serpentes But the Rodde of Aaron deuoured their Roddes yet was the herte of pharao hard and so endurat that he wold not doo as god bad Thenne said our lord to Moyses The herte of pharao is greuyd and wil not delyuer my peple Goo to hym to morn in the mornyng And he shal come out And thou shal stande whan he cometh on the banke of the Ryuer and take in thy hande the Rodde that was torned in to the serpent saye to hym The lord god of thebrews sendeth me to the sayeng Delyure my peple that they may offre and make sacrefise to me in deserte yet thou hast no wille to here me Therfor our lord said In this shalt thou knowe that I am the lord Loo I shal smyte with the rodde that is in my hand the water of the flood and it shal torne in to blood the fysshes that ben in the water shal deye thegipciēs shall be put to affliction drynkyng of it Thenne said our lord to moyses saye thou to Aaron take this rodde stratche thyn hand vpon all the waters of egypt vpon the floodes Ryuers pondes and vpon all the lakes where ony water is in that they torne in to blood that it may be a vengeaunce in all the land of egypte as well in treen vessels as in vessels of erth stone Moyses aaron dyde as god had comāded them and smote the flood with the rodde to fore pharao his seruaūts which torned in to blood the fisshes that were in the Ryuer deyde the water was corrupt And thegypciēs myght not drynke the water all the water of egipte was torned in to blood And in lyke wyse dyde thenchantours with theyr witchecraft and the herte of pharao was so indurat that he wold not lete the peple departe as our lord had comanded but he retorned home for this tyme Thegypciens wente and doluen pittes for water all aboute by the ryuer and they fonde no water to drynke but alle was blood And this plaghe endured vij dayes and what someuer water the chyldren of Israhel toke in this whyle was fair good water This was the first plaghe and vengeance The secōde was that god sente frosshes so many that all the londe was ful the Ryuers the howses chambres beddes that they were woo begoon And thyse frosshes entrid in to their mete so many that they couerd all the londe of egypte Thēne pharao prayd moyses aaron that god wold take awaye these frosshes that he wold goo suffre the peple to doo sacrefise and thēne moyses axid whā he wold delyure them yf the frosshes were voided pharao said on the morn And thēne moyses prayde they uoyded alle whan pharao sawe that he was quyt of thē he kepte not his promyse wold not lete them departe The thirde vengeāge that god sente to them was a grete multitude of hongry horse-flyes as many as thuste of therthe which were on men bote thē beestis and thēchantours said thēne to pharao this is the fyngre of god yet wold not pharao lete thē departe The fourth vengeance was that god sente alle maner kynde of flyes lyse in suche wyse the vnyuersal londe of egypte was ful of all maner flyes lyse but in the lāde of Iessen were none yet was he so indurate that he wold not lete them goo but wold that they shold make their sacrefyse to god in that londe But moyses wold not so but good iij dayes Iourney in deserte sacrefyse to god there Pharao said I wil wel that ye goo in to deserte but goo not fer come sone agayn praye ye for me and moyses prayd for hym to our lord and the flyes voyded that ther was not one lefte whā they were goon Pharao wold not kepe his promyse Thēne the fyfthe plaghe was that god shewd his honde vpon the feldes vpō the horses asses Camels sheep oxen and was a grete pestelence on alle the beestis And god shewd a wonder myracle bytwene the possessyons of the egypcyens the possessions of his peple of Israhel for of the beestis of the chyldrē of Israhel ther was not one that perisshid yet was pharao so hard herted that he wold not suffre the peple to departe ¶ The sixt plaghe was that Moyses toke asshes out of the chymney casted on the londe And anon alle the peple of egypte as wel men as beestis were ful of botchis beelis blaynes woundes and swellyng in their bladders in suche wise that thēchantours coude ne myght not stōde for payne to for pharao yet wold not pharao here thē ne doo as god had comāded ¶ The seuenth plaghe was an haylle so grete that ther was neuer none like to fore thōdre fire that it destroied all the gras herbes of egipte And smote doun alle that was in the feld men and beestis but in the londe of Iessen was none herd ne harm doon yet wold not Pharao delyure them ¶ The eyght our lord sente to them locustes whiche is a maner grete flye callyd in som̄e place an adder bolte whiche bote them ete vp all the corn herbes that was left in suche wyse that the peple cā to pharao desyred hym to delyure sayeng that the lond perysshyd ¶ Thenne pharao gaf to the men lycence to goo make their sacrefyse leue theyr wyues chyldren there stylle tyl they come agayn but moyses Aaron said that they must goo all wherfor he wold not lete them departe ¶ The ix plage vengeance was that god sente so gret derknes vpon all the londe of egypte that the derknesse was so grete horryble that they were palpable and it endured iij dayes and iij nyghtes whersomeuer the chyldren of Israhel wente it was lyght ¶ Thēne pharao callid Moyses Aaron said to them Goo ye make your sacrefyse vnto your lord god late your sheep beestis only abyde To whom moyses saide we shal take with vs suche hostyes sacrefyses as we shal offre to our lord god All our flockes beestis shal goo with vs ther shal not remayne as moche as an naylle that shal be necessarye in the honour of our lord god For we knowe not what we shal offre tyl we come to the place pharao was so indurate hard herted that he wold not lete them goo And bad moyses that he shold nomore come in his sight For whan thou comest thou shalt deye Moyses answerd be it as thou hast said I shal nomore come to thy presence And thēne our lord said to moyses there resteth now but one plage vengeange ¶ And after that he shal lete you goo But first saye to all the peple that euery man borowe of his frende womā of her neyghbour vessell of gold of syluer clothes our lord shal gyue to his peple grace fauour to borowe of
shal not see ne come in to the contrey and londe that I haue promysed to theyr faders But Iosue and caleph my seruantes shal entre in to the londe And theyr seed shal possesse it Moyses told all this vnto the chyldren ¶ And they waylled and sorowed gretly therfor After this the peple remeuyd fro thens and cam in to the deserte of Syn And there Maria suster of moyses and Aaron deyde and was buryed in the same place Thenne the peple lacked water and cam and grutched ayenst Moyses and yet wesshed they had abyden in Egypte Thenne Moyses and Aaron entryd in to the tabernacle and fylle doun to the ground lowe and prayd vnto our lord seyeng lord god here the clamour of thy peple And opene to theÌ„ thy tresour a fontayn of lyuyng water that they may drynke and the murmuracion of them may cesse Our lord said to hym thenne Take the Rodde in thy hande and thou and Aaron thy brother assemble and gadre the peple And speke ye to the stone And it shal gyue out water and whan the water cometh late alle the multytude drynke and theyr beestis Moyses thenne toke the Rodde as our lord badde and gadred all the peple to fore the stone and said to them here ye rebelles and out of byleue Trow ye not that we may gyue you watre out of this stone ¶ And he lefte vp his hand and smote twyes the stone and water cam and flowed out in the most largest wyse in suche wyse that the peple and beestis dronke theyr fylle Thenne said god to Moyses and Aaron by cause ye haue not byleuyd me and sanctefyed my name to fore the chyldren of Israhel and gyuen to me the laude but haue don this in your name ye shal not brynge this peple in to the londe that I shal gyue to them And therfor this water was callyd the water of contradiction where the chyldren grutched agayn god Anon after this by goddes comandemÌ„t Moyses toke Aaron vpon the hylle despoylled of his vesture and clothid therwith his sone Eleazar and made hym vpperist bysshop for his fader Aaron And there Aaron deyde in the toppe of the hylle And moyses desceÌ„ded with Eleazar And whan alle the multytude of peple sawe that AaroÌ„ was deed they wepte waylled on hym xxx dayes in euery trybe famylye after this the peple wente aboute the londe of Edom and begaÌ„ to wexe wery and grutchyd ayenst our lord Moyses and sayd yet why hast thou ledde vs out of the lond of Egypte for to slee vs in this deserte and wildernes Breed failleth vs ther is no water And our sowles abhorre and lothe this light mete For whiche cause god sente emonge them fyry serpentes whiche bote and wounded many of them and slewe also Thenne they that were hurte cam to Moyses and said we haue synned for we haue spoken ayenst our lord and the praye for vs vnto god that he delyuer fro vs thise serpentes Thenne Moyses prayd our lord for the peple And our lord said to hym Make a serpente of brasse and sette it vp for a signe And who someuer be hurte and loketh theron beholdeth it shal lyue and be hole Thenne Moyses made a serpente of brasse and sette it vp for a sygne And whan they that were hurte beheld it were made hole After this whan Moyses had shewid to them all the lawes of our lord and cerymonyes and had gouerned them xl yere And that he was an Cxx. yere old he ascended fro the feldes of Moab vpon the montayn of Nebo in to the toppe of phasga ayenst Ierico and there our lord shewd to hym alle the londe of Galaad vnto dan And all the londe of promyssyoÌ„ fro that one ende to that other And thenne our lord sayd to hym This is the land that I promysed to Abraham Ysaac and Iacob sayeng I shal gyue it to thy seed Now thou hast seen it with thyn eyen And shalt not entre ne come therin And there in that place deyede Moyses seruaunt of our lord as god comanded and was buryed in the vale of the londe of Moab ayenst Phogor And yet neuer man knewe his sepulcre vnto this day Moyses was an honderd and twenty yere old whan he deyde his eyen neuer diÌ„med ne his teeth were neuer meuyd The chyldren of Irahel wepte and morned for hym xxx dayes in the feldes of Moab Iosue the sone of Num was replenessyd with the spyrite of wisdom for moyses sette on hym his handes And the chyldren obeyed hym as our lord had comanded to Moyses And ther was neuer after a prophete in Israhel lyke vnto Moyses whiche knewe and spack to god face to face in alle signes and tokenes that god dyde and shewd by hym in the londe of egypte to pharao and alle hys seruauntes Here endeth the lyf and thystorye of Moyses After Moyses Iosue was duc and ledar of the chyldren of Israhel and brought them in to the londe of beheste And dyde many grete batayllis for whom god shewd many grete meruayllys and in especyal one that was that the sonne stode stylle at his request tyl he had ouercome his enemyes by the space of a day And our lord whan he faught sent doun suche hayl stones that slewe moo of his enemyes wyth tho stones than wyth mannes hond ¶ Iosue was a noble man and gouerned wel Israhel and deuyded the londe vnto the xij trybus by lotte And whan he was Cx. yere old he deyde And dyuerse dukes after hym Iuged and demed Israhel of whom ben noble hystoryes as of Iepte Gedeon and Sampson whiche I passe ouer vnto thystoryes of the kynges whiche is redde in holy chyrche fro the fyrst sonday after trynyte sonday vnto the first sonday of August And in the moneth of August is redde the book of sapience And in the moneth of SepteÌ„bre ben redde thystoryes of Iob â–ª of Thobye and of Iudich And in Octobre the hystorye of the Machabeis And in Nouembre the book of Ezechiel and his visions And in Decembre the hystorye of Aduent and the book of ysaye vnto crystemasse after the fest of Epyphanye vnto Septuagesme ben red thepistles of paule And this is the Rewle of the temporal thurgh the yere cÌ„ The first sonday after Trynyte sonday vnto the first sonday of the moneth of Augustâ—s redde the book of kynges THis hystorye maketh mencion that ther was a man named helcana whiche had two wyues that one was named Anna and the name of the seconde Fenenna Fenenne had chyldren And Anna had none but was bareyn The good man at suche dayes as he was bounden wente to his cyte for to make hys sacrefyse and worshipe god In this tyme Ophny Phynees sones of holy the grete preest were preestes of our lord This Helcana gaf to Fenenna at suche tyme as he offred to her sones and doughters certayn partes and vnto Anna he gaf but one parte Fenenne dyde moche
maketh them to ryse to newe lyf And in signeficacion herof the psalme of miserere mei deus whiche is the fyftyth psalme And the psalme of penaunce is in the tyme of lente oft vsed and sayd ¶ Thus endeth the mysterye of quanquagesme ¶ Of quadragesme THe quadragesme whiche we calle now in englyssh lente bygynneth the sonday in whiche is songen in thoffyce of the masse Inuocauit me cÌ„ And the chirche whiche was moche troubled to fore by so many trybulacions and had cryed Circundederunt me And after in respyryng syghyng had axyd helpe in sayeng Exurge domine Now she sheweth that she is herd whan she saith he hath called me and I haue herd Now it is to vnderstonde that the quadragesme conteyneth xlij dayes For to acounte the sondayes And yf they be not rekened ther ben but xxxvj dayes for to faste whiche ben the thenthe part of the dayes of the yere But the foure dayes to fore ben put to by cause the nombred sacred by the quadragesme be accomplysshyd the whiche our saueour Ihesu Cryst halowed by his holy fastyng And by cause we faste in this nombre of fourty ther may be assygned thre reasons The fyrst reason putteth seynt Austyn whiche saith that seynt mathew setteth xl generacions to th ende theÌ„ that our lord by his holy quadragesme desseÌ„ded to vs we shold assende to hym by our quadragesme That other assigneth the same sayeng To that we may haue the quynquagesme We must put to xl ten For vnto that that we may com to the blessed glorye and rest in heuen it behoueth vs to laboure alle the tyme of this present lyf And therfore our lord alode xl dayes with his dissiples after his resurection and after the tenth day he sent to them the holy ghost The third reson assigneth maister prepositiuus in the soÌ„me of thoffice of the chirche whiche seyeth The world is deuided in to iiij partyes And the yere in to iiij tymes and the man of iiij elementis iiij complexions is composed And we haue the newe lawe whiche is ordeyned of foure euangelistes And the x coÌ„maundementis that we haue broken It behoueth theÌ„n that the nombre of ten by the nombre of iiij be multiplyed that thus we make the quadragesme that we fulfiyll the coÌ„mandementis of the olde lawe newe Our body as sayd is is composed of iiij elementis lyke as they had iiij setes in oure body That is to wete the fyre whiche is in the eyen thayer in the tongue and eeres the water in the natural membres named genitoires And the erthe hath dominacion in the hondes and other membres Then in the eyen is curiosite in the tongue and eeris is scurilite In the naturel membres that is to saye genitoires voluptuosite And in the handes and other membres cruelte thise iiij thynges confessid the publicane whan he prayed god he held hym a ferre in confessyng his luxurye whiche is stynkyng lyke thus as he sayd Sire I dare not approche to the For I myght stynke in thy nose and by cause he durst not lyfte vp his eyen he confessed curiocite And in that he smote hym self on the brest he confessed cruelte And whaÌ„ he sayd deus ê“picius esto michi peccatori he confessed the cryme and glotonie whiche we ought to represse Saynt gregorye in his omelyes putteth also thre reasons wherfore in abstinence is holden the nombre of xl For the vertu of the x comaundementis in the lawe And for thaccomplysshement of the iiij bokes of theuangelistes And also in this world we that ben in mortal body be compoâ—â—d of the iiij elementis And by the wyll of the mortal body we gaynsay the commauÌ„dementes of god therfor then we that haue disobeyed the coÌ„nauÌ„demeÌ„tis of god by the desire of the flessh it is cordyng that the same flessh by iiij tymes x We put to penauÌ„ce affliccyon fro this present day vnto ester vj wekes comyng that ben xlij dayes Yf the sondayes be taken away Ther abyde in thabstynence but xxxvj dayes And the yere is demened by iij hondred sixty and v dayes we gyuen the tithe of them to god whan we fast And this saith seynt gregorye wherfore kepe we not this fastyng in the tyme that IhuÌ„ cryst fasted whiche was anon after his baptesme But we begynne so that we continue vntil ester herof ben assyned iiij reasons in the soÌ„me of thoffice of master IohÌ„n bethel in thoffice of the chirche Tle first is that we wyl aryse with IhuÌ„ Cryst For he suffrid for us And we ought to suffre for hym The second is To that we shold folowe the chyldren of Israel whiche first yssued out of egipte And in this tyme yssued also out of babylone the whiche thyng appiereth For as wel that one as that other anon as they were retorned halowed the solempnyte of ester Andthus we for to ensue them in this tyme we faste to th ende that fro egipte and fro babilone that is to vnderstond from this mortal world in to the contraye of our heritage of heuen we may entre The thirde reason is by cause that in the prym temps the hete of the flessh meueth and boyleth to th end that we may refrayne vs ther in this tyme we fast The fourth is for asmoche as anon after oure fastyng we ought receyue the body of Ihesu crist For in lyke wise as the children of Israhel to fore they had eten the lomb they put them in afflicion by penaunce in etyng wylde letuse bitter right so we ought to withdrawe put vs in affliction by penaunce to th ende that the more worthily we may take and receyue the lombe of lyf Amen ¶ Thus endeth the misterye of the quadragesme ¶ The ymbre dayes THe fastyng of the quatee temps callyd in englyssh ymbre dayes the pope Calixte ordeyned theym And this faste is kept iiij tymes in the yere and for dyuerse reasons For the first tyme whiche is in marche is hote and moyste The second in somer is hote and drye The thirde in heruest is cold drye The fourthe in wynter is cold moyste Thenne late vs faste in marche whiche is prymtemps for to represse the hete of the flessh boylyng and to aqueÌ„che luxurye or tattempre it In somer we ought to faste to th ende that we chastyse the brennyng and ardour of auarice In haruest for to represse the drought of pryde and in wynter for to chastyse the coldnesse of vntrouthe and of malyce The second reason why we faste iiij tymes for thyse fastynges here begynne in marche in the first weke of the lente to th ende that vices wexe drye in vs For they may not all be quenchid Or by cause that we caste them away And the bowes and herbes of vertues may growe in vs And in somer also in the whitson weke For thenne cometh the holy goost And therfore we ought to be feruent
how is this dede knowen made open Pharao herd herof and sought moyses for to slee hym whiche thenne fledde fro his syght and dwellyd in the londe of madyâ—n and satte there by a pyt syde ¶ The preste of Madyan had vij doughters whiche cam theder for to drawe water and to fylle the vessels for to gyue drynke to the flockes of the sheep of their fader Thenne cam on them the herdmeÌ„ putte them from it Thenne roose moyses and defended the maydens and lete them watre their sheep whiche thenne retorned to their fader Ietro and he said to them why come ye now erlyer than ye were wont to doo They sayde that a man of Egypte hath delyueryd vs fro the hande of the herdmeÌ„ also he drewe water for vs and gaf to the sheep drynke where is he saide he why lefte ye the man after you goo calle hym that he may ete somme brede with vs Thenne Moyses sware that he wold dwelle with hym And he toke Sephora one of his doughters and wedded her to his wyf whiche conceyuyd and bare hym a sone whom he callyd Gersam sayeng I was a straunger in a straunge londe She brought to hym forth another sone whom he named Eleazar sayeng The god of my fader is my helper and hath kept me fro the hande of pharao longe tyme after this deyed the kyng of egypte And the chyldren of Israhel wayllyng made grete sorowe for thoppressyon of theyr labour and cryde vnto god for helpe Their crye cam vnto god of theyr werkis and god herde theyr wayllyng and remembryd the promyse that he made with AbrahaÌ„ ysaac and Iacob And our lord beheld the chyldren of Israhel knewe them moyses fedde the sheep of Ietro his wyues fader whan he had brought the sheep in to the innerest part of deserte he cam vnto the mount of god Oreb Our lord apperid to hym in flaÌ„me of fyre in the myddys of a busshe And sawe the fyre in the busshe and the busshe brenned not Thenne said Moyses I shal goo and see this grete vysyon why the busshe brenneth not Our lord thenne beholdyng that he wente for to see it Callyd hym beyng in the busshe said Moyses moyses whiche answerd I am here Thenne said our lord Approche no ner hytherward Take of thy shone fro thy feet the place that thou stondest on is holy grouÌ„d and said also I am god of thy fader god of Abraham and god of ysaac god of Iacob moyses thenne hydde his face durst not loke toward god To whom god saide I haue seen thaffliction of my peple in egypte and I haue herde theyr crye of the hardnes that they suffre in their werkis And I knowyng the sorow of them am descended to delyuer them fro the hand of thegypcyens and shal lede them fro this londe in to a good londe and spacyous in to a land that floweth mylke and hony vnto the places of Cananeis Ethei Amorrey Pheresey Eney and Iebusey The crye of the chyldren of Israhel is comen to me I haue seen theyr affliction how they ben oppressyd of thegypcyens but come to me and I shal sende the vnto pharao that thou shalt lede the chyldren of Israhel out of egypte Thenne moyses said to hym who am I that shal goo to pharao and lede the chyldren out of egypte To whom god said I shal be with the And this shal be the signe that I sende the whan thou shalt haue bedde out my peple of egypte thou shalt offre to god vpon this hylle Moyses said vnto god Loo yf I goo to the chyldren of Israhel and saye to them God of your faders hath sente me to you yf they saye what is his name what shal I saye Our lord said to Moyses Ego sum qui sum I am that I am he said thus shal thou saye to the children of Israhel He that is sente me to you and yet shalt thou saye to them The lord god of your fadres god of Abraham god of ysaac and god of Iacob hath apperid to me sayeng Thys is my name for euer more And this is my memoryall fro generacion to generacion Go and gadre to gydre the senyors and aged men of Israhel and saye to them the lord god of your faders hath apperyd to me god of Abraham and god of ysaac and god of Iacob sayeng vysytyng I haue vysited you and haue seen all that is fallen in egypte and I shal lede you out of thaffliction of egypte in to the londe of Canane Ethei cÌ„ vnto the londe flowyng mylk and hony And they shal here thy voys Thou shalt goo and take with the senyors of Israhel to the kynge of egypte and shalt saye to hym The lord god of thebrewes hath called vs we shal goo the Ionrey of iij dayes in wyldernes that we may offre to our lord god but I knowe wel that the kynge of egypte shal not suffre you to goo but by stronge hande I shal stratche out my hand and shal smyte egypte in all my meruaylles that I shal doo amyd emong them After that he shal lete you goo I shal thenne gyue my grace to this peple to fore thegypciens And whan ye shal goon out ye shal not departe voyde ne wyth nought but euery womaÌ„ shal borowe of her neyhbour and of her hostesse vessel of syluer and of gold and clothes and them shal ye leye on your sones on your doughtres and ye shal Robbe Egypte TheÌ„ne Moyses answerd and saide They shal not byleue me ne here my voys but shal saye god hath not apperyd to the God saith thenne to hym what is that thou holdest in thyn honde he answerd a rodde our lord said caste it on the ground he threwe it doun And it torned vnto a serpent wherof moyses was aferde and wold haue fledde ¶ Our lord said to hym put forth thy hande and holde hym by the taylle he stratched forth hys honde and helde hym And it torned agayn in to a Rodde To this that they byleue the that I haue apperid to the and yet our lord said to hym Put thy honde in to thy bosom whiche whan he hath put in and drawen out agayn it was lyke a lepres hand our lord bad hym to withdrawe it in to hys bosom agayn drewe it out it was theÌ„ne lyke that other flesshe yf they here not the and byleue by the fyrst signe and tokene They shal byleue the by the seconde yf they byleue none of the two ne here thy voys Thenne take water of the Ryuer and poure it on the drye ground And what someuer thou takest and drawest shal torne in to blood Thenne Moyses said I pray the lord sende som other for I am not eloquente but haue a lettyng in my speche Our lord said to hym who made the mouth of a maÌ„ or who hath made a man dombe or deef seeyng or blynde not I Go therfor I shal be in
thegypciens thenne gaf to them a comandement how they shold departe and our lord said to moyses at mydnyght I shal entre in to Egypte And the first begoten chyld heyr of alle egypte shal deye fro the first begoten sone of pharao that sytteth in his trone vnto the first begoten sone of the handmayd that sytteth atte mylle all the first begoten of the beestis Ther shal be a grete crye clamour in alle the londe of egypte in suche wyse that ther was neuer none lyke ne neuer shal be after emoÌ„g all the chyldren ther shal not an hound be hurt ne noman ne beest wherby ye shal knowe by what myracle god deuydeth thegypcyens Israhel Moyses Aaron shewd alle thyse sygnes plaghes to fore pharao and his herte was so indurate that he wold not late theÌ„ departe Thenne whan moyses had said to the chyldren how they shold dooer they departed ete theyr pask lambe all other cerymonyes as ben expressyd in the byble for a lawe tendure euer emoÌ„g theÌ„ whiche the chyldren of Israhel obeyed accoÌ„plysshyd it was so that at mydnyght our lord smote slew euery fyrst begoten sone thurgh out all the londe of egypte begynnyng at the first sone heyr of pharao vnto the sone of the caytyf that laye in pryson also the first begoten of the beestis Pharao arâ—os in the nyght all his seruauÌ„tes all egypte ther was a grete clamour sorouful noyse crye For ther was not an hows in all egyptebut ther laye therin one that was deed TheÌ„ne pharao dyde do calle Moyses Aaron in the nyght said Aryse ye goo your waye fro my peple ye the chyldren of Israhel as ye saye ye wyll Take your sheep beestis with you lyke as ye desyred at your departyng blesse ye me Thegypcyens constrayned the chyldren to departe goo theyr waye hastely sayeng we all shalle deye The chyldreÌ„ of Israhel toke thenne mele and put it on their sholdres as they were comanded borowed vessels of syluer of gold moche clothyng our lord gaf to them suche fauour to fore thegypcyens that thegipcyeÌ„s lente to theÌ„ all that they desyred spoylled Robbed egypte Aed so the children of Israhel departed nyhe the noÌ„bre of vj honderd thousand foot men besyde wymen chyldren whiche were Innumerable And an huge grete multytude of beestis of dyuerse kynde The tyme that the chyldren of Israhel had dwellyd in Egypte was four honderd yere And so they departed out of Egypte and wente not the ryght way by the philisteis but our lord lad them by the way of deserte whiche is by the reed see And the chyldren desceÌ„ded out of egipt armed Moyses toke with hym the bones of Ioseph for he charged theÌ„ so to doo whaÌ„ he deyde They wente in thextreme endes of the wyldernes and our lord wento to fore theÌ„ by daye in a columpne of a clowde by nyght in a coluÌ„pne of fyre was theyr leder ducthe pyler of the clowde faylled neuer by daye ne the pyler of fyre by nyght to fore the peple Our lord said to moyses I shal make his herte so hard that he shal folowe pursyewe you and I shal be gloryfyed in pharao in all his hoost ThegipcieÌ„s shal knowe that I am lord anon it was told to pharao that the chyldren of Israhel fledde and anoÌ„ his herte was chauÌ„ged also the hertes of his seruauÌ„tes said what shal we doo shal we suffre the chyldren to deê‘rte nomore to serue vs forthwith he toke his chare alle his peple with hym he toke with hym vjC chosen chares all the chares waynes of egipte the dukes of all his hoostes he poursyewyd the chyldren of Israhel folowed them in grete pryde whan he approched that the chyldren of Israhel sawe hym come they were sore aferd cryed to our lord god said to moyses was ther not sepulture ynough for vs in egypt but that we must now deye in wyldernesse Said not we to the Goo fro vs late vs serue thegypcyens it had ben moche better for vs to haue seruyd thegypciens than to dye here in wyldernes And moyses said to the peple Be ye not aferd staÌ„de see ye the grete wondres that our lord shal doo for you this daye ThegypcieÌ„s that ye now see ye shal neuer see theÌ„ after this daye God shal fyght for you be ye stylle Our lord said thenne to moyses what cryest thou to me saye to the chyldren of Israhel that they goo forth take thou reyse the rodde stratche thy hande vpon the see departe it that the chyldren of Israhel may goo drye thurgh the myddle of it I shal so indurate the herte of pharao that he shal folowe you and alle thegypciens and I shal be gloryfyed in pharao and in alle his hoost his cartes and horsmen And thegypciens shal knowe that I am lord whan I shal so be gloryfyed The Angel of god wente to fore the castellis of Israhel and another cam after in the clowde whiche stode bytwene them of egypte and the chyldren of Israhel And the clowde was derke that the hoost of pharao myght not come to them of all the nyght TheÌ„ne Moyses stratched his hond vpon the see ther cam a wynde blowyng in suche wyse that it waxe drye And the chyldren of Israhel wente in thurgh the myddes of the reed see alle drye foot For the waters stode vp as a walle on the ryght syde and on the lyft syde Thegypciens thenne poursyewyng theÌ„ folowed and entryd after them and alle the cartes chares horsmen thurgh the myddle of the see And theÌ„ne our lord behelde that the chyldren of Israhel were passyd ouer and were on the land on that other syde Anon torned the water on them And the wheles on theyr cartes torned vp so doun And drouned all the hoost of pharao and sancke doun in to the depe of the see Thenne said thegypciens late vs flee Israhel the lord fightith for them ayenst vs And our lord said to moyses stratche out thyn hand vpon the see and lete the water retorne vpon thegypcyens vpon theyr carres and horsmen And so Moyses stratched out his hand and the see retorned in to his first place And thenne thegypcyens wold haue fledde but the water cam and ouerflowed them in the myddys of the flood And it couerid the chares and horsmen and all thoost of pharao and ther was not one sauyd of them And the chyldren of Israhel had passyd thurgh the myddel of the drye see and cam a londe Thus delyueryd our lord the chyldren of Israhel fro the hond of thegypcyens and they sawe thegypcyens lyeng dâ—ed vpon the brynkes of the see Alle the peple thenne dred our lord byleuyd in hym and to Moyses his seruauÌ„t TheÌ„ne moyses
sone first cristen kynge of fraunce and was named lowys in hys baptesme whome saynt remyge cristened And an auÌ„gel of paradyse brought to hym an ample ful of crysme of whiche he was enoyâ—ted aâ—so his successours kynges of fraunce ben enoynted sacred at theyr coronacion after he was of good lyf fouÌ„ded the chirche that is now called saynt geneuefe on the mounte of paas in thonour of saynt peter saynt pouâ—e at the requeste of saynt clote hys wyf of whome the body resteth in the sayd chirche at thyncitacion of saynt geneuefe and saynt remyge dyd halowe dedefye hit the sayd kyng dyd encreâ—e moche the royame of fraunce frauâ—chysed it by his puyssaunce fro the româ—yns He conquerid meleun and the londe lyenge by sayne by loyre tourayn thoulose and al guyan and at his comyng to engoulesme the walles of the cyte fyl doun he made almayne and bourgoyn his trybutayrs he ordeyned and Instytuted parys to be the chyef syege of the royame he reygned xxx yere after he was entered in the sayd chirche the yere of our lord fyue hondred xiiii In the tyme of the sayd kyng lyued the sayd virgyn vnto the tyme of kyng clotayr his sone of which vyrgyn the sowle flâ—we in to heuen the body abâ—de in erthe in the sayd châ—rche in whiche she is yet he ole honourably entered and deuoutelye worshypped â—y the good and deuoute crysten peple In the tyme that the sayd vyrgyn saynt geneuefe was a chylde Saynt germayn of ancerre saynt lâ—w of troyes electe of the prelates of fraunce for to goo quenche an heresye that was in grete brytaygne now called englond came to nauÌ„cerre for to be lodged and herberowed the peple came ageynst theym for to haue theyr beneyson Emonge the people saynt germayn by thenseygnemente of the holy ghoost espyed out the lytel mayde saynt geneuefe and made hyr to come to hym and kyste hyr heed and demaunded hyr name and whos doughter she was and the people aboute hyr sayd that hir name was geneuefe and hyr fader Seuere and hyr moder geronce whyche came vnto hym and the holy man sayd is this chylde youres they answerd ye Blessyd be ye said the holy man whaÌ„ god hath gyuen to you so noble lignage knowe ye for certeyn that the day of hyr natyuyte the aungels sange halowed grete mysterye in heuen with grete ioye and gladnes She shal be of so grete meryte ageynst god of hir good lyf and conuersacion many shal take ensauÌ„ple that they shal leue theyr synne and shal conuerte theym to god and shal lyue religyously by whiche they shal haue pardon and ioye perdurable Thenne he sayd to geneuefe my doughter telle to me and be not asshamed yf ye wyl be sacred lyue in vyrgynyte vnto the dethe as espouse of Ihesu cryste The mayde answerd holy fader ye demaunde that I desyre there lacketh nomore but that by your prayers our lord wyl accomplysshe my deuocyon the holy man sayd haue ferme byleue in god and preue by werkys the good thynges that ye byleue in your herte and saye wyth your mowthe and our lord shal gyue you force and vertue Saynt Germayn helde his honde on hir heed tyl he came vnto the mynstre there he gaue to the peple the beneyson Saynt Germayn said to the fader and moder of the mayde that they shold brynge hir ageyn on the morne to hym whan she was brought ageyn on the morne saynt germayn sawe in hir a sygne celestyal I wote not what and sayd to hyr god the saleweth Geneuefe Doughter remembrest thou what thou promysest to me yesterday of the vyrgynyte of thy body holy fader sayd the mayde I remembre wel that by the helpe of god I desyre and thynke to accomplysshe my purpoos Thenne the holy man loked on the grounde sawe a peny sygned wyth the crosse whyche came by the grace and wylle of god he toke hit vp and gaue hit hyr and sayd fayre doughter take this and bere it in mynde of IhÌ„u cryste your espouse and suffre not aboute you none other arayemente of golde ne syluer ne of precious stones for yf the beaute of thys world surmounte a lytell your thought ye shal lose the goodes of heuen he commounded hir to god and prayed hir that she wold remembre hym in hyr orysons and prayers and recommaunded her to fader and moder The two holy bysshoppes wente from thens in to englond there were heretykes ageynst the feythe whyche sayd that chyldren borne of fader and moder baptysed had no nede to be crystenyd whiche is not trouthe for our lord Ihesu cryst sayth clerely in the gospel that none may entre in to the kyngdom of heuen yf he be not regenerate of water and of the holy ghost That is to say regenerate by the sacramente of baptesme By this scripture and by semblable the holy prelates destroyed theyr false creaunce and byleue and by vertu also and by myracles For in a solempnyte of ester by many that were newe baptysed in syngyng alleluya they chaced and droof aweye theyr enemyes of scotland and straungers of other places that were come for to greue them Hyt happed on a day that Geronce the moder of the holy mayde Geneuefe wente on an holy and festeful day toward the mynstre And hyr doughter wente after sayeng that the feythe that she had promysed to Saynt germayn she shold kepe by the helpe of god and that she wold ofte goo to the mynstre to the ende that she myght deserue to be espouse of Ihesu cryste and that she myght be worthy of his loue the moder was angry smote hyr on the cheke God auengyd the chylde that the moder became blynde and that in xxj monethes she sawe not whan the moder had been longe in thys payne which moche enoyed hyr She remembryd of the goodnes that Saynt germayn had sayd of hyr doughter and callyd hyr and sayd my doughter goo to the pytte and fetche me water the mayde wente hastely whan she was at the pytte she began to wepe by cause hyr moder had loste hyr syghte for hyr sake and toke vp water and bare it to hyr mder The moder stratched hyr handes to heuen and toke the water wyth grete feythe and reuerence And maad hyr doughter to sygne hir with the sygne of the holy crosse and wesshe hyr eyen and anone she began for to see a lytell Whan she had twyes or thrise wesshen hir syght came hole to hir ageyn as it had been tofore after thys it happed that the holy mayde was offred to the bysshop of chartres buylique for to be sacred with two other elder maydens For men offred hem after theyr eage But the holy bysshop knewe by the holy ghoost that geneuefe was the moste worthy and dygne and sayd to hyr that was behynde shold come before For god had tho sanctefyed hyr After the dethe of hir fader
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
that I haue halowed the chirche of westmynstre this nyght And saye to hym that he saye masse therm to morowe yf he wylle not byleue it saye to hym whan he cometh he shall fynde there tokenes suffycyent And I shalle be patrone of that chirche and vysyte it of tymes and bere in the syght of almyÈty god the prayers and deuocions of trewe cristen peple that pray in that place take thou the remenaunt of the fysshe for thy labour And this sayd saynt Peter vanysshed away Thenne the fyssher merueyled gretely of the syght that he hadde sene And erly by the morowe he wente to the Bisshoppe Mellyte of london delyuerd to hym the fysshe that saynt Peter had sent to hym tolde to hym by ordre lyke as saynt Peter hadde gyuen hym charge as ye haue herd to fore but the Bisshop wold not bileue hym til he cam to westmestre see the tokenes for to put hym oute of doubte whan he had opened the chirch dore he fonde a crosse made of sonde fro that one syde of the chirche vnto that other witâ— a b c lettres of grewe he fonde also xij crosses made on the walles in dyuerse places of the chirche thendes of xij candels almost brent out also he sawe the places that were enoynted with hooly oyle whiche yet were moyst and appyered newely done Thenne the Bisshop byleuyd this thynge veryly sayd masse that same daye in the chirche And there prechyd to the peuple a gloryous sermon And declared the grete myracle openly wherfore the people gaf laude and praysynge to god and to hys gloryous Appostle saynt Peter And whanne saynt Edward vnderstode that this chirche was of old tyme halowed by saynt Peter And how saynt Peter hadde commaunded hym to repaire the same Chirche as the lettre of the recluse maketh mencion Soo thenne euer after he hadde full grete deuocion to the same place And he dyd do caste doune the old werke and dyd do bylde it vp newe and endowed that Monastery worshipfully with lyuelode Iewellis And at that tyme pope Leo was deed And pope Nycholas was after hym And thenne the kynge to gyue relacion to hym of his penaunce enioyned by leo his predecessour to reâ—difye a monastery of the gloryous appostle saynt Peter And sente Alurede the Archebisshop of yorke to Rome with other Clerkes tenforme the pope that he hadde accomplisshed his penaunce that is to wete bothe distrybuted his goodes to poure men And also repayred a monastery of saynt Peter And how he hadde by reuelacion what place he shold repayre prayenge hym to ratefye and conferme the same whiche pope Leo hadde done to fore hym Thenne pope Nycholas consyderyng the grete deuocion and trewe entent of this Crysten kynge saynt Edward confermyd the bulle of absolucion and ratefyed the fundacion and the statutes of the monasterye And gaf therto grete and large pryueleges that who soo euer presumed to take awey ony moeuable or inmeuable goodes or wolde take ony man by force or strengthe oute of that chirche or of the precyncte of the same shold be acursyd by thauctoryte of peter and Pawle to be dampned with Iudas in helle euerlastyngly to lye in payne Thenne the Messagyers retourned ageyne fro Rome with the lettres of confyrmacion And whan the kynge sawe the grete benyuolence of our hooly fader the pope and hys fauour and gentylnesse gyuynge to hym by wrytynge moo pryueleges fredom than he desyrede Thenne he was fulle of gladnesse and ioye and thonked almyghty god of alle his yeftes On a tyme the kynge was in the chirche of saynt peter at westmynstre and was disposed in grete deuocion as his customme was to here masse Erle Leofryke kneled behynde the kyng and sawe with his bodyly eyen our lord Ihesu cryst bytwene the preestes handes appyerynge in the lykenes of a gloryous childe or beauteuous persone whiche blessyd the kynge with his ryght honde And the kynge whiche was gretely comforted with the sight bowed doune his hede and with grete deuocion and mekenes receyued the blessynge of our lord Thenne the erle aroos to telle the kynge supposynge that the kynge hadde not sene it but he knewe the erles entente and bad hym stonde stylle For that thou seest I see And hym I honoure And whanne masse was done they talkyd to gydre of their visyon and they were merueylously refresshyd with the yeftes of the hooly ghoost and myghte not wel speke for ioye and wepynge Thenne the kynge commaunded Leofryke that this vysyon shold neuer be vtteryd ne openly knowen tylle the tyme that they shold deye And when Leofryke shold departe hens he told it in Confession to his ghoostly fader and made it to be wreton And that wrytyng was leyd in a chyste among other relyques And many yeres after whanne they were bothe deed the wrytynge was found and radde And thenne the holynes of the kynge was knowen and his mekenes shewyd whiche wold not hit shold be shewed by their lyf for vayne glorye There was a yonge woman yeuyn in maryage to a noble man and not longe after she hadde tweyne mysfortunes Fyrst she was barayne And also ther aroos vnder her cheke many fowle botchys and kernellys full of corrupt humours whiche engendryd fowle woâ—mes and made her flesshe to stynke soo that she was abhomynable and hateful vnto her husbond and to alle her frendes And whanne she couthe not be heled by no medycyne thenne she put al her hope and trust in almyÈty god And with many a bytter tere bothe day and nyght besought and prayd hym to delyuer her fro that repreef and dysese or els to take her oute of this world And whanne she hadde thus longe contynued in prayer she was commaunded by a voys in her slepe that she shold goo to the holy kyng Edward And yf he wold wasshe her face with his hondes she shold be all hoole And whanne she awoke she auowed to seke the kynge in his palays And thenne she cam thyder and maad meanes that the kynge myghte haue knowlege of her dreme And whanne the kynge vnderstood it he callyd her to hym and sayd yf god wylle that I shold wesshe thy face I wylle not refuse it And callyd after water and with his owne handes he wesshe her face And wronge oute the wormes and all the fowle bloode oute of her face And badde her tarye there thre or four dayes tylle the skynne myght couer ageyne her vysage And thanke thou god for thy delyueraunce And whanne she was maade parfyghtely hoole and her vysage fayre and beauteuous thenne she fylle doune at the kynges feete and thanked hym humbly of her delyuerauÌ„ce but he forbad her for to yeue ony praysynge to hym therfore but badde her to gyue lawde and praysynge to god therfore For he is the doar and not I Thenne she prayd the kynge that he wold pray to god for her that she myght
haue a Childe by her husbond For she hadde ben long bareyne And the kynge promysed her so to doo And thenne she retorned ioyously home to her husbond And sone after conceyued and had a childe wherof she thanked god that she was heled of bothe her dyseases Seynt Powle wryteth that the hooly ghoost yeueth graces dyuersly to some he yeueth wysedome to some connynge And to somme grace to hele and to cure seke peple But this blessyd kynge saynt Edward hadde a special grace aboue other in gyuyng syght to blynd men Ther was a blynd man wel knowen whiche herd a voys in his slepe that yf he myÈt haue of the water that the kynge wesshe his handes in and wasshe his eyen therwith he sholde haue his syght ageyne Thenne the next day after this blynde man wente in to the kynges palais And told his vysyon to the kynges Chamberlayne And the Chamberlayne tolde it to the kynge Thenne the kynge sayd that it myght be well an Illusyon or a dreme whiche is not alwey trewe for it hath not be sene that fowle water of a synners hondes sholde yeue syght to blynd men Thenne said the chamberlayn that many tymes dremes haue ben founden trewe as the dremes of Ioseph Pharao Danyel and many other Thenne the kynge in grete humylyte wente in to the chirche on a solempne day with a basyne of water And commaunded the blynde man to be brought to hym And as the kynge weshe the face of the blynd man his eyen were opened and had his syght and stode all abasshyd lokyng on the peple as he hadde newely comen in to this world And thenne the people wepte for ioye to see the holynes of the kynge And theÌ„ne he was demaunded yf he myght see clerely And he sayd ye forsothe And the kyng knelyd doune before the aulter sayenge this verse with grete drede and mekenes Non nobis domine non nobis sed nomini tuo da gloriam That is to say Not to vs lord not to vs but vnto thy name be yeuen glorye After this the holynes and fame of saint Edward sprange aboute so that a Cytezeyne of Lyncolne whiche had be blynde thre yere cam to the kynges palais to haue of the water that the kynge hadde wasshen his handes in For he bileuyd that it wold hele hym And as he had goten of that water by one of the kynges offycers he weshe his face and his eyen ther with And anone he was restored to his syghte and was parfyghtely made hole and soo ioyefully retorned home magnyfyenge god and saynt Edward that he had his syght ageyne In a tyme ther were gadrid to gydre certayne werkemen to hewe doune tre es to the kynges palais at Bruhamand after their labour they leyd theym doune to slepe in the shadowe And a yong man of that felauship that heyÈts wylwyne whan he shold ryse he opened his eyen myght not see he weshe his face rubbed his eyen but he myght no thynge see wherfore he was full of heuynesse Thenne one of his felawes ladde hym home to his hows and abode soo blynde eyghten yere And at the laste a worshipfulle woman cam to vysyte and comforte hym And whanne she knewe how he was made blynde she badde hym be of good chere and sayd yf he wold vysyte lx chirches with good deuocion and thenne to haue the water that the kynge had wasshe his hondes in and wasshe his eyen with al he shold haue his fyght ageyne Thenne he was gretely comforted and gate hym a gyde and wente and visyted thre score chirches with grete deuocion and cam to the kynges palays and cryed for helpe And they that herd hym· bad hym cease of his cryenge but for all that he cryed more more And when the kynge vnderstode it â—he callyd hym to hym And sayd why shold I not set my hondes to helpe this poure man though I be vnworthy yf it please god to releue hym and to yeue to hym his syghte And by cause he wold not be founden disobedyent to god ne presumptuous he toke water and wesshe his eyen ful mekely And anone he was restored to his sight and sawe as clerely as euer he dyde Also ther was a fayre myracle of thre blynde men And the fourthe had but one eye whiche camen to the kynges palais And thenne cam one of the kynges seruauntes whiche had pyte on them he gate of the water that the kyng had wesshen his hondes in when he hadde heled that other blynde man And he brought this water to the gate and told these poure men how the kynge a lytell hefore had helyd a blynd man with the same water And sayd to them yf they wold wesshen their eyen with good deuocion they myght be heled by goddes grace with the same water And thenne they kneled doune with grete deuocion and praide this man to wesshe theire eyen ther with And thenne he made a crosse with the water vpon eche of theyr eyen besoÈt almyÈty god to open their eyen And they alle there receyued theyre parfyght syght And retorned in gyuynge lawde and praysynge God of their syght yeuen to them by the merytes of saynt Edward As the kynge on a tyme sat at the table with the quene and her fader Erle Goodwyn and sawe how Harold Tostyne the two sones of Goodwyn plaid to fore the kyng but at the last the game torned in to ernest they beganne to fyghte And Harold took his broder by the heer and threwe hym to the erthe And fylle vpon hym in grete angre and wold haue stranglâ—d hym but yf he hadde ben lette Thenne the kynge demaunded Goodwyn yf he vnderstood ony thyng therby And he saide nay forsothe Thenne the kynge sayd ye shalle see when they come to maÌ„nes age that one of them shalle slee that other yf he can And Harold whiche is the strenger shalle put that other oute of his londe Thenne shalle his broder Tostyn come ageyne with the kynge of Norwey and holde a bataylle ageynst Harold his broder in Englond In the whiche bothe the kynge of norwey and Tostyne shalle be slayne al their hooste sauf a fewe that shalle escape And the same Harold shall yeue hym self to penaunce for the deth of his broder and so escape or els he shal be put oute of his kyngdome and deye wretchydly The kynge was many tymes moeued and displesyd with Goodwyn For he mysused the kynges power and attempted the kyng in many thyngis that were vnleefull And in al that he myghte he labouryd to brynge oute of consayte the kynges cosyns and frendes that cam to hym out of Normandye to th entent that he myght haue alle the rewle aboute the kynge as wel secretely as out ward And the kynge vnderstondynge his falsenes sayd but lytell But in a tyme as the kyng sat at his dyner wyth dyuerse lordes and gentils about hym One of
this childe this is the sone of Inobedyence therfore beware ye brethern for I haue doon this in myn olde age I praye you praye ye for me and thenne he retorned in to his celle and came ageyn to his fyrst astate and in lyke wyse as another olde man sayd to another I am as a deed man and that other sayd to hym truste neuer to thy self tyl thy sowle yssue out of thy body For yf thou say that thou arte deed neuerthelesse thyn enemye the fende is not deed There was a brother whiche had synned and was sente by hys breâ—hern to the abbot moyses And he toke a basket ful of grauel and came to them they demaunded hym what it was and he sayd thyse been my synnes that renne after me and I see them not and I am thys day comen to deme the synnes of a straunger They heryng this spared their brother A lyke thynge is redde of the abbotte tofore hym For whan the brethern spake of a brother that was culpable he helde hym stylle and spake not And after toke a sacke ful of grauell and bare it behynde hym the moost parte and a lytel tofore hym they demaunded hym what it was and he sayd the moste parte ben my synnes whiche I bere behynde me them I consyder not ne sorowe for them And thys lytel that I haue before me been the synnes of my brethern whiche I consydere alday and Iuge them how be it I shold alweye bere myn owne synnes tofore me and thynke on them praye to god for them that he wolde forgyue me them whan thabbot moyses was made clerke and the bysshop had ordeyned thoffyce he said to hym now thou arte made alle whyte and moyses sayd wythinforth or wyth outforth Thenne the bysshop wolde proue hym and sayd to hys câ—erkys that whan he shold come to the aulter they shold wrongfully put hym fro hit and folowe hym and here what he wold say and anone they put hym aweye and sayd lo hym goo out thou ethyopyen and as he wente oute he sayd they haue doon wel to the â—oule wretche for to defoule and doo dspyte to the For sythe thou arte no man what presumest thou to be emonge the men thys sayd he to hym self Hec in vitas patrum ¶ Thus endeth of the abbotte moyses ¶ Here foloweth of Saint Arsenye WHan arsenye was yet mayster in the paleys of a prynce he prayed vnto god that he wold addresse hym vnto the weye of helthe soo that in a tyme he herde a voys that sayd to hym arsenye flee the companye of men and thou shalte be saued thenne he wente and took vpon hym the lyf of a monke and as he prayed there he herde a voys sayeng arsenye flee hens speke not and reste the It is redde in the same place as to coueyte this reste that there were thre monkes newe made and the first of them chaas for to brynge men that were at debate and in dyscorde to reste and pees The second for to vysyte seek men and the thyrd for to reste in wyldernesse and in deserte The fyrste man that laboured to sette them at accorde that were at debate coude not plese al men was wery and greuyd and halfe ouercome cam to the second and fonde hym al mate and fayllyng for werynesse myÈt not performe that he had emprysed and thenne by assente they two came to the thyrd that was in deserte and whan they had tolde their trebulacions to hym he put water in a cuppe and sayd loke and beholde this water they sawe that it was thycke and troubled and sone after he sayd see hyt now how it is now fayr and 〈◊〉 and whan they loked therin they saw theyr vysages therin and thenne he sayd who so euer dwelle emonge the men he may not for the multytude of peple see his synnes but whan be resteth thenne he may see his synnes And on a tyme ther was a man fonde another in deserte etyng herbys and grasse alle naked as a beest and he ranne after hym and that other fledde and he that folowed sayd abyde and tarye for I folowe the for the loue of god and that other sayd I flee fro the for goddes sake and that other caste aweye his mantel fro hym and thenne he taryed and sayd by cause thou haste throwen the matere of the world fro the I haue abyden the And thenne he axyd of hym how shal I be saued and he answerd and said flee fro the companye of men and saye noo thynge There was a noble lady whiche was olde came for to see thabbot arsenyen by deuocyon and theophybe the archebysshop prayed hym that he wold suffre that she myght see hym â—ut he wolde not graunte hym in noâ— wyse and at the laste she wente vnto his cellâ— and fonde hym without tofore his dore and she fyl doun to hys feet and he toke hir vp wyth grete Indygnacyon sayeng to hir yf thou wylte see my face see and she for grete shame and confusyon consydered not his vysage To whome he sayd how durst thou presume vpon the that arte a woman to make suche a vyage thou shalte now goo to Rome and say to other wymmen that thou hast seen arsenyen and they shal also come for to see me and she sayd to hym yf god wyl that I retorne to Rome I shal neuer styre woman to come to the but onelye I praye the that thou praye for me and alweye remembre me and he sayd to hir I praye to god that he put out of my herte the rememberaunce of the and whan she herde that she was moche angry and came in to the cyte and beganne to tremble and shake for sorowe in the feuers or accesse and whan the archebysshop knewe it he wente for to comforte hir and she sayd I deye for sorowe and heuynesse and the archebysshop sayd to hir knowest thou not that thou arte a woman and the fende ouercometh holy men ofte tymes by wymmen And therfore the olde man sayd to the those wordes how be it he prayed alweye for thy sowle and thenne the woman was comforted and was alle hoole and retorned home to hir owne hows ¶ Also it is redde of another olde fader that whan his dyscyple sayd to hym Thou arte woxen alle olde fader lete vs now goo dwelle nerre to the world and he sayd lete vs goo thyder where as no woman is and his dyscyple sayd where is ony place but that wymmen been therin saufe in deserte to whome he sayd Thenne brynge me in to that deserte There was another brother which whaÌ„ he bare his moder ouer the water he wonde his hondes in his mantell To whome she sayd wherfore hast thou couerd thy handes so my sone to whom he answerd the body of a woman is as fyre that brennyth and by cause the mynde of other wymmen shold not come in my remembraunce therfore I doo it ¶ And
arsenye alle the dayes of hys lyf whan he satte at the werke of his handes he had a lynnen clothe in his bosom for to drye wyth the teerys that ranne faste from hys eyen and alle the nyght he wold not slepe and in the mornynge whan he muste slepe for werynesse of nature He wold saye to slepe come wycked seruaunte and thenne wolde take a lytel slepe syttyng and wold aryse anone and sayd It suffyseth to a monke yf he slepe an houre yf he be a fyghter ageynst vyces Whan the fader of saynt arsenye whiche was a grete senatour and a right noble man shold fynysshe hys lyf he lefte to arsenyen by hys testamente moche herytage and one magystryen broughte vnto hym the sayd testament and whan he had receyued it he wold haue broken it Thenne magystryen fyl doun at his feet prayeng hym that he wold not doo soo for his hede theÌ„ne shold he lese for it shold he smyton of To whome arsenyen sayd I was dede tofore hym he therfore that is but now dede how may he make me his heyre and sente ageyn the testamente and wolde noo thynge haue On a tyme there was a voys came to hym and sayd come and I shalle shewe to the the werkys of the men And ladde hym in to a certeyn place and shewyd to hym a man of ethyope that is a blacke man that hewe wode and made a grete fardel so grete that he myght not bere hit and alweye be hewe and put to the fardel and thus he dyd longe and after he shewed to hym a man that drewe water oute of a lake and caste it in to a cesterne perced by whiche the water ranne ageyn in to the lake and he wold fylle the cesterne and myght not And after he shewyd to hym a temple and a man on hors backe which bare a longe tree thwarte and wold entre in to the temple and be myght not by cause the tree laye thwarte Thenne he expawned hym thys thynge and sayd he that bereth the tree is lyke the burthen of Iustyce wyth pryde and wyl not meke hym therfore he abydeth wythoute the royame of heuen And he that heweth the wood is a man that is in synne And putteth none aweye by penaunce but putteth alweye wyckednesse to wyckednesse And he that draweth the water is a man that doeth good werkys here in thys presente worlde but by cause that his euyl werkis ben medlyd with them he loseth hys good werkys whan the euensonge tyme of the satyrday came on the sonday he lefte al his werkys behynde hym and helde vp his handes to heuen tyl the sonne aroos in the mornyng of the sonday tofore his face so abode alle the nyght in prayers and in orisons and hec in vitis patrum Thus endeth of Saint Arsenyen ¶ Here foloweth of the abbotte Agathon AGathon the abbotte bare iij yere a stone in his mowthe tyl that he had lernyd to kepe scylence there was another which entrid in to the congregacion that sayd within hym self thou an asse been of one kynde for lyke as an asse is beten speketh not suffreth wronge without answeryng right so doest thou another broder was put fro the table he answerd nothynge afterwarde he was axyd he said I haue put in my herte that I am lyke to an hounde for whan he is chastysed he goeth hys waye out it was demauÌ„ded of agathon what vertue was more than laboure he answerd I trowe ther be no laboure so grete as to praye to god for the fende laboureth alweye to breke his prayer in other laboures a man hath somme reste he that prayeth hath all weye nede of grete stryf a brother demaunded of agathon how he ought to dwelle with his brethern to whome he said like as the first day take on the no truste but suffraunce for suffraunce is not worse than truste for suffraunce is moder of al passyons theÌ„ne kepe the fro yre for yf the yrons reysed dede men it shold not plese god ne none other for his yre there was abrother that was angry said to hym self yf I were allone I shold not be so sone angry On a tyme as he fylled a potte with water he poured it out ageyn he fylled it the second tyme poured it out alweye thenne he was so moeuyd for angre that he brake the potte thenne he aduysed hym self knewe that he was deceyued of the deuyl of wrath of yre said I am allone yet I am ouercome by wrath therfore I shal retorne to my congregacion for oueral is labour oueral is pacyence nede of the helpe of god two other brethern were contrarye whiche had longe conuersed to gyder myght not be meued to wrath on a tyme that one sad to that other lete vs make contencions to gyder lyke as men of â—he world do that other sayd I wote not how contencyon is made and that other said I shal laye this sacke in the myddel bytwene vs I shal say it is myn thou shalte say it is not soo but it is myn thus shal the stryf be made thenne that one layed the sacke so said it is myn that other sayd nay but it is myn and that other said thenne thyn be it take it and goo thy waye thus they departed and coude not stryue to gyder Thabbot agathon was wyse to vnderstonde not slowe to laboure scarce in mete and clothyng and sayd he had neuer slepte at hys wylle hauyng in my herte ony sorowe ageynst ony other or ony other ageynst me whan agathon shold deye he helde hym thre dayes without moeuyng holdyng alweye his eyen open to heuen And whan hys brethern rored or styred hym He sayd I am tofore the Iugemente of god And they sayd why doubtest thou And he sayd I haue laboured wyth alle the vertue that I myghte to kepe the commaundementes of god But I am a man and I wote not yf my werkys shalle please our Lord And they sayd â—uâ—stest not thou in thy werkys which thou hast doon for god and he sayd I shal not presume tyl I come tofore hym For the Iugementes of god ben other than the Iugementes of men And whan they wolde yet haue axyd hym somme thynge he said shewe to me charyte and speke nomore to me for I am ocupyed and whan he had said this he yelded vp his spirite with ioye and they sawe our lord and his aungellys receyuyng his spirite and salewyng lyke as a man saleweth his frendes alle thys is wryton in vitis patrum Thus endeth of the holy abbot Agathon ¶ Here foloweth of Balaam the Hermyte BAlaam of whome saynt Iohan damascene made the hystorye with grete dyligence In whome deuyne grace so wroughte that he conuerte to the feythe saynt Iosaphat thenne as al ynde was ful of crysten peple
mete and drynke bedde and fyre for to warme them in wynter In where someuer a place that he wente the suffretous and poure that ranne to hym fro al sydes folowed hym for al that he had was redy to theyr behofe as theyr owne He gave sudaryes for to burye wyth the dede bodyes and wyth his owne handes helpe to burye them a poure man ones came ageynst hym and he hauyng as thenne noo thynge redy to gyue hym took his hode and gafe it to the sayd poure man and yede home bare hede He chastysed hys flesshe moche sharpely for he was so accustomed to be in orysons and in prayers and to studye that the moste parte of the tyme he passyd wythout slepe bothe day and nyght yf he ne were sore trauaylled by â—tudye orysons or goeyng that he as constreyned must slepe and whan he must slepe he slepte on therthe and in stede of a pylowe he layed vnder hys heed somtyme hys book and somtyme a stone he ware euer the hayre vnder his sherte whyles that yet he was in the offyce of the offycyal in the cyte of tryguyer He vsed broune breed and podage suche as comunelye vsen poure labourers and none other mete he ne had and to hys drynk vsed colde water there lyned wyth suche mete drynke by the space of xj yere tyl he came to hys dethe he fasted enleuen lentes and al the aduentes of our lord and fro thascencion vnto pentycoste alle ymbre dayes alle vygyles of our lady and of the appostles and al other dayes stablysshed by holy chyrche for to faste he fastyd wyth breed and water And aboue alle thys duryng the xj yere aforesayd he fasted thre dayes in the weke wyth breed and water that is to wete wensday fryday satyrday and on the other dayes he ete also but ones a day and vsed breed potage suche as foloweth excepte the sondayes Crystemasday esterday whytsonday alhalowen day on whyche dayes he ete twyes his breed was rustyâ—al broun made of barleye or ootes hys podage was of grete cooles or of other herbys of beenys or of raddyssâ—e rote saueryd onelye with salte wythoute ony other lycour sauf that somtyme he put in it a lytel floure and a lytel buttyr and on esterday aboue his customed â—â—â—taunce he ete two egges He 〈◊〉 within the space of fourtene yere before hys dethe tastyd of noo wyne Saufâ— onelye at masse after that he had taken the body and blood of our Lord or ellys somtyme whan he dyued with the bysshoppe for thenne wythin hys water he put a lytel wyne onelye for to chaunge the coloure he fasted ones by the space of seuen dayes wythout ony mete or drynke euer beyng in good helth The forsayd Saynt yues lyued fyfty yere or there aboute and in his laste sekenesse he tessyd not to teche theym that were aboute hym and prechyd vnto them of their salute and he comyng benewrelye vnto his laste dayes took humbly the sacramentes of the body of our Lord and laste vnccion lyeng on his noble bedde beforesayd adiousted alweye to the same with grete Instaunce of hys frendes a lytel strawe thre dayes before his dethe and his hood in stede of couerchyef aboute his heed had on his gowne and refusyng al other thynge he was couerd with a lytel and bâ—dde couerlette sayeng that he was not worthy to haue ony other paremente on hym The pure and clene thenne hauyng the hayr on his flesshe couerd wyth his sherte and yssueng oute of thys world in the yere of grace M thre hondred and thre the xix day of maye that was on the sonday after the assencion of our lord Ihesu cryste wente vp vnto heuen and lyke as he had ben a slepe without ony sygne or token of what someuer dolour he took the righte benewrous reste of dethe And who that coude recounte alle the myracles doon by hym how be it that to none ne is possyble but allonelye to hym whiche can nombre or telle the multytude of sterres and Imposeth to echone theyr names but by cause that to one right grete Inconuenyence and dyshonour were yf by slouthe refrayned hym self fro vtteryng and kepte stylle suche thynges that are apperteynen to the praysyng and laude of our lord and namely there as plente and baboundaunce of his praysyng is or shold be how be it that the sayd myracles are Infynyte or without ende neuerthelesse we shal reherce somme of them Thenne as it is recorded in the book longe sythe made and accomplysshed of his lyf of his vertues that at his Inuocacion by vowes and prayers by somme deuoutelye maad vnto god and to the saynt in dyuers places were fourtene deed reysed reâ—enyd alweye in the sayd nombre ij chyldren lyuyng within their moders wombe dede before theyr baptesmye whyche sythe receyued lyf and at the Inuocacion of the same saynt yues ten demonyakes madde folke or fylled with wycked spirites were delyuerd fro theyr foursenerye or madnesse and fro alle wycked spyrytes xiij contractes or fylled wyth paralysye were by the same restoryd in good helthe thre blynde were by hym enlumyned Dyuers folke in ten places wyth alle theyr goodes were kepte sauyd fro drownyng in the see ¶ One parfytelye ydropycke or fylled with dropsy was entyerly cured another that had the stone grete as an egge the genytoyrs as grete as a mannes heed was restytued vnto helthe One condempned to be hanged fyl thre tymes fro the galowes and al hole was delyuerd and lete goo A woman to whome the mylke wanted wythin hir pappes were fylled ful of hyt Thynges loste by dyuers persones and in dyuers places were founde and recouerd by myracles Two dombe chyldren and dyuers other that had loste the vse of the tongne were restytued of theyr spekyng Thre or foure wymmen with alle their byrthe were delyuerd fro the peryll of dethe The fyre taken and quenchyd in thre dyuer places was put out and bothe men wymmen chyldren good kepte fro brennyng wythoute to be hurted ne in no manere of wyse dommaged A woman sâ—re agreuyd with an axes toke a lytel breed that before had ben wette in water by the handes of the saynt ete it and recoueryd helthe The saynt hym self gyuyng foyson almoses the corne multeplyed in his garette and the breed in hys hande somtyme Many seek folke were heelyd yf dyuers sekenesse dolours onelye for to haue touched hys hood a man dressyng the whole of his water mylle on whome sodaynlye the water came fro hyghe ruysshyng and he besoughte the holy saynt yues and anone he was sauyd fro drownynge On a tyme as the sayd Saynt sayd masse whyle he celebred and helde vp the body of our lord a grete resplendour apperyd aboute it whyche soone after the leuacyon was doon dysapperyd and vanysshed aweye A poste ordeyned to the werkys or makyng of a brydge not couenable to the sayd werke for fawte of halfe
accipium nomen domini Inuocabo al nys other thynge to say what shal I retribuâ— or yelde to our lord of alle his benefaytes and goodes by hym doon and gyuen to me after he taketh the chalys sayeng caâ—icem cÌ„ I shal take the chalys of my helthe and shal calle the name of god lawdyng hym callyng our lord I shal be delyuerd and kepte from alle myn enemyes that is to wete fro alle my synnes and euyl temptacions of the deuyl After the preest makyng the signe of the crosse saith ouer the chalice Sanguis domini nostri Ihesu cristi custodiat animam meaÌ„ in vitam eternam amen that is to say the precyous body and blood of our lord wyl kepe my sowle in euerlastyng lyf amen sythe deuoutely and reuerentelye the preest taketh the blood of Ihesu Cryste And after he draweth hym self to the corner of the aulter where he taketh wyne wetyng his fyngres ouer the chalys to the entente that noo thynge ne may remayne of that precious sacramente and that doyng the preest sayth two orysons the fyrst begynneth thus Quod ore sumpsimus domine cÌ„ that is to say Lord thys that we haue taken wyth mowthe Wyte that we fele it wyth herte to the ende hyt may be remedye to vs ageynst alle temporalle and wycked thoughtes The second oryson is Corpus tuum quod ego Indignus cÌ„ That is as moche for to say Lord I praye the that the precyous body and precious blood that I haue taken as vnworthy me wyl in suche manere clarefye that none ordure or fylthe ne no fawte may remayne or abyde wythin me after these two orysons fynysshed that are before said the preest enclyneth hym and rendreth graces to god sayeng Agimus tibi grâ—cias cÌ„ that is to say thus Lord that arte reygnyng in heuen We rendre and yelde to the graces lawdynges of al thy benefaytes receyued of vs After he wessheth his handes at the pyscyne or lauer for this that no thynge of the sacramente ne may abyde at his handes and therfore that water there ought to be caste in the pyscyne or in to somme clene place where men may not trede on it and it is to wete that the preest wessheth his handes thre tymes at masse that is to Wete at the begynnyng of hit the second at myddes of the masse that is to wete at offerynge and the laste is after the percepcyon of the masse And thys purgemente or wasshyng may sygnefye the purete and clennesse that the preest oughte to haue ¶ In herte by good thoughtes in mowthe by good and honeste spekyng and in his nedes or besynesse to werke trewely and wel And after the preest sayth the postcommunyon whiche is so named postcommunyon For thys that it is sayd after the preest hath receyued the precyous sacramente of the aulter And that sygnefyeth the ioye that our lord gaue to hys dyscyples For the appostles and dyscyples of god had grete ioye of the holy resurrexyon wherof it is sayd in the holy euangylle Gauisi sunt discipuli viso domino cÌ„ that as moche is to say the dyscyples of god be fayne and gladde by cause they haue seen our lord ¶ After the percepcion the preest kysseth the aulter in betokenyng that in very loue he assenteth and consenteth to byleue fermelye al the mysterye of that precyous sacramente and ryght there he retourneth hym self and salueth the peple sayeng Dominus vobiscum to the ende that the people be Incyted to make deuoute oryson and therfore he sayth Oremus and there the preest sayth as many orysons as he sayd at the begynnyng of the masse and for that same cause betokenyng that in al good werke oryson ought to be begynnyng myddel and ende of hit And at the ende of these orysons the preest concludeth sayeng Per dominum nostrum cÌ„ In betokenyng that this that we aske is in the swete name of our lord reygnyng with the fader and wyth the holy ghoost and there the peple answereth amen After the preest kysseth yet ageyn the aulter sythen retourneth hym and salueth the peple sayeng Dominus vobiscum and these two laste salutes may represente and sygnefye this that our lord after his resurrexyon salued his appostles two tymes sayeng thus Pax vobis iterum pax vobis pees be wyth you by vnyte of grete loue and yet ageyn pees be wyth you swete and good in the glorye and blysse of paradyse After al these orysons beforesayd ensoweth Ite missa est and here is to wete that the masse fynyssheth in thre maners fyrst the masse fynyssheth by Ite missa est and that is at alle tymes that Gloria in excelcis is sayd and the vnderstondyng may be suche sayeng creature goo after our lord ensyewe hym by good werkys It may be sayd also that thys Ite missa est betokeneth thys that whan the aungel had anounced the shepherdes the ioye and myrthe of the holy natyuyte of our lord Ihesu cryste they wente to the place where our lord Ihesu cryste was ryght euen so as they had vnderstonde Ite missa est goo ye for our lord is sente for your redempcion and therfore the shepherdes regracyed and lawded god Wyth al their vertue and force and therfore the peple answereth and sayth deo gracias that is to say god be lawded and regracyed of it Secondly the masse fynyssheth by benedicamus domino Ryght so as the preest wold saye blesse we god of al his goodes and with herte lawde and preyse we hym and vpon this the peple answereth deo gracias god be gracyed and thanked Thyrdly the masse fynyssheth wyth requiescant in pace that is at a masse sayd for the dede to the ende that the sowles for whome the preest hath sayd the masse may haue reste in lyf pardurable and therfore the peple answereth amen that is to say thy prayer be herde and enhaunced after that the preest blessyth the peple the whyche blessyng may sygnefye this that the holy ghoost was sente to the appostles for the promesse of god that he had doon to them sayeng Accepietis virtutem spiritus sancti venientis in vos cÌ„ That is to say ye shal take the vertu of the holy ghoost comyng in you by cause that the holy ghoost was sente by the trynyte Therfore maketh the preest that same blessyng in the name of the fader of the sone of the holy ghoost ¶ Secondly that blessyng wherof our lord spekyth to hys appostles sayth Venite benedicti patris mei percipite regnum cÌ„ that is to say come after me the blessyd of god my fader take the possessyon of my royalme Thyrdly the sayd blessyng may sygnefye that blessyng that our lord made whan he wold ascende vnto heuen to th ende that by deuoute oryson he may ascende after hym in to the blysse of paradyse and therfore he sone enclyneth hym self and