¶ De sancto Sampsone epÌ„o confessore SEynt sampsone was borne in great Brytayne our Lord shewyd in vysyon to his moder callyd anne whiche was bareyne that lyuyd with her HusboÌ„de a blessyd Lyfe in fastyngys prayers that she shuld haue a sone whom she shuld call SaÌ„pson that shulde be great with our lorde worthye to haue order of preesthod when he was .vii. yerys olde he was commyttyd to seynt Iltut and he sayde he shuld be a great Busshope profyte moche in the chyrche of god and when he toke dekon preesthod and also when he was made busshope a whyte doue was seen descende vppon hym the hyer degre that he toke the streyghter lyfe he ledde iÌ„ all his lyfe he neuer ete flesshe the celerer that was neuew to seynt Iltute which was desyrous to be Abbot aftre his vncle feryd that seynt saÌ„psone shuld haue it wherfore he put a great poyson into his chales he blessyd it dranke it without hurte as the Celerer abydynge in his malyce shulde be houselyd by seynt Sapsone on a sonday the Deuyll enteryd into hym vexyd hym sore by seynt sampsone he was delyueryd with water and oyle that he blessyd and gaue hym by the Daye he labouryd and prayed And on the nyghte he redde scripture vsyd medytacyon and when he toke slepe he lenyd to some wall and neuer slept iÌ„ bedde His fader was syke and sayd he shulde neuer be hole nor receyue the sacrameÌ„tys tyll he sawe his son sampson and though he was ryght lothe to goo yet by counsell of seynt Iltute he went vnto hym which was moche gladde of his coÌ„mynge and confessyd hym to hym of a great hed synne that he had longe kept close after both he his wyfe with all theyr chylderne betoke them to the seruyce of god With the sygne of the crosse he kyllyd a great serpent after the sayde Celerer compleynyd that he had wasted the Houy and when the busshope Dubryee thought to proue it Sampson made the sygne of the Crosse ouer the vessellys and anon all the vessellys whiche he hadde afore geuyn in almes were fyllyd agayne full of Hony after he was Abbot thre yerys Then he wente into Scotlande where he dyd many great Myracles and instructyd the people and when he came whome dubrycyus by commaundement of an Aungell made hym Busshope so he went into lytyll brytayne where he fouÌ„de a man at the seesyde lokynge for oon that as it was shewyd hym by our Lorde shulde come fro be yonde the see that shuld hele his wyfe that was a lepoure and his Doughter that was vexyd with a Deuyll and soo he helyd theym bothe And there the quene had great malyce vnto hym and gaue hym Puyson And after that turnyd a wylde Lyon to hym and he escapyd both and by his worde the Lyon dyed and the Quene seynge that Myracle askyd hym forgyuenes euery Lent he wolde be in some secret place fro recourse of people He departyd fro this Lyfe the fyth kalendas of Auguste And lyeth at the Monasterye of dolo which he had foundyd in lytle Brytayne as he had doon dyuerse other Monasteryes This blessyd man had suche grace that euer as he was at masse he had Aungells to assyste hym and to mynystre to hym in the sacryfyce ¶ De sancta Sexburga regina abbatissa SEynt Sexburghe was Doughter to Anna kynge of eest Englonde And she was maryed to ercombertus kynge of Kent and hadde Issue Egbertus and Lotharyus whiche were after Kyngys and two doughters Ermenylde and ErkeÌ„gode she was in that hyghe degre meke and poore in spyryte she ruled her Ryches it rulyd not her she was good to them in hygh degre and also in lowe degre Seldome it was that she was seen amonge the people often in the Churche she enducyd her Husbonde to destroye all Idollys that were in his Realme And crystendome was brought in thrughe all the Realme and at her desyre he made dyuerse Monasteryes She taughte her Chyldrenne dylygentlye to drede God and to kepe his commaundemeÌ„tys And when the Kynge was dede she enteryd into Relygyon at Ely vnder her suster etheldrede whiche lyuyd there a Blessyd lyfe iÌ„ great Fastynges watchyngys laboure And in great mekenes she folowyd the example of her suster where after her deth she was made abbesse and then she was moche dylygent by cause she knewe she had more cure and charge then she had before and she endyd this present lyfe the daye before the Nonas of Iulii aboute the yere of our Lorde .vi. C. and .xl. and was buryed by her Suster ¶ De sancto Swithuno epÌ„o confessore SEynt Swythune was borne in the tyme of kynge Egbertus which was the .viii. kynge fro kynge kynegelfe that was coÌ„uertyd by seynt Byrynne and after he had taken ordre of preesthode He endeuouryd hymselfe to preche the worde of god catholycallye and truely to vse werkys of pyte to correcte theym that lyuyd inordynately after the deth of Helynstane whiche was busshope of wynchester he was chosen busshope there And he made Churches of newe and repayryd tho that were decayed and when he went to halowe any churche he went not with great pompe but went on his bare fete To his feestys he callyd not Ryche men but poore men euer he callyd vppon synners to do penauÌ„ce And encouragyd men that lyuyd vertuously to perseuer in vertue he neuer toke a full meale but moderatly for sustenaunce and after longe vygyllys great labourys that he shuld not all fayle he toke a lytyll slepe He made the brydge at the eest ende of Wynchester And as he was lokynge vpoÌ„ the werke a woman came bye with egges in a basket and by the neclygence of the werkemen her Eggys were brokyn wherfore she wepte and made sorowe And the Busshope hauynge pyte with his ryght hande blessyd the basket all the Eggys were hole agayne he was euer busy Psalmes and spirituell melodye and with all dylygence he kept his herte in all clennes and ê‘seuered in kepynge of the coÌ„maudementes of our lorde to his departynge out of this worlde whiche was the syxth nonas of Iulii in the yere of our lorde god D. CCC.lxii And he was translated in the yere of our lorde D. CCCC.lxxi in the Ide of Iulii And the same daye of his translacyon our lorde shewyd for hym many myracles A thilde contracte fro his byrth was helyd There blynde wymmen had their syght The yrons of one in pryson brake and the man was delyuered A man syke of the palsey was helyd and .xxv. other were also made hole of dyuers sykenes ¶ De sancto Thatheo confessore SEynt Thathe was sone to a kynge in Itlande called Thathalius fro his yonge age he kepte hym self vndefowled fro al vyces and when his Fader and moder sawe hym despyse all worldy thynges they set hym to scole
sancto Uulstano EpÌ„o confessore fo Cxvi De sancto Edgare Rege confessore fo Cxviii De sancta Birgiâ—ta fo C.xxi. ¶ Finis tubula De sancto Adriano abbate confessore SEynt adryan was abbot of the monastery of viridian that is a lytle fro napuls And for his â—â—â—tue and cunnynge vitalian the pope wolde haue made him archebussope of Caunterbury he of mekenes refusyd it for his escuse desyred that saynt Theodre myghte be elected therto so he was vpon this coÌ„dicion that he shulde accompany seynt Theodre into EngloÌ„de and he assentyd and so refusynge the honoure he toke the laboure And when he came into EngloÌ„de he had coÌ„myttyd to hym the rule of the monasterye of seynt Augustyne of Caunterbury and there he gadered a great multytude of dyscyples taught them metyr astronomye arythmetryke also dyuynite many of his dyscyples coulde greke lateÌ„ toÌ„ge as well as theyr owne he with seynt Theodre taught the tewnes of syngynge in the churche of Englond which afore theyr tyme was onely vsed in Kent he passed out of this worlde full of good werkes good exaumples the .v. Iâ—â—s of Ianuary in the yere of our lorde God seuyn hundred â—â—iii lyeth in his monastery at CauÌ„terbury And after his deth shypmeÌ„ of EngloÌ„de which were lyke to haue ben robbed by pyratis iÌ„ the see by prayer to seynt Adryan were delyuered he reysed a man fro deth he appered to one bad hym shewe seynt Dunstane that he dwellyd iÌ„ houses that were well sufficieÌ„tly couered but the moder of almyghty god he other her seruauntes lay open to the heuyns wherfore anone seynt DuÌ„stane repayred the Churche of our Lady and vsed moche to be there in contemplacyon and on a nyght as he was there in prayers he sawe euydently our Lady seynt Adryan in the sayd Churche laudynge honourynge our Lorde ¶ De sancto aido siue Aidano abbate A Man of Irlonde callyd sedia and his wyfe prayde certyen holy men to Praye for theym that they mought haue a Chylde after they had prayed they bad the man his wyfe goo whom in the nyghte folowynge the husband sawe a bryght sterre falle into the mouthe of his wyfe And she sawe a bryght mone falle iÌ„to the mouth of her HusboÌ„de after they had a sone whom they callyd Aidus or Aidanus And when he came to age he his felowe Molassus entendyd to goo on Pylgrymage they wiste not whether And by InspyracioÌ„ of our Lord they bad .ii. great Trees growinge therby tell them what they sholde do And anon the two Trees fell downe oon towarde the Northe the other towarde the Southe And so the Chyldren deuyded seynt Aidus came into the countrey of LagmenciuÌ„ an AnÌ„gell brought hym to the place where he wolde be and he went vppon the water to a place where two chyldren were drowned by his prayers he reysyd them to lyfe after he came to seynt Dauyd into Wales was with hym a longe tyme and there for haste as he went to the wood he lefte his boke open behynde hym though it rayned in other places it rayned not vppoÌ„ his Boke And seynt Dauyd as he was by the seesyde blamyd hym for leuynge his Boke behynde hym wherfore anon he lay ê“strat before seynt Dauyd of mekenes wolde not ryse tyll he were bydden And seynt Dauyd retournyd whom for gate to bydde hym ryse so the flowe of the see came as he lay the see rose aboute hym touchyd hym not And when seynt Dauyd myssed hym he was moch heuy and sent Bretherne for hym they founde hym lyenge in the bottome of the see drewe hym vppe into theyr shyppe c. And on a tyme wheÌ„ seynt Aidus went fro seynt Dauyd into Irlonde he forgate his Cymbale behynde hym in Wales when he had nede of it it was sodenly brought ouer the see to hym Wherfore he thanked our Lorde a nother tyme seynt dauyd sent for hym he went to hym And when he shulde goo agayne into Irlonde he asked seynt Dauyd how he shuld gette ouer the see and he bad hym goo to the see syde ony beest that he founde go on hym to his Monastery And he fouÌ„de a beest lyke a Horse on hym he went ouer the see into Irlonde then the Beest wente agayne into the see He was a great gyuer of Almes and fastyd .l. dayes and .l. nyghtes to gedyr he dyed in great Age full of good Werkes vertues the day before the fyrste kalendas of Marche And at seynt Dauythys he is callyd moadoke and there his Feest is kepte with great honoure ¶ De saÌ„cto Aidano episcopo confessore THere is a monastery in the I le of hii which of olde tyme beloÌ„ged to Brytayne nowe callyd EngloÌ„d the pyotys gaue it to the scottys because they were firste coÌ„uertyd by them And se that AidaÌ„ beynge busshope was sent fro that I le to preche to the people of Englonde and he taughte noon otherwyse but as he lyuyd hym selfe what so euyr was geuyn to hym by the Kynge or Rychemen He gaue it to poure men he went on foote to Preche and Rode not withoute great nede All that were in companye with hym shuld Rede or Praye And when he was at dyner thoughe it were with the Kynge as it was seldome he wolde goo fourthe and praye he wolde alwaye reproue Rychemen when they offendyd and not forbere theym for fere nor for theyr Auctoryte he gaue oyle to a preest which was called vtta as he was goynge to fette enflede doughter to kynge Edwyn to be maryed to kynge oswy And bad hym if any tempest toke hym in the see that he sholde caste the oyle into the see And it shulde ceasse and so it prouyd and when penda had thoughte to haue burnyd the Cytie of bamburghe for that he coulde not wyn it by streyngthe he leyde moche wood and hey nyghe to the towne and seynt aidan then beynge in the I le of Ferne to myles fro thens when he saw the Fyre aboue the Cytie wallys prayed to our lorde for helpe And by his prayer the wynde chauÌ„ged and so the towne was saued he dyed the day before the kalendas of Septembre the yere of Grace .vi. hundred and .li. and was buryed a lytle fro the sayd Cytie And now parte of his relykys be at Duresme and parte be had into Scotlande and twyse the house wherein he dyed which was adioynynge to the churche was saued when the churche all the strete were burned venerable bede that wrote his lyfe seyth of hym that he was a great louer of peace and charyte was an ouercomer of Ire couetyse a dispyser of vaynglory a reprouer of proude men and a comforter of syckemen and poore men and that as farre as he coulde
Eest saxons to Preche the Feythe there And when he had there conuertyd moche people he resortyd into his contrey And there the Busshope Fynanus made hym Busshope of eest Englonde And then he went agayne and gatheryd a great company of dyscyples and taught them regular discyplyne as theyr rudenesse myght bere And he resortyd ofte iÌ„to his couÌ„trey of Northamhumbrorum And the Kynge there gaue hym a grounde to make a Monasterye whiche he callyd lestyngey and he enfourmyd his dyscyples there after the manner of the Monasterye of Lyndyffernens that he was brought vppe in And before he beganne the foundacyon he Fastyd and Prayed that the Grounde myght be clensyd fro the olde synnes And there he went to oure Lorde and lefte his Broder cedda Abbotte after hym and it is not knowen what daye nor what yere he Dyed ¶ De sancto CeddaepÌ„o confessore SEynt Chadde broder to seynt Cedd was dyscyple to seynt AidaÌ„ And he was sent by Kynge Oswy to CauÌ„terbury to be made Busshope of yorke And bycause the see of Caunterbury was voyde he was coÌ„secrate by wyne Busshope of westsaxons For at that tyme there was no Busshope in all Englonge laufully made Busshope but wyne And anon he gaue grete dylygence to Redynge Prayinge and in humylyte went on Prechynge in his dyocyse on Foot and not on horsbacke And when seynt Theodre tharchebusshope was sent frome sayd he was not duely coÌ„secrate he answeryd mekely that if he thought he was not duely coÌ„secrate he was coÌ„tentyd to resygne And he seynge his humylyte sayde he hought not to leue his Busshopryke but rather to haue his eleccyon confermyd And after he was desyred by wlferus Kynge of Marshlonde to be Busshope there and in Lyndesey and so he was And he had a see in Lychefelde and in a place two myle fro thens he was wonte to be ofte in Prayers And the Kynge gaue hym a certeyne grounde in the Prouynce of Lyndesey where he made a Monastery callyd barwe he was full of the drede of god in soo moche that when he harde any contraryous weder he woldelye prostrate in prayer for hym and for the people for fere of Punysshement for he callyd it a Thretnynge of God and feryd that punysshement shulde ensue And a lytyll before his deê‘tynge oute of this worlde oon of his Dyscyples herde a swete voyce of Aungellys syngynge that cam fro heuyn downe to the house where seynt Chadde was in prayer And they taryed there nyghehalfe an our after they went agayne to Heuyn And the Aungellys shewyd hym that the .vii. Daye folowynge he shulde departe out of this worlde And then he admonysshyd his Bretherne that they shulde kepe Loue and Peace amonge theym and kepe the rulys of theyr Relygyon and in the .vii. Daye whiche was the .vi. nonas of Marche as the Aungell hadde shewyd hym he gaue vppe his soule to our Lord as the AuÌ„gell had shewyd hym ¶ De sctoÌ„ Claro presbytero martyre IN the tyme of the gloryous Kynge Edmonde a man of orchester callyd Edwarde and his wyfe prayed to our Lorde with great deuocyon that they myght haue a Chylde that shulde be obedyeÌ„t to his wyll And so they had a sone whome they callyd clare they instructyd hym in lernynge And when he came to age they porposyd to haue maryed hym wherfore he fled ouer the see into Normandy And there he helyd an Eremyte that was sore woundyd and wente to a Monasterye where seynt odebert was And after he was desyred by the Eremytys to shewe theym howe they myght saue theyr soullys And he bad theym here the wordys of our Lorde that seyed he that wyll folowe me let hym forsake hym selfe take his Crosse folowe me also loue thy Lorde god with all thy Hart Mynde thy Neyghboure as thy selfe And he sayd to loue God aboue all thynge is to withdrawe thy mynde fro all erthely thynges to put all his hooll Entente besyly in oure Lorde after he wente aboute moch ê‘te of FrauÌ„ce and buyldyd a Monasterye at wicassyno and there he lyued only with Rotys of Erbys and after of malyce he was behedyd the .iiii. daye of Nouember And he bere his hed to his Monastery and there he lyeth Buryed where our Lord hath shewyd for hym many myracles ¶ De sctoÌ„ Clytanco Rege martyre SEynt clytanke was Kynge in south walys and kepte Iustyce and peace amonge his subiectys And a virgyn that was Doughter to a myghty man Louyd the yonge Kynge and sayde she wolde neuer be maryed but vnto hym and oon of the Kyngys seruauntys kendlyd with the Fyre of lybydyousnes which carnally louyd the sayde damesell herynge that answere of malyce as the Kynge was by a Waters syde in his prayers and deuocyon abydynge a company of HuÌ„ters kyllyd hym traytorously And when they wolde haue remouyd hym ouer the water his Body was so heuy that it wolde not remoue tyll by goodnes of our Lord it was hadde to a place that our Lord shewyd vnto them And in the nyghte folowynge a Pyller of Fyre was seen asceÌ„dynge fro his TouÌ„be to heuyn where a Church is buyldyd in the honoure of his name ¶ De sancto Colfrydo abbate confessore SEynt Colfryde was made Abbot in the monasterye of seynt Paule by the Ryuer of Tyne And also in the Monastery of Seynt Peter .v. myle â—o thens whiche were fouÌ„dyd by Seynt Benet byscop And he was a man of great wytte and great dyscressyon and feruent iÌ„ Loue of Relygyon And by desyre of the Kynge of Pyctes he wrote an Epystell to hym of the tyme of obseruauÌ„ce of Estre for in tho dayes were dyuerse oppynyons therin And also for the tonsure of Clerkys And whenne the Epystell was redde before the Kynge and his Lordys it was of suche Prophytte Truthe and profounde sentence and soo hoole grundyd in scrypture that the Kynge knelyd downe and thankyd our Lorde that hadde sente hym suche a werke out of the Londe of Englonde And after moche Spyrytuall exercyse in techynge Fastynge and Prayenge in his decrepit age he went towarde Rome And by the way at Lingonas he was buryed He dyed the .vii. kalendas of octobre in the yere of our Lord seuyn hundred and syxtene And in his Iourney dayly he sayd twyse the Psalter besyde his houres canonycalle And euery daye Masse excepte one day whenne he was on the See And thre Dayes before he dyed ¶ De sancto Columba abbate confessore SEynt columbe was borne of noble Blode in Irlande And he came into great Brytteyne into the Northe pyctes to preche to theym the worde of God the yere of oure Lorde fyue Hundred .lxv. And the south pyctys were before that tyme conuertyd by seynt Ninian And whenne he hadde couuertyd theym to the faythe he made a Monasterye in the I le of Hii he was a man of Aungellys aspecte and of great Eloquence he suffred no
of helpe of Edryke the traytoure whome the Kynge had put in great auctoryte And bycause the Kynge put his broder to deth for his offencys he went out of the courte and confeterd hymselfe with danes and they besegyd the Cyte of Caunterbury And when they had wonne it they dyd Merueylouse great cruelte to the people wherfore seynt Elphegus offerde hymselfe to them and bad them spare the people and take hym And so he was taken and put in pryson And there he lay tyll the offenders were so punysshed with sykenes by the stroke of god that they toke hym out of prysone cryed hym mercye and he forgaue them and blessyd Brede and gaue it to them And anon they were hoole and when they were hoole the rulers askyd of hym if he wolde haue his lyfe and lyberte thre thousande marke And because he wolde not greue the people to leue the Money he denyed it And soo he was put agayne in cruell pryson and there the Deuylle apperyd to hym lyke an AuÌ„gell of lyght and perswadyd hym to go out of pryson by many exauÌ„ples and soo he folowyd hym and when he had brought hym amonge waters in the derke nyght he lefte hym and then he knewe it was the crafte of the enemye wherfore he lyftyd hys mynde to our Lorde and cryed for helpe And anone a yonge man in bryghte shynynge apparell apperyd to hym and had hym goo agayne to receyue the Crowne of martyrdome and when he came to the pryson and there he was truellye takyn Betyn And foule Stynkynge Donge was caste vppon hym And thenne Seynt Dunstanne aperyd to hym and comfortyd hym And at the laste he was betyn with stones And his owne godson with a hachet stracke hym in the Hed and soo martyryd hym the .xiii. kalendas of Maii the punysshemeÌ„t of god felle vppoÌ„ the offenders so that some kyllyd theymselfe And some went madde many fledde to the see and theyr Shyppys were drownyd about a C. and .lx. Shyppes And after when Kunt came into Englonde and sawe great punyshement fall vppon hym and his pleople he toke counceyle of some Englysshemen that toke his ê‘te they thoughte it was for the wronge don to seynt Elphege And soo by theyr counceyle he promysyd that when he had peace he wolde brynge the body of seynt Elphege to cauÌ„terbury And .xvii. yere after he fouÌ„de his Body vncorrupte And brought it to CauÌ„terbury honorably as he had ê“mysed ¶ De sâ—toÌ„ Erkenwaldo epÌ„o confessore SEynt erkenwalde and his syster Ethelburghe comonly callyd Alburgh were borne in that parte of Englonde callyd Lynsey And seynt Erkenwalde was conuertyd to the feythe when seynt Augustyne came into Englond and was dyscyple to the Busshope Mellyt And his syster folowed the exauÌ„ple of her broder And when she was Cristenyd she was callyd Ethelburghe And seynt Erkenwalde foundyd the Monasterye of Chertesey for hymselfe where he was Abbot and Barkynge for his syster And after he was made busshope of London by seynt Theodre Archebussope of Caunterbury And when a beame that was ordeynyd for the monastery of Berkynge was to shorte he and his syster Ethelburghe drew it in length made it longe ynough And as he was goynge on Prechynge in a chare oon of the whelys went of and yet the chare went vpryghte he shewyd the very day of his deth and vnto his laste ende he comfortyd the people besylye with the worde of god And he Dyed at barkynge And there was at his deth a meruâ—ylous swete Sauoure in all the house And as he shulde be brought to London the water rose at Ilforde and wolde not suffer theym to passe tyll the people fell to prayer And anone the Water deuydyd and soâ— they went thrughe And all the Candellys that were out lyghtyd agayne by themselfe And so he was buryed at seynt Poulys in London And was leyde in leed in a Coffyn of wodde And it was coueryd with a Palle of small pryse many yerys And after in the tyme of Wyllyam Conqueroure the Churche of poulys and great parte of london was Brent And neuerthelesse the sayde palle and sepulcre was not hâ—rte wherfore the people gaue Laudys to our Lorde And thoughe that that punysshemeÌ„t came to theym bycause they had not doon condygne honoure to the sayd blessyd Relyquys And after the Churche of Poulys was newe buyldyd by thre Busshoppys of London oon after a noder And by a hoole Deuocyon of the people his Body was traÌ„slatyd to a more honorable place in the yere of our lorde god a Thousande a hundred xl the .xiii. daye of Nouember And when the place that was newe made was to lyttyll for the Chest of leed wheâ—in his Relykys lay fyrst the people for that neclygence were sory And anon the stone waxyd more holow and gaue place to the blessyd relykys And after at his shryne were doon many great myracles as in the legeÌ„de apperyth at great length which be here omyttyd ¶ De sancta Ermenilda regina SEynt ermenylde was doughter to Ercomberte kynge of kent of seynt sexburghe his wyfe she was dysposyd to all pytye coÌ„passyon and endeuouryd herselfe with a moderly pytye to helpe the necessytes of euery man there was in hyr alway oon stablenesse on Benygnyte on Charyte on desyre to Heuynly thingys She was maryed to wlferus son to penda kynge of Marshyes which after his Faders Deth was crystenyd by her exortacyon good maners she tamyd the wylde people and brought theym to the feythe thruste downe Rebellys myghtyly And she ceassyd not tyll the Idollys worshyppynge of deuyllys with the helpe of the Kynge was clene put a way Chyrchys were buyldyd for Dyuyneseruyce thrughe all the Realme they had a doghter callyd werbuxga And after the deth of the Kynge the quene Erâ—â—enylde her Doughter enteryd into Relygyon at Ely vnder her moder sexburghe so for our lord she forsoke all the pleasurys and loue of the worlde And punysshyd her body with abstynence prayers and lamentyngys and shewyd her selfe moost lowe of all folkys and she endyd her lyfe full of good werkys in the Idâ—â— of February And a man that was bounden with Iâ—â—â—s prayed at her tumbe at masse for helpe and at the gospell the Irons were strykyn fro his arme with such a vyoleÌ„ce that they flewe to the Aâ—ter that all mâ—n myght see De sancto Esterwino Abbate SEynt esterwyn was mynyster to kynge Egfryde And he lefte the Temporall armoure toke Espyrytuall armour enteryd into Relygyon vnder his vnkyll Benet busshope in the Monasterye of seynt peter but for all the kynred he lokyd not to be anythynge the more honowryd But he was anon foo meke that he wolde wynnow and thresshe with the bretherne mylke Kyen shepe And be with theym galdlye in the Bakhouse Kechyn in all other busynes of the Monasterye And after seynt Coolfryde abbot of the monasterye of
seynt paule in the yere of our Lorde .vi. C.lxxxiii electyd hym beynge in the monastery of seynt Petyr and made hym Abbot there And wheÌ„ he was Abbot he was of the same mekenes that he was before so that when he sawe the Bretherne worke he wolde put to his hande as they dyd And he was a man of great strengthe of feyre speche mery and lyberall And he ete of the same mete as the bretherne dyd and laye as they dyd And when he shulde dye he kyssyd all the bretherne in tokyn of peas And instructyd theym with many Blessyd monycyons he wente to oure Lorde of the great Syknes in the Nonas of Marche ¶ De sancto Ethelberto rege confessore SEynt ethelbert was the thyrde kynge of Kent but he was the fyrste that wente to Heuyn And all that seynt Augustyne dyd to the Encreasynge of the faythe may be also attrybutyd to this blessyd kynge for as farre as to man apperyth if he had not holpen seynt Augustyne other werkes in the werke of 〈◊〉 lorde lytyll frute had come to the Londe of Englonde And when he was coÌ„uertyd with great benygnyte he â—â—â—yd other kyngys that were his subgyetty or his felowys to become crysten And those that beleuyd he lâ—uyd as hys bretherne and kynysmen and felawys to the kyngdome of heuyn And in all his realme Chirchys were buâ—â—yd placys of Idollys destroyed or tournyd into Churches By counceyll of seynt Augustyne he made the Churche of seynt saâ—youre in Caunterbury And without the wallys of the Cytle he made a monasterye in the honoure of seynt peter and poule whiche was a place of buryall for Kynges and busshoppes he buyldyd a Church of seynt paule in london and there was theÌ„ made a Busshoppyssee And he made a Churche of seynt Andrewe at Rochester where was also made a noder Busshoppyssee And he was founder of Ely thughe seynt Etheldrede bycause she repayryd it is takyn for foundres his realme stretchyd to humber And yet he shewyd hymselfe poore and meke as thoughe he had had nothynge It was a gloryus thynge to see hym that hadde rule and domynyon in great countreys to serue poore men And to see hym that kynges feryd to drede the preestys of our Lorde as this blessyd kynge dyd And he was a great exalter of vertue a fulfyller of the commaundementys of god of werkys of pyte And he went to our Lorde the syxte Kalendas of marche And when his feest was on a tyme not halowed nor the place where he laye adhournyd with lyghtys as it was wonte to be he apperyd to a preest that of deuocy on lay there all nyght and blamyd them of theyr necly De sancta Ethelburga virgine abbatissa SEynt ethelburgh coÌ„monly callyd seynt Alburgh was borne in the prouynce of lyndesey fro her youthe she abhorryd the bodely pleasurys the flaterynge of the worlde And the auncyent enemy enuyenge her werkys styrryd her owne fader agaynste her so that he was a cruell psecutor of her wherfore she went ofte to a Chapell where she was crystenyd And commyttyd herselfe to our Lord with deuoute prayer aâ—â—lyccyons it is sayd the grasse is alway grene there as she wente to the sayd chapell And after when she shuld haue ben maryed she lefte her Fader Moder with oon mayde went her waye pryuely by the waye the mayde fell in so great a drynes that withoute helpe she was lyke to Dye wherfore seynt Alburghe prayde for helpe to our Lorde And anon a feyre well sprange vppe that is there to this day And when certeyne werke was assygnyd to her by her hostes in Herueste she went to prayer and her werke was don without leyinge any hande to it and her fader by her was conuertyd to the feyth after her broder seynt Erken walde of his patrymonye made for her the Abbey of Barkynge where she was abbesse there she subdued the Body to the spyryte with contynuell Fastyngys vygyllys prayers she pÌ„chyd to the systers perseuerant lye and after was seen an Image bryght shynynge in the Dormytory of the systers bryght shynynge cordys were seen stretchynge into heuyn wherwith the sayd Image was pluckyd vppe And anone after seynt Alburghe deê‘tyd this worlde the .v. Idus of october about the yere of our Lorde .vii. C. .vi. so it apperyth to be for her that the sayd Image was shewyd her monastery hath ben often tymes pÌ„seruyd agaynste paganys by especyall myracle somtymes wylde bestys at the yatysferyd that enemyes so that they durst not come in sometyme the offenders were sodeynly strykyn some with woodnes some with blyndenes and some with Deth And dyuerse Myracles oure Lorde hath shewyd for this gloryous virgyn ¶ De sancta Etheldreda virgine SEynt etheldrede coÌ„menly callyd Seynt Awdry was doughter to anna Kynge of eest EngloÌ„de And agaynste her wyll she was maryed to Tonbert kynge of the south Gyrwyes where is the I le of ely And when she came into the ChauÌ„ber she comyttyd her virgynyte to our Lorde And as her husbonde lokyd in to the ChauÌ„ber it was lyke as if all the chauÌ„ber had ben on fyre And so he bad her fere no more for he wolde not touche her for he sayd our Lorde was hyr defender and shortlye after he dyed she was maryed ageyne by her frendys to Egfryde kynge of northamhuÌ„broruÌ„ .xii. yeyerys she was with hym not as a wyfe but as a Lady for her holynes he worshyppyd her moch promysyd to the Busshope wylfryde great gyftys to make her agree to hym in matrymonye And the Busshope coÌ„trarye wyse exortyd her to kepe virgynyte And at laste by assente of the Kynge she enteryd into Relygyon at Coldyngham vnder Ebba aunte to the kynge And when the kynge repentyd hym wolde haue fet her fro the monasterye she coÌ„myttyd her to our Lorde And with to systers went in to a Hyll there our lorde brought the see about theym preseruyd them there beynge in prayers with oute mete or drynke when the Kynge sawe that he went away repentyd hym of gis presumpcyon and after she went to Ely that was geuyn to her by her husbonde tonbert there she repayryd a Monasterye gaderyd many sustersgence that they had not don as was wonte to be And that doon the preest wakynge sawe hym goo into his toumbe agayne ¶ De sancto Ethelberto rege martire SEynt Ethelbert was Kynge of eest Englonde And when he had in his youthe moche prophytyd in lernynge he gaue not his mynde to voluptuous pleasurys but to Prayers almys dedys other good werkys And when his felowys were at Playe he wolde be at Churche after the deth of his Fader Kynge ethelrede he was made Kynge was profounde in counceyll ryghtwyse and mercyfull in Iudgement sober iÌ„ wordys He wolde spare his subgyettys and resyst prowdemen And after by hoole
of our Lorde if that peyne myghte put a way the peyne that she was worthye to haue for her pryde and offencys in werynge golde precyous stonys aboute her necke when she was yonge And when a surgeon had Cutte the sore place and that Easyd her for a tyme the thyrde day after the peyne came agayne And she yeldyd her soule to our Lorde the .ix. kalendas of Iuly after she had ben abbesse .vii. yere wheÌ„ she had lyen .xvi. yerys her Body all her clothys were founde vncorrupte And her necke was hoole a tokyn apperyd of the Cuttynge after the monasterye was destroyed by Inguer hubba was renewyd agayne by seynt Ethelwolde by helpe of the kynge Edgar A man that had ben a great vserer full ofâ—ynne was in great syknesse enteÌ„dyd to serue god in relygyon at Ely the resydew of his lyfe anâ— the Kyngys mynysters prohybytyd it sayde he was a thyfe also in the Kynges det Wherfore he was had to London there he was put in prysone on a nyâ—â—t apryd to hym seynt Benet seynt Awdry her suffe 〈◊〉 Sexburghe And seynt Benet onlosyd hys Irons the Myracle knowyn he was let goo so he enteryd into relygyon as he before purposyd ¶ De sanâ—tis Ethelcedo Ethelbricto martyrybus SEynt ethelberte that was conuertyd by Seynt augustyne had Issu Edbalde edbalde had two sonnes Eâ—menâ—ed ErcoÌ„berte Ermented had Issu theys blessyd martyrs Ethelrede Ethelbricte a doughter callyd doÌ„puena which was maryed to the kynge of Mershyes after the deth of theyr fader moder bycause they were then but yonge they were put to the kepynge of Egbert sone of the sayde Ercombert to brynge vp And therupon a cursyd man callyd thuÌ„nir that had grete rule vnder the kynge ferynge that if they lyuyd they shulde be gretter in fauoure with the kynge then he enuyed theÌ„ moch tolde the kynge many false talys of them sayd if they Lyuyd they wolde put hym oute of his Realme CouÌ„ceylyd that kynge to let hym Kyll them pryuelye and when the Kynge for drede of god loue that he had to them wolde in no wyse assent at laste when the sayde Cursyd man euer callyd on the kynge and he on a tyme with dyssymylynge voyce sayd nay that cursyd man toke boldenes on a nyght kyllyd them both buryed them in the Kynges house when the kynge rose in the nyghte he sawe a grete lyghte in the heygth of the hall wherat he merueylyd moch dred for the chylderne callyd thuÌ„nir wheÌ„ he had lernyd of hym how it was he feryd greatly the Iugement of god sent for his couÌ„ceyll spirituall teÌ„porall by couÌ„cell of them all he sent for dompuena theyr suster And for the deth of her bretherne she askyd asmoch grouÌ„de in the I le of tenet as her Hynde wolde goo aboute seyinge she was so commaundyd by oure lorde And when the hynde hadde goon a certeyn space and all the people folowyd her Thumnyr founde a great deffaute at the kyngys graunte wolde haue stoppyd it forthwith as he had spokyn the worde he fell of his horse brake his necke he was buryed in the same place and a great rocke of stonys were caste vppon hym it is callyd ThuÌ„nerslane to this day after by Ethelrede that was kynge Edgares sone these gloryouse martyrs were traÌ„slatyd fro a place where then regnyd the blessyd Kynge sygbert whiche before that tyme for fere of Redwarde hadde fledde into Fraunce And there he was crystenyd And then came agayne into his countrey and after made a monasterye by councell of seynt felyx and toke tonsure and there seruyd our Lorde And in short tyme seynt Felyx coÌ„uertyd all the people and was made Busshope of the Cytie of dominoke And the kynge sygberte by helpe of seynt Felyx made scolys for bryngynge vp of Chyldren in all the countrey he went to our Lord full of good werkys the .viii. Idus of marche and was buryed in thesame Cytie his Relykys were broughte to Seham which was after destroyed by Danys And then his Relykys were brought to Ramsey where they lye at this daye ¶ De sctoÌ„ Flacrio heremyta confessore SEynt fyacre was borne of noble blod in Irlande bycause he desyred moch to kepe a solytary lyfe he lefte his countrey and his Frendys and went into Fraunce and so came to seynt pharao Busshope of Meldees And when he knewe the enteÌ„t of his commynge he cherysshyd hym moche and gaue hym a certeyne grounde in the wood of Brodyle farre fro the recourse of people where he buyldyd a monastery in honoure of our Ladye there dayly he encreasyd in vertues And that he sparyd fro hymselfe he gaue it to pore men And with only touchynge of his haÌ„dys with helpe of god he helyd many men of dyuerse sykenes soo that his fame sprongâ— farre And bycause great people resortyd to hym the busshope at his desyre gaue hym as moche Grounde adioynynge to his howse as he coulde with his owne laboure dyke aboute in a day to make a gardeyne apon he thaÌ„kyd hym moche And when he came home he made his prayers drewe his staffe after hym with towchynge of the staffe the grouÌ„de voydyd waxyd holowe lyke a dyke all the Trees in the cumpasse fell downe And a woman seynge the Dyke meruaylyd greatlye tolde the busshope therof sayde that the Heremyte was a Wytche a enchauntour not the seruauÌ„te of god And came agayne to hym presumptuously spake to hym coÌ„tumelyous wordys chargyd hym in the Busshopys name to ceasse his werkee And he herynge that was heuy sate downe vppon a stone which waxyd softe holowe to hym lyke a sete which remaynyth there to this day by towchynge therof dyuers syke men haue ben helyd And when the Busshope sawe the Myracles that were doon he louyd seynt fyacre moch the better was euer after the more famylyer with hym neuerthelesse seynt Fyacre prayed to our Lord that if any womaÌ„ euer came into his Monastery that she shuld fall in some sykenes so it prouyd after of dyuerse womeÌ„ He went out of this worlde the .xv. kaleÌ„das of SepteÌ„ber aboute the yere of our Lorde .vi. C. .xxii. ¶ De sancto Finano epÌ„o confessore SEynt finane was borne of the people of Arades and seynt patryke prophecyed that he shulde be a holy Busshope wherfore his frendys in truste of seynt patrykys wordys at a souper brought hym thre vessellys of smalle Ale by his blessynge it was turnyd into wyne After he was coÌ„myttyd to the busshope Colman to enfourme And as he on a tyme wolde haue betyn hym an Aungell helde his hande styll vppe in the ayre wherfore he sayde he wolde no more bete hym And after a holy abbot also refusyd to haue hym
.ix. kalendr of NoueÌ„bre De sancto Malichia ¶ De sancto Malichia Episcopo confessore SEynt Malachie was borne in Irlande amonge barbarous people and as a fysshe is in the salt see and is nat salt so was seynt Malachie good amoÌ„ge euyll people he went to a man that lyued a solytary lyfe seruynge our lorde in fastyngê and prayers and of hym he toke his example of lyuynge and in shorte tyme had many disciples and there he toke the ordre of presthode The bysshop coÌ„mytted to hyÌ„ his auctoryte to pÌ„che vnto the rude people whiche he dyd with great fauoure and what so euer he sawe out of good ordre he spared nat to reproue theym of it He had great loue and zele to the seruyce of god honoure to the Sacramentes of the Chuche and went to a holy bysshop called Malcus that was borne in Irlande brought vp in Englande and that had ben a monke at Wynchester to lerne at hym that he taught nothynge but as the Churche coÌ„mauÌ„ded after he was made bysshop of CoÌ„nereth in Irlande where anone he ê‘ceyued that the people were bestely and rude Cristen men in name and nat in dede they payed no tythes they lyued out of laufull matrymony they made no confessions there was no man to enioyne penauÌ„cene to aske it they made more noyse in the Churche then the precher or they that sange wherfore to refourme thyse people he put hym selfe in Ieopardye as a good Sheperd and admonysshed theym of theyr defautes openly and also secretely he wepte vpon theym tenderly nowe he spake sharpely and anone more easely And whenne henothynge preuayled he humbly watched in prayer for them to our lorde when they wolde nat come to the Churche he wolde go in to theym lokynge who he myght wyn to our lord when euyll wordes were sayde to hym he spake fayre and when he was wronged he toke pacyence and so with goodnesse he ouercame euyll Thus were the people reformed Churches were buylded the lawes of the Churche receyued the Sacramentes duely mynystred the people went to confessyons and toke penaunce after the deth of the Archebysshop Celsus he was made Archebysshop of Archemacan and yet he wolde neuer haue seruaunt ne house of his owne he went in maner a wayes aboute the parysshes prechynge the worde of god and leued of the Gospell Other prelates toke Lordshyp in the Clergye and he made hymselfe seruaunte to all men After he gaue vp the Archebysshopryche and went to his parysshe agayne Thenne he wente to Rome there the Pope toke a Myter fro his owne hedde and set it vpon his hedde and also gaue hym a stole and a phanon Fro thens he went to Clareuall to seynt Bernarde and leuynge with hym foure of his disciples he went in to Scotlande where our Lorde shewyd for hym many myracles and after he went into Irlande and there he helyd a monke of the great fallynge sykenesse Thenne he went agayne to Scotlande and so thorughe Englande to Clareualle to seynt Bernarde And there he dyed the .iiii. Nonas of Nouembre In the yere of our Lorde god a Thousande a hondred and .xlviii. and Seynt Bernarde wrote his lyfe wherin be many notable thynges ¶ De sancta Margareta Regina Scocie SEynt Margaret Quene of Scotlande was doughter of Edwarde outlawe sone to Edmonde Irneside And she by prouysion of god was Maryed to MalcolynÌ„ kynge of Scotlande she delyted more in good werkes thenne in possessions or ryches Ofttymes she called her children afore her and admonysshed theym to loue and drede our lord and dayly she prayed for theym that they myght pleas hym she enduced the kynge to do Iustyce with mercye and to gyue alines in her dayes the kynges seruauntê durst nat take any thynge fro pore men or otherwyse hurte theym She reproued the people of Scotlande in that they begann at Lent so that they myght faste .xl. dayes besyde the sondayes and that theyr prestes sange nat masse after the custome of the Churche and that the people were nat howseled at Ester that they kept nat the sondayes and that they maryed theyr moders in lawe and susters in lawe she reformed theym in thyse poyntê The kynge seynge the holy ghost was with her helped her forewarde in all that she went aboute She serched where she myght fynde pore people to do almes vpon on the nyghtê she sayd Matens of the Trinite of the holy crosse of our ladye the Dirige and the Psalter And thenne she vsed to wasshe .vi. pore men and then she toke rest In the mornynges she refressed .ix. orphanes and serued theym knelynge And afore dyner the kynge and she serued CCC pore people her boke fell into the water and lay there a daye and a nyght without hurte she knewe the deth of her husbonde sone that were slayne in Batayle whiche she toke pacyently she dyed the .iiii. Idus of Iune lyeth in the Churche of the holy trinite that she had buylded in the same place where she was maryed ¶ De sancta Maxencia virgine martyre SEynt Maxence was doughter to Marcolane soÌ„tyme kynge of Scotlande fro her youth she entended to kepe virginite after a prynce called maxencius was a pagan desyred her in maryage wherto he had her fathers assent and she perceyuyng that fledde to a churche and coÌ„mended her virginite to oure Lorde And after with an olde man and a Mayde she fledde secretely and came into Fraunce into a place called Pontis and as it is sayd in the way thyder she went ouer the water of ysara wtout bote and the sayd the prynce made suche serche that he founde where she was and when he coulde by no mean haue her assent in a fury he toke her by the heer and stroke of her hedde after kylled both her seruauntê and she toke vp her hedde and bare it to the place where she now lyeth and ouer her is buyldyd a godly churche where our lorde hath shewyd for her many myracles kyng Charles that reyned in tho dayes loued her churche moche gaue many great thynges to it ¶ De sancto Mellito ArchiepÌ„o confessore SEynt Gregorie was moche dylygent for the conuertynge of the people of Englande to the fayth and also to haue the people well ordered after they were conuerted wherfore he is moche to be honoured by Englysshmen after kynge Ethelbert his people were coÌ„uerted by seynt Augustyne he sent worde therof to seynt Gregorie as in the lyfe of seynt Mellytapperyth and then seynt Gregorie sent Mellite Iuste and Pallyne with dyuerse other into Englande to preche to the people and Mellite in the yere of our lorde .vi. hondred and foure was made bysshop in the prouynce of Eest saxons nyghe to Thamyse where London is metropolys and by hym that prouynce was conuertyd and the Churche of seynt Paule that was made by kynge Ethelbert is the bysshoppes see and after the deth of kyng
home he vysytyd the Relykys of his Mayster seynt Edmōde And when he came into Englonde he suffred many great rebukys and Iniuryes in great pacyence a longe tyme Tyll after great sute he was restoryd to his possessyons This blessyd man after that he was made Busshope went aboute his dyoces prechynge visytynge and mynystrynge of the sacramentys He was fro thens more feruent in prayer more lyberall in almes gyuynge the more dylygent aboute poore men and his demeanoure was the more meke he made a place that preestys that felle in Pouerte myghte be releuyd in A great man whom he had accursyd for wronge doon to his Churche came to hym he receyuyd hym famylyerly bade hym to dyner sayinge for that tyme he wolde assoyle hym that after that tyme the sentence shulde reuyue onlesse he made amendys in that he had offendyd agaynste the the Churche sayinge also if partyes do varye for any thynge that they clayme ryght in yet they ought to shewe charyte to eche other for if a man clayme that that is his he maye not yet withdrawe fro god that that is his whiche is charyte He sought for poore men as he went in vysytacyon and wolde aswell with his owne presence as with his almes comforte them He herd confessyons he assoylyd penytentys He gaue counceyll to them that axyd for it He strengthed men that were feruent to serue god and multyplyed brede that fedde moche people reysyd a Chylde that was deed borne this blessyd man as he was prechynge by the Popes auctoryte for helpe of the Holy lande dyed at douer the thyrde nonas of apryll and was brought frothens to chychestre where our lord hath shewyd for hym many myracles ¶ De seruo dei Roberto abbate venerabili SEynt robert was borne in the prouynce of yorke he toke order of preesthod had a benefice which he forsoke enteryd into Relygyon at whytby after by lycence of his Abbot he went to fontes where Rycharde pryor of seynt mary of yorke had buyldyd a Monasterye there no man lyuyd Idle but gaue hym to laboure the bretherne went hungry to theyr table and wery to bedde they lyuyd without murmure or Heuynes in great feruoure they laudyd our Lorde after seynt Robert made a newe Monasterye and there he was made abbot He neuer rose fro his table fullysacyate he fasted euery lent Breed and water At an Estre tyme when he had no appetyte to ete he sayde he thought that if he had eten Brede with butter he shulde ete it and whan it was brought consyderynge that he had somwhat assentyd to his concupyscence he wolde not ete it but sent it to the gate to poore men where an Aungell lyke a yonge man with a bryght shynynge face toke the dysshe anon vanysshyd awaye and when the dysshe was askyd for it fell sodeynly vppon the Borde before seynt Robert He sayde dayly besyde his dutye C. .l. psalmes As he went by newe castell he sawe the Deuyll amonge moche yonge people by compulcyon he shewyd seynt Robert that ne had ben his cōmynge he had made the husbonde at a pompyouse Bryde as to haue ben slayne by his enemyes And there vpon shulde haue folowyd great murdre And by his cōmynge he sayd all his purpose was stoppyd On a nyght he thought he sawe the Dedyll amonge his Bretherne that he toke a Nouyce that was not stable pullyd hym into his Basket with his Hoke in the mornynge seynt Robert enquyred for hym and he was ren his weye and accōpanyed hym to the theuys where shortlye after his heed was stryken of he was ghostlye fader to seynt Godryke And when he dyed seynt Godrykesawe thre Aungellys bere his soule to Heuen And seynt Godryke sayd that of the purueyaunce of god a blessyd woman of Hastynges wente with hym in oonsorte oon rewarde into Heuyn He dyed the yere of our Lorde a Thousande a Hundred and .lix. the .vii. I de of Iune for whome oure Lorde hath shewyd many great myracles A dome man that hadde lōge ben at seynt thomas for helpe was bydden by seynt Thomas that he shulde goo to the newe Monesterye to seynt Robert there he shulde be helyd and soo he was a Knyght sawe in vysyon many Deuyllys goo towarde the newe Monastery he thought a Monke in whyght apparell came out of the Monastery and with his crosyer lyfte vppe prohybytyd them that they shuld goo no ferther and he thought that with theyr stryuynge a Crosse that was nygh to hym was throwne downe and so it was asapperyd when he sent thyder in the mornynge De sancto Rumwaldo THe moder of seynt rūwalde was doughter to kynge pēda which was a paynym and she was Crystened was maryed to the kynge of northāhumbre that was a paynym and she prayed hartelye to our Lorde that her body shulde neuer be defoulyd with a man eschaungyd fro his lawe and when she came into the chaumbre she tolde her Husbonde that she wolde neuer accūpany with hym tyll he was crystenyd and by the wyll of our Lorde he assentyd And aftre as he and the quene which was great with Chylde were goynge to her fader She was delyueryd in Tētys in a medowe besyde buckyngham callyd Suttun and anon as the Chylde was borne he cryed I am a cristen man thryse and he sayd he wolde not haue to his godfaders the Ryche prowde men of the worlde but chase to his godfaders two holy Prestis Wyderynus and Edwoldus and he shewyd a Holowe stone that he shulde be crystenyd in and when moch people coulde not remoue the stone he bade wyderinus and Edwoldus in the name of our Lord to brynge it anon they brought it without dyffyculte And so he was crystenyd and was callyd Rumwalde as he appoyntyd And anon he prechyd to the people the hyghe mysteryes of the Trynyte howe they were thre personys and one god of the Artycles of the feythe and of the .x. commaundemētys and specyally of the Loue to almyghty god to our neyghbour exortyd the people to do penaūce for theyr synnys which is to leue theyr euyll Lyfe to make amendys for that they haue offendyd with Fastynges prayers Almesdedys aduertysyd the people to loue honour eche other not to accuse other not to detracte other not to stele ne to be forsworne And when he had made a long sermon approuyd it by grete auctorytes of Scripture He sayd it was not for hym to lyue in this worlde and so aftre thre dayes his spiryt went to heuen the thyrde nonas of Nouembre as he had appoyntyd his bodye lay oon yere there as he was borne two yerys at Brakley and then at Buckyngham where he lyeth at this day theyse Townys at that tyme were not so namyd but after they were callyd accordynge as he had namyd them our lorde hath shewyd for hym many myracles
in theyr hattys to haue her to theyr sone in maryage And anon sente messengers with letters full pleasaunte to the Kynge her Fader and to the Quene her moder promysynge great gyftys rewardys if they wolde assente and furthermore ryght harde and sharpe thretenyngys if they wolde not agree therto By reason wherof the sayd Kynge her Fader was in great Sorowe and Heuynes coÌ„syderynge the myght power of this other kynge therto howe harde cruell he was also that he was an Infydell wherfore he was ryght lothe to mary his Doughter to the sayd Kyngys sone and also of the other syde he knewe for certeyne that though he wolde agre yet she wolde not but rather suffre dethe she was so stedfaste in the feythe relygyous and chaste and thus he beynge in great perplexyte and doutfull peryll the foresayde Blessyd vyrgyne his Donghter was warnyd by an Aungell that she shulde goo to her Fader and bydde hym agree to the other Kyngys requeste and desyre and that she shulde assent therto and so shulde she comforte and assure her Fader and peacyfye and make glad the other parte Neuerthelesse the abbot askyd forgynes and desyryd that he myght haue agayne that Bodye or a noder promysynge certeynlye that he wolde put it in a goodlye coffer which he coulde in no wyse opteyne ¶ De sancta Wlfhilda virgine THe great graundefader of seynt Wlfhyde was founde in an Egles neest by Alfryde kynge of weste saxons whiche Crystenyd hym callyd hym nestynge because he was takyn out of a nest whoÌ„ he brought vp nobly made hym erle He had Issu witburdynge which had Issu wlfhelme fader to seynt wlfhylde which with his wyfe after they had dyuerse Chylderne lyuyd chaste .xviii. yerys then by monycyon of an AuÌ„gell they knewe the wyll of god had a doughter whoÌ„ they callyd wlfhylde coÌ„myttyd her to the nonnes at Wylton to brynge vp kynge edgare in processe of tyme wolde haue maryed her when he coulde by no meanys haue her assent ne yet haue her to come speke with hym and that he durste not take her out of the Churche he toke counceyll of her Aunte callyd wenflede which beynge desyrous to haue her nese exaltyd dyssymylyd her selfe to be syke so the Blessyd vyrgyne came to wharwelle to vyset her Aunte where she founde her not syke but syttynge at dyner with the Kynge in great Royalte And anon the vyrgyn was apparayled in goodlye apparell and the Kynge made her to sytte betwen ehym and her Aunte promysynge her great Ryches and to be Ladye of Brytayne which in her Harte she abhorryd thoughe she sayd it not with her mouthe And dyssymylynge her selfe to be syke wolde ete no mete alweyes thynkynge howe she myghte escape which the Kynge perceyuyd and appoyntyd certeyne knyghtys to kepe her both within the house with out and after with her to maydens she went into a secrete house and dyd of her pompyous ornamentys and by a lytell hole an Aungell beinge her guyde she escapyd and lyke a poore woman came into a pore womans house in wharwell and all that nyghte she was sought by the kynges seruauÌ„tys coulde not be founde in the mornynge she went to wylton whyther the Kynge folowyd and attemptyd all that he coulde to haue her speke with hym coulde not tyll it hapned hym to mete her in the cloyster wherof he was veray gladde and toke her by the sleue she anon pullyd away her arme and the clothe remaynyd styll in the Kynges hande more easely seueryd then if it had ben cut of and so she went streyght to the hyghe Aulter and commytted her virgynyte to our Lorde and the Kynge astonyed at the seuerynge of the sleue and a shamyd of his presumpcyon thought that it shulde betokyn that she the spouse of our Lorde shulde be cleerly seueryd fro hym wherfore he went to her and bade her not feer for he wolde no more lette her porpose but rather be a helper of it wherupon he gaue her the monasterye of Barkynge and newly repayryd it after of her owne patrymony she made a noder at Horton whiche is lyke farre that is to save nyghe aboute .xii. myles fro Wylton Shaftesburye Warram and Hampton And in euerye oon of them the Kynge gaue her a Churche Whanne she was professyd a whyghte Doue was seen destende vppon her Hedde with the sygne of the Crosse she helyd a blynde Chylde And whan Seynt Ethelwolde came to her the Mynystres tolde her that she lackyd Drynke Wherfore for gladnes of suche a geeste she putte her truste in our Lorde and the Uessellys mynysshed not By meanys of the clerkys of Barkynge the Quene alstrude moder to kynge Ethelrede put her out of Barkynge and the Clerkys hadde the rule and when she wente fourthe of the gatys she sayde to the Susters wepynge for her departynge that the same daye and iÌ„ the same gate after .xx. yerys she shulde come agayne and so she went to the Monasterye of Horton where she encouragyd the susters as well present as absent by Wordes Exaumples and by Messyngers to the desyre of Heuenlye thynges aftre the Quene was Punysshed as well by Deth of brute Beestys as of men and at the laste she her selfe felle syke to whom seynt Alburghe apperyd in poore appareyll with a syklye couÌ„tenaunce whiche she sayde was longe of her seyinge she shulde neuer be hoole tyll she broughte Seynt Wlfhylde agayne And soâ— she broughte her agayne the same Day as she hadde prophecyed after that she lyuyd .vii. yerys And was Abbesse of bothe Monasteryes of Barkynge and Horton And she sayde she shulde dye on seynt Ethel woldes euyn And soo she dyed at London the .v. I de of Septembre As she was in bryngynge to Barkynge one that Seynt Wlfhylde hadde reprouyd for his Synne layde hande to the Beere And fourth with it was soo heuy that it wolde in no wyse be remouyd And whanne he was Confessyd and dyd Penaunce he came agayne and helpyd to bere the Hâ—rse as other dydde In her oratorye at Horton a woman receyuyd her Syghte And as she was admonysshyd she wente to Barkynge with great dyffyculte in maner crepynge where she receyuyd perfyght helthe ¶ De sancto Wlrico confessore SEynt wlryke was borne in contane that is .viii. myle fro Brystolle and beynge a preest he vsyd bothe Huntynge and Haukynge after he wente to halesberge that is .xxx. myle fro Oxforde And there of his owne deuocyon he buryed hymselfe to our Lorde so mortyfyed his Flesshe with fastyngys and vygyllys that scarcely the skyn myght hange to the Bonys he ete Breed made of otys and dranke no maner of Wyne nor any thynge that myght dystempre But onlye on hyghe Festys for reuerence of the Feest On vygyllys he watchyd all nyghte oonles that sykenes lettyd hym He slepte in no Bedde but lenynge his Heed to a walle and wheÌ„ he wakyd furth wyth he went
there he had auctoryte to preche and was made Busshope after he retournyd to wyrtzburgh where he connertyd the duke and all the countrey to the feythe And when he had lernyd that the Duke had maryed his broders wyfe yet neuerthelesse for a tyme he forbere and wolde not speke to the duke therof leste it shuld haue made trouble at his newe conuersyon but when he sawe he was strengthnyd in the feythe he admonysshed hym therof Streyghtlye wherfore the quene when the Kynge was goon to batell martyryd seynt Kylyan all his cōpanye and buryed them with all theyr Bokys in a pryuy place made a stable ouer theym that they shulde neuer be founde And when the kynge came home she tolde hym that they were goon on pylgrymage the cursyd men that put them to deth fell madde and cryed Kylyan kyllyan why doest thou so burne vs And not longe after the quene was takyn with a Deuyll she sayde she was worthy to haue tourmētys for she tourmentyd the ryght wyse men and furthwyth she dyed a Preest herde Chylderne saye seynt Kylyan doth many signes he muste be takyn vp for he lyeth not in a cōuenyent place And when he toke no hede to theyr sayinge the nexte nyghte he was stryken blynde and he harde a voyce saye to hym without thou beleue thou shalt not see And then he sought for them and when he came to the place where they were he sent for the Archebusshope of Magunce and tolde hym where they lay And then he had his syght ageyne ¶ De sanctis Keneburga Regina abbatissa desctis Kineswida Tibba virginibus SEynt kyneburgh kyneswyda were doughters to kynge penda a cruell pagan that was Kynge of Marshes And neuerthelesse his Doughters were crystenyd Kyneburgh was maryed and notwithstondynge by assent of her Husbonde she enteryd into relygyon so leuynge carnall Chylderne she had in shorte tyme many spyrytuell Chylderne she made a Monasterye callyd dormuncastre not far fro the Ryuer callyd venwhere she was made abbesse And with what dylygens she norysshed the sowlys to her cōmyttyd And how wakerye she was to kepe the cōmaūdemētis of our lord to kepe her holy porpose ī Relygion no tonge can tell seynt Kyneswyda lyuyd in virgynyte And after the Deth of seynt Kyneburgh off a Kynge of cest saxons wolde haue had kyneswyda to his wyfe whiche he attemptyd not only with feyre Speche but also with thretes And bycause she wolde not assent all her Frendys were agaynste her wherfore she prayed dylygentlye to oure Ladye for helpe and our Ladye apperyd to her comfortyd her and sayd ther was nothynge better for her than to kepe her Immaculate as she was borne nothynge more noble thē to take her sone to be her spouse more over she bade her not to fere for she sayde she wolde praye for her and therupon seynt Kyneswyda takynge boldenes sent worde to the Kynge that in no wyse she wolde assent And there upon the Kynge consyderynge her blessyd lyfe and seynge that he all his Rychesse were despysyd of a yonge mayde lefte the worlde went to Rome there he enteryd into Relygyon Seynt Tybba that was kynneswoman to seynt Kyneburgh and kyneswyda lyued many yerys a blessyd solytary lyfe And after her deth she apperyd to a holy man on seynt Lucyes daye and tolde hym that on that daye she yeldyd her sowle to heuyn And in the yere of our Lorde a thousande and fyue the relyhys of the fayde blessyd women Kyneburghe Kyneswyda and Tybba were translatyd to Peterburgh and there theyr feest is Halowyd the Daye before the Nonas of Marche ¶ De sancto Lamfranco archiep̄o SEynt lamfranke was borne in the Cytie of papeder and in his youth he forsoke his faders successyon gyuynge hym to studye And when he had atteynyd hygh seculer lernynge he came into Normandye and there he was takyn with theuys and was cobbyd of all that he had wherupon he went to the abbey of Beccense in Normandye as to the porest house he could here of and there he founde the Abbot bakynge of Brede and his handys were myrye to stoppe the Ouen and there he enteryd into Relygyon and lyuyd in profounde humylyte obedyence On a tyme as he redde the lecture the presydent founde a defaute at his redynge bade hym amende it and he redde as he was commaundyd and yet he hadde redde better before but that he dyd to shewe hym selfe obedyent For the euyll maners of the Bretherne he thought to leue the Abbey and lyue in Desert and vsyd vnder coloure of a medesyn to ere Erbys to proue how he myght endure with them And on a nyght a kynnesman of the Abbottys lately decessyd apperyd vnto hym and shewyd hym the purpose of Lanfrāke and tolde the Abbot it was not good for hym that he shulde goo frō hym And when the Abbot with great wepyngys shewyd this to Lamfranke he sawe his coūceyll was dyscoueryd wherfore he thought it was the wyll of god that he shuld tary so he dyd was made pryor there after Abbot of Cadonyence This blessyd man came into Englonde with wyllyam conqueroure and was made Archebusshoppe of Caunterbury dyd many notable thyngys in thys Realme He gaue great Possessyons to the Chyrche of Rochester and restoryd seynt Albons to the fyrste estate As he satte by the Kynge at a solempne feest a Rayler seynge the kynge syt ī gloryouse apparell seyd lo I se god lo I se god And seynt Lamfranke remembrynge the hystorye of Herode aduertysyd the kynge that he shuld not suffer such wordys spokyn to hym that belōgyd only to god but that he shuld commaunde hym that speke them to be betyn so that he shulde neuer after dare speke such wordys and so it was don He was a man of great lyberalyte and as it is sayde gaue yerely in aknes fyue hūdred poūdys And he was a man of a quycke spyryt and recoueryd many thynges that were wrongfully holden fro his Chyrche And oftyn tymes seynt dunstan apperyd vnto hym cōfortyd hym she wynge to hym the crafty purpose of his enemyes He was dyuerse tymes at Rome where he was had in great fauoure of the Pope when it happenyd hym at any tyme to be at beccense he wolde not vse hym selfe but as he had ben pryour he was profounde in humylyte large in almes a great helper of pore men a defender of pupyllys and a comforter of wydowys And with sobernes he refourmyd the Monkys of Caunterbury that had vysd before hys tyme Huntynge Haukynge and such other wanton disportys and in the .xix. yere after he had ben busshope the .v. kalendas of Iune he Dyed and lyeth at Caunterbury in a Chyrche which he in his lyfe buyldyd ¶ De sancto laurencio archiepiscopo SEynt Laurence was archebusshope of Caunterbury next after seynt Augustyne And after seynt Ethelbertys deth the Kynge Ebbalde his
of my bed to laude and prayse hym that is euer wonte to helpe me to whom the lady sayd who is that The virgyne sayd our lorde Crucyfyed that I sawe of late And from that daye furth hir moder in lawe honoured hir and louyd hir more feruently then she was wont to do As seynt Byrget was playinge with Maydens of lyke age to hyr The deuyll appered vnto hir hauynge a hondreth handes and fete moste fowle lothsome to beholde of which syght she beynge merueylously a ferde went streyght and coÌ„mytted hir to the Crucyfyx wher the deuyll eftsones apperyd sayd I haue no power to do any thynge to the but the crucyfix suffer me to do it and therupon he vanysshed awaye And so our lorde delyuered hir from that daunger when she was .xiii. yeres of age though she entendyd by great feruent desyre to haue lyued all hir lyfe in virginite neuerthelesse aswell by the puruyaunce of almyghty god as by the counceyll of hyr Fader she was maryed tâ— a noble yonge knyght called Ulpho de Ulphasume prynce of Neryce of the age of .xviii. yeres otherwyse called Ulpho Gudhmarson whiche also was a virgyn And by the space of .ii. yeres after they were maryed they lyued togyder clene vgynes And after with deuoute prayers made to almyghty god that in the acte of matrymony he wolde kepe theym without offence and that it wolde please hym to sende theym yssue to his pleasur they had .viii. Childrene that is to say .iiii. sones .iiii. doughters The names of the sones were these Charles Birgerus Benedictus and Gudmarus And the names of the .iiii. doughters be thyse Merita Katerina Iuge burgys and Cecilia Charles the eldest sone of seynt Byrget was a noble knyght and went with his moder in pylgremage towarde Iherusalem redy to haue ieoparde his lyfe for the recouerynge of the holy lande and as he was goynge at â—apuls he dyed the .xii. day of Marche and in the day of the Ascencion of our lorde next folowyng his soule went to heuyn as it was shewyd to seynt Birgette by reuelacion as in the .vii. boke of hir reuelacions the .xiii. and .xiiii. chapter apperyth And this noble knyght hadde a sone also that was called Charles whiche after he had atteyned great coÌ„nynge in Dyuynyte he left studye the purpose that he had begon in and toke a wyfe And on a tyme as he after the deth of seynt Birget was prayinge at hir tumbe she appered vnto hym holdynge as it had ben an Horologe of glasse in hir hande and sayd Charles seest thou howe nyghe this glasse hath renne his course and he sayd ye lady I se it well she sayd ayene so nyghe is the tyme of thy lyfe and there is no more abydynge for the but as thou seest But if thou haddyst ben obedyent to god thou shuldest haue lyued lenger then any other in my progenye and thou shuldest haue ben Bysshop of Lyntopens and a notable pyler in the churche of god Then he prayed hir that she wolde praye for hym sayd he wolde gladly amende in all that he myght And she sayd nay sone nay veryly iugement is gyuen and the tyme is paste and anone after he fell seke and therupon takynge all the sacramentê of the churche he dyed and is buryed in the Monasterye of Watzstenes whiche seynt Birget in hir lyf founded and endowed it suffycyently for .lx. nonnes .xxv. bretherne Byrgerus the secunde sone of seint Birget went with his moder to Ihrt'in and there he was made knyght and came with hir agaynetâ— Rome And when seynt Birget was deed he and his suster Katheryne cuÌ„ueyed the relikes the bones of seynt Birget their moder to the sayd Monastery of Watzstenes in Swethyn And after many great labours and expensys done by the sayd Byrgerus by the coÌ„maundement of our lorde aboute the sayd Monasterye of Watzstenes for his moder the sayd Byrgerus chaunged this lyfe as it is mekely to bylue toke the blessynge of god with his seyntê in heuyn for the generacion of ryghtwysmeÌ„ shal be blessyd Benedict the thirde sone of seynt Birgette was longe seke in the monastery of Albastra wherfore seynt Birget wept tenderly prayed deuoutly for hym thynkynge it had ben for the synÌ„es of his Fader moder Then the deuyll appered vnto hir and sayd woman what menest thou with thy great wepynge so to feble thy syght all thy labour is in vayne trowest thou that thy terys can ascende into heuyn And anone our lorde cryste Ihesu was there present and sayd the sykenes of this childe is nat of the sterres nor for his synnes ne yet for the synÌ„es of his fader moder but it is of that coÌ„dicion of his nature for his morere wardeiÌ„ heuyn where beforetyme he hathe be called Benedict he shal be from hensforth called that sone of weâ—yng of prayers I shall shortly make an ende of his necessyte the .v. day after there was herde betwyx the bed where the childe laye the walle as it had ben the most swete songe of byrdes and then the soule of the childe went from the body Katheryne the seconde doughter of seynt Birget was maryed neuerthelesse she with hir husbande lyued in pure virginite after the deth of hir husbande she was alwayes with hir moderseit Birget lyued in the estate of wydo whod al hir lyfe This blessyd virgyne Katheryne bycause she was feruent in deuocion excellent in grauite of maners fayre of body lyued a blessyd lyfe to gyue other example of good lyuyng the moste honest woman of Rome loued to be in hir company And when she was on a tyme desyred by the moste noble matrones of the Cytie of Rome to walke with them for recreacyon without the walles of the Cytie as they walked here there amoÌ„ge many clusters of grapes They desyred the the sayd blessyd virgyne Katheryn bycause she was of an Eligant stature wold gather them of the sayd grapes as she streched vp hir armes to the grapes it semyd as thoughe hir armes had ben apperelled with shynyng cloth of golde where in dede for very voluÌ„tary pouerte that she had chosyn she had broken patchyd sleuys all that matrons meruayled that so meke a creature deuoute ê‘son wold weer so pÌ„cious apperell as it appered to them that she dyd nat knowyng that it was the mystery myracle of god that they sawe The ryuer of tyber rose with so great power of waâ— that it went ouer the bridge of LateraneÌ„ce the monastery of seynt Iames with many byldynges theraboute Wherfore the Cytezens of Rome dredynge the destruction of the cyte went vnto the house of the sayd blessyd virgyn Katheryn praying hir that she wold go with them to the Ryuer to pray to our lord for the cyte she of mekenes reputyng hir seâ—â— therto vnworthy desyred respyte wheÌ„ the cytezens lawe that by prayers they