dyed in brennyng lone â— charite to god man And they that dyen in charite schalle haue parte of alle good preyoures they that doo not schall neuer be saued Than as this dragoÌ„s fleith in the eyre they shedde down to the wateres frothe of her kinde so enuenymed the wateres and causithe moche peple to take her deth ther by many diuerse sikenesse Than on a tyme ther were many grete clerkys radde of kyng alisa â—der how on a tyme as he shulde haue a batayle with the kyng of Inde this kyng of inde broughte with hym many olyfauntes beryng casteles of tre one her backes as the kynne of hem is to haue knyghtes armed in the castell fore the batayle Thanne knewe alisauÌ„dre the kynde of the olyfauntes that they drad no thyng so moche as the â—arryng of swynne where for he made gadre to gedir alle the swyne that myghte be goton caused hem to be dreuyn as nye the olyâ—auÌ„tes as they myght well here the iarryng of the swyne and thann they made a pigge to crye and whanne the swynes herde the pigge crye a none they made a grete iarryng as sone as the olyfauntes herde that they beganne to fle eche on and caste downe the castellis slewe the knyghtes that were in heÌ„ by this mene Alisaundre hadde the victorye in this wyse Also these wyse clerkys knew well that dragons hatith no thyng more than the sâ—enche of brennyng bones there for they gaderid so many as they myghte fynde breÌ„de hem so with the â—tenche ther of they droue awey the dragons so they were brought out of grete dissese The secounde fyre was made of wode for that woll brenne light woll be seyne ferre fore hit is the chefe of fyre to be seyn feâ—re in tokenyng that seint iohan was a lanterne of lyghte to the people Also the people made blasis of fyre fore they shulde be seyne fer and specially in the nyght Semt ieremy the prophete many a yeris or iohan was born he prophecied spake thus with godd is mouth and â—eyde Priâ—squam te for maâ—â— in vtero no â—i â—e Before or thou were formed in thy moderis wombe I knew the Et antequa exires de uulua sanctifica â—â—te And before or thou yodeste oute of thy moderis wombe I halowed the Et prophe tam in gentibus de dite And I gaffe the â— prophete to the people Than for seint iohaÌ„ shulde be holy or he were borne ged sente his Angell gabriell to sacary seint iohans fadir as he did sacrifice in stede of abia the bishoppÌ„ in the temple and preyde to god to haue a childe for bothe he his wyffe were bareyne and olde Than seyde the angell to sacary Ne time as â—acarie Drede the not zacarye god hathe herde thy preyour Elisabeth uâ—or tâ—â— pariet filiuÌ„ et â—ocabi tur nomÌ„ eius iobeÌ„s elizabeth thy wyffe shall haue a childe his name shall be callid iohan he shall be fullfillid with the hooly goset Et multi in nâ—tiâ—itate eius gaudebunt And many shall ioye in the birth of hym than for zacarye was olde he preyde the angell to haue a tokyn of his he hefte than seyd the angell to hym he shulde be dome till the child were borne and so he was than câ—nceyned elisabeth whann she was quicke with childe oure lady come with child also to speke with Elisabeth and a none as she spake to Elisabeth semt iohan pleyde in his moderis wombe for ioye of cristus pÌ„sence that he sawe in oure lady And so there oure lady was with Elizabeth vn to the tyme that Iohan was borne was myd dewyffe to elisabeth toke seint iohan from the erth whan neyboures herde that elisabeth had a sone they were full glad come thedir as the maner was that tyme to yeue the childe a name called hit zacary aftyr the fadir but elisabeth badde calle hym iohan But for ther was none of the kynn of that name they askyd zacary be signes what the childe shulde hight ThaÌ„ be wrote to hem badde call hym Iohan. And there with god lousid zakaries tonge spake redely thankyd god highly Thus was iohan hooly or he was borne And fore he wolde yeue euery man sighte of grace of good leuyng he gaffe hym ensample for as sone as he was of couenable age he wente in to deserte was there till our lord come to be cristoned of hâ—m there he le â—yd full streytely Iohannes uero habuâ—t uestimenta de piliâ— cameloâ—â—m Iohan hathe his clothe made of the here of camell and a gyrdyll aboute hym of the same skynne Esâ—a autem eius erat locusta et mel siluestre For fothe his mete was leuys soke hony of leuys that the maner is lyke a whyte flowre that growith in trees And he ete all maner of wormes that were norisched in that deserte among her bis the wormes be as grete as a maÌ„nes fynger sokith hony of flowres that be callid hony soke lys that pore people gaderithe fryen in oyle to her mete Also iohan ete brode rounde leues that growyn in trees in that deserte And whan they be brokyn betwene a mannes hondes they be swete as hony And he dranke watyr of a well that was in that deserte This â—asiohans lyffe in that deserte till that oure lord was xxx â–ª wynter of age And thâ—n oâ—â— lord iohan mette at the watyr of flom iordan than iohan tolde â—he people of criste seyde â—â—â—e a 〈…〉 nuâ— dei Se the lombe of god ther I haue tolde yow of that shalle full fill yow in the hooly goste Thau wenâ—â— Iohan in to the watyr ther he baptised criste whann he was baptised-Ecce apertisunt celi He uyn opened Et uidit spiritum dei desceÌ„tem sicut columba And he sawe the hooly goste come downe as a doue Et uox de celo dicens And a voyce from heuen spake thus Ecce filius mens di lectus in quo michi bene complacui this is my well be louyd sone that plesith me Here ler nyd iohan first to know thre persones in trinite all this betoâ—enith ij fyres The iij. fyre of bonce betoâ—â—â—nith â—hannes martirdome 〈…〉 bo 〈…〉 ye shall 〈…〉 hat 〈…〉 a bro 〈…〉 PhilippÌ„ 〈…〉 lo 〈…〉 her 〈…〉 where io 〈…〉 hym seyde 〈…〉 tihi habere urâ—â—em fratris tui 〈…〉 not lawfull to the to haue thy brother is 〈◊〉 And there for he put hym in pryson ordeyned be twene him his wyffe how Iohan myght be dede with oute strobeiyng of the peple for the comyn people loued iohan well â—hann herowde ordeyned to make a grete feâ—te of all the stanâ— of the countrey for they shulde holde with h 〈…〉 ple hadde ry 〈…〉 so â—â—han the daâ—â—â—â— come that the feste shulde de holde and all the pepâ— were serued
that a kyng of ynde sende his messenger Abbanus In die requirens artificium to seke somme crafty man in to the countre of cesar to seke a carpenter that coude make hym a palyse to his plesaunce Thanne oure lord ihesu criste mete with this abbanus and sente hym to Thomas in to ynde also whan thomas and Abbanus were passed the see they come in to a cite there as the kynges doughter was weddid the same day where fore all maner of people were commaundid to mete so among othir people thomas and abbanus come ynne and where sette to mete but thomas ete not for his thoghte was euer of god and had no luste to ete Thanne come a botelere to thomas and smote thomas on the cheke and bad him ete than seyd Thomas to hym Non hunt surgam donec manus qui me percussit a â—anibus affertur I shall not ryse from this place tyll that honde that smote me be broughte in with a dogge Thanne anone after the Boteler wente after water and a lyon mette with hym and flew hym and drancke his blode ete of his body and than come a blake dogge and caughde that honde that smote thomas and broughte hit in to the halle in the sighte of all the people and leyde hit downe before thomas than was there a woman that vnderstode thomas wordis and anone knelyd downe to thomas and cryde and seyd thou arte god or else on of his disciples for right as thou wolte so hit is thanne the kyng preyde to thomas to blesse his doughter and her husbonde than thomas was gladde ther of Cepit ergo predicare beatus thomas therfore the blessed thomas be ganne to preche tolde hem of oure ihesu criste that he tourned the man that was weddyd the same day from his wyffe and made hym bishoppe of the same cite and his wyffe a nonne and they were marterys after for cristys sake Thanne wente thomas forthe in to ynde to the kyng to make hym a paleyse to his plesaunce so whanne thomas was come to the kyng he was glad and delyueryd Thomas a grete somme of golde to make a paleyse with than rode the kyng forth in the mene tyme And so whan thomas shulde haue made this paleyse hym thoughte hit was better to make a paleyse in heuen than in erâ—h and delyd his gold a mong pore people and coÌ„uertyd hem to the feyth Thanne come the kyng home and wente that his paleyse hadde be redy made And whan he herde how Thomas and Abbanus hadde done he wolde haue putte hem to dethe but hit happid that his owne brothir was dede the same tyme therfore he putte hem bothe in pryson in to the tyme that he hadde beryed his brothir Thanne as god wolde whan his brothir had longe lay dede he rose from deth to lyfe and tolde the kyng that he had seyne his paleyse in paradyse that thomas hadde made for hym and preyde the kyng that he myght haue hit and he wolde yeue hym as moche golde as he toke thomas Thanne the kyng toke his counsell and seyd nay I wâ—ll haue it my selfe lette hym make the anothir for his brothir had seyne this paleyce in paradyse made with golde and â—rayed with precious stones and clothe of golde Thanne the kyng toke cristendome and many a thousend with hym and whanne the bishops saw that the kyng and so moche othir people for soke her lawus and tourned to cristondome they where so wrothe with thomas that one of theym seyde he wolde venge his god and with a spere smote thomes thourghe the body and slewe hym Than cristen people beryed hym in a tombe of cristall and there god wote wroughte many miracles for hym For the hande that was in cristys syde wolde neuer come in to the tombe but euer lay with oute Also in his techyng and prechyng he taughte Duodecim gdua virtutum assignare Primua est vt in deum crederent â—ui est vnua in essencia et trinua in personiâ— Dedit eis triplex exemplum seâ—sibile quomodo sint indiuidencia vna â–ª treâ— persone â–ª Primum est quia vna eÌ„ in homine saâ—ieÌ„cia et de vna procedit intellectus memoria et ingenium memoria est vt non obliuiscaria in tellecto vt intelligas que ostendi possunt vel doceri ingenium est vt quod didiceriâ— inuenias Secundum est quia in vna vinea tria sunt lignum folium et fructus Et her omnia tria sunt vinea Tercium est quia caput nostrum ex quatuor sencibuâ— constat In vno autem capite sunt Disuâ— aâ—ditua adoratuâ— et gustus et hec plurasunt et tameÌ„ vnum caput Secundus gradua est vt baptismum suscipiat Terciuâ— gradus eÌ„ vt a fornicacione abstineat Quartuâ— vt se ab auaricia teperet Quintua vt gulam distringeret Sertuâ— vt penitâ—ciam teneret Septimus vt in hiis perseuerarent Ocrauns vt hospita litateÌ„ amarent Nonus vt voluÌ„tateÌ„ dei requiraÌ„t Decimuâ— est vt facienda quererent Vndecimuâ— vt caritateÌ„ amicia et innimiciâ— impendereÌ„t Duodecimuâ— est vt custodiaÌ„thiia vigileâ— curam exhiherent Item apostalus Omnea qui oderant deum de tribus breuiter instruxit scilicet vt ecclesiam diligerent Sacerdotes honora rent Et assidue adverhum dei conuenirent Also ther be many meruelous wondre full thynges done on this day for on that day all the countrey comythe the dyr to take pardone of that honde that lythe oute of the tombe in the vse of the bishop of the cite that gothe to masse And whanne he hathe seyd Confite or thanne he takyth a branche of a vyne and putte hit in to thomas honde that is oute of the tombe and than he gothe forthe to masse and the branche burgeneth oute grapus and be that tyme the gospel be seyd the grapis be rype than the bishop takythe the grapis and wryngith the wyne in the chales so singith with the same wyne and hoselyth the people and whan any man or woman comythe that is not worthy to receyue this hosell anon the honde closithe to gedyr and wyll not opyn tyll he be shreuen clene and than hit wyl opyn Also yf any people be in debate they shall be broughte be fore thomas tombe there the cause shall be rehersed than woll the honde tourne to hym that is in the ryght and so they be made at one Thus thomas preuith oure beleue and did many wyntres in his dayes Also iohan crisostomus seythe that thomas come in to the countre there as the thre kynges of coleyn were and thomas cristened hem for they hadde worshippyd god in his byrthe And there fore thomas come to hem and taughte hem the feythe the beleue of criste to that beleue that we may be sauyd god bryng vs all Amen De natiuitate domini
â—â—â—â—aundir fore to tourne the people to the feith Thanne whan he come to the cite vnneth he was enterid in to the cite his scho braste there by he wyste well that he shulde be dede Than he sawe a maÌ„ sitte cloute schon to pore people marke preyde hym to meÌ„de his scho Than for this man was pore hym thoughte hit was almesse to helpe hym at that tyme toke his scho began to sewe a none with his naâ—â— he hurte his honde what fore ache fore grete penaunce he seyde god helpe whan marke herde that he callid to god a none Marke preyde to god fore hym And thaÌ„ marke spatte on the erthe blessid hit a noyn tid his honde ther with seide In nomine patris Ihesu xpristi filii dei viâ—i sanâ—tur mannâ—tua In the name of the fadir â—he su criste the sone of quicke god thy honde be hole â—ocahitur autem homo ille ananiaâ— â–ª For sothe that man was callid anama whanne anania sawe soche vertu in marke he preyde him to twelle stille with hym Comoratusqâ— iâ— deÌ„ duâ—â—us annis And there dwelled he ij yere cristoned hym and all his housholde aftirwarde for grete holynesse that marke saw with this maÌ„ he made hym a bischoppÌ„ Thanne the people saw how marke 〈◊〉 in the Cite they toke hym and tyde a rope a hoâ—â—te his necke drewe him amoÌ„g stones till the flesche fill to the erthe seid drawe we the bugull to the bugull place So whanne he was drawe nyghe to dethe thaÌ„ they putte him in to prison till on the morowe Than the same nyghte criste come to hym in to pryson sayde Pese be to the marke oure euaÌ„ geliste be not a gaste fore I am with the Thanne on the morowe they coâ—â—â— feâ—te him oute of pÌ„ son drewe hym till he was dede whan he shulde dye he seyde In ma nnâ— tuas And so gaffe vp the goste aftirward they wolde brenne his body than there come sothe an erthe quake with a lightenyng thoundyr that there durste no maÌ„ a byde Than in the nyghte cristen people come toke markes body and beried hit Than fill hit so that euery cristen londe halowed seint markes day saue one couÌ„trey that is callid appolonia the whiche countre was so greuyd with heâ—e and drowthe that all the couÌ„trey fayled hem of frute so that they were well nere famelyd And thaÌ„ there come a voyce from heuen bad hem halowe seint markes day than they schulde be comfortid they dede so a noÌ„ god sente hem pleÌ„te of all maner of frutesy nowe Now hit is to wete why we schulde faste this day go in precession we rede in the cite of rome one this day fill soche a qualme a sodeyn deth that whan a man yaned or gapid or fuesid a noÌ„ he dyede and there dyede many sodenly Thanne was there a pope was callid Pellagius that commaundid all cristen people that whan he yaned euery man schulde make a crosse ouer his mouthe And whan any man her de a nothir fuese he schulde sey criste helpe the. so many were saued and there he made the people go a procession so preyng to all the semtyâ— of heuen to prey to god for hem so they dede ThoÌ„ come aftyr seint Grego ry made hem do the same on seinte markes day to halowe faste go in procession canoniâ—ed hit to be done for euer more than come there a pope that was callid Liberius yn his tyme all maner frutis in this tyme of the yere of grete tendirnesse of hit selfe toke grete harme so what by thoundyr lightenyng vnkynde heteâ— by stormys mildewes by wormes by long tayled fleyes for vengeauÌ„ce that a none aftyr Estyr day the people tourned a yene to her olde synne hauyng no reward of the sacramente whiche they haue receyned and there fore god sente more vengeaunce this tyme than in any othir tyme of the yere where fore this hooly 〈◊〉 to putte a wey all these thynges in speciall goddis wrethe fro the people he coÌ„mauÌ„did to all cristen peple to halowe to faste go in procession he that seyde that hit is made be a coÌ„stitucion is a cursed till he come to amendement And there for I charge yow counsell yowe all that thynkith to be saued kepe this day aftyr the rewle of holy church In die philippi â— iacobi GOod frendis soche a day ye shall haue the feste of philippe iacob the whiche were holy apostles But for this feste comith with ynne feste of Estyr ye shall not faste the euyn but ye shall come to chirche to worshippe god the hooly apostles ThaÌ„ ye shall knowe well that philippe was ordeyned by alle othir apostles to goo in to countrey that was callid Sithia to preche to the vnbeleued people But whan he come the dir prechid yene the maumentes preuing that they were fendes and no goddis so they toke hym ladde hym to her temple wolde haue constreyned hym to haue do sacrifice Than as they were besy to do hym dissese sodenly a grete dragon come oute of the â—â— the slew iij. of this misse beleued people venemed so the people with his brethyng that there fâ—ll on hem soche a sikenesse that the wo the sorow that they hadde they cride aftyr helpe Than seyde philippÌ„ to hem yf ye woll be holpen helid of your sikenes also these men reaid from dethe to lyue Furste caste downe the maumentes sette in her stede crossis like to the crosse ther as oure lord dyed vpon and do hit worshippÌ„ Thann they dede so for they were glad to be holpyn of her sikenesse as sone as they had do so they were holpyn And than philippÌ„ preyde to god for the iij. men to rise from deth to lyue Tunc precepit phillippus draconi vt in locum suuÌ„ redescenderet Thanne philippe commaundid the dragon to go downe to his place a yene neuer dissese man more Than the cursed people of the Cite sawe that philippe wolde haue tourned all the people toke hym did him vpon a crosse so on a crosse he dyed wente to euer lasting blisse Amen Now shall ye here of Iacob that was callid among the apostles Iacobus minor the lesse â—ames for to know from Iacobus maior Iames the more that was seint iohan Euangeliste brothir But whan jacobus or james that is alle one name this man was callid cristus owne brothir for he was so moche like to criste Than whaÌ„ the iewes wolde haue take criste they cowde not knowe on from a nothir but as judas betrayed Criste with kyssyng of him by that kyssing criste was knowen takyn This iames was so holy from the tyme that he was borne as longe as
to god and to holy churche as cristeÌ„ peple shulde do in worship of hym that dyed on the crosse Than ye shall vnderstonde why it is callid InueÌ„cio erucis the fyndyng of the crosse the whiche was fouÌ„de in this wyse as I shall tell yow whan Adam oure furste fadir was sike for olde wolde fayne haue be oute of this world Adam sente seth his sone to the angell keper of paradyse pÌ„yng the angell to sende hym the oyle of mercy to anoynte his body with whan he were dede ThaÌ„ wente seth to paradyse seyde his message to the angell Than answered the angell seyde that he myght not haue hit tille the yeris be fullfillid but haue this branche of the tre that thy fadir synned ynne serce hit one his graue whan hit berithe frute thann shall he haue mercy not erste ThaÌ„ toke seth this branche come home founde his fadir dede Than he sette this branche on his fade râ—s graue as the aÌ„gell bad hym do the whiche branche goowed there till salomon was kyng and he made fell hit down for hit was fayre to the werke of his temple But hit wolde not corde with the worke of his temple Salamon made to caste hit downe in to the erthe was hit hydde there in tyme that the bishoppe of the teÌ„ple lete make a wayre in the same place there the tre lay to wessâ— in shepe that were offered in the temple Than whan this wayr was made they callid hit in theyr langage Probatica piscina in the whiche watyr euery day come an angell from heueÌ„ did worship to the â—tre that lay in the grounde of the weyre and meuyd the watyr what man or woman that come in to the watyr nexte aftyr the angell was made hole what sikenes that euer he had be vertu of the tre so endured many wyntres in to the tyme that criste was takyn shulde be done one the crosse Than this tree by the ordenauÌ„ce of god swaÌ„ vpon the watyr whan the iewes had none othir tre redy to make the crosse of fore grete haste that they hadde they toke the same tre made there of a crosse so did oure lorde there on than that tree bare that blessid frute cristus owne body of the whiche wellith the Oyle of mercy to Adam to Eue all othir of her of spryng But whan crist was dede was take downe of the crosse for enuye that the iewes hadde to hym they toke the crosse to ij othir crosses that the thefes were hongâ—dâ— on eythyr side of criste beried he mâ—depe in the erthe for criston people shulde not wete where yâ— they were done for to do hit worshippe And there it lay a yere more in to the tyme that Elene the Emperes modir of constantyne gaderid grete people to fighte with maxencius at a grete watyuouer the whiche watye lay a grete brigge for disceyte of conscantyne maxencius lete make a trappe hoppyng vp down so for to haue disceyued Constantyne that he shulde haue fallyn in to the watyr as Constantyne lay in his bâ—d sore a ferde of maxencius for he was moche bigger of people than he was than come to hym an angell with a signâ— of the crosse sheytrnynâ—â—s golde seyde to him â–ª to morow whannethon goste to the batayle take this signe in thy honde and by the vertu ther of thou shalt haue victon Thanne was constantyne woundir glad anon lete make a Crosse of the tre to bere hit to fore heÌ„ to the batayle But whaÌ„ maxencius sawe hym nyghe the brigge he was so feres of hym selfe that he had for gete the trappe the whiche he had made hym selfe so come one the brigge fill down in to the watyr by the trappe was drowned ThaÌ„ was all his oft woundir fayne to yelde hem to coÌ„stantyne with good wyll Than for Constantyne was not yit cristoned of hym also he was helid of a leper that he had Than a none be couÌ„sell of the pope he sente his modir quene Elene that was quene of iherusalem â— preyde her to go seke the crosse ther crist dyed on This Elene was a kynges doughter of Englond the Emperour of rome weddid her for her beute so she was made emperes of rome But aftyr lxr husbondes deth she had the kygdome of iherusaleÌ„ to dowry where she made gadir all Iewes that myght be fouÌ„de seyde but yf they wold shewe her the crosse they shulde all be brente ThaÌ„ was ther on of hem that highte iudas all seyde that he knewe beste where the crosse was Than seyde Elene to hym Si vis ninere ostende michi lignum crucia yf thou wolde leuâ— shewe me the crosse that god dyed vpon or else thou shalte be brente and so puttâ— hym to grete distresse Than he sawe he mustened is tell or dye seid to hem I be seche yow lete me to the mounte of Caluary there as I shall bide yow I shall shew yow the crosse of Criste for he was blynde myghte not se And so whaÌ„ he was broughte to the mouÌ„te of caluary he knelid downe preyde loÌ„ge whan he hadde preyde the place there the â—rosse was menyd the erthe quoke there come a swete sauore from that place there the crosse lay that was as swete as any spicery in the world And than they diggid there loÌ„ge at the laste they fouÌ„de there iij. crosses but thaÌ„ wuste they notte whiche was cristus crosse from yâ— othir ij And than toke they a dede body leyde hit now on that crosse now on that othir whaÌ„ hit come to cristus crosse a none the body rose to lyue thankyd god ThaÌ„ seyde this iudas Thowe arte criste trewly sauior of all the world And aftyr that iudas was cristoned a none was an hooly man aftyr Than toke Elene a parte of yâ— crosse sende hit to rome to her sone the remenaâ— te there of she made to shryne hit in siluer golde lefte hit in iherusaleÌ„ with all the worshippe yâ— she cowde thus holy chirche makithe mynde this day that the hooly crosse was founde Than as we rede we finde in a cite that was callid Birectus a cristen man hyred an house of a iewe to dwelle yn Than hadde this man a rode the whiche nichodemus had made in mynde of criste Than toke he this rode sette hit vp in a pÌ„uy place of his house for sighte of the iewes did hit worshippe aftyr his connyng Than aftyr hÌ„it fill so that this man wente in to a nothir house happid hym to leue this â—ode be hynde him vnwetyng Than come the iewe dwellid in the house ther this cristen man hadde be ynne Than for to make hym good chere his neyboures come on a nyght and souped with
and to oure lady â—n shewyng that he that is moste mekyste in hert is moste nexte oure lord ihesu criste and soche he a vaunsith in euerlasting blysse And there for the Genelogie this nyght begynnythe at ihesu criste gothe vpwardes to abraham and so to god Also he was shewed verray god in trinite whann he tourned watyr in wyne at the weddyng Hit happit so the people â—â—ackyd wyne at the mete Thanne badde our lord that they shulde take vi steues or pottys that were empty and bad fill heÌ„ with watyr and they did Thanne oure lord blessed hem and bad they sholde â—ere theym that be ganne the table and late hym begynne and than he be ganne and seyd hit was the beste wyne that euer he dranke Thus oure lord shewed hym selfe bothe god man god in that he tourned watyr in to wyne and man in that he etâ— and dranke with hem This miracle he shewde at the weddyng in tokenyng that he blessed all weddynges that he done aftyr the lawe of holy chirche And there for kepe youre wedloke and be in full feythe and beleue of hooly churche as hooly churche techithe and so ye shall come to euer lastyng blysse Amen De conâ—ersiâ—â—â— sancti pauli GOod frendis soche a day ye shall haue 〈…〉 lis day that is callide â—â—â— conâ—ersion of seint poule for that day he was coÌ„uertidâ— and â—â—â—â—ned froÌ„ a cursed tyraunte in to goddis seruaunt from â—â— highe man and a prowdâ— in to a meke man and a good man and from the disciple of the deâ—yll in to goddis hooly apostell so for this man was tournede from all wickkednesse in to grete goodnesse in grete strenghte helpe and socoure to all holy churche There for holy churche holdithe his â—ouersion and so we do of no mo but of him only and that iâ— for iij. causes The firste for grete miracles in his tourning and for the grete ioye in his defendyng and fore the ensample of his amendyng Firste or he was tourned he was called saule for right as saule the kyng of Jherusalem pursewed holy dauid to haue slayne hym right so the saule porsewed criste and his disciples to bryng hem to the dethe There for while criste wente one erthe here this saule wolde neuer come to hym to here his techyng but as sone as criste was steied vp in to heuen than a non this saule for he was lerned cowde the Jewes lawe he be ganne to with stonde and a yense seyde cristus disciples disputyng a yense hem and poursewed hem in all he myghte in full entente to haue distroied hem and cristen feythe Thanne on a day he disputed with seynte Stephyn and for he myghte not ouer come hym he be thoughte hym how he myght bringe hym to his dethe and so he lefte hym neuer till he was dede Thanne hit is the maner of the fendes children whan they haue done a cursed dede to be glad fayne there of prowde in her hertis and â—encrese her malice â—o was saule gladde of the dethe of seynte Stephyn and fore he wolde haue gotyn him a name of wickednesse passing all his felowes he wente to hem that had the iewes lawe to kepe and gete hym a letter of warraunt for to take all that be leued in in criste where they myghte be founde to brynge hem to Jherusalem for to be putte to the deth there Thanne whan â—e hadde these lettres he toke soch a pryde ther with and enuye in his herte a yenste cursten peple that whan he herde any man speke of hem a none fore grete angre he wolde snefet the nose and frothe at the mouthe for anger and grugge with his tethe thretenyng and masesseynge towardis hem that all Cristen people was sore a ferde of hym Thanne on a day he herde that in the Cite of damaske was moche cristeÌ„ people hidde for drede rode the dyr wardes but a none oure lord ihesu cristeshewed the swetenesse of his grate whanne this saule was in his highâ—pride and in wylle to haue do moste harme Than a boute midday oure lord caste a lyghte of grace a boute that was moche lyghter thanne the sonne the lyghte spake to saule thus Saule saule quid tu me perseqÌ„riâ— Saule saule what folowest thow me and a none he was a ferde and fill downe of his horse cryde and seyde for grete fere Quis es tu domine Lord what arte thou than seyde oure lord Ego sum ihesus ua sarenua I am ihesu of nazareth for that was the name of his manhode Thanne saule a none be leued on hym seyde lord what wolte thow that I shall do Thanne sawe the peopleâ— a boute hym the lyghte and herde the wyre but they saw no thyng but a none weÌ„te to saule and toke him vp by the honde fore he was blynde and myghte not see and so ladde him in to the Cite to a good maÌ„nes house and there he was thre dayes and thre nyghtis fastyng and nothir ete mete nor drynke â—e myghte not fee but euer preyde to god fore drede of that vision The whiche tyme the holy goste taughte hym cristus lawe Than the thridde day on of cristus disciples that highte Ananyas as god bad hym come to hym full sore a ferde and seyd Saule frater dominua ihesua misit me ad te qui apparuit tibi in via Saule the lord hath sente me to the ihesus that apperid to the in the wey and that thow shuldeste see and be cristoned and whan Ananias leyde his honde vppon his hede a none he sawe and there fill from his eyen like scales of fisches And whaÌ„ he hadde cristoned hym he callid him Poule than ete and was comforted and hadde his strenghte and was there a fewe dayes with the disciples Than wente â—e in to the temple and prechid openly of oure lord thesu criste pÌ„uyng clerckly that he was both god and man and none othir Stuâ—ebant autem omnâ—a qui eum andiebant et dicebant For fothe all that herde hym were a stoyned and seyde that hit was a grete miracle and grace of god and his â—o deyne conuersion for he â— was of so cursed leuyng so litell be fore was â—o sone tourned to god and man Thus may ye here how grete miracle god shewde in his conuersion and how grete ioye hooly chirche makyth of his defendyng hit was grete ioye to all cristen people that was a litill be fore to distroye cristen people a non aftyr as besy to encrese cristen people â–ª And he that was so besy so glad to shede cristen mennes blode than was he so redy to shede his blode for hem And as besely as he wente to putte hem to dethe than with as good a wyll hâ— was redy to take the deth for hem and there as no man durste pÌ„â—he the worde of god for hym aftyr the coÌ„forte that they had of hym they spared
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
hym as they satyn at souper and spake of this cristen maÌ„ that dwellid there be for this iewe â—okyd be syde him in a corner he saw this â—â—â—e whan he sawe that a none he be gone to grynde with his teth and to chyde with this othir iewe his neybour seyde thou arte tourned to cristen feythe haste a rode doste hÌ„it worshippÌ„ preuely Than this othir iewe swore nay as depe as he cowde that hit was not so ne neuer sawe hit be fore that tyme yit not with stonding that othir iewe yede tolde his neyboures seyde that this man was a preuy cristen man had a rode preuely in his house Than anon come all his myboâ—â—â—â— wode forwrothe alle to bet this maÌ„ drewe him togged him in the worste maner that they cowde so at the laste they seyde all this is the ymage that thow beleuest vpon And they toke the ymage bete hit scorged hit crowned hit with thornes atte the laste they made the strongist of hÌ„eÌ„ to take aspere with all his myghte to smyghte hym to the herte a non there with blode watyr ranne oute by the sydes than were they sore a ferde there of seyde take we pottes fill hem with this blode late ve bere hit in to the temple there as alle the sike people is of diuerse malodyes and anoynt hem there with yf they be hole with the blode than crye we god mercy a none lets vs be cristoned man â—omâ— Than they a nyâ—ted the sike people with this blode a none they were hole than weÌ„te these iewes to the Bishoppe of the Cite tolde hym all the cause a none he knâ—lid downe on his knees and thankyd god of his fayre miracle And whan he cristoned the iewes he toke violis of glasse cristall ambour putte of this blode in hem sente it a bowte in diuerse chirches of this bloode as many man vnderstoÌ„dith rome to the blode of hayled Milites tellith in his cronicles that many yeris aftyr that iherusalem was distroyed the iewes wolde haue bildid hit a yene thann as they wente the thir wardes erly in a morow they founde many crosses by the wey and they were a ferde there of tourned homewardes a yene yit on the morow they come a yene thanne were there crosses full of blode than they flyght homewardes a yene echone yit wolde they not leue there by but comes yene the iij. day than â—â—â— rose oute of the erthe brente hem euerychoâ—â— in to askes De festo sancti is hannis ante portalatinam GOod frendis soche a day ye shall haue seint iohanâ— day at porte latyne why is this day callid so ye shall here Hit happiâ— as this day this holy seinte prechid the word of god in a Cite that was callid ephesie the iustiâ— of the cite sawe that he tourned moche people to the beleue of Criste wolde haue hadde him to doo sacrifice to his false goddis and for he wolde not but rathir lyse hÌ„is lyffe thanne this iustice lette take hym coÌ„mauÌ„ did hym to be sette in pÌ„son while he sente to the Emperour of Rome to wete what he shulde doo to hym and whan his letteres were come to the Emperour in the which letteres he callid Iohan all the worste that he coude and seyd hÌ„e was a false disceyuer of thÌ„e peple thanne wrote the Emperour a yene to thÌ„e iustice and bad he shulde sende Iohan a yen to hym to Rome and so he did And the Emperour apposed hym oâ— his dedis and iohan stode stedfastâ— in the feythe fore grete skorne the emperour made clippe of somme of iohans here of his hede fore he had a fayre hede of here And whan he wes so clippid all the people laughed him to skorne so did hym grete dissese And they ladde hym to a yate of the towne of rome the whiche is callid porte latyne there they putte hym in to a tonne of feruent hote oyle closid hym there ynne and putte vndir fyre to haue brente hym there in But for he was goddis owne derlyng he kepte him so that he had no harme in no parte of his body thaÌ„ whan the people wente yâ— he had be dede they vnclosed the tonne founde hym as hole as founde in all the partis of his body clothis as no thyng had touchid hym there for cristen people lette make a churche there in the worshippe of god martirdome that suffred there Than fore the Emperour myght not ouer come hym by no wey of martirdome nor penaun he exiled hym in to an yle that is callid pathmos Than herde seint iohannes modir that her sone was sente to rome fore to be dede for grete sorowe compassion of hym schâ— wente aftyr to rome but whann she herde that he was exiled she tourned a yene weÌ„te home ward â—â—d â—â— wâ—an sâ—â— come to a cite that was callid â—etuâ—am there she fill sike dyed there she was heryed be sides the cite in a roge whan she had lâ—yne there many yeryâ— semte James her othir sone come thedir toke vp his moderis body hit smellid as swete as any spiceey broughte hit in to the cite and beried hit there with grete worshippe honour Amen De festo saÌ„cti iobannis baptiste GOod frendis soche a day ye shall haue an highe feste an hooly that is callid seint iohans day the baptiste is callid so for he baptised criste in the watyr of flom Iordan where fore ye shalle faste the euyn And ye shall vnderstoÌ„de know how the euenys were firste fouÌ„de in olde tyme in the begynnyng of hooly churche hit was so that the peple come to chirche with cande les brennyng and wolde wake come with light to wardes nyght to the churche in her deuocions aftyr they fill to lecheery songes dauÌ„ces harpyng also fill to glotony synne so tourned the holynesse in to cursednesse where fore hooly faderis ordeyned the people to leue that wakyng to faste the euyn thus tourned the wakyng in to fastyng But hit is callid vigilia that is wakyng in Englishe yit hit is callid the euyn for at the euyne they were wonte to come to churche But in worshippÌ„ of seinte iohan the people woke at home made iij. maner of fyres on was clene bones no wode that is callid a bone fyre A nothir is clene wode no bones that is callid a wode fyre fore people to fitte to wake there by The thridde is made of wode bones that is callid seint iohan fyre The firste fyre as a grete clercke Iohan bellet tellith was in a certein countrey for in the countrey was so grete hete the whiche causithe the dragons go to gedyr in tokenyng that Iohan