Egypcien whyche was called a synnar ledde and lyuyd the most strayt lyf and sharp that myght be xlvij yere in deserte In that tyme was a good holy and relegious monke named zozimas and wente thurgh the deserte whyche lyeth by yonde the flome Iordan And moch desired to fynde somÌe holy fadres And whan he cam fer and depe in the deserte he fonde a creature which was all black ouer all her body of the grete hete and brennyng of the sonne whyche wente in that deserte And that was thys marye egypciaca aforsaid But assone as she sawe Zozimas come she fledde and Zozimas after And she taryed And sayd Abbote Zozimas wherfore folowest thou me haue pyte and mercy on me For I dar not torne my face toward the by cause I am a woman also naked but caste thy mantel vpon me by
wyth And anone he sawe the erthe doluen a sepulture made by a lyon that came thyder And thenne Zozymas buryed hyr the lyon departed debonayrly And Zozymas retourned to his abbey and recounted to his brethern the conuersacion of thys holy woman marye And Zozymas lyued an hondred yere in holy lyf and gafe laude to god of all hys yeftes and his goodnes that he receyueth synnars to mercy which with good herte tourne to hym and promyseth to them the ioye of heuen Thenne lete vs praye to thys holy marye thegypcien that we may be here soo penytente that we may come thyder ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt marye the Egipcien ¶ Here foloweth of saynt ambrose and fyrst thynterpretacion of his name aMbrose is sayd of a stone named Ambre whyche is moche swete odoraunt and precious also hit is moche precious in the chyrche moche swete smellyng in dedes and in wordes Or Ambrose may be sayd of Ambre and syos whiche is as moche to saye as god For Ambrose is as moche to say as ambre of god For ambrose felt god in hym god was smellyd and odoured by hym oueralle where as he was Or he was sayd of Ambor in greek which is to say as fader of light of syor that is a lytel chylde that is a fader of many sones by spyrytuell generacion clere and ful of light in exposicion of holy scripture and was lytel in hys humble conuersacion Or thus as is sayd in the glosayre Ambrose is odoure and sauoure celestyall he was odour of heuen by grete renommee smellyng sauour by contemplacion wythin hym An hony combe by swete exposicion of scriptures mete of Aungels by hys glorious lyf And paulynus bisshop of volusian wrote his lyf vnto Saynt Austyn ¶ Of the lyf of saynt Ambrose SAynt Ambrose was sone of Ambrose prouoste of rome of whome it happed as he laye in his cradell in the halle of the pretoire there came a swarme of bees whiche fyl on his vysage and his mowth and after they departed and flewe vp in the eyre so hye that they myght not be seen whan thys was doon the fader whiche was herof esmayed said yf this chylde lyue there shal be somme grete thynge of hym After whan he was a lytel growen he behelde his moder and his suster whiche was a sacred virgyn kysse the preestes honde whan they offred And he playeng with his suster put forthe his honde for to kysse and sayd that so behoued hir to do to hym And she not vnderstondyng hym refused hit After he was sette to scole at Rome becam to be so good a clerke that he determyned the causes of the paleys And therfore valentynyen the emperour delyuerd hym to gouerne two prouynces named lygurye and Emylye Thenne whan he came in to melane it happed that the bysshop was deed And the peple were assembled to prouyde for another but bytwene the Arryens and the good cristen men for the eleccion fyl a grete sedycion dyscorde And ambrose for to pease this sedicion wente thyder and the voys of a chylde was herde sayeng Ambrose oughte to be bysshop and anone alle the people accorded therto hooly and began for to crye Ambrose Ambrose But ambrose deffended as moche as he myght and alle waye the peple cryed Ambrose Thenne for to make the peple sece he went out of the chyrche and wente vp on a scaffolde and made the people to be beten ageynst the vsage custome for to lette them that they shold name hym nomore But yet they lefte not for al that but the peple said thy synne be vpon vs Thenne he beyng soâe troubled wente home and suffryd commân wymmen to entre opeÌly in to his hows to the ende that whan the people ãâã that shold reuoke theyr eleccion but for al that they cryed as they dyd to fore and sayd thy synnes be vpon vs Whan saint ambrose saw that he myght not empesshe the eleccion he fled awaye but the peple awayted vpon hym and toke hym at thyssue of the gate and kepte hym so longe tyl they had grauÌte of themperour and whan themperour knewe herof he had grete ioye bycause that the Iuge that he had sente for the prouynces was chosen to be theyr bysshop And also he was glad by cause his worde was accomplisshed for the Emperour sayd to Ambrose whan ãâã sente hym thyder goo sayd he abyde not there as a Iuge but as a bysshop Saynt ambrose in the mene whyle that they abode the answere of themperour fledde yet awaye but he was taken ageyn and was baptyzed for he was not tofore baptyzed how Wel that he was crysten in wylle And the viij day after he was consecrate stalled bysshop of melan And foure yere after that he wente to Rome and there his suster the vyrgyn kyssed his honde as of a preest and he smylyng sayd lo as I tolde the now thou kyssest my honde as of a preest It happed after that whan saynt Ambrose Wente to another cytee to theleccion of a bysshop Iustyn the emperesse and other of the secte of tharryens wold not consente to the good crysten men But wold haue one of theyr secte Thenne one of the vyrgyns of themperesse moche fayre toke saynt ambrose drewe hym by his vestementes and wold haue made hym to be beten by cause he wold not holde the partye of the wymmen Thenne saynt ambrose sayd to hyr yf I be not worthy to be a bysshop yet thou oughtest not to laye honde vpon me ne none other bysshop thou hast layed honde on me thou oughtest moche redoubte and drede the Iugemente of god And therfore god confermyd his sentence on hyr For the nexte day she was born to her graue and was deed Thus was she rewarded for the vylonye that she had done And al the other were thereby sore aferde After this whan he was retorned to melan he suffred many assaultes and persecucions of the emperesse Iustyn For she moeued by yeftes and by honoure moche people ageynste saynt ambrose and many there were that enforced them to sende hym in exyle And emonge al other there was one mounted in so grete madnesse and furour ageynst hym that he hyred hym an hows by the chyrche by cause he wold haue therin a carte for to sette saynt ambrose theron and lede hym in to exyle but that same fyl to hym For he hym self was sente in exyle in the same carte the same day that he wold haue ledde aweye saynt ambrose To whom yet saint ambrose dyd good for euyl for he mynystred to hym hys costes necessaryes Saynt ambrose also establysshed in the chirche songe offyces at melane fyrst There were at that tyme in melane many men vexyd bysette with deuyls which cryed with hye voys that saynt ambrose tormented them thus but themperesse Iustyn and tharryens said that said ambrose made them to say so for mony that he
gafe to them Thenne it happed that one of the arryens was out of his mynde sayd thus be they alle tormented as I am that consente not to saynt ambrâse and therfore the other arryens drowned hym in a depe pyscyne or pytte There was another heretyke and an arryen a sharpe and so harde that he was Inconuertyble by cause no man myght conuerte hym to the faythe On a tyme he herde saynt ambrose preche and he sawe at his ere an aungel that tolde hym al that he prechyd and whan he had apperceyued this he began to susteyn the feythe to whiche he had ben contrarye After this it happed that one enchauntour called deuyls to hym sente them to saynt ambrose for to ennoye greue hym but the deuyls retorned and sayd that they might not approche to his yate by cause ther was a grete fyre al about his hows and this enchauntour after Whan he was tormented of the prouost for certeyn trespaces he cryed and said that he was tormeÌted of saynt ambrose There was a man that had a deuyll wythin hym And after wente to melane and anone as he entred the cytee the deuyl lefte hym and assone as he wente out of the cytee the deuyl reentred in hym ageyn thenne he demaunded hym why he dyd so he answerd by cause he was aferde of ambrose after it happed that a man beyng conducte hyred of Iustyn themperesse came to the beddes syde of saynt ambrose Wold haue put ryuen his swerde thorugh his body but anone his arme was dryed vp Another was vexed With a deuyl said that saynt ambrose tormented hym but saynt ambrose made hym to be stylle for ambrose tormenteth none but that doth thennye of the for thou seest men asseÌde fro whâns thou art fallen And that is it whiche tormenteth the For ambrose can not be so blowen and wo llen as thou arte Thenne was he stylle and spake not whan saynt ambrose wente in the towne he sawe a man laughe by cause he sawe another falle thenne said ambrose to hym thou that laughest beware that thou falle not also and after he fylle and thus was he taughte that he shold not mocque his felawe On a tyme Saynt Ambrose wente vnto the paleys for to praye for a poure man but the Iuge made to close the gate that he myght not entre in Thenne saint ambrose said thou shalt come for to entre in to the chyrche but thou shalt not entre and yet shal the yates be opene And so it happed that after the Iuge doubted his enemyes wente to the chyrche but he myght not entre in and yet the yates were opene Saynt ambrose was of so grete abstyence that he fasted euery day saufe the sonday or a solempne feste he was of so grete largesse that he gaue alle to poure people and reteyned no thynge for hym self he was of so grete compassyoÌ that whan ony confessid to hym his synne he wepte so bytterly that he wold make the synnar to wepe He was of so grete doubte that whan hyt was tolde to hym of the dethe of ony bysshop he wold wepe soo sore that vnnethe he myght be comforted And whan it was demaunded hym why he wepte for the dethe of good men For he oughte better to make ioye by cause they wente to heuen thenne he answerd I wepe not bycause they goo tofore me but bycause that vnnethe and wyth grete payne may ony be fouÌde for to doo wel suche offyces he was of soo grete stedfanesse and so establysshed in hys purpoos that he wold not leue for drede ne for greef that myght be doon to hym to repreue themperour ne the other grete men whan they dyd thynges that they ought not to doo ne he wold flatre no man There was broughte ones tofore hym a man whiche was greuously mysmade Thenne sayd saynt ambrose the body must be delyuerd to the deuyll And that the flesshe goo to the dethe by whyche the spyrite may be saued vnnethe was the worde out of hys mowthe but the deuyl began to tormente hym After as it is sayd on a tyme he wente to rome whan he was on a tyme by the waye herberowed wyth a ryche man Saynt ambrose began to demaunde hym of his estate that ryche man answerd Syr myn estate is happy ynough and gloryous For I haue rychesses ynough seruauntes varlettes chyldren neuewes cosyns frendes and kynnysmen whiche serue me and al my werkes and besoynyes come to my wylle ne I haue neuer thynge that may angre ne trowble me Thenne sayd saynt Ambrose to them that were wyth hym Flee we hens for our lord god is not here haste you fayre chyldren haste you and lete vs abyde here no lengyr leste the vengeaunce of god take vs that we be not wrapped in the synnes of these peple They departed fledde anone but they were not goon ferre but that the erthe opened swolowed in alle the hows of this ryche man there abode not as moche as the steppe of hym self ne of al that euer he had Thenne said saynt ambrose be holde faâe chyldren how grete pyte how grete mercy god dothe to them that haue aduersyte in thys world how wrothe he is to them that haue the welthe and rychesses of thys world Of whyche thynge apyereth yet the pytte or fâsse Whiche endureth in to thys day in wytnesse of thys aduenture whan Saynt ambrose behelde that auaryce whyche is rote of all euylles grewe more more in moche peple and specyally in grete men and in them that were in moste grete estate whiche solde al for money and wyth the mynystres of the chirche he sawe symonye reygne he began to praye to god that he wold take hym aweye fro the myseryes of thys world And he Impetred that which he desyred Thenne he called his felawshyp sayd to them in ioyeng that he shold abyde with them vnto the resurrexyon of our lord and a lytel tofore that he laye seke as he expownded to hys notarye the xliiij psalme Sodaynlye in the presence sight of his notary a fyre in the manere of a shelde couerd his heed and entryd in to his mouthe Thenne became his face as wghyte as ony snowe anone after hit came ageyn to his fyrst fourme And that day he lefte his wrytyng and endytyng Thenne began his maladye to greue hym and the erle of ytalye whyche was thenne at mylane called the gentyl men of the contree sayd to them that yf so grete and good a man shold goo fro them it shold be grete pyte grete parelle to alle ytalye and sayd to them that they alle shold goo with hym to thys holy man and praye hym that he wold gete graunte of our lord of space and lenger lyf whan saynt ambrose had herde theyr requeste He answerd fayre sones I haue not so lyued emonge you that I am ashamed to lyue
is thy name he answerd anone and sayd I am named george I am a gentyl man a knyght of capadoce and haue lefte al for to serue god of heuen Thenne the prouoste enforced hym sefl to drawe hym vnto his feythe by fayre wordes whan he myght not brynge hym therto he dyd doo reyse hym on a gylet soo moche bete hym with grete staues and broches of yron that his body was alle to broken in pyeces And after he dyd doo take brondes of yron and ioyne them to his sydes and his bowellys whiche thenne appyeryd he dyd doo frote wyth salte And soo sente hym in to pryson but our loord appyered to hym the same nyght wyth grete lyght and comforted hym moche swetely And by this grete consolacion he took to hym soo good herte that he doubted no tormeÌt that they myght make hym suffre Thenne whan dacian the prouost sawe that he myght not surmounte hym he called hys enchaunter and sayd to hym I see that these cristen peple doubte not our tormentes ThenchauÌtour bonde hym self vpon his heed to be smyten of yf he ouercome not his craftes Thenne he dyd take stronge venym and medled hyt wyth wyne and made Inuocacion of the names of his false goddes and gafe hyt to Saynt George to drynke Saynt george took hit and made the signe of the crosse on hit and anone dranke it without greuyng hym ony thynge Thenne the Enchaunteur made it more stronger than hit was tofore of venym and gaue it hym to drynke And hit greuyd hym no thynge whan the enchaunteur sawe that he knelyd doun at the feet of saynt george and prayed hym that he wold make hym crysten And whan dacyen knewe that he was becomen crysten he made to smyte of his heed And after on the morne he made saynt George to be sette betwene two wheles whiche were ful of swerdes sharpe and cuttyng on bothe sydes But anone the wheles were broken Saynt george escaped wythout hurte And thenne commaunded dacian that they shold put hym in a cawdren full of molten leed whan saynt george entred therin by the vertu of our lord hym semed that he was in a bayne wel at ease Thenne dacyen seyng thys began to aswage his yre and to flatre hym by fayre wordes and said to hym George the pacyence of our goddes is ouer grete vnto the whiche hast blasphemyd them and done to them grete despyte thenne fayre and right swete sone I praye the that thou retorne to our lawe and make sacrefyse to the ydolles and leue thy folye and I shal enhaunce the to grete honour and worshyp Thenne began saynt George to smyle and sayd to hym wherfore saydest thou not to me thus at the begynnyng I am redy to do as thou sayest Thenne was dacyan gladde and made to crye ouer alle the towne that alle the peple shold assemble for to see George make sacrefyse which so moche had stryued there ageynst Thenne was the cyte arayed and feste thorugh out al the towne and al came to the temple for to see hym whan saynt George was on his knees and they supposed that he wold haue worshypped thydolles he prayed our lord god of heuen that he wold destroye the temple and thydolle in the honoure of his name For to make the peple to be conuerted And anone the fyre descended fro heuen and brente the temple and thydolles and theyr preestes And sythe the erthe opened and swalowed alle the cendres and asshes that were lefte Thenne dacien made hym to be broughte tofore hym and sayd to hym what ben the euyl dedes that thou hast doon and also grete vntrouthe Thenne sayd to hym saynt george A syr beleue it not but come wyth me see how I shal sacrefye Thenne sayd dacyan to hym I see wel thy frawde thy barate thou wylt make the erthe to swalowe me lyke as thou hast the temple and my goddes Thenne sayd saynt george O caytyffe telle me how may thy goddes helpe the whan they may not helpe them self Thenne was dacyan soo angry that he sayd to hys wyf I shal deye for angre yf I may not surmounte and ouercome thys man Thenne sayd she to hym euyl and cruel tyraunt ne seest thou not the grete vertue of the crysten peple I sayd to the wel that thou sholdest not doo to them ony harme For theyr god fyghteth for them And knowe thou wel that I wyl become crysten Thenne was dacyân moche abasshed sayd to hir wylt thou be crysten theÌne he took hir by the here and dyd do bete hyr cruelly Thenne demaunded she of saynt george what may I become by cause I am not crystenyd Thenne answerd the blessyd george doubte the no thynge fayre doughter For thou shalt be baptysed in thy blood Thenne began she to worship our lord IhÌu crist and so she deyed and wente to heuen On the morne dacian gaue his senteÌce that saynt George shold be drawen thorugh alle the citee And after his heed shold be smyten of Thenne made he his prayer to our lord that alle they that desyred ony bone myght gete of our lord god in his name and a voys cam from heuen whiche sayd that hyt whiche he had desyred was graunted and after he had made his oryson his heed was smyten of aboute the yere of our lord ijClxxxvij Whan Dacyen wente homeward fro the place where he was byheded toward hys paleys Fyre fyl doun fro heuen vpon hym brente hym and alle hys seruauntes Gregore of Turonense telleth that there were somme that bare certeyn relyques of saynt george and came in to a certeyn oratorye in an hospytal and on the mornyng whan they shold departe they coude not meue the dore tyll they had lefte there parte of their relyques It is also founden in thystorye of antyoche that whan the cristen men went ouer see to coÌquere Iherusalem that one a right fayre yonge man appered to a preest of the hooste counceylled hym that he shold bere wyth hym a lytel of the reliques of saynt george For he was conduytour of the batayle and so he dyd so moche that he had somme And whan hit so was that they had assyeged Iherusalem durst not mouÌte ne goo vp on the walles for the quarellys and defence of the sarasyns they sawe appertely saint george which had whyte armes with a reed crosse that wente vp tofore them on the walles they folowed hym And so was Ierusalem taken by his helpe bytwene Iherusalem and porte Iaphe by a towne callyd ramys is a chapell of saynt george whiche is now desolate and vncouerd and therin dwelle crysten grekys And in the sayd chapel lyeth the body of saynt george but not the heed And there lyen hys fader and moder and his vncle not in the chapel but vnder the walle of the chapel And the kepars wyl not suffre pylgrymes to come therin but yf they
paye ij duckettis and therfore come but fewe therin but offre wythout the chapel at an aulter And there is seuen yere and seuen lentys of pardon the body of saynt george lyeth in the myddel of the autre or chore of the sayd chapel And in his tombe is an hole that a man may put in his honde And whan a sarazyn beyng madde is broughte thyder and yf he put his heed in the hoole he shal anone be made parfytely hoool haue his wytte ageyn Thys blessyd and holy marter saynt George is patrone of this royame of englond and the crye of men of warre In the worshyp of whome is founded the noble ordre of the garter And also a noble college in the castell of wyndesore by kynges of englonde In whiche college is the herte of Saynt george Whyche Sygysmond the Emperour of almayn broughte and gafe for a grete and a precious relyque to Kyng Harry the fyfthe And also the sayd sygismonde was a broder of the sayd garter And also there is a pyece of his heed which college is nobly endowed to thonoure and worshyp of almyghty god and hys blessyd marter saynt george Thenne lete vs praye vnto hym that he be special protectour and defendour of thys royame ¶ thus endeth the lyf of saynt George Here foloweth of saynt marke theuangelyst and first thynterpretacion of his name MArke is as moche to saye as hye to commauÌdement certeyn declyned bitter he was hye of commaundemente by reson of perfeccion in his lyf For he kepte not onely the commaundementes comyn but also the hye as been counceylles he was certeyn in the doctryne of the gospel lyke as he had receyued of saynt Peter his mayster he was declyned by reson of parfyte and grete humylite For bycause of grete mekenes he cutte of his thombe to the ende that he shold not be chosen to be a preest He was bytter by reson of right sharpe and bytter payne For he was drawen thorugh the cyte And emonge tho tormentes he gaue vp hys spyrite Or marke is sayd of a grete mayleot or betel whiche wyth one stroke maketh playne yron and engendreth melodye and confermeth it For Saynt marke by his onely doctryne quenched the vnstedfastnesse of the heretykes he engendryd the grete melodye of the praisyng of god coÌfermed the chirche Of Saynt marke the Euangelyste MArke theuangeliste was of the kynrede of the leuytes and was a preest And whan he was crystened he was godsone of saynt Peter thappostle And therfore he wente wyth hym to Rome Whan Saynt peter preched there the gospell the good peple of Rome prayed saynt marke that he wold put the gospell in wrytyng lyke as saynt Peter had preched ¶ Thenne he at theyr request wrote and shewed hit to his mayster saynt peter to examyne And whan saynt Peter had examyned hit and sawe that hit conteyned the veray trouth he approuyd hit And commaunded that hit shold be redde at rome And thenne saynt Peter seyng saynt marke constaunt in the feythe he sente hym in to aquyle for to preche the feyth of Ihesu cryste where he prechyd the worde of god and dyd many myracles conuerted Innumerable multitude of peple to the feythe of cryst And wrote also to them the gospel lyke as he dyd to them of Rome whiche is in to this day kepte in the chyrche of aquylence and wyth grete deuocion kepte After thys it happed that saynt marke ladde wyth hym to Rome a bourgeys of that same cyte whome he had conuerted to the faythe named armogares And brought hym to saynt Peter and prayed hym that he wold sacre hym bysshop of aquyle and so he dyd Thenne thys armogares whan he was bysshop he gouerned moche holyly the chyrche And at the last the paynyms marterd hym Thenne Saynt Peter sente saynt mark in to alyxandrye where as he prechyd fyrst the word of god And assone as he was entred a grete multitude of peple assembled for to come ageynste hym There was he of so grete perfeccion that by his predycacion and by his good exaumples the peplâ mounted in so holy conuersacion and in so grete deuocion that at his Instaunce they ledde theyr lyf lyke monkes He was of so grete humylyte that he dyd cutte of his thombe by cause he wold be no preest For he Iuged hym self not worthy therto but the ordenaunce of god of saynt peter came ageynste his wylle For saynt Peter made sacred hym bysshop of alyxandrye And anone as he came in to alexandre his shoen were broken torne whan he sawe that he said verayly I see that my iourney is sped ne the deuyl may not lette me syth that god hath assoyled me of my synnes Thenne wente saynt marke to a shomaker for tamende his shoes And as he shold werke he prycked sore hurted his lyfte hande with his alle and whan he felte hym hurte he cryed on hye one god whan saynt marke herde that he sayd to hym Now knowe I wel that god hath made my iourney prosperyous Thenne he toke a lytel claye and spyttel meddled them to gyder and layed hit on the wounde and anone he was hole whan the shomaker sawe thys myracle he broughte hym in to his hows and demaunded hym what he was and fro whens he come Thenne sayd Saynt marke that he was the seruaunt of Ihesu cryste and he sayd I wold fayne see hym Thenne sayd saynt marke I shal shewe hym to the thenne he began to preche to hym the faythe of IhÌu crist and after baptysed hym and alle hys meyne whan the men of the towne herde saye that there was a man comen fro galylee that despysed and defended the sacrefyses of thydolles they began awayte how they myght delyuer hym to dethe whan saynt marke espyed that he made his shoomaker whiche was named auien bysshop of alixaundre And he hym self wente to pentepolyn where as he was two yere and after came ageyn to alyxaunder and founde thenne there the towne full of crysten men And the bysshoppes of thydolles awayted for to take hym Now hit happened on ester day whan saynt marke songe masse they assembled al put a corde aboute his necke and after drewe hym thorugh out the cyte and sayd lete vs drawe bubale to the place of bucale and the blood ranne vpon the stones and his flesshe was torne pyece mele that it laye vpon the pamente alle be bledde After thys they put hym in pryson where an aungel came and comforted hym after came our lord for to vysyte comforte hym sayeng Pax tibi marce euangelista meus Pees be to the marke myn euangeliste be not in doubte For I am wyth the and shal delyuer the And on the morne they put the corde aboute his necke and drewe hym lyke as they had done tofore And cryed drawe the bubale and whan they had drawen he thanked god and sayd in to thy handes lorde I
supposed that he shold not gete hit specially by cause the eyre was so clere and no clowde was seen and the crysten men doubted that theyr feythe myght there by come to confusyon but the bysshop the heretyke wold not bynde hym therto Saynt peter had good feythe and truste in god and made his prayer openlye that he wold conueye ouer them a clowde and he made the sygne of the crosse and anone the cloude came and ouârspred them lyke a pauyllyon that there were assembled abode as longe as the sermon endured it scratched no ferther but there There was a lame man whiche had ben so lame v yere myght not goo but was drawen in a whelebarow brought to saynt peter at melane and as saynt peter had blessyd hym wyth the sygne of the crosse and ne he was hoole and aroos yet other myracles god shewed for hym by his lyf It happed that the sone of a gentyl man had suche an horryble dysâase in his throte that he myght nether speke ne drawe his breeth but saynt Peter made on hym the sygne of the crosse layed his cope on the place where the sore was anone he was alle hole The same gentylman had afterward a greuous maladye and supposyd to haue deyed made to brynge to hym the sayd cope whiche wyth grete deuocion leyed hit on his breste anone he caste out a worme with two heedes whiche was roughe and after he was broughte in good helthe and anone al hoole It happed that a yonge man was dombe myght not speke a worde wherfore he came to saynt peter and he put his fyngre in his mowthe and his speche ceme to hym ageyn Now it happed that tyme that an heresye began moche in lombardye that there were moche peple that were fallen in thys errour the ãâã sente dyuerse Inâuysitours thyder of thordre of the frere prechours and bycause that at melane there were many in nombre of grete power engyne he sente thyder saynt peter as a man wyse constaunt and relygyous whiche doubted no thynge and by his vertu he repreuyd them and by his wytte he vnderstood theyr malyce whan he had enterprised thoffice of Inquysicyon thenne began be as a lyon to seche the heretykes ouer alle lefte them not in pees but in al places tyme al the maners that he myghte he ouercame confounded them whan the heretikes sawe that they myght not withstonde the holy ghoost that spake in hym they begaÌ to trete how they myght brynge hym to deth thenne it happed on a tyme as he wente fro câmes to melane for to seke the heretykes he sayd openly in a predycacion that the money Was delyuerd for to slee hym whaÌ he approched nyghe the cite a man of theretykes whiche was hyred therto ranne vpon hym and smote hym with his fauchon in the heed and gafe and made to hym many cruel woundes he that murmured not ne grutched not suffred pacyently the cruelte of the tyrauntes and abandonned or gafe hym self ouer to suffre the marterdom And sayd his credo and in manustuas commendyng his spyrite vnto the handes of our lord And soo the tyraunt lefte hym in the place for deed And thus tolde the tyraunte that slewe hym And frere Domynyke whyche was his felawe was sleyne wyth hym And after whan the tyraunte sawe that he remeuyd yet his lyppes the cursed and cruel tyraunte came ageyn and smote hym wyth hys knyf to the herte and anone his spyryte mounted in to heuen Thenne was hit wel knowen that he was a veray prophete For the prophecye of his dethe that he had pronounced was accomplysshed After he had the crowne of virgynyte For as his confessours wytnesse that in alle his lyf he had neuer doon dedely synne After he had the crowne of a doctour bycause he had ben a god fast ferme prechour and doctour of holy chyrche after he had the crowne of marterdom as it apperid whan he was slayne The renome herof came in to the cyte of melan and the freres the clergye and the peple came with procession with soo grete companye of people that the prees was so grete that they myght not entre in to the towne and therfore they lefte the body in thabley of Saynt symplycien and there it abode all that nyght and so he sayd the day tofore to his felawe the passyon of saynt Peter ensyewed moche lyke the passyon of our lord in many maners For lyke as our lord suffred for the trouthe of the feythe that he prechyd Soo saynt peter suffred for the trouthe of the feyth that he deffended and lyke as cryste suffred of the Iewes So saynt peter suffred of the peple of his owne contre and of the heretykes Cryste suffred in the tyme of ester so dyd saynt Peter Ihesu cryst was solde for xxx pens saynt Peter was solde for xl pounde Ihesu cryste shewed his dethe to his dysciples and saynt peter shewed it in playne predycacion Ihesu cryst sayd at his dethe lord god in to thy hondes I commende my spyrite right so saynt Peter dyd say the same There was a nonne of almayne of the abbey of combat which had a greuous gowte in her knee whiche had holden hir a yere longe more and there was no mayster ne physicyen that myghte make hir hole She had grete deuotion to saynt Peter but she myght not goo thyder by cause of hir obedyence and by cause hyr maladye was so greuous Thenne demaunded she how many dayes iourneye was fro thens to melane and she founde that there were xiiij iourneyes Thenne purposed she to make thyse iourneyes by her herte and good thoughtes she sayd for euery iourneye a hondred pater nosters and alwey as she wente forthe by hyr mynde in hir iourneyes she felte hyr self more eased and whan she come to the laste iourneye in her mynde She fonde hir self al guarisshed Thenne she sayd that day al the sawter And after retorned al the iourneyes lyke as she had gone by her thoughtes in her herte and after that day she felte neuer the gowte There was a man that had a vylanous malady bynethe in suche wyse that he voyded blood vj dayes contynuelly he cryed to saynt peter deuoutely as he had endyd his prayer he felte hym self al hoole and after he fyl a sleep he sawe in his slepe a frere prechour which had a face grete browne hym semed that he had ben felawe to saynt peter And verayly he was of the same fourme This frere gaue to hym a boxe of oynemente sayd to hym haue good hope in saynt Peter whiche late hath shedde his blood for the feyth for he hath helyd the of the blood that ranne fro the And whan he awoke he purposed to vysyte the sepulcre of Saynt Peter There was a countesse of the castel cassyn whiche had special deuocyon to saynt Peter
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 feâle and vpon holy thorsday he sente for al his brethern and asked of them foryeuenesse and also forgaue them alle trespaces ând assoyled them of al theyr synnes aâd the thyrd day after he passed out of this world to god ful of vertues the yere ãâã our lord ix hândred lxxxviij and hys sowle was borne vp to heuen with ãâã songe of aungels al the peple heryââ that were at his dethe and his ââdy lyeth at caunterburye in a worshypââl shryne where as our lord sheweth ãâã his seruaunt saynt dunston many ãâã and grete myracles wherfore our lord be praysed world wythouten ende amen Here endeth the lyf of Sayât 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 ãâã herde of his grete holynesse he sent for hym to come to rome whan he was there the ãâã welcomed hym was moche glad of his good lyuyng and tâere 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 elââcion 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 greteââ of that myracle and the same châsââle is yet at malmesburye the câlour therof is purple and within shorte tyme after he came ageyn in to englond brought with hym many preuylegys vnder the ãâã seal which after kyng ãâã confermed alle that the pope had gââunted to the hows of malmesbury Tâis was aboute the yere of our lord seuen hondred and vj â And that tyme thâre fyl a grete varyaunce emonge the bysshoppes of this loÌde for the holâyng of ester day but saynt aldelme mâad a book that alle men shold knoââ for euer whan estern day shall ãâã 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 sâe 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 theÌne 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 ãâã 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 myraclâs Thenne lete vs praye saynt Aldelme to praye for vs vnto our lord god that we may in thys wretchyd ãâã of âhis 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 hâw that he sawe children of englond in the marlet of rome for to be solde whiche we ãâã 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
bodyes as were bisâten had tolde their comyng and whan they had been a whyle in englond and had conuaynquysshed the heretykes they retorned in to their contrees and propre places On a tyme it happed that saynt germayn laye seek of a malady in a strete and the strete was taken wyth fyre men counceylled hym to be borne thens for perylle of the fyre and thenne he put hym self ageynst the fyre and the flawme brente al aboute and touched no thynge that germayn laye in Another tyme he retorned in to bretaygne for the heresyes and one of his dysciples folowed hym hastely and fyl seek and laye doun in a towne there deyed and whan saynt germayn retorned therby he demaunded to see the sepulture of his dysciple whiche there was deed and dyd doo opene hys sepulture he callyd hym by his name and demaunded hym what he dyd yf he wold no lenger goo wyth hym and that other answerd and sayd that he was wel and alle thynges were to hym softe and swete wold nomore come here and the holy man graunted it hym that he shold abyde in reste And he remysed hym self in his graue and slepte in our lorde He prechyd on a tyme in the contre of bretaygne in suche wyse that the kyng of bretayne forbad hym his hows and his peple also Thenne it happed that the kynges cowherde wente to the pasture with his kyen and receyued hys porcyon atte kynges paleys and bare it to his lytyl hows Thenne wente saynt germayn and his felawshyp for to see where they myght be lodged And the cowherde brought hem to hys hows and sawe that they had grete hungre but he had not mete for them and hym this cowherde had but one calfe he slewe it and gaue it to them and they toke it debonayrly of the litel good that he had and whan they had sowped and sayd graces saynt germayn dyd do gadre to gydre alle the bones of the calfe and layed them vnder the skyn and after made his prayers to god anone thenne the calfe aroos al alyue hole as he was tofore And the next day after saint germayn demaunded the kynge why he had for bode hym his hows and the kynge was moche abasshed câude not answere Thenne sayd saynt germayn to hym thou shalt nomore regne but thou shalt lâue thy royame to one better than the and as they of saxon shold fyght ageynst the brytons and they sawe that they were but fewe sawe the holy man passe by they called hym And thenne saynt germayn and hys felowes prechyd so longe to them that they came to grace of baptesme And on ester day they caste of theyr armures and by grete desyre of feyth purposed them to fyght and whan the other herde that they purposed to goo ageynst them hardely for they were dysseuerd and saynt germayn hydde hym alwey wyth his peple warned hem whan he cryed alleluya they shold answer wyth one voys and whan the sayntes had cryed alleluya and the oââer had answerd theyr enemyes had so grete drede that they threwe al theyr harneys and armoures aweye and wende certeynly that al the mounteyns shold falle on them and also heuen so they fledde all afrayed On a tyme as saynt germayn passed by angustynence wente to the tombe of saynt cassyen he enquyred how it stood wyth hym he answerd to hym out of the tombe wherin he laye sayd I am in swete reste and abyde the comyng of the redemour he said to hym reste in pees in the name of our lord and praye for vs deuoutely that we may deserue the holy ioyes of the resurrexyon and whan saint germayn came in rauenne he was receyued moche honourably of Placyde the quene and of valentynyen hir sone and atte sowper she sente to hym a grete vessel of syluer ful of delycyous mete The whiche he receyued and gaue the mete to his seruauntes reteyned the vessel of syluer for to gyue to the poure And in stede of this yefte he sente to the quene a dysshe of wood or of tree a barly loof the whiche she receyued gladly and after dyd doo couer that dysshe with syluer and kepte it longe in grete deuocion On a tyme that the sayd quene had desyred hym to dyne wyth hyr he accorded therto gladly and by cause he was wery of trauayle of fastyng watchyng he came vpon an asse fro his hows vnto the paleys And anone as he was at dyner his asse deyed And whan the quene knewe that his asse was deed she was moche sorowful dyd do presente hym a right fayre and good hors and whan the saynt sawe hym so rychely aourned apparaylled he wold in no wyse take hit but said shewe to me where myn asse is For he that brought me hyder shal brynge me home ageyn and thenne he wente to his asse that laye dede and sayd to hym lete vs retorne home ageyn and anone the asse aroos shoke hym as he had rysen from slepe that he had no harme thenne germayn remounted on his asse and rode home But tofore or he departed fro rauenne he said that he shold not be longe in this worlde and anone after he became seek of the feuers the seuenth day after he passed vnto our lord And his body was born in to fraunce as he had requyred to the quene And he deyed aboute the yere of our lord four hondred xx Saynt Germayn had promysed by hys lyue to saynt eusebe bysshop of versayl that whan he retorned he shold halowe hys chyrche that he had founded whan saynt eusebe bysshop of versayl vnderstode that he was dede he wolde hym self halowe his chyrche and made to lyghte the candellys and tapres but the more they lyght them the more were they extyncte and put out And whan eusebe sawe that he apperceyued that the dedycacyon was made or he wold come and doo hit or ellys of somme other bysshop and whan the body of saynt germayn was broughte to versaylle assone as it was entred in to the chyrche alle the tapres were light deuynely Thenne Saynt eusebe remembryd the promesses of saynt germayn and that whiche he promysed lyuyng he wold doo hit beyng deed but it is not to be vnderstonde of the grete eusebe of versayl that this was doon in his tyme For he deyed vnder valente themperour and fro the deth of hym vnto the dethe of saynt germayn was more than fyfty yere fro that one to that other but thys was another eusebe xnder whome this said thynge was doon Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Germayn Here foloweth the lyf of saynt peter thexorcisce or deken SAynt peter the deken was bounden wyth chaynes of yron in pryson oâ one archenne whos doughter was vexyd of a fende wherfore he was moche sorouful theÌne sayd Saynt peter to hym that Ihesu cryste shold wel hele hyr yf he wolde byleue in
repreue them but had ben neglygent For thys reason Saynt Powle wold not accorde to receyue hym in to the companye of the other Neuerthelesse this departyng that IohÌn 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 IohÌn aforsaid his cosyn sayd to hym thus Iohan haue in the no doubtauÌce but be stronge vygorous For fro hensforth thou shalt nomore be callyd IohÌn 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 thauÌgel 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 wâpe 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 IohÌn yssued out of cipre founde an enchauntour named helyas whyche by his enchauÌtement had taken aweye the sight from soÌme 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 reÌnyng thorugh the towne made theÌne grete feste wherof he was moche angry gaue his malediccion curse to the tâmple 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 enchauÌtour 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 puyssauÌt 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 IohÌn 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 theÌne 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 fouÌden 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 ânterpretacion 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
myracle to hym but kepe hym fro vaynglorye and sayd full swetely o what euyl haue we doon for to lete thys man to be take of yf god almyghty haue not holpen vs The sowle is yet in his body whan he was raysed he was cladde and he dyd hym to take his reste whan they that had made hym to deye knewe hit they wold haue made hym receyue dethe ageyn and wyth grete payne Saynt loye delyuerd hym fro theyr handes Yet be gate lettres of grace for hym for to be more sure There was a preest in his dyosyce whiche was Infamed and ofte he repreuyd hym and exhorted to be confessyd but the preest alwey heled his synne Whan saynt loye sawe that hys fayre admonycion auayled not he excomyned and acursed hym and deffendyd hym that he shold nomore synge masse vnto the tyme he had doon open penaunce The preest sette nought by hys commaundemente ne deffen ãâ¦ã despytyng his sentence a lytel ãâ¦ã this the sayd preest wold goo synge masse and as he approched vnto the aulâer he fyl doun to grounde deyed Many other myracles dyd he by hys lyue and doeth yet he edefyed at noyon the ancellys of Ihesu cryste By hym god shewed the body of saynt quyntyn he fonde at faysons the bodyes of two brethern germayns marters saynt cryspyn and cryspynyen and ordeyned a precious vessel to put them in he fonde also at beauuays the body of saynt lucyen whiche was of the companye of saynt quyntyn whiche he put in a precyous vessel At parys vpon the grete brydge he maad a blynde man to see the sextayn of the chirche of saynt colombe at parys came to saynt loye and sayd to hym that theuys had born aweye by nyght al the Iewellys and paremens of the sayd chyrche Thenne saynt loye wente in to the orratorye of saynt colombe and sayd to hyr herke thou colombe what I say to the My redemptour wyl that anone thou brynge ageyn thornamentes of thys chyrche that haue ben take aweye Or I shal in suche wyse close the dorys wyth thornes that neuer herafter thou shalt in this place be seruyd ne worshypped whan he had sayd thus he departed on the morne the sextayn of the sayd chyrche that was callyd marturyn rose vp and fonde al the paremens and Iewellys that had be borne aweye and were sette in the place as they had been tofore Saynt loye dyd doo ordeyne moche rychely the body of saynt germayn and the bodyes of saynt seueryn Saynt platon saynt quyntyne saynt lucyen saynt genouefe saynt colombe Saynt maxyme saynt Iulyen specyally of saynt martyn at tours by dagoberte the kynge and the tombe of Saynt bryce and another tombe where the body of saynt martyn had be longe in and the hows of saynt deuys the marter at parys and the teguryon of marble whyche is vpon hym of meruayllous werke of golde of geÌmes whan saynt loye deyed he was lxx yere ãâ¦ã ende of the yere he was ãâ¦ã in to another place And was founde also fresshe wyth out rotyng as he had ben a lyue in his sepulture Now here ye yet a more grete myracle his berde hys heerys were shauen whan he deyed But in his tombe whan he was translated they were founde as grete and longe as they had alweye growen in hys tombe Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Loye ¶ And begynneth the lyf of Saynt wyllyam SAynt wyllyaÌ was drawen out of noble lignage in his chyldehode he was made chanonne of parys and of soysson whan he came to parfyte age and was a man rype and attemperyd he myght nomore suffre the pestylencys and the perylles of thys deceyuable worlde but brake alle the bondes of the worlde and wente vnto a deserte named gran monte and lyued there a grete whyle in pure conscience and in holy contemplacion but as he ladde this lyf ther grewe on hym a grete trybulacyon that he had grete fere that the tranquylite of his contemplacion myght be troubeled and wente in to an abbey of cisteaux and there he was professyd and prouffyted moche in vertues fro than forth on and after he was there made pryour Afterward he was translated from thens in to another abbey that is called karolosence and there by eleccion he was chosen abbotte And there in alle humylite he treatyd debonayrây his dysciples subgettys in shewyng to them ensaumples of good vertues and good maners After he was chosen to be archebysshop of bourges how wel it was ageynst his wylle he acceptyd it neuertheles whan he had accepted taken hit yet therfore chaunged he not the habyte of the ordre whiche he had tofore taken ne the obseruaunce also and how wel that he had metes delycious ynough as to suche a prelate ben ordeyned and arayed Neuerthelesse he lefte not the sobrenes that he had mayntenyd tofore in humylite in holy medytacion and in deuoute prayers in whyche gladly alweye he ocupyed his tyme And he was moche besy for the helthe of the sowles that were commysed to hym and charged to kepe gladly and dyligently he herde theyr confessyons be norisshed them swetely Ofte and dyligently he prechyd to them or dyd doo preche he deserued so moche grace of our lord that by his deuoute prayers and merytes in his lyuyng lyf god shewed many myracles On a day it happed that a preest named gerald had lost the helthe of one of his handes that he myght synge no masse whiche came to saynt wyllyam and saynt wyllyam bad hym that he shold confesse hym without doubte he shold be hool and so he dyd and at th ende of thre dayes he sange masse hool and sounde ¶ Another tyme there was a yonge chylde that had his brayne sore troubled in suche wyse that his eyen torned in his heed his frendes brought hym tofore thys holy man on whome he had grete pyte began humbly to handle hym layed his honde on his heed and anone the payne cessyd and he was anone alle hool he was alwey glad ioyous and that displesyd moche to somme that were of harde and rude lyuyng Aboue al thynges the synne of detraccion dysplesyd hym moche and louyd no detractours and to his power with grete dylygence he made hem teschewe this synne and where they wold not he withdrewe hym fro theyr companye Fynably he toke the crosse for to goo ouer see ageynst heretykes and hethen men and as he made hys purueauÌce for to make the sayd vyage he rendrid and yaue vp his sowle to almyghty god the fyfthe ydus of the monthe of Ianyuer was buryed in the chyrche of burges the whiche anone after began to doo myracles whan the Pope honoryus the thyrd herde his lyf and how god shewyd myracles for hym After that he by grete dyligence had made Inquysycyon he canonysed hym to the honour and praysyng of god whiche by the prayers of the said saynt wyllyam bryng vs to his
euerlastyng blysse in heuen amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt wyllyam ¶ Here begynneth the lyf of Saynt Eutrope SAynt Eutrope was borne and came of the moste excellente lignage of al the world was borne in the royame of Perse and was sone of the admyralle of babylone whiche was named exââââs whome the sayd exerses engendryd on a quene which was called guyâe and saynt eutrope was endoctryned in his yongthe in letters of caldee and of grece so ferforth that he was compâryd to the moste gretest clerke of the royame After he wente to galylee in to the courte of kyng herodes for to see somme curyosyte or somme nouelte of the barbaryens that were wyth the kynge herodes whan he had dwellyd there certeyn dayes in the courte he herde the fame and renommee of the myracles of our lord Ihesu cryste began to enquyre and serche soo moche that he herde say that our lord wold goo ouer the see of galylee and he put hym self in the multitude of peple that folowyd hym It happed that this day our lord by his Infenyte largesse refresshed and fedde fyue thousand men wyth fyue loues of barley brede and two fysshes in the presence of Saynâ eutrope Whan saynt eutrope had seen this myracle and herde saye of hys other myracles fro than forthon he began to byleue a lytel in hym but he durst not for his pedagoge or his gouernour whiche was wyth hym For the admyralle his fader had coÌmysed hym in his garde whan he had fedde hym wyth the other he wente to Iherusalem in to the temple for to praye adoure his creatour in his lawe and after this wente home to his fader tolde hym alle that he had seen in the contre fro whens he came I haue seen a man sayd he that is callyd cryste but in al the world is not his pareyll ne lyke For he reyseth deed men he heleth the lazers he maketh blynde men to see the deef to here the lame to goo ryght and heleth al maner sekenesses and yet more tofore me he hath fedde wyth fyue loues of barley ij fysshes fyue thousand men Wherfore yf it plesyd hym that hath made heuen and erthe to sende hym in to thys contreye I shold be glad and ioyous yf it plesyd you to doo hym honoure and reuerence whan thadmyral herde the wordes of the chylde he wente thynkyng how he myÈt see hym A lytel whyle after the chylde that had grete desyre to see yet Ihesu cryste toke leue of his fader whyche he gate wyth grete payne and came sythe wyth grete companye for to worshyp adoure in the temple where he sawe on a day how the chyldren of Iherusalem came wyth a grete companye of people tofore our lord Ihesu cryste vnto bethanye makyng to hym grete reuerence and toke the bowes of palme and of olyues and of other trees and many other floures whiche they threwe in the waye where he shold passe and songen wyth hye voys osanna Thenne saynt eutrope hym self began to caste floures in the waye but he was moche angry by cause he myght not see Ihesu cryste for the multitude of the peple that was there and after that is conteyned in the gospel he was in the companye of them that were come for to adoure and worshyp in Iherusalem at the feste that was there whiche sayd to saynt phelyppe Syr we wold see Ihesu cryste Thenne Saynt phelyp accompanyed wyth saynt Andrewe tolde it to Ihesu cryste And anone after saynt eutrope hys companye sawe hym syttyng vpon an asse wherof he was right glad fro than forthon he byleuyd secretely and accompanyed wyth hym but he doubted his felawshyp for as moche as his fader had commaunded them to kepe hym wel and that they shold brynge hym ageyn wyth them Thenne he herde say that the Iewes shold shortely brynge Ihesu cryste to dethe and by cause he wold not see soo grete cruelte do on to so trewe and Iuste a man he departed on the morne and wente in to hys contrey and recounted al that he had seen of our lord a lytel whyle after he retorned and herde say how he was put to dethe wherfore he was sory For he louyd hym moche But whan he herde say that he was rysen fro dethe to lyf and ascendyd in to heuen he was moche ioyous and retorned in to babylonye fulfylled wyth the holy ghoost And al the Iewes that he fonde in hys contreye for angre he destroyed by cause theâ of Ierusalem had put our lord to dethe After this a certeyn tyme whan thappostles were departed thorugh the world two shynyng candelstykes of golde were sente in to perse whych were of veray fayth that is to saye Symon and Thadeus the appostles of god And entryd in to babylone and had chaced out of the contrey two enchauntours zaroen and arphaxat which had peruerted the peple by false deceyuâble spekyng in this cyte thyse two appostles began to sowe the worde of god and to do many myracles hele seke peple of dyuers maladyes Whan this holy yonge man knewe of theyr comyng he was ryght glad admonestyd his fader to leue his errours his ydollys and that he shold receyue the crysten feyth to th ende that he myght gete therby heuen And what by the predycacion of the appostles and by the counceyl and exortyng of his sone his fader many other were conuerted and regenerate in the holy fonte of baptesme by the handes of the appostles and after alle the cyte was conuerted to the feythe dyd do make a moche notable chirche there and ordeyned there a prelate an holy man and trewe whome they had broughte wyth them fro Ierusalem namyd abdyas endoctryned in the doctryne of the gospellys and they ordeyned saynt eutrope archedeken and whan they had al thus ordeyned they departed and wente in to other cytees for to preche the feythe of god And anone after they receyued the palme of marterdom After Saynt eutrope wrote theyr passyon in lettres of caldee and of greke a lytel whyle after saynt eutrope herde speke of the myracles that saynt Peter prynce of the appostles dyd whyche that tyme was pope of rome he toke leue of the bysshop pryuelye wythout wetyng of his fader and came to rome Whan saynt peter sawe hym he receyued hym moche agreably and endoctryned and taughte hym the lawe of god moche dylygently whan he had dwellyd wyth saynt peter a longe whyle by the ordenaunce and commaundemente of saynt peter he wente in to fraunce with many other for to preche the crysten feythe and thus as he entryd in to the cyte of xayntes he wente thorugh the stretes and places prechyng the feythe of cryste anone as they of the cyte sawe hym they knewe wel that he was a barbaryen by his speche And whan they herde hym preche thynges that they neuer herde tofore they brente hym wyth brennyng fagottes bete hym
wyth poles vylaynsly and whan they had so vylaynsly beten hym they put hym out of the cyte but the glorious frende of god bare ful pacyently thys persecucyon and made in a mountayn right nyghe the cyte a lytel lodge of bowes wherin he dwellyd a grete while and by day tyme he came and prechyd in the cyte and at nyght he retorned vnto his lytel lodge where he abode in fastynges and prayers in orysons Thenne whan he had been longe there had conuerted but fewe of the peple he wente ageyn to saynt peter to rome and whan he came thyder he fonde that he had suffred passyon on the crosse and fonde there Saynt clemente in his stede which coÌmauÌded and counceylled hym to retorne in to the sayd cyte of xaintes and that in prechyng the commauÌdementes of god benygnely he shold abyde the palme of vyctorye for the loue of our lord that is to wete passyon and marterdom Thenne saynt clemente ordeyned hym a bysshop and also saynt denys which was come out of grece to rome many other brethern whiche saynt clemente sente in to fraunce and thus departed they fro Rome and arryued in the cyte of ancerre and there in grete loue they kyssed and enbraced eche other in takyng leue for to departe one fro another and tenderly wepte Saynt denys and his felawes came to parys and saynt eutrope wente to xaintes strongely confermyd fârme in the loue of god alle prest and redy to suffre alle tormentes and moche constauntely prechyd the feyth in suche wyse that many were haptysed Emonge whome the doughter of the kynge of the sayd cyte whiche was named euscelle was baptysed whan hyr fader knewe hit he had therof soo grete Indygnacion that he put hir out of the cyte and anone as she was out for the loue of god she wente strayte vnto the lodge of the holy man and abode there Alwey the fader for loue that he had to his doughter was sory that he had put hyr out and sente oftymes to hir messagers for to come ageyn home to hym To whome she answerd that she had leuer for the feythe of Ihesu crist dwelle out of the cyte thenne to retorne in ageyn to sacrefyse the ydollys For which answer the fader was so angry and wroth that he wyst not what to do and dyd do assemble alle the bouchers of the towne and gafe to theym an hondred and fyfty shyllynges for to put to dethe saynt eutrope and that they shold brynge ageyn his doughter to his hows Thenne the day tofore the kalendys of maye they assemblyd wyth them many sarasyns came to the lodge of saynt Eutrope and fyrst they stonyd hym and after they bete this holy man with staues and scourges leded alle nakyd and after they cleuyd his heed wyth a bochers axe and sawyd hym wyth a sawe The mayde wyth moo other buryed hym by nyght in his teguryon or lodge and kepte hym in vygylles wyth lyghtes and in deuyne obsequyes as longe as she lyued A lytel whyle ater she departed out of thys world right holyly and was buryed besyde hyr mayster as she had requyred by hir lyf After thys a certeyn space of tyme they of xaintes edefyed ouer thys holy corps a moche notable chyrche In whiche alle seck folke of dyuers maladyes and sekenesses haue ben helyd and yet dayly been And also many prysonners ben also by the prayer of thys holy saynt delyuerd of theyr yrons as guyues boltes and other whiche ben hanged in the sayd chyrche in remembraunce that they haue ben losed and vnbounden by the prayers of Saynt eutrope Saynt denys wrote the passyon and marterdom of saynt eutrope in greke and sente it in to grece to his frendes that byleuyd tho in god by the handes of saynt clemente that tho was pope of Rome in exaltyng and glorefyeng the name of god whyche wythout ende regneth and shal regne amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Eutrope And begynneth of saynt Marcial IN the tyme that our lord Ihesu cryst prechyd in Iurye in the lygnage of beniamyn moche peple came to hym for to haue that was necessarye to them as wel of drynke as of mete and in especyall for to here and vnderstonde suche thyng as touched the sauacyon of the sowle On a day in the myddes of al the companye came a man that was of the sayd lygnage of beniamyn the moost noble of alle the Iewes named by his right name marcial and his wyf was callyd elysabeth whiche had bytwene them bothe a chylde of the eage of xv yere that was named also marciall whan they herde our lord Ihesu cryste preche whyche sayd in his predycacion Doo ye penaunce the royame of heuen is nyghe to them that doo penaunce And who that is not regenerate in water by the sacramente of baptesme he may not entre in to the royame of heuen Thenne by the commaundement of our lord Ihesu cryste Marcyal his wyf and theyr sone marcial whyche was a chylde replenysshed in holy doctryne were baptysed of Saynt Peter Thenne Zaches and Ioseph the which buryed our lord were baptysed also and many other of the people of the Iewes whiche were ouer longe to telle here alle theyr names whan alle thys was accomplysshed and that eueriche torned homeward to hys hows The chylde marcyal retorned not wyth his fader and moder but gafe hym self all ouer vnto our lord Ihesu cryste and put hym in the companye as one of his dysciples and helde hym a weye by Saynt Peter whyche was ryght nygh of his kynne and fro than forthon he was soo ensumyned and endoctryned of our lord and of Saynt Peter that he no thynge desyred so moche as for to accomplysshe commaundementes solytayrs After this saynt peter came to rome and prayed to marcyal that he wold goo wyth hym and thus as they had been to gyder endoctryned wyth one holy doctryne and of one merytorye dyleccion In lyke wyse that to gyder they receyue the comyn rewarde of the ioye perdurable thus as they wente they were accompanyed of somme dysciples of antyoche emoÌge whome were alphynyen and austridynyen and many other whan they were entryd wythin Rome they were receyued of a man named marcelle at that tyme consul of the Romayns Thus as they dwellyd there god apperyd to saynt peter and commauÌded hym that he shold sende saynt marciall in to the prouynces of gaule for to preche the feythe and the byleue to the peple whiche were in the bondes of the deuyl of helle Thenne Saynt Peter callyd to hym saânt marcial and tolde hym alle by ordre that our lord had sayd and commaunded hym whan saynt marcyal herde that he began strongely to wepe by cause he doubted the ferre regyon and the peple whych had no knowleche of god whan Saynt Peter sawe hym thus wepe he began moche swetely to comforte hym in sayeng to hym my holy brother be not heuy ne
sone first cristen kynge of fraunce and was named lowys in hys baptesme whome saynt remyge cristened And an auÌgel of paradyse brought to hym an ample ful of crysme of whiche he was enoyâted aâso his successours kynges of fraunce ben enoynted sacred at theyr coronacion after he was of good lyf fouÌded the chirche that is now called saynt geneuefe on the mounte of paas in thonour of saynt peter saynt pouâe at the requeste of saynt clote hys wyf of whome the body resteth in the sayd chirche at thyncitacion of saynt geneuefe and saynt remyge dyd halowe dedefye hit the sayd kyng dyd encreâe moche the royame of fraunce frauâchysed it by his puyssaunce fro the româyns He conquerid meleun and the londe lyenge by sayne by loyre tourayn thoulose and al guyan and at his comyng to engoulesme the walles of the cyte fyl doun he made almayne and bourgoyn his trybutayrs he ordeyned and Instytuted parys to be the chyef syege of the royame he reygned xxx yere after he was entered in the sayd chirche the yere of our lord fyue hondred xiiii In the tyme of the sayd kyng lyued the sayd virgyn vnto the tyme of kyng clotayr his sone of which vyrgyn the sowle flâwe in to heuen the body abâde in erthe in the sayd chârche in whiche she is yet he ole honourably entered and deuoutelye worshypped ây the good and deuoute crysten peple In the tyme that the sayd vyrgyn saynt geneuefe was a chylde Saynt germayn of ancerre saynt lâw of troyes electe of the prelates of fraunce for to goo quenche an heresye that was in grete brytaygne now called englond came to nauÌcerre for to be lodged and herberowed the peple came ageynst theym for to haue theyr beneyson Emonge the people saynt germayn by thenseygnemente of the holy ghoost espyed out the lytel mayde saynt geneuefe and made hyr to come to hym and kyste hyr heed and demaunded hyr name and whos doughter she was and the people aboute hyr sayd that hir name was geneuefe and hyr fader Seuere and hyr moder geronce whyche came vnto hym and the holy man sayd is this chylde youres they answerd ye Blessyd be ye said the holy man whaÌ god hath gyuen to you so noble lignage knowe ye for certeyn that the day of hyr natyuyte the aungels sange halowed grete mysterye in heuen with grete ioye and gladnes She shal be of so grete meryte ageynst god of hir good lyf and conuersacion many shal take ensauÌple that they shal leue theyr synne and shal conuerte theym to god and shal lyue religyously by whiche they shal haue pardon and ioye perdurable Thenne he sayd to geneuefe my doughter telle to me and be not asshamed yf ye wyl be sacred lyue in vyrgynyte vnto the dethe as espouse of Ihesu cryste The mayde answerd holy fader ye demaunde that I desyre there lacketh nomore but that by your prayers our lord wyl accomplysshe my deuocyon the holy man sayd haue ferme byleue in god and preue by werkys the good thynges that ye byleue in your herte and saye wyth your mowthe and our lord shal gyue you force and vertue Saynt Germayn helde his honde on hir heed tyl he came vnto the mynstre there he gaue to the peple the beneyson Saynt Germayn said to the fader and moder of the mayde that they shold brynge hir ageyn on the morne to hym whan she was brought ageyn on the morne saynt germayn sawe in hir a sygne celestyal I wote not what and sayd to hyr god the saleweth Geneuefe Doughter remembrest thou what thou promysest to me yesterday of the vyrgynyte of thy body holy fader sayd the mayde I remembre wel that by the helpe of god I desyre and thynke to accomplysshe my purpoos Thenne the holy man loked on the grounde sawe a peny sygned wyth the crosse whyche came by the grace and wylle of god he toke hit vp and gaue hit hyr and sayd fayre doughter take this and bere it in mynde of IhÌu cryste your espouse and suffre not aboute you none other arayemente of golde ne syluer ne of precious stones for yf the beaute of thys world surmounte a lytell your thought ye shal lose the goodes of heuen he commounded hir to god and prayed hir that she wold remembre hym in hyr orysons and prayers and recommaunded her to fader and moder The two holy bysshoppes wente from thens in to englond there were heretykes ageynst the feythe whyche sayd that chyldren borne of fader and moder baptysed had no nede to be crystenyd whiche is not trouthe for our lord Ihesu cryst sayth clerely in the gospel that none may entre in to the kyngdom of heuen yf he be not regenerate of water and of the holy ghost That is to say regenerate by the sacramente of baptesme By this scripture and by semblable the holy prelates destroyed theyr false creaunce and byleue and by vertu also and by myracles For in a solempnyte of ester by many that were newe baptysed in syngyng alleluya they chaced and droof aweye theyr enemyes of scotland and straungers of other places that were come for to greue them Hyt happed on a day that Geronce the moder of the holy mayde Geneuefe wente on an holy and festeful day toward the mynstre And hyr doughter wente after sayeng that the feythe that she had promysed to Saynt germayn she shold kepe by the helpe of god and that she wold ofte goo to the mynstre to the ende that she myght deserue to be espouse of Ihesu cryste and that she myght be worthy of his loue the moder was angry smote hyr on the cheke God auengyd the chylde that the moder became blynde and that in xxj monethes she sawe not whan the moder had been longe in thys payne which moche enoyed hyr She remembryd of the goodnes that Saynt germayn had sayd of hyr doughter and callyd hyr and sayd my doughter goo to the pytte and fetche me water the mayde wente hastely whan she was at the pytte she began to wepe by cause hyr moder had loste hyr syghte for hyr sake and toke vp water and bare it to hyr mder The moder stratched hyr handes to heuen and toke the water wyth grete feythe and reuerence And maad hyr doughter to sygne hir with the sygne of the holy crosse and wesshe hyr eyen and anone she began for to see a lytell Whan she had twyes or thrise wesshen hir syght came hole to hir ageyn as it had been tofore after thys it happed that the holy mayde was offred to the bysshop of chartres buylique for to be sacred with two other elder maydens For men offred hem after theyr eage But the holy bysshop knewe by the holy ghoost that geneuefe was the moste worthy and dygne and sayd to hyr that was behynde shold come before For god had tho sanctefyed hyr After the dethe of hir fader
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 demauÌded 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 grouÌde 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 recoÌmendeth hym to hyr prayers Whan the bourgeyses herde thyse wordes recyted by hym of saint germayn and sawe the letters they meruaylled ferâd 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 deffeÌdeth 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 penauÌce in tormentyng hyr body al hyr lyf and became bene for to gyue good exaumple For syth she was of the age âf xv yere vnto fyfty she fastyd euâây day sauf sonday and thursday In her refection she had no thynge but barly brede and somtyme venes the whiche soden afââr 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 worshyppâd and doubted whyche first taughte to ouâââncestres the feythe Dame ãâã 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 demauÌded 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
departed she satte on hir knets and was al the nyght in orysons and in teerys in requyryng helpe of god to perfourme this werke and on the morne erlye alle mate and trauaylled of wakyng she wente to genese a good preest and prayed hym that he wold do his payne and laboure that the chyrche myght be edefyed and tolde hym tydynges of the lyme whan genese herde thys he was alle ameruaylled and fyl doun to hyr feet and promysed to hyr that nyght and day he wold doo hys laboure to accomplysshe hyr commaundemente By the helpe of god and of saynt Geneuefe and of the people of parys the sayd chirche was begonne in the honoure of the blessyd marters Saynt denys Saynt Rustyque and saynt Eleuthere which now is callyd saynt denys de lestree There ben yet the holy bodyes where our lord sheweth fayr myracles For as the werkemen entendyd to make the edefyce eche after hys crafte It happed that theyr drynke fayled and was doon And genese the preest sayd to geneuefe whiche knewe not herof that she shold talke with the werkemen so longe that he myght goo to parys fetche drynke whan she herde thys she demaunded for the vessel that they had empted and it was brought to hyr she maad them to departe fro hyr Thenne she knelyd doun on hyr knees prayed god wyth warme teerys to helpe hyr and whan she felte that our lord had herde hyr prayer She aroos vp and maad the sygne of the crosse vpon the said vessel and a meruayllous thynge happed For the vessel was ful the werkmen dranke her bely ful and as ofte as they wolde vnto the tyme that the chirche was parâytely made wherof they thanked our lord The holy vyrgyne had deuocyon to wake the nyght that our lord rose fro deth to lyf after the custome and statutes of auncient faders It happed on a tyme that she put her on the waye tofore day to goo to the sayd chyrche of saynt denye and made to bere a candyl brennyng tofore hyr The nyght was derke the wynde grete and it rayned faste whyche quenched the lyght of the candel The maydens that were in hyr companye were sore troubled She asked after the candell and assone as she had hit in hyr hande hit was lyghted by goddes wylle ageyn and so she bare it brennyng vnto the chyrche Another tyme whan she had endyd hir prayer a candel that she helde light in hyr hande by the grace of god Semblably in hyr celle on a tyme was a candel lyght in hir hande wythout ony fyre of thys world of whiche candel many seek folke by their feyth and reuerence haue ben helyd That tapre is kepte yet at nostre dame de parys A woman whyche by the temptacyon of the deuyl whyche to his power alwey deâeyueth the good stale aweye hir shoes but assone as she was at home she loste hyr syght whan she sawe that our lord had auengyd the wronge that she had doon to the vyrgyne She dyd hyr to be ledde to hyr wyth the thefte when she came tofore the holy vyrgyn she fyl doun to hyr feet and requyred hyr of foryeuenes and restoryng of hyr syght Geneuefe that was right debonair toke hyr vp fro the grounde and in smylyng gaue to hyr the syght ageyn of hyr eyen The holy vyrgyn on a tyme wente to laon and the peple of the towne wente out ageynste hyr Emonge whome were the fader and moder of a mayde that had ben ix yere so paralatyke that none myght shewe the ioynture of hyr membrys They besought and reâuyred saynt geneuefe that she wold vysyte the seek mayde She wente and sawe hir and sythe made hir prayer as she was acustomed and after handled the membrys of the mayde and commaunded hyr to doo on hir clothes and hosen and shoes Incontynente she aroos in good helthe in suche wyse that she wente vnto the chyrche wyth the peple The folke that sawe thys blessyd our lord that had gyuen suche grace to hys damoysel geneuefe and whan she retorned they conueyed hyr syngyng with grete ioye The kyng of fraunce chyldryke how be it he was a paynym hâlde hir in grete reuerence soo dyd also the barons of fraunce for the fayr myracles that she dyd in the name of our lord Ihesu cryste wherof it happed on a tyme that the sayd kynge helde certeyn prysonners Iuged to dethe but by cause geneuefe shold not demaunde them he yssued out of paris and made to shytte the yates after hym the holy virgyn knewe hit anone and wente hastely after hym for to helpe to delyuer theym As sone as she came to the yates they openyd without keye seyng al the peple which thought it a grete wonder She pursewed the kynge and obteyned grace for the prysonners In the partyes of the oryent beyânde Antyoche was a good man named Symeon whiche had despysed this world and was of meruaylus holy lyf whiche demaunded of saynt geneuefe of the marchauntes that wente in to tho patryes And by them he salewyd hyr moche honourably And recommaunded hym vnto hyr prayers hit was a grete meruayle that the holy man which had neuer seen ne herde speke of hir dyd do grete hyr by hir name verayly the frendes of god that knowe his wylle do therafter haue tydynges that one fro that other by admynystracion of the holy ghoost they shal neuer be seperate ne departed as Saynt ambrose beyng at melan knewe of the deth of saynt martyn at tours At meaux was a noble damoysel which was a med by hir propre name celyne which whan she had herde of the grace that god had gyuen to saynt genouefe she requyred hir to chaunge hir habyte a yonge man had fyauÌced trouthed hir which had grete Indygnacion whaÌ he herde of those tydynges and came to meaux in a grete Ire where the ij vyrgyns dwellyd whan they knewe of his comyng they fledde vnto the chirche there happed a fayr myracle For as they came to the chirche dore whyche was locked fast shette the dore that was soo locked opened by his gree by hym self thus saynt geneuefe delyuerd saynt celyne fro peryl fro the contagyon of the world the which êseuerid in abstynence in chastyte to hyr ende In this tyme the said celyne offred to saynt geneuefe one hir chamberer whiche had leyen seek ij yere myght not goo the holy vyrgyne handled hyr membrys with hir worthy handes anone she was hool in good poynte Ther were brought to hir xij men that were wood byset with deuyls vnto parys which were ouer harde bystad tormented of thenemye the virgyn had grete pyte went to prayer orisons in requyryng our lord with salte teris that by his grace goodnes he wold delyuer them of this pestylence as she perseuerid in hir prayers they were hanged in the ayer in suche manere as they touched no thynge she aroos fro hir prayer said
waylyng But many doubte yf he suffred deth vnder this decian For it is red in the Cronycle that Sixte was long after decian Eutropius neuertheles affermeth and sayth that decian meuynge persecucyon ageynst crysten men among other he slewe the blessid laurence dekeÌ and martir And it is said in a Cronyke autentyke ynough that it was not vnder this decyan emperour that succeded to phelyp but vnder another decyan yonger whiche was Cezar and not emperour he suffred martirdome For bytwene Decyan themperour and this decyan the yonger vnder whome it is said that laurence was martryd ther were many emperours and popes Also it is said that gallus and Volusianus his sone succeded decyan And after them Valeryen with galren his sone helde th empyre And they made decyan the yonger Cezar and not emperour For auncyently whan ony was made Cezar neuerthemore he was Augustus ne emperour as it is redde in the cronycles that Dyoclesyan made maxymyan Cezar And after fro Cezar he was made Augustus and emperour ¶ In the tyme of these emperours valeryen and galyan Sixt helde the see of Rome And this Decyan was called Cezar and not emperour but decyan Cezar only And he martred the blessid Fabyan And cornely succeded after Fabyan whiche was martred vnder Valeryan and galyan whiche regned xv yere And lucyan succeded Cornely And Stephen the pope succeded lucyan And Denys succeded Stephen And Sixte succeded Denys And this is conteyned in that Cronycle And yf this be trewe that whiche mayster Iohan beleth putteth maye be trewe And it is redde in an other cronycle that the said galyan had two names and was called galyan and Decyan and vnder hym Sixte Laurence suffred martirdom about the yere of oure lord twoo honderd and thre score Godefroy in his booke that is called antheonydes affermeth that galyan was called by another name Decyan Seynt gregory sayth in hys Dyaloges that ther was a nonne in Sabyne whiche held hyr contynent of her flesshe but she eschewed not the Ianglerye of her tonge and she was buryed in the chirch of saynt laurence the holy martir And was leyd to fore the aulter of the martir and was taken of the deuyls and departed and so wen a sondre and that one parte was brente and that other parte remayned hoole so that on the mornyng the brennyng appered vysybly Gregory of Tours sayth that whan a certeyne preest repayred the chirch of saynt laurence And one of the bemes was ouer short and requyred saynt laurence that he whiche had norysshed poure men wold helpe his pouerte And the beme grew so sodenly that ther remayned a grete parte And the preest cut that part in to smal pyeces and cured and heled ther with many maledyes And this wytnesseth seynt fortunate It happed at Bryoras a castell in ytaly that a man was sore vexed with tooth ache And he atouched this wode And anone the ache was gone Seynt gregory telleth in his book of dyaloges that a preest named sanctyne repayred a chirche of saynt laurence whiche had be brente of lumbardes and hyred many werkmen And one tyme he had nothyng to sette to fore them And thenne he made his prayers and after loked in his paner and there he fonde a moch whyte loof of breed but hym semed that hit suffysed not for one dyner for thre persones Seynt Laurence whiche wolde not fayle his werkmen dyd doo multyplye that his werkmen were susteyned therby ten dayes ¶ In the chirch of saynt laurence at melan was a chalyce of crystall merueylously clere And as the deken bare it on a day of solempnyte to the aulter it fylle oute of his hondes to the ground and was all to broken And thenne the deken wepyng gadered to gyder the pyeces And leyd them on the aulter And prayd the holy martir seynt laurence that the chalyce broken myght be made hoole ageyne And thenne anone it was founden al hool It is redde inthe book of the myracles of oure blessid lady saynt Marye that a Iuge named Stephen was at rome and tooke gladly yeftes and peruerted the IugemeÌtes And this Iuge tooke aweye by force thre howses that were longyng to the chirche of saynt laurence And a gardyn of saynt Agnes And posseded them wrongfully It happed that the Iuge deyed and was brouÈt to Iugement to fore god And whan saynt laurence sawe hym he wente to hym in grete despyte And strayned hym thre tymes by the arme right hard And tormented hym by grete payne And saynt Agnes other Vyrgyns dayned not to loke on hym but torned their vysages awey fro hym And theÌne the Iuge gyuyng sentence ageynst hym said by cause he hath withdrawen other mennes thynges and hath taken yeftes and solde trouthe that he shold be put in the place of Iudas the traytour And saynt Proiecte whome the sayd Stephen had moche louyd in his lif cam to the blessid laurence and to saynt Agnes and cryed them mercy for hym Thenne the blessid vyrgyn Mary and they prayd to god for hym And thenne it was graunted to them that the sowle of hym sholde goo ageyn to the body and there sholde do his penaunce thyrty dayes And oure blessid lady commaunded hym that as longe as he lyued he sholde say the psalme Beati inmaculati And when the soule cam to the body ageyn his arme was lyke as it had be brent lyke as he had suffred that hurte in his body And that token and signe was in hym as longe as he lyued Thenne rendryd ãâã that whiche he had taken and dyde ãâã penaunce And atte xxx day he passed oute of this world to oure lord It is redde in the lyf of saynt Henry themperour that he and kunegonde his wyf were vyrgyns to geder by thatysement of the deuyll he had his wyf suspecte of a knyghte And he made his wyf goo barfoote vppon brennyng asshes fyften paas And whan she asceÌded vppon them she said thus As I am not corrupte ne defowled of Harry ne of al other so Ihesu criste helpe me Thenne Henry themperour was ashamed and yafe her a buffet on the cââke and a voys said the Vyrgyn Mary hath delyuerd the Vyrgyn and she weÌt without ony hurt vppon the brennyng asshes when theÌperour was deed there wente a grete multitude of deuyls to fore the celle of an heremyte and he opened the wyndowe and demaunded atte last what they were and one answerde a legyon of deuyls we be that goo to the deth of themperour yf parauenture we may fynde ony thyng in hym He adiured hym that he sholde come ageyne to hym whiche retornyng sayde we haue prouffyted no thyng For whan this fals suspecion of hys wyf and alle the good thynges and euylle thynges were leyd in a balauÌce this brente and bruled laurence brought forthe a pot of gold of moche grete weyght And whan we supposed to haue surmounted he caste that pot in the balaunce on that other syde
flammes And of the second fyre he sayth thus the martir laurence brenned withoute forth of thembracementes of the tyrauÌt but the gretter flamme of the loue of god brenned hym within forthe Of the thyrdde fyre he sayth thus The right cruell flamme of the persecutour myght not surmounte the martir For he was ouer moche more ardauntly chauffed in his thought by the rayes of trouth that he felte not the flamme withoute forthe which he vaynquysshyd and ouercam Laurence among the other martirs hath thre pryueleges as toward offyce The fyrst he hath only a Vygyle among al the other martirs But at this day the Vygyles of sayntes ben chaunged in to fastynges by many And as Mayster Iohan Beleth reherseth It was somtyme the customme that the men wente with theyr wyues and children at the solempnyte of feestes And woke there alle the nyght with tapers and lyght but by cause many aduentures were made in these Vygyles It was establysshed that the Vygyles shold be torned in to fastynges And neuertheles the auncyent name is reteyned And is yet reteyned And is called Vygyle The second pryuelege is in the Octabas or vtas For he only with saynt stephen haue their octauas among all other martirs lyke as saynt Martyn hath among the Confessours The thirde is in the reprysyng of the anthemys For he only and saynt pawle haue that only But powle hath that for thexcellence of his prechyng And Laurence for thexcellence of his passion ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Laurence martir ¶ Here foloweth of saynt ypolite martir and first of his name YPOlitus is said of yper that is as moche to say as vpon and lytos that is a stone as who sayth vppon a stone that is to vnderstonde founded vppon Crist Or of in and polys that is a Cyte Or Ypolitus is as moche to say as polysshed he was wel founded vpon the stone Crist by constance and stedfastnes he was in the cyte aboue by desyre and coueytyng he was polysshed by the bitternes of his tormentes YPolyte buryed the body of saynt laurence And after he cam in to his hows and yaf the pees to his seruauntes and to hys Chamberyers And commyned them with the sacrament of the aulter whiche Iustyne the preest had sacred And the table was couerd but or he took ony mete the knyghtes cam and haled hym awey and brought hym to themperour And when decyan themperoure sawe hym he smylyng sayd to hym Arte thow now made an enchanteur whiche hast borne aweye the body of Laurence And Ypolyte sayd that haue I done not as an enchaunteure but as a Crysten man Thenne decian beyng replenysshed with grete suroure commaunded that he shold be despoylled of his habyte that he ware as a Cristen man and that his mouthe sholde be beten with stones To whome ypolyte sayd thou hast not despoylled me but rather clothed To whome decian seyd how is it that thow art now so felysshe that art not ashamed of thy nakednes Now therfore make thou sacryfyse and thou shalt lyue or elles thou shalt perysshe with laurence to whome ypolyte sayd I wold I myght be made thexample of saynt laurence whome thou presumest to name with thy fowle mouthe and pollute Thenne decyan made hym to be beten with stones and all to rente with combes of yron And he confessid with a clere wys that he was Crysten and whan he had despysed these tormentes he dyde hym to be clothed with the vesture of a knyght that he to fore vsed in exhortyng hym that to receyue his amytye and his first chyualrye And Ypolyte sayde I am the knyght of Ihesu crist thenne Decyan replenysshed with greete wrath delyuerd hym to Valeryan the prouost that he shold take alle his facultees slee hym by dyuerse tormeÌtes And thenne he fonde that alle the meyne of ypolytes hows were crysten And alle were brought to fore hym when he wolde haue constreyned them to do sacryfyse One named Concordia Nouryce of ypolyte answerd for them alle we had leuer deye with oure lord chastely than lyue synfully thenne decian beyng present commaunded that she shold be beten with plometttis of leede vnto the tyme that she gaf ouer her spyryte ypolyte sayd Syre I thank the that thou hast sente my nouryce to fore the sight of thy sayntes after that Valeryan dide do lede ypolite with his meyne to the yate Tyburtâne ypolyte comforted them alle said bretheren drede you not for ye I haue one only god thenne Valeryan coÌmanded that all they shold ben byheded before ypolyte thenne he made ypolyte to be bounden by the feet vnto the neckes of wylde horses and made hym to be drawen among thornes bryeres roches tylle he rendryd gaf to god his spyryte he deyde aboute the yere of our lord CC lxvi And thenne Iustyn the preest tooke the bodyes of them buryed them by the body of saynt Laurence but he couthe not fynde the body of seynt concorde For it was cast in to a preuy A knyght that was named porphyre wende that the blessid Concord had gold and precious stones in her clothes and cam to a man named herenen whiche was secretely a Crysten man and sayd to hym kepe my ceunuylle secrete And drawe concorde oute of the preuy For I trowe that ther ben in her vestymentes gold and precious stones And he sayd shewe to me the place where she lyeth And I shal kepe thy connceylle And shalle telle to the what I shalle fynde And thenne he drewe her oute of the preuy chambre fonde nothyng And theÌne the knyght fledde awey anone And Hyreneus called to hym a Crysten man named Abonde And bare the body to seynt Iustyn and he took it deuoutely and buryed hit by the body of saynt ypolyte with the other And whan Valeryen herd herof he dyde do take Hyreneus Abounde and threwe them all quycke in to the preuy And Iustyn took out their bodyes and buryed them with the other And after these thynges don decyen and Valeryen ascended in to a golden chare for to go and tormenten Crysten men And de cyen was rauysshed of a deuylle and cryed O Ypolyte hath bouÌden me with sharp chaynes and ledeth me awey And Valeryen cryed also O laurence thou drawest me with fyry chaynes And the same houre Valeryen deyde And decyan retorned home and deyde the thyrdde daye tormented of the deuylle and cryed laurence cesse thow a lytel I coniure the to cesse thy tormentes and so deyde And whan Tryphonye his wyf whiche was moche cruell sawe this thyng she lefte alle and tooke to Cyrylle her doughter and wente to saynt Iustyn and dyd doo baptyse her wyth many other And that other day after that as Tryphone praid she gaf vp her spyryte and deyde And Iustyn the preest buryed her body by saynt Ypolyte And xlvij knyghtes heryng that the quene and her doughter
I that am lest of the Appostles and of yow alle shalle bere with the And thenne Peter and Powle lyfte vp the bere And Peter beganne to synge and say Israel is yssued oute of Egypte And the other Apostles folowed hym in the same songe And our lord couerd the bere and thappostles with a clowde soo that they were not sene but the voys of them was herd only And the Aungels were with thappostles syngyng and replenysshed all the londe with merueylous swetnes And thenne alle the peuple was moeued with that swete melodye and yssued hastely oute of the cyte enquyred what hit was And thenne ther were somme that sayde to them that Mary suche a woman is deed the disciples of her sone Ihesu bare her and made suche melody as ye here about her And thenne ran they to armes they warned eche other sayeng Come and late vs slee alle the disciples and late vs brenne the body of her that bare this traytre And whan the prynce of preestes sawe that he was al abasshed and full of angre ang sayd loo here the tabernacle of hym that hath troubled vs and oure lygnage beholde what glory he now receyueth And in sayeng soo he leyd his hondes on the bere wyllyng to torne it and ouerthroweÌ it to the ground Tunne sodenly bothe his handes wexe drye and cleued to the bere so that he henge by the handes on the bere and was sore tormented and wepte and brayed And the Aungels that were there in the clowdes blynded alle the other peple that they sawe no thyng And the prynce of preestes said saynt Peter despyse me not in this trybulacion And I pray the to pray for me to our lord Thou oughtest to remembre when the Chambriere that was vssher accused the And I excused the And saynt peter said to hym we be now empeshyd in the seruyce of oure lady and maye not now entende to hele the but and yf thou byleuest in our lord Ihesu cryste and in this that bere hym I wene hope that thou soone shalt haue helthe and be al hoole And he answerd I byleue our lord Ihesu Crist to be the sone of god And that this is his right hooly moder ¶ And anone his hondes were losed fro the bere but yet the dryeÌnes and the payne cessid not in hym And theÌne saynt peter said to hym kysse the bere and saye I byleue in god Ihesu Crist that this woman bare in her bely and remayned Vyrgyn after the chyldyng And when he had so sayd he was anone all hoole parfiÈtely And thenne saide peter to hym Take that palme of the honde of oure broder Iohan and leye it on the peple that be blynde And who that wylle bileue shalle receyue his sight ageyne And they that wylle not byleue shall neuer see And thenne thappostles bare marye vnto the monument And satte by it lyke as oure lord had commaunded And at the thyrdde day Ihesu crist cam with a grete multytude of Angels and salewed them and saide pees be with yow And they answerd god glory be to the whiche only makest the grete myracles and merueyles And oure lord sayd to thappostles what is now youre aduys that I ought now to doo to my moder of honour and of grace Syre it semeth to vs thy seruauntes that lyke as thou hast vaynquysshyd the deth and regnest world with oute ende that thou reyse also the body of thy moder and sette her on thy ryÈt side in perdurabylyte And he graunted it And thenne Mychael the angel cam and presented the sowle of Marye to oure lord And the saueour spacke and sayde Aryse vp haste the my culuer or douue tabernacle of glorye vessel of lyf Temple celestyal And lyke as thou neuer feltest conceyuyng by none atouchement thou shalt not suffre in the sepulcre no corrupcion of body And anon the sowle cam ageyne to the body of marye and yssued gloryously oute of the tombe and thus was receyued in the heuenly chambre and a grete companye of angels with her And saynt Thomas was not there And whan he cam be wolde not byleue this And anone the gyrdell with whiche her body was gyrde cam to hym fro the ayer whiche he receyued And therby he vnderstode that she was assumpt in to heuen And alle this here to fore is sayd and called Appcriphum Wherof saynt Ierom sayth in a sermon to paula and Eustochium her doughter That book is said to be apocryfum sauf that somme wordes whiche hen worthy of feythe and ben approued of seyntes as touchyng nyne thynges that is to wete that the comforte of thappostles was promysed and gyuen to the Vyrgyne And that al the sayntes assembled ther And that she deyde without payne And was buryed in the vale of Iosephat And there were made redy the obsequyes and the deuocion of Ihâsu crist and the comyng of the celestyall company and the persecucion of the Iewes and the shynyng of the myracles and that she was assumpt in to heuen body and sowle But many other thynges ben put there more at fantasye and symulacion than at trouthe As that that Thomas was not there And whan he cam he doubted and other thynges semblable whiche ben better not to byleue them than to bileue her clothes and vestymentes were lefte in her tombe to the comforte of good cristen men And of one partye of her vestymentes it is sayd that ther happed suche a grete myracle as foloweth whan the duke of Normandy hadde assyeged the cyte of chartres The bisshop of the cyte took the cote of oure lady And sette it on the hede of a spere lyke a baner and wente oute ageynst the enemyes surely and the peple folowed hym And anone all the hoost of thenemyes were tourned in to franesye and were blynde and trembled and all were abasshed And when they of the cyte sawe this thyng aboue the dyuyne demonstraunce they wente on egrely and slewe their enemyes the which thyng displesid moche the vyrgyn saynt Marye as it was proued by that that her cote vanysshed awey And the duk their enemy fonde it in his lappe It is redde in the reuelacions of saynt Elysabeth that on a time as she was rauisshed in spyryte she sawe in a place moche fer fro folk a tombe or a sepulcre enuyronned with moche lyght and was like the forme of a womaÌ within forth And there were aboute it a grete multytude of angels and a lytell whyle after she was taken oute of the sepulcre and borne vp on hyghe with that multitude And thenne cam ageynst her a man beryng in his right arme the signe of the crosse had with hym many angels withoute nombre whiche receyued her moche ioiously and ledde her with grete melodye in to heuen and a litel whyle after Elyzabeth demaunded of an angel to whom she spak ofte of that vysion that she saw It is shewed to the sayde the aungel in that vysyon
Where as I am ther shall be my mynysstre yf this sentence be generalle to alle them that haue mynystred Ihesu cryst by fayth and by werke how is ther ony more special than Marye For with oute doute she was admynystresse in alle werke For she bare hym in her bely she childed hym she nourisshed hym and leyd hym in the Crybbe she went with hym in to egypte and kept hym all her lyf vnto the deth of the Crosse and departid not fro hym but folowed hym his dyuynyte myght not be to her incredyble For she knewe wel that she had not conceyued of the seed of man but by dyuyne Inspyracion thenne she hauyng feyth in the puysaunce of her sone as of the vertu of god not chauÌgeâble said whan the wyn fayled Sone they haue no wyn she wyst that he myghte doo alle thyng And he acomplysshed anone that myracle And thenne seest thou that Marye was admynystresse of Ihesu Cryst by feythe and werke Thenne yf she be not where as Ihesu crist will that his mynystres be where shall she be thenne And yf she be there Is it not by grace pareylle and lyke And yf it be not egall where is the egall mesure of god that rendreth to eueryche after his deserte For by the deserte of Marye is gyuen to man lyâyng moche grace Shalle thenne the grace be lassed to her beyng deed Nay nay for yf the dethe of al sayntes be precious Certes I Iuge the dethe of Marye to be right precious whiche is receyued to the Ioyes perdurable by the debonayâte of her sone Ihesu Crist more honourably than the other whome he had honoured by grace tofore his other sayntes And I saye that she ought not to be put ne is not set to the comyn humanyte after the deth that is to wete of wormes of rotynnesse and of pouldre she that bare in her bely the sauyour of alle men yf the dyuyne Volente vouchesauf to kepe the vestymentes of the children from hurtyng among the flaÌmes of fyre why shold not he thenne in his moder that whiche he kepte in a straunge vesture It plesyd hym to kepe Ionas in the bely of the whale with oute corrupcion shold not he thenne kepe his moder not corrupt he kepte danyell a lyue in the pytte of lyons fro ther disatempered honger ouÈt he not to kepe Mary for so many yeftes of meritees dgnytees we know well that alle these dygnytees that we haue said haue not kepte nature For we doubte not but grace hath kepte more the entyernes of Marye than nature And theÌne oure lord maketh Marye to enioye in her propre sone bothe in soule and in body as she that neuer had tatche ne spot of corrupcion in bryngyng forthe so grete a sone For she is alwey wyth oute corrupcion that was fulle of soo moche grace She is lyuyng entyerly she that childed the lyf of alle And thenne yf I haue sayd as I ought to saye Ihesu Criste approue it thou and thyne And yf I haue not sayd as I ought do saye I praye the to pardone me thou and thyne Thus endeth the history of thassumpcion of oure blessid lady Saynt Marye Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Rocke SAynt Rock was borne in MouÌtpeler whiche is a Towne ofgrete name vpon the bordure of Fraunce and was borne of noble progeny His fader was lord of Mountpeler was named Iohan and was comen of the noble hows of fraunce And though he was noble of byrthe ând ryche of lordship he was also vertuous in all humanyte he hadde a wyf of noble kynrede and fayr of vysage named libera whiche bothe deuoutely serued our lord Ihesu Crist and lyued in dyuyne loue and hooly werkes And how wel that they thus had lyued longe yet had they no childe ne heyr wherfor they ofte made their prayers And vowed pylgremages And on a daye moost specially the wyf made her prayers to our blessid lady prayeng deuoutely for to haue a child and was in very contemplacion in whiche she hârde the voys of an angel seyeng O Lybera god hath herd thy prayer and thou shalt receyue of hym grace of thy peticion And anone she wente to hâr husbonde and tolde hym as she had herd of the Angel And thenne they herof ioyeful accomplysshed thacte of matrymony and she conceyued and at âyme was delyuerd of a sone whiche in his batpysme was named Rochus or Rocke And this Rocke had inpressid in the sholder on his lyft syde a crosse whiche was a token that he shold be acceptable and byloued of god whiche thyng when his fader and moder saw they blessid god and his moder her self nourysshed and gaf sowke to the child and fedde it And commysed and dyde gladly the other besynes of a nouryce whiche deuoute moder fasted twyes in the weke And the blessid child rocke absteyned hym twyâs also whan his moder fasted in the weke And wold sowke his moder but ones that day whiche was to al a grete wonder and that day he was gladder meryer and swetter than the other And after whanne he cam to fyue yere of age he disposed hym to the werkes of penaunce and was moche obedyent to fader and moder And in the twelft yere of his age he fasted many dyuerse fastynges for Crystes loue And the more his membrys grewe the more the crosse that to fore was spoken of appered larger and more apparaunt In that tyme the fader of saynt Rock was seke sawe his last ende approche called to hym his sone rocke sayde O myn only sone Rocke thou seest wel that I shalle shortely fynysshe my lyf alwey the wyll of god be fulfilled foure thynges with my lordship herytage I leue to the coÌmaÌde yâ tacomplysshe Fyrst lyke as thou hast begonne that thou serue besyly god Socondly that thou remembre poure peple wydowes and Orphanes Thyrdly I coÌstytute and ordeyne the gouernour and dyspensatour of al my tresours that thou dispende them in charytable and meke werkes And fourthly that with all dylygence thou haunte and frequeÌte the hospytalles of seke and poure men These forsayd thynges Rocke promysed to his fader to fulfylle them to his power And anone after his fader deyde whome Rocke buryed honourably and leyd it in a sepulture And in the xx yere of his age he buryed also his deuoute moder And in fewe dayes he executed the testament of his fader effectuelly And vysyted Relygyous places of poure peple wretches oppressid and seke men he cured by counceylle and werkes wydowes and Orphans he comforted and poure maydens to marye he releued And in these good offices and werkes he dispended his faders goodes And whanne he had fynysshed his faders commaundements he decreed to leue the contre of Mount pâler and to make and seche other dyuerse pylgremages and clad hym with thabyte of a pylgryme and couerd his hede with a bonet a scryppe on his sholder and
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 ⪠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 vâon 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 harâyly and doubte the no thynge And thenne he wrote the letter in the myeÌdes 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 TheÌne 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
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 SaÌncta 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 noÌpoterant 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 lâue 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 bouÌden 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 grauÌted 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
bote and âad them sayle as they dyd before And told to them that it was a wycked spyryte that had spoken to them and thenne he wente to fore them and shewed them the way And when Natalye sawe hym go to fore them she was replenysshed with ioye soo that to fore day they cam to Constantynople And whan Natalye entred in to the hows where the martirs were she put the hond of Adryan to the body And whan she hadde made hyr prayers she slepte and saynt Adryan appered to her and salewed her And commaunded her that she shold come with hym in to Ioye perdurable And whanne she awoke she told to them that were there her vysyon took her leue and after gaf vp her spyryte to almyghty god And thenne the good Crysten men took her body and leyd it with the bodyes of the martirs Thus endeth the lyf of saint Adryan martir Here foloweth the lyf of saint Gorgone SAynt Gorgone Dorothe were in Nychomedye chyef in the palays of Dyoclysyan and renounced theyr Chyualrye for to folowe theyr euerlastyng kynge And confessyd with an hyghe voys that they were Crysten whan themperour herd that he was strongly angry and it dyd hym moche displesyr and greuaunce for to lese suche men whiche he had nourysshed in his palays and were noble of maner and of lygnage And whan he sawe that he myght not tourne them by menaces ne by fayre wordes he dyde doo strayne and payne them in the torment of Eculee and dyd alle to rende and breke them with scorgys and hokes of yron and to caste in theyr womdes salt and vynegre whiche entryd in to theyr entraylles And they suffryd hit Ioyously Thenne he made them to be rosted vpon a gredeyâon And they lay therupon as they had âyn vpon a bedde ful of floures and suffred none harme And after this themperour commaunded that they shold be hanged with cordes And theyr bodyes to be gyuen to houndes and woluys to be deuoured And soo âhey yelde vp theyr spirytes to almyghty god but theyr bodyes abode vntouchyd were taken vp buryed by good cristen men they suffred dethe the yere of oure lord two honderd and foure score Thenne many yeres after the body of saynt gorgon was transported to Rome And the yere of oure lord vijClxxiiij the bisshop of Mets neuewe of kynge pyppyn transported the same body in to Fraunce And leyd it honourably in the Monasterye of Gorgoryence ¶ Thus endeth the lif of saint Gorgone martir ¶ And here begynnen the liues of the saintes Prothe and Iacincte and Eugenne And firste of their names PRothus is said of prothos that is to saye fyrst And of panthos whiche is as moche to saye as presentacion For he was of the firste of his lygnage presented to god by good werkes and by martirdome Iacynctus is as moche to saye as lyeng within or a precious stone named Iacyncte For he playd in the tormentis And therfor he is in Ioye aboue as a precious Iacyncte Eugenne is sayd of âu whiche is as moche to saye as good and Gigns gignis that is to engendre And so Eugenne is as moche to saye as well engendrynge For she engendryd to Ihesu Cryst good âgnage That was fader and moder many other whiche by her were engendryd to the Crysten fayth Of saint Prothe and Iacincte PRothe and Iacincte were gentylmen of noble lygnage and were felawes in the studye of philosophyâ of Eugenne doughter of Phylyp of the moost noble lygnage of the Romaynes whiche Phelyp hadde taken of the Senate the prouostye of Allexandrye And hadde ladde with hym Claudia his wyf his sones Auyte and serge and his doughter eugenne And Eugenne was parfighte in all the lyberalle artes and lettres Prothe and Iacyncte hadde studyed with her and were comen to parfecââon of those scyences And Eugenne in the xv yere of her age was requyred to be maryed of one Aquylyne sone of the Consul Aquylyn And she answerd that her behoued to be maryed and chose a husbond full of good manere and not of hyhe lygnage And thenne cam to her hond the doctryne of saynt Powle And began in her courage to be made Crysten by good maners And thenne at that tyme the Crysten men were wel suffryd to dwelle besyde the Cyte of Alexandrye And as she went playenge and walkynge by the Towne she herd Crysten men synge a Verse of the sawter whiche sayth Alle the goddes of the my screauntes ben deuyls Our lord certaynly made the heuen Thenne sayde she to Prothe and Iacynte that had estudyed with her in the âartes lyberal We haue ouer passed thargumentes and sylogysmes of the philosophres by estudye corruptyble the Argumentes of Arystotlâ And yders of plato thensignementes of socrates shortely al that the poete saÌge made or the philosopher thoughte it is al closyd by his sentence late vs theÌne be bretheren folowe we our lorde Ihesu crist this couÌceil plesid them theÌne she took thabyte of a man cam to the monastery where elleyn was abbot whiche wold in no wyse suffre that ony woman shold come to hym this elleyn had on a tyme disputed ayenst an heresye whan that he sawe that he myght not sustene the force of thargumentes he dyd do brenne a grete fyre for to preue his faythe said we shalle see now whiche is the ryght saith he hym self entred first in to the fyre cam out ageyn withoute hurte or gryef but the heretyk wold not entre in to the fire was coÌfused put awey whan Eugenne was gone to hym had sayd that she was a man he said to her thou saist truly wel that thou art a man for thou werkest vertuously the condicion of her was shewed to hym theÌne of god she receyued thabyte with Prothus Iacincte dyd her to be callid of al broder Eugenne whan her fader moder sawe her chare come home empty voide theÌne they did do seke their douÈter oueral but she myÈt not be fouÌden theÌne weÌt they to dyuynours sothsayers demauÌded them where their douÈter was become they ansuerd that she was rauysshed of the goddes amoÌg the sterres therfore her fader made an ymage of his douÈter comaÌded that al the peple shold worshipe her she duellid amoÌg the companye of bretheren in the drede of god when the prouost of the chirche was dede she was made prouost theÌne in Alexandrye was a lady noble ryche which was named Melancye whome saynt Eugenne enoynted with oylle delyuerd her of a quartayne in the name of god she sente to her many yeftes which she wold not receyue the said lady supposed that eugenne had ben a man visited her oft behelde the gretenes beaulte of her body in suche wise that she was stroÌgly esprysed chauffed in her loue and
of saint Mychel tharchaungel And firste thexposicion of his name Mychel is expowned somtyme as god And oftymes as saynt Gregorye sayth whan a thyng of meruayllous vertu is done Mychel is sente forth soo that he by the dede and the name be gyuen to vnderstonde that none may doo that god may doo And therfore ben attrybued to hym many thynges of merueylous vertu For lyke as Danyel wytnessyth he shalle aryse and adresse in the tyme of Ante cryst ageynst hym And shalle stande as a defendoure and kepar for them that ben chosen He also faught wyth the dragon and his angels and castynge them oute of heuen had a greete vyctorye He also had a grete plee and altercacion with the deuylle for the body of Moyses by cause he wold not shewe hit For the children of Israell shold haue adoured and worshyped it He receyned the sowles of sayntes And brought them in to the paradys of exultacion and ioye He was prynce of the synagoge of the Iewes but now he is establysshed of oure lord prynce of the chirche of Ihesu Cryste and as it is said he made the plaghes of egypte he departed and deuydid the rede see he ladde the peple of Israhel by the deserte and sette them in the lond of promyssyon he is had among the companye of holy Angels as banerer and berynge the signe of oure lord he shalle slee by the commaundement of god right puyssauntly Ante cryst that shalle be in the Mount of olyuete And dede men shall aryse atte voys of this same Archaungel And he shalle shewe at the daye of Iugement the Crosse the spere the nayles and the Crowne of thornes of Ihesu Cryste ¶ Of saint Mychel The hooly solempnyte of saynt Mychel is sayd appyerynge dedycacion vyctorye and memorye The apparicion of this aungel is many fold The fyrste is whan he appyered in the Mount of gargan This Montayne is in Naples whiche is named gargan And is by the Cyte named Syponte And in the yere of our lord thre honderd four score and ten was in the same Cyte of Syponte a man whiche was named Garganus whiche after somme bookes had taken that name of the montayne or els the Montayne toke the name of the man and he was ryght ryche and had a grete multytude of sheep and beestes And as they pastured aboute the sydes of the Montayne It happed that a bulle left the other beestes And wente vpon hyhe on the Mountayne and retorned not home ageyne with the other beestes Thenne this ryche man the owner took a grete multitude of seruauntes and dyde doo seche this bull al aboutes And at the laste he was founden on hyghe on the Montayne by the entree of an hole or a caue And thenne the maystre was wrothe by cause he hadde strayed allone from other beestes and made one of his seruauÌtes to shote an arowe at hym And anon the arowe retourned with the wynde and smote hym that had shotte hit wherwith they of the Cyte were troublyd with this thynge and wente to the Bisshop enquyred of hym what was to be done in this thynge that was soo wonderful And thenne be commaun d them to faste thre dayes and to praye vnto god And whan this was done seynt Mychel appered to the Bisshop sayenge knowe ye that thylke man is soo hurte by my wylle I am Mychell the Archaungel whiche wylle that thys place be worshypped in erthe and wyll haue hit surely kepte And therfor I haue prouyd that I am kepar of this place by the demonstraunce and shewynge of this thynge And thenne anone the Bisshop and they of the Cyte wente with processyon vnto that place And durst not entre in to hit but made theyr prayers without forth The second apparicion was in the yere of oure lord seuen honderd and ten in a place whiche was named Tumba by the see syde sixe myle fro the Cyte dauerances Seynt Mychel apperyd to the Bisshop of that Cyte and commaunded hym to doo make a chirche in the forsayd place lyke as it was made in the Mount of gargan And in aÌ ke wyse shold halowe the memorye of saynt Mychel there And the bisshop doubted in what place it shold be made And saynt Mychael sayd to hym in the place where he shold fynde a bulle hyd of theues and yet he doubted of the largenesse of the place And saynt Mychell appyered to hym sayd that he shold make hit of the brede that he shold fynde that the bulle had troden and traced with his feete there were two roches whiche no maunes power myght remeue Thenne saynt Mychel apperyd to a man and commauÌded hym that he shold goo to that same place and take awey the two wekes And whan he cam be remeued the two roches as lyghtely as they had weyed no thynge And whan the chirch was edyffyed there mychel set a pyece of a stone of marble ther vpon whiche he stode and a parte of the palle that he had leyd on the aulter of that other Chirche he brought thyder to this Chirche And by cause they had grete penurye and nede of water they made by the thadmonestement of thanngelle an hoole in a stone of marble anone there flowed oute soo moche water that vnto this day they be susteyned by the benefayt therof And this apparicion is solempnly halowed the xvij kalendes of Nouembre in that place And there happed in the same place a myracle worthy to be putt in remembraunce This Montayne is enuyronned aboute with the see Occean but on saynt Mychels day it auoydeth twyes and gyueth way to the peple And as a grete companye of peple went to the Chirch hit happed that a woman grete with childe neyhe her tyme of delyueraunce was in the company whanne they retorned the wawes and water cam with grete force so that the company for drede fled to the Ryuage And the woman grete wyth child myghte not flee but was take and wrapped in the floodes of the see but saynt Mychel kepte the wyf al hoole and she was delynerd and childed among the wawes in the myddel of the see And she tooke the child bytwene her armes and gaf it sowke and after whan the see was withdrawen she went a lande at hoole with her child The thyrd apparicion happed in the tyme of Gregory the ãâã For whan the sayd ãâã hadde establysshed the letanyes for the pestylence that was that tyme and prayd deuoutely for the peple he sawe vpon the castel whiche was sayd somtyme the Memorye of Adryan the angel of god whiche wyped and maade clene a blody swerd and put it in to a shethe And therby he vnderstode that his prayers were herd Thenne he dyde doo make there a Chirche in thonoure of saynt Mychel And that Castell is yet name d the Castel angel And yet anothir apparicion was in the Mount of gargan when he apperyd gaf vyctory to them of Syponte whiche is halowed
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 âhat 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 grauÌted 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 enhauÌced 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 sooâe 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 coÌserue 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 âhyn 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 lââen 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
For on a tyme he wyth other men of peruse was taken prysoner And were put in a cruell pryson where all the other waylled and sorowed And he only was gladde and enioyed And whanne they had repreuyd hym therof he answerd knowe ye sayd he that I am ioyeful For I shall be worshipped as a saynt thorugh oute alle the world On a tyme he wente to Rome by cause of deuocion And he tooke of alle his clothes and cladde hym with the clothes of a beggar and satt amonge the poure men to fore the chirche of saint Peter And as one of them begged with hem coueytously And moche oftener wold haue done but the shame of knowen peple letted hym The old enemy the deuylle enforced hym to lette hym of his hooly purpos And shewed to hym a woman monstruous and horrybly diffygured croke bak and lame whiche was in that Cyte And he sayd to hym that he left not that he had enterprysed he wold make hym semblable and lyke vnto her But he was comforted of our lord whiche herd a voys sayenge to hym Fraunceys take these bytter thynges for the swete and despyse thy self yf thow desyre to knowe me On a tyme he mette a lepre whome naturelly men abhorre but he remembryd hym of the word that was sayd of god and ranne to hym and kyssed hym And anon the lazare vanysshed away wherfor he wente to thabytacion of the lazars And kyssed deuoutely theyr handes and gaf to them moneye And lete hem haue no nede of suche as he myÈte doo ¶ On a tyme he entryd in to the Chirche of saynt Damyan for to make his prayers And thymage of Ihesu Cryst spak vnto hym and sayd FrauÌceis goo and repayre my hows which is alle destroyed as thou seest And from that houre the sowle of hym lyquefyed And the passion of Ihesu Cryst was merueylously infyxed in his herte And thenne he dyde grete payne and was besy in repayryng the chirche And sold alle that he hadde and gaf the money therof to a preeste And he durst not receyue hit for fere of his parentes and kynne Thenne he castynge it awey to fore the preeste as dust settynge not therby wherfore he was taken of his fader and bounden and restored to hym his money And resygned also his clothes and soo naked he fled to our lord clad hym with hayre And thenne the blessyd Fraunceys wente vnto a symple man whome he took in stede of his fader and prayd hym that lyke as his fader doublyd on hym his curses that in contrarye he shold blesse hym his owne broder germayn sawe hym in a wynter tyme haue on hym but fowle and fewe clothes and that he tremblid for cold and was entendynge to his prayers sayd to his felawe Goo to Fraunceys and saye to hym that he selle to the a penyworthe of his swote And whanne he herd it he answerd with a glad chere I wylle selle hit vnto my lord god On a day he herd in the chirche that whiche oure lord sayd to his discyples whanne he sente them to preche And anone he adressyd hym with alle his myght to doo and kepe all tho thynges he dyd of his hosyn shone fro his feet and clad hym with a fowle cote and tooke a corde for his gyrdle He wente on a tyme in a snowe by a woode and was taken by theues and they demaunded hym what he was And he sayd that he was the messager of god And anone they toke hym and caste hym in the snowe sayenge to hym lye thou there vilayn messager of god Many noble and vnnoble clerkes and laye men hadde despysed the world and begonne to folowe hym And the hooly fader enseygned and taught them the perfection of the gospel whiche was for to be in pouerte and that they shold go by the wey of symplenesse he wrote thenne a rule after the gospel to hym self and his bretheren had and to be had whiche pope Innocent confermed And fro than forthon he beganne to sprede more ardauntly the sedes of the word of god and wente aboute cytees castels by a feruent and merueylous desyre There was a Frere whiche semed outward of merueylous holynes and kepte scylence soo straytly that he wold not be shryuen by wordes but by sygnes and euery man preysed hym as a saynt this hooly man Fraunceis cam thyder and sayde leue ye bretheren to preyse hym for I shall not yet preyse hym leste it be by fayntyse of the deuylle late hym be warned to be shryuen twyes in the weke by worde and spekynge And yf he doo it not this is but temptacion of the deuylle and fraudelous deceyte and thenne the freres warned hym so to doo and he put his fyngre to his mouthe and shoke his heede and shewed that in no wyse he wold confesse hym And anone after he retourned ageyne to worldly lyf as an hound to his vomyte And wente oute of his ordre and fynysshed his lyf in synful actes and werkes On a tyme saynt Fraunceis was wery of goyng and rood vppon an asse And his felawe one Leonard of Assyse was also wery of goynge and saynt FrauÌceis biganne to thynke thus and saye in hym self his kynne my kynne were not lyke And incontynent he alyghte doune and sayd to the Frere It apperteyneth not to me to ryde and the to goo afoote For thow art more noble than I am And the Frere was abasshed and kneled doune and requyred pardon On a tyme as he passed by a place a noble lady ranne soo hastely ageynste hym that she myght not speke for werynes And he axed of her what she wold and she saide praye for me fader For I maye not performe the purpoos of helthe whiche I haue bigonne for my husbond whiche letteth me doth to me many aduersytees in the seruyce of god and he said to her goo thy waye doughter For thow shalt haue anone comfort of hym And saye to thyn husbond in goddes name and myn that now is the tyme of helthe And herafter shall be tyme of equyte and righte And when she hadde said so to her husbond the man was sodenly chaunged and auowed to god contynence and chastyte On a tyme a poure labourer was almost lost in a woode for thurst And this hooly saint impetred a fontayne by his preyers He said on a tyme to a Frere that was famylyer with hym this secrete whiche was shewed to hym by the hooly ghoost Ther is a seruaunt of God lyuynge in the worlde on this daye For whoos sake as long as he shal lyue our lord shall suffre no famyne among the peple but withoute doubte it is said that when he was deede alle that condicion was chaunged to the contrarye For after his blessid deth he apperyd to the same frere and said to hym loo now is the famyne comen whiche as longe as I lyued vppon erthe our lord wold not suffre to come On an eester daye the
as moche as he myghte that noman shold see them And yet neuertheles somme sawe them in his lyf and at his deth they were seene of many and were shewed by many myracles that tho signes were trewe Of whiche myracles tweyne shalle suffyse for to be sette here There was a man named Rogyer and was in puylle to fore thymage of saynt Fraunceis And beganne to thynke and saye maye this be trewe that this man was so ennobled by suche myracle or was this an illusion or an Inuencion dissimyled of his bretheren the Freres And as he thought this he herde sodenly a sowne lyke as a quarel had he shotte out of Arbalaste or a Crosse bowe and he felte hym greuously hurte in his lyfte honde but ther appyeryd no hurte in his gloue And thenne he took of his gloue and sawe in the palme of his honde a wounde as it hadde ben of an arowe oute of whiche wounde ther yssued soo grete payne of ache and brennynge that almoost he deyde for sorowe and payne And thenne he repented hym and sayd that he byleuyd ryght veryly the signes and toknes of saynt Fraunceis and when he hadde praid by twâ dayes saynt fraunceis by his holy signes and stygmates he was anone delyueryd of his payne and maade al hoole In the Royamme of Castyle ther was a man deuoute to saynt Fraunceis whiche wente on a tyme to Complyne to the chirche of seynt Fraunceis And men lay in a wayte for to slee hym and in stede of another man he was taken by errour and ignoraunce and was wounded and left as half deede And after the cruel morderer stycked his swerd in his throte and lefte it therin and myght not drawe it oute but wente his way And thenne men cryed and ranne hyder and thyder and the man was bewayled lyke as he hadde ben dede And when they ronge to matyns at mydnyght at the chirche of the Freres the wyf of the man beganne to cry Aryse vp syre and goo to matyns For the belle calleth the And anone he lyfte vp his hande to shewe that some man shold take awey the swerde fro his throte And anone in the syÈt of them alle the swerd sprange oute a ferre as it had be throwen of a stronge Champyon And anone the man arose parfyghtely hole And sayd that saynt Fraunceys cam to hym and ioyned his stygmates to my woundes enoynted them with the swetenes of his signes and sewyd them to gydre merueylously by his towchynge And whanne he wold haue gone I shewed hym that he shold take aweye the swerd For els I shold not conne speke And anone he tooke it oute And threwe it awey ferre from hym And heled me with touchyng my throte with his signes The two clerkes grete lumynayres of the world that is to saye saynt Domynyke and saynt Fraunceys were in the Cyte of Rome to fore the Lord hostyence whiche afterward was pope of Rome And this Bisshop sayd to them wherfor make ye not of your freres Bisshops and prelates whiche shold preuayle more by techynge and example gyuynge And ther was long contencion bytwene them who sholde fyrst answere And Humylyte ouercam Fraunceys that he wold not speke to fore that other And thenne saynt Domynyk humbly obeyed and sayde Syre oure bretheren ben lefte vp in good degree yf they knowe hit And I shalle neuer suffre to my power that euer they shalle hope to haue ony hyer dygnyte ¶ After that answerd saynt Fraunceys Syre my Bretheren ben callyd Mynours by cause they wold not be made gretter And the blessyd saynt Fraunceys ful of ryght grete symplycyte admonested and warned alle creatures to loue their Creatour he prechyd to byrdes and was herd of hem they suffryd hym to touche â them and withoute lycence they wold not retorne ne flee fro hym And on a tyme whanne he prechyd the Swalowes chyteryd and songe And anon by his comaundement they were stylle There was also on a tyme a byrde on a fygge tree besyde his celle whiche sange ofte ful swetely And saynt Fraunceys put forth his hand And called that byrde And anone the byrde obeyed and cam vppon his honde And he sayd to her synge my suster and preyse thy lord And thenne anone she songe And departed not tylle she hadde lycence He spared to touche lyghtes lampes and Candels by cause he wold not defowle them with his handes He wente honourably vpon the stones for the worship of hym that was callyd stone He gadryd the smale wormes oute of the waye by cause they shold not be troden with the feete of them that passyd by He commaunded in wynter to gyue hony vnto bees that they shold not perysshe for hongre He called alle beestes his Bretheren He was replenysshed of merueylous Ioye for the loue of his Creatoure He behelde the Sonne the Mone and the Sterres And somoned them to the loue of theyre Maker He defended for to make hym a greete Crowne sayenge I wylle that my symple Bretheren haue parte in my hede ¶ There was a Seculer man whiche sawe saynt Fraunceis the Seruaunt of God prechynge att saynt Seueryns And sawe by reuelacyon of God that saynt Fraunceys was stratched on a Crosse maade of two clere swerdes Of whiche that one cam fro his heede to his feete And that other stratchyd from that one hande to that other soo that he neuer hadde sene suche a demonstraunce Thenne he was moeued in his herte And entryd in to the ordre And fynysshed goodly his lyf ¶ On a tyme as saynt Fraunceys was seke on hys eyen for contynuelle wepynge hys Bretheren sayd to hym that he sholde refrayne hym fro wepynge And he answerd The vysytacyon of the lyghte perdurable is not to be putte awaye for the lyghte that we haue here with the flyes And whanne his bretheren constrayned hym to take a Medycyne for his eyen And the Surgeon helde a brennynge yron in his hande And the blessyd Fraunceys sayde My brother Fyre be thow to me in this houre debonayre and curable I praye to our lord that made the that thou attempre my hete And thenne he made the signe of the Crosse ageynste the fyre And the fyry yron wat put in his tendre flesshe from his ere vnto his eye lyddes And he felte no payne He was strongly seke in the deserte of saynt vrban And whanne he felt that nature faylled in hym he axyd for to drynke wyn And ther was none And they brought to hym water and he blessid it and made the signe of the Crosse theron and it was conuertid and torned in to ryght good wyne And the hooly man gate of our lord that the pouerte of the deserte myghte not gete And as sone as he had tasted it he becam stronge and was alle hoole he hadde leuer here blame of him self than preysynge And for by cause that the peuple preysed in hym ony thynge of meryte of holynes he commaunded to somme broder
seke man tasted and reuyued anone helthe And also dyd many other myracles And when his laste dayes aporochyd And was greuyd by longe infyrmyte thenne he made hym self to be leyd vpon the bare ground And dyd doo calle alle the Freres that were there And whanne they were alle present he blessyd them And lyke as oure lord fedde his disciples at souper in sherthursdaye he gaf to eche of them a morselle of breed And warned them as he was woned to doo to gyue lawde to theyr maker And the very dethe whiche is to alle men horryble and hatefulle he admonested them to preyse it And also he warned and admonested deth to come to hym and sayd Deth my suster welcome be thou And whanne he cam at the laste houre he slepte in our lord Of whome a Frere sawe the soule in maner of a sterre lyke to the mone in quantyte and to the sonne in clerenes There was a Frere named Augustyn whiche was mynystre and seruaunte in the londe of laboure of the erthe And as he was in his last ende and had lost his speche he escryed sodaynly and sayde abyde me Fader abyde I shalle goo with the Thenne the Freres demaunded hym what he sayd And he sayd See ye not oure Fader Fraunceys that goth vnto heuen And anone he slepte in pees and folowed his holy fader ¶ A lady which hadde be deuoute to the blessyd FrauÌceys deyed and the Clerkes prestes were at the byere for to synge thexequyes of her she aroos vp sodenly of the biere and called one of the preestes that were there sayd fader I wold confesse me I was deed and shold haue be put in a cruelle pryson by cause I hadde not shryuen me of a synne that I shalle saye But saynt Fraunceys prayd for me that this confessyd and shewed I shalle haue foryeuenesse And anone as I shalle haue seyd and confessyd hit to the I shalle reste in pees to fore yow alle And thenne she was confessyd and assoylled and rested anone in our lord The Freres of Vyterbe wold haue borowed a carte of a man And he answerd in despyte I had leuer see two of yow flayn with saynt Fraunceys than I shold leue yow my carte but he cam ageyne to hym self and repreuyd hym self and repentyd hym of the blame that he had sayd and doubted the Ire of god And anone hys sone was seke and deyde And whan he sawe his sone deed he slepte on the erthe wepyng and called saynt FrauÌceis and sayd I am he that synned thou sholdest haue beten me gyue ayene to me hooly saynt prayenge dâuoutely to the whome thow hast taken away fro me blamynge the and blasphemynge wyckedly And anone his sone reuyued and sayde whanne I was deed seynt Fraunceys ladde me by a longe way and derke And atte laste he brought me vnto a ryght faire grene And after sayd to me Retorne to thy fader I wylle no lenger holde the ¶ There was a poure man whiche ought vnto a certayne Ryche man a quantyte of moneye· And prayd hym for the loue of saynt Fraunceys he wold prolonge the terme of payment To whome he answerd prowdely I shalle sette the in suche a place that neyther Fraunceys ne none other shalle helpe the And anone he took bonde hym and sette hym in a derke pryson And anone after saynt FrauÌceis cam thyder and bracke vp the pryson and losed his bondes and brouÈt the man al saufly to his owne hows Ther was a knyghte whiche detracted the werkes and myracles of saynt fraunceys and on a tyme as he played at the dyes he beynge alle araged and full of woodenes and cruelnes sayd to theym that stoode by hym yf saynt Fraunceis be a saynt late come eyghten on the dyes And anone cam in thre dyes in eche of hem sixe and soo it apperyd nyne tymes at euery tyme thre sixes at eche caste And thenne he adioustyng woodenes to wodenes he sayd ysit be trewe that frauÌceis be a seynt late a swerd ryue me thurgh my body this day And yf he be no saynt that it escape saufly And whan the playenge at dyes was ended by cause he hadde made that prayer in synne he sayd Iniurye to his neuewe And he tooke his swerd and stack it thurgh belye slewe hym anone ¶ There was a man that hade loste his thye that he couthe not moeue hit And cryed to saynt Fraunââis thus sayenge helpe me saynt fraceis remembre the of the deuocion and of the seruyse that I haue done to the For I caryed the vppon myn asse and kyssed thy feet and thy hondes And now I deye for payne of thys ryght hard tormente Thenne the hooly man appyeryd to hym with a litille staf that he helde whiche hadde the signe of thau and touchyd therwith the place of his payne and the postume bracke and receyued anone ful helthe but the signe of thau abode alwey in the same place with that signe saynt Fraunceys was wonte alwaye to signe his lettres There was a mayde whiche duellyd in the Montaynes of puylle in a castel and her fader moder ne had but only this doughter And she deyde And her moder was moche deuout toward saynt fraunceis But thenne she was full of heuynes And saynt Fraunceys appyeryd to her and sayd wepe nomore for the lyght of thy lanterne is quenchyd And it apperteyneth not that I yelde her ageyne to the by thy prayer But yet the moder had affyaunce and trust in the saynt And wold not suffre to bere awey the body but in callynge saynt Fraunceis she took her doughter that was deed and reysed her vp alyue and hoole Ther was a lytel childe in Rome fallen oute of a wyndowe to the ground and deyde forthwythe And they called to saynt Fraunceys for help and he was anone restored to lyf In a cyte of Swetse hit hapned that an hows fylle and slewe a child And whanne they had putt the corps in a chyste for to berye the moder callyd on saynt Fraunceys with all her deuocion And aboute mydnyght the chyld cowhyd and aroos all hoole And beganne to preyse god Frere Iames of Reaten had passyd a floode in a vesselle with other Freres whiche were sette a lond and he hasted so sore after to goo oute by cause he was laste and the shyppe recuyeled backward in to the water soo that he fylle doune in to the deppest of the flood And thenne alle the Freres prayde saynt Fraunceys for hym And he hym self as he myght with lyke deuocion callid the hooly saynt vnto his ayde and helpe in his herte And that same Frere beganne to goo in the bottom of the water as drye as he had gone on the erthe and caught the bote whyche was drowned and brought hit to the banke and cam vp withoute wetynge of his clothes that he ware Ne nener drope of water touchyd his cote ne wette no thynge on hym Thenne
supposid that they had yet lyuyd and merueyled why he so reherced their names in the canone And they so wondryng ther appyered vppon the Crosse of the aulter thre dounes syttynge whiche hadde the names of the sayntes marked and wreton on their brestes with blood whiche dylygently beholdyng vnderstode well that the sayntes were departed oute of this world And ygnarus Bisshop of Reynes sayth in a pistse whiche he sente to Charles that this denys that was sent in to Fraunce was denyse Ariopagita as afore is sayd And the same sayth Iohannes scotus in a pystle to charles lest by the reason of the countynge of the tyme shold be sayd ageynst as somme wolde obiecte Aboute the yere of our lord eyght honderd xxxij in the tyme of lowys kynge of Fraunce the Messagyers of Mychael emperour of Constantinople amonge other thynges brought to Lâwys sone of Charles le graunt the bookes of saynt denys of the gerarchye of the aungels translated oute of greke in to latyn and were receyued with grete ioye And that same nyght were nynten seke men heled in his chirche Aboute the yere of oure lord sixe honderd and thre and fourty lyke as hit is conteyned in a Cronycle Dagobert kynge of Fraunce whiche regned longe to fore pyppyn beganne to haue fro his childehode grete reuerence to saynt Denys For whanne he douted in that tyme the Ire of his fader Clotayre he fledde anone to the Chirch of saynt Denys And whanne thys holy kynge was deed it was shewed in a vysyon vnto an hooly man that the sowle of hym was rauysshed to iugement and that many sayntes accused hym that he hadde despoylled theyr chirches And as the wycked Aungels wold haue had hym to the paynes the blessyd Denys cam thyder by hym he was delyuerd at his comynge and escaped fro the paynes And peraduenture the sowle retorned to the body and dyd penaunce Clouys kynge discouered the body of saynt Denys not dewely and brake the bone of his arme and rauysshed it awey coueytously And anone he becam oute of his mynde Thenne late vs worshipe almyghty god in his seyntes that we by their merytes maye amende our self in this wretchyd lyf that we may after this lyf come vnto his sempyternal blysse in heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Denyse Here foloweth of saint Calixt pope And first of his name CAlixte is said of caleo cales that is to say eschauffe or to make warme For he was hoote and brennynge Fyrst in the loue of god And after he was hoote and brennynge in gâtynge and purchacyng sowles and thyrdly he was hoote in destroyeng the false ydolles and also in shewynge the paynes for synne Of saint Calyxte CAlixte the pope was martryd the yere of our lord two honderd and two and twenty vnder Alysander the Emperour And by the werkes of the sayd emperoure the mooste apparaunt partye of Rome was thenne brent by vengeaunce of god And the lyfte arme of thydolle Iupyter whiche was of fyne gold was molten And thenne alle the prestes of thydolles wente to themperour Alysander and requyred hym that the goddes that were angry myght be appeased by sacryfyses And as they sacryfysed on a thursday by the morne the ayer beynge al clere foure of the preestes of thydolles were smeton to deth with one stroke of thondre And the aulter of Iupiter was brente soo that alle the peple fled out of the walles of Rome And whan Palmachyen Consul knewe that Câlyxt with his clerkes hydde hym ouer the water of Tybre requyred that the Crysten men by whom this euyll was happed and comen shold be putte oute for to purge and clense the cyte And whanne he hadde receyued power for to doo soo he hasted hym incontynent wyth his knyghtes taccomplysshe hit And anone they were al made blynde And thenne palmachyen was aferd And shewed this vnto Alysandre And thenne themperour commaunded that the wednesday alle the peple shold assemble and sacryfye to Mercurye that they myghte haue answere vpon these thynges And as they sacryfyed a mayde of the temple whiche was named Iulyane was rauysshed of the deuylle and beganne to crye The God of Calyxte is very trewe and lyuyng whiche is wrothe and hath indignacion of our ordures And whanne palmachyen herd that he wente ouer Tybre vnto the Cyte of Rauenne vnto seynt Calixte and was baptysed of him he his wyf and alle his meyny And when themperour herd that he dyd do calle hym and delyuerd hym to Symply cyen Senatour for to warne and treate hym by fayr wordes by cause he was moche prouffitable for the comune And Palmachyen perseueryd in fastynges and in prayers Thenne cam to hym a man whiche promysed to hym that yf he heled his wyf whiche hadde the palseye that he wold bileue in god anone And whan Palmachien had adourid and praid the woman that was seke aroos and was al hole And ran to Palmachyen sayenge Baptise me in the name of Ihesu crist whiche hath taken me by the hand and lifte me vp Thenne cam Calixte and baptised her and her husbond and symplycyen and many other And when themperour herd herof he sente to smyte of the hedes of all them that were baptised And made Calixte to lyue fyue dayes in the prison withoute mete and drynke And after he sawe that calixt was the more comforted and gladde And commaunded that he shold euery daye be beten with staues And after he made a grete stone to be bounden to his neck and to be throwen doun from an hihe out of a wyndowe in to a pitte And Asteryen his preest took vp the body oute of the pytte And after buryed the body in the Cymytorye of Calipodyen Thus endeth the lyf of saint Calixte ¶ Here foloweth the lyf of seint Edward kynge and confessour IN old tyme the Royamme of Englond was gretely troublyd wyth the Danes So that in many kynges dayes there couthe no pees be maade But contynuelly werre And the Danes preuayled ageynste Englond And they brought it vnder their subiection for their cruelte and tyrannye was soo grete that withoute sparynge of ony thyng brent and destroyed But at the last it plesyd almyghty god that this tyrannye shold cease And sente of his grace vnto this Royame of Englond a peasible kyng named Edgar In whos byrth angels songen that pees shal be in his tyme so in his dayes was no werre in englond saynt edward kyng martir his sone regned not long after hym For his stepmoder dyde do slee hym in his yonge age by cause her sone Ethelrede shold regne saynt Dunston baptysed Ethelrede and saide by cause he defowled the fontstone that he shold lyue in grete trouble so he dyde for the danes warryd alle his tyme thys Etheldrede wedded Erle Goodwyns doughter on whome he gate Edmond yronsyde And after the deth of that quene he wedded the doughter of Rychard duke of Normandy which hiÈt Emme by whome
her that she sholde fetche the body of saynt Quyntyn in suche a place and burye it honourably And whanne she cam to the sayd place with a grete company And as she maade her prayers the body of saynt Quyntyn appiered aboue the water swetely smellyng and with oute corrupcion whiche body she tooke and buryed it worshipfully And for the sepulture that she maade honourably she that to fore was blynd receyued her syght ageyne for a reward And thenne there she edyffyed a fair chirche and retourned home vnto her owne place ageyne In whiche chirche now is a fayr monastery of Monkes and a good towne called saynt quyntyns in Vermandos where dayly beshewed many grete myracles And in specially for the ydropecye etcetera and swellynge of grete belyes for ouer grete superfluyte of water For this sekenesse in especialle he is sought And many men haue ben cured and maade hole by the merytes of this blessyd saynt and martir saynt Quyntyn To whome praye we that we may be delyuerd from alle Infyrmytees as ferre as it shalle please god and necessary for vs AMEN ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Quyntyn Here foloweth the lyf of saint Eustace and first of his name EUstace was named to fore his baptysme placidas whiche is as moche to saye as plesaunt to god And Eustace is sayd of eu that is to saye good and stachis that is fortune ther for Eustace is as it were good fortune He was playsaunt to god in his conuersacion And after he hekde hym in good werkes ¶ Of saint Eustace EUstace whiche firste was named Placidas was mayster of the chyualrye of Trayan themperour And was ryght besy in the werkes of mercy but he was a worshipper of ydolles And he had a wyf of the same Ryte and also of the dedes of mercy of whome he had two sones whiche he did do nourysshe after his estate And by cause he was ententyf to the werkes of mercy he deseruyd to be enlumyned to the way of trouthe So that on a daye as he was on hontynge he fonde an herde of hertes amonge whome he sawe one more fayre and gretter than the other whiche departid fro the companye And sprange in to the thyckest of the forest And the other knyghtes ronnen after the other hertes but placidas siewed hym with alle his myght and enforced to take hym And whanne the herte sawe that he folowed hym with alle his power Atte last he wente vp on an hyhe roche And Placidas approchynge nyghe thought in his mynde how he myght take hym And as he be held and consydered the herte dylygently he sawe bytwene his hornes the forme of the holy Crosse shynynge more clere than the sonne and thymage of Cryst whiche by the mouthe of the herte lyke as somtyme Balaam by the asse spack to hym sayenge Placidas wherfor folowest me hyder I am appiered to the in this beeste for the grace of the I am Ihesu Cryste whom thou honourest ignorauntly thy almesses ben ascended vp to fore me And therfore I come hyder soo that by this herte that thou huntest I maye hunte the ¶ And somme other saye that this ymage of Ihesu Cryst whiche appiered bytwene the hornes of the herte sayde these wordes And whan Placidas herd that He hadde greete drede And descended fro his hors to the ground And an houre after he cam to hym selfe and aroose fro the grounde and sayde Reherce ageyne this that thow haste sayd And I shalle byleue the And thenne oure lord sayde I am Ihesu Cryste that fourmed Heuen and Erthe whiche made the lyghte tencreace And deuyded it fro derkenesse And establysshed tyme Dayes and Houres whiche fourmed man of the slyme of the Erthe whiche appyeryd in Erthe in Flesshe for the helthe of the lygnage humayne whyche was Crucyfyed Deed buryed And aroose the thyrdde daye And whanne Placydas herd this He fylle doune ageyne to the Erthe And sayde I byleue Lord that thow arte he that maade alle thynges And conuertist them that erre And oure lord sayd to hym yf thou byleuest goo to the Bisshoppe of the Cyte and doo the be baptysed And Placidas sayd to hym Lord wylt thow that I hyde thys thynge fro my wyf and my sones And oure Lord sayd to hym Telle to them that they also make them clene wyth the ¶ And see that thow come ageyne to morowe hyther that I appiere ageyne to the and may shewe to the that whiche shalle come herafter to the And whan he was comen home to this hows and had told this thynge to his wyf in their bedde she escryed My lord and sayde And I sawe hym this nyght that is passyd and sayd to me to morne thou thy husbond thy sones shalle come to me And now I knowe that it was Cryst Thenne they wente to the Bisshop of Rome at MydnyÈte whiche baptysed them with grete ioye And named placidas Eustace And his wyf theopysse And on the morne Eustace wente to hunte as he dyde before And whan he cam nyghe to the place he departed his knyghtes as for to fynde veneson And anone he sawe in the place the forme of the fyrst vysion And anone he fylle doune to the grouÌd to fore the fygure said lord I pray the to shewe to me that whiche thou haste promysed to me thy seruaunt to whom our lord saide Eustace thou arte blessyd whiche hast taken the wasshyng of grace for now thou hast surmounted the deuylle whiche hadde deceyued the and troden hym vnder fote Now thy faithe shalle appiere· the deuylle now by cause thou hast forsake hym is armed cruelly ageynst the And it behoueth the to suffre many thynges and paynes for to haue the Crowne of victory thou must suffre moche by cause to humble the fro the hyhe vanyte of the world and shalt afterward be enhaunced in spyrytuelle Rychesses thou therfore fayle not ne loke not vnto thy fyrst glorye For the behoueth that by temptacions thou be another Iob And whan thou shalt so be humbled I shalle come to the and shalle restore the vnto the fyrst ioye Saye to me now whether thow wylt now suffre and take temptacions or in th ende of thy lyf And Eustace sayd to hym lord yf it so behoueth commaunde that temptacion to come now but I beseche the to graunte to me the vertue of pacyence To whom oure lord saide Be thow constaunt for my grace shal kepe your sowles Thenne oure lord ascended in to heuen And Eustace retorned home and shewed alle this to hys wyf After this a fewe dayes The pestylence assayllyd his seruauntes and his knyghtes and slewe them alle And in a lytel whyle after all his horses and his beestes deyde sodenly after this somme that had ben his felawes seyng his depredacion entryd in to his hows by nyght and robbed hym and bare awey gold and syluer despoylled hym of all other thynges And he his wyf and children thanked god and
Rome lyke as in shewyng that hit departed fro the seygnourye of Rome And thenne anone the Romayns wold brynge grete puyssaunce in to that prouynce And there subdued it to their seygnourye And yet it suffysed not to the Romayns that they hadde in theire seignorye alle the false ymages of the prouynces but maade to eche of tho false goddes a Temple lyke as tho goddes hadde maade them lordes and vaynqueurs of alle the prouynces And by cause that alle the ydolles myght not be in that Temple They made a gretter Temple more merueylous and hyhe than alle the other And for to shewe the more their wodenesse They dedyed this Temple in thonour of alle theyr goddes And more for to deceyue the peple the Bisshops of thydolles fayned that it had ben commaunded to them of Cybele a goddesse that is called moder of the goddes And they called this Temple Pantheon whiche is as moche to saye as alle goddes of pan that is all and theos that is god And by cause they wold haue victory of alle the people therfore they made a grete Temple to alle the sones of Cybele And the fouÌdament of this Temple was cast round by a spere that by that forme the perdurablete of theire Goddes sholde be shewed And for as moche as the grete quantite of the erthe whiche was within semed not susteynable to be voyded and that the werke was a lytel sene aboue the erthe they fylled the creuyses within the erthe and medled penyes with therthe And dyd alwey so tylle the sayd Temple was fully accomplysshed And thenne they gaf lycence that who someuer wold take awey the erthe that all the money that he fonde with therthe shold be his Thenne cam hastely grete companye of peple and voyded anone the Temple And at the last the Romayns maade a pyne of copper and gylt and set it in a ryght hyhe place And it is sayd alle the prouynces were entaylled and grauen merueylously within that pyne So that alle they that come to Rome myght see in that pyne in what parte his prouynce was And this pyne after longe tyme fylle and remayned in the ouerest parte of the Temple And in the tyme of Focas themperour what tyme Rome had receyued the faythe Boneface the fourthe ãâã fro saynt gregory about the yere of our lord six honderd and fyue gate of Focas the said Temple And dyd doo take awey and enface alle the ordure of alle tho ydolles And the fourthe kalendes of Maye he halowed it in thonour of our lady saynt Marye and of alle the martirs And called it saint Marye at martres whiche now is called sancta Maria rotunda that is saint Marye the round For thenne was made no solempnite of the Confessours And by cause ther assembled grete multitude of peple at his feest And there myght not be found haboundaunce of vitaylle for the peple that cam ãâã Gregory establysshed this feste to be in the kalendes of Nouembre For thenne oughte to be gretter habondaunce of vytaylle whanne the corne is had in and wyne made And establisshed this daye to be halowed thorugh the world in the honour of alle sayntes And thus the Temple that had be made for alle thydolles is now dedycate and halowed to alle the sayntes And where as the worshippynge of ydolles was vsed ther is now the praysyng of all sayntes Scondely it is ordeyned for the supplement of thynges offendyd and trespaced that is to saye for to accomplysshe suche as we haue ouerpassed For we haue lefte and ouerpassed many sayntes of whom we haue made no feste ne may not halowe the fest of euery saynt by hym self as wel for the grete multitude whiche ben Infynyte as for our Infyrmyte For we ben feble and weyke and maye not suffyse for the shortnesse of tyme For the tyme may not suffyse therto And as saynt Ierome sayth in a pystle whiche is in the begynnynge of his kalender ther is no day except the fyrst daye of Ianyuer but that there may be foundeh euery day mo than fyue thousand martirs And therfor by cause we maye not syngulerly make feest of euery saynt saynt Gregory thâ ãâã hath ordeyned and establysshed that we shall on one daye honoure them generally to gydre And Mayster Wylliam of Ancerre putteth sixe resons in the somme of the offyce wherfore hit was establysshed that we shold here in thys world make solempnyte of the sayntes The fyrste is for the honoure of the dyuyne mageste For whan we doo worship to the saynte or sayntes we worshipe god in his sayntes and say that he is merueylous in them For who that dothe honoure to sayntes he honoureth hym specyally which hath sanctyfyed them The second is to haue ayde in our Infyrmyte For by oure self we may haue none helthe therfor haue we nede of the prayers of sayntes And therfore we ought to honoure them that we may deserue that they ayde and helpe vs It is redde in the thyrdde book of kynges of the fyrst chapytre that bersabee is as moche to saye as the pytte of fyllynge whiche is to saye the Chirche tryumphaunt sayenge to her sone that is to saye that to the Chirche tryumphaunt he had obteyned the regne by his prayers The thyrdde cause is for thaugmentacion of oure surete that is to saye for the glorye that is purposed in vs in their solempnyte oure hope and surete ben augmented and encreaced And yf mortal men and dede myght thus be enhaunced by theire merytes it is trouthe that the myghte and puyssaunce shalle no thyng there by be mynuysshed ne lassed The fourth for thensample of vs folowynge For when the feste is remembryd we ben called tensiewe and folowe them soo that by thensample of them we despyse alle erthely thynges And desyre celestyall thynges ¶ The fyfthe is for the dette of entrechaungynge neyghbourhede For the sayntes make of vs feste in heuene For thaungels of god and the holy sowles haue ioye and make feste in heuene of a synnar that dothe penaunce And therfor it is ryght whanne they make of vs feste in heuen that we make feste of them in erthe The sixthe is for the procuracion of our honour For whanne we honoure the sayntes We procure our honour For their solempnyte is our dignyte For whan we worshipe oure bretheren we worshippe our self For charyte maketh al to be comyn And our thynges ben celestyall erthely and perdurable And aboue these reasons Iohan damascene putteth thre reasons in his fourthe boke the seuenth Chapytre why wherfore the sayntes and theire Relyques ought to be honoured of whiche some ben preysed for their dygnytees and somme for the preciousytees of their bodyes And the dygnyte of them is in four maners For they ben frendes of god Sones of god heyres of god and oure dukes and ledars And saynt Iohan putteth these auctorytees Iohannis decimo tercio For the first Iam non
with his ryght honde And thenne that other tooke his handes and bonde them behynde hym at his backe and delyuerd hym to another to holde hym And hit was axyd of hym yf he were aferd or doubted To whome Martyn answerd that he was neuer to fore so sure For he knewe well that the mercy of god was redy and wold come in temptacions And thenne began to preche to the theef and conuertid hym to the faythe of Ihesu crist And thenne the theef brought martyn forth on his waye and after lyued a good lyf whan he was passid Melane the deuylle appieryd to hym in a mannes lykenes demaunded hym whyder he wente he said thyder where as oure lord wold that he shold go the deuil said to hym where someuer thow goste the deuyll shall alwey be ageynst the martyn ansuerd to hym our lorde is myn helper therfor I doubte nothyng that may be done to me thenne anon the fende vanisshed awey theÌne he went home conuerted his moder but his fader abode stylle in his errour when theresye aryenne grewe in the world he was beten openly put out of the cyte cam to Melane did do make ther a monastery but he was cast out of thaâ ryens and wente with one preest only in to the yle of galmarye And there took for his mete herbes and among other he took an herbe enuenymed whiche was named Hereborus And when he felte that he shold deye and was in parylle he chaced awey the payne and peryll of the venym by the vertu of prayer And thenne he herd that the blessyd Hyllarye retorned fro his exyle And wente to mete hym And ordeyned a Monasterye by poityers And there was renewed in the faythe whiche he hadde in kepynge And whanne he wente a lytell oute and cam ageyn he fond hym deed withoute baptysme And thenne he wente in to his celle And brought the corps thyder And there knelyd by the corps and by his orysons he remysed hym in his lyf ageyne And as the same reherceth ofte that whanne the sentence was gyuen ageynst hym And was putte in a derke place And two Aungels sayd to the Iuge this is he for whome Martyn is pledge And thenne he commanded that he shold be remoeued vnto his body and so was yolden alyue to Martyn And also he restablysshed the lyf to another that was hanged And trewly whan the peple of Tours hadde no Bisshop they requyred strongly hym to be their Bisshop And he reffused hit But there was one whiche was to hym contrarye by cause he was of vyle habyte and despysable of chere And one ther was amonge the other whiche was named defensor ¶ And whanne the lector was not present an other took the psaultyer and redde the fyrst psalme that he fonde in whiche psalme was wreton this vers Ex ore infancium God thow hast performed the laude by the mouthe of children yonge soukers And for thyne enemyes thow shalt dostroye thenemye defensour And thus that defensour was chaced oute of the Towne by al the peple And thenne he was ordeyned bisshop And by cause he myghte not suffre the tumulte ne noyse of the peuple he establysshed a monasterye a two lekes fro the Cyte ther lyued in grete abstynence with foure score disciples of whom dyuerse cytees chosen of them to be their bisshops And there was a Corps in a chapelle whiche was worshipped as a martir And saynt Martyn couthe fynde no thynge of his lyf ne of his merytees ¶ He cam on a daye on the sepulcre of hym and prayd vnto oure lord that he wold shewe to hym what he was and of what meryte And thenne he tourned hym on the lyfte syde And sawe there a ryght obscure and derke shadowe Thenne Saynt Martyn coniured hym and demaunded hym what he was And he sayd to hym that he was a theef And that for his wyckednesse was slayne Anone thenne Saynte Martyn commaunded that the aulter shold be destroyed ¶ It is redde in the Dyalogue of Seuere and Galle disciples of saynte Martyn that there ben many thynges lefte oute in the lyf of saynt Martyn whiche ben accomplisshed in the sayd Dyalogue So on a tyme saynt Martyn wente to Valentynyen themperour for a certayn necessyte And the Emperoure knewe wel that he wold requyre suche thynge as he wold not gyue to hym And Martyn cam twyes to haue entryd but he myght not entre Thenne he wrapped hym in hayer and caste asshes on hym and maade his flesshe lene al an hole weke by fastynges dyd grete abstynence And thenne the Aungell warned him to go to the palais And noman shold gayn saye hym And thenne he wente to the Emperour And whanne he saw hym he was angry by cause he was lete come in And wold not aryse ageynste hym tylle that the fyre entrid in his chambre and felte the fyre behynde hym Thenne he aroos all angry And confessyd that he hadde felte the vertu dyuyne And beganne tembrace saynt Martyn and graunted to hym all that he desyred and offryd to hym many yeftes but he reffused and toke none And in this Dyalogue hit is redde how he reysed the thyrdde dede persone For whanne a Iongelynge was deed his moder prayde saynt Martyn with wepynge teres for to reyse hym to the poure man And commaunded that he shold go his waye anone And whanne the Archedeken warned hym to goo do the seruyse Martyn sayde that he myght not goo tylle the poure man were clothed and mente hym self but he vnderstonde hym not For he sawe hym clothed and couerd with his cope and wyst not that he was naked vnder And therfore he rought not of the poure man And thenne he said to hym why brynge ye nothynge for the poure man brynge ye me thenne a vesture and lete me be clothed for the poure man And thenne he beynge constrayned wente to the market And bought a vyle cote and a shorte for v pens whiche was nought worth And cam and angrely threwe it doune atte his feet And saynt Martyn tooke hit vp and cladde hym with alle secretely And the sleues cam to his elbowes And the lengthe was but to his knees And so wente to synge the masse And as he sange masse a grete lyght of fyre descended vpon his heede and was sene of many that were there And therfore he is sayd lyke and egalle to thappostles And to this myracle addeth Mayster Iohan Beleth that whanne he lyfte vp his handes at the masse as hit is of customme the sleues of thaube slode doune vnto his elbowes For his armes were not grete ne flesshely and the sleuys of his cote cam but to his elbowes so that his armes abode al naked Thenne were broughte to hym by myracle sleues of gold and ful of precious stones of Angels whiche couerd his armes couenably He sawe on a tyme a shepe shorne and saide this
doun and smote of his heed aboute the yere of our lord two hondred and lxxx vnder maxymyen ¶ And yet there was another saturnyn in affryca whiche was brother of saynt satyre saynt renouele and saynt felycyte his suster and saynt perpetua whyche was of noble lygnage whyche al suffred deth togyder of whome the passyon is holden another tyme and whan the prouoste sayd to them that they shold do sacrefyse to thydolles they refused it vtterlye and he thenne put them in pryson and when the fader of saynt perpetua herde that he cam to the pryson wepyng and sayd doughter thou hast dyshonoured al thy lygnage For tyl now was neuer none of thy lygnage put in ãâã pryson and whan he knewe that she was crysten he ranne vpon hyr and wold haue cratched out hir eyen wyth his fyngres cryeng lowde yssued out and the blessyd perpetua sawe a vysyon whiche in the mornyng she sayd to hir felawes I sawe said she a ladder of golde of a meruaylous heyght erecte to heuen and was so strayte that no man myght goo but one allone and cultres and swerdes of yron sharpe were fixed on the right syde lyfte syde so that he that wente vp myght neyther loke here ne there but byhoued alweye to beholde ryght vp to heuen and a dragon of horryble grete fourme laye vnder the ladder whiche made euery man to drede and fere to mounte vp and she sawe satyre assendyng by the same vnto a boue lokyng to vs ward sayd doubte ye no thynge this dragon but come vp surely that ye may be wyth me And whan they herde this vysyon they al gaue thankynges to our lord âod for they knewe thenne that they were callyd to marterdom and on the morne they were alle presented to the Iuge and after he sayd to them it behoueth you to be presented to the goddes doo sacrefyse to them but whan they wold do no sacrefyse He maad saynt saturnyne to be take fro the wymmen and to be put emonge the other men and he sayd to saynt felycyte hast thou an husbond she said I haue one but I sette not by hym thenne he sayd to hir haue mercy on thy self woman and lyue specyally syth thou hast a chylde in thy bely To whome she sayd do to me what thou wylte for thou mayste neuer drawe me to thy wylle The fader and moder of saynt perpetua and hir husbond ranne to hir and broughte hir chylde to hir Whiche yet sowked and whan hir fader sawe hir stondyng tofore the prouoste he fyl doun and sayd to hir my most swete doughter haue mercy on me and on thy sorowful moder and also of thys moste wretche thy husbonde whyche may not lyue after the and she stood stylle without moeuyng and thenne hir fader caste his armes aboute hyr necke and he hir moder and hir husbond kyssed hir sayeng doughter haue pyte of vs and lyue wyth vs And thenne she put the lytel chylde from hir and theym also sayeng departe ye and goo ye fro me myn enemyes for I knowe you not thenne whan the prouoste sawe hir constaunce he made hir longe to be beten and afterward to be put in pryson thenne the other sayntes were sorowful for saynt felycyte whiche had yet monethes to come of hir chyldyng and prayed to god for hir and anone she began to trauayle and was delyuerd of a chylde a lyue and quycke Thenne one of hir kepars sayd to hyr what shalt thou do whan thou comest tofore the prouoste whiche arte yet soo greuously tormented and felycyte answerd I shal here suffre payne for my self and god shal suffre there for me and thenne were these Sayntes drawen out of pryson and were despoyled and ladde by the stretes and to them were lete goon beestis satyre and perpetue were deuoured of lyons and renouele felycyte were slayne of lupardes and saynt saturnyne had his heed smyton of And this was aboute the yere of our lord two hondred and lvj vnder valeryen and galyen emperours Thus endeth the lyf of Saynt saturnine Of Saint Iames the marter Iames the marter had to surname entersyce and was of noble lygnage but more noble by his feyth he was borne in the regyon of perse in the cite of lapene he was comen of crysten peple and had a good crysten wyf and was wel knowen with the kyng of perse and was chyef emonge the prynces and it happed for the grete loue that he had to the kynge he was deceyued and brought to adoure the ydolles to whome he knelyd whan his moder and his wyf herde that anone they wrote to hym a letter in this wyse thou hast forsake hym that is lyf in obeyeng to hym that is mortal and in plesyng hym that is but duste thou hast lefte thodour pardurable thou hast chaunged trouthe in to lesynge in oboyeng hym that is mortal and hast forsaken the Iuge of them that been dede and of them alyue and knowe thou that fro heue forth we shal be to the straunge ne we shal not dwelle wyth the in noo manere herafter and whan Iames had herde this letter he wepte bytterly and sayd yf my moder that bare me my wyf be maad soo straunge to me thenne how moche more shold I be estraunged fro god and whan he had sore tormented hym self for this errour There came a messager to the prynce that sayd that Iames was crysten thenne the prynce callyd hym and said say to me yf thou be nazaryen iames sayd ye verayly I am nazaryen and the prynce said thenne arte thou an enchauntour and Iames sayd I am none and whan the prynce menaced hym with many tormentes Iames sayd to hym thy menaces trouble no thynge me for it ne is but wynde blowyng vpon a stone thy woodnes passeth lyghtly thorugh myn eerys to whom the prynce sayd demene the not dysordynatly lest thou perysshe by greuous dethe To whome Iames sayd Thys ought not be called a deth but a slepe for anone after we shal aryse ageyn and the prynce sayd lete not the nazaryens deceyue the sayeng that deth is noo thynge but a slepe for the grete emperours doubten it and Iames said we doubte no thynge the dethe for we hope for to goo fro dethe to lyf And thenne the prynce by counceyl of his frendes gafe this sentence vpon Iames that he shold be cut euery membre from other for to fere the other theÌne somme had pyte of hym wepte and he sayd to them wepe not for me for I goo to lyf but wepe on your self to whome tormentes perdurable be due vnto and the bouchyers cutte of the thombe of his right honde he cryed and sayd o thou delyuerer or nazarenes receyue the braunche of the tree of thy mercy For the ouerplus is cutte of of hym that tylyeth the vyne for to burgene and brynge forth fruyte more plenteuously the boucher
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 ãâã also the lyfte syde thenne yf the lamââ 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 wouÌdes 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
hys secretes whan ye come ageyn in to the see and our lord wyl that ye lade your shyppe wyth the fruyte of thys londe and hye you hens for ye may no lenger abyde here but thou shalte sayle ageyn in to thyn owne contree and sone after thou comest home thou shalt deye and thys water that thou seest here departeth the world a sondre for on that other syde of thys water may no man come that is in thys lyf and the fruyte that ye see here is alle waye thus rype euery tyme of the yere and alwey it is here lyght as ye now see and he that kepeth our lordes hestys at al tymes shal see thys londe or he passe out of thys world And thenne saynt brandon and his monkes toke of that fruyte as moche as they wolde and also toke with them grete plente of precyous stones and thenne toke theyr loue and wente to shyppe wepyng sore by cause they myght no lenger abyde there and thenne they toke theyr shyppe and came home in to yrelonde in saufete whome theyr brethern receyued wyth grece ioye gyuyng thankynges to our lord whiche had kepte them al that seuen yere fro many a peryl and brouÈt them home in saufete To whome be yeuen honour glorye world without ende amen And sone after this holy man Saynt brandon wexe feble and seek and had but lytel ioye of thys world But euer after his ioye mynde was in the ioyes of heuen and in shorte tyme after he beyng ful of vertues departed out of thys lyf to euerlastyng lyf And was worshypfully buryed in a fayr abbey whiche he hym self founded Where our lord shewyth for thys holy saynt many fayr myracles Wherfore lete vs deuoutely praye to thys holy saynt that he praye for vs to our lord that he haue mercy on vs to whome be gyuen lawde honour and empyre world withouten ende amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Brandon And here foloweth the lyf of saint erkenwolde bysshop SAynt erkenwolde was borne of noble lygnage Hys fader was named offa and was kyng of eest englond and he had also a suster named alburgh whiche Erkenwolde and alburgh were of right parfyte lyf and how be it that theyr fader was a paynym yet were thyse two chyldren crysten whan erkenwolde was in parfyte age he wente in to relygyon and was made first abbot of chirchesey where he lyued an holy lyf and after he was made bysshop of london his suster alburgh was his trewe folower in good werkys and was a woman of relygyon and for hir holy lyf she was made abbesse of berkynge Thys holy man by the Informacion of saynt Austyn mellyte was enformed in the feythe in suche wyse that he vtterly forsoke the world ordeyned and buylded ij monasteryes one for hym selfe at chyrcheseye another for hys suster at barkyng whiche after hir baptesme was named ethelburga and saynt erkenwolde counceylled his suster to flee worldely vanytees and so he dyd hym self and gaue hym in to deuyne contemplacyon gaue gladly suche goodes as he had besyde them that he spente in the fondacyon and buyldyng of the sayd monasteryes to poure peple and he chaunged his erthely herytage his worldly dygnyte and hys grete patrymonye in to the herytage and lyuelode of holy chirche for to haue hys herytage in heuen and he dyd al thyse expencis or he was called to be bysshop of london and the holy theodore archebysshop of caunterburye dyd do consecrate hym bysshop of london and hys suster was sette in berkyng with other vyrgynes for to be alweye ocupyd in the seruyce of our lord and it happed on a tyme as thartyfycers that bylded the monasterye at berkynge were ouer seen in takyng the mesure of a pryncipal beme for it was to shorte wolde not accorde to the place that it was ordeyned for wherfore they made moche sorowe Thenne this holy man saynt erkenwolde and his suster seyng thys mysfortune toke the same beme bytwene theyr hondes and drewe it out in suche wyse that it had suffycyente lengthe and accorded vnto the propre place that it was ordeyned to whiche myracle was anone knowen openlye to the people and at that tyme were noo nonnes in englonde wherfore saint erkenwolde sente ouer see for a deuoute relygyous woman named hyldelyth to whome he bytoke his suster for to be enformed in the relygyon as wel in connyng as in good maners and vertuous doctryne in which she prouffyted in suche wyse that she passed all hir felawes in connyng sone after she was made abbesse and chyef of al the monasterye and it happed sone after that the bysshop of london deyed whos name was cedda by consente of the kynge and alle the people thys holy man of god erkenwolde was bysshop of london and what someuer he taughte in worde he fulfylled it in dede for he was parfyte in wysedom softe and dyscrete in worde bysy in prayer chaast of body hooly yeuen to goddes lore and was planted in the rote of charyte and afterward whan he had suffred moche trybulacion wyth many ghoostly bataylles he began to waxe ryght seek and thenne he commaunded to make redy his chare that he myght goo and preche in the cytee the Worde of god wherfore it was kepte in custome longe tyme after of his dyscyples and many other to touche hym and kysse hym and what someuer sekenesse that they had they were anone delyuerd therof and were made parfytelye hool In a day of somer as thys blessyd saynt saynt erkenwolde rode in hys chare for to preche the word of god It fortuned that the one whele of the chare fyl of fro the axtre and that notwythstondyng the chare went forth right wythout fallyng whyche was ageyn nature and reson and a fayre myracle for god guyded the chare it was meruaylle to alle them that sawe it ¶ O mercyable god and meruayllous aboue al thyng to whom alle brute beestys be made meke and wylde thynges been obedyente thou vouchesauf to calle to thy mercy thy blessyd seruaunte to make hym partable of thy excellente ioye thou yeue vs grace by his prayer which knewe by reuelacyon that his sowle shold be losed from the body by temporall dethe to be preserued fro al manere euyl and euerlastyng dethe whan thys blessyd saynt erkenwolde as god wold came to berkyng he fyl in to a grete sekenesse in whiche he ended his temporalle lyf for soo moche as he knewe it before he sente for his seruauntes and suche as were drawyng to hym yaue to them holsom and swete lessons and blessyd them with grete deuocyon emonge them he yelded vp hys spyrite to almyghty god in whos passyng was felte a merueyllous swete odour as the hous had be ful of swete bawme And whan the hyghe channons of Saynt Powles at london herde thys and the monkys of chyrcheseye also anone they came to this holy body for to
haue it and the nonnes sayd they oughte to haue the body by cause he deyed there also by cause he was her founder and the monkes said they ought rather to haue hym by caust he was bothe theyr abbot and founder Thenne the chappytre of Powles and the people said they stroue in vayne for he shold be broughte to london in to his owne chirche thus ther was grete stryffe and at the laste they of london toke vp the holy body and bare it toward london and as they wente there fyl a grete tempeste and so moche water that they myght not passe but were constrayned to sette doun the corps in al the storme the tapers that were borne aboute the body were alweye bryght brennyng thenne the noÌnes sayd that god shewyd wel that they of london ought not to haue hym by cause of the tempeste and atte laste after many wordes there was a clerke whyche had be longyng to saynt erkenwolde and sawe thys stryf and stode vp and commaunded scylence and tolde to the peple a grete commendacyon of the vertuous lyf of this holy saynt and sayd it was not honest ne accordyng to mysentrete the holy body by vyolente hondes but lete vs byseche almyghty god wyth good deuocyon and mekenesse of herte for to shewe to vs somme token by reuelacyon in what place this holy body shal reste and alle the people consented therto and knelyd doun and prayed deuoutelye and whyles they were in prayer they sawe that the water deuyded as it dyd to moyses in the reed see and to the chyldren goyng thorugh in to deserte In lyke wyse god gafe a drye path to the peple of london for to conueye thys holy body thorugh the water to the cytee and anone they toke vp the body with grete honoure and reuerence and by one assente they bare it thorugh the pathe the water stondyng vp on euery syde and the peple not wetyng theyr feet and so they came to stratforde and sette doun the bere in a fayre mede ful of floures and anone after the wedder began to wexe fayre and clere after the tempeste and the tapres were made to brenne wythout puttyng to fyre of ony mannes honde and thus it plesyd our lord for to multeplye myracles to thonour worshyp of this holy saynt wherfore the peple were full of ioye gladnes gaue lawde to almyghty god thenne they toke vp the body brought it to poules and as many seek folkes as touched his bere were made hole anone as they touched the bere of al their sekenesses by the merytes of the holy bisshop saynt Erkenwolde after they leyed buryed the body honourably in saynt Poules chirche where as our lord hath shewed many a fayr myracle as in delyueryng of prysoners out of theyr yrons seke folke to their helth blynde to their syght and lame men to their bodelye strengthe emonge al other he hath ben a special protectour to the sayd chirche ageynst fyre where on a tyme the chirche was brente and his shryne whiche was thenne but tre was sauyd thorugh his holy merytes in so moche that the clothe that laye vpon it was not perisshed Another tyme whan a grete fyre had brente a grete parte of the cyte shold haue entred vpon the chirche saynt erkenwolde was seen on the chirche with a baner fyghtyng ageynst the fyre so saued and kepte his chirche fro brennyng Thenne lete vs praye vnto this holy saynt that he be a special aduocate for vs to almyghty god that we may be preserued from al perylles of fyre water that he so gouerne vs bytwene welth aduersyre in this present lyf that we beyng assoyled from synne vyces may be brought vnto heuenly ioye where laude honour glorye be gyuen to the blessyd trynyte word wythouten ende amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Erkenwolde bysshop ¶ Here foloweth of the holy abbot Pastor and first of his name PAstor is said of fedyng by cause that he fedeth his shep and this holy man pastor fedde his sheep spyrytuelly and they were his brethern by spyrytuel wordes of doctryne and of maners of holy relygyon Of the holy abbot Pastor THe abbotte Pastor was many yeris in grete abstynence in deserte and tormeÌted his flesshe longe tyme and he shyned in grete holynesse of relygyon and hys moder desyred moche to see hym and his brethern and sawe on a day that he and his brethern went to the chirche they sawe hir and anone they fledde fro hir and entryd in to theyr celle shytte the dore ageynste hir and she came to the dore and satte there sore cryeng and wepyng And thenne pastor came to the dore and sayd what cryest thou there thou olde woman thenne she vnderstood the voys of hym and she cryed lowder and sayd I wold see you my sones why sholde I not see you am I not your moder that bare you and yaue you souke now am al hore for age To whome hir sone sayd whethyr wylt thou see vs in thys world or in another and thenne she sayd yf I see you not here shal I see you there and he said to hir yf thou mayst suffre not for to see vs here wythout doubte thou shalt see vs there whiche thenne departed ioyefully sayeng yf I shal see you there I wyl not see you here and thenne the Iuge wold nedes see the abbotte Pastor but he myght not and thenne he toke his susters sone as though he had been a malefactour and put hym in pryson and sayd yf pastor wyl come praye for hym I shal delyuer hym and lete hym goo and thenne the moder of the chylde came wepyng to the dore of pastor and prayed hym to helpe hir sone and whan she coude gete none answer of hym thenne she sayd to hym by grete vyolence yf thyn entraylles ben harde as yron and hast no pyte of nothynge yet at the leste oughtest thou to be moeuyd and haue pyte of thyn owne blood whiche is my sone and thenne pastor sent to hir and sayd that he had engendryd noo chylde And thenne anone she departed for angre and thenne sayd the Iuge atte leste lete hym commaunde by mowthe and I shal lete hym goo and thenne the abbotte pastor sente hym worde that he shold examyne the cause accordyng to the lawe and yf he were worthy to deye lete hym deye and yf not doo as it shal plese the He taughte hys brethern and sayd for to kepe hym self to consydere and to haue dyscrescyon ben werkys of the sowle pouerte trybulacion and dyscrescyon ben werkys of solytarye lyf It is wryton that thyse thre men were so Noe Iob and danyel Noe representeth the persone that possedeth Iob them that been troubled and danyel them that ben dyscrete yf a monke hateth two thynges he may be fre of thys world and one of his brethern asked hym what they
arsenye alle the dayes of hys lyf whan he satte at the werke of his handes he had a lynnen clothe in his bosom for to drye wyth the teerys that ranne faste from hys eyen and alle the nyght he wold not slepe and in the mornynge whan he muste slepe for werynesse of nature He wold saye to slepe come wycked seruaunte and thenne wolde take a lytel slepe syttyng and wold aryse anone and sayd It suffyseth to a monke yf he slepe an houre yf he be a fyghter ageynst vyces Whan the fader of saynt arsenye whiche was a grete senatour and a right noble man shold fynysshe hys lyf he lefte to arsenyen by hys testamente moche herytage and one magystryen broughte vnto hym the sayd testament and whan he had receyued it he wold haue broken it Thenne magystryen fyl doun at his feet prayeng hym that he wold not doo soo for his hede theÌne shold he lese for it shold he smyton of To whome arsenyen sayd I was dede tofore hym he therfore that is but now dede how may he make me his heyre and sente ageyn the testamente and wolde noo thynge haue On a tyme there was a voys came to hym and sayd come and I shalle shewe to the the werkys of the men And ladde hym in to a certeyn place and shewyd to hym a man of ethyope that is a blacke man that hewe wode and made a grete fardel so grete that he myght not bere hit and alweye be hewe and put to the fardel and thus he dyd longe and after he shewed to hym a man that drewe water oute of a lake and caste it in to a cesterne perced by whiche the water ranne ageyn in to the lake and he wold fylle the cesterne and myght not And after he shewyd to hym a temple and a man on hors backe which bare a longe tree thwarte and wold entre in to the temple and be myght not by cause the tree laye thwarte Thenne he expawned hym thys thynge and sayd he that bereth the tree is lyke the burthen of Iustyce wyth pryde and wyl not meke hym therfore he abydeth wythoute the royame of heuen And he that heweth the wood is a man that is in synne And putteth none aweye by penaunce but putteth alweye wyckednesse to wyckednesse And he that draweth the water is a man that doeth good werkys here in thys presente worlde but by cause that his euyl werkis ben medlyd with them he loseth hys good werkys whan the euensonge tyme of the satyrday came on the sonday he lefte al his werkys behynde hym and helde vp his handes to heuen tyl the sonne aroos in the mornyng of the sonday tofore his face so abode alle the nyght in prayers and in orisons and hec in vitis patrum Thus endeth of Saint Arsenyen ¶ Here foloweth of the abbotte Agathon AGathon the abbotte bare iij yere a stone in his mowthe tyl that he had lernyd to kepe scylence there was another which entrid in to the congregacion that sayd within hym self thou an asse been of one kynde for lyke as an asse is beten speketh not suffreth wronge without answeryng right so doest thou another broder was put fro the table he answerd nothynge afterwarde he was axyd he said I haue put in my herte that I am lyke to an hounde for whan he is chastysed he goeth hys waye out it was demauÌded of agathon what vertue was more than laboure he answerd I trowe ther be no laboure so grete as to praye to god for the fende laboureth alweye to breke his prayer in other laboures a man hath somme reste he that prayeth hath all weye nede of grete stryf a brother demaunded of agathon how he ought to dwelle with his brethern to whome he said like as the first day take on the no truste but suffraunce for suffraunce is not worse than truste for suffraunce is moder of al passyons theÌne kepe the fro yre for yf the yrons reysed dede men it shold not plese god ne none other for his yre there was abrother that was angry said to hym self yf I were allone I shold not be so sone angry On a tyme as he fylled a potte with water he poured it out ageyn he fylled it the second tyme poured it out alweye thenne he was so moeuyd for angre that he brake the potte thenne he aduysed hym self knewe that he was deceyued of the deuyl of wrath of yre said I am allone yet I am ouercome by wrath therfore I shal retorne to my congregacion for oueral is labour oueral is pacyence nede of the helpe of god two other brethern were contrarye whiche had longe conuersed to gyder myght not be meued to wrath on a tyme that one sad to that other lete vs make contencions to gyder lyke as men of âhe world do that other sayd I wote not how contencyon is made and that other said I shal laye this sacke in the myddel bytwene vs I shal say it is myn thou shalte say it is not soo but it is myn thus shal the stryf be made thenne that one layed the sacke so said it is myn that other sayd nay but it is myn and that other said thenne thyn be it take it and goo thy waye thus they departed and coude not stryue to gyder Thabbot agathon was wyse to vnderstonde not slowe to laboure scarce in mete and clothyng and sayd he had neuer slepte at hys wylle hauyng in my herte ony sorowe ageynst ony other or ony other ageynst me whan agathon shold deye he helde hym thre dayes without moeuyng holdyng alweye his eyen open to heuen And whan hys brethern rored or styred hym He sayd I am tofore the Iugemente of god And they sayd why doubtest thou And he sayd I haue laboured wyth alle the vertue that I myghte to kepe the commaundementes of god But I am a man and I wote not yf my werkys shalle please our Lord And they sayd âuâstest not thou in thy werkys which thou hast doon for god and he sayd I shal not presume tyl I come tofore hym For the Iugementes of god ben other than the Iugementes of men And whan they wolde yet haue axyd hym somme thynge he said shewe to me charyte and speke nomore to me for I am ocupyed and whan he had said this he yelded vp his spirite with ioye and they sawe our lord and his aungellys receyuyng his spirite and salewyng lyke as a man saleweth his frendes alle thys is wryton in vitis patrum Thus endeth of the holy abbot Agathon ¶ Here foloweth of Balaam the Hermyte BAlaam of whome saynt Iohan damascene made the hystorye with grete dyligence In whome deuyne grace so wroughte that he conuerte to the feythe saynt Iosaphat thenne as al ynde was ful of crysten peple
after thys the lombardes made a kynge named adolaoth which was baptysed and receyued the feythe of cryste and theodolyne quene of the lombardes a deuoute and moste crysten lady ordeyned at melane a moche fayr oratorye To whome saynt Gregory sente the bokes of dyaloges and she conuerted agysulphe hyr husbonde to the feythe whiche had fyrst been duc of Taurynense and after was kynge of the lombardys and he maad pees to be had wyth the Emperour wyth the chyrche and the pees was maad bytwene the Romayns and the lombardes the day of the feste of saynt Geruase and saynt prothase and therfore establysshed saynt gregory to synge the offyce in the masse Loquetur dominus pacem ¶ And in the natyuyte of Saynt Iohan baptyst the pees was al confermyd and thys Theodolyn had a specyal deuocion to the blessyd saynt Iohan and sayd that by the meryte of hym her people was conuerted and to hym she made the sayd oratorye at melane and it was shewed by reuelacyon vnto an holy man that saint Iohan was patrone and deffendour of her peple and whan gregory was dede sabyne succeded after hym and to hym succeded boneface the thyrd and to hym boneface the fourth at whos requeste Focas the emperour gafe to the chirche of cryste the temple of Pantheon aboute the yere of our lord vj hondred and ten and he at the requeste of the thyrd boneface establysshed the see of Rome to be chyef and hede of al the chyrche For tofore the chyrche of constantynople wrote hir seef grettest of alle other chyrches And whan Focas was dede Heracle reygned and aboute the yere of our lord vj hondred and ten machomete the false prophete and an enchauntour deceyued the agarenes or ysmaelytes that is to saye the sarazyns in thys maneee as it is redde in an hystorye of hym in a certeyn cronycle There was a clerke moche renomed at rome whiche coude not come to the worshyp that he desyred and in grete desdayne departed thens in to the partyes ouer the see and drewe to hym by his symylacyon moche peple and fonde machomete and sayd to hym that he wold make hym lord and chyef of alle the peple and after he nourisshed a dowue and layed whete and other corne in the eerys of Machomete and sette the dowue vpon his sholdre and fedde hym out of his eer and was so vsed and acustomed that alwey whan he sawe machomete he flewe on hys sholdre and put his bylle or becke in his eer and thenne this clerke called the peple and sayd that he wold make hym lord ouer them alle On whome the holy ghoost shold descende in the lykenesse of a culuer or a dowue And thenne he leââ the dowue flee secretelye and he fledde vpon the sholdre of machomete which was emonge the other and put his becke in hys eer And whan the peple sawe thys thynge they supposed that the holy ghoost had descendyd on hym and had shewed vnto hym in his eere the worde of god and thus deceyued machomete the sarasyns whyche with his adherentes assaylled the royalme of Perse and alle the partyes of the orryente vnto Alysaundre Thus it is sayd comyâlye but thys that shal here folowe is had fro more trewer hystorye For thenne machomete made and fayned his lawes to be made of the holy ghoost whyche in the syght of the people ofte came vnto hym in the forme of a dowue and in his lawes he put somme thynges of the olde and newe testamente For whan he was in hys fyrste eage he haunted egypte and Palestyne and was a marchaunte and ladde camellys and conuersyd of te with Iewes and wyth crysten men of whom he had taken the olde testamente the newe and after the custome of the Iewes the sarasyns ben circumcysed and ete no swynes flesshe And machometâ tolde hem that the cause was that the Swyne was made of the donge of the camell after noes flode and therfore it ought to be eschewed as an vnclene beest of clene peple and to cristen men they accorde where as they byleue on god almyghty maker of alle thynge And this false prophete meddlid and affermyd somme trewe thynges wyth the fals he sayd that moyses was a grete prophete but cryste was gretter and moste souerayn of the prophetes was borne of the vyrgyne marye wythout seed of man and he sayth in his book that is called alcharon that whan cryste was a chylde he made byrdes of the slyme of the erthe but he meddlyd venym wyth hys wordes For he sayd that Ihesu cryste was not verayly deed ne aroos not ageyn but that it was another in lykenesse of hym that he had put in hys stede There was a lady named Cadygam whyche was lady of a prouynce named cerotanye and sawe that this machomete was kepar and gouernour of a grete companye of sarasyns Iewes supposed that deuyne mageste had be in hym hydde she was a wydowe she toke machomete to hyr husbonde thus was machomete prynce of alle that prouynce after by false demonstraunces he deceyued not onelye thys lady but he deceyued Iewes crysten men so that he sayd to them openlye that he was messyas that was promysed in theyr lawe and after this machomete fyl ofte he thepylentycal passyon and whan the lady his wyf ââwe hym ofte falle she was moche sorouful that she had wedded hym he thoughte to plese hir appeased her in thys wyse sayd that he sawe ofte the aungel gabryel whyche spake to hym and that he myght not suffre the bryghtnesse of hym wherfore he must falle by cause he myght not sustene hym and hys wyf other supposed and byleuyd that it had ben trewe and in another place it is redde that a monke named sergyus an heretyke that Introduced machomette whyche monke by cause he fyl in to heresye of nestory was expulsed fro his monasterye and came in to arabye abode wyth machomete how be it it is sayd in another place that he was archedeken in antyoche as somme saye he was a Iacobyte preched the circumsycyon and sayd that cryste was not god but he was an holy man conceyued onely of the holy god borne of a vyrgyne that byleue the sararyns the sayd Sergyus taughte to machomete many thynges of tholde and newe testamente And whan machomete was orphane of fader moder he was vnder the gouernaunce of his vncle and by longe tyme adoured thydolles with the people of arabye as he wytnesseth in hys alcharon that god shold saye to hym Thou were an orphelyn and I haue taken the Thou abodest longe in the errour of ydolatrye I brought the out therof Thou were poure and I haue enryched the ¶ Al the people of arabye wyth machomete worshypped Venus for a goddesse therof cometh it that the sarasyns holde the fryday in grete honoure lyke as the Iewes doon the satyrday and cristen
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 Iâyquyte 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
aungels in paradyse that bare the arche of the testamente of god and thenne he sayd to alle the people I see heuen opene and the aungelles beryng the arche of god and yet I see our lord Ihesu cryste syttyng on his trybunal and whan the peple had herde hym they al togyder bothe more and lesse beganne of one voys of one herte and of one mowthe to preyse to glorefye and to magnefye the name of our lord and fro that tyme forth on they honoured more the holy man thenne they had doon before The holy man thenne commaunded that a crosse shold be made of Wode dressed and sette in the same place where he sawe the forsayd vysyon On another tyme as he prechyd nyghe to a chyrche called carnyfrât before a crosse made of stone where as moche peple was assemblyd to here his predycacion the whiche crosse had be somtyme made in the honour and reuerence of our lord Ihesu cryste and of the gloryous archaungel Saynt Mycââl on whiche crosse somtyme he descendyd fro the sholdres of the sayd archebysshop It happed that a yonge mayde deed Was broughte thyder for to be buryed the whyche by his prayer at the requeste of the people was reysed to lyf Of thystorye of thys gloryous saynt I ne may fynde more of it but we al shal praye to hym that toward our lord he wyl be our good Intercessour and frende AMEN Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Turyen ¶ And here foloweth the lyf of Saynt Fyacre SAint Fâacre âthe gloryous hermyte made many vertuous dedes in the terrytorye or countreye of meaulx in the proteccion of saynt pharon that tyme bysshop of the cyte of meaulx many myracles nedeful and necessarye as thenne He made in thys world as the legende of the lessons of his faytes shewen clerely ynough and to the ende that this presente narracion that maketh of hyt mencyon be not to moche prolonged and that the lyf of saynt Fyacre and of saynt pharon assemblyd to gyder may appere to them that shal rede hit It is good as to me semeth that at thys begynnyng I make mencion of the excellence of saynt fyacre how for the loue of our lord he lefte his contree bothe fader and moder and alle hys goodes and came in to the partyes of fraunce On that tyme that the gloryous saynt pharon lefte and relynquysshed the worldly knyghthode and that he was ordeyned and made bysshop of meaulx the same monke named fyacre of the nacyon of scottes beyng in his contreye and meued by deuocyon to serue our lord more streytelye departed with suche felawshyp as fortune gafe to hym and came vnto meaulx in fraunce where he prayed the holy bysshop there that he myghte dwelle vnder his proteccion whan Pharon had herde his demaunde ryght gladly he accorded to it and as a pyteous pastour graunted that Fyacre shold dwelle wyth hym after hys owne plesure as longe as he wolde whan the hermyte fyacre had Impetred his petycyon or demaunde he yede and caste his syght lowe toward the erthe and onely with al hys herte thouÈte and wythout spekyng made his prayer to god that of hys grace he woââ haue pyte on hym and so feruentelye he besought and prayed that hys face rendryd grete droppys of water and was ouer rede and sore chauffed And whan the blessyd saynt pharon sawe hym in suche estate he beganne to be meruaylled and wende that he was agreuyd of somme thynge anone he callyd to hym one of his seruauntes and sayd to hym goo to yonder man and make hym come secretelye to speke wyth me The messager dyd as to hym was commaunded and ledde saynt fyacre vnto the bysshop whan he was before his presence the holy man pharon ful of vertuous thoughtes to th ende that better he myght declare his entencion sayd to fyacre in thys manere My brother I requyre the that thou wylte put fro the thys sorowe and heuynesse whyche is in thyn herte to th ende that thou mayst better receyue my wordes Thenne sayd saynt fyacre to hym Fayr fader reuerende yf thou wylte haue pyte and compassyon on me thou shalte mowe make me to cesse thys heuynesse at thy commaundemente But to the ende that thou mayst the better vnderstonde myn answer procede forth on thy demaunde Thenne the right reuerende bysshop pharon beholdyng on phyacre sayd to hym Fyrst my ryght dere brother I requyre of the to telle me in what londe thou were borne and the cause why thou departedest fro the contreye also where thou arte bounde for to gâo and what thy name is Ferthermore yf thou haue nede of counceyl of wordes or of other thynge that I may do I calle god to my recorde that ryght gladly I shal endeuoyre me to suââyl it Saynt fyacre thenne knelynge rendred to hym thankes and mercyes and after sayd to hym my fader and my moder engendred or begate me in an yle of scotlande named Hyrlande and for as moche that I desyre to lede my lyf solytaryly I haue relynqued and lefte my londe and my parentes and I do seke a place for to lede my lyf hermytyke and solytarylye and by my ryght name I am called fyacre and therfore mekelye I beseche thyn hyghe and Ineffable paternyte that yf there be in somme parte of thy bysshopryche a lytel place wythin a wode where I myght vsen and employe my lyf in prayers and in orysons that thou wylt not differre to me the grauÌte of it Whan saynt pharon herde thys he was therof ioyeful and glad and sayd to saynt fyacre I haue a Wode ferre ynough fro hens whiche is with in our owne herytage and is called by the folke of the contreye brodyle the whiche wode as I suppose is couenable for to lede lyf solytarye and yf it be so that thy desyre is to see it lete vs two goo thyder to gyder for to beholde and see the place ¶ Thenne answerde saynt fyacre Soo as thy paternyte commaundeth I desyre that it be doon anone Thenne the pyteous and holy bysshop as sone as he myght ledde fyacre vnto the ryght desyred place and whan they were come thyder Saynt pharon sayd to saynt fyacre My brother thys place is belongyng to me by myn owne herytage comyng fro myn auncestrye and yf it seme to the good and plesaunte for to dwelle and abyde in as moche of hit behoueth to the deuoutelye and With good herte I presente it to the and ful gladly I gyue it to the for to do Wythal thy good plesure and whan thus he had graunted and sayd fyacre fyl to his feet and for grete ioye wepyng rendred to hym graces and thankynges sayeng O right blessyd fader the same place onelye of syght pleseth me and delyteth ryght gretelye for it is an holy place and ferre fro abydyng of ony folke after these wordes they took theyr refeccion or food of nourriture dyuyne and sone after retourned to gyder vnto the
hir playne helthe On another tyme another woman of Latynynak put one of hir feet wythin the said chapel or chyrche but hir foot swellyd by suche manere that alle the legge knee and thye of hit was greuyd with sekenesse many other myracles hath ben therof shewed wherfore the wymmen shal ne ought not entre in to it The good holy saint fyacre in his lyf tyme resplendysshed by myracles vertues and after rendryd right gloryously his soule vnto our lord sythe after his temporal dethe at his owne graue by hys merytes prayers our lord shewyd and as yet now sheweth many myraches as to restore in good helthe the pour seek folke languysshyng of their membris of what someuer sekenesse or langoure that it be who with good contryted herte cometh to the chyrche where the said graue or tombe is and deuoutelye besecheth prayeth god and the good holy saynt fyacre the which by hys gloryous merites may be vnto vs good frende toward our sayd Lord and god amen Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Fyacre Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Iustyn SAint Iustyn was born in the cite of naples and his fader was called cryspobachye and was a ryghte grete phylosophre whyche laboured strongelye for the cristen relygyon in soo moche that he composed many fayre bookes moche prouffytable as recounteth saynt Ierome hugo He betoke to themperour anthonyn a book which he composed of the crysten relygyon so moche he laboured toward the sayd emperour that he had pyte compassyyn of the cristen peple not onelye the emperour hym self but also al his chyldren and al the senatours of rome the sayd emperour made sythe a commaundemente that no paynym shold not be so hardy to haue in despyte the sygne of the veray crosse ¶ Item pompee the troyen which was of the spaynysshe nacyon composed in to xliiij bookes al thystoryes that were thorugh al the world from the tyme regne of mynym that Was kyng of assyrye vnto the tyme regne of themperour cesar and Wrote them in latyn the which hystorye saint Iustyn abreuyed or shorted also composed many other bookes whiche were to longe to reherce to hym was deuynely reueled or tolde that moche he shold suffre before his dethe for to mayntene trouthe as it apperith by a writte or letter whiche he sente to themperour anthonyn where he saith thus I shal haue ynough of persecucyons of staues of yron by them ageynste whom I bataylle or fyght for to mayntene the estate of trouthe but whan that shal be I theÌne shal haue knowlege that they be not phylosophres that is to Wete louyng arte scyence but that they be louers of all vanytees for he is not worthy to be called a phylosophre which publyklye affermeth testefyeth that whyche he knoweth not that saith that the cristen are without a god putten in gretter errour tho that al redy are in errour al the whiche thynge was thus accomplisshed soo as saynt Iherome recounteth euschyus also for whan the said emperour was passed to god from this world after hym regned ij other emperours the which were named anthonyn aurelyen that were grete persecutours of cristen peple so as Iustyn perseuerd in holy lyuyng in holy doctryne he composed the second book for to deffende with the religyon cristen It happed so that many other phylosophres were that grete enuye had at iustyn as moche for his holy lyf honeste condycions wherof he was fylled as for his grete science accused hym to the emperour sayeng he was cristen that he wold destroye theyr lawe thenne was Iustyn taken and made hym to suffre many tourmentes dyuers paynes in whiche by cause that he constauntelye reclamed euer the name of god they spryncled and shadde hys blood by suche maner that he rendred yaue his sowle to our lord Ihesu crist with whom he restyth in pees shal reste wythoute ende In seculorum secula amen ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Iustyn Here folowtth the lyf of saynt demetryen WHile that themperour maxymyen had the lordshyp of thessalony cense he made al the audytours of the cristen feyth to be put to deth emonge whiche was demetryen that made hym self to be manyfestyd knowen of al without ony fere or drede for sith the tyme of his yongthe he had euer ben stedfast constaunte in good operacions or werkys euer endoctryned taughte thother how the deuyne sapyence was descended in therthe who by his owne blood had quyckened or reysed fro deth the man whiche by hys synne was put to deth as he preched somme of the mynystres sergeauntes of themperour that were commytted ordeyned for to take the crysten men toke saynt demetryen wold haue presented hym vnto themperour maxymyen but it happed so that themperour was goon to see a batayll that shold be doon for moche he delâted hym to see shedyng of blood humayn in the same bataylle was a man named lyneus whiche by cause of the victoryes that he in his dayes had had was moche loued of themperour but as fortune chaungeth ofte it happed that this lyneus was there wounded to deth whan the emperour was retorned in to his paleys sorouful angry of the deth of the said lyneus mencion of demetryon was made vnto hym thenne was themperour sore moeuyd ageynst hym in so moche that in the same prison where he was sore fetheryd harde holden he made hym to be stycked thorugh and thorugh his body with sharpe sperys the whiche saynt demetryen thus euer wytnessyng the name of Ihesu consumed there his marterdom Many myracles were made by his merytes by his good vertues on al them that with good feyth deuoutely reclamed hym a man that was called lemycyus who hertelye loued serued god gafe moche of his goodes to the hows where the holy corps of Saynt demetryen was buryed maad the place more gretter than it was tofore bylded there an oratorye or chappell in thonour of the said marter saynt demetrien One of the prefectes or Iuges of thessalonytence that named was manam was moche agreable to god to the world on which thenemye had grete enuye for his good werkyâ began to tempte hym sore stronge first he tempted hym of the seuen dedely synnes but god wold that he neuer shold ouercome hym whan the deuyll sawe that he myght not deceyue hym he toke from hym al his temporal goodes fynally smote hym with suche a sekenesse that he had no membre wherwyth he myght helpe hym saufe onelye his tuâge with the whyche he praysed thanked euer our lord after this the enemye apprryd to one of his seruauntes in lykenesse of a man shewyd to hym a cedule sayeng thus to hym yf thy maister dyd put ones this cedule or scrowe on hym he shold be anone al hole of his
lord Ihesu crist for certeyn in al thynges apperteynyng to the cure of the peple of our lord Ihesu crist commytted to hym he in al oueral accomplisshed duely right worthely hys mysterye he prouffyted euer gooyng bysyly fro vertues in to vertue and was plesaunte bothe to god to the world in so moche that the folke were ful lothe to departe fro his wordes fro his felawshyp moche abasshed Were they the sawe hym for cause of his frendly manere for wonderful holynesse what meruaylle he was of admyrable or wonderful humylite which he shewed oueral in habite or clothyng in dede in wordes gooyng comyng and beyng in dyners companyes he spake euer to the folke bothe more lesse swetelye ful mekelye lokyng on the erthe his hode before his face that he shold not be preysed of the folke teschewe al vanytres by the space of xv yere before his deth he ne ware but cours clothe russet or whyte suche as poure folke of the contreye ben acustomed to were he helde the eywer also the towel whyle the poure wesshed her handes after with his owne hande admynystred to them the mete that they shold ete and settyng hym self on the grounde ete with them of the said mete that is to wete broun brede somtyme a lytel podage emonge them that ete with hym he had noo prerogatyue but the moost dysfourmed moost myserable he sat nyghe hym he laye al nyght on the grounde had for his beddyng for shetes for couerlet for hangyng onelye a lytel strawe Euer before the celebracion of his masse or he reuestyd hym he knelyd doun before th aulter deuoutelye made his prayer wepyng pyteously syghyng oftymes as he celebred his masse plente of teerys fyl fro his eyen allonge his face the humylite of whom plesed moche vnto out lord as ones it apperid by a colombe or dowue of merueylloê° respleÌdour which openlye was seen fleynge within the chirche of Tryguer aboute the aulter where thys holy saynt yues said masse and certeynly ful pacyently he suffred alle Iniuryes and blasphemyes For whan men dyd mocque hym or sayd euyl to hym he answerd noo thynge but hauyng his thought on god sussteyned theyr euyl wordes pacyentelye and wyth grete ioye A man he was of transquylyte for he louyd pees and neuer he was moeuyd to noo stryffe Indygnacion or yre for no thynge that euer was doon to hym He sayd noo wordes tumelous ne contumelious ne other dyshordynate wordes He was deffensour wythout drede of the lybertres of the chyrche wherof it happed that as a sergeauÌte of the kynges had taken ledde with hym the bysshoppes hors of triguyer for thencheson of the centysme of the goodes of the forsayd bysshop saynt yues thenne beyng in the offyce of offycyal vertuously toke the sayd hors fro the sayd sergeaunte and ledde hym ageyn vnto the bysshoppes place and how be it that men demed and wende that grete euyl or dommage shold falle therfore as wel to saynt yues as to the chyrche seâyng that the sergeaunte was aboute to haue procured it Neuerthelesse no manere of dommage came neuer therof neyther to the Saynt nor to the chyrche Whyche thynge was holden and reputed for a myracle and not wythoute cause attrybued to the merytes of the sayd saynt yues for it is bybeuyd testefyed that he was chaste bothe of flesshe and in thoughte al the tyme of his lyf and also chaste bothe in wordes and of eyen and lyued alweye so honestlye and so chastlye that neuer noo tokens of worldly maners apperidd on hym but certeynlye euer he abhorred and cursyd the synne of lecherye and he accustomed to preche ageynst the sayd synne made many a persone to flee from hit He was neuer founde sloweful ne neglygente but euer redy to oryson or predycacion or ellys he was studyeng in the holy scryptures or doyng werkys of charyte and pyte Euer he ocupyed hym self in wele after the doctryne of the appostles He proufferyd hym to god in al thynges pryuables and wythoute confusyon in his werkys He treated to ryght the worde of vertue and of trouthe and euer eschewyng alle vayne wordes spake but lytel wyth payne saufe the wordes of god and of saluacyon pardurable and he prechyng the worde of god right wel and boldelye brought ofte them that herde hym to compuncyon of herte and euermore vnto teerys and he excercytyng and ocupyeng hym in thys holy operacion or werke there as he myght be herde by the leue of the bysshoppes and dyoceseyns euer goyng on foot prechyd somtyme vpon a day in foure chyrches moche ferre one from another and to the ende that he shold not leue the custome of hys abstynence he after this grete laboure retorned fastyng vnto his hows and wolde neuer accorde wyth no man to dyne wyth hym He had the spyryte of prophecye for he prophetysed that a reâluse shold be seen emonge men by the vyce of couetyse The whiche thynge happed not longe after For the myschaunte recluse leuyng the weye of saluacion and of penytence yede out fro his celle and toke a worldlye and dampnable waye Thys holy saynt yues laboured euer to pease alle dyscordaunce and stryf after his power and the folke whiche myght not accorde by his persuasyon and admonestynges callyd soone to concorde after his oryson by hym made to god It may not be recounted ne neuer it was seen in our tyme the grete charyte pyte and myserycorde that he had toward the poure Indygente and suffretous toward the wydowes and to the poure chyldren bothe fader and moderlesse alle the tyme of hys lyf alle that he receyued or myght haue as wel of the chirche as of his patrymonye he gaue to them before sayd wythoute ony dyfference whan he was dwellyng at resues and promoted to thoffyce of offycyal there at the courte of tharchedeaken also or he chaunayd his manere of lyuyng he made vpon the grete and solempne holydayes plente of mete to be dressyd and redâ for to ete and at dyner tyme he callyd and made to be called the poure folke to dyner and to theym admynystred mete with his owne handes and after he ete wyth two pour chyldren whych for the loue of our lord Ihesu Cryste he susteyned at scole for euer he was right curtoys to helpe chyldren bothe fader and moderlesse and as theyr fader sente them to scole and wyth hys owne susteyned them payed also the sallarye to theyr maysters He reuestyd ryght curtoysly the pour naked of our lord It happed ones that a gowne and an hode bothe of like clothe whiche he had do make for hymself to were and so he takyng gretter cure of the poure naked thenne of hys owne bodye gaue the sayd gowne and hode to a poure man He helde hospytalyte Indyfferently for the poure pylgrymmes in an hows whyche he dyd make for the nones to the whyche he admynystred bothe
mete and drynke bedde and fyre for to warme them in wynter In where someuer a place that he wente the suffretous and poure that ranne to hym fro al sydes folowed hym for al that he had was redy to theyr behofe as theyr owne He gave sudaryes for to burye wyth the dede bodyes and wyth his owne handes helpe to burye them a poure man ones came ageynst hym and he hauyng as thenne noo thynge redy to gyue hym took his hode and gafe it to the sayd poure man and yede home bare hede He chastysed hys flesshe moche sharpely for he was so accustomed to be in orysons and in prayers and to studye that the moste parte of the tyme he passyd wythout slepe bothe day and nyght yf he ne were sore trauaylled by âtudye orysons or goeyng that he as constreyned must slepe and whan he must slepe he slepte on therthe and in stede of a pylowe he layed vnder hys heed somtyme hys book and somtyme a stone he ware euer the hayre vnder his sherte whyles that yet he was in the offyce of the offycyal in the cyte of tryguyer He vsed broune breed and podage suche as comunelye vsen poure labourers and none other mete he ne had and to hys drynk vsed colde water there lyned wyth suche mete drynke by the space of xj yere tyl he came to hys dethe he fasted enleuen lentes and al the aduentes of our lord and fro thascencion vnto pentycoste alle ymbre dayes alle vygyles of our lady and of the appostles and al other dayes stablysshed by holy chyrche for to faste he fastyd wyth breed and water And aboue alle thys duryng the xj yere aforesayd he fasted thre dayes in the weke wyth breed and water that is to wete wensday fryday satyrday and on the other dayes he ete also but ones a day and vsed breed potage suche as foloweth excepte the sondayes Crystemasday esterday whytsonday alhalowen day on whyche dayes he ete twyes his breed was rustyâal broun made of barleye or ootes hys podage was of grete cooles or of other herbys of beenys or of raddyssâe rote saueryd onelye with salte wythoute ony other lycour sauf that somtyme he put in it a lytel floure and a lytel buttyr and on esterday aboue his customed âââtaunce he ete two egges He ãâã within the space of fourtene yere before hys dethe tastyd of noo wyne Saufâ onelye at masse after that he had taken the body and blood of our Lord or ellys somtyme whan he dyued with the bysshoppe for thenne wythin hys water he put a lytel wyne onelye for to chaunge the coloure he fasted ones by the space of seuen dayes wythout ony mete or drynke euer beyng in good helth The forsayd Saynt yues lyued fyfty yere or there aboute and in his laste sekenesse he tessyd not to teche theym that were aboute hym and prechyd vnto them of their salute and he comyng benewrelye vnto his laste dayes took humbly the sacramentes of the body of our Lord and laste vnccion lyeng on his noble bedde beforesayd adiousted alweye to the same with grete Instaunce of hys frendes a lytel strawe thre dayes before his dethe and his hood in stede of couerchyef aboute his heed had on his gowne and refusyng al other thynge he was couerd with a lytel and bâdde couerlette sayeng that he was not worthy to haue ony other paremente on hym The pure and clene thenne hauyng the hayr on his flesshe couerd wyth his sherte and yssueng oute of thys world in the yere of grace M thre hondred and thre the xix day of maye that was on the sonday after the assencion of our lord Ihesu cryste wente vp vnto heuen and lyke as he had ben a slepe without ony sygne or token of what someuer dolour he took the righte benewrous reste of dethe And who that coude recounte alle the myracles doon by hym how be it that to none ne is possyble but allonelye to hym whiche can nombre or telle the multytude of sterres and Imposeth to echone theyr names but by cause that to one right grete Inconuenyence and dyshonour were yf by slouthe refrayned hym self fro vtteryng and kepte stylle suche thynges that are apperteynen to the praysyng and laude of our lord and namely there as plente and baboundaunce of his praysyng is or shold be how be it that the sayd myracles are Infynyte or without ende neuerthelesse we shal reherce somme of them Thenne as it is recorded in the book longe sythe made and accomplysshed of his lyf of his vertues that at his Inuocacion by vowes and prayers by somme deuoutelye maad vnto god and to the saynt in dyuers places were fourtene deed reysed reâenyd alweye in the sayd nombre ij chyldren lyuyng within their moders wombe dede before theyr baptesmye whyche sythe receyued lyf and at the Inuocacion of the same saynt yues ten demonyakes madde folke or fylled with wycked spirites were delyuerd fro theyr foursenerye or madnesse and fro alle wycked spyrytes xiij contractes or fylled wyth paralysye were by the same restoryd in good helthe thre blynde were by hym enlumyned Dyuers folke in ten places wyth alle theyr goodes were kepte sauyd fro drownyng in the see ¶ One parfytelye ydropycke or fylled with dropsy was entyerly cured another that had the stone grete as an egge the genytoyrs as grete as a mannes heed was restytued vnto helthe One condempned to be hanged fyl thre tymes fro the galowes and al hole was delyuerd and lete goo A woman to whome the mylke wanted wythin hir pappes were fylled ful of hyt Thynges loste by dyuers persones and in dyuers places were founde and recouerd by myracles Two dombe chyldren and dyuers other that had loste the vse of the tongne were restytued of theyr spekyng Thre or foure wymmen with alle their byrthe were delyuerd fro the peryll of dethe The fyre taken and quenchyd in thre dyuer places was put out and bothe men wymmen chyldren good kepte fro brennyng wythoute to be hurted ne in no manere of wyse dommaged A woman sâre agreuyd with an axes toke a lytel breed that before had ben wette in water by the handes of the saynt ete it and recoueryd helthe The saynt hym self gyuyng foyson almoses the corne multeplyed in his garette and the breed in hys hande somtyme Many seek folke were heelyd yf dyuers sekenesse dolours onelye for to haue touched hys hood a man dressyng the whole of his water mylle on whome sodaynlye the water came fro hyghe ruysshyng and he besoughte the holy saynt yues and anone he was sauyd fro drownynge On a tyme as the sayd Saynt sayd masse whyle he celebred and helde vp the body of our lord a grete resplendour apperyd aboute it whyche soone after the leuacyon was doon dysapperyd and vanysshed aweye A poste ordeyned to the werkys or makyng of a brydge not couenable to the sayd werke for fawte of halfe
a foot of lengthe after the prayer of the carpenters doon vnto the Saynt was the sayd poste fouÌde longe ynough and couenable to the forsayd werke ¶ In tyme of a grete Inundacion or flowyng whiche couerd the wayes places the sygne of the crosse maad wyth the sayd holy mannes honde on the water âessyd and ebbyd aweye The hood whiche he gafe to a poure maÌ as aboue is sayd and wente bareââed homewarde god that had hym selfe in fourme or lyknesse of a poure man receyued the sayd hood as it may be byleuyd sente to hym ageyn the sayd hood wherof was grete and meruayllous myracle On a tyme whan he had gyuen alle his breed to poure folkes loues of breed were broughte to hym ynough to suffyse hym the poure peple in his felawshyp wyth alle by a woman vnknowen the whyche after hir presente delyuerd vanysshed aweye and neuer was seen after On another tyme as he had receyued a poure man apperyng ryght fowle dysfourmed ouer foule in clothynge and had made hym to ete sette hande at his owne dysshe wyth hym thys poure man departyng and sayeng god be wyth you and at your helpe hys gowne that before was wonder fowle as it is sayd became soo whyte and of so grete resplendour and shynyng and his face so fayre apperyd and so bryght that al the hows was replenysshed and fylled wyth grete lyghte The archebysshop af narbonne was vexyd wyth a stronge axes and by the feblenesse of his nature was reputed and holden as for dede of alle theym whyche aboute hym were For his eyen were shytte in manere of a deed man at thynuocacion or callyng to Saynt yues maad for the salue of the sayd archebysshop by hys parentes and frendes wyth wepynges vowes and deuocyons was the forsayd archebysshop thorugh the merytes of the saynt restored vnto lyf â syght and good helthe by the grace and vertue of hym of whom is writen that he âenlumyneth the exen gyueth lyf helthe and blessyng lyght sapyence the whyche god creatour enlumynatour and sauyour be thanked preysed and worshypped by all the syecle and syecles amen Thus endeth the lyf of saint yues Here foloweth the lyf of saint Morante THe kyng theodorik commaunded to Saynt morant of dowey whyche was in parys sone of aldebaulte a noble ffrenssheman and of saynt Rotrud of marchyennes the whiche had thre doughters vyrgynes and sayntes that is to wete clotende eusebe and ellysente Saynt rotrâd dwellyd at marchyennes in a nonnerye wyth clotente and elyssente hyr doughters by the ordenaunce of saynt amand and with many other and there she passyd fro thys world and eusebe hir other doughter dwellyd in an abbay of nonnes in haynegowe wyth the graunte moder of saynt aldebaulte hir fader the whyche was called gertrude and the abbey nyuelle of the yefte and foundacyon of saint amand and in the same contreye were many abbayes of monkes wherof as coââ to our purpoos Saynt morante ãâã rotrud his moder dyd bylde ãâã an abbey on theyr owne grouÌde ãâã monkes therin and gafe to them rentes and possessyons for to lyue on and called the place bruell The kyng theodoryk that wel wyste of it commaunded to saynt morante that he shold make saynt amer to be ledde as prysonner fro peronne vnto the sayd newe abbay and to do hym to be kepte that he shold not scare fro thens and goo somwhere in other place Saynt morante came to peronne and fro thens brought with hym Saynt amer thorugh cambray and saint amer whyles that they made the dyner redy there he wente to our lady of cambray and made there his prayers knelyng he toke of bothe his gloues and hys habyte and caste them nyghe to a glasse wyndowe but the rayes or bemys of the sonne susteyned them fro the grouÌde as they had hanged vpon a staffe And the holy man whiche euer loked humbly dounward perceyued it not Saynt morant folowed hym sone after to the chirche and whan he came there and sawe the myracle he was al abasshed and prayed hym of mercy of that he had broughte hym thyder like as a prysonner and besought hym that fro thens forthon he wold become his fader in god and that to his commaundementes he wolde obeye Saynt amer thenne whiche retched not for that lyfte hym self vp and reuestyd on hym his habyte and gloues and thanked moche saynt morant and sayd to hym that he shold obeye the kynge for therto he was holden and that as for hym he shold obeye to our lord and shold bere in al pacyence his aduersytres that gladly he wolde goo wyth hym there as he was ordeyned for to goo saynt morante thenne ledde saint amer at bruel in haynegow where many holy mynsters or abbayes were separed and gouernyd by the dyscyples of Saynt amande whyche were alle sayntes There was Saynt amer lyke as he were in paradys terrestre al the contree there aboute resplendysshed with sayntes bothe men wymmen in grete penaunces seruauntes and frendys of god euerychone forced hym self to passe his felawe in wele wythout euyl and wicked enuye and wyth grete charyte one gafe ensaumple to another for to do wel whan saynt morante saynt Rotrud his moder knewe and ynough wyste the deuocion humylite pacyence and doctryne of saynt amer they prayed hym that he wold empryse or vndertake the cure or gouernemente of the abbey of bruel whiche they had fouÌded on theyr patrymonye they gafe theyr owne self theyr abbay and al theyr good to hym and saynt amer receyued them mekelye and dwellyd there togyder pesablye Alle the other holy men there desyred moche to here his doctryne saynt amer enorted and taughte so moche Saynt morante that he made hym clerke and ordeyned hym vnto deaken maad hym abbotte of his owne hows founded in the honour of god our lord of saynt Peter Saynt Amer dyd do make a chambre ioynyng to the chirche for his oratorye wherin he restyd hym wyth our lord not slepyng but watchyng fastyng contynuelly prayeng There made the holy man hys holy penytence as longe as he lyued And whan our lord wold calle hym vnto his companye he receyued hys ryghtes and toke leue of saynt morante and of the other freres and soo deyed there and was buryed within the chyrche of saynt Peter of doway and rendred and yaue his sowle to our lord aboute the yere of grace seuen hondred ¶ I haue sayd before that whiche I now say the lyf of sayntes were nyghe loste and alle theyr legendes by the normans whiche wasted and spylte the londe wyth ij hondred and two and fyfây shyppes of men of armes whiche aryued and came in that same londe and walked thorugh fraunce vnto Romanye gooyng and comyng by the space of fourty yere and beganne aboute the yere viij hondred and one and fyfty yf one scaped there were âweyne loste and yet oner alle other dyuers werrys were that
merueylle it is how we knowe of none Therfore we shal praye to our lord Ihesu cryste ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Morante ¶ Here folowe the lyf of saint Lowys kynge of Fraunce SAynt Lowes somtyme the noble kyng of fraunce had to his fader a kyng ryght cristen named lowys this lowys fader bataylled foughte ageynst the heretykes and ablygoys and of the contre of tholouse and extyrped their heresye ye and as he retourned in to Fraunce he passyd vnto our Lord Thenne the chylde of holy chyldehode faderlesse abode and dwellyd vnder the kepyng of the quene blaunche his moder somtyme doughter to the kynge of castylle and as she that louyd hym tenderlye betoke hym for to be lernyd and taughte vnder the cure and gouernaunce of a special maister in condycyons and in lettres and he also as the yonge salamon chylde wyse and dysposed to haue a good sowle prouffyted right gretelye in al thynges more than ony childe of his age of whiche good lyf and chyldehode his debonayr moder enioysyng hir self sayd ofte tymes to hym in thys manere Ryghte deresone rather I wold see the deth comyng on the thenne to see the falle in to a dedely synne ageynste thy creatour the whiche worde the deuoute chylde took and shette it soo wythin hys courage that by the grace of god which deffended and kepte hym it is not founde that euer he felte ony aâouchemente âatche or spotte of mortal crysme In the ende by the pourueaunce of his moder and of the barons of the londe to th ende that so noble a royaulme ne shold not faylle of sucâessyon ryalle the holy man took a wyf of the which he receyued and gate on hyr fayr chyldren whyche by souerayn cure le made to be nourysshed endoctrined taught to the loue of god and despyte of the world and to knowe them selfe by holy admonestyng and ensaumples and whan he myght tende secretelye to them vysytyng them and requyryng of theyr prouffyte as the auncyente thobye gaue to them admonestyng of salut techyng them ouer alle thynges to drede god and to kepe absteyne them assyduelly from alle synne Garlondes made of Roses of other floures he forbade and deffended them to were on the fryday for the crowne of thorne that was on suche a day put on the heed of our lord and by cause that he wyste wel and knewe that chastytâe in delyces pyte in rychees humnlyte in honour often peryshen betoke and gaue his courage to sobryete and good dyete to humylite and my sericorde kepyng hym self ryght curyously fro the pryckyng sawtes and watche of the world the flesshe and the deuyll chastysed hys body and brought it to seruytude by the ensaumple of the appostles he forced hym self to serue his spyryte by dyuers castygacion or chastysyng he vsed the hayre many tymes nexte hys flesshe whan he lefte it for cause of ouer feblenesse of his body at the Instaunce of hys owne confessour he ordeyned the said confessour to gyue to the poure folke as for recompensacion of euery day that he faylled of hit fourty shyllynges he fastyd alweye the fryday and namelye in tyme of lente and aduentes he absteyned hym in tho dayes from al maner of fysshe and fro fruytes and contynuelly trauayllâd and paynyd his body by watchynges orysons and other secretes abstynences and dyscyplynes humylite beaute of all vertues resplendysshed so stronge in hym that the more better he wexyd so as dauyd the more he shewyd hym self meke humble and more foule he reputed hym before god For he was acustomed on euery satyrday to wosshe with his owne handes in a secrete place the feet of somme poure folke and after dryed them wyth a fayre towel and kyssed moche humbly and semblahly theyr handes dystrybuyng or desyng to euery one of them a certeyn of syluer also to seuen score poure men whiche dayly came to his courte he admynystred mete and drynke wyth hys owne handes and were fedde habonndantlye on the vygyles solempne and on somme certeyn dayes in the yere to two hondred poure before that he ete or dranke with his owne handes admynystred and seruyd theym bothe of mete and of drynke He euer had bothe at his dyuer and sowper thre auncyente poure whiche ete nyghe to hym to whome he charytably sente of suche metes as were broughte before hym and somtyme the dysshes and metes that the poure of our Lord had touched wyth theyr handes and specialle the soppes of whiche he fayne ete made theyr remenaunte or relyef to be brought before hym to the ende that he shold ete it and yet ageyn to honour and worshyp the name of our Lord on the poure folke he was not ashamed to ete theyr relyef Also he Wold not vse scarlate ne gownes of ryche clothe ne also furryng of ouer grete pryse and coste and namelye sythe he came fro the partyes of beyonde see the fyrste tyme ageyn he coueytyd by grete desire the growyng vp of the feyth wherfore he as veray louer of the feyth and couetous for to enhaunce it as he yet that of late conâallesshed and yssued out of a greuous seeknesse lyeng at pontoyse toke the crosse with grete deuocyon fro the hande of the bysshop of parys ledde with hym thre of hys brethern wyth the grettest lordes and barons in hys royalme and many a knyght other peple with hym applykd on his waye and with ryght grete hoost arryued in to egypte the whyche settyng foot on grounde ocupyed took by force of men of armes that same cytee renommed whiche is called damette and alle the regyon aboute Thenne after the crysten oost esprysed and bete with a moche grete and wonderful sekenesse by the Iuste Iugemente of god many crysten men deyed there in soo moche that of the nombre of two and thyrty thousand fyghtyng men ne was there lefte on lyue but syx thousand men god fader of myserycorde wyllyng hym self shewed wonderful and meruaylable on his saynt gafe betoke the sayd kyng champyon or deffensour of the feythe in to the handes of the euyl paynyms to th ende that he shold appere more meruaylable and as the debonayr kynge myght haue scaped by the nexte shyppe nygh thens alwayes he yelded hym self with his good gree to th ende that he myght delyuer hys peple thorugh the encheson of hym He was put to grete raunsom whiche payed wold yet abyde prysonner for the payemente or raunsom of other hys lordes and barons and thenne after he put and lefte so as Ioseph oute of the chartre or pryson of egypte not as fleeyng or dredeful retorned anone vnto the propre or owne partyes but fyrst abode contynuelly by the space of fyue yere in syrye where he conuertysed many paynyms to the feythe and he beyng there the crysten out of the paynyms handes dyched and fortefyed many townes castellys with stronge walles ¶ He founde thenne aboute sydoyne many dede bodyes
of crysten men of which many one was dysmembryd and eten wyth beestys stanke ouer moche the whiche he gadred and assemblid wyth his owne handes With thayde and helpe of his which vnnethe myght endure ne suffre the stenche of them humbly and deuoutelye betook them to the buryeng of holy chyrche and after this vnderstondyng the sekenesse of the quene his moder by the counceyl of his barons assented to retourne in to fraunce and as he was vpon the see on the thyrd nyght after nygh the rysyng of aurora the shyppe where the kynge was in hurted and smote twyes ageynst the roche so strongelye that the maronners and other there wende that the shyppe shold haue broken and be plonged in the see And thenne the preestys clerkys and the other folke there abasshed wyth so grete hurtyng of the sayd shyppe founde the holy kyng deuoutelye prayeng before the body of our lord wherfore they fermelye beleuyd that god almyghty by the merytes and prayers of thys holy kynge had saued them from the forsayd perylle of dethe Thenne the sayd saynt so retourned into fraunce was receyued of alle there wyth grete ioye and the more ardant lye or brennynglye prouffytyng from vertue in to vertue became to al maner perfeccion of lyf and how be it that myseracion and pyte was growyng in hym from hys yongthe Neuerthelesse he shewed thenne more euydentelye his charytable dedes on the poure folke socouryng them prouffytably soo as he myght at theyr nede He began thenne to bylde and founde hospytalles or howses for poure people to lye in edefyed mynstres of relygyon and gaue yerely to other poure suffretours in dyuers places in the royame moche money pecunyes or syluer He founded many couentes of thordre of freres prechours to many other poure relygyous bylded chyrches cloysters dortoyrs and other edefyces couenables gafe for god largelye almoses to the blynde begynes doughters of god and releuyd the mynstre of many a poure nonnerye He enryched many a chirche founded by hym wyth grete reuenues rentes in whiche he many tymes excercyted thoffice of charite and of meruayllous humylyte humbly deuontelye seruyng the poure with his owne handes by grete myserycorde whan he came in parys or in other cytees vysyted the hospytalles and other smalle howses where poure peple laye in wythout abhomynacion of dyfformyte ne of ordure or fylthe of somme pacyente or seek admynystred many tymes knelyng gyuyng mete to the poure wyth hys owne handes In the abbay of royalmonte whyche he founded and dowed with grete reuenewe rentes is shewyd notoryly that suche and semblable almoses he made there many tymes and yet gretter meruaylle a monke of the sayd abbay a leper an abhomynable and as thenne proued bothe of nose and eyen by corupcyon of the sayd seeknesse the blessyd saynt lowys admynystred humbly puttyng knelyng with his owne handes bothe mete and drynke wythin the mowthe of the sayd leper wythoute ony abhomynacion The abbotte there presente wyche vnnethe myght see that wepte and syghed pyteously and how be it that to al Indygente he openyd the bosom of myserycorde Neuerthelesse to them that watched in deuyne seruyces and that prayed for sowles he maad gretter almoses and ofter And by the grete almose that he dalte euery yere to the couentes in parys bothe of the freres predycatours and mynours sayd somtyme to his famylyers O god how this almose is wel sette or bestowed on so moche and so grete nombre of freres affluyng comyng to parys oute fro alle londes for to lerne the deuyne scryptures and to th ende they myght shewe and vtter them thorugh al the world to the cure and saluacyon of sowles Other almoses that he dyd thorugh the yere no tunge shold suffyse for to reherce it He worshypped the holy relyques wyth moche grete deuocyon and assyduelly grewe the cultyuyng of god and thonour of the sayntes He bylded in parys a fayr chapel within the paleys ryalle in which he purposed and put ryght dylygently the holy crowne of thorne of our lord wyth a grete parte of the holy crosse Also the yron or heed of the spere wherwyth the syde of our lord was openyd wyth many other relyques whiche he receyued of the emperour of constantynoble He wold speke to no body whyle that he was at chyrche heryng the deuyne seruyce wythoute it were for grete nede or grete vtylyte of the comyn wele And thenne wyth shorte and substauncyous wordes vtteryd that he wold say to th ende that hys deuocyon shold not be letted He myght not here ne forbere the reproches or blasphemyes doon to the crysten feythe but he ennamoured of the loue of god as phynees punysshed them right greuously wherof it hefyl that a cytezeyn of parys who lothely sweryng had blasphemxed Ihesu Cryste ageynst the acte or statute ryal whiche saynt lowys by the counceyl of the prelates and prynces had ordeyned and made for the swerars and blasphematours at the commaundement of the sayd saynt he was marked or tokened at the lyppes of hym with an hote and brennyng yron in sygne of punycyon of his synne and terrour and dredefulnesse to alle other And how for cause of that he heryng somme say cast in on hym many cursynges sayd I wold fayne susteyn on my lyppes suche laydure or shame as longe as I shal lyue soo that alle the euyl vyce of sweryng were lefte and caste out from alle our royame He had the sygnacle or fygure of the holy crosse in soo right grete reuerence that he eschewed to trede on hit and requyred of many relygyous that wythin theyr chyrcheyerde and tombes they ne shold fro thens forthon pourtraye nor pycte the forme or fygure of the crosse and that the crosses so portrayed and fygured they shold make to be âlaned O how grete reuerence he ãâã He also wente euery yere on the good fryday to the chappel within the paleys ryal for to worshyp there the holy crosse knelyng bothe feet and heed bare O dylygente dyscutyng of causes and maters he rendred or yelded Iuste Iugemente O veray dyââccyon or loue he doubtyng that the stryf aââions and pletynges of the poure shold come onely to the presence and knowlege of hys counceyllours he wente presyded emonge them at the leste twyes in a weke for to here the playntes whiche lightely he made to be dyscuted and sone after Iustelye Iuged He stablysshed also for to haue aweye the brennyng couetyse of the vserers that no Iustycer shold compelle ne constrayne them that were bouÌden to the Iewes or to other publyke vsurers by letters ne by none other manere to paye or yelde to them theyr vsure or growyng in the ende after the cours or rennyng of many yerys vnderstondyng and by trewe reporte knowyng the desolacyon perplexyte and the perylles of the holy londe as another machabeus wyth hys sones not wyllyng that the crysten folke holy persones shold susteyn
how be it that he was tendre yonge of eage yet semyd to be aunciente in maners condycions courage whan he was ledde in to catheloygne a prouynce of the royame of arragon with hys two brethern in ostage or pledge for the delyueraunce of the sayd kyng theyr fader he gaue hym self so fermelye to the studye that in seuen yere while he was pledge he prouffyted soo moche in the feuen sciences in holy scripture that the same goddes man resplendysshyng in wytte myght not not onely dispute subtylly in publyke and a parte of the sayd sciences but also durste coude propose the worde of god solempnelye vnto the peple and before clerkes In so moche that men supposed and byleued better that god had sente and enspyred hym wyth suche scyence than hit had be goten by hym humaynlye he confessed hym ofte and dylygentelye and herde the deuyne seruyce deuoutelye and on the solempne and hygh holy dayes with grete preparacion he receyued the body of our lord and whan he was preest he celebred as dayly herkened moche ententyfly the word of god and for the nourysshyng of his sowle he gladly and ofte studyed the holy deuoute scriptures fro the tyme of his chyldehode he loued chastyte so that for the moost sure kepyng of hym self he fled eschewed the companye of al wymmen in so moche that he spake to none sauf onely to his moder and with hys susters yet selde He chastysed his body by abstynence of mete drynke made it lene dyscyplyned it as another saynt paule with chaynes of yron right ofte wyth his owne handes and he puttyng his flesshe vnder the seruytude of the spyryte ware for a shyrte a stamyn or streyner clothe for gyrdel he gyrded hym on his bare flesshe wyth a corde This holy man thenne remembryng his vowe to entre in to thordre of the frere menours by hym maad ââyng in ostage as it is sayd in the prouynce of catheloygne purposed to accomplysshe it but he seeyng that for fere of the sayd kynge his fader the freres durst not receyue hym he solempnelye renewed the sayd vowe and by no maner of persuacion admonestyng ne for ony prouysion that pope boneface had made gyuen to hym he wold not assente to forsake it whiche deuocyon consyderyd by thassente of the sayd pope this holy saint bowes toke thabyte of religyon of the said freres menours knelyng made expresse professyon in the prefeÌce of IohÌn bisshop of portuence which as thenne was mynyster general of the same ordre Meruayllous moche wonderful thynge it is not acustomed to be seen for the same holy saynt fylled with vertues renounced to the right of the first borne defpyted the pompe or worshyp of the syege rayl for the wyame temporal corruptyble chaunged gate the royame pardurable and ful of al manere delyces He had meeuayllous compassyon on the poure peple to whome largelye he dalte hys almoses Thys holy saynt Loyes as goddes plesure was ãâã pope bonyface promoted hym to the dygnyte of bysshop and not wythstondyng he neuer chaunged hys habyte but dylygentelye excerced the offyce of bysshop ¶ He celebred deuoutelye the ordres examyned dylygently in lyf in condycyons and in the artycles of the feythe and he louyng feruentelye the feythe wyllyng and euer redy to enhaunce it persuaded admonested ententyfly the Iewes and paynyms to baptesme and at the laste tâys gloryous saynt tendyng to god fonteyn quycke and lyuyng nyghe the terme of hys dayes lyeng on hys bedde seek wyth his laste sekenesse took and deuoutelye receyued the precyous body of our lord and how be it that he was ryght feble he yssued from his bedde ageynst his creatour and anone after he passed right gloryously oute of thys world to the glorye of paradyse wherfore it was wel behoueful and resonable thynge that he in whos lyf duryng god aourned wyth soo many vertues and good condycyons shold be ennobled and honoured of many myracles after hys dethe the whyche myracles are approued and testefyed by the worthy people of the feyth and are declared herafter to the honoure glorye of the sayd Saynt A mayden of two yere of age the whyche was agreuyd with a stronge axes whiche she had suffred by the space of two yere deyed and passyd fro thys world hyr fader besoughte the saynt for hyr lyf and anone by the merytes of the saynt she was reysed and restoryd on lyue A chylde of fyue yere of age by ouer grete force of an axes deyed vowe by hys fader made for hym to the saynt was restoryd ageyn vnto lyf A mayden of seuen yere of eage whiche had suffred an axes contynuel deyed and vowe made vnto the same saynt by hyr parentes recoueryd the spyryte of lyf and lyued longe after A woman conceyuyng two doughters one of the whiche for cause of a falle that hyr moder receyued ageynst hyr bely deyed within the wombe of hyr moder tyme came that the moder shold be delyuerd of hyr bryâhe this chylde dede and as thenne aââe roten by helpe and mysterye of mydwyuee was had oute one pyece after another vowe maad by the fader to the saynt The chylde so dysmembryd was restoryd to lyf and lyued after seuen moneâhes Another chylde whyche vnder a bedde was founde deed vowe maad to the same Saynt was the chylde restoryd to lyf ¶ A woman which by grete sekenesse was passed out of this world vowe maad for hyr by hy parentes vnto the saynt recouerd the spyryte of lyf and syâhen lyued longe wyth thyse myracles and many other wold god hys saynt to be magnefyed and rendred honourable to alle the world Therfore lete vs praye the holy saynt loyes of marcelle that he wyl praye god for vs AMEN Thus endeth the lyf of saint Loyes of marcelle bisshop And here foloweth the lyf of saint audegonde virgyne IN the thyme of dagoberte kynge of Fraunce whiche reygned about the yere syx hondred was borne saynt audegonde of lygnage ryalle Thys holy audegonde was nourysshed in the seruyce of gods and yet I may say that our lord hym self nourysshed hyr in his seruyce and endoctryned hyr as wel hym self presente by noble vysyons and wonderful as by his aungellys men wymmen relygyous and holy as wâl by hyr owne holy suster as by other as it apperyth in hir legende none oughte not thenne to be meruaylled yf she lyued holyly that was scoler of suche a scole whan thenne thys holy audegonde was of eage competente her fader and moder wold haue maryed hyr to a noble man ryche myghty but in conclusyon she answeryd that none other she wold take to hyr lord and spouse but our lord Ihesu cryste to whome of bounte beaute noblesse puyssannce rychesse and wytte may none be compared Saynt wantrud of mouns whiche after the decesse of hyr husbonde Saynt vyncente of Songnyes made hir professyon in
thabbay of nonnes at mouÌs whiche she had founded and wrote and prayed to hir moder that she myght haue audegonde hir suster wyth hir for hir dysporte comforte and companye in veray loue and charytee audegonde the holy virgyne was sente thyder and was taughte and endoctryned by hir suster in the manere holdyng of relygyon Fewe dayes after hir moder yet supposyng to haue maryed hir wente there where bothe hyr doughters were and to Audegonde gaue a pyete of lynnen clothe suche as prynces weren and commaunded to hyr that therwyth she shold make shertes shetys and kerchyers for hyr paramours The good virgyn wenyng that hir moder had mente hyr spouse Ihesu cryste took the sayd clothe and therof she made crysmes whyche are put on newe borne chyldrens heedes whan they be borne to the fontes there to be baptysed to whome the preest sayth take thou thys whyte clothynge whiche thou shalte bere tofore the syege trybunal of our lord wherfore the sayd holy vyrgyne to the ende that the shyrtes of hir owne shapyng and making shold be borne to hir spouse Ihesu cryste she made crysmes with hir moders clothe and whan she had made them moche fayre and ryche as for kynges sones she wyth a mery countenaunce gaue them to hir moder sayeng that she had doon it in the beste wyse that she coude whan hir moder sawe the crysmes and hir lynnen cloth thus employed she was moche wroth and euyl apayed and fette a rodde for to bete hir doughter wythal But the blessyd saynt fledde vnto the foreste of mauâeuge that was there nyghe there she made hyr penytence wyth the comforte and helpe of our lord It is sayd that he whyche by thassente and graunte of hir moder shold haue had hir to his wyf came in to the said foreste for to haue rauysshed hir by force but he coude neuer fynde ne see hyr alle wente he nyghe hyr There she abode vnto the tyme that hyr moder was dede and after she wente to moune where she was sacred vnto a nonne by the handes of Saynt obyer of saynt amande and anone after she bylded founded hyr abbay of mauleuge There was once brouhte to thys holy vyrgyne a grete fysshe whiche she put in to a fountayn for to be kepte there It happed as suche grete fysshes ben acustomed to doo that he lepte so hyghe fro the water that he fyl on the grounde and coude not retourne in to the fontayn On hym cam a grete rauen whiche wold haue ete of hit but there came a lambe that kepte the fysshe fro harme and foughte ageynst the rauen so longe that the ladyes nonnes of the place perceyued the bataylle Somme of them cam to the fontayn toke the fysshe brought it wyth them the said lambe euer folowed them vnto tyme the fysshe was before the presence of saint audegoÌde neuer wold departe tyl the holy vyrgyn said to hym ye haue do right wel goo to your herde ageyn On a nyÈt as saint audegonde with hir suster togyder spekyng secretely of their spouse our Lord Ihesu Cryste theyr candyl fyl fro the candel stycke and was put out Saynt audegonde took it and as god wold it lyghted by it self ageyn Item as on a tyme they two wente to gyder toward the chirche of saynt Peter aboute the houre of sexte the yates that as thenne were shytte sodaynlye openyd before them at the Instaunce of theyr orysons and prayers Item ones as she had thyrste was water broughte to hyr whyche was tourned in to wyne by the grace of hym that in galylee dyd tourne the water in to wyne Saynt Wandrud sawe in a vysyon fyue dayes before the dethe of the holy audegonde hyr suster the blessyd vyrgyn marye bothe saynt Peter and saynt powle prynces of the appostles accompanyed wyth many sayntes and a grete legyon of aungellys whyche ledde hyr suster audegonde in to paradyse She therfore came to the place where hyr suster laye seek and was presânte whan she rendred hyr sowle to hir spouse our lord Ihesu cryste to whome we shal praye that thorugh the merytes of the blessyd vyrgyne audegonde of whyche the myracles bothe in hyr lyf and after hyr dethe been wythoute nombre we may come there as she is in glorye without ende Amen ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint audegonde virgyne And here foloweth the lyf of saint Aulbyne bysshop SAynt aulbyne was borne of noble lygnage in the partyrs of ytalyâ In his chydehode he loued and seruyd god ententyfly and wyth so grete wylle that he lefte bothe his fader and his moder his parentys and frendes lande and alle worldely rychesse and became a monke in an abbay callyd in latyn Tincillacense monasterium where he nedyd shewe of his noblesse but onelye the good condycyons He was humble and seruysable vnto alle and was euer in contynuel prayers and replenysshed wyth alle vertues redy and apparaylled to flee and eschewe alle vyces Whan saynt aulbyne came to the eage of thyrty yere he was maad abbotte of the sayd abbay whyche he gouerned bothe temporelle and spryrituel by the space of fyue twenty yere so that our lord was at al tymes wel and deuotelye seruyd and al goodes temporalle dayly grewen there The bisshop of angers deyed that tyme and thenne thys holy saynt aulbyne by the grace and wylle of our Lord and by the comune and concordable assente of alle the chappytre was promoted to the dygnyte of bisshop there where as he was afterwarde knowen so parfyte and so charytable that doubtelesse his promocyon Was cause of the saluacyon of many sowles A Woman there was in the cytee of angyers whyche had hir handes as lame and counterfeyted for cause of a sekenesse that men calle the gowte wherwyth she was sore vexyd she made hyr prayer and demaunded helpe of the saynt and soone she was holpen and releuyd from that sekenesse onelye by that he handelyd thre tymes hyr handes on a tyme as saint aulbyn went thorugh a dowue within his dyocyse he sawe the fader moder wepyng ouer theyr chylde dede toke on them pyte made his prayer vnto our lord sodaynlye their chylde was reysed to lyf Item a blynde man demauÌded helpe of saint aulbyn the holy bisshop made the signe of the crosse ouer âym anon he was enlumyned ageyn Item as saynt aulbyn dyd passe on a tyme before the pryson hows at angers the prysonners cryed besought hym for helpe the holy bysshop hauyng on them grete compassyon yede vnto the baylye prayed hym for theym but nought auayled there his prayer wherfore he wente to his chyrche and soone after his prayer made to god knelyng before the hygh aulter a grete parte of the pryson walle fylle doun and soo scapyd euery prysonner there A woman vexyd wyth a wycked spiryte was broughte before thys holy bysshop and assone as the enemye perceyued the holy man he put hym selfe in to the
womans eye in fourme of a litel whelk rede as ony blood to whom saynt aulbyn makyng the sygne of the crosse sayd thou wycked spyryte thou shalte not destroye the eye whiche thou madest not nor cannest make And anone the same lytel whelke beganne to blede as one had flymed hit the enemye thenne Wente from hyr whyche in good helthe was lefte and of hir wytte restoryd ¶ After our englysshe tunge albinus is as moche for to say as primo as he whyte quia albinus dicitur quasi albus and thus thys holy saynt was al whyte by purete of clene lyuyng secundo as he that in hym self hath bountee or goodnes Sic albinus dicitur quasi bonus and veraylye thys holy bysshop was good tercio as he that by vygour or force flyeth to the spirytualte Sic albinus dicitur alas bi nas habens that is to wete hope and feyth therwyth this holy saynt was replenysshed It is redde that saynt aulbyn had ij wyues that is to Wete two nourysses Whicbe dyd nourysshe hym wherof the proces or taale is suche saynt aulbyn lyeng in his cradel was lefte allone doubtyng none Inconuenyente in a gardyn a she wolfe came rauysshed the chylde bare it in to the feldes two maydens thenne passed that waye perceyued the chylde cam thyder as he laye on therthe hauyng pyte on hym one of them two sayd wold to god I had mylke to foustre the wythal these wordes thus sayd she saw hir pappes that grewe roos vp were fylled with mylke she thenne toke the chylde gafe gym sowke semblably said prayed the other mayde anone she had mylke as hir felawe had so they two nourysshed the holy chylde aulbyn It happed on a tyme as the normans in grete nombre of men of armes came in to the contreye Where the holy corps of saynt aulbyn restyd the peple there so sore they trauaylled that they ne wyste where to become flee and a man armed alle in whyte came emonge the sayd peple sayd why doubte you to sawte and befyghte your enemye so that ye haue saynt aulbyn to your helpe deffence that sayd he vanysshed awaye wherfore the peple toke courage and armyd them wente ageynst their enemyes dyscomfyted them Saynt Aulbyne was buryed at angers whan hys successour wold haue translated hym in to a gretter chappel in the presence of saynt germayn many other moo cam thyder foure men counterfeted lame in al their membris also two blynde men whiche alle vj were there by the merites of saynt aulbyn releuyd in to their good helthe that is to wete the countrefayted redressyd of their membris the blynde enlumyned This holy saynt aulbyn Was bysshop of angers by the space of twenty yere vj monethes whos sowle toke his syege in paradyse the yere of his natyuyte four score there as by the merytes of hym may lede vs the fader the sone the holy ghoost AMEN ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Aulbyne Here begynneth the noble historye of thexposicion of the masse FOr herte deuoute to vnderstonde what it is to say masse also to consecrate the body of our lord the precious sacrament of th aulter It is to knowe that the masse may be comprysed in four partyes principal the first parte dureth from the begynnyng of the masse vnto thofferyng the second dureth from thoffryng to the pater noster said the third parte dureth fro the pater noster vnto the persepcion the fourth parte dureth fro the percepcion vnto th ende of the masse as towchyng the first parte that is the begynnyng of the masse vnto thoffrynge It is to vnderstonde that the preest whiche is as he that sheweth the waye of god to the peple or he reuesteth hym wyth the chezuble he begynneth and saith a psalme that is in the thyrd nocturne of the psaulter the which psalme begynneth Iudica me deus discerne in the same psalme he asketh iiij thynges the fyrst is that he may be parted from al euyl companye the second is that he may be delyuerd fro al euyl temptacioâ the thyrd is that he may be of the holy ghoost enlumyned the fourth is that Ihesu crist gyue hym self to be consecrate by hym to the entente he may the more surely deuoutely consecrate the sayd sacramente he confesseth hym self generally of al his synnes sayeng his confiteor by the which confiteor he sheweth four thynges fyrst he sheweth hym self worthy of redargucion or rebuke secondly he sheweth hym self playne of contricion thirdly he requyreth ayde of them that are aboute hym that he may haue remyssyon of his synnes fourthly he demauÌdeth of our lord veray absolucyon the preest after kysseth th aulter the which kyssyng sygnefyeth vnyte dyleccion in shewyng how our lord wold vnye or Ioyne our humanyte to his dyuynytee by grete loue take the chirche for his owne spouse wherfore the holy chyrche may say thus Quasi sponsam decorauit me corona et quasi sponsam ornauit me monilibus That is to saye that our lord as his propre spouse hath aourned or cladde me with thynges precyous The preest after that draweth hym to the ryghte parte or syde of the aulter sygnefyeng how god Whan he had taken our humanyte after his passyon by the vertue of hys resurrexyon he translated hym on the ryght hande of the fader and there the preest begynneth thyntroyte of the masse the which sygnefyeth the comyng of our lord Ihesu cryste how he wold come in to the world the whiche comyng thauncient faders prophetes and patryarkes and the feythful peple of our lord desyred moche ardantlye and for that they cryed wyth an hyghe voys said Emitte agnum domine dominatorem terre Syeng thus to god the fader Syr we praye the that thou wylt sende the swete lambe hauyng domynacion in al erthe and to god the sone they sayd thus Veni domine noli tardare That is for to saye we praye the that thou wylt come hastelye and tarye not Secondly the sayd Introyte signefyeth how the preest oweth to entre the seruyce of god and for thys foloweth a verse of the psaulter after the sayd Introyte suche as apperteyneth to the day the whiche verse sygnefyeth how we ought to putte our handes ioyntelye prayeng to hym deuoutelye for he is made as our propre brother in takyng our humanytee for to shewe vs the waye of trouthe After foloweth Gloria patri the whiche sygnefyeth preysyng and lawde to the fader the sone and the holy ghoost For after good werkes ought to folowe lawdyng preysyng after that the preest repeteth the Introyte of the masse to the ende that the desyres of the auncyent faders prophetes and patryarkes may the better be shewed After the preest begynneth and sayth thre tymes kyryeleyson that is to vnderstonde to the fader and thre tymes xpeÌleyson to the sone and thre
saith an oryson that thus begynneth Placeat tibi sancta trinitas That is as moche for to say Holy trynyte I praye you that ye vouchesauf to take thys holy sacrefyse acceptable for me and also for theym for whome I haue consecrate the body of our lerd Per xpristum dominum nostrum amen and here is the ende of the masse but somme preestys whyle they take fro them the vestementes they say saynt Iohans gospel and somme saye the offyce of our lady Saynt Iohans gospel is sayd for ãâã mysterye in hit conteynyng for in ãâã tenour of it saynt Iohan maketh meâcyon how our humanyte was ioyneâ and vnyed to the dyuynyte and how he was sente for to be testymonage or wytnesse of the deuyne lyght of the whiche lyght al creatures was enlumyned after the preest saith his graces lawdyng and thankyng god of all his benefaytes Who someuer wyl knowe and vnderstonde wel and parfytely the noble vertu and noble mysterye that in the exposycnon of the masse is lete hym wel consydere and enprynte right parfytelye wythin hys herte alle tho thynges that here beforne are conteyned and the creature thus doyng shal mowe haue certeyn knowlege of god and shal mowe ordeyne and dresse hys conscyence after that before is sayd and soo we praye god that he gyue to vs grace to doo suche seruyce and soo good prayers that we therwyth may acquyre and gete the holy blysse of paradyse AMEN Here endeth the noble historye of the exposicion of the masse And here foloweth the twelue articles of our feythe THyse ben the twelue artycles of the crystyn feythe that euery crysten man and woman oughte to byleue stedfastlye and fermelye for otherwyse they may not be sauyd sythe they haue wytte and reason and twelue artycles they be after the nombre of the appostles that made hem and stablysshed to be holden and kepte Of whiche the fyrst longeth to the fader the seuen to the sone and the other foure to the holy ghoost For it is the foundemente of the feythe to byleue on the trynyte that is the fader the sone and the holy ghoost one god in thre persones and al thyse artycles are conteyned in the crede The fyrst is thus I beleue on god the fader almyghty creatour of heuen erth thys fyrst artycle layed saynt peter in the crede the second apperteyneth to the sone as to his godhede that is to say in thys that he is god and it is suche I beleue on Ihesu cryst our lord onley sone of god the fader this ouÈt men to vnderstonde and byleue that he is semblable like and egal to the fader in al thynges that are bylongyng to the godhede and he is one selfe and lyke thynge wyth the fader saufe of persone that is not lyke the persone of the fader thys artycle made and layed it in the crede Saynt Iohan the euangelyste The thyrd and fourth artycles that folowen after in the crede apperteynen to the sonâ after his humanyte that is to say after that man is mortal In whiche thyrd artycle is conteyned that he was conceyued of the holy ghoost and borne of the vyrgyne marye by vertu and werke of the holy ghoost not by mannes werke that the vyrgyne marye abode euer virgyn before and after hys byrthe And thys artycle layed saynt Iames brother to saynt Iohan the euangelyste in the crede The fourth artycle bylongeth to his passyon that is to say that he suffred vnder poncepylate that was paynym and Iuge at that tyme in Iherusalem Instytued by the Romayne vnder the whiche was Ihesu cryst Iuged wrongfully at the requeste of the felon Iewes crucefyed dede and put in the sepulcre this artycle layed saint andrewe the fyfthe artycle is that he descended in to helle after hys deth for to haue oute and delyuer the sowles of the holy faders and of alle them that fro the begynnyng or the world deyed in veray contrycyon and repentaunce in feythe and hope that they shold be sâuyd by hym For by cause of the fyrst mannes synne al must descende in to helle there to abyde the good and certeyn hope of Ihesu cryste the sone of god that shold come to delyuer them after that he had promysed by hys prophetes and this reason he wold descende in to helle that is to vnderstonde in to that parte of helle where they that were dampned were not the whyche were dede in theyr synnes thoo same he drewe not oute of helle for they be dampned pardurably and for euer thys artycle layed in the trede saynt phelyppe The vj artycle is of hys resurrexyon that is to Wete that on the thyrd day after his dethe for to consumme and accomplysshe the scryptures he rose from dethe vnto lyf ageyn and apperyd to his dyscyples approued to them his resurrexyon in many maners by the space of fourty dayes this artycle layed saynt thomas The seuenth artycle is thys that on the fourty day after his resurrexyon whan he ete wyth his dyscyples before them al appertelye he ascended aboue al creatures in to heuen vnto the right hande of the fader where he sytteth and this artycle layed saynt bartylmewe in the crede The viij artycle is that he shall come on domes day to Iuge bothe lyuyng and dede the good and euyl and shal rendre or yelde to euery one thys that he shal haue deserued in this world ¶ These ben the artycles that are longyng to the sone and that laste artycle beforesayd layed saynt mathew theuangelyste in the crede The ix and the thre laste artycles belongen to the holy ghoost these artycles here requyren that men byleue the holy ghoost is the yefte and the loue of god the fader and of the sone fro whome come ãâã vs al wele and grace that he is one same god one same thynge wyth the fader and wyth the sone sauf the persone that is other than the persones of the fader of the sone this artycle layed in the crede saynt Iames the brother of saynt symon and saynt Iude The tenthe artycle is thys I beleue on the holy chyrche general in the communyon of sayntes that is to say the companye of al sayntes of trewe men that ben shal be vnto the consumyng or ende of the world that were fro the begynnyng of the world to gyder with the feyth of Ihesu cryste In this artycle are vnderstonde the vij sacramentes of holy chirche that is to wete baptesme confirmacion the sacramente of the aulter the sacramente of mariage or wedlock penaunce confessyon the last is the holy vnccion this artycle layed saynt symon The xj article is to byleue the remyssyon of synnes that god gyueth by vertue of the sacramentes of holy chirche thys artycle layed saynt Iude that was the brother of saynt symon and not that Iude that betrayed our lord Ihesu cryste The xij artycle is to byleue the general resurrexyon of bothe the sowles bodyes perdurable or euerlastyng that is the glorye of paradyse that god shall gyue to them that shal deserue it by good feyth thorugh good werkys this artycle gyueth also to vnderstonde his contrarye that is deth the peyne perdurable or Without ende that god hath apparaylled for them that shal be dampned this article oughte to be vnderstonde in suche manere that euery one be they good of euyl shal be Iuged on domes day reysed fro dethe to lyf ageyn in his owne propre body he shal receyue his rewarde gwerdon bothe in body in sowle togyder after he shal haue deseruyd beyng in this lyf mortal thefore at that day the good creatures shal be glorefyed bothe in body sowle in lyf that euer shal laste this article layed saynt mathyas appostle frende of god Thus endeth the twelue artycles of our feythe Thus endeth the legende named in latyn legenda aurea that is to saye in englysshe the golden legende For lyke as golde passeth in valewe alle other metalles so thys legende excedeth alle other bookes wherin ben conteyned alle the hygh and grete festys of our lord the festys of our blessyd lady the lyues passyons and myracles of many other sayntes and other hystoryes and actes as al allonge here afore is made mencyon whiche werke I haue accomplisshed at the commaundemente and requeste of the noble and puyssaunte erle and my special good lord Wyllyam erle of arondel haue fynysshed it at westmestre the twenty day of nouembre the yere of our lord M CCCC lxxxiij the fyrst yere of the reygne of Kyng Rychard the thyrd ¶ By me Wyllyam Caxton The lyf of the sayntes tyburce and Ualerian been conteyned in the lyf of Cecyle vyrgyn and marter This feste is the laste feste of the yere for to begynne at the feste of saynt andrewe and herafter shal folowe dyuers feestys whiche been added and sette in this sayd book callyd the golden legende