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° respleÌ„dour 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 sergeauÌ„te 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 seâ—yng 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 reâ—luse 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
in the felde wherof Nabugodonosor was exalted and enhauÌ„sed hym self And sente vnto all Regyons aboute And vnto Iherusalem tyl the mountes of ethyope for toâ—eye and holde of hym whyche all gaynsaid hym with one wille and without worshype sente home hys messagers voyd and setted nought by hym Thenne Nabugodonoâ—or hauyng her at grete Indygnacion swore by hys regne and by hys trone that he wold aueÌ„ge hym on them all And therupon callyd all hys dukes prynces and men of warre and helde a couÌ„seyl In which was decreed that he shold subdue alle the world vnto hys empyre And therupon he ordeyned Olyfernes prynce of hys knyghthode and bad hym goo forth and in especial agayn them that had despysed hys empyre And bad hym spare no Royame ne towne but subdue all to hym Thenne Olifernes assemblyd dukes and maistres of the strength of Nabugodonosor and noÌ„bred CxxM fote men And horsmen shoters xijM And to fore them he comanded to goo a multitude of Innumerable Camellis laden with suche thyngis as were nedeful to the hoost as vytayll gold and syluer moche that was taken out of the tresorye of the kynges And so weÌ„te to many royames which he subdued and ocupyed a grete parte of thoryent tyl he cam approchyng the londe of Israhel ¶ And whan the chyldren of Israhel herde herof they drede sore leste he shold come emong them in to Iherusalem and destroye the teÌ„ple For Nabugodonosor had comanded that he shold extyncte alle the goddes of the erthe that no god shold be named ne worshiped but he hym self of all the nacions that Olifernes shold subdue Eliachym thenne preest in Iâ—rahel wrote vnto all them in the montayns that they shold kepe the strayte wayes of the montayns and so the chyldren of Israhel dyde as the preest had ordeyned Thenne Eliachym the preest wente aboute alle Israhel and said to them knowe ye that god hath herde your prayers yf ye abyde and contynue in your prayers and fastyngis in the sight of god Remembre ye of moyses the seruaunt of god whyche ouerthrewe Amalech trustyng in hys strengthe and in hys power in hys hoost in hys helmes in hys chares and in hys horsmen not fyghtyng wyth yron but with prayeng of holy prayers In lyke wyse shal be all the enemyes of Israhel yf ye ê‘seuere in this werke that ye haue begonne with this exortacion they contynued prayeng god they ê‘seuered in the sight of god and also they that offred to our lord were clad with sack cloth had asshes on theyr heedes with all their herte they prayd god to visite hys peple Israhel It was told to holofernes prynce of the knyghthode of thassyryens that the chyldren of Israhel made them redy to resyste hym had closed the wayes of the moÌ„tayns he was breÌ„ned in ouermoche futour in grete Ire he callid all the prynces of moab dukes of amon said to them Saye ye to me what peple is this that bisege the montaynes or what or how many cytes haue they also what is theyr vertue what multytude is of them or who is kyng of their knyghthode TheÌ„ne achior duke of all them of amoÌ„ ansueryng said yf thou daignest to here me I shal telle the trouthe of this peple that dwelleth in the moÌ„tayns And ther shal not yssue out of my mouth one false worde this peple dwelled fyrst in mesopotamye and was of the progenye of the caldees but wold not dwelle there for they wold not folowe the goddes of their faders that were in the londe of caldees goyng and leuyng the cerymonyes of their fadres whiche was in the multitude of mâ—ny goddes they honoured one god of heueÌ„ which comanded them to goo thens that they shold dwelle in carraÌ„ TheÌ„ne after was there moche hongre that they desceÌ„ded in to Egypte there abode iiijC yere multeplied that they myht not be nombred whan the kynge of egipt greuyd them in his bildyngis beryng claye tyles subdued theÌ„ they cryed to our lord and he smote the londe of egypte with dyuerse plaghes whan they of egipt had caste them out fro theÌ„ the plaghe cessed fro them And theÌ„ne they wold haue taken hem agayn wold haue called theÌ„ to their seâ—uyse they fleyng their god opend the see to theÌ„ that they wente thurgh drye foot in whiche the innumerable hoost of thegipciens poursyewyng them were drowned that ther was not one of them sauyd for to telle to them that cam after them They passed thus the â—â—ed see â— them with manna xl yere and made bytter waters swete and gaf them water out of a stone And where somÌ„euer this peple entred without bowe or arowe sheld or swerd theyr god fought for them And ther is noman may preuayle ayenst this peple but whan they departe fro the culture and honour of theyr god And as ofte as they haue departed fro theyr god and worshypped other strange goddes so ofte haue they ben ouercomeÌ„ with their enemyes And whan they repente come to the knowlege of their synne and crye their god mercy they ben restored agayn and theyr god gyueth to them vertue to resiste their enemyes They haue ouertrowen CananeuÌ„ the kyng Iebusee pheresee eneuÌ„ etheuÌ„ and amorreuÌ„ and all the myghty men in Esâ—â—on And haue taken their londe and cytees and possesse them and shal as longe as they plese their god Their god hated wickednesse ¶ For to fore thys tyme whan they wente fro the lawes that theyr god gaf to them he suffred them to be taken of many nacions in to captiuyte and were disperplid And nowe late they be comen agayn and possede IhrlÌ„m where in is sancta scoÌ„rum ben comen ouer thise moÌ„taynes where as somÌ„e of hem dwelle now therfor my lord see serche yf ther be ony wickednesse of them in the sight of their god theÌ„ne late vs goo to theÌ„ for their god shal gyue theÌ„ in to thy hondes they shal be subdued vnder the yock of thy power and whaÌ„ Achior had said thus all the grete men aboute holyferne were aÌ„gry had thought for to haue slayn hym sayeng eche to other who is this that may make the chyldreÌ„ of Israhel resiste the kynge nabugodonosor hys Armee hoost men cowardis without myght without ony wysedoÌ„ of warre Therfor that achior may knowe that he saith not trewe late vs ascende the moÌ„tayns And whan the myghty men of them be taken late hym be slayn wyth theym that all meÌ„ may knowe that nabugodonosor is god of the erthe that ther is none other but he TheÌ„ne whan they cessed to speke holofernes hauyng IndignacioÌ„ said to achior by cause thou hast prophecied to vs of the chyldren of Israhel sayeng that their god defended them I shal shewe to the that ther is no god but Nabugodonosor For whan we haue ouercomen them all and slayn them as one man theÌ„ne shalt thou dye
not forbere them And the fader of Iudas knewe not Iudas hys sone For he had supposed that he had be drowned in the see longe to fore ne the sone knewe not the fader whan pylate had told to Iudas of hys desyre he sprange in to the gardyn of hys fader and gadred of the fruyt for to bere â—o hys maystre but the fader of Iudas deffended hym And ther bygan bytwene them moche stryf and debate fyrst by wordes and after wyth fyghtyng so moche that Iudas smote hys fader wyth a stone on the heed that he slewe hym ¶ And after brought thapples vnto pylate And tolde to hym how that he had slayn hym that ought the gardyn Thenne sente pylate to sease all the good that the fader of Iudas had And after gaf hys wyf to Iudas in mariage And thus Iudas wedded hys owen moder Now it happed on a day that the lady wepte sighed moche strongly said alas how vnhappy that I am I haue lost my sone my husbond My sone was leyd on the see and I suppose that he be drowned and my husbond is dede sodeynly And yet it is more greuous to me that pylate hath remaryed me ayenst my wyll Thenne demauÌ„ded Iudas of thys child And she told hym how he was sette in the see And Iudas tolde to her how he had be fouÌ„den in the see in suche wise that she wist that she was his moder that he had slayn hys fader wedded hys moder wherfor theÌ„ne he wente to Ihesu cryst which dyde so many myracles prayd hym of mercy forgifnes of his synnes Thus fer it is red in thistorye which is not autentike Our lord made Iudas one of his appostles reteyned hym in his coÌ„panye and was so pryue with hym that he was made his procuratour bare the purse for all the other and stale of that whiche was gyuen to cryst Thenne it happed that he was sory and angry for thoygne meÌ„t that Marye magdalene poured on the heed and feet of our lord Ihesu crist sayd that it was worth CCC pens and sayd that so moche he had lost And therfor sold he Ihesu cryst for xxx pens of the money vsual of whiche euery peny was worth x pens And so he recouuerd CCC pens Or after that somÌ„e saye that he ought to haue of all the yeftes that was gyuen to Ihesu cryst the tenthe peny And so he recouerd xxx pens of that he sold hym And neuerthheles atte leste he brought them agayn to the temple and after henge hym self in despayr And hys body opened and clefte a sonder and hys bowellis fylle out And so it apperteyned wel that it shold so be for the mouth whyche god had kyssyd ought not to be defouled in touchyng also he ought not to dye on the erthe by cause all erthely creatures ought to hate hym but in the ayer where deuyllys and wyckyd spyrites â—ee by cause he had deseruyd to be in theyr companye Thenne whan the tyme cam bytwene thascencion and wythsontyde saynt peter byheld that the nombre of thappostles was menusshyd he aroos vp in the myddle of the dyscyples and said fair brethern ye knowe how our lord Ihesu cryst hadde chosen xij men for to bere wytnesse of hys resurrection And Iudas was goon the euyl waye It behoueth taccomplysshe the nombre of xij of suche as hath ben wyth hym And sith they chosen two of them that were there that one was named Ioseph surnamed Iustus and that other was mathye And thenne they made their orysons said lord god whyche knowest the hertes of all the persones Shewe to vs whome we shal chese of thyes tweyne here And after they caste lottes and the lotte fylle on mathye whyche forth wyth was enombred wyth the other xj And thenne were they xij But the holy saynt denys sayth that the lotte was a Raye and a shynyng whyche cam and shone vpon hym And anon he bygan to preche and had hys predycacion aboute Iherusalem And was moche vertuous and dyde many myracles as is wreton of hym of whom the legende foloweth whyche legende is founde at Tryre in Almayne SAynt mathye whyche was sette in the place of Iudas was born in bethleem of the trybe of Iuda he was sette to scole and in a lytyl tyme he lerned all the science of the lawe and of the prophetes he was a ferd of flesshly lustes And he passyd hys yongthe in good maners hys corage was enclyned to all vertues ¶ For he was humble and debonayr and allewaye redy vnto do mercy And was not proud in prosperite ne fraylle in aduersytee he dyde that whyche he prechid he made the blynde to see and heled the seke men he reysed the dede men and dide grete myracles in the name of Ihesu cryste And whan he was accused herof to fore the bysshop of Iherusalem it was demaunded hym that he shold answere therto And he sayd It behoueth not moche tanswere herto by cause for to be a crysten man it is nothyng crymynel but it is a gloryous lyf Thenne sayd the bysshop that he wold spare hym and gyue hym respyte to repente hym And saynt Mathye answerd god forbede that I shold repente of the trouthe that I haue truly founden and become an apostate He was ferme in the loue of god clene of hys body and wyse in spekyng to alle the questions of scripture And whan he prechyd the word of god many byleuyd in Ihesu cryst by hys predicacion The Iewes toke hym And brougt hym to Iustyce and had goten two false wytnesses ayenst hym and for taccuse hym the whyche caste on hym fyrst stones and the other after and so was stoned And he prayd that the stones myght be buryed that the false wytnessys had cast vpon hym For to bere wytnesse agayn theÌ„ that stoned hym And fynably he was slayn wyth an axe after the maner of the Romayns And he held vp hys handes and comaunded hys esperyte to god And after is is sayd that hys body was brought to Rome And fro rome it was translated vnto tâ—yre Another legende sayth that hys hody lyeth at Rome and buryed vnder a stone of pourphyrye in the chyrche of saynt marye the maior ¶ Of saynt Gregorye the pope GRegorye is sayd of grex whyche is to saye a flock of gere whych is to saye a prechour Thenne Gregorye is to saye as a prechour to an assemble or flock of peple or it is said as a noble doctour or prechour Or gregorye is to saye in our langage as awaked For the awoke to hym self to god and to the peple he awoke to hym self by kepyng of clennesse to god by good contemplacion And to the peple by contynuel predycacion And by thys is deserued the vision of god And saynt Austyn sayth in the book of ordre that he seeth god that wel lyueth wel studyeth and wel prayeth And poul thystoryograph of the lombardes
to his wyf whiche yet slepte in the chirche bad hym that he shold caste awey alle the Rychesses of the deuylle And whan he cam ageyne he fond his wyf yet slepyng and awoke her and told to her alle that was byfallen And whan they were comen home they threwe aweye alle the rychesses of the deuylle and duellyd alwey in the louynges of oure lady and receyued afterward many rychesses that our lady gaf to them There was a man whiche was rauysshed in Iugement to fore god For he had moche synned and the deuyl was there and sayd ye haue nothyng on this sowle but it ought to be myn For I haue therof an Instrument publyque To whome oure lord sayd where is thyn Instrument I haue he said an Instrument that thou saydest with thy propre mouthe and hast ordeyned it for tendure perpetuelly For thou saydest in what houre that ye eten of it ye shalle dye And this is of the lygnage of them that tooke of the mete forboden And by the ryght of this Instrument publyque he ought to be Iuged to me And thenne oure lorde saide late the man speke but the man spack not And the deuyll sayd yet ageyne the sowle is myn For yf he hath done ony good dedes the wykked dedes passen the good withoute comparyson And thenne our lord wold not anon gyue sentence ageynst hym soo that he gaf hym terme of eyght dayes soo that at the ende of eyght dayes he shold appere ageyne to fore hym and gyue acomptes of alle these thynges And as he wente fro the vysage of oure lord sorowyng and tremblyng he mette with a man whiche asked the cause of his heuynes And he tolde to hym all by ordre And he sayd to hym doubte the no thyng ne be not aferd For I shalle helpe the manly for the first And he demaunded of hym his name And he sayde Veryte And after he found another whiche promysed to helpe hym for the second And when he had asked his name he sayd his name was rightwysenes At the eyghte day he cam to the dome to fore the Iuge and the deuylle opposid to hym the first caas and trouthe answerd and sayd We knowe well that ther is double deth corporelle and Infernal and this Instrument that the deuylle alledgeth ageynste the speketh no word of the dethe of helle but of the deth of the body And of that it is clere that al men be enclosed in that sentence that is to wyte that he dyeth in his body and that is not the deth of helle And as touchyng the dethe of the body the sentence endureth alwey but as to the dethe of the sowle it is repelled by the dethe of Ihesu Criste Thenne the deuylle sawe that he was discharged of the fyrste Thenne he opposed and alledged the second but rightwysenes cam ansuerd thus how be it that he hath ben thy seruauÌ„t many yeres netheles reason gayn sayeth it For reson murmured alweye by cause he serued so cruel a lord But at the thyrdde obiection he hadde none helpe and oure lord sayde brynge forth the balaunce and late alle the good and euylle be weyed and thenne trouthe and rightwysenes sayde to tâ—e synner Renne with al thy thought vnto the lady of mercy whiche sytteth by the Iuge and studye to calle her to thyn helpe And whanne he had so done the blessid Vyrgyne marye cam in to his helâ—e and leyd her hand vpon the balaunce on the syde where as were but fewe good dedes And the deuylle enforced hym to drawe on that other syde but the moder of mercy wan and obteyned and delyuerd the synner And thenne he cam ageyne to hym self and amended his lyf It happed in the Cyte of Bourges aboute the yere of our lord v C xxvij that whan the crysten men were comyned and hou seled on an eesterday A childe of a Iewe wente to the aulter with the other children and receyued oure lordes body with the other And whan he cam home his fader demaunded hym whens he cam And he answerde that he cam fro scole and that he had ben howseled with them at masse And thenne the fader full of wodenes tooke the chylde and threwe hym in to a brennyng furnays that was there And anone the moâ—â—â— of god cam in the forme of an ymage whiche the child had sene stondyng on the aulter and kepte hym fro the fire withoute takyng ony harme And the moder of the child with her grete cryeng made tassemble many Crysten men and Iewes the whiche sawe the child in the furnays without ony harme or hurte and drewe hym oute And demaunded hym how he escaped And he answerd and sayd that reuerent lady whiche stoode vpon the aulter cam and helpe me and put awey alle the fire fro me Thenne the Crysten men vnderstondyng this to be thymage of our lady took the fader of the childe and threw hym in to the fornayce whiche incontynent was brent consumed Ther were certeyn monkes to fore day stondyng by a ryuer and talked and iangled there of fables and ydle wordes And they herd a grete rowyng and oores betyng the water comyng hastely And the Monkes asked who ben ye And they sayde we ben deuyls that bere to helle the sowle of Ebronyen prouost of the hows of the kyng of Fraunce which was Apostata in the monastery of saynt Galle And whan the Monkes herd that they doubted strongly And cryed hyghe saynt mary praye for vs And the deuylles sayden well haue ye called Marye For we wold haue disioyned yow and haue drowned yow by cause your dissolute oute of of tyme Ianglyng And thenne the Monkes retorned to their Couent And the deuylles wente in to helle There was a woman that suffred many greues and iniuryes of a deuyll whiche appered vysybly to her in the forme of a man And she sought many remedyes now hooly water now one thyng now other but he cessed not And thenne an hooly man counceyled her that whan he cam to her that she shold lyfte vp her handes to heuen and crye saynt Mary helpe me And whan she had soo done the deuylle fled all afrayed as he had be smyten with a stone and after stoode and sayd The cursyd deuyll entre in to his mouthe that taught the that And anone vanysshed awey And neuer cam ageyne Here foloweth yet of the assumpcion of oure blessid lady THe name of thassumpcion of the right holy vyrgyn Marye is shewed in a Sermon made and ordeyned of dyuerse sayenges of sayntes the whiche is redde solempnly in many chirches and therin is conteyned alle that I can fynde in the world In narracions of holy faders of the departynge oute of this lyf of the gloryous vyrgyn Marye moder of god that I haue sett here to the louyng praysyng of her Seynt Cosme whiche had to surname vesture sayth he hath lerned of his forn goers whiche dyd that ought not to
recesserunt a me My neyghbours that knewe me as straungers haue lefte me Item he suffred of theÌ„ to whom he had don moche good lyke as saynt IohÌ„n recordeth IohaÌ„nis viij I haue wrought many good thynges to you herto saith saynt bernard O good Ihesu how swetely hast thou conuersyd wyth men ¶ And how grete thynges in the most haboundauÌ„t wyse hast thou grauÌ„ted to them how hard sharpe thynges hast thou suffred for theÌ„ hard wordes harder strokes betynges most hard tormeÌ„tes of the crosse neuertheles they rendre yeld to the the contrarye The fourth cause is for the tendrenes of his body wherof dauid saith in figure of hym in the second book of kynges he is lyke as the most teÌ„dre worme of the wode wherof said saynt bernard O ye Iewes ye be stones but ye smyte a better stone wherof resowneth the sowne of pyte boylleth the oyle of charyte and saynt Iherome saith he is delyuerd to knyghtes for to â—e beten and their betyngis haue cruelly wouÌ„ded torne the most precyous body in whos breste the godhed was hydd The fyfth cause was by cause she was generall for it was ouerall that is to saye oueral his body in all the naturell wyttes of his body And first the sorow was in his eyen For he wept tendrely as saynt poul saith in his epistle ad hebros twyes he ascended on heyght that he myght be ferre herd he cryed stroÌ„gly by cause none shold be excused he added therto wepyng that we shold haue coÌ„passion to teÌ„dre our hertis he had wepte to for ij tymes also one tyme whaÌ„ he reysed lazare that other tyme whaÌ„ he approchyd IhrlÌ„m he wepte the first teres were of loue wherof is said in the gospel beholde how he loued hym The secoÌ„de were of coÌ„passion vpon IhrlÌ„m But this thirde wepyng teres were of sorow SecoÌ„dly the sorow was in heeryng with his eeris that repreues vylonyes that was said to hym blasphemyd IhÌ„u crist in especial had iiij thynges in which he herde blasphemyes repreues for he had right excelleÌ„t noblesse as to the nature dyuyne he was sone of the kynge ê‘petuell souerayn and as to the nature humayne he was born of the lygnage ryall as to this he was also kyng of kynges lord of lordes he was also souerayne trouthe For he is the waye the lyf and the trouthe wherof he said hym self Thy worde is trouthe The sone of god that is the word of god the fader he hath also souerayn power aboue all other For none may surmounte hym For all thynges ben made by hym nought is made without hym he hath also synguler bounte For ther is none good of hym self but god only And in thyse foure thynges here IhÌ„u cryst had opprobryes and blasphemyes First as to his noblesse wherof is said in saynt mathew caplÌ„o xiij Is not this the sone of the smyth said they And we know wel his moder called marye Secondly as to his power wherof is said also in saynt mathew This same casteth out the fendes of the bodyes in the power of the prynce of deuellis And in an other place of mathew the xxvij chapitre he hath saued other and he may not saue hym self And neuertheles wyth his only voys he made his persecutours falle doun to the erthe whan he demauÌ„ded them in the gardyne whom seche ye They answerd Ihesu of nazareth and whan he said I am they fyll doun to therthe wherof saith saynt austyn One only voys without ony darte smote a cruel companye ful of hate dredfull by armes doun to the ground and put them aback by the vertue of the godhede hyd in hym what shal he doo whan he shal Iuge hym that hath don so that he ought to be Iuged what shal he mowe dooo whan he shal regne that hath don this whan he shold deye Thirdly he suffrid obprobryes as to the veryte whefro is sayd in saynt IohnÌ„ Thou bereft wytnes of thy self and thy wytnesse is not trewe lo how they said hym to be a lyar when it is so that he is waye trouthe and lyf This verite trouthe pilate deserued not to knowe ne to vnderstond For after trouthe he Iuged hym not he began his IugemeÌ„t wyth trouthe but he perseuered not For he made his questyon sayeng what is trouthe but he abode not the solucyon ne he was not worthy to here it saynt austyn saith that he abode not the solucion by cause that so sone as he had made the question It cam in his tought that the custome was of the Iewes that one shold be delyuerd to them at paske And therfore he wente out anon and abode not the solucion The thirde cause is after seynt IohnÌ„ crysostome For the questioÌ„ was so grete and of so grete difficulte that he had nede of longe tyme to aduyse and to discusse it And he laboured for the delyueraunce of IhuÌ„ Cryst And therfore he yssued out anon Neuertheles it is redde in the gospel of nicodemus that Ihesu crist answerd veritas de celo est And pilate saide in erthe is no trouthe IhuÌ„s said to hym how may be trouthe in erthe whiche in erthe is Iuged of theÌ„ that haue power in erthe Fourthly he suffred blasphemye as to his bounte and goodnes For they said that he was a man synnar and deceyuor in his wordes luce xij he hath moeuyd the comyn peple with his doctrine in begynnyng from galyle hether And hath broken the coÌ„mandemens of the lawe for he kepeth not the sabat day Iohannis nono Thirdly the sorowe was in smellyng of thordure fylthe For he myght smell grete stenche on the mount of caluarye where as were the bodyes of deede men stynkyng wherof is said in scolastica historia that Caluarye is the bone of the hede all bare And by cause that many were there byheded and many skulles of heedes were there sparteled all openly they said that it was the place of caluarye Fourtly the sorowe in tastynge wherof he cryed Scicio I am a thurste Ther was gyuen to hym vynaygre medled wyth myrre and galle to th ende that he shold the sonner deye and the kepars myght the sonner departe and goothens For it is said by vynaygre men deye moche soone And with this also they gaf to hym myrre For to haue the more payne for the byternesse of the myrre and of the galle wherof saith seynt Austyn his purete was fulfylled wyth vynaygre in stede of wyn his swetenes with galle thynnocent is sette for gylty and the lyf deyeth for deth Fyftly the sorowe was in towchyng for in alle the partyes of hys body he was towched and wounded fro the plante of his foot vnto the toppe of his heed was none hole place And how he suffred sorowe in all his naturel wyttes saynt bernard telleth that saith The hede that made angelis to tremble is perced and prycked with the qualite
had said Amen they wente to the feste And with the drede of god they excersised the feste of theyr weddynges whyles that thobye taryed by cause of hys maryage hys fader thobye began to be heuy sayeng Trowest wherfor my sone tarieth and why he is holden there Trowest thou that gabele be deed and noman is there that shal gyue hym his money he began to be sory and heuy gretly bothe he Anna hys wyf wyth hym and began bothe to wepe by cause at the day sette he cam not home his moder therfor wepte with vnmesurable teeris and said Alas my sone wherfore sente we the to goo this pylgremage the lyght of our eyen the staf of our age the solace of our lyf the hope of our posteryte all thyse only hauyng in the we ought not to haue laten the goo fro vs To whom thobye said Be stylle and troble the not our sone is sauf ynough the man is trewe faithful ynough with whom we sente hym She myght in no wyse be conforted but euery day she wente and loked and espyed the waye that he shold come yf she myght see hym come fro ferre Thenne Raguel said to thobye his sone in lawe Abyde here with me and I shal sende messagers of thy helthe welfare to thobye thy fader To whom thobias saide I knowe wel that my fader and my moder acompte the dayes and the spyrite is in grete payne within them Raguel prayd hym with many wordes but thobye wold in no wyse graunte hym thenne he delyueryd to hym Sara hys doughter and half parte of all hys substaunce in seruauÌ„tis men and wymen in beestis camellis in kyen and moche money And sauf Ioyeful he lete hym departe fro hym sayeng Thangel of god that is holy be in your Iourney and brynge you home hool and sound and that ye may fynde alle thynge weel and ryghtful aboute your fader and moder And that myn eyen may see your sones er I deye And the fader and moder takyng their doughter kyssyd her and lete her departe warnyng her to worshipe her husbondes fader and moder loue her husbond to rewle wel the meyne to gouerne the hows and to kepe her self irreprehensyble that is to saye wythout repreef whan they thus retorned and departed they came to charram which is the half waye to nynyue the thertenst day TheÌ„ne said the Angele to thobye Thobye brother thou knowest how thow hast lefte thy fader yf it plese the we wyl go to fore And late thy famylye come softly after with thy wif and with thy bestes Thys plesed wel to thobye thenne said Raphael to thobye Take with the of the galle of the fysshe it shal be necessarye Thobye toke of the galle and wente forth to fore anna hys moder satte euery daye by the waye in the toppe of the hylle fro whens she myght see hym come fro ferre and whylis she satte there and loked after hys comyng she sawe a ferre and knewe her sone comyng And rennyng home she tolde to her husbonde sayeng loo thy sone cometh Raphael thenne said to yong thobye Anon as thou entrest in to the hows adowre thy lord god gyuyng to hym thaÌ„kyngis goo to thy fader and kysse hym And anone thenne enoynte hys eyen with the galle of the fysshe that thou berest with the thou shalt wel knowe that hys eyen shal be opened thy fader shal see the lyght of heueÌ„ and shal Ioye in thy syght Thenne ranne the dogge that folowed hym and had ben with hym in the waye and cam home as a messager fawnyng and makyng Ioye with hys tayll And the blynde fader aroos and began offendyng hys feet to renne to mete hys sone gyuyng to hym hys honde And so takyng kyssed hym with hys wyf and began to wepe for Ioye whan than they had worshyped god and thanked hym they satte doun to gydre Thenne thobye takyng the galle of the fysshe enoynted hys faders eyen and abode as it had be half an houre And the slyme of hys eyen began to falle away lyke as it had be the whyte of an egge whiche thobye toke and drewe fro hys fadres eyen and anone he receyuyd sight And they gloryfyed god that is to wete he and hys wyf and all they that knewe hym Thenne said thobye the fader I blesse the lord god of Israhel For thou hast chastysed me and thou hast saued me And loo I see thobye my sone After thys vij dayes Sara the wyf of hys sone cam and entryd in with alle the famylye and the beestis hole and sound camellys and moche money of hys wyuys And also the money that he had receyuyd of gabele And he told to hys fader moder alle the benefetes of god that was don to hym by the man that ladde hym theÌ„ne cam achior and nabath cosyns of thobye Ioyeng and thankyng god of all the goodes that god had shewde to hym And vij dayes they ete to gydre makyng feste and were glad wyth grete Ioye Thenne olde thobye callyd hys sone thobye to hym and sayde what may we gyue to thys holy man that cometh with the Thenne thobye answeryng said to hys fader Fader what mede may we gyue to hym or what may be worthy to hym for hys benefetes he ladde me out hath brouht me hole agayn he receyuyd the money of gabele he dyde me haue my wyf and he put away the deuyl fro her he hath made Ioye to my parentis and saued my self fro deuoryng of the fysshe and hath made the see the lyght of heueÌ„ And by hym we be replenesshyd with all goodes what may we thenne worthyly gyue to hym wherfor I praye the fader that thou praye hym yf he vuochesauf to take the half of all that I haue Thenne the fader and the sone callyng hym toke hym a parte and begonne to pray hym that he wold vouchesauf to take half the parte of all the goodes that they had brought Thenne said he to them pryuely Blesse ye god of heuen And byfore alle lyuyng peple knowleche ye hym for he hath don to you hys mercy Forsothe to hyde the sacramente of the kynge it is good but for to shewe the werkys of god to knowleche them it is worshypful Oracion and prayer is good with fastyng and almesse and more than to sette vp tresours of gold For almesse delyueryth fro deth and it is she that purgeth synnes and maketh a man to fynde euerlastyng lyf who that doo synne and wyckednes they ben enemyes of hys sowle I shew to you therfor the trouthe And I shal not hyde fro you the secrete worde whan thou praidest with teres and dydest berye the dede men And leftest thy dyner and hyddest dede men by daye in thy hows in the nyght thou beryedest them I offred thy prayer vnto god And for â—s moche as thou were accepted to fore god it was necessarye thou
wherof holy chyrche syngeth Cuius vita gloriosa lucem dedit seculo The noble lyf of our lady geuyth light to all chyrches For as saith hugo de sancto victore O gloriouse lady For as moche as thou hast engendryd a grace and glorye to all maner of peple vnto the deed lyf to synnars grace and to captyfs pardon may be said as is said Iudith .xv capitulo Tu gloria Iherusalem tu leticia Israhel tu honorificencia cÌ„ Thou art the glorye of Iherusalem Thou art Ioye of Israhel thou art alle the honour of our peple Thou hast kepte Chastete and therfor thou shalt be blessyd permanably Capitulo eodem Confortatum est cortuum eo ê‘ castitatem amaueras et post virum tuum adulterium nescieris ideo et manus dominj confortauit te et ioÌ„ eris benedicta in eternum Iudith viij Ora pro nobis quoniam mulier sancta es Item capitulo xiiij Benedicta es cÌ„ Hit was said to Iudith the wedowe this that we may saye to our lady Praye for vs for ye be an holy womaÌ„ ye be a doughter that is blessyd of the souerayn god aboue alle the wymen that ben on the erthe ¶ Thyrdly She is compared to the sterre For she hath dwellyd all her lyf stedfastly in alle werkes of vertue without doyng ony synne lyke as the sterre holdeth hym on the firmament without descendyng to therthe For as saynt bernard saith yf it were demanded to alle the sayntes that euer haue ben haue ye ben without synne exept the gloriose virgine marye they myght answere this that is wreton IohÌ„is j capitulo Si dix erimus quia peccatum non habemus cÌ„ ¶ Yf we saye that we haue doo no synne we deceyue our self and the trouthe is not in vs Thys gloriouse virgyne was in the wombe of her moder sanctefyed more playnly and more specially than euer was ony other For as saith saynt Thomas dalquino in compendio ther ben thre maners of sanctificacions The first is comune and gyuen by the sacramentis of the holy chyrche lyke as by baptesme and other sacramentis And thyse gyue grace but to take away the Inclynacion to synne dedely and venyally nay And this was don in the virgyne marye For she was halowed and comfermed in all goodnes more than euer was ony creature lyke as saith seynt Austyn She dyde neuer synne mortal ne venyal For she was so moche enlumyned by the holy ghoost whiche descended in her that thurgh the concepcion of her blessid sone Ihesu Cryst whyche restyd in her ix monthis she was so confermed in alle vertues that there abode in her no Inclynacion of synne And therfor the holy chyrche doth more Reuerence and honour in ordonnyng to halowe the feste of her concepcioÌ„ by cause thys feste is comen to the knowleche of holy chyrche by somme myracles lyke as we fynde redyng in thys manere Ancelme Archebysshop of Caunterburye and pastour of Englond sende gretyng and benediction in our lord perpetuel vnto the bysshops that ben vnder me And to alle them that haue remembraunce of the blessyd vyrgyne marye moder of god Right dere brethern how the concepcion of the gloryouse virgyne marye hath be shewde somtyme in England in fraunce and in other contreyes by myracles I shal reherce to you In the tyme that it plesed to god for to correcte the peple of england of theyr euyllys and â—ynnys and to constrayne them by hys seruyseâ— he gaf victorye in bataylle to wylliam the glorious duc of Normandye to wynne and conquere the Royame of Englond ¶ And after that he was kyng of the londe Anone by the helpe of god and of hys prudence reformed thestates and dygnytees of holy chyrche in to better reformacion thaÌ„ it had ben To whyche the deuyl enemy vnto all good werkes had enuye payned tempesshe lette the good werkes as wel by falsenes of his seruanÌ„tes as by encoÌ„bryng of his strauÌ„gers For whan the danes herde saye that englond was thus subgette vnto the normans Anon they made theym redy to withstonde it whan kynge wylliam vnderstode this Anon he sente thabbot of Ramesey which was named helisius in to denmarke for to knowe the trouthe This abbotte after that he had don wel and dyligently the charge of hys coÌ„myssion And that he was retorned a grete parte of the see homward anon aroos a grete tempeste on the see in suche wyse that the cordes and other habyllemens of the shippe bracke And the maystres and gouernours of the shyp and alle they that were therin loste the hope and truste tescape the peryl of thys tempest And alle cryed deuoutely to the gloryouse vyrgyne Marye whyche is confoorte to dysconforted and hope to dispayred and Recomanded them self in the kepyng of god ¶ And anon they sawe comyng to fore the shippe vpoÌ„ the water an honourable persone in habyte of a bysshop whiche called the said Abbot in the shyp and said to hym Wylt thou escape thyse peryls of the see and goo home hole and sauf in to thy contre And the Abbote answerd wepyng that he desyred that aboue all other thyng Thenne said thaungele to hym knowe thou that I am sente hether by our lady for to saye to the that yf thou wylt here me doo ther after thou shalt escape thys peryl of the see The abbote promysyd that gladly he wold obeye to that he shold saye ¶ Thenne said the Angele Make couenant to god and to me that thou shal do halowe the feste of the concepcion of our lady and of her creacion wel and solempnly and that thou shalt goo and preche it ¶ And the Abbote demanded in what tyme thys feste shold be kepte The aungele answerd to hym the viij day of decembre And the abbot demaunded hym what offyce and seruyse he shold take for the seruyse in holy chyrche And the Angel answerd alle the offyce of the Natyuyte of our lady sauf where thou saist Natyuyte thou shalt saye Concepcion And anon after the Angel vanysshed away And the tempest cessed And the Abbote cam home saufly in to hys contrey wyth hys companye And notefyeed to alle them that he myghte that he had herd and seen And right dere sirs yf ye wyl arryue at the port of helth late vs halowe deuoutly the Creacion and the concepcion of the moder of our lord by whom we may resseyue the reward of her sone in the glorye of paradys celestial Hyt is also otherwyse declared In the tyme of Charlemayne kynge of FrauÌ„ce ther was a clerke whiche was broder germayn to the kynge of Hongrye whyche louyd hertely the blessyd vyrgyne marye ¶ And was wonte to saye euery day matyns of her and the houres It happed that by counseyl of hys frendes he toke in maryage a moche fayr damoyseylle And whan he had wedded her and the presâ—e had gyuen the benediction on hem after the masse Anone he
remembryd that that day he had not said hys oures of our lady wherfore he sente home the bryde hys wyf and the peple to hys hous ¶ And he abode in the chyrche besyde an aulter for to saye hys houres ¶ And whan he cam to thys Antheme Pulcra es et decora filia Iherusalem that is to saye thou art fayr and gracious doughter of Iherusalem Anon appered to fore hym the gloryouse vyrgyne marye wyth ij angelis on eyther syde and sayd to hym I am fayre and graciouse wherfor leuest thou me and takest thou Another wyf or where hast thou seen one more fayr than I am And the clerke answerd madame thy beaute surmounteth alle th◠beaute of the world Thou art lyfte vp aboue the heuenes and aboue the Angelis what wylt thou that I doo And she answerd and said yf thou wylt leue thy wyf flesshely Thou shalt haue me thyn espowse in the Royaume of heuen And yf thou wylt halowe the feste of my concepcion the eyght day of decembre And preche it aboute that it may be halowed thou shalt be crowned in the Royame of heuen And anone therwyth our blessyd lady lady vanysshid awaye Late vs thēne pray to that glorious virgyne our lady saynt marye that we after thys short and transitorye lyf may be crowned in heuen in glorye celestial to which god brynge vs Amen He endeth the Concepcion of our blessid lady The lyues of the seyntes gencien fulcien and victorice Saynt Fulcien and saynt vyctorice of whom that solempnyte is halowed camē fro the cyte of rome for to preche the faith of Ih̄u crith in to thise parties were in the cite of terwane preched there the faith And they repayred by amyens and passed by a lytyl vylage named Sayns foūde there a good man that byleued in god but he was not yet baptised was named gēcien And he salewed thē said sires ye be welcome And they said god saue you And after he demanded thē what seche ye and they answered we seche one of our felawes called quyntyne and he said ha faire sires he was but late byheedyd not longe sith and sentence was gyuen that where suche maner people myght be foūden that prechid of god that they shold be slayn but come ye ner ete ye a morsel of breed And as they were there a tyraunt that was callid Rixionayre cam with sergeants said to gencien delyuer to vs theym that ben here in and he said I shal not doo it Thēne he he drewe out his swerde al naked Gencien said they take non hede of you The tyraunt Rixionaire had grete angre sorowe and made to take gencien and smote of hys heed And after he made to be taken seynt fulcyen and saynt victoryece and brought thē to amyens And saide to thē that they shold forsake their god whom they had made dye an euyl deth and they said they wold not Thenne he dyde do take broches of yron and pute them thurgh their eeres thurgh theyr nosethrelles after dide do smyte of their heedes by the wil power of our lord they aroos vp and toke their heedes in their hondes and bare them two myle ferre fro the place where they had ben beheded And alle thre were buried to gydre in that toun whiche is called saynt fulcien a grete rage and madnes toke the tiraūt Rixionaire he cried thurgh the cyte of amyens alle araged Alas Alas Alas Now ben wel the sayntes auenged on me And sith deyed fowle in hys wodenes And thus were the frendes of our lord auenged on the tyraunt And by suche martirdom the glorious sayntes departed out of this lyf vnto the Royame of heuen Theenne praye we vnto the glorious martirs saynt fulcien saynt victorrice And saynt Gencien that they wil praye god for vs that by their merytes we may haue pardon foryeuenes of our synnes Amen Thus enden the lyues of the holy seynttes Gencien Fulcien victorice Here foloweth the lif of the blessid virgyne lucye Lucie is said of light And lyght is beaute in beholdyng after that saynt Ambrose saith the nature of light is suche She is gracious in beholdyng She spredeth ouer all without lyeng doun She passeth in goyng right without crokyng by right longe lygne ¶ And it is without dilacion of taryeng ¶ And therfor it is shewde the blessyd lucye hath beaute of virgynyte without ony corrupcion ¶ Essence of charyte without disordynate loue Rightful goyng and deuocion to god with out squaryng out of the waye Rightlonge lyne by contynuel werke without necglygence of slowful taryeng In lucye is said the waye of lyght SAynt lucye the holy vyrgyne was born in Cecylle and extrayt engendred of a noble lygnage in the cyte of Syracuse whan she herd of the good fame and renomee of seynt Agathe or Agaas whiche was publysshid and sprad al aboute Anone she wente to her sepulcre with her moder whiche was named eutice whiche had a maladye named the blody flux ◠by the space of iiij yere the whiche no maistre in phisike ne in Cyrurgerye coude hele And whan they were ther atte a masse ¶ One redde a gospell whiche made menycion of a woman which was heled of the blody flux by touchyng of the hemme of the cote of Ihesu cryst whan saynt lucye herd this anon she said to her moder Moder yf ye byleue that this whiche is redde be trewe also that seynt Agathe hath now presently with her Ihesu cryst and also that for his name she suffred martirdom And yf ye with this bileue touche her sepulcre withoute doubte ye shal be anon guarysshyd and heelid vpon this they after the messe whan the peple were deparded they tweyne fyl doun on their knees on the sepulcre of saynt Agatha in prayers and wepyng began to praye for her helpe and aid Seynt lucye in makyng her prayers for her moder fylle a slepe and she sawe in her slepe saynt agathe emong thaungeles nobly aourned and arayed with precious stones whiche said thus to her Lucye my swete suster deuoute virgyne to god wher for prayest thou to me for thy moder for suche thyng as thou maist thy self right soone gyue to her For I telle the for trouthe that for thy faith and thy good lyf thy moder is sauf and hooll with thyse wordes saynt lucye awook alle aferde and said to her moder Moder ye be guarisshed and alle hool I praye you for her sake by whoos prayers ye ben heled That ye neuer make mencion to me for to take an husbond ne spouse But alle that good that ye wold gyue me wyth a man I praye you that ye wylle gyue it to me for to doo almesse with alle that I may come to my Sauyour Ih̄u cryst Her moder answerd to her Fayr doughter thy patrymonye whyche I haue receyued thys ix yere syth thy fader deide I haue nothyng
and hyr moder the holy damoysel came dwellyd at parys for to assaye and proue hir there and for to auayle the more she was seek of the palsye so moche that it semyd that hir membris were dysioyned and departed that one fro that other wherof she was so sore tormentyd that duryng thre dayes she was kepte as for deed for there apperyd on hir noo sygne of lyf sauf that hyr Iowes were a lytel reed In thys space and tyme as she confessyd after an aungel ledde hir in spyryte where as the reste was of good folke and where the tormente was of euyl peple afterward she shewyd to many the secretes of theyr consciences as she that was taught and enseygned of the holy ghoost The second tyme saynt germayn retorned fro englond and came to parys The peple almoste al went ageynst hym with grete ioye tofore al other thynges saynt germayn demauÌ„ded how genouefe dyd but the people whiche more is Inclyned to say euyl of good peple thenne wel answerd that of hir was no thynge in blamyng hir whiche was to hyr a praysyng of other mennys preysyng is none the better ne of others blamyng is none the werse therfore the holy man sette nought of theyr ianglyng but assone as he entryd in to the cyte he wente strayte to the hows of the holy vyrgyn whome be salewed in soo grete humylite that al they meruaylled shewyd to them that dyspraysyd hyr the grouÌ„de wete of hir teerys and recyted to them the begynnyng of hir lyf and how he fonde at nancerre that she was chosen of god and recommendyd hir to the peple Tydynges came to parys that aceylle the felon kynge of hougrye had enterprysed to destroye and waste the partyes of fraunce and to subdue them to his domynacion The bourgeyses of parys for grete drede that they had sente theyr goodes in to other cytees more sure Saynt geneuefe warned and admonested the good wymmen of the town that they shold wake in saftynges and in orysons by whiche they myght asswage the yre of our lord and eschewe the tyrannye of their enemyes lyke as dyd somtyme the two holy wymmen Iudyth and bester They obeyed hir were longe many dayes in the chirche in wakynges fastynges in orysons She sayd to the bourgeyses that they shold not remeue theyr goodes ne sende them out of the towne of parys for the other cytees that they supposed shold be more sure shold be destroyed and wasted but by the grace of god parys shold haue none harme and somme had Indygnacion at hir and sayd that a false prophete was rysen and apperyd in theyr tyme and began emonge them to aske and trete whether they shold drowne hyr or stone hyr whyles they were thus tretyng as god wolde came to parys after the decees of saynt germayn tharchedeken of ancerre whan he vnderstood that they tretyd to gyder of hir deth he came to them said fayre syrres for goddes sake do not this myschyef For she of whome ye trete saynt germayn wytnesseth that she was chosen of god in hyr moders bely And loo here been the letters that he hath sente to hyr in which he recoÌ„mendeth hym to hyr prayers Whan the bourgeyses herde thyse wordes recyted by hym of saint germayn and sawe the letters they meruaylled ferâ—d god and lefte theyr euyl counceyl and dyd nomore therto Thus our lord kepte hyr fro harme which kepeth alle weye them that be his deffeÌ„deth after that thappostle saith for hir loue dyd so moche that the tyrauntes approchyd not parys Thanke and glorye to god honoure to the vyrgyne This holy mayde dyd grete penauÌ„ce in tormentyng hyr body al hyr lyf and became bene for to gyue good exaumple For syth she was of the age â—f xv yere vnto fyfty she fastyd euâ—â—y day sauf sonday and thursday In her refection she had no thynge but barly brede and somtyme venes the whiche soden afâ—â—r xiiij dayes or thre wekys she ete for alle delyces alway she was in prayers in wakynges and in penaunces she dranke neuer wyne ne other lycour that myght make hyr dronke in al hyr lyf whan she had lyued and vsyd thys lyf fyfty yere the bysshoppes that were that tyme sawe and behelde that she was ouer feble by abstynence as for age warned hir tencrece a lytel hyr fare ¶ The holy woman durst not gaynsaye them For our lord sayth of the prelates who hereth you hereth me and who despyseth you dyspyseth me and soo she began by obedyence to ete wyth hir brede fysshe and mylke and how wel that she so dyd she behelde the heuen and wepte wherof it is to byleue that she sawe appertly our lord Ihesu cryste after the promesse of the gospel that sayth that blessyd be they that be clene of herte for they shal see god she had hir herte and body pure and clene There ben twelue vertues vyrgynal saith hermes pastour wyth out whiche no vyrgyne may be agreable to god that is to wete feythe abstynence pacyence magnanymyte symplesse Innocence concorde charyte dysciplyne chastyte trouthe and prudence Thise vertues accomplysshed the holy vyrgyne by werke she taughte and enseygned by worde and shewed ofte by ensaumple Ofte and tofore alle other holy places she vysyted the place where as restyd saynt denys and his felawes had grete deuocyon to edefye vpon the said holy bodyes a chyrche but she had not wherof On a tyme came to hyr the preestys as ofte they had doon tofore to whome she sayd reuerente faders in god I praye and requyre that eche of you doo his power and his deuoyr to assemble matere wherof myght be made and edefyed a chyrche in the honoure of the glorious marters saynt Denys and his felawes for the place where they reste ouÈt moche to be worshyppâ—d and doubted whyche first taughte to ouâ—â—â—ncestres the feythe Dame 〈◊〉 the preestys we wold fayne and haue grete wylle therto but we can gete no chalke ne lyme Thenne said the holy vyrgyn with a glad chere in prophecyeng as she that was replenysshed wyth the holy ghoost Goo ye I praye you to parys vpon the grete brydge and brynge that ye shal fynde there they wente thyder abode there a whyle meruaylled and abasshed And anone came by them two swyne herdes spekyng to gyder of which that one sayd as I wente yesterday after one of my sowes I fonde a fourneil of lyme meruelously grete That other answerd and I fonde in the wood vnder the rote of a tre that the wynde had throwen doun a fournel of lyme of whyche I trowe was neuer none taken aweye Whan the preestys herde this they had grete admyracion and blessyd our lord that had gyuen suche grace to geneuefe his handmayde They demauÌ„ded where the fournels were and after retorned and tolde to the vyrgyne what they had founden She began to wepe for ioye and assone as the preestys were gone and
ansuerd he lyeth wythoute the towne wyth one of his felawes and his visage is couerd with thy keuerchief and she answerd sayd I haue now seen peter and paul entre in to the cyte clad with right noble vestementis and also they had ryght fair crownes vpon theyr hedes more cleer and more shynyng than the sonne And hath brought agayn my keuerchyef alle blody whiche he hath deliuerd me For whiche thyng and werk many beleued in our lord and wer baptised And this is that seynt dyonyse sayth And whan Nero herd saye this thyng he doubted hym and began to speke of al these thynges with his phylosophres and with his frendes as they spake to gydre of thys mater paule cam in and the yates shitte and stode tofore Cezar and sayd Cezar loo here is tofore the poul the knyght of the kyng perdurable and not vaynauysshed Now bileue thenne certeynly that I am not deed but alyue But thou Chaytyf shalt deye of an euyl deth By cause thou hast sleyne the seruauntes of god And whan he had sayde thus he vanysshyd awaye And nero what for drede and what for angre he was nygh out of his witte and wist not what to doo Thenne by the counseyl of his frendes he vnbonde patrocle and barnabe and lete them goo where they wold And the other knyghtes longynus mayster of the knyghtes and aggestus cam on the morn to the sepulcre of poul and ther they found two men prayeng that were luke and titus And bytwene them was poule And whan luke titus sawe them they were abasshyd began to flee anon poul vanyshyd awaye and the knyghtes cryed after them and sayd we come not to greue you but know ye for trouth that we come for to be baptised of yow Lyke as paul hath said whom we sawe now prayeng with you whan they herde that they retorned and baptysed them with grete Ioye The hede of seynt paul was cast in a valey And for the grete multitude of other hedes of men that Wer there slayn and throwen there it coude not be knowen which it was It is redde in thepystle of seynt Dyonyse that on a tyme the valey shold be made clene And the hede of seynt poul was cast out with thother hedes And a shepherde that kept sheep toke it with his staffe and sette it vp by the place where his shepe grased he sawe by iij nyghtes contynuelly and his lord also a ryght grete lyght shyne vpon the sayd heed Thenne they went and tolde it to the bisshop to other good cristen men whiche anon sayde truly that is the hede of seynt poule And thenne the bisshop wyth a grete multitude of cristen men toke that hede wyth grete reuerence sette it in a tablette of gold and putte it to the body for to Ioyne it therto thenne the patriarke answerd we knowe wel that many holy men ben slayn and theyr hedes ben desperpled in that place Yet I doubte whether this be the hede of poul or noo but late vs sette this hede atte feet of the body and praye we vnto almyghty god that yf it be his hede that the body may torn and Ioyne it to the hede whiche plesed wel to them alle and they sette the hede atte feete of the body of poul And thenne alle they prayed And the body torned hym in his place Ioyned hym to the hede thenne alle they blessyd god and thus knewe verily that that was the hede of seynt paul this sayth seynt dionyse And seynt Gregory telleth that there was a man that fylle in despayre in the tyme of Iustyn themperour And made redy a corde to hang hym self alwaye he cryed on seynt poul sayeng Seynt paul helpe me Thenne cam ther a black shadowe sayeng to hym Hye the good man make an ende of that thou hast begonne And he allewaye made redy the corde sayeng most bussyd paule helpe me And whan alle was redy there cam another shadowe as it had ben of a man sayd to hym that stired hym Fle hens thou moste wretche For paul the aduocate is comeÌ„ Thenne the foule shadowe vanysshed a waye and the man comyng agayn to hym self and castyng awaye the corde toke condigne penaunce for his offence and trespas In the same epistle a for sayd seynt denyse bewayleth the deth of his mayster paule with mylde wordes sayeng who shal yeue teres to myn eyen and to my browes a fountayn of water that I may wepe day and nyght that the lyght of the chirche is extyncte And who is he that shall not wepe wayle and clothe hym wyth clothes of mornyng and sorowe And in hys mynde be gretly abasshid Loo Peter the foundament of the chirche glorye of seyntes and holy appostles is goon fro vs And hath lefte vs orphaÌ„ns Paule also the techer and comfortoure of the peple is fayled to vs and shalle nomore be found whiche was fader of faders doctour of doctours pastour of pastours profoundnesse of wysedom a tromp sounyng hye thynges And a prechour of trouthe I say verily paul to be moste noble of thappostles neuer wery of prechyng of the worde of god he was an erthly angelle an heuenly man ymage and symylytude of dyuynyte and hath vs alle forsaken â—edy and vnworthy in thys dyspysed world And is goon vnto cryst hys god his lord and frende Alas my brother thymothee best byloued of my soule where is thy mayster thy fader and louer Fro whens shal he grete the ony more loo thou art made an orphane and remaynest allone Now he shal nomore wryte to the wyth hys owne hond my derest sonne woo to me my brother thymothee what is happed to vs of heuynes of derknes harme By cause we be made orphanes Now come not his epistles to the In whiche he wrote paule the lytel seruaunte of Iesu crist Now he shal no more write to the citees sayeng receyue ye my welbelouyd sonne Shette my brother the bokes of the prophetes and clapse them For we now haue none enterpretour of the parablys ne paradygmes ne theyr dictes Dauyd the prophete bewayled his sonne and sayd wo to me who shal graunte me to deye for the my sonne wo to me And I may say woo to me mayster myn veryly wo to me Nou the concourse of thy dysciples comyng to rome and sechyng cesseth and fayleth Now no man sayth late vs goo and see our doctours and aske we them how vs behoueth to rule the chirches to vs commysed And shalle enterprete and expoune to vs the seyenges of our lord Iesu cryst and of the prophetes veryly wo to thyse sonnes my brother thymothee that ben depryued of thayr spirituel fader And also to vs that ben depriued of our spirytuel maysters whiche gadred to gyder vnderstondyng and scyence of the olde and newe lawe And put theym in theyr epistlis where is now the renewyng of paule and the labour of hys
and defended that neuer after he shold soo doo to her ne to none other And thus was she all delyuerd of that Illusion And whan on a tyme as this holy man as a legate in to that prouynce for to reconcyle the duke of guyan to the chirche And he refused to be reconciled in al maners The hooly man wente to the aulter for to synge masse And the duke abode withoute the chirche as excommyned And whan he had sayd Pax domini he leyd the body of our lord vppon the patene and bare it withoute the chirch And wente oute with a face flammyng and brennyng and assayled the duke by ferdfull wordes sayeng We haue prayed the and thou hast despysed vs boo here is the sone of the vyrgyne whiche is comen to the whiche is lord of the chirche whome thou persecutest this is thy Iuge in the name of whome al knees bowe in the handes of whome thy sowle shalle come despyse hym not as thou hast his seruauntes resyste hym yf thou mayst TheÌ„ne anon the duke wax all styf and was inpotent in alle his membrys And thenne he fylle doune at his feet And the holy man put his fote at hym and commauÌ„ded hym to aryse and to here the sentence of god he thenne tremblyng aroos and accomplysshed anon that the holy man commaunded On a tyme as this holy man saynt Bernard entryd in to Almayne for tappease a grete discord ther was an Archebisshop that sent an honourable clerke ageynst hym And whan the clerke sayd to hym that he had be sent fro his maystre ageynst hym the hooly man answerd to hym and sayd another lord hath sente the And be merueyled and sayd that he was sent of none other but of his lord tharâ—hâ—bisshop And saynt Bernard sayd sone thou arte deceyued our lord Ihesu Cryste whiche hath sente the is gretter mayster And whan the clerke vnderstode hym he sayd syre wenest thou that I wylle be a Monke nay I thought it neuer ne hit cam neuer in my herte yet after in the same vyage he forsoke the world and receyued thabyte of this hooly man saynt Bernard He took also on a tyme in to the 〈◊〉 a noble knyght And whan he had folowed saynt Bernard a lytel tyme he beganne to be greuously tempted and whan a broder sawe hym so heuy he enâ—uyred hym the cause of his heuynes And he answerd hym I wote well I shalle neuer be glad And the brother tolde it to saynt Bernard he prayd to god moch enteÌ„tifly for hym And anone that broder that was so pensyf and soo heuy semed more ioyous than the other and more gladde than he hadde ben to fore heuy And the broder blamed hym by cause he had sayd that he shold neuer be ioyous And he answerd and sayd I wote wel I sayd I shold neuer be glad but I saye now that I neuer shall be soroufull whan saynt Malachyel bisshop of Irlond of whome he wrote the lyf full of vertues passid oute of this world oute of his monasterye blessydly to our lord Ihesu cryst And saynt Bernard offryd to god for hym sacryfyce of helithe he sawe the glory of hym by reuelacion of our lord and by thyn spyracion of god he chaunged the forme of prayer after the communyon sayeng thus with Ioyous voys God that hast acompanyed saynt Malachyell by his merytes with thy sayntes we praye the to gyue to vs that we that make the feste of his precious deth may folowe the examples of his lyf And whan the chantour herd hym he sayd to hym and shewed that he erred And he sayd I erre not but I know wel what I saye and thenne wente to the body and kyssed his feete And in a tyme that the lente approched he was vysyted of dyuerse knyghtes And he prayd them that at the leste in these holy dayes they shold absteyne them fro theyr vanytees their Iolytees and doyng outrages and they in no wyse wolde agree therto And thenne he bad make redy wyn and sayd to them drynke ye the helthe of your sowles whan they had dronken the wyn they were sodenly chaunged and wente to their howses they that had denyed to doo a lytell tyme they gaf to god after all the tyme of their lyf and ladde a ryght hooly lyf At the last the holy saynt Bernard approchyng to the deth sayd blessydly to his bretheren I requyre and commaunded yow to kepe thre thynges the which I remembre to haue kepte to my power as long as I haue ben in this present lyf I haue not wylled to sclaundre ony persone and yf ony haue fallen I haue hydde hit as moche as I myght I haue euer trusted lasse myn owne wytte than ony others Yf I were hurte I neuer requyred vengeaunce of the hurter I leue to yow charyte humylyte and pacyence and after that he had done many myracles and had made Clxxj monasteryes and had ordeyned many bookes and trayttyes he accomplysshed the dayes of his lyf the lxiij yere of his age in the yere of oure lord a MClvj he slepte in oure lord amonge the handes of his sonnes and his glory shewed his departyng hens to moche peple He appyered to an abbotte in a monasterye and admonested hym that he shold folowe hym and he soo dyde And thenne saynt Bernard sayde we be comen to the Mount of Lybane thou shalt abyde here And I shalle ascende vp an hyhe And he asked hym wherfor he wold gone vp And be sayd for to lerne I wyl go vp And he beyng gretely admerueyled said what wylt thou 〈◊〉 fader to whome we byleue that ther is none to the lyke ne holden soo wyse in scyence as thou arte And he sayd here is no scyence ne here is no knowlege of trouthe but ther aboue is plente of scyence And on hyghe is the veery knowlege of trouthe And with that word he vanysshed aweye And thenne that Abbotte marked that daye and found that saynt Bernard was thenne passed to oure lord whiche shewed for hym many myracles And Innumerable To whome be gyuen laude and preysyng euerlastyng Amen Thus endeth the lyf of the glorious doctor saynt Bernard Of saynt Thimothe and interpretacion of his name THimothe is as mohe to saye as holdynge drede Or of timore that is drede and theos a word of greek whiche is deus in latyn and god in Englysshe as the drede of god Of saynt Thymothe SAynt Thymothe was taken vnder New of the prouoste of Rome and was greuously beten and had quyk lyme put in his throte and vppon his wonndes And he rendryd thankynges to god with al his herte And thenne two Angels cam to hym sayeng lyfte vp thyn hede to heuen And thenne he byheld and sawe the heuen open and Ihesu Cryste whiche helde a double crowne and said to hym thou shalt receyue this of my hand And a man named Appollynare sawe this thyng and dyd hym to be baptysed And therfor the prouost
peraduentur he that hath it hath more nede to it than we And so the theef escaped was not pursued after when all thynges were quyete in the Royamme the counceill of the londe assemblyd for to treate for a maryage for the kyng whiche thyng whan it was moeued he was gretely abasshed dredyng to lese the tresour of his vyrgynyte whiche was kepte in a fraylle and brutyll vessell and what he shold doo or say he wyst not For yf he shold obstynatly denye it he dradde lest his auowe of chastyte shold be openly knowen and yf he consentid therto he dred to lese his chastyte wherfor he commended hym self only to god sayenge these wordes O good lord thow delyuer dest somtyme thre Chyldren fro the flamme of fyre in the chymeney and fornais of the chaldyes and by the lorde Ioseph escaped with his chastyte fro the wyf of putyphar she holdyng his mantell And yet by thy mercy he escaped good lord by thy vertu Susanne was delyuerd fro the dethe to the whiche thold vnchaste preestes hadde dampned her to And by thy myghte lord Iudyth escaped whan she hadde slayne Holofernes And reseruyd her fro defowlyng escaped withoute hurte And aboue all other thow hast preseruyd thy blessyd moder moost best swettest lady she beynge bothe wyf vyrgyne thenne beholde on me thy seruaunt and sone of thyn handemayde that am in grete drede I lyft vp myn herte to the bisechyng the that arte my lord and thy moder my swettest lady to helpe me now in this moost nede that I may so receyue the sacrament of wedlok that I falle not in parylle of my chastyte And with this condicyon in his herte he consentid to matrymony Thenne was al the counceyl ryght glad serchid for a vyrgyne that were acordyng to his astate And amonge all the virgyns of the londe Edithe doughter of erle goodwyn was founden moste acordyng to hym by her vertuous condicions and her fader maâ—d grete meanes to the kynges counceille for to accomplysshe this maryage by whiche he myght come in the kynges conceyte And by his wysedom for his grete myÈt power he had his entent whan the maryage was solempnysed and accomplysshed by the holy sacrament He and the quene auowed to lyue to gydre chaste secretely that noman knewe it but god allone The was bitwene them a lonyng spousehede withoute bodyly knowyng of dede Chast embracynge withoute defloracion of vyrgynyte Ther was bytwene them veryly chast loue withoute flesshely towchynge and knowyng Afterward somme of the Royamme grutchid sayeng he had taken a wyf by compulsion ageynste his wylle of an vnkynde lygnage And wold not knowe his wyf by cause he wold not bryng forth mo tyrauntes And this none knewe the veray trouthe of his chast lyf whyles he lyued but the very clennesse of his mynde was suffycyent wytnes of his chastyte ¶ Hit happend on a wytsonday as the kyng was crowned at westmestre in his astate And knelyng made his prayers deuoutely for the tranquyllyte pees of his londe byfore the aulter of the blessyd trynyte atte leuacion of the blessyd sacrament he fylle in a softe demure lawhyng soo that the lordes that were there present awaytyng on hym merueyled gretely but durst saye no thyng to hym tyll the seruyse was done Thenne one that was hardyer than another demaunded of hym the cause of his lawhyng And thenne he told to hym how the danes had assemblyd a grete power of peple ageynste the Royamme of Englond And were entrynge in to their shippes And as the kynge of denmarke wold haue entryd in to the shippe sodenly his strengthe was taken from hym And soo fell in to the See bytwene two shippes was drowned by whoos dethe the peple of denmarke and also of Englond were delyuerd fro synne and parylle They herynge this merueyled gretely and sent in to denmarke to knowe the trouthe And when the Messagers retorned they reported that it was trewe as the kynge had sayd And that the kyng of denmarke was drowned that same tyme that saynt Edward lowhe After this the noble saynt Edward remembryd his auowe and promesse to vysyte saynt peter at Rome whiche he made in Normandye wherfore he lete calle his comyns and his lordes to a Counycelle to fore hym wherof he come ned with them how and in what maner he myght departe and of the gouernaunce of the Royamme in his absence what peuple sholde be conuenyent for taccompanye hym And what Money shold suffyse hym and his meyny and when the lordes and comyns herd this they were full heuy and sorowful that he shold departe from them And he seyng their heuynesse comforted them said how that our lord had sent to them pees by his good grace shold contynue the same in his absence yet notwithstondyng the peple requyred hym to sende vnto the pope to be assoylled of his auowe or els dylaye it tyl another tyme And the kynge seyng the sorowe and lamentacion of his peple· whiche wepte wrong their handes as peple amased withoute a defendour and kepar comforted them graunted tabyde stylle with them And ordeyned certayne Bisshops for to go to Rome to aske of oure holy fader counceylle how he myght be assoilled of this auowe that he had made to visite saint Peter And thenne tharchebisshop of yorke bisshop of wynchestre ij abbots with dyuerse clerkes laye men went to Rome when they cam to Rome the pope had made that tyme a grete coÌ„gregacion of clerkes of dyuerse grete maters belongyng to holy chirche when the pope wist of their comyng he was ryght glad sent for them the pope badde them telle the cause of her comynge anon scylence was made they exposed the cause of their comyng recited the auowe the desyre of kyng Edward the peryl of the Royame the trouble the drede of the peple the brekyng of the pees the clamour of the poure comyns the ieopardy of the kynge in his absence the piteous destruction which the danes had late made by their cruelte also declared the grete deuocion that he had to visite the holy appostles Peter Powle thenne the pope the clergye merueiled gretely gaf lawde praisynge vnto almyÈty god that he had sent so deuoute vertuous a prynce in the angle of the world to mayntene by his wisedom the cristen faithe And how dredefull he was to offende ageynst the hooly Chirche And whanne the pope vnderstoode how his peple louyd hym how soroufullâ— they wold be of his departyng They merueyled gretely and thouÈte veryly that he was gretely bylouyd of god was with hym in alle his werkes For they sawe in hym the mekenes of dauyd the chastyte of Ioseph and the Rychesse of Salamon And yet he sette nought ther by thenne the pope consyderynge the grete perylles that myghte ensiâ—we by his departyng dispensid with hym
of our lord Luke was fygured in the Oxe For he deuysed aboute the presthode of Ihesu Cryst Marke was fygured in the lyon For he wrote more clerely of the resurection For as somme saye the fawnes of the lyon ben as they were deed vnto the thyrd day but by the brayeng of the lyon they ben reysed at the thyrde day And therfor he beganne in the crye of predicacion Iohan is fygured as an Egle whiche fleeth hyest of the foure For he wrote of the dyuynyte of Ihesu Cryste For in hym ben wreton foure thynges he was a man borne of the vyrgyne he was an oxe in his passyon A lyon in his resurection And an Egle in his ascencion And by these four faces it is wel shewed that luke was ryghtfully ordeyned in these four maners For by the face of a man it is shewed that he was ryghtfully ordeyned as touchyng his neyghbour how he ought by reason teche hym drawe hym by debonayrte and nourysshe hym by lyberalyte for a man is a best resonoble debonayre and lyberalle by the face of an Egle it is shewed that he was ryghtfully redeyned as towchyng god For in hym the eye of vnderstandynge beheld god by contemplacion and the eye of his desyre was to hym by thought or effecte And olde age Was put awey by newe conuersacion The Egle is of sharp syght soo that he beholdeth well wythoute moeuyng of his eye the raye of the sonne And whan he is merueylous hyghe in the ayer he seeth wel the smale fysshes in the see he hath also his becke moche croked soo that he is lette to take his mete he sharpeth it and whetteth it ageynst a stone and maketh it couenable to the vsage of his fedynge And whanne he is rosted by the hote sonne he throweth hym self doune by greete forse in to a fontayne And taketh away his old age by the hete of the sonne and chaungeth his fethers and taketh awey the derkenes of his eyen By the face of the lyon it is shewed how he was ordeyned as towchyng hym self For he hadde noblesse by honeste of maners and holy conuersacion he hadde subtylytee for teschewe the lyggynge in a wayte of his enemyes And he had suffraunce for to haue pyte on them that were tormentid by afflyctyon The lyon is a noble best For he is kynge of beestes he is subtyll he defaceth his traces and stappes wyth his taille whan he fleeth so that he sholde not be founden he is suffryng For he suffryth the quartayne By the face of an oxe hit is shewed how he was ordeyned as touchyng his offyce that was to wryte the gospell For he proceded morally that is to saye by moralyte that he beganne fro the natyuyte and childhode of Ihesu Cryst And so proceded lytell and lytell vnto his last consummacion he beganne discretely And that was after other two euangelistes that yf they had lefte ony thynge he shold wryte hit And that whiche they had suffycyently sayd he shold leue he was wel manerd that is to saye wel lerned and enduced in the sacrefyses and werkes of the temple as it appiereth in the begynnyng in the myddle and in the end The Oxe is a moralle beest and hath his foote clouen by whiche is discrecion vnderstanden and it is a best sacrefysable And truly how that Luke was ordeygned in the foure thynges hit is better shewed in the ordynaunce of his lyf Fyrste as towchynge his ordenaunce vnto god After saynt Bernard he was ordeyned in thre maners that is by affection and desyre by thought and Intencion thaffection ought to be holy the thought clene And entencion ryÈtfull he hadde the affection holy For he was fulle of the hooly ghoost lyke as Iheromme sayth in his prologue vpon Luke he wente in to Bythynye fulle of the hooly ghoost Secondly he hadde a clene thoughte For he was a vyrgyne in body and mynde in whiche is noted clennesse of thought Thirdly he had ryghtfull intencion For in alle thynges that he dyd he sought the honoure of god And of these two last thynges it is sayd in the prologue vpon thactes of Appostles he was with oute synne and abode in vyrgynyte this is touchyng the clennesse of thought he louyd best to serue oure lord That is to the honour of our lord This is as to wchyng the ryghtfulle intencion Fourthly he was ordeyned as towchyng his neyghbour we ben ordeyned to our neyghbour whan we doo that we ought to do After Rychard of saynt Victour ther ben thre thynges that we owe to our neyghbour that is our power oure knowlege and our wylle and late the fourth be put to that is alle that we may doo Our power in helpyng hym our knoulege in counceylyng hym Oure wylle in his desyres and our dedes in seruyses As towchyng to these foure saynt Luke was ordeyned For he gaf fyrst to his neyghbour his power in aydynge and obsequyes And that appiereth by that he was ioyned to pawle in his trybulacions and wold not departe fro hym but was helpyng hym in his prechynges lyke as it is wreton in the Epystle of pawle in the second chapytre to Thymothee sayeng luke is only with me In that he sayth only wyth me hit sygnyfyeth that he was an helpar as that he gaf to hym comforte ayde And in that he sayd only it signyfyeth that he ioyned to hym fermely And he sayd in the eygthe Chapytre to the Corynthyens he is not allone but he is ordeyned of the Chirches to be felawe of our pylgremage Secondly he gaf his knowlege to his neyghbour in counceylles he gaf thenne his knowlege to his neyghbour whan he wrote to his neyghbours the doctryne of thappostles and of the gospell that he knewe And herof he berith hym self wytnes in his prologue sayenge it is myn auys and I assente good thephyle to wryte to the ryght well of the begynnynge by ordre soo that thou knowe the trouthe of the wordes of whiche thou arte taught And it appyrreth well that he gaf his knowlege in counceyls to his neyghbours by the wordes that Iheromme sayth in his prologue that is to wete that his wordes ben medecyne vnto a seke sowle Thyrdly he gaf his wylle vnto the desyres of his neyghbour And that appyereth by that that he desyreth that they shold haue helthe perdurable lyke as pawle sayth to the Colocenses Luke the leche saleweth yow that is to saye thynke ye to haue helthe perdurable for he desyreth it to yow Fourthly he gaf to his neyghbour his dede in their seruyses And it appiereth by that that he supposed that oure lord had be a straunge man and he receyued hym in to his hows and dyde to hym alle the seruyse of charyte For he was felawe to Cleophas whan they wente to Emaus as somme saye And Gregorye sayth in his morallys that Ambrose sayth it was another of whome he nameth the name Thyrdyly he was well ordeyned as touchyng hym self ¶ And after
that two wycked tyrauntes that one named hynguar and that other hubba camen out of denmarke and arryued in the contre of northumberlonde and robbed and destroyed the contre and slewe the peple wythout mercy in euery place where they came Thenne the one of hem named hynguar came in to the contre where thys most cristen saynt edmond reygned and vnderstode that he was in his flowryng age stronge and myghty in batayle and demaunded of the people where theyr kynge was resydente and dwellyd whyche that was moste abydyng in a towne named thenne eglesdon and now is called burye Now the danes had all weye acustom that they wold neuer fyghte batayle sette ne apoynted but euer lye in a wayte how they myght by sleyght and deceyte preuented falle on good crysten men and so slee and destroye them lyke as theuys lye in awayte to robbe and slee good trewe men wherfore whan he knewe where thys holy kynge was he adressyd one of his knyghtes to hym for to espye what strengthe he had and what peple aboute hym and hynguar hym self folowed wyth al his hoost to th ende that sodaynly he shold falle vpon this kyng vnaduysed that he myght subdue hym vnto his lawes and commaundementes Thenne thys sayd knyght came to thys holy kyng saynt edmonde and made hys legacion and message in thys wyse Our most drad lord by londe by see hynguar whiche hath subdued dyuers contrees londes in this prouynce vnto his seygnorye by strengthe of armes purposeth wyth alle his shyppes and armye to wynter hym in thyse marches sendeth to the his commaundemente that thou Incontynente come and make allyaunce and frendshyp wyth hym And that thou departe to hym thy paternal tresours rychesses in suche wyse that thou mayst regne vnder hym Or certeynly thou shalt deye by cruel dethe And whan the blessed kynge Saynt Edmonde had herde this message anone he syghed and called to hym one of his bysshoppes and demaunded counceyl of hym what how he shold answer vpon thys demaunde that was axyd of hym whyche bysshop sore dredyng for the kynges lyf exhorted hym by many exaumples for to consente and agree to this tyraunte hynguar and the kyng a whyle said no thynge but remembryd hym wel after many deuoute wordes atte laste he answerd to the messager in thys wyse and sayd This shalt thou saye to thy lord knowe thou for trouthe that for the loue of temporal lyf the crysten kynge edmonde shal not subdue hym to a paynym duc Thēne vnnethe was the messager gone out but hynguar mette hym bad hym vse shorte wordes and telle hym hys answer whiche message tolde vnto hynguar Anone the cruel tyraūte commaunded to slee alle the people that were wyth saynt edmonde and destroye them but they shold holde and kepe onelye the kynge whome he knewe rebelle vnto his wycked lawes Thenne this holy kynge was taken and bounden hys handes behynde hym and is broughte tofore the duc and after many obprobryes wordes at the laste they ladde hym forthe vnto a tree whiche was therby To whyche tree his aduersaryes bonde hym and thenne shotte arowes at hym so thycke and many that he was thorugh wounded and that one arowe smote out another and alweye thys blessyd kynge cessyd not for alle his woundes to gyue lawde preysyng vnto almyghty god Thenne thys wycked tyraunte commaunded that they shold smyte of his heed whiche they so dyd he alwey prayeng and sayeng his orysons to our lord god Thenne the danes lefte the body there lyeng and toke the hede bare it in to the thycke of the wood hyd it in the thyckest place emonge thornes and brerys to th ende that it shold not be founden of the crysten men but by the purueaunce of almyghty god there came a wulfe whiche dylygently kepte the holy hede fro deuowryng of beestys and fowles And after whan the danes were departed the crysten men fonde the body but they coude not fynde the heed wherfore they sought it in the wood as one of them spake to another where arte thou whiche were in the thycke of the 〈◊〉 and cryed where arte thou 〈◊〉 heed answerd and sayd here here here and anone thenne alle they came thyder and sawe it and also a grete wulfe syttyng enbracyng the heed betwene his forleggys kepyng it fro alle other beestys and thenne anone they toke the heed and brought it vnto the body and sette it to the place where it was smyten of and anone they ioyned to gyder and thenne they bare thys holy body vnto the place where it is now buryed the wulfe folowed humbly the body tyl it was buryed and thenne he hurtyng no body retorned ageyn to the wood and the blessyd body and heed ben so ioyned to gyder that there apperyth no thynge that it had be smyten of saufe as hyt were a reed shynyng threde in the place of the departyng where the heed was smyten of in that place where he now lyeth so buryed is a noble monastarye made and therin monkes of the ordre of saynt benette whiche been richely endowed In whyche place almyghty god hath shewed many myracles for this holy kynge and marter ¶ Thus endeth the lyf and passyon of saint edmond kyng and marter Here foloweth of saint Cecyle vyrgyne and marter fyrste of hyr name CEcylle is as moche to say as the lyle of heuen or a waye to blynde men Or she is sayd of celo and lya or ellys cecilia as lackyng blyndenes Or she is sayd of celo that is heuen and leos that is peple she was an heuenly lyle by clennes of vyrgynyte a weye to blynde men by Informacion of example heuen by deuoute contemplacion lya by besy operacyon lackyng blyndenes by shynyng of wysedom and heuen of the people ¶ For the people behelde in hyr as in folowyng the spyrytuel heuen the sonne the mone and the sterrys that is to say shynyng of wysedom magnanymytee of feythe and dyuersyte of vertues Or she is sayd a lylye for she had the whytenes of clennesse a good concience and adoure of good fame Or she is sayd heuen for ysodore saith that the phylosopres sayen that heuen is meuable rounde and brennyng In lyke wyse was she moeuyng by besy operacion rounde by perseueraūce and brennyng by fyry charyte ¶ Of saint Cecillye SAynt cecillye the holy vyrgyn was comen of the noble lygnage of the Romayns and fro the tyme that she laye in hir cradle she was fostrid and nourisshed in the feythe of cryste and alle weye bare in hir breste the gospel hyd and neuer cessyd day ne nyght from holy prayers but recommaunded to god all weye hir vyrgynyte and whan thys blessyd vyrgyne shold be spoused to a yonge man named valeryan the day of weddyng was comen was cladde in ryal clothes of golde but vnder she ware the hayre and she heeryng
alisaundre entryd in to the paleys fonde dores closures openyng ageynst hym so passed fro chambre to chambre tyl he came in to hir secrete studye where as none cam but hir self allone there he fonde hir in hir holy contemplacion dyd to hir his message lyke as ye haue herde accordyng to his charge whan this blessed virgyne katheryne had herde his message vnderstode by certeyn tokenes that he came for to fetche hir to hym whome she so feruently desyred anone aroos forgetyng hir estate meyne folowed this olde man thorugh hir paleys the cyte of alysaunder vnknowen of ony persone so in to deserte in which waye as they walked she demaunded of hym many an hyghe questyon he answerd to hir suffyciently in alle hyr demaundes enformed hir in the feyth she beuygnely receyued his doctryne and as they thus wente in the deserte this holy man had loste his waye and wyst not where he was and was alle confused in hym self sayd secretlye alas I fere me I am deceyued that this be an illusyon alas shal this virgyne here be perysshed emonge these wylde beestys now blessyd lady helpe me that almoste am in despayr and saue this mayden that hath forsaken for your loue al that she had hath obeyed your commaundemente as he thus sorowed the blessyd vyrgyne katheryne apperceyued demaunded hym what hym eyled and why he sorowed he sayd for you by cause I can not fynde my celle ne wote not where I am fader said she drede ye not For truste ye verayly that that good lady whiche sente you for me shal not suffre vs to perisshe in this wyldernesse and thenne she sayd to hym what monaster is yonder that I see whiche is so ryche and fayr to beholde he demaunded of hir where she sawe it and she said yonder in the eest and thenne he wyped his eyen and sawe the moste gloryous monasterye that euer he sawe wherof he was ful of ioye and sayd to hir now blessyd be god that hath endowed you with so parfyte faythe for there is that place wherin ye shall receyue so grete worshyp ioye that there was neuer none lyke sauf onely our blessyd lady cristes owne moder quene of alle quenes now good fader adryā hye you fast that we were there for there is al my desyre and ioye and sone after they approched that glorious place and whan they came to the gate there mette theym a glorious companye al clothed in whyte with chappelettes of whyte lylyes on theyr heedes whos beaute was soo grete bright that the vyrgyn katheryn ne the olde man myght not beholde them but alle rauysshed fyl doun in grete drede thenne one more excellent than another spake fyrst and sayd to this virgyne katheryne stonde vp our dere suster for ye be ryght welcome and ladde hir ferther in tyl they came to the second gate where another more gloryous companye mette hir al clothed in purpure wyth fresshe chappelettes of rede rooses on theyr heedes and the holy virgyne seeyng them fyl doun for reuerence and drede they benygnely comfortyng hir toke hyr vp and sayd to hyr drede ye noo thynge our dere suster for there was neuer none more hertely welcome to our souerayn lord thenne ye be and to vs alle for ye shal receyue our clothyng and our crowne with so grete honoure that al sayntes shal ioye in you come forth for the lord abydeth desyryng you and thenne this blessyd virgyn katheryne with tremblyng ioye passed forth with them lyke as she that was rauysshed with soo meruayllous ioye that she coude not speke and whan she was entred in to the body of the chirche she herde a melodye of meruayllous swetnesse which passyd alle hertes to thynke it and there they behelde a ryal quene stondyng in hir estate wyth a grete multitude of aungels sayntes whos beaulte and rychesse myght noo herte thynke ne noo penne wryte for it excedeth euery mannes mynde Thenne the noble companye of marters with the felawshyp of vyrgynes Whyche ladde the vyrgyne katheryne fyll doun flatte tofore thys ryal Empresse wyth souerayn reuerence sayeng in thys wyse Our moost souerayn lady quene of heuen lady of al the world emperesse of helle moder of almyghty god kyng of blysse To whos commaundement obeyen al heuenly creatures and erthly lyketh it you that we here presente to you our dere suster whos name is wryton in the book of lyf besechyng your benygne grace to receyue hir as your doughter chosen and humble handemayde for to accomplysshe the werke which our blessid lord hath begonne in hir and with that our blessyd lady said brynge ye me my wel belouyd doughter and whan the holy virgyn herde our lady speke she was so moche replenysshed with heuenly ioye that she laye as she had ben dede Thenne the holy companye toke hir vp broughte hir tofore our blessyd lady to whome she said my dere doughter ye be welcom to me and ye be stronge and of good comforte for ye be specyally chosen of my sone for to be honoured remembre ye not how syttyng in your parlamēte ye descryued to you an husbonde where as ye had a grete conflycte bataylle in deffendyng your chastyte thenne this holy katheryne knelyng wyth moste humble reuerence and drede said O moste blessyd lady blessyd be ye emonge al wymmen I remembre how I chaas that lord whyche thenne was ful ferre fro my knowleche but now blessyd lady by his myghty mercy your specyal grace he hath opened the eyen of my blynde conscience and ygnoraunce so that now I see the clere waye of trouthe and humbly beseche you moste blessyd lady that I may haue hym whome myn herte loueth desyreth aboue alle thynge withoute whom I may not lyue and with thyse wordes hir spyrites were so fast closed that she laye as she had ben dede and thenne our lady in comfortyng hyr sayd my dere doughter It shal be as ye desyre but yet ye lacke one thynge that ye must receyue or ye come to the presence of my sone ye must be clothed wyth the sacramente of baptesme Wherfore come on my dere doughter for al thynge is prouyded for there was a fonte solempnely apparaylled wyth al thynge requesyte vnto baptesme And thenne our blessyd lady callyd adryan the olde fader to hir and sayd brother this offyce longeth to you for ye be a preest therfore baptyse ye my doughter but chaunge not hir name for katheryne shal she be named and I shal be hir godmoder and thenne this holy man adryan baptysed hir and after our lady sayd to hir now myn owne doughter be glad and ioyeful for ye lacke no thynge that longeth to the wyf of an heuenly spouse And now I shal brynge you to my lord my sone whiche abydeth for you and soo our lady ledde hir forth vnto the quere
molten leed brennyng For to brenne hys entraylles quyryache suffred it moche pacyently wythout makyng of ony crye lokyng alweye vp toward heuen and aboute two houres after whan they that were there supposed he had ben dede he lyfte vp his voys sayeng Ihesus fader eternall resplendaunte lyght whiche neuer may be extyncte I blesse the for thou hast made me worthy to haue partycypacyon wyth thy frendes Therfore I requyre the that the pryde and elacion of thys euyl tyraunte may not ouercome me but that thy puyssaunce alweye conferme me in stedfast constaunce of feythe whan he had accomplysshed his oryson Iulyan sayd to hym Quyryace loo how I lete the Iangle I haue herde ofte suche wordes Doo sacrefyse to our Lord Iubyter and thenne thou shalte do wysely ¶ Thenne Quyryace answerd to hym I byleue haue byleued hym that is veray god that shal destroye the and the pryde Thenne Iulyan dyd do brynge a crabat of copper and dyd do laye and stratche out the body theron and put vnder it brennyng coles and dyd doo strawe salte on the body and aboue that dyd do bete hym with roddes to th ende that his bely entraylles shold haue the more payne trauaylle and after they torned his bely toward the fyre bete his backe with roddes and thenne he with an hyghe wys beganne to praye in hebrewe The tyraunte Was moche admeruaylled of the grete pacyence that he had and dyd do shytte hym in a litel hows vnto the tyme that he had deuysed of what deth he myght make hym to deye and aboute two yere after saynt anne the moder of saynt quyryace came to hym and exorted hym to suffre pacyently for the loue of god Anone the mynystres of the deuyll wente and tolde to the tyraunte the whyche commaunded that she shold be brought to hym and whan he sawe that she wold in no wyse do sacrefyse to thydolles he commaunded that she shold be hanged by the hereys and as she henge he made to tere of alle hir nayles or vngles and in this torment she was four houres without spekyng Thenne Iulyen sayd to hir what is thys that they doo to thyn vngles thenne she answerd to hym O hounde out of thy wytte werkar of al Iâ—yquyte yf thou haue ony gretrer tormentes gyue them to me for I am al redy to fyghte ageynst thy fader the deuyl ouer whome I haue hope to haue vyctorye moyenaunt on hym the name of Ihesu cryst ¶ Thenne the tyraunte commaunded to take grete laumpes brennyng and settyng to hyr sydes The holy woman cryed vnto god makyng hir prayers she rendred vp hyr spyryte vnto our Lord The crysten peple that were there buryed hyr after this Iulyan commaunded that Quyryace shold be broughte tofore hym and sayd to hym quyriace say to me of what enchauntementes what euyl crafte hast thou vsed by whiche it semeth that thou felest no tormente and therfore thou wylte not sacrefyse to the ydolles ¶ Thenne Quyriace answerd to hym o cursyd foole and Indygne hounde that peruertest the myght of god to enchauntementes and euyl werkys Wherfore thou shalte be bete by wounde celestyal Thenne commaunded Iulyan to make a grete pytte and by enchauntours dyd doo assemble alle maner of serpentes and venemous beestys and dyd doo put them in to the pytte And after he made to caste the holy man in the myddes of them and as they threwe hym therin he beganne to saye right swete Ihesus I yelde to the graces and thankynges for not onely in the woldest thou verefye and applye the prophecye of dauyd but in vs that been thy lytel creatures whyche thou hast created hast wylled to haue thy grace for loo here it pleaseth the that we goo vpon the serpentes that we marche and trede on the lyon and on the dragon and as he sayd so Iulyan commaunded to brenne alle the beestys ¶ Thenne a knyght callyd Amon sayd to the Emperour Iulyan O kynge out of thy wytte and wood how hast thou the wylle to put thys man to dethe thyn enchauntours and thy goddes whyche ben deceyuable may not make the mernaylles that he dothe and in trouthe now forth on I am certeyn that the god of crysten men is moche myghty For whyche wordes Iulyan commaunded to smyte of his heed and as he was ledde vnto the place for to be byheded he beganne to saye Ihesu cryst whiche arte the god of quyryace receyue my sowle in pees and so sayeng he stratched forthe hys necke and was byheded and thus fynysshed hys marterdom Iulyan callyd quyryace and prayed hym and exhorted that he shold renye the crucyfyxe Thenne quyryace answerd hym O herte peruertyd euyll and wythout pyte that seest no thynge that woldest that I shold leue my god whyche gyueth to me and to other creatures soo many goodes and that I shold become myschaunte and semblable to the ¶ Thenne Iulyan was moche angrye and commaunded to hange a grete cawdron of oyle vpon the fyre whyche oyle was soo hote that they that were there aboute vnnethe myght endure the fume that yssued And he commaunded to sette Saynt quyryace therin whiche entred therin in makyng the sygne of the crosse and sayd lord Ihesu cryste which hast sayntefyed the flome iordan and hast gyuen to me the holy sacramente of baptesme by water See now where I shal be yet baptysed in oylle Yet haue I the thyrd marterdom to do by the Wesshyng of effusyon of blood whyche I haue longe taryed fore Thenne the tyraunte replenysshed of wrathe and of yre more than tofore commaunded that he shold be smyton wyth a sharpe darte in to the breste and as he was soo smyton he prayed god that he myght departe out of the world and thenne gafe vp his soule vnto our lord whiche was the fourth nonas of maye ¶ Thys saynt quyryace of whom we speke was the same Iudas proprely by whome saynt Helayne fonde the veray holy crosse And after that he was baptysed saynt helayne recommaunded hym vnto the bysshop of Iherusalem whyche was at that tyme whan the sayd bysshop was dede Helayne that thenne was in Iherusalem wente to Rome to the Pope Eusebyus whiche ordeyned Iudas to be bysshop of Iherusalem in chaungyng his name and callyd hym quyryace To whome god gafe soo moche grace that he enchaced awey the fendes by his prayer Saynt helayne delyuerd to hym many fayre yeftes for to dystrybute and departe to the poure and at the prayer and requeste also of hyr was made a fayre feste of the Inuencyon of the holy crosse And ye ought to knowe that Whan the veray crosse was founden and by vertue therof a dede man was reysyd The deuyl whiche is of alle good enuyous was herde cryeng in the ayer O Iudas by the I am chaced oute and dymynysshed but I knowe wel that I shal be aduengyd ageynst the I shal reyse another kyng that shal renye the crucyfyxe the whiche by