is the cause eue that was the furste â—ormyd woman that eâ—â—r wrathid oure lord more thaÌ„ did the maÌ„ Adam therfore she is lenger in formyng Thus fore fleschly complexion of man woman she is vn clene in her selfe there for this purificacion is ordeyned But vnderstondith well that oure lady had no nede to this clensing fore she conceyued not with complexion of man but only of the holy gosce so that she was clene of all maner of filthe touching consent of man But yit she wente to the temple no othir wymmen dede specyally for iiij causes The firste was to fullfillethe scripture that seyth thus Quanto maiâ—eâ— taâ—to te humilieâ— The higher that thou arte in degre the mekyr thou shuldeâ—â—e make the Thus did oure lady for she wyste well sche was modir to goddis sone of heuen and had so grete worshippe passyng alle othir wymmen yit sche made her as the poreste woman that was in the company The secouÌ„de cause was as she fullfillithe the lawe of circuÌ„cision of her sone in the same wyse she fullfillid the purificacion and in offeryng of her sone in the temple doyng for him as othir pore wymmen did for her children The thridde cause for to stoppe the iewes mouthes left they had seyde that she had not do the lawe and so caughte a grete sclaundre a yense hÌ„eÌ„ in tyme comyng The fourthe cause was for to yeue ensample to all othir wymen that they shulde come to chirche aftyr the birthe of her childe thanke god that he hathe sauyd hem from dethe in her trauelyng for in that tyme a woman is in grete parell of dethe for there is noo sikenes in the world that gothe so nyghe dethe fore these causes hooly churche makythe mynde of oure ladyes purificacion Hit makythe mynde also of the comyng of symeon and Anne Symeon ille senex din vixerat â—ine etas cooperatur Anne This symeon was a passing olde man but he had preyde to god besely all his lysse that he shuld neuer dye till he had seyne criste bodely in this worlde and so he dede And this Anne hathe preyde the same Also ye shall vnderstonde that this was not â—ine oure ladyes mo dir but an othir aÌ„na â–ª that had a husbonde vij yere and whan her husbonde was dede she wold not be weddid no more but leuyd till she was lxxx yere olde and serued god in the temple nyghte and day and preyde to se god or she dyede oure lord grauntid her Thanne whan oure lady come into the temple with her sone the hooly goste warned symeon and Anne and a none they with moche ioye wente a yenste hym and broughte hym in to the temple Et Symeon accepiteum in uluaa snaâ— And symeon toke him in his armes with all the reuerence that he cowde and myghte and seyde 〈◊〉 dimittis sernum tuum domine secundum nerhum â—num in pace cetera O thow lord nowe for yeue thy seruaunt aftyr thy word in pese and so with all the worshippÌ„ and reuerence that he coude he louyd thaÌ„kid him that he wolde lete hym leue so long to see hym bodely with his eyeÌ„ wher in mynde of this whan a woman comythe to chirche of a childe she a bydithe at the churche dore till the preste come caste hooly water on her and takythe her in by the honde in to the churche yeuen her leue aftyr to come to churche and to goo to her husbonde for and they haue comened to gedyr be fore they muste bothe shreyue heÌ„ ther of and take her penaunce Also hooly chirch makythe mynde of candels offeryng and as ye see hit is a comyn vse for all cristen people that be of conuenient age to come that day to churche and bere a candell brennyng in procession as thoughe they wente bodely with oure lady But nowe ye shalle here howe this worshippefull feste was firste founde Somme tyme whanne the Romaynes by grete myghte and viall power conquered all the world fore they hadde grete dominacion they were so prowde that they for gete her god and made hem diuerse goddis aftyr her owne luste And so among all they hadde a god that they called Mars that had be to fore a notable knyghte in batayle And so they preyde to hym fore helpe and fore they wolâ—â— spede the better of this knyghte the people preyde and did grete worshippe to his modir that was called februa aftyr the whiche woman moche people haue opinion that this mone that is callid februarij where fore the secounde day of this mone is Candelmas day The Romaynes this nyghte wolde goo a boute the Cite of rome with torchis and candels breÌ„nyng in worshippe of this woman Februa for hope to haue the more helpe and socoure of her sone mars Than was there a 〈◊〉 that was callid Sergius whan he sawe Cristen people drawe to this false maumentry and vnâ—â—â— we beleue he thought to vndo this foule vse and custume and tourne hit in to goddis worshippe and oure ladyes and yaffe coÌ„maundement that all cristen people shulde come to churche and offer vp a candell brennyng in the worshippe that they did to this woman februa did worshippe to oure lady and to her sone oure lord Ihesu Criste so that now this feste is solemply halowed thorow all cristendome and eche cristen man and womaÌ„ of couenable age to come to chirche and offer vp her caÌ„dels as though they were bodely with oure lady hopyng for this reuerence and worshippÌ„ that they do to oure lady to haue a grete rewarde in heuen and of her sone oure lord ihesu â–ª criste and so they may be sekyr and hit be doo in clene lyffe and with good deuocione A candell is made of weke and wexe So was cristis soule hid with ynne the manhode Also the fyre be tokemith the god hede Also hit be tokenithe oure lady modirhode and maydenhede lighte with the fyre of loue Also hit be tokenith euery cristen man and woman that doth good dedis with good entente and perfite loue charite to god and to all cristen people where for yf there be any of you that his candell of charite be queynte goo a none and be a cordid with his neybores and lighte his caÌ„dell and thaÌ„ offer hit vp fore that is goddis wyll And yf ye do not thus ye shall lese all youre me rite and youre mede yn heuen god kepte them so that they had no harme Than for this â–ª Judas was one of the xij apostels the nombre of heÌ„ muste be fullfilled than was criste steyed vp in to heuen the xi apostles were to gedyr with many othir people in a place Thanne seyde Petyr to hem thus now all good men bretheren hit is well knowe to you that Judas was one of the xij be cause the noÌ„bre may not be in perfeyte hit is nedefull to chese on of these ij men that hathe be
peyned hym so they lad de hym forthe all blody Admontem calâ—arie To the mounte of calnarye to the ende of deth yâ—t wymmen of the Cite whan they sighe hym so fowle fare with and all to luggiâ— and to drawe for very pitte they wepte vppon hym ThaÌ„ seyde oure lord to hem Nolite flere super me sêª super vos et filios vestros ye wymmen of iherusaleÌ„ wepe ye not for me but vpon you and youre children for there shall dayes come in the whiche ye shall blysse the wombes that were bareyne and the pappys that neuer gaue socke Thus oure lord prechyd be fore the vengeaunce that fill aftyr vpon iherusalem The whiche prophecye Jeremye the prophete spake of that is radde in hooly churche these thre dayes at tenebras the whiche was so horible of many diuerse myscheuys in speciall of houÌ„ger that children lay for hounger dede in the stretis Than was there a woman was come of grete birthe that for hunger toke her own child that fedde with her pappys and slewe hit partid hit in ij partyes and than she rostyd halfe and that othir halfe she kepte till on the morowe Thanne as peple come by the strete they hadde sauoure of the rost and anone they come in to haue hadde parte ther of and whan they sawe the modyr roste her own childe and sone they were heuy and foule dismayed and wolde notte ete there of but wente theyr wey forthe ayene Than toke the modyr of that childe and ete there of seyde in this maner wyse this is myne owne sone and myne owne childe that I bare of my body and fedde hit with my pappys but yit I wolle rathir ete hit than dye for hunger There for I tell yew this for to shew yew somwhat of the vengeaunce that fill in the cite of iherusalem aftir the dethe of oure lord ihesu criste Thanne they ladde hym to the mounte of Caluarye and ther they sâ—reyned so on the crosse that euery bone of his body myght be knowen on from a nothir and naylyd hym honde and fete to the crosse and they gaue vp the crosse and the body to gedyr and with a grete peyse they lete the crosse and the body falle downe to gedir in to the morteyse that all the body daschâ—d and all his bones crakyd and his ioyntes braste and â—eynes and all wouÌ„des braste oute of blode sydis armes legges fete and bondes so that ther lefte no blode in hym And â—â—â— they toke a clothe wlyle the blode was hote and wonde hit a boute his body till the blode was colde and than they drew away the clothe and pullid away the flesche froÌ„ the bones this was a grete pite And so whan he shulde dye he began as Iohan Hellet seythe Deus meus respice in me And so seyde all verses sewyng till he come vn to that verse In te domine speram And so atte this verse An manus tuas domine commendo spiritum meum redemisti me domine deus veritatis There he gaue vp the spirite This is a grete ensample that oure lord ihesu Criste â—n to alle cristen that euery maÌ„ shulde haue in mynde these verses And he that can hem sâ—y and yf he sey hem â—uery day he shall not dye no maner myscheuous nor rengeable dethe Thannâ— aftyr this passi on we sey orysons knelyng at euery orison saue at that orison that is seyde for the iewis at that orison hooly church knelith not for be cause iew ysm scorne knelyng thre tymes to criste whaÌ„ they scourgid hym Thanne these orisones holy chirche preyith for all maner of people for iewis sarise nes cysmatys heretikis but not for cristen peple for while any man or woman stonte a cursed he is dampned be fore god and dampned shall be at his dethe but he repente him and amende him while he leuith in this pÌ„sente worlde But take he de what seint AusteÌ„ seith Siscirem pro certoâ—nod â—ater meus esset in inâ—erno non â—r arem pro illo nisipro diabolo yf I wyste for a trouthe that my fadir were dampned in to helle I wolde neuer prey for him but as for the deuell of hell for ther is no preyoure of holy churche that helpithe a dampned man Than aftyr these orisones the crosse is broughte forthe to the whiche all cristen people shulde worshippe this day in worshippe of hym that this day dyed on the crosse and to prey to oure lord ihesu criste to for geue vs all oure tre space as criste preyde to his fadyr of heuen to for geue hem that ded hym on the crosse Narracio There was a knyght summe tyme and that was a grete lord and he hathe a worthy man vn to his sone And so hit hapyd that a nothir knyghte and this man fille atte debate and so thys knyghte slewe him where fore the fadyr of thys man that was dede gade ryd a grete multitude of people and pursewed that othir knyghte wher so ener he wente to haue sleyne him nyghte and day so that he myghte haue no reste but euer de de fley for fere of hys lyffe Thanne hit happyd on a good fryday this knyghte sawe all cristen people go to the churche And he be thought him that criste dyed that day on the crosse for all man kynde and putte hym only in the mercy of almyghty god and wente to the churche with othir people to serue god and whan he was in the chirche a non this othir knyghte had worde and come with moche people in to the churche and his swerde drawen in his hoÌ„de for to sle hym and whaÌ„ this othir knyghte sawe that and wyste well that he hadde trespased hym and fyll downe flatte to the grounde with his armes spradde a brode as our lord ihe su crist sprad de his armys on the cros and seyde For his loue that this day sprad de his armys on the ercssâ— and suffered passion and dyed for the and me and all maÌ„kynde haue thou mercy one me and for geue me thy sones dethe Thanne this knyghte thoughte hit hadde be to horrible a thynge to smyte hym whyle that he lay so and cryed hym mercy so mekely and a none he putte vp his swerde and seyde to hym Now for his soue that this day dyed on the crosse for the and me and all mâ—â—yn de I for yeue the and to ke hym vp and kyssed hym and a none wente to gedyr aftyr vn to do worshippe to the crosse knelyng And whanne this knyghte worde haue kyssed the fete of the crosse the Image low sid his armys from the crosset be clippyd the knyghte a boute the necke and kyssyd him and spal e thus that all the people herde I for yeue the as thow haste fore yeuen fore the loue of me and thus all cristen people shulde do and than they shulde haue mercy and grace of god and blysse euer lastyng In die pashe GOod
of ThaÌ„ mekely she toke her leue wente home a yeue to Nasareth Than thoughte Ioseph he wold go â—oke how his wyffe dede wente towardes her whan oure lady herde of his comyng sche wente agaynâ— hym grete hym full mekâ—ly But whan ioseph sawe her gret with childe he meruâ—yled gretely how that myght be for well he wyste hit was not his fore he hadde neuer parte of her body in that degre fore he knowe well that she had made a vowe before she wold neuer haue parte of mannes body thought how he was made to wedde her by the byddyng of the holy goste grete miracle shewyng thoughte right in his herte he was not worthy to dwelle in her company and thoÌ„ght in his herte to haue gone home aÈene and to leue her there Thene come an angell to hym sayd be not aferd to take mari thy wyfe to thy kepyng fore it is of the holy goste that is quicke in her body for thow shall be her keper and norse to her chyld and whanne â–ª hit is borne call it ihesus for he shall be sauiour to all the world Than ye shall vnderstond that for iiij causes as seynte Ambrose seyth oure lady was weddid to this olde maÌ„ Ioseph The firste was yf she hadde conceyued with oute wedloke the iewes wolde haue seid that she had be an euyll woman of her body so haue stoned her to dethe The secouÌ„de cause was fore she was so shamefast that she had herde any haue putte any defame to her she wolde haue dyede fore sorow The thrydde cause was for ioseph shulde bere wittenesse of her maydenhode The fourthe cause fore ioseph shulde helpe her at her birth brynge her to bethleem and aftyr in to Egipte so ayene in to her owne countre fore these iiij causes she was weddid to this olde man Ioseph And also to be gyle the fende that he shulde not knowe hym from a nothir â–ª childe Nowe haue ye herde of the Annunciacion There be somme people that aske a question why there stondithe a wyne potte with lyllyus betwene oure lady Gabriell the Angell at her salutacion This is the cause fore oure lady atte her salutacion conceyued be feythe Narracio Hit be fill thus vpon a cristemasse day that a cristen man and â— iewe sate to gedyr and spake of the concepcion of oâ—re lady and as they were there stode a wyne potte to fore he in with a lyly there ynne Thanne seyd the cristen man we be leue that oure lady conceyued lyke as this lyly conceyuythe colour of grene and aftyr bryngiâ—h forth a whyte floure with oute crafte of man or any pay ryng to the stalke right so oure lady conceyued of the hooly goste and aftyr broughte her sone oure lord ihesu criste withoute any wemme of her body that is floure and chefe of all wymmen Thanne seyde the iewe whan I see a lyly sprynge oute of the dethe stalke that stondith in this potte thanne wolle I beleue that thow seyste hit is trew and a none there with sprange a white lyly oute of the dede stocke that stode in that same wyne potte And whan this Iewe sawe that a none he fill downe vn to the grounde vppon his knees and seyde thus lady nowe I see well that thowe conceyued with the hooly goste oure lorde Ihesu criste goddys sone of heuen And thou were clene mayden bothe be fore the birthe and also aftyr the birthe And so a none he was cristoned and so aftir he was a full hooly man And this is the cause where so that the potte with the lylyus is sette betwene oure lady the Angell for righte as the iewe disputid with the cristen man of the maner of the concepcion So oure lady disputid with the Angell of the maner howe she shulde conceyue and be bothe modir and mayde or she consentid ther to Thanne ye that woll faste the v. euâ—â—ys of oure lady in worshippe of her v. ioyes that she had of her sone The firste was whan she conceyued of the holy goste know that sche was modir to goddis sone of heuen The secounde was on cristemasse day whan she was delyuered of her so ne with oute any payne of her body for as she coÌ„ceyued with oute luste of her body also she was delyuered withoute peyne of her body The iij. ioye was one Estyr day whan her sone rose from dethe to lyue come to her kyssed her made her more ioyefull of his â—prysing than she was sory of his dethe The fourthe ioye was whann heâ—sâ—yed vp to heuen on holy thurday in the same flesche blode that he toke in her body The v ioye was in her assumpcion whan she sawe her sone come with grete multitude of angelis semtis to fette her to heuen and crowned her quene of heuen Emperes of hell and lady of the world so all that be in heueÌ„ shall do her reuerence and worshippe and all bethe in erthe shall do her seruice These be the v. ioyes that oure lady hadde of her sone and ye shall vnderstoÌ„de that he that woll grete oure lady with v. aueys shall neuer come in to the payne of hell Narracio we finde wreton of an hooly mayden that was deuoute in oure lady seruice and euery day grete her with v. ioyes Than hit happened so on a day that she fill sike and felte her selfe welle that sche shulde be dede and for fere she â—ighed wonder sore and made grete mone for be cause she wysce not whetâ—r she shulde go afher dethe Thanne come oure lady to her and seid why arte thow so sory yâ— hast made me so ofte glad gretyng me with ioyes that I hadde of my sone there fore be not sory but knowe thou well that yâ— shalte go with me in to euer lastyng blysse ioye euer with oute ende Narracio we fynde of seint Gilbert that one a tyme he was nye dede of the quincy whaÌ„ his throte was so grete wâ—ll nye dede â— he myghte vnnethe take brethe oure lady come to hym seyde to hym gilbert my seruaunt hit were euyll do that thy throte shulde suffer penaunce that hathe so oftyn tymes gladid me with my ioyes a none she toke her feyre pappe mylâ—yd on his throte and wente her wey a none there with he was hole thankyd oure lady euer aftyr De saÌ„cto georgio martire GOod frendis soche a day ye shall haue seynt Gorges day the holy martyr hit is wreton in his lyffe that there was an horrible dragon be side a Cite that was callid Cirme of the whiche dragon meÌ„ of the Cite were sore a ferde in so moch that be couÌ„sell of the kyng euery day they gaffe hym a childe a shepe to ete fore fere lefte he wolde haue come in to the Cite Than whan alle the children shep were nye eton for because that the
sterrys in the firma ment Than whan this childe was borne he was callyd isaac And whan he was .xxv. wynter of age god seyde to abraham in this wyse Take thy sone isaac and go to soche an hyll as he shewed to hym and offre hym in sacrifice that was to sle hym as the maner was sume tyme. Than abraham had be hefte of god to haue grete issew and thoughe he loued his so ne neuer so moche yit he toke hym anone with oute grocchyng and wente to the hyll and made his sone isaac to bere wode to brenne hym selfe with And whâ—n they come to the hyll toppe abrahâ— made an auter of wode sette hit on fyre and than he toke his sone isaac and wolde haue slayne hym offered to god Than anone spake an angell to abraham and bade hym leue of and take the shepe that stode ther by and offer hym in stede of thy sone isaac He abraham ye may vnderstonde the â—adyr of heuen and be isa ac his sone ihesu criste that spared for no loue that he hadde to hym but suffered the iewis to ley wo de vpon his backe that was the crosse yâ— he shulde be done on hym selfe and ladde hym to the hyll of caluary and there dede hym vpon the Auter of wode that was the crosse that was made of â—owre diuerse maner of wode that was Cidyr Cipir Olyue and Palme and ther on he dyed for all maÌ„ kynde Thus may criste well be called isaac that is vnderstonde laughter for many a soule he broughte oute of hell laugyng that wente the thyr sore wepyng Than lyke as thys was a figure of cristys pession longe or he was borne ryght so thys day criste hym selfe in the gospell seyde thus to his disciples that he shuld be betrayed Tradetur enim gentiâ—ua et il ludetur et flagella bitur conspuitur et postâ—uam flagel lauerunt eum die tercia resurget And how he shulde be takyn and betyn with stourges spytte vpon after his stourgyng done vpon the crosse and so sle hym and the thride day shall ryse ayen to lyfe and for they shulde haue the better beleue ther to and to his wordys anone to fore hem he made a blynde man to see that cryed and seyde Ihesu fili dauid miserere meâ— Ihesu the sonne of dauid haue mercy of me Thanne seyd oure lord to hym what woldeste thou that I shulde doo to the and he seyd â—omine vt videam lord yeue me syght Thanne seyd oure lorde thy seythe hathe saued the And a none he had his sighte and he thankyd god So muste euery criston man that wyll haue perdonâ— of god he mote haue contricion full of herte with shrifte of mouthe and sa tisfaction in dede beyng in hole charite with oute faynyng and in stable feythe with out flateryng And to stere yow more to the feythe I tell yow thys ensample Narracio There was a bishop in englonde that hyghte croste hede and was bishoppe of lyncoll was holdyn the grettyst clerke in englond or in the worlde and whan he lay in his dethe bedde there come to hym a grete multitude of fendes and disputedr with hym of the feythe in so moche that they had de nyghe turned hym oute of the beleue putte in to dispayre Thanne was oure lady redy and seyd to hym my seruaunt be leuyste thou not in hooly chirche as it techith And anone he cryed and seyd yis gracious lady I be leue as hooly churche techith me and anone the fend is wente her wey and gafe vp the goste to euer lastyng blysse to the whiche god bryng vs all Amen â—ominica prima quadragesime â—Ood men and wymmen thys day ys callyd in hooly churche the firste sonday in quadragesime a nombre of .xl. for from this day tyll esâ—yâ— day be .xl. dayes and for be cause that euery man synnyth more or lesse for to make satisfaction for our trespas all cristen people be bounde be the lâ—we of god and hooly churche to faste these .xl. dayes saue tho that the lawe dispensith with for resonable cause Children that be with in age wymmâ—n that be wyth chylde olde people that be myght lese to faste laboryng people as pylgremys and syke peple those the lawe dispensith with vpon her concience Than for the cause that sonday is noo day of penaâ—nce there for ye shall be gynne your faste one esche wedenysday that day ye moste come to hooly churche and â—â— ke aschys of the prestes handes and thenke one the wordes â–ª well that he seytth oner your hedys Memento hoÌ„ quod cinis es et in cinerem reuerteris haue mynde man of aschys that thou arte come and to aschys thou shalt tour ne ayene Than be there â—inâ—râ—â— shylles why ye shall faste these xl dayes on is as the gospell tellith this day thus â—nctâ—s est Iâ—esâ—a in desertuÌ„â—t temptaretur a diabolo how the hooly goste bade oure lorde crisâ— jhesu go in to deserte to wynne iherusa lem and iherico to be teÌ„ â—â—ed of the fende was there xl dayes fastyng xl nyghtis for youre sake shewyng to all cristen people the â—ertu and the â—â—de that comythe of fastyng the whiche â—e expressâ—d in the preface of the masse that is seyd in hooly churche the xl dayes that is thus Qui corporalâ— iâ—iâ—â—io vi cia comprimis men tem â—leâ—â—â— virtutem largiria That hooly fastyng thâ—usteth downe â—ices and lifteth vp thouthe of man to â— tâ—ous and to largenesse of all goodnesse and getith grete mâ—de in heuen that shall laste euer and â—â—â—â— graâ—e â—ere in erth for as clerkes telle the spetell of a sastyng maÌ„ shall sle an addyr bodely than moche more it sleithe the myghte of the olde addir that is the fende of helle that come to eue in para dyse in lykenesse of an ad dyr and temptid her to glotony veyne glory and couetyse ryght so the â—â—nde come to criste in likenesse of a mâ— lefte â—e had be knowyn and temptid criste and as the gospell seythe Câ—m iâ—iâ—â—asset quadragintâ— diâ—â—â—a et quadraginta noâ—tiâ—â—â— posteâ— esuxiit whanne criste had de fastyd xl dayes xl nyghtis than be kynde of manhode he hunge red Than come the fende to hym and schewde hym stones and seyde Si â—iâ—iâ—â— dei â—a â—iâ— vt â—apides isti pacâ— fiant yf thou be goddis sone of heuen make these stones brede for ryght as â—â—â— was â—â—beshed whan she saw the appyll be temptacion of the fende to ete there of The same wyse he wente to hate made crist to ete of the brede For glotony is not only in mannes mete but in the foule luste and appetite of a man Than seyde criste anone to him Non in solo pane vi uit homo sed de omni verbo quod procedit de ore dei Man leuythe not only by brede but by euery worde that comythe from the mow the of
moche more he wold haue herd moche sonner he wold here a cristeÌ„ man or cristen woman that cryed hertely to him â–ª for helpe socour Narracio Also there was a man that thomas loued passing well in his lyffe hit fill so that this maÌ„ fill sike on a tyme come to seint thomas tombe preyng him of socoure and helpe a non he was hole but aftir he be though tâ— him â— his sikenes was encresid to his soulis he le so wente a yene preyng thomas that yf it were more mede to his soule to be sike thaÌ„ hole that he myghte be sike a yene so he was thankyd god seint thomas thaÌ„ whanne the kyng herd howe god wroughte so many miracles for seinte thomas he wente to cauÌ„terbury barefote wolwarde all moste nakid saue a feble cote to bynde his body ynne goyng in the fenne in the lake as he had ben a pore man in this londe preyng to seinte Thomas of foryeuenesse of his trespace at the tombe he made all the couent by and by to yeue displyne on his barâ— body with a yerde there he dampned all sory custumes and false lawes that was cause of the debate betwene thomas the kyng be fore grauÌ„ted the churche her fredome a yene and wente his wey Thanue these iiij knyghtes whan they herde howe god hadde wrought for thomas they were full fory of her cursed dedis and cursed the tyme that euer it happid so with hem and lefte all her londes and wente to ihe rusalem in to the hooly londe to werre on goddis enemyes But william tracy was lettyd by the wey and fill sike and rotyd all his body in so moche that hym sel fe with his owne hondis caste a wey his owne flesche lompe melâ— and so dyede an horryble dethe And the othir thre also dyede in a piteuous deth sone aftyr And thus with ynne iij. yere aftyr thomas dethe they dyed all foure but as longe as they leuyd they cryde euer mercy to god and seinte thomas and so I hope they hadde De circumcisioÌ„e domini GOod frendis so che a day is callid new yeris day and is the firste day of the begynnyng of the Newe yere that is comyng and is the laste day of the yere that is gone And there fore this day ye shall come to god and hooly churche to here youre deuyne seruice forthe this yere For like as a good seruaunt that hathe a good mastir makithe his comenaunt but ones but holdithe forthe from yere to yere hauing full truste in his maistre that he woll for his good seruice yeffe hym a good towarde in his grete nede at his laste ende In the same wyse goddis seruauntis makythe comenaunte with hym ones that is at cristonyng at the founte and there he makythe comenaunte to be goddis seruaunt hauyng full truste in god that at his grete nede that is atte the day of dome quyte hym for his seruice in euer lastyng blysse of heuene and so woll he doo to all that be good trewe seruauÌ„tes Thus this day is callâ—d new yeris day Also hit is callid Circumcisiâ—â—â—mini the circumcision â—â— our lord Also this day is callid new yeris day for this day is the firste day of the ka lendyr the yere gothe moche he kalendyr there for his is callid new yeris day Seinte Austein seith this day this nyghte he thyn people vse many false opynions wyche craftys and false be leue the whiche be not to telle among cristen people les te they tourned to that vse where fore ye that be cristeÌ„ people be well were lefte ye be desceyued be any false soâ—ery as be takyng counsell of on maÌ„ be fore a nothir or in beyng or sellyng or in borowyng or senyng in the whiche somme haue diuerse opimons And yf they be well shreuyn they be worthy for to haue grete penauÌ„ce for ther misse beleue for that comythe of the fende and not of god This day is callid the circumcisione of oure lord for as holy chuche tellith this day he was circumsised blede his blode for oure sake for whan the flesche was cutte he blede faste was full â—ore for he was but yong and tendyr and but viij dayes olde there fore he blede the more Thanne ye shall vnderstonde that he bledde v. tymes fore vs. â—niâ—â—â— enim â—i ciâ—â—a saâ—guinâ— sâ—â— pro nobiâ— effâ—dit The firste tyme that he shedde his blode was as this day whan he was circumcised A nothir was for fer of his passione for righte as a childe wepith for fere whaÌ„ he seethe the rodde hathe no harme so the flesche of our lord swede blode for drede of a strenger passion that was comyng The thridde tyme was in his flagella cion â–ª whan he was betyn with stourges so that all his body ranne on redde blode The fourthe tyme was whaÌ„ he was nay led honde fote on the crosse The fifte tyme was whaÌ„ that longinus perisched his herte with a spere that watyr blode come oute of his wouÌ„des And than they toke vp the crosse with the body lifte hit vp on highe with a sodeyne fall they lette the crosse fall doune in to the mortesse that all the senowis vâ—ynes and ioyntes braste a two and blode watyr come out of euery wounde this he suffered for vs ThaÌ„ne seethe criste was cicumcised and shedde his blode thus for vs yâ— was with outyn synne circumcision is for synne remedy helpe why wolde he be circumcised that did no synne Sanctus augu stiuua dicit â—ropterquatâ—or causaâ— Seint Austeyn seâ—th hit was for foure causes the firste was to make a seethe with the iewes for else they wolde myghte haue seyde that he hade be of her lawe where for they wolde not resceyue him consente to his techyng this was to disceyue the fende For right as the fende disceyued a dam Eue and so all mankynde was dampned So hit fill to criste to disceyue the fende where thourghe all mankynde myghte be saued than whau the fende saw that he was circumcised as a noâ—â—ir childe he wende yâ— he hadde take that penauÌ„ce in remedy of originall synne and so he knowe hym not frome a nothir childe for yf he had know hym verely that he had rome to haue bought maÌ„kynde he wolde neuer haue tysed the iewes to haue putte criste to dethe And this was all the cause that our lady was weddid to Joseph for to disceyue the fende for the fende shulde wende that Joseph had be his fadir and not consceyued of the holy goste The thrydde cause why he was circuÌ„cised that was in confermyng the olde lawe in grete comforte to the olde fadres yâ— were of the olde testament fore yf he hadde be cristoned and not circumcised hit had be a grete discomforte to all that were be fore the incarnation of
not for lord nor fore kyng but openly preched thâ— worde of god and taughte the feythe aftyr in euery place And he that was to fore so proude so feres and sone aftir was so meke and so lowly yâ— he fill to the grounde to euery cristen maÌ„nes fote that euer he â—respased to and mekely be soughte hem of mercy with a full pacient herte where fore seynte â–ª Austeyn likenyth hym to an Onicorne of kynde that berith an horne in his nose and with that home he â—leithe alle the bestys that he fightithe with Also he is so ferse in him selfe that thee may no hunter take him but thus they wolle be gile hym they wolle aspey where the vnicorne hauntith and vse to walke there they wolle sette a meyde and as sone as the vnicorne seethe the mayde a non be kynde he wol fall downe and ley his hede in her lappe than all the myghte streghte is gone And than they come and take hym Thus he seythe seynte Poule was firste fo ferse in hym selfe that they durste not preche there as he was nor speke to hym for drede But whanne oure lord ihesu criste shewed him swetenesse of his grace and this fayre mayde that is the lawe of hooly churche a none poule fill downe to the grounde was soget to all cristeÌ„ peple here fore hooly churche was gladde of his defendyng He is sette also in highe ensample of highe a mendyng for oure lord is so gracious yâ— all cristen people may be saued that woll for fake her mysâ—e leuyng and be conuertid Multomagis gaudiuÌ„ erit in celo de vno peccatore penitenciam ageÌ„ re quam de nonagin ta nâ—uem qui uoÌ„ indigent penitentia There is more Joye in heuen vppon on synner doyng penâ—unee thanne vppon xcix that dede neuer synne And ther for oure lorde wold that all were conuertid and saued where fore in highe ensample and coumforte to all sinfull peple he sette seynte Poule to loke vppon for thoughe a maÌ„ had do neuer so moche synne and he wolde fore sake his synne and synne no more Thanne all the companye of heuen makythe myrthe and melodye of his conuersion as we do here in erthe of the conuersion of seynte Poule but there is moche people that loue more synne with luste and likelyng in this world than they do god Fore there be many that wolle neuer leue synne nothir for the loue of god nor for the desire of the blisse of heuene nor for ferâ— of the fende nor drede of the grete paynes of hell But somme people seyne god wolle neuer lese that he hathe boughte dere with his passion but they that sey so be notte wyse god wolde that none were loste but be ware thou lese not thy selfe for alle the whyle thow loueste more synne than god and haddest leuer to serue the fende than god thou arte cause of thyne owne dampnacion fore whyle thou haste more wille to serue the fende be his childe than goddis childe thow lesiste thy selfe and god hathe ordeyned fendes to tourmente hem in euer lastyng payne But seinte Gregor seyth they that shalle be dampned begynne her penauÌ„ce here in this world in party and aftyr her deth continâ—ueth of euer more where fore I telle yow this ensample Narracio There was a man that was an officer with a lord and stode a cursed and on a tyme â—â— he rode towardes a maner of his lord is he fille oute of his mynde and â—n bâ—â— deâ—id his horse and he bare hym in to a maner of his lordis And than a none the bayly conseyued howe hit was with this man that he was discranght oute of his minde and a none made the people to bynde hym to a poste in a barne so whaÌ„ the bayly and his seruauÌ„tes had souped he bad one of his seruauntes go loke how that this man dede and he wente to this man And whan he come there he sawe iij. gre blacke dogges plucking a wey this mannes fleshe from the bone Thanne was this seruaunte a ferde that â—nethe he hadde his mynde but wente to his bed and lay there sike longe aftyr And on the morow whanne the people come the thir as this man was bouÌ„de theâ— founde no more of this man but his bare bones and all the flesche was clene a wey Thus ye may see he that contynualy leued in synne may be full sykyr of a foule ende and thoughâ— his ende semythe fayre in the sighte of a man yit hit is ryghte foule in the sight of almyghty god and all his angellis where for hit is nedefull for euery cristen man and woman to a meÌ„de hym while he is here in this world and hathe tyme and space of a mendement And he that dothe so shall come to seynte Poule and be there with hym in euerlastyng blysse to the whyche bryng vs he that died for vs and all mankynde Amen Sequitur â—e parificacioÌ„e beate marie virginia â–ª GOod frendis soche a day ye shall haue candelmas day that day makith mâ—de and mencion of oure lady of her sone speciyally iij thingis oure ladyes purificacion in sime onis metyng and in caÌ„dâ—les offeryng This day is callid the purificacion of oure lady in englische hit is the clensing of oure lady but fore noo nede that she had there to fore sche was clensid with the worchyng of the hooly goste in conceyuyng of her sone that there was in her no maner of spotte of filthe But for that day was the xl day from the birthe of her sone and was callid in the iewes lawe the day of the purificacione not only for oure lady but for all othir wymmen where fore we calle hit the purificacion of oure lady The lawe of the iewes was soche that a woman that was delyueryd of a man childe was holde vnclene vij dayes aftyr thaÌ„ the lawe gaue her leue to go to her husbonde but yit she was vnclene xxxiij dayâ—â— but till xliiij dayes were fullfilled she shulde holde her with oute the churche with her offeryng And the offering â–ª in those dayes was of a riche man a lambe and for a pore maÌ„â—â—s a peyre of turtyll doues or elles othir doues and so offered oure lady with her sone And yf a woman be delyueryd of a mayden childe she shulde duble all those same dayes a fore sayde that is for to say the comyng to her husbonde and also the comyng to the temple and so this is there son there of For hit is so that all grete clerkys sey that hit to vij dayes aftyr whanne a woman hathe conceyued a maÌ„nes childe or that the same sede tourne in to blode And hit is also .xxxiij. dayes aftyr oâ— it tourne to any shappe of man than god sente lyffe in to hit and yf hit be a mayde childe hit doublithe all the dayes bothe in tournyng in to the blode also in shappe of body this