and consecrate on that one side of Ephesee And fro mydnyght forth he ceassed not to preche to the people that they shold establysshe them and be stedfast in the crysten faith and obeyssaunt to the comandemens of god And after thys he said the masse and howselyd and comuned the peple and after that the messe was fynysshed he bad and dyde do make a pytte or a sepulture to fore the aulter And after that he had taken hys leue and comanded the peple to god he descended doun in to the pytte or sepulture And helde vp hys handes to heuen and said Swete lord Ihesu cryste I yelde me vnto thy desyre and thanke the that thou hast vouchedsauf to calle me to the yf it plaise the receyue me for to be with my brethern with whom thou hast somoned me Opene to me the yate of the lyf permanable And lede me to the feest of thy wel and best dressed metes thou art Cryst the sone of the lyuyng god whyche by the comandemÌ„t that of fader hast saued the world To the I rendre and yelde grace and thankynges world wythouten ende thou knowest wel that I haue desired the with al my herte After that he had made hys prayer moche amerously and pyteously anon cam vpon hym grete clerenes and light And so grete brightnes that none myght see hym And whan thys lyght and bryghtnes was goon and departed ther was nothyng founde in the pytte or graue but manna whiche cam spryngyng from vnder vpward lyke as fonde in a fontayn or spryngynge welle where moche peple haue ben delyuerd of many diseases sekenesses by the merytes prayers of thys gloryous saynt SomÌ„e saye and afferme that he deyed without payne of deth And that he was in that clerenes born in to heuen body and sowle wherof god knoweth the certaynte And we that ben yet here bynethe in this myserye ought to pray deuoutly to hym that he wold impetre and gete to vs the grace of our lord whiche is blessyd in secula seculorum Amen Ther was a kyng an holy Confessour and virgyne named seynt Edward whiche had a specyal deuocion vnto saynt IohÌ„n euangelist and it happed that thys holy kyng was atte halowyng of a chyrche dedycate in thonour of god and of this holy appostle and it was that saynt IohÌ„n in lyknes of a pylgryme cam to thys kynge and demaunded hys almesse in the name of saynt IohÌ„n And the kyng not hauyng his amoner by hym ne his chamberlayn of whom he myght haue somwhat to gyue hym but toke hys rynge whyche he bare on hys fyngre and gaf it to the pylgryme ¶ After thys many dayes it happened ij pylgryms of englond for to be in the holy londe And saynt IohÌ„n appiered to them And bad them to bere thys Rynge to theyr kynge and to grete hym wel in hys name And to telle hym that he gaf it to saynt IohÌ„n in lykenes of a pylgryme and that he shold make hym redy to departe out of thys world For he shold not longe abyde here but come in to euerlastyng blysse And so vanysshed fro them And anone as he was goon they had grete lust to slepe and leyd them doun and slepte and thys was in the holy land and whan they awoke they loked aboute them and knewe not where they were And they sawe flockes of sheep and shepherdes kepyng them to whom they wente to knowe the waye and to demaunde where that they were and whan they axed them they spack englyssh and said that they were in englond in kente on beram downe And thenne they thanked god and and saynt JohÌ„n for theyr good speed and cam to this holy kynge saynt Edward on Cristemas day and delyuered to hym the rynge and dyde their erand wherof the kynge was abasshyd and thanked god and the holy saynt that he had warnyng for to departe and on the vygyle of thepyphanye next after he deyde and departed holyly out of thys world And is buryed in thabbiye of westmestre by london where as is yet in to thys day the same rynge Ysidore in the book of the lyf and deth of holy sayntes and fadres sayth thys Saynt JohÌ„n theuaÌ„gelist transformed and torned roddes of trees in to fyn gold the stones and grauel of the see in to precious geÌ„mes and owches the smale broken pyeces of gemmes he reformed vnto their first nature he reysed a wydowe fro deth And brought agayn the sowle of a yong man in to hys body he dranke venym without hurte or peryll And them that had ben deed by the same he recouerid in to the state of lyf Here endeth the lyf of saynt Iohan theuangelist Here foloweth Thystorye of Thynnocentes THe Innocentis callyd Innocentis for iij reasons First by cause reason of lyf and by reason of payne and by reason of Innocence By reason of lyf they be sayd Innocentis by cause they had an Innocent lyf They greued no body neyther god by inobedyence ne their neyghbours by vntrouthe ne by conceyuyng of ony synne And therfor it is said in the psaulter Thynnocentes and rightwys haue Ioyned them to me Thynnoâ—â—ntis by theyr lyf rightwys in the faith by raison of payne For they suffred deth Innocently and wrongly wherof Dauid saith they haue shed the blood of Innocentes by reason of Innocencye that they had by cause that In thys martirdom they were haptysed and made clene of thorigynal synne of whiche Innocence is said in the psaulter kepe thou Innocencye of baptesme And see equyte of good werkes HOly chyrche maketh feste of the Innocentis whyche were put to deth by cause of our lord Ihesu cryst For herode Ascalomer for to fynde and pute to deth our lord which was born in bethleem he dyde doo slee alle the chyldren in bethleem and ther aboute fro the age of two yere and vnder vnto one day vnto the somÌ„e of an CxliiijM chyldren For to vnderstonde whyche herode it was that so cruelly dyde do put so many chyldren to deth It is to wyte that ther were thre herodes and all thre were cruel tyrauÌ„tes And were in their tyme of grete fame and moche renoÌ„med for their grete malyce The first was herode Ascolamer he regned in Iherusalem whan our lord was born The seconde was herodes Antipas to whom pylate sente IhÌ„u cryst in the tyme of hys pâ—ssiâ—n And he dyde do smyte of saynt JohÌ„n baptystes heed The thyrde was herodes agrippa whyche dyde do smyte of saynt Iames heed said in galyce sette saynt peter in pryson But now late vs come to thys fyrst herode that dyde do slee the Innocente chyldren hys fader was named Antipater as hystorye scolâ—styke sayth and was kynge of 〈◊〉 and paynem he toke a wif whiche was Niece to the kynge of arabe on whom he had iij sones a doughter of whome that one was named herode Ascalomer Thys herode seruyd so wel to Iulyen theÌ„perour of Rome that he gaf to
to sacrefye to theyr goddes the whyche said yf thou wylt that we worshippe thy goddes that we doo to them reuerence sende theÌ„ to the water for to wasshe and make clene their vysages to th ende that we may more clenelyer worshippe them Thenne the prynce was right glad Ioyous and anon sente them to the water And the wymen toke them and threwe them in the myddle of the stagne or ponde And sayd Now shal we see yf they be goddes And whan the prynce herde thys he was out of his wytte for angre And smote hym self all wroth sayeng wherfor reteyned not ye our goddes that they shold not haue throwen them in the bottome of the watre The mynystres answerden thou spakest shrewdly to the wymen they caste them in to the water to whom the wymen sayd The veray god may not suffre iniquyte ne falsenes for yf they had ben very goddes they had wel eschiewed that they had not be throwen there and had seen what we wold haue don Thenne the tyraunt bycam wroth And dyde to make redy leed molten and yron combes and vij cotes of yron brennyng as hote as fyre on that one side And that other he dyde do brynge smockes of lyneÌ„ cloth and said to them that they shold chese whyche they wold And one of them that had ij smale chyldren ranne hardyly and toke the smockes of lynen cloth and threwe them in the fornays for to goo after her self yf she had faylled And the chyldren sayd to the moder leue vs not after the but right swete moder lyke as thou hast nourisshid vs with thy mylke so replenesshe vs wyth the Royame of heuen Thenne the tyraunt dyde do hange them and with hokes and corchettis of yron dyde do tere theyr flessh and all to rente it of whom the flessh was as whyte as snow And for blood they gaf out mylke And as they suffred thyse grete tormentis thangele of god descended fro heuene and comforted them and sayd to them haue ye no drede The werker is good that wel begynneth and wel endeth and who deserueth good reward shal haue Ioye for hys werke complete he shal haue hys meryte and for labour he shal haue reste and that shal be the reward Thenne the tyraunt dyde do take them doun and dyde do throwe them in to the brennyg fornays whyche wymen by the grace of god yssued wythout takyng harme And the fyre was extynct and quenchyd And the tyrauÌ„t sayd to them Now leue ye your art of enchauntement and adoure ye our goddes And they answerd doo that thou hast bygonne For we be now called to the kyngdom of heuene Thenne he comaÌ„ded that they shold ben byheded And whan they shold ben beheded they began to adoure god knelyng on their knees sayeng ¶ Lord god whyche hast departed vs fro derknesses in to this right swete light hast brought vs and of vs hast made thy sacrefyse receyue our sowles and make vs to come to the lif perdurable And thus had they their heedis smeton of and sith theyr sowles wente to heuene After thys the prynce made saynt blase to be brought to fore hym and sayd to hym hast thou now worshyppid our goddes or not Saynt blase answerd Ryght cruell man I haue no drede of thy menaces do what thou wylt I delyuer to the my body hoole Thenne he toke hym and dyde hym to be cast in to a ponde And anon he blessyd the water And the water dreyde alle away and so he abode there sauf and thenne saynt blase said to hym yf your goddes be very and trewe goddes late them now shewe theyr vertue and myght and entre ye hyther Thenne there entred in to it lxv persones and anone they were drouned And an angele descended fro heuene and said to saynt blase Blase goo out of thys water receyue the crow-that is made redy of god for the and whan he was yssued out of the ponde the tyraunt said to hym thou hast determyned in alle maners not for to adoure our goddes To whom saynt blase sayd Poure caytyf knowe thou that I am seruaunt of god And I adoure not the feendes as ye doo And anoÌ„ thenne the tyraunt dyde do smyte of hys heed And saynt blase prayd to our lord to fore his deth that who someuer desired hys helpe fro thynfyrmyte of the throte or requyred ayde for ony other sekenes or Infirmyte that he wold here hym and myght deserue to be guarisshyd and heled And ther cam a voys fro heuene to hym sayeng that hys peticion was grauÌ„ted shold be doon as he had prayd And so thenne wyth the two lytyl chyldren he was byheded aboute the yere of our lord iijClxxxvij ¶ Here endeth the lyf of saynt Blase Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Agathe and first thynterpretacion of her name AGatha is sayd of agios whyche is as moche to saye as holy and theos that is god that is to saye the sayncte of god And as CrisostomÌ„ saith thre thyngis make a man holy whyche thre were parfyghtly in her that is clennesse of herte the presence of the holy ghoost and plente of good maners or she is sayd of a whyche is to saye wytte and of geos erthe and of theos god as a goddesse wythout erthe that is without erthely loue Or she is sayd of Ana that is to saye spekyng and of than that is perfection that is that she was spekyng and accomplysshyng moche parfyghtly and that appereth wel in her answers Or she is said of gaath that is seruyse thaas souerayn whyche is as souerayn seruyse And by cause she sayde that seruage is souerayn noblesse Or she is sayd of ge that is solempne and of than that is perfection For the ê‘fection was ryght solempne lyke as it appyered by thangellis that buryed her ¶ Of saynt Agathe SAynt Agathe the virgyne was right fayr noble of body and of herte and was riche of goodes Thys gloryous virgyne serued god in the cyte of Gathanence ledyng a pure and holy lyf Quyncyen the prouost of Secyle beyng of a lowe lygnage was lecherous Auaricious and a mesâ—reaunt and paynem And for taccoÌ„plysshe hys euyl desyris flesshly and to haue richesses dyde do take saynt Agathe to be presented and brought to fore hym And began to beholde her wyth a lecherous sight And for to haue her hym self he wold haue enduced her to make sacrefyse vnto the ydolles And whan he sawe her ferme in her purpoos he put her in the kepyng of a woman named affrodysse whyche had ix doughters ouer foule lyke vnto the moder Thys dyde he for to enduce saynt Agathe to doo hys wyllâ— wythin xxx dayes Affrodysse and her doughters entreted the holy virgyne to consente to the wyll of the prouoste And somtyme they made to her grete promysses of temporell goodes and of grete eases And somtyme they made to her menaces of greuous tormentes for to suffre and grete
vs praye to the gloryouse virgyne marye that she kepe vs fro the deuyll And that we may by her come to the glorye of heuen To the whyche brynge vs the fader the sone and the holy ghoost amen Thus endeth the anunciacion of our blessyd Lady Here begynneth the lif of saynt Seconde knyght SAynt seconde was a noble and valyaunt knyght and gloryous martir of our lord Ihesu cryst And suffred hys passion and was crowned wyth the palme of martirdom in cyte of Astence by whos gloryous presence the sayd cyte was enbelisshyd and for a synguler patron eÌ„noblysshid And thys holy man seconde was enformed in the fayth of the blessyd maÌ„ Calatero whyche was holden in pryson by the prouoste Sapryce in the sayd cyte of Astence And whan marcianus was holden in pryson in the cyte of tredonence Sapryce the prouost wold goo thyder for to make hym do sacrefyse And saynt seconde moche desiryng to see saynt marcyane wente wyth hym as it had ben by cause of Solace And anone as they were out of the cyte of Altence a whyte douue descended vpon saynt secondes heed To whom sapryce sayd See seconde how our goddes loue the whyche sende byrdes fro heueÌ„ to vysite the And whan they cam to the ryuer of tanagre saynt seconde sawe thangele of god goyng vpon the flood and sayeng to hym Seconde see that thou haue ferme fayth and thus shalt thou goo aboue them that worshâ—ppe ydolles Thenne Sapryce sayd brother seconde I here the goddes spekyng to the To whom saconde sayd late vs walke vnto the desyres of our herte And whan they cam to another flood that hyght buryn that same angel aforesayd saide Seconde byleuest thou in god or parauenture thou doubtest To whom seconde sayd I byleue veryly the trouthe of hys passion Thenne sayd Sapryce what is that I here And seconde sayd nothyng whan they shold entre in to trydone by the comaÌ„dement of the angele Marcianus yssued out of pryson and appierid to seconde sayeng Seconde entre in to the waye of trouthe and receyue the victorye of fayth Sapryce sayd who is he that speketh to vs as it were in a dreme To whom Seconde sayd it may be wel to the a dreme but to me it is Admonicion and a comforte After thys seconde wente to melane And the angele of god brought faustyn Ionathan whyche were holden in prison out of the cyte to seconde And of them he receyued baptesme And a cloude mynystred water for to baptyse hym wyth And sodenly a douue descended fro heuen bryngyng vnto faustyn and Ionatyn the blessyd sacrament And faustyn delyuerd it to seconde for to bere it to marciane Thenne seconde retorned whan it was nyght weÌ„te to the Ryuer named pade And the angele of our lord toke the brydle of the hors and ledde hym ouer the Ryuer ladde hym vnto trydone and sette hym in the prysone where marciane was And seconde delyuerd to marciane the yefte that faustyn had sente to hym And receyuyng it sayd the blessid body of our lord Ihesu cryste be wyth me in to euerlastyng lyf ¶ Thenne by the comandement of thangele Seconde wente out of pryson and wente vnto hys lodgyng ¶ After thys marciane receyued sentence to haue hys heed smeton of And so it was don And thenne seconde toke hys body and buryed it And whan sapryce herd herof he dyde do calle seconde to hym and sayd By thys that I see the doo I see wel that thou art a crysten man To whom seconde sayd Veryly I know leche me to be a crysten man thenne sapryce said Loo how desirest thou to deyâ— an euyl deth To whoÌ„ seconde sayd that deth is more due to the than to me And whan seconde wold not sacrefyse to thydollis he comanded to be despoylled all naked And anon the angele of god was redy hym cladde in a better clothyng than he had to fore Thenne Sapryce comanded hym to be hanged on an instrumÌ„t named eculee of which two endes stonde on the ground and ij vpward lyke saynt Andrews crosse and theron he was honged tyl hys Armes were out of Ioynte but our lord restored hym anon to helthe And thenne he was comanded to goo in to pryson And whan he was there thangele of our lord cam to hym and sayd Aryse Seconde and folowe me And I shal lede the to thy maker And he ledde hym fro thens vnto the cyte of Astence And brought hym in to the pryson where Caleocerus was and our blessyd saueour wyth hym And whan seconde sawe hym he fyl doun at hys feet And our sauyour sayd to hym Be not aferd seconde For I am thy lord god that shal kepe the from all euyl And thenne he blessyng hym ascended to heuene On the morn Sapryce sente vnto the pryson whyche they fonde fast shette but they fonde not second Thenne sapryce wente fro trydone the cyte vnto Astence for to punysshe Caleocere And whan he was come he sente for hym for to be presented to fore hym And they said to hym that seconde was wyth hym And anon he comanded that they shold be brought to fore hym to whom he said By cause that my goddes knowe you to be despysers of them they wyl that ye bothe deye to gydre And by cause they wold not doo sacrefise to hys goddes he dyde do mylte pitche and rosyn comanded to be caste vpon theyr heedes and in theyr mowthes They dranke it wyth grete desyre as it had ben most swetest water And sayd wyth a clere voys O lord how thy wordes ben swete in our mowthes Thenne sapryce gaf vpon them sentence that saynt Seconde shold be beheded in the cyte of Astence And Caleocerus shold be sente to Albigarye and there to be punysshyd whan thenne saynt Seconde was byheded thangellis of our lord toke hys body buryed it with moche worshyppe and praysyng he suffrid hys deth the thyrde kalendes of apryl Late vs praye thenne that he praye for vs to our lord Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Seconde martir Here begynneth the lyf of Marie Egypciaca MArye the Egypcien whyche was called a synnar ledde and lyuyd the most strayt lyf and sharp that myght be xlvij yere in deserte In that tyme was a good holy and relegious monke named zozimas and wente thurgh the deserte whyche lyeth by yonde the flome Iordan And moch desired to fynde somÌ„e holy fadres And whan he cam fer and depe in the deserte he fonde a creature which was all black ouer all her body of the grete hete and brennyng of the sonne whyche wente in that deserte And that was thys marye egypciaca aforsaid But assone as she sawe Zozimas come she fledde and Zozimas after And she taryed And sayd Abbote Zozimas wherfore folowest thou me haue pyte and mercy on me For I dar not torne my face toward the by cause I am a woman also naked but caste thy mantel vpon me by
sorouful for god shal be alweye wyth the lyke as he hath promysed to vs sayeng loo I am alwey and shal be wyth you vnto the consummacion of the world Thus my swete broder he commaunded vs after hys resurrexyon sayeng Goo ye vnto thorugh the vnyuersal world preche the gospel to alle creatures that who shal byleue and shal be baptysed he shal be saued and they that wyl not so do shal be dampned whiche thynges my blessyd broder behoueth vs to kepe and put in effecte to the ende that we forgete not the commaundementes of god anone after thyse blessyd wordes saynt marcial toke leue of saynt peter and broughte with hym the two dysciples aforsayd that is to wete alphynyen and austrudynyen and departed lyke as god had commaunded to saynt peter Thus thenne as they wente and that they were wery and sore traueylled by the waye which was longe and greuous saynt austrudynyen departed out of thys world deyed whan saynt marcial sawe that he was deed he retorned in grete haste to rome and tolde to saynt peter that whiche was byfalle in theyr weye Whan Saynt Peter had herde hym he sayd retorne as hastely as thou mayst and take my burdon in thy honde and thou shalt come where thou hast lefte thy broder touche his body with thys burdon and anone he shal aryse and goo in thy companye as he dyd tofore Whan saynt marcial came ageyn to the corps he touched it wyth the burdon lyke as saynt Peter bad hym And anone he was reysed fro deth to lyf After whan saynt marcial had iourneyed longe by dyuers contreyes in longe prechyng and sowyng the word of god they came in to guyan vnto a castel callyd tulle and there were receyued of a ryche and a myghty man named arnold whiche had a doughter that dayly was tormentyd wyth the enemye Thus as saynt marcyall entryd in to the hows The fende began to crye sayeng I knowe wel now that I must yssue out of the body of thys mayde For the aungels of paradyse that been with the marcyal tormente me right greuously but I praye the by the name of hym that was crucâ—fyed whome thou prechest of that thou sende me not in to thabisme of helle Thenne saynt marcyal sayd to hym I coniure the in the name of Ihesu cryste that was crucefyed for us that thou yssue out of the body of this mayde neuer retorne ageyn but that thou goo vnto a place deserte where byrde ne fowle ne persone dwellyth with this commaundemente the mayde caste out the enemye and she fyl doun as deed Thenne saynt marcyal toke hyr by the hande and reysed hir vp and delyuerd hyr to hyr fader hool and saufe Holynes benygnyte with al humylite shoon in saynt marcial and was alweye in prayers Another myracle also our lord shewed by the prayere of saynt marcial in the same place The prynce of the sayd castel whiche was called nerua and was cosyn to the emperour nero had a doughter whiche was suffocate and murdred by the fende and was dede Thenne the fader and moder of the chylde that were moche sorouful and heuy wyth a grete parte of the people brought the body of the chylde tofore saynt marcial tenderly wepyng and sayeng to hym O man of god helpe vs at thys tyme thou seest how it is wyth vs whan saynt marcyal sawe the lamentacyon and the sorowe that they maad he had pyte on them and sayd wyth an hygh 〈◊〉 I praye you al as wel crysten as paynyms that ye wyl deuoutelye praye god almyghty that by his benygne grace hit please hym to gyue ageyn the lyf to thys chylde The two dysciples of saynt marcial and a fewe of cristen people that were there put theym to prayers and syth saynt marcial hymself made his prayer sayeng Syre I pray the in the name of thy blessyd dere sone and of thy good frende sanyt peter by thordenaunce and commandement of whom I am comen hyther That it please the to reyse thys chyld here to th ende that whan he shal be reysed many may beleue in thyn holy precious name Thenne saynt marcial trustyng in the helpe of god toke the chyld by the hande sayeng to hym In the name of our lord Ihesu cryste That of the Iewes for vs was crucyfyed and the thyrd day rose fro deth to lyf aryse vp and stand right on thy feet Anone the chyld aroos rizt vpon his feet and syth kneled doun to the feet of the holy man sayeng to hym O man of god I requyre the to baptyse me to th ende that I may be saued and marke me wyth the sygne of the holy crosse for other wyse may non be sawed but yf he be baptised anon saynt macial baptysed hym And with hym in the same place were wel crstyned also as wel men as wymen thre thousand and vjC And after this saynt marcyal wente and destroyed the ydolles and brought them to nought For thens wente saynt marcial and his two disciples departed and cam to lymoges where they were benyngly receyued of a matrone that was named susanne In whos presence saynt marcial heled one that was frenatyke whan the good woman susanne sawe the myracle that soo was made in her presence anone she and her meyne were baptysed After this saynt marcyal wente in to the temple where the prestes of the ydoles were The whiche bete hym greuously and syth put hym in pryson On the morn as he made his prayer ther descended a light so grete vpon him that men myght not beholde hym The chaynes of yron to breste and the dores of the pryson opend the kepers and they that were there requyred to be baptysed and the prestes that had so beten hym were smeton to deth by thondre and lyghtnyng Thenne the other that were there cam to saint marcyal in to the pryson and prayd hym that he wolde reyse them that so were smeton to deth by the thondre promisyng to hym that yf he so dyde they al wold be baptysed Thenne our lord by hys prayer reysed them ageyn fro deth to lyf Thenne that same tyme were torned to crysten faith baptysed xijMl creatures as men and wymen ¶ And after thys on a tyme deyde the holy woman susanne and tofore her deth she recomanded to saynt marcyal her doughter that was callyd valeriene whiche had promysed and auowed to our lord chastite as longe as she lyued after whan the holy mayde knewe that ther shold come to lymoges a lord named steuyn whiche was lorde of al the prouynce fro the ryuer of rosne vnto the see She was sore aferd leste he wold do to her ony gryef or noyance ayenst her auowe And gaf away al her richesses to poure folk for the loue of god whan the said steuen was come to limoges he made to do come tofore hym the holy mayde to th ende to haue his wylle of her but whan she
whom the Iewes delyuerd to pylate for enuye comaunded that he shold be crucyfyed Thenne he complayned hym soroufully sayd I am sory by cause he may not accōplyssh that whiche my lord themperour hath charged me To whō veronyce said my lord and my maistre whan he wente prechyng I absente me ofte from hym I dyde do paynte his ymage For to haue alway wyth me his presence by cause that the figure of his ymage shold gyue me somme solace And thus as I bare a lynnen keuerchief in my bosome oure lord mette me and demaūded whyther I wente and whan I had told hym whyther I wente and the cause he demaunded my keuerchief And anone he enprynted his face and fygured it therin And yf thy lord had beholden the fygure of Ihesu Cryst deuoutly he shold be anon guarisshed and heled And volusien axid is ther nether gold ne siluer that this fygure may be bought with She answerd nay but stroonge of corage deuoute and of grete affeccion I shal goo with the and shal bere it to themperour for to see it and after I shal retorne hether agayn Thenne wente volusien with veronike to Rome and said to themperour Ihesus of nazareth whom thou hast longe desired Pylate the Iewes by enuye and with wronge haue put to deth and haue hanged hym on the crosse and a matrone a wydowe is come with me whiche bryngeth thymage of Ihesu the whiche yf thou with good herte and deuoutly wylt beholde haue therin contemplacion thou shalt anon be hole And whan themperour had herd this he dyde anone make redy the waye With clothes of sylke made thymage of Ih̄u to be brought to fore hym And anone as he had seen it worshiped it he was all guarisshed and hoole Thenne he comaūded that pylate shold be taken and brought to Rome And whan themperour herd that pylate was come to Rome he was moche wroth and enflammed ayenst hym And bad that he shold be brought to fore hym Pylate ware alway the garment of our lord which was withoute seem wher with he was clad whā he cam to fore thēperour And assone as themperour saw hym all his wrath was goon ◠the yre out of his herte he coude not saye an euyl word to hym in his absence he was sore cruell toward hym in his presence he was alway swete debonair to hym gaf hym lycence and departed And anon as he was departed he was as angry as sore moeued as he was to fore and more by cause he had not shewd to hym his fureur Thēne he made hym to be called agayn sware he shold be ded And anone as he sawe hym hys cruelte was all goō wherof was grete meruaylle now was ther one by thynspyracion of god or at the persuasion of som crysten man caused themperour to despoylle hym of that cote and anon as he had put it of The emperour had in his herte as grete yre and fureur as he had to fore wherof themperour meruaylled of this cote And it was told to hym that it was the cote of Ih̄u Thēne themperour made pylate to be sette in pryson tyl he had counseylled what he shold doo with hym And sentence was gyuen that he shold dye a vylayns deth And whan pylate herd the sentence he toke a knyf and slewe hym self And whan themperour herde how he was deed he said certaynly he is deed of a right vylaynous deth and fowl For hys owne propre hand hath not spared hym Thenne his body was taken and bounden to a mylle stone was caste in the ryuer of tyber for to be sonken in to the bottom̄ And the yll spyrytes in thayer began to moue grete tēpestes merueyllous wawes in the water horryble thondre and lyghtnyng wherof the peple was sore aferd in grete doubte And therfor the Romayns drewe out the body in derysion sente it to vyane caste it in to the ryuer named Rosne viane is as moche to saye as helle whiche is said Iehenna For thenne it was acursid place and so ther is his body in the place of malediction And the euyl spyrites ben as wel there as in other places And made suche tempestes as they dyd byfore in so moche that they of that place myght not suffre it And therfor they toke the vessel wherin the body was sente it for to berye it in the terroir of the cyte of losane The whiche also were tempested as the other And it was taken thens and throwen in to a depe pytte alle enuyronned with montaynes In whiche place after the relacion of somme ben seen illusions and machynacions of fendes ben seen growe and boylle And hether to is thistorye callyd ypocryfū redde They that haue redde this lete them saye and byleue as it shal plese them Neuertheles in scolastica hystoria is redde that pylate was accused afore themperour Tyberius by cause he dyde put to deth by vyolence thē that were Innocent by his myght And that maulgre the Iewes he sette ymages of paynems in the temple And that the moneye put in corbanam he toke and dyde with all his prouffyt and was preuyd in his vysage that he made in his hows alleyes and conduytes for water to renne in And for thyse thynges he was sente to lyon in exyle for to deye emōg the people of whome he was born And thys may be wel supposed that this Istorye be trewe For to fore was the edicte gyuen that he shold be put in exyle to lyons And that he was exyled er volusien retorned to themperour But whan themperour herd how he made our lord Ihesu to deye he made hym fro hys exyle to come to Rome Eusebe and Bede in theyr cronycles say not that he was enprysoned put in exyle But by cause that he fyll in many myseryes by despayr he slewe hym self wyth his owne hand Thus endeth the Passyon ¶ Here begynneth the 〈◊〉 THe Resurrection of our lord Ihesu cryst was the third day after his deth And of this blessyd resurrectcon seuen thynges ben to be consyderid Fyrst of the tyme that he was in the sepulcre that be thre dayes and thre nyghtes he was in the sepulcre And the thirde day he aroos Secondly wherfore he aroos not anon whan he was deed but abode vnto the thirde day Thirdely how he aroos Fourthly wherfor his resurrection taryed not vntyl the generall resurrection Fyftly wherfore he aroos Sixtly how oftymes he appyered in his resurrection And the seuenth how the holy faders whiche were enclosed in a partye of helle he delyuerd what he dyde c̄ As to the first poynt it ought to be knowen that Ih̄us was in the sepulcre iij dayes iij nyghtes But after saynt austyn the first day is taken by synodoche that is that the last part of the day is taken The secōd day is takē all hool the thirde is taken after the first part of the day
the handes of all the kynges that were your enemyes pursyewed you and ye haue forsaken our lord god that hath only delyuryd you from all your euyll trybulacions haue said Ordeyne vpon vs a kynge wherfor now staÌ„de euerich in his tribe we shal lote who shal be our kyng the lotte fylle on the tribe of beniamyn in that trybe the lotte fylle vpon saul the sone of Cys And they souht hym coude not fynde hym it was told hem that he was hyd in his hous at home the peple ran thyder fette hym sette hym amyddes all the peple And he was heyer than ony of alle the peple fro the sholdre vpward Thenne samuel saide to the peple nowe ye see beholde whoÌ„ our lord hath chosen For ther is none lyke hym of all the peple And thenne all the peple cryed viuat Rex lyue the kynge Samuel wrote the lawe of the Royame to the peple in a book put it to fore our lord Thus was saul made the first kynge in Israhel And anon had moche warre For an all sides mâ—n warrid on the chyldren of Israhel he defended them And saul had dyuerse bataylles had victorye samuel cam on a tyme to saul said god comanded hym to fight agaynst Amalech that he shold slee destroye man woman chyld Oxe cowe camel asse sheep spare nothyng Thenne Saul assemblyd hys peple had ijCM footmen xxM meÌ„ of the tribe of Iuda weÌ„te forth fought ayeÌ„st Amalech and slewe them sauf he sauyd Agag the kynge of Amalech alyue alle other he slewe but he spared the best flockes of sheep of other beestis also good clothis wethers all that was good he spared what someuer was fowle he destroyed And this was shewd to Samuel by our lord sayeng Me forthynketh that I haue ordeyned saul kynge vpon Israhel For he hath forsaken me not fulfylled my comandements Samuel was sory here fore waylled all the nyght On the morn he roos cam to Saul and Saul offrid sacrefise vnto our lord of the pyllage that he had taken And samuel demauÌ„ded of saul what noyse tâ—at was that he herde of sheep beestis And he saide that they were of the beestis that the peple had brouht fro Amalech to offre vnto our lord And the residue were slayn They haue spared the best fattest for to doo sacrefyse with vnto thy lord god Thenne said samuel to saul Remembrest thou not that where thou were leste emong the trybus of Israhel thow were made vpperist and our lord enoynted the and made the kynge And he said to the goo and slee the synners of Amalech and leue none alyue man ne beest why hast thou not obeyed the comandement of our lord And hast ronâ—e to Roberye And don euyl in the sight of god ¶ And thenne said Saul to Samuel I haue taken Agag kynge of Amalech and brought hym wyth me but I haue slayn Amalech the peple haue taken of the sheep and beestis of the beste for to offre vnto our lord god And thenne said Samuel â—rowest thou that our lord wold Rather haue sacrefise and offrynges then not toleye his comandements Better is obedyence than sacrefise and better it is to take â—â—de to doo after thy lord than to offre the fatte kedeneys of the weders For it is a synne to withstande and to repugne ayenst his lord lyke the synne of ydolatrye And by cause thou hast not obeyed our lord and caste awaye his worde Our lord hath caste the away that thou shalt not be kynge TheÌ„ne said saul to samuel I haue synned for I haue not obeyed the word of god thy wordes but haue dredde the peple obeyed to theiâ— request but I pray the to bere my synne trespaas retorne with me that I may worshipe our lord samuel answerd I shal not retorne with the And so sammuel departed yet er he departed he dyde do sle Agag the kyng And Samuel sawe neuer Saul after vnto his deth Thenne our lord bad Samuel to goo and enoynte one of the sones of ysay otherwise called Iesse to be kynge of Israhel And so he cam in to bethleem vnto Iesse and bad hym brynge his sones to fore hym This Iesse had viij sones he brought to fore Samuel vij of them And Samuel said ther was not he that he wold haue Thenne he said that ther was no moo sauf one whiche was yongest and yet a chyld and kept sheep in the felde And Samuel said sende for hym For I shal ete no brede tyl he come And so he was sente for and brought he was rough and fayr of vysage and wel fauoured And samuel aroos and toke an horne with oyle and enoynted hym in the myddle of his brethern And forthwyth the spyryte of our lord caÌ„ directly in hym that same day euer after Thenne Samuel departed cam in to Ramatha the spyryte of our lord weÌ„te away fro saul an euyl spirite ofte vexid hym TheÌ„ne his seruants said to hym Thou aft orte vexid with an euyl spirite it were good to haue one that coude harpe to be with the whaÌ„ the spirite vexeth the thou shalt bere it the lyghter And he said to his seruauÌ„tes prouyde ye to me suche one and theÌ„ne one said I saw one of ysayes sones pleye on a harpe a fayr chyld strong wyse in hys talkyng our lord is with hym TheÌ„ne Saul sente messagers to ysaye for dauid ysaye sente dauid his sone with a presente of brede wyn a kydde to saul and alway whan the euyl spyryte vexid saul dauid harped to fore hym anon he was easyd the euyl spyryte weÌ„te his waye After this the philisteis gadred theÌ„ in to grete hoostes to make warre agaynst Saul the chyldren of Israhel And Saul gadred the children of Israhel to gidre caÌ„ agayn theÌ„ in the vale of therebinthi The philisteis stode vpoÌ„ the hille on the one parte Israhel stode vpoÌ„ the hille on the other parte the valeye was bytwene them And ther caÌ„ out of the hoost of the philisteis a grete geauÌ„t named golye of Geth he was vj cubytes hye a palme a helme of brasse on his heed was cladde in a habergeon The weight of of his habergeon was of vM sicles of weight of metal he had botes of brasse in his cartes his sholdre were couerid with plates of brasse his glayue was as a grete colestaf ther was the roÌ„ vj sicles of yroÌ„ his squyer weÌ„te to for hym cryde ayenst theÌ„ of Israhel and said that they shold chefe a man to fight a synguler batail ayeÌ„st golyas yf he were ouercomeÌ„ the philisteis shold be seruauÌ„tes to Israhel yf he preuaile ouercome his enemye they of Israhel shold serue the phylisteis thus
brought forth the heed of holofernes and shewde it to them sayeng loo here the heed of holofernes prynce of the chyualrye of assyriens And lo the canope of hym in whyche he laye in hys dronkenhed where our lord hath smeton hym by the honde of a womaÌ„ Forsoth god lyueth for hys auÌ„gel kepte me hens goyng ther abidyng fro thens hyther retornyng And the lord hath not suffre me his handwoman to ben defowled But without pollucioÌ„ of synne hath callyd me agayn to you Ioyeng in hys vyctorye in my escapyng in your delyuerauÌ„ce Knoweleche ye hym all for good For hys mercy is euerlastyng world wâ—thouten ende And all they honouryng our lord sayden to her the lord blesse the in hys virtue For by the he hath brought our enemyes to nought Thenne Ozias the prynce of the peple said to her Blessyd be thou of the hye god byfore alle wymen vpon erthe And blessyd be the lord that made heueÌ„ erthe that hath addressid the in the wouÌ„â—es of the heed of the prynce of our enemyes After this Iudith bad that the heed shold be hanged vp on the walles And at the sonne risyng euery man in hys armes yssue out vpoÌ„ your enemyes whan their espies shal see yow they shal reÌ„ne vnto the tente of their prynce to reyse hym to make hym redy to fight whan his lordes shal see hym deed they shal be smeton with so grete drede feer that they shal flee whom ye theÌ„ne shal pursyewe And god shal brynge theÌ„ trede them vnder your feet TheÌ„ne achior sceyng the vertue of the god of Israhel lefte his olde hethens custoÌ„ byleuyd in god was circuÌ„sised in his preuy meÌ„bre put hym self to the peple of IsrlÌ„ all the successyon of hys kynred vnto thys day Thenne at the spryngyng of the daye they henge the heed of holofernes on the walles And euery man toke hys armes wente out with grete noyse whyche thyng seeyng thespyes ronnen to gydre to the tabernacle of holofernes and cam makyng noyse for to make hym taryse that he shold awake but nomaÌ„ was so hardy to knocke or entre in to his preuy chaÌ„bre but whaÌ„ the dukes leders of thousandes cameÌ„ other they said to the preuy chaÌ„berlayns goo awake your lord For myes ben gon out of their caues ben hardy to calle vs to bataylle TheÌ„ne vago his bawde weÌ„te in to his preuy chaÌ„bre stode byfore the curtyne clapped hys handes to gydre wenyng he had slepte with Iudith And whan he perceuyd noo meuyng of hym he drewe the curteyn seeyng the dede body of holofernes with out heed lyeng in his blood cryed with a grete voys wepyng rendyng hys clothes wente in to the tabernacle of Iudith fonde her not And sterte out to the peple said A womaÌ„ of thebrewes hath made coÌ„fusion in the hous of nabugodonosor she hath slayn holofernes is deed she hath his heed with her And whaÌ„ the prynces capytayns of thassyryens herde this Anone they rente their clothes intollerable drede fylle on them were sore troblyd in their wittes made an horrible crye in their tentis And whan all thoost had herde how olofernes was byheded couÌ„seyl mynde flewh fro theÌ„ with grete treÌ„blyng for socoure bygonne to flee in suche wise that none wold speke with other but with their heedes bowed doun fledde for tescape fro thebrews whom they sawe armed comyng vpon theÌ„ and departed fleyng by feldes weyes of hilles valeyes And the sones of Israhel seeyng them fleyng folowed them cryeng wyth truÌ„pes showtyng after theÌ„ And slewe smote doun al them that they ouertoke And Osias sent forthwith vnto all the cytees regyons of Israhel And they sente after alle the yong meÌ„ valiauÌ„t to pursiewe theÌ„ by swerd so they dyde vnto the vttermest coostis of Israhel The other meÌ„ sothly that weren in bethulye weÌ„te in to the tentis of thassyrens toke all the praye that thassyryens had lefte And whan the meÌ„ that had pursiewed theÌ„ were retorned they toke all their beestis all the meuable goodes thynges that they had lefte so moche that euery maÌ„ fro the moste to the leste were made riche by the praye that they toke TheÌ„ne Ioachim the highe bisshop of IhrlÌ„m caÌ„ vnto bethulye with all the preestis for to see Iudith whan she caÌ„ to fore theÌ„ all they blessid her with one vois sayeng Thou glorye of IhrlÌ„m thou gladnes of Israhel thou the worship doyng of our peple thou dyde maÌ„ly thyn herte is coÌ„forted by cause thou louedyst chastyte knewest no man after the deth of thy husbond and therfor the honde of god hath coÌ„forted the And therfor thou shalt be blessyd world without ende and all the peple said fiat fiat be it don be it don certaynly the spoylles of thassyrieÌ„s were vnnethe gadred assembled to gydre in xxx dayes of the peple of Isrl But all the propre Rychesses that were apperteynyng to holofernes coude be fouÌ„den that had ben hys they were gyueÌ„ to Iudith as wel gold syluer geÌ„mes clothis as aâ—l other appertenaÌ„cis to houshold all was delyuerd to her of the peple the folkes with wimeÌ„ maydeÌ„s IoyedeÌ„ in organs harpes TheÌ„ne Iudith songe this song vnto god saieng Begynne ye in tymbres Synge ye to the lord in cymbalis Manerly synge to hym a newe psalme Fully Ioye ye Inwardly calle ye hys name so forth And for this grete myracle victorye all the peple cam to IhrlÌ„m for to gyue laude honour worship vnto our lord god and after they were purified they offred sacrefices vowes behestis vnto god and the Ioye of this victorye was soleÌ„pnysed duryng iij monethis after that eche wente home agayn in to his owen cyte hous and Iudith retorned in to bethulye and was made more grete and cleer to alle men of the londe of Israheel She was Ioyned to the vertue of chastyte so that she knewe noman alle the dayes of her lyf after the deth of manâ—sses her husbond And duellyd in the hous of her husbond an hondred and fyue yere And she lefte her damoyselle free And after this she deyde is buryed in bethulye all the peple bewayled her seuen dayes duryng her lyf after this Iourney was no troble emong the Iewes and the daye of this victorye of the hebrews was accepted for a festful day halowed of the Iewes nombred emong their feestis vnto this day After the festes of our lord Ihesu crist to fore sette in ordre folowen the legeÌ„des of Saynctes first of saynt Andrewe ANdrew is expowned is as moche to saye as fair or answeryng vnto strengthe and it is said of andor that is as moche to saye as strengthe Or andrewe is said thus as antipos Of ana which is to saye hye
whete to euery man after that he had nede in suche wyse that it suffyced for ij yere not only for to selle but also for to sowe ¶ And in thys contre the peple seruyd ydollis and worshippid the fals ymage of the cursed deane And to the tyme of thys holy man many of them had somÌ„e customes of the paynems for to sacrefyse to dyane vnder a sacred tree But thys thys good man made them of alle the contre to cesse thenne thyse custommes And comanded to cutte of the tree Thenne the deuyll was angry wrot ayenst hym and made an oylle that brenned ayenst nature in water and brenned stones also And thenne he transformed hym in the guyse of â— relygyouse woman and put hym in a lityl lote encouÌ„tred pylgryms that saylled in the see toward thys holy saynt and aresonued them thus and saide I wold fayn goo to this holy man but I may not wherfor I pray you to bere thys oylle in to hys chyrche and for the remembrauÌ„ce of me that ye enoynte the walles of the halle and anon he vanysshed away Thenne they sawe anon after another shyp wyth honeste persones emong whome ther was one like to saynt Nicholas which spack to theym softly what hath this woman said to you And what she hath brought And they told to hym alle by ordre And he said to theym thys is the euyl and fowl dyane And to th eÌ„de that ye know that I saye trouthe caste that oylle in to the See And whan they had caste it A grete fyre caught it in the see And they sawe it longe brenne ayenst nature Thenne they cam to thys holy man and said to hym verely thou art he that appered to to vs in the see and delyuerdest vs fro the see and awaytes of the deuyll And in thys tyme certayn men rebelled ayenst thmperour And themperour sente ayenst them thre prynces Nepocien Versyn and Appollyn And they cam to the port Andrieu for the wynde whyche was contrary to them And the blessid Nicholas comaÌ„ded theym to dyne with hym For he wold kepe his people fro the Rauayne that they made And whylis they were atte dyner The consul corrupte by money had comanded thre Innocent knyghtes to ben byheded And whan the blessyd Nicholas knewe this he prayd thise iij prynces that they wold moche hastely goo with hym And whan they cam there where they shold be byheded he fonde them on theyr knees and blyndfeld And the righttar brandysshid hys swerd ouer their heedes Thenne saynt Nicholas enbraced with the loue of god sette hym hardyly ayenst the righter and toke the swerd out of hys hond and threwe it fro hym and vnbonden the Innocentis and ladde theym with hym alle sauf And anon he wente to the Iugement to the Consul and fonde the the yates closed whyche anon he opened by force And the Consul cam anoÌ„ and salewed hym And thys holy man hauyng thys salutacioÌ„ in despyte sayd to hym Those enemy of god corumper of the lawe wherfor hast thou consented to so grete euyl and felonye how darst thou loke on vs And whan he had sore chyden and repreuyd hym he repentid and atte prayer of the iij prynces he receyueâ— hym to penaunce After whan the messagers of themperour had receyued hys benediction they made theyr geer redy and departed and subdued theyr enemyes to th empyre without shedyng of blood And syth retorned to themperour and were worshypfully receyuyd And after thys it happed that somÌ„e other in theÌ„perours hous had enuye on the weel of thyse thre prynces And accused them to themperour of hye trayson And dyde so moche by prayer and by yeftes that they caused themperour to be so ful of yre that he comanded them to pryson And without other demaunde he comanded that they shold be slayn that same nyght And whan they knewe it by ther kepar they rente their clothes and wepte bytterly And thenne Nepocyen remembryd hym how seynt nycholas had delyuerd the thre Inncentes And admonested the other that they shold reâ—â—yre hys ayde and helpe and thus as they prayed seynt nycholas appiered to theym And after appiered to constantyn themperour and sayd to hym wherfor hast thou taken thise thre prynces wyth so grete wrong and hast Iuged them to deth wythout trespaas Arise vp hastely and commaunde that they be not executed Or I shall praye to god that he moeue bataile ayenst tâ—e in whiche thou shalt be ouer throwen and shalt be made mete to bestes and themperour demaunded what art thou that art entred by nyght in to my paleys and darst saye to me suche wordes And he sayde to hym I am nycholas bysshop of myrre and in lyke wyse he appiered to the preuost and fered hys sayeng with a ferdful voys Thou that hast lost mynde and wytte wherfor hast thou consented to the deth of Innocentis Goo forth anone and doo thy part to delyuer theym Or ellis thy body shal rote and be eten with wormes And thy meyne shal be destroyed And he asked hym how art thou that so menaceâ—t me And he answerd knowe thou that I am Nicholas the bisshop of the cyte ef Mirre TheÌ„ne that one awoke that other and eche told to other theyr dremes and anon sente for theym that were in pryson To whom themperour said what art magyke oâ— sorcerye can ye that ye haue this nyght by Illusion caused vs to haue suche dremes And they said that they were none enchaunters ne knewe no witchecraft and also that they had not deseruyd the sentence of deth TheÌ„ne themperour said to theym knowe ye wel a man named Nicholas And whan they herd speke of the name of the holy saynt they held vp theyr handes toward heuene and prayd our lord that by the merytes of saynt Nicholas they myght be delyuerd of this present peryll And whan themperour had herd of theym the lyf myraclis of saynt Nicholas he said to them Go ye forth and yelde ye thankynges to god whiche hath delyuereth you by the prayer of this holy man worshipe ye hym and bere ye to hym of your Iewellis and praye ye hym that he thretene me nomoore but that he pray for me and for my Royame vnto our lord ¶ And a whyle after the said prynces wente vnto the holy maÌ„ And fylle doun on their knees humbly atte hys feet sayeng uerayly Thou art the sergeant of god and the veray worshypper and louer of Ihesu cryst and whan they had all tolde this said thynge by ordre he lyft vp hys hondes to heuen and gaf thankynges praysynges to god And sente agayn the prynces wel enformed in to theyr contrees ¶ And whan it pleased our lord to haue hym departe out of thys world he prayd our lord that he wold sende hym hys angellis And enclynyng hys heed he sawe thaungellis come to hym wherby he knewe wel that he shold departe began this
thappostles other And after that that they were by thordenaūce of the holy ghoost confermed in the crysten fayth by the vnyuersal world Saynt Ioh̄n cā in to grece where he conuersid and conuertid moche people and founded many chyrches in the cristen faith as wel by myracles as by doctryne ¶ In thys tyme domycien was Emperour of rome whyche made right grete persecucions vnto cristen men ¶ And dyde do take saynt Iohan and to be brought to Rome And made hym to be caste in to a fatte or a tonne full of hote oylle in the presence of the senatours of which he yssued out by the helpe of god more pure and more fayr wythout felyng of ony hete or chauffyng than he entred in After thys that themperour sawe that he cessed not to preche the cristen faith he sente hym in exile vnto an yle called pathmos There was saynt Iohan allone and was visited of angellis and gouerned there wrote he by the reuelacion of our lord thapocalypse whiche conteyned the secretes of holy chyrche and of the world to come In thys same yere was domycien themperour for hys euyllis put to deth And all that he had don was reuoqued by the senatours and deffeated And thus was saynt Ioh̄n brouht agayn from hys exyle with grete honour in to Ephesym And all the people of ephesym cam ayenst hym syngyng and sayeng blessyd be he that cometh in the name of our lord In that waye he reysed a woman whyche was named drusiane whiche had moche loued saynt Ioh̄n and wel kept hys comandementis And her frendes brought her tofore saynt Ioh̄n all wepyng and sayeng to hym Loo here is drusyane whyche moche loued the and dyde thy comandementis and is deed ande desired nothyng so moche as thy retorne and that she myght see the to fore her deth now thou art comen hether and she may not see the Saynt Ioh̄n had grete pyte on her that was deed and of the peple that wepte for her and comanded that they sholde sette doun the byere and vnbynde take awaye the clothes fro her And whan they had so doon he said hyeryng alle wyth a lowde voys Drusiane my lord god Ihesu criste areyseth the drusiane arise and goo in to thy hows and make redy for me som̄e refection Anon she aroos and wente in to her hows for to doo the comandement of saynt Ioh̄n And the peple made thre howres longe a grete noyse and crye sayeng ther is but one god and that is he whom seynt Ioh̄n prechyth It happed on an other day that craton the phylosophre made a grete assemblee of peple in the myddes of the cyte For to shewe to them how they ought to despyse the world and he had ordeyned two yong men brethern whiche were moche ryche and had made thē to selle theyr patrymonye and therwith to b̄ye precious stones the whiche thyse two yong men brake in the presence of the peple for to shewe howe thyse precious and grete Rychesses of the world ben soone destroyed That same tyme saynt Ioh̄n passed by And said to craton the phylosopher Thys maner for to despyse the world that thou shewest is vayne and folyssh demonstraunce For it secheth to haue the preysyng of the world god reproueth it my good maystre Ihesu cryst sayd to a man that demanded of hym how he myght come to euerlastyng lyf that he shold goo and selle all hys goodes And gyue that he receyued of it to the poure peple And he shold fynde tresour in heuen Craton said thenne to hym the pryse and valewe of thyse precious stones is destroyed in the presence of alle men here but yf thy maystre be veraye god he wyll that the goodes of the world be gyuen to poure men take thenne the pieces of thyse precious stones broken And make them hole stones as they were to fore by cause yf I haue shewd thys by vayne glorye make thou them to the honour of thy maystre Anon saynt Ioh̄n toke the pyeces of the precious stones ¶ And after that he had made hys prayer to god he shewd to thē the stones as hoole as euer they were or had ben whan craton the phylosopher sawe thys anon he with his ij men and his disciples fyll doun to the feet of saynt Ioh̄n receyued the faith and baptesme of Ihesu criste And sold the precious stones gaue the money therof for the loue of god And begonne to preche the faith of our lord Ihesu cryst Than the two brethern moche riche and honoured in the cyte of Ephesim anon they sold al their patrymony and gaf it for the loue of god But after whan they cam in to the cyte of pergania sawe them that had ben theyr seruauntes clothed in silke and in grete honour of the world and them self hauyng but a poure mantel or perauenture a poure cote Anon they repented them that they had gyuen away their goodes in almesse to poure people Thys apperceyued saynt Ioh̄n and said to them I see that ye ben heuy and sorouful of thys that after the doctryne of Ihesu cryste ye haue gyuen your good for goddes sake wherfor yf ye wyl haue agayn the valewe of your goodes brynge to me roddes of the trees and stones of the Ryuage of the see And so they dyde And whan saynt Iohan had them anon by hys prayer he chaunged the roddes in to fyn gold And the comyn stones in to precious stones And saynt Iohan had them to take them and shewe to the maistres that had knowleche in suche Iewellis yf the Roddes were gold and the comyn stones precyous stones After they cam agayn and said to saynt Ioh̄n Syre the maistres saye that they sawe neuer so fyne gold ne so precious stones Seynt Ioh̄n thēne said to them goo ye and bye ye agayn your londes that ye haue solde For ye haue lost the reward of heuen Be ye riche temporelly for to be beggars perpetuelly Thenne began he to preche in despytyng the Rychesses and to shewe vj causes why we ought to restrayne vs for to loue Rychesses Fyrst thescripture lerneth vs to hate Richesses And reciteth in the gospell how the Ryche mā that was clad in purpure and ete euery day delycious metes glotonously was lost and dampned but the poure man at hys gate that deyde ful of soores and hongry was saued Secondly Nature techeth vs to hate Rychesses For we ben born poure naked and pourly muste we departe and deye ¶ Thyrdly the creature techith vs For the sonne the mone the sterres the Rayne and the ayer ben comyne and departe theyr Influences and their benefices largely ¶ Fourthly the man it not oft in one estate For whan he weneth to be Ryche plentiuous and free he fyndeth hym self bonde and caytyf For the Ryche man aduerse is bonde and seruaunt to the peny and to the deuyll Amator pecunie seruus est mammone ¶ Fyftly sorowe and care
hym the Royame of Iherusalem Thenne lost the Iewes kynge of their lygnage And thenne was shâ—wed the prophecye of the byrthe of our lord Thys herode Ascolomer had vj sones Antipater Alexander Aristobolus Aâ—châ—lous herode Antipas and phelippe Of thies chyldren herode sente alâ—xandre and Aristobolus to sâ—â—le to Rome And alixander becam a wyse and a subtyl aduocate And whan they were comen fro scole agayn they began to entre in to wordes ayenst herode theyr fader to whom he wold leue his royame after hym wherfor their fader was angry with them and put to fore them Antipater theyr brother for to come to the Royame vpon that incontynent they treated of the deth of theyr fader wherfore theyr fader enchaced them away And they wente agayn to Rome and complayned of theyr fader to themperour Anon after thys cam the thre kynges in to Iherusalem and demanded where the kynge of Iewes was that was new born herode whan he herd thys he had grete drede leest ony were born of the trewe lynage of the kynges of Iewes and that he were the very trewe heyer and of whom he myggt be chaced out of the Royame And whan he had demanded of the thre kynges how they had had knowleche of the newe kynge they answerd by a sterre beyng in thayer whyche was not naturelly fyxed in the heuene as the other were Thenne he prayd theÌ„ that they wold retorne to hym after that they had worshypped and seen thys newe kynge that he myght goo and after worshyppe the chyld Thys said he fraudelently For he thought to slee hym After that the thre kynges were goon wythout bryngyng hym ony tydynges he thoughte that anone he wold doo slee all the chyldren newly born in bethleem and there aboutes emong whom he thoughte to slee Ihesu cryst but hys thought was enpesshed and lette For themperour sent to hym a cytacion that he shold come to Rome for tanswere to the accusacion that Aristobolus and alixander hys two sones had made ayenst hym And therfore he durste not put theÌ„ne the chyldren to deth to th ende that he shold not be accused of so cruel a dede wyth hys other trespaces So he was in goyng to Rome and abydyng there and in comyng more than half a yere And in that whyle Iesus was born in to egypte whan herodes cam to rome theÌ„perour ordeyned that hys sones sholde doo hym honour and obeye hym And he shold leue hys Royame after hys deth where it best plesed hym Vpon thys whan he was comen agayn and felte hym self confermed of the Royame he was more hardy to slee the chyldren than he had to fore thought Thenne he sente in to bethleem and dyde doo slee all the children that were of the age of two yere by cause it was passed more than a yere that the thre kynges had tolde hym tydynges of the kynge of Iewes newe born But wherfor thenne dyde doo slee the chyldren he that were but one nyght olde Herto saynt Austyn sayth that herode doubted that Ihesus to whom the sterres serued myht make hym self some yonger than he was After thys cam vpon herode a right vengeance For lyke as he desseuered many moders fro theyr chyldren in lyke wyse was he desseuered fro hys chyldren It happed that he had suspection vpon hys ij sones Alixandre and Aristobolus for one of hys seruaunts said to hym that alisaundre had promysed to hym grete yeftes yf he wold gyue to hys fader to drynke poyson or venym And the barbour said to the kynge that he had promysed hym a grete thyng yf whan he made the kynges berde wold cutte hys throte And for thys cause herode dyde doo slee them bothe and ordeyned in hys testament that Antipater his sone shold be kyng after hym Vpon thys Antipater hys sone had hrete desire to come to the Royame and was accused that he had made redy venyme for tenpoysonne hys fader For a mayde a seruaunt afterward shewd the same venyme to the kynge wherfore he dyde do put his sone Antypater in pryson whan Augustus themperour of Rome herd saye that herode rulyd thus hys chyldren he thenne said I hadde leuer be the swyne or hogge of herodes than hys sone For he whyche is straunge in hys lyuyng spareth his swyne and he put to deth hys sones Herode whan he was lxx yere olde he fyll in a greuous maladye by right vengeaÌ„ce of god For a stronge feuer â—oke hym within wythoute he had hys flessh hote and drye chauffed his feet swelled and becam of a pale colour The plantes of hys feet vnder beganne to rote in suche wyse that vermyne yssued out And a stenche yssued so grete out of hys breeth and of hys membres wythout forth that none persone myght suffre it On that other syde he had grete greef and annoye of the angre that he had for hys sones whan the maistres and physicieÌ„s sawe that he myght not be holpen by no medecyne thenne they said that thys maladye was a vengeance of god and for as moche as he herd saye that the Iewes were glad of hys maladye and sekenes Therfor he dide do assemble the most noble of the Iewes out of the good townes and dyde do put them in pryson And said to Salome hys suster and to Alyxandre her hustbond I knowe wel that the Iewes shal be glad of my deth but yf ye wyll doo my counseyl and obeye to me I shal mowe haue grete playnte and wayllyng of many that shal bywepe my deth in thys wyse that I shal shewe yow Anon as I shal be deed doo ye to be slayn all the noble Iewes that ben in pryson And thus shal be no hows of the Iewes but that they shal ayenst theyr wyll bywepe my deth And he had a custome to ete an apple laste after mete On a tyme he demanded a knyf for to pare thappelle and one delyueryd hym a knyf And shortly he toke it as all dyspayred and wold haue slayn hym self but anon Aciabus hys neyghbour caught hys hand and cryde lowde that it was supposed that the kynge had deyed Antipater hys sone whyche was in pryson had herd the crye and wende hys fader had ben deed he was glad and promysed to the kepars of the pryson grete yeftes for to lete hym out whan herode knewe thys by hys seruaunt he traueylled the more gre uously by cause hys sone was more glad of hys deth than of hys sekenes And anon dyde do slee hym and ordeyned in hys testament Archelaus to be kynge after hym And he lyued but v dayes after And deyed in grete myserye of Annoye Salome hys suster dyde not hys comandement of the Iewes that were in pryson but lete them goo out And Archelaus becam kynge after herode hys fader whyche as to strauÌ„gers in the bataylle he was fortunate and happy but as to hys owne peple he was right vnhappy Thenne I retorne agayn after
thou by thys ryng Tarquillinus said the gold of the rynge is the body humayne And the precious stone signefieth the sowle whiche is enclosed in the body The body and the sowle make a man lyke as the gold and the precious stone make a rynge And moche more precioous is the man to Ihesu cryst than the rynge is to the Thou sendest thy seruants for to take vp this ryng out of the dyrte or myre And they may not Thus sente god in to thys world the prophetes for to drawe the humayne lygnage out of thordure of synnes and they myght not doo it And lyke as thou sholdest leue thy ryche clothis and clothe the with a course cote and woldest descende in to the pryue and put thy handes in to foule ordure to take vp the rynge Ryght so the mageste of god hydde the lyght of hys dyuynyte by a carnal vestement whyche he toke of our nature humayne And clad hym therwith and descendeth fro heuen and cam here bynethe in to the pryue of this world and put hys hondes in thordure of oure myseryes in suffryng hungre and thurst And toke vs vp out of the fylthe weessh vs fro our synnes by the water of baptesme And thus he whyche dispyseth the by cause thou shold descende in a foule habyte to take vp the ryng thou myghtest wel put hym to deth Thus all they that renye or despise IhÌ„u cryst by cause he humbled hym self for to saue man maye in no wyse escape for the deth of helle The prouost said I see wel that thyse ben but fables Thou hast take respyte for thy sones knowest thou not well that theÌ„perour our lord is cruell ayenst crysten men Tarquillinus said it is folye to doubte more humayne puyssaunce than the puyssaunce dyuyne They that ben cruel ayenst vs maye wel tormente our bodyes but they may not take fro our herte Ihesu cryst Thenne the prouost put put tarquillinus in the handes of the sergeantis sayeng shewe to me the medycine by whiche thou art helyd of thy gowte And I shal gyue to the gold without nombre knowe thou that moche euyl shal come to them that selle bye the grace of god but yf thou wilt be hole of the maladye of the gowte byleue in Ihesu cryst and thou shal be as hole as I am The prouoste said brynge hym to me that hath heled the Tarquillinus wente to polycarpus said to hym alle thys And brought hym wyth saynt sebastian vnto the prouost and enformed hym in the faith And he praid hem that he myght haue his helthe And saynt sebastian sayd that he shold first renye hys ydollis yeue hym licence to breke them and thenne he shold haue hys helthe TheÌ„ne Comasyn the prouost said that hys seruants shold breke them saynt sebastian said they ben aferd and dar not breke them And yf the fendis hurte ony of them by ony occasion the mysbyleuers wold saye that they were hurte by cause they brake their goddes And thenne policarpe and saynt sebastian destroyed moo than CC ydollis Thenne said they to the prouost why hast not thou receyued the helthe whylâ—s we brake thydollis thou kepest yet thy mysbyleue or ellis kepest yet somÌ„e ydollis Thenne he shewed them a chaÌ„bre whyche was light as had ben of sterris whervpon hys fader had dyspendyd CC poys of gold by which he knewe thyngis for to come Thenne said saynt sebastian as longe as thou kepest thys hole thou maist neuer haue helth And thenne he agrered it shold be broken Tyburcien hys sone whyche was a noble yong man sayd playnly that so noble a werke shold not be destroyed how wel I wyl not be agayn my fadres helthe thys wylle I wel that ther be ordeyned ij furneyses of fyre brennyng and thenne I wyll that ye destroye thys werke and yf my fader haue hys helthe I shal be content And yf he receyue not hys helthe thenne I will that ye ij shal be brent in thyse ij furneyses of fyre all quyck And saynt sebastian saide be it as thou hast said And forthwyth they wente and breke the chambre in the mene whyle the angele of our lord appyered to the prouost and said hys helthe was gyuen to hym And anon he was all hool and ranne after hym for to haue kyssed his fete but he denyed hym For he had not receyued baptesme And thenne he and Tyburcien hys sone wyth a MCCCC of theyr famylye were baptysed Thenne Zoe was taken of the mescreants and was tormeÌ„ted so longe that she gaf vp the spirite And whan tarquillinus herd that he cam forth and said Alas why lyue we so longe wymen goon to fore vs to the crowne of martirdom And with in a fewe dayes after he was stoned to deth And Tyburcien was comanded that he shold goo barefoot vpon brennyng coles or ellis doo sacrefise to thydollis And thenne he made the signe of the crosse vpon the coles and wente on them bare foot And he said me thynketh I goo vpon Roose flowres in the name of our lord Ihesu cryst To whom fabien the prouoste said It is not vnknowen to vs that your Ihesu cryst is a techar of Sorcerye To whoÌ„ Tyburcien said holde thy peas thou cursid wretche For thou art not worthy to nempne so worthy so holy ne so swete a name Thenne the prouost was wroth and comanded to smyte of hys heed and so he was martred And thenne marcellianus and marcus were sore tormentid and bound to a pyler and as they were so bounden they seyden loo how good Ioyeful it is brethern to dwelle to gydre To whom the prouost said ye wretchis doo away your madnes and delyure your self And they sayde we were neuer so wel fedde we wold that thou woldest late vs stonde here tyl that the spirites shold departe out of our bodyes And thenne the prouost comaÌ„ded that they shold be percid thurgh the body with speris And so they fulfilled their martirdom after this saynt sebastian was accused to theÌ„perour that he was crysten Wherfore dyoclesian themperour of Rome made hym come to fore hym And said to hym I haue alleway loued the wel and haue made the maistre of my palays how theÌ„ne hast thou be crysten pryuely ayenst my helthe and in despyte of our goddes Saynt sebastian said allewaye I haue worshyppid Ihesu cryst for thy helthe and for thestate of Rome And I thynke for to praye and demande helpe of thydollis of stone is a grete folye wyth thyse wordes dyoclesian was moche angry and wroth and comanded hym to be ladde to the felde and there to be bounden to a stake for to be shotte at And the archers shotte at hym tyl he was as ful of arowes as an hirchon is ful of prickis And thus lefte hym there for deed The nyght after cam a crysten woman for to take hys body and to burye it but she fonde hym a
In the name of Ihesu Cryste be thou clensyd from al thy lepre Anone alle hys fylthe fyl aweye and a fayre newe skyn apperyd on hys body so that he semed alle a newe man Also as Saynt Austyn came in to oxford shyre to a towne that is called comâ—on to preche the worde of god To whome the curate sayd holy fader the lord of thys lordshyp hath ben oftymes waâ—ned of me to paye his tythes to god and yet he wythholdeth them therfore I haue cursed hym I fynde hym the more obstynate To whome saynt austyn sayd sone why payest thou not thy tythes to god and to the chyrche knowest thou not that the tythes be not thyn but bylongen to god And thenne the knyght sayd to hym I knowe wel that I tyle the grounde wherfore I ought as wel to haue the tenthe sheef as the ix and whan saynt austyn coude not torne the knyghtes entente thenne he departed from hym and wente to masse or he began he charged that al they that there were acursed shold goo out of the chyrche thenne roos a dede body wente out in to the chircheyerde with a whyte clothe on his heed stood styl there tyl the masse were doon And thenne saynt austyn wente to hym and demaunded hym what he was and he answerd and said I was somtyme lord of thys towne bycause I wold not paye my tythes to my curate he acursed me and so I deyed and wente to helle and thenne saynt austyn bad hym brynge hym to the place where his curate was buryed And thenne the caryon broughte hym thyder to the graue by cause that al men shold knowe that lyf and deth ben in the power of god saynt austyn said I commauÌ„de the in the name of god to aryse for we haue nede of the theÌ„ne he aroos anone and stood before al the peple To whome saynt Austyn sayd thou knowest wel that our lorde is mercyful and I demaunde the broder yf thou knowest this man and he said ye wold god that I had neuer knowen hym for he was a wythholder of hys tythes and in al his lyf an euyl doar thou knowest that our lord is mercyful and as longe as the paynes of helle endure lete vs also be mercyful to al crysten and thenne saynt austyn delyuerd to the curate a rodde and there the knyght knelyng on his knees was assoyled and thenne he commaunded hym to goo ageyn to his graue and there to abyde tyl the day of dome and he entryd anone in to his graue and forthwyth fyl to asshys and pouldre And thenne saynt austyn sayd to the preest how longe hast thou layen here he sayd an hondred fyfty yere and thenne he askyd how it stood with hym and he said wel holy fader for I am in euerlastyng blysse and thenne sayd saynt austyn wylt thou that I praye to almyghty god that thou abyde here wyth vs to conferme the hertes of men in veray beleue and thenne he said nay holy fader for I am in a place of reste and thenne sayd saynt Austyn goo in pees and praye for me and for al holy chyrche and he thenne entred ageyn in to his graue and anone the body was torned in to erthe Of this syght the lord was sore aferde and came al quakyng to saynt austyn and to his curate and demaunded foryeuenes of his trespaas and promysed to make amendes and euer after to paye his tythes and to folowe the doctryne of saynt austyn After this saynt austyn entryd in to dorsetshyre and came in to a towne where as were wycked peple refused his doctryne and prechyng vtterly droof hym out of the towne castyng on hym the tayles of thornback or like fisshes wherfore he besought almyghty god to shewe his Iugement on them and god sente to them a shameful token For the chyldren that were borne after in that place had tayles as it is sayd tyl they had repented them It is sayd comynly that thys fyl at strode in kente but blessyd be god at this day is no suche deformyte Item in another place there were certeyn people whiche wold in no wyse gyue feyth to his prechyng ne hys doctryne but scorned and mocqued hym wherfore god toke suche vengeauÌ„ce that they brennyd with fyre Inuysâ—ble soo that theyr skyn was reed as blood suffred so grete payne that they were constrayned to come and axe foryeuenes of saynt austyn and theÌ„ne he prayed god for them that they myght be acceptable to hym and receyue baptesme and that he wold relece theyr payne and thenne he crystened them that brennyng hete was quenchyd and they were made parfytely hool and feâ—â—e neuer after more therof On a tyme as Saynt austyn was in his prayers our lord apperyd to hym and comfortyng hym wyth a gentyl famylyer speche sayd O thou my good seruaunt and trewe be thou comforted and doo manly For I thy lord god am with the in al thyn affeccion and myn eerys ben open to thy prayers for whome thou demaundest ony petycion thou shalt haue thy desyre And the yate of euerlastyng lyf is open to the where thou shalt ioye with me without ende and in that same place where our lord sayd these wordes he fyxed his staffe in to the grounde and a welle of clere water sourded sprange vp in that same place the whiche welle is called cerne and it is in the contre of dorsete where as now is bylded a fayre abbey and is named cerne after the welle And the chyrche is bylded in the same place where as our lord apperyd to saynt austyn Also in the same contre was a yonge man that was lame dombe and deef and by the prayers of saynt austyn he was made hole and thenne sone after he was dyssolute and wanton and noyed and greuyd the peple wyth iangelyng and talkyng in the chyrche And thenne god sente to hym his olde Infyrmyte ageyn by cause of his mysguydyng and atte laste he fyll to repentaunce and asked god foryeuenes and saynt austyn and Saynt austyn prayed for hym and he was made hole ageyn the second tyme and after that he contynued in good and vertuous lyuyng to his lyues eyde And after this Saynt Austyn ful of vertues departed out of thys world vnto our lord god and lyeth buryed at caunterbu rye in the abbay that he founded there in the worshyp rewle Where as our lord god sheweth yet dayly many myracles and the thyrd day before the natyuyte of our lady is halowed the translacion of saynt austyn In whiche nyght a cytezeyn of caunterburye beyng that tyme at wynchestre saw heuen open ouer the chirche of saynt austyn and a brennyng laddre shynyg ful bryght and aungels comyng doun to the same chyrche And thenne hym thought that the chirche had brennyd of the grete lyght and bryghtnes that came doun on the laddre and
holy feet Where is the mouth spekyng and the tongue counseyllyng and the spirite wel plesyng hys god Who shal not wepe and waylle For they that haue deserued glorye honour toward god ben put to deth as malefactours and wicked men wo to me that be helde in that hour his blessyd body alle bewrapped in his innocent blood Alas my fader and doctour thou were not gilty of suche a deth now whyther shal I go for to seche the the glorye of crysten men and preysyng of good trewe men who shalle stynt thy voys that sowned so hye in the chirch in prechyng the worde of god loo thou hast eÌ„trid in to thy lord and thy god whom thou hast desyred wyth alle thyn affectyon Ierusalem and Rome be euyl frendes For they ben egall in ylle Ierusalem hath crucifyed our lord IhÌ„u crist and rome hath slayn his appostles IhÌ„rlm seruyth hym that they crucyfyed And Rome in solempnysyng glorifyeth them that it hath sleyne and nou my broder thymothee thise ben they whom thou louedest and desyredest with alle thy herte lyke as saul and Ionathas that wer not departed in lyf ne in deth and so I am not departed fro my lord and mayster but whan ylle and wycked men departe vs And the separacyon of one hour shalle not be alwaye For his soule knoweth them that loue hym though they speke not to hym whyche now ben fâ—r from hym And at the day of the grete resurrectyon they shalle not be departed from hym Hec dyonysyus Seynt IohÌ„n Crisostm saith in the boke of praysyng of seynt poul and commendeth this glorious appostle moche sayeng what is founden suffycyent in commendacoÌ„n of hym syth al the goodnes that is in man the soule possedeth it only And hath it in hym And not only of a man but also of the aÌ„gelis And in what maner we shal say to yow heer after Abel offred sacrefyce and of that he was preysed but we shal shewe the sacrefyse of paul And it shal appere greter in as moche as heuen is heyer than the erthe For paul sacrefyed hym self euery day And offrid double sacrefyse in herte and in bodye whiche he mortefyed he offrid not sheep ne nete but he sacrefyed hym selfe in double wyse and yet that suffised hym not but he studyed to offre to god alle the world For he enuiroÌ„ned alle the world that is vnder heuen and made angellis of men And more ouer the men that wer lyke fendes He chaunged them to angellis who is he that is founde parayle or lyke to thys sacrefyse whiche poul with the swerd of the holy goost offred vp to the autar which is aboue heueÌ„ Abel was slayn by treson of his brother but paul was slayn of them whom he desyred to with drawe saue fro Innumerable euillys His dethes were so many that thei may not wel be nombred he had as many as he leuyd dayes Noe as it is redde kepte hym self his wyf his children in the ark but paul in a more perriâ—oê° and older flood in an arke not made with bordes with pitche glewe But with epistles made for bordes delyuerd and saued the vnyuersal world fro the flodes of errour and of synne Thys Arke or shippe was not born to one place but it was sent through the vnyuersal world ne lymed with pitche ne glewe but the bordes therof were enoynted wyth the holy ghoost He toke them that were worshippers of resonable bestes almost more foles than vnresonable bestes for to be the folowers of angellis He ouercam that arke in whiche was receyued the crowe and sent hym out agayn and closyng a wolf therin whoos wodenes he coude not chaunge But thys poule toke fawcons and kytes and made of them douues And excluded alle wodenes and ferocite fro them and broughte to them the spirite of mekenes Somme meruaille of abraham that at the commaundement of god lefte hys contrey and kynredde but how may he be com compared to paule whiche not onlye lefte his contree and kynrede but also hym self and the worlde also he forsoke and dyspised alle thyng and required to haue but one thyng and that was the charite and loue of Ihesu crist Ne he desyred thynges present ne thynges to come cÌ„ but abraham put hym selfe in parel for to saue his brothers sonne But paule susteyned many parellis for to bryng the vnyuersal Worlde fro perellys of the deuyl and brought other to grete surete wyth his own deth Abraham wold haue offred his sonne ysaac to god but paule broughte neyther frende ne neyghboure But offred hym self to god a thousand tymes SoÌ„me meruele of the paciens of ysaac For he suffred the pittes that he made to be stopped but paule not beholdyng the pyttes stopped with stones ne his owen body beten only But them of whom he suffred grete peynes he studied to bryng to heuen And the more this welle was stopped so moche the more it flowed out stremes in shedyng of water of scripture of mekenes and of pacyence ¶ Of the pacyence of Iacob scripture merueylleth whiche abode vij yere for hys spouse But who hath that soule of an ademant that may folowe the pacyence of paule For he abode not only vij yere for crist his spouse but all his lyf tyme he was not only brent with the hete of the day ne suffred only the frost of the nyght But suffryng temptacions now wyth betynges now stonyd with stones And alway emoÌ„g his tormentis caught the sheep drewe them to the fayth from the mouth of the deuyll And also he was made decorate and made fayr wyth the chastite of Ioseph And here I doubte lest soÌ„me wold take it for a lesyng for to preyse here paule whiche crucifyeng hym self not only the beaute of mennis bodyes but alle suche thynges that wer seen to be fayre and clere that he behelde sette no more by them then we do by a lytel asshes or fylthe and abode vnmeuable as a dede man to a dede man alle men wondre at Iob for he was a meruelous champyon but paule was not only troubled by monethes but many yeres enduryng in agonye and alle wey apperid clere He put not away the wodenes of his flessh with a sherde or shelle but he ran dayly as the vnderstondyng mouth of a lyon and faughte ayenst innumerable temptacions whiche were more tollerable than a stone which not of iij or iiij ffrendes but of alle men and of his brethern he suffred obprobryes and was confused and cursed of them alle and he toke euer mekelye and paciently Iob was a man of grete hospitalyte and had cure of poure peple and that he dyd was to susteyne the fylth of the flesshe But seynt poul laboured to help the sekenes of the sowlis ¶ Iob opened his hous to euery man that cam But the soule of paule shewed hym to the vnyuersal worlde Iob had sheep and oxen Innumerable And of them
hym in the eye and blynded hym To whom Chrystofer sayde Tyraunt I shalle dye to morn make a lytyl claye wyth my blood temperyd and enoynte therwyth thyn eye and thou shalt receyue helthe Thenne by the commaundement of the kyng he was ladde for to be byheded thenne there he made hys oryson hys hede was smeton of and so suffred martirdom And the kyng thenne toke a lytyl of his blood and leyde it on hys eye and sayde in the name of god and of Seynt xpoÌ„fer and was anon heled Thenne the kyng by leued in god and gaf commauÌ„dement that yf ony persone blamed god or seynt xpoÌ„fer he shold anon be sleyne with the swerd Ambrose sayth in his preface thus of this holy martir lord thou hast gyuen to xpoÌ„fer so grete plente of vertues suche grace of doctryne that he called fro the errour of paynems xlviij thousand men to thonour of cristen fayth by hys shynyng myracles And vesene and aquylene whiche long had ben comyne atte bourdel vnder the stenche of lecherye He callyd and made them serue in thabyte of chastyte And enseygned them to a lyke crowne of martirdom And wyth thys he beyng strayned and bounden in a fete of yron and grete fyre put vnder doubted nothyng the hete And alle an hole day duryng stode bounden to a stake Myght not be thrugh persed with arowes of alle the knyghtes And wyth that one of the arowes smote out the eye of the tyraunte To whom the blode of the holy martir restablysshed hys syght and enlumyned hym in takyng awaye the blyndnes of hys body and gate of the crysten mynde and pardon And also gate of the by prayer to put away sekenes and sores fro them that remembre hys passyon and fygure Thenne late vs praye to seynt xpoÌ„fre that he praye for vs cÌ„ Thus endeth the lyf of seynt Christofre martyr ¶ Of the seuen Slepars THe seuen slepars were born in the cite of Ephesym And whan decyan themperour cam in to Ephesym for the persecucion of cristeÌ„ men he commaunded to edefye the temples in the myddle of the cyte so that alle shold come wyth hym to doo sacrefyse to thydollys And dyd do seche al the crysten peple and bynde them for to make them to do sacrefyse or ellys to put them to deth In suche wyse that euery man was aferde of the raynes that he promysed that the frende forsoke hys frende And the sone renyed hys fader And the fader the sone And thenne in thys cite were founden seuen crysten men that is to wete maxymyen Malchus marcyanus denyâ— IohÌ„n Serapyon and Constantyn And whan they sawe thys they had moche sorowe and by cause they were the first in the paleys that despysed the sacrefises they hyd them in theyr howses and were in fastynges and in prayers And thenne they were accused to fore dacien and cam thyder and were founden very crysten men thenne was gyuen to them space for to repente them vnto the comyng agayn of dacyen And in the mene whyle they despended thayr patrymonye in almesse to the poure peple And assembled them to gydre toke counseyl and went to the mount of Celyon And there ordeyned to be more secretly And there hyd them long tyme And one of them admynystred and serued them alle waye And whan he wente in to the cyte he clothed hym in thabyte of a beggar whan dacyen was comen agayn he commauÌ„ded that they shold be fette And thenne malchus whyche was theyr seruaunte and mynystred to them mete drynke retorned in grete drede to hys felawes and told and shewed to them the grete fâ—rour and wodenes of themperour And thenne were they sore aferde And malchus sette tofore them the loues of breed that he had brought so that they were comforted of the mete And were more strong for to suffre tormentis and whan they had taken theyr refection and satte in wepyng and waylynges sodenly as god wold they slepte And whan it cam on the morne they were sought and coude not be founden Wherfor Dacien was sorouful by cause he had lost suche yong men And thenne they were accused that they were hydde in the mount of Celyon And had gyuen theyr goodes to poure men and yet abode in theyr purpoos And thenne commaunded decius that theyr kynrede shold come to hym and menaced them to the deth yf they sayde not of them alle that they knewe And they accused them and comployned that they had despended al theyr richesses thenne decius thought what he shold doo wyth them and as our lord wold he enclosed the mouth of the caue wherin they were wyth stones to th ende that they shold dye therin for hungre and faute of mete thenne the mynystres and two crysten men Theodore and Ruffyne wrote their martirdom and leyde it subtilly emong the stones And whan decius was deed and alle that generacion thre Clxxij yere after and the xxx yere of Theodocien the emperour whan the heresye was of them that denyed the Resurrexyon of deed bodyes and began to growe Theodocien thenne the most cristen emperour beyng sorouful that the faith of our lord was so felonysly demened for angre and heuynes he cladde hym in hayre and wepte euery day in a secrete place and ladde a ful holy lyf whiche god merciful and piteous seeyng wold conforte them that were sorouful and wepyng and gyue to them esperaunce and hope of the resurexyon of deed men And opened the precyous tresour of his pyte and reysed the forsayde martirs in thys maner folowyng he put in the wylle of a burgeys of ephesym that he wold make in that montayn whiche was deserte and aspre a stable for his pastours herdemen And it happed that of aduenture the masons that made the sayd stable opened thys caue ¶ And theÌ„ne thyse holy seyntes that were with in awoke and were reysed and entre salewed eche other And had supposed veryly that they had slepte but one nyght only And remembred of the heuynes that they had the day tofore And thenne malcus whiche mynystred to them sayd what decyus had ordeyned of them for he sayd we haue ben sought lyke as I sayd to you yesterday for to doo sacrefyse to thydollys that is that themperour desireth of vs and thenne maxymyen ansuerde god our lord knoweth that we shalle neuer sacrefye And comforted his felawes He commaunded to malchus to goo byâ— breed in the cyte And bad hym bryng more than he dyd yesterday and also tenquyre and demaunde what themperour had commaunded to doo And thenne malcus toke v shilynges And yssued out of the caue and whan he sawe the masons the stones tofore the caue he began to blysse hym and was moche admerueyllyd But he thought litil on the stones for he thought on other thyng Thenne cam he alle doubtous to the yates of the cite And was al admerueylled For he sawe the
of spirituel bondes And the fyrst cause whyche is in remembraunce of saynt peter ffor as it is said in thistorie scolastyque that herode agrippe went to rome and was right famylier with gayus neuewe of tyberius Emperour And on a day as herode was in a chariote brought with gayen he lyfte vp his handes in to heuen And sayd I wold gladly see the deth of this olde felawe Peter and the lord of alle the world and the chariot man herd this word sayd of herode And anon tolde it to tyberyus wherfor Tyberyus sette herode in pryson And as he Was there he behelde on a day by hym a tree and sawe vpon the braunches of this tree an owle whiche satte theron and another prysonner whyche was with hym that vnderstode well dyuynacions sayde to hym Thou shalt be anon delyuerd and shalt be enhaunsed to be a kyng In suche wyse that thy frendes shalle haue enuye at the and thou shalt dye in that prosperyte And knowe thou for trouthe That whan thou shalt see the Owle ouer at the ende of fyue dayes after thou shalt dye for certayn And anon after Tyberyus deyed And Gayus was Emperour whiche delyuerd heroude out of pryson and enhaunsed hym gloryously and sent hym as kyng in to Iudee and anon as he cam he sent hys puyssaunce and sette hand to For to put somme of the chyrche to affliction and dyd doo slee Iames brother of seynt Iohan theuangelyst with a swerde byfore the day of ester And bycause it was a thyng agreable and plesed the Iewes He toke Peter on ester day and enclosed hym fast in pryson And wold after ester bryng hym forth and shewe hym to the peple and slee hym but thangel cam merueyllously and vnbond hym and losed his chaynes and sent hym forth alle quyt to the seruyse of prechyng the word of god And the felonny of this kyng suffred not tabyde ony discicion of vengyance For the next day folowyng he made to come the kepars For to begynne to tormente them with dyuers paynes for the fleyng of Peter but he was lette to doo that that the delyueraunce greued thē not For he went hastely to Cezarie And there was smeton of an angelle and deyed Thus reherceth Iosephus in the booke of antyquyte For whan he rode cam in to Cezaree alle the men wymmen of that prouynce cam to hym And whan the day cam that he shold goo in Iugement and take possessyon of the contray He went and cladde hym with a vestment of tyssue merueylously shynyng of golde and siluer And whan the sonne smote and shone on it It was more shynyng than the sonne For it was so bryght that no man myght beholde it And the brightenes was lyke rede metal and gaf fere and drede to them that loked theron and therfor the pryde of hym was so grete that he better semed a man made by crafte than by nature humayn And thenne the peple began to crye say we haue seen the tyl now lyke a man But now we confesse that thou art aboue nature humayn And thus as he was flatred with honours and reffused not dyuyne worshippes he beyng there sette he sawe aboue his hede an owle syttyng whiche was messager of his hasty deth And whan he had apperceyued the owle And byheld the peple that were there assembled and comen at his commaundement he sayd to them certayn I that am youre lord shalle deye wythin fyue dayes For he knewe it well bycause the deuynour had told hym that he shold deye within fyue dayes that he had see the owle syttyng aboue hym And Incontynent after this thyng thus accomplisshed he was smeten sodanly in suche wise that wormes ete his bowels and on the fyfte day deyed And this sayth Iosephus And bycause thenne in remembraunce of the delyueraunce of Seynt Peter prynce of thappostles fro the cruel vengaunce of the cruel tyraunt whyche assone as he was enhaunsed to be kyng went to pursewe and destroye the chirche therfor the chyrche haloweth the feste of Seynt Peter advincula And the epystle is songen in the masse in whyche thys delyueraunce is witnessed here to be doon The second cause of thestablyssyng of thys feste was by cause Alysaunder the pope whiche was the vj after Peter And hermes prouost of rome whiche was conuerted to the fayth by the same Alexander were holden in dyuerse places in the pryson of quyryn the Iuge whiche Iuge sayd to hermes the prouost I merueylle of the that art so wyse a man that thou wilt leue the grete worldly honours that thou hast and the grete richesses that thou receyuest of thy prouostye And wylt leue alle thyse thynges for dremyng of an other lyf To whom hermes sayd to fore thys tyme I despreysed and scorned ¶ And wend there had ben none other lyf than this Quyrynus answerd Make prouf to me that there is an other lyf anon I shalle applye me to thy fayth To whom hermes sayd Allexander whom thou holdest in thy pryson shalle enforme the better than I Thenne quyryn cursyd Alexander And sayde to hym I wyll that thou shalt make proef of thys thyng to me and thou sendest me to Alexander whom I hold bounden in chaynes for his euyll dedes Truly I shalle double the pryson vpon the and alexander and I shalle sette watche vpon you And yf I fynd the with hym or hym with the I shal verely gyue fayth to thyn and his wordes And thenne he doubted theyr kepars And shewed this to Alexander and thenne alexander prayed to god And an angelle cam to hym and brought hym in to the pryson to hermes And whan quyryn cam to the pryson He fond them both to gydre wherof he was moche admerueylled thenne hermes recounted to quyryn how Alexander had heled his sonne and reysed hym fro deth And quiryn thenne sayd to Alexander I haue a doughter named balbyne wyiche is seek of the goute yf thou mayst hele her I promyse the that I shal receyue thy fayth yf thou mayst gete for her helthe To whom alexander sayd Goo anon and bryng her to me in to my pryson And quyryne sayd to hym how may I fynd the in thy pryson and art here And Alexander sayd goo thy waye anon For he that brought me hyther shalle sone bryng me theder And Quyryn went thenne and fette hys doughter And brought her in to the pryson where Alexander was fonde hym there and thenne knelyd doun to hys feet And his doughter began to kysse the chaynes with whyche seint Alexander was bounden hopyng therby to receyue her helth And Seynt Alexander sayd to her Doughter kysse not my chaynes But seke the chaynes of seynt Peter and kysse them wyth deuocion And thou shalt receyue thy helthe And anon Quyryn dyd do seche the chaynes of Seynt Peter and they were founden And Alexander dyd the doughter do kysse them And anon as she had kyssed them she receyued her
dede hou he and Ebronyen shold fynysshe theyr lyues ¶ Of saint Logyer LOgyer whan he shone and resplendyd in al vertu he deserued to be Bisshop of Aduense Clotayre was deed he was moche greued for the cure and charge of the Royamme And by the wylle of god and couÌ„seyll of the princes he crowned Childryck yet yonge to be kynge But Ebronyen wold haue made Theoderyck broder of Childryck kyng not for the prouffyte of the Royamme but by cause he was put oute of his power and was hated of alle the peple And doubted the Ire of the kynge and of the prynces And therfore he requyred of the kynge lycence for to entre in to Relygyon And the kynge graunted it to hym Thenne the kynge dyd hold his broder the oderich in garde that he shold machyne nothynge ageynste the Royamme And by the holynes and prouydence of the good Bisshop Logyer alle the peple were in ioye and in pees And soone after the kynge beynge enpayred by euylle counceylle was meuyd in wrath ageynst this hooly Bisshop seruaunt of god And sought menes ententyfly how he myght couenably putt hym to deth But Logyer suffred all goodly and reputed his enemyes lyke as his frendes and dyde so moche toward the kynge that on eester day he shold synge masse in the cyte wherof he was a bisshop And that day it was told to hym that the kynge shold performe that nyght all that he had treted for his deth but he ne doubted nothynge but dyned that day with the kyng at his owne table And thenne he fledde his persecutour in suche maner that he wente to the monasterye of Lucon ther seruynge oure lord in whiche Ebronyen ther was hyd in thabyte of a 〈◊〉 And also seruyd hym in grete charyte And a whyle after the kynge deyde And Theoderyche was enhaunced in to the regne For which thyng the blessyd saynt Logyer meued by the wepynges and teeres of the people and constrayned by the commaundemente of his abbot retourned vnto his see in his Cyte But Ebronyen anon renouÌ„ced his relygyon And was ordeyned steward of the kynge And how be it that he was euylle to fore yet he was worse after And studyed how he myght brynge Logyer to deth And sente knyghtes for to take hym And whan the blessyd Logyer knewe it he wold haue escaped fro theyr woodenes and malyce And as he yssued out of thâ— Towne in thabyte of a Bisshop He was taken of the knyghtes whiche anone put oute his eyen And thenne two yere after saynt Logyer with guâ—ryn his broder whom Ebronyen hadde exyled were brought vnto the palays of the kynge And as Ebronyen mocqued the bisshop they answerd wysely and peasybly Not wythstondynge that wycked man Ebronyen sente guâ—ryn for to be stoned to deth with stones And made the Bisshop to be ladde all the nyght bare foote vppon sharp stones on whiche the water ranne faste And whanne he herd that he preysed god in his tormentes he made to cutte oute the tonge of his heede and after to kepe in pryson for to make hym suffre newe tormentes But for all that he lost neuer his speche but entended to preche and to exhortacion as wel as he myght And sayd to fore how he Ebronyen shold deye and whan Thenne a grete lyghte in maner of a crowne enuyronned his heede whiche moche peple sawe And somme demauÌ„ded hym what thynge hit was And he kneled doune and made his prayers yeldynge graces to god And admonested alle them that were there that they shold chaunge theyr lyf in to a better And whanne Ebronyen herd that he had grete enuye at hym And sente four men for to smyte of his hede And whanne they ledde hym forthe he sayd to them It is no nede to yow to laboure ony more but fulfylle ye here the desyre of hym that sente yow And thenne thre of them had so grete pyte of hym that they kneled doune and requyred pardon And the fourth smote of his hede whiche anone was rauysshed of the deuylle and throwen in the fyre ended his lyf myserably Thenne two yere after Ebronyen herd that god shewed many myracles for his blessyd saynt and the renomme of it shone ouer all and was tormentid with cursyd enuye and sente thyder a knyght to wete the trouthe and to retorne and telle to hym And whan the knyght cam thyder he prowdly smote the tombe with his foote and sayd an euylle dethe mote he haue that sayth byleueth that this dede body maye doo myracles And anone he was rauysshed of the deuylle and deyde sodenly And the saynt was the more worshyped by his deth And whanne Ebronyen herd this he was thenne more tormentid wyth malyce of enuye and enforced to quenche the fame of the holy saynt but after the sayenge to fore of the saynt he felonnously slewe hym self with a swerd And this holy bisshop saynt Logyer suffred deth aboute the yere of our lord vjC lxxx in the tyme of Constantyn the fourthe ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Logier Here foloweth the lyf of saint Fraunceis first begynner of the Freres mynours And first of his name FRaunceis was first named Iohan but after his name was chaunged and was called Fraunceys The cause of chaungynge of his name was manyfold Fyrst for the reason of his merueylous chaungynge For it is knowen that he receyued of God by myracle the frensshe tongue And it is sayd in his legende that whanne he was replenysshed of the grace of god and of thardoure of the hooly ghooste he pronounced oute brennynge wordes in Frensshe Secondly by the reason to publysshe his offyce wherof is sayd in his legende that the dyuyne prouyden gaf to hym that name by cause of hym synguler And is acustomed name thoppynyon of this mysterye was knowen thorugh oute alle the world Thyrdly by reason of his offyce in effect wheruppon was gyuen to vnderstonde that by hym and by his sones he shold make many seruauntes of the deuylle and bonde to synne free Fourthly by reason of grete courage and magnanymyte of herte For frensshe men ben sayd of fyersnes For in them is naturell fyersnes and grete câ—rage of herte Fyftly by reason of the vertuosyte in spekynge For his word keruyd awaye the vyces lyke an axe Sixtely by reason that he chaced awey comnnely the deuyls Seuenthly by reason of honeste in his conuersacyon of perfection of werke And it is said that somme signes that were brought to Rome to fore the Consuls whiche were in terrour of the peple and in worship were callyd Franciscas ¶ Of saint Fraunceis FRaunceis seruaunt frende of Almyghty god was borne in the Cyte of Assyse and was maade a Marchaunt vnto the xxv yere of his age and wasted his tyme by lyuyng vaynly whome our lord corrected by the scorge of sekenes and sodenly chauÌ„ged hym in to another man soo that he beganne to shyne by the spyryte of prophecye
dico vos seruos et cetera I saye you not now seruauntes but frendes For the second Iohannis Primo Dedit eis potestatem filios dei fieri he gaf to them power to be maade the sones of God Of the thyrdde ad Romanos octâ—uo yf ye be sones ye be heyres et cetera Of the fourthe he sayth thus How moche sholdest thow laboure to fynde a leder to brynge the to the kynge and speke for the that is to wete that they ben leders of grace and of alle humayne lygnage and speke and pray for vs to god wherfore they ought to be worshipped Other ben taken as touchyng the preciosite of their bodyes And the sayd Iohan Damascene putteth foure resons And saynt Augutyn putteth therto the fyfthe by which is shewed the preciousite of the bodyes or of the Relyques For the holy bodyes were the selyers of god temple of Ihesu Crist they were the Alabastre or boxe of the precious oynement and the fontain of the dyuyne lyf membres of the holy ghost Fyrst they were the celers of god For the Sayntes ben celers of god and pure aournementes Secondly they were the temple of Ihesu Crist ¶ For hit foloweth by cause that god duellyd in them by entendement wherof thappostse sayth Ne knowe ye not that your bodyes ben the temple of tholy ghost duellyng in you Herof saith Crisostom Man delyteth hym in edificacion of walles and god delyteth hym in the conuersacion of sayntes Wherof Dauyd sayth Syre I haue louyd the beaute of thy hows but that beaute is not made by dyuersyte of marble but hit is gyuen to lyuyng men by dyuersyte of graces the beauâ—te of marble the Flesshe delyteth The beaute of grace quykenyth the soule the fyrst deceyueth the eyen and that other edyffyeth by double endendemente Thyrdly they ben the Alabastre or box of spyrytuel oynement wherfor hit is said oynement of good odour cometh of hymself And this gyuen the Relyques of sayntes yf the water ranne from the Roche and oute of the stone in deserte And also water ranne out of the Iowe of the asse to Sampson whiche had thurst thenne it is not incredyble that ther renneth fro the Relyques of sayntes oynementes wel smellyng to them that knowe the yefte of god and thonour of sayntes whiche cometh from hym Fourthly they ben Fontaynes of dyuynyte Of whome is sayd they that lyue in veryte with free pacyence ben assistaunt to god and ben to vs welles of helthe Our lord Ihesu Cryst yeueth vnto Relyques of his sayntes many benefayttes in dyuerse maners Fyftly they ben membrys of the holy ghost this reason assigneth saynt Augustyn in the book de Ciuitate dei And sayth they be not to be despysed but to be honourid gretely and to worshipe the bodyes of the sayntes of whome whanne they lyued the holy ghoost vsed as his owne membre in all good werke And thappostle sayth ye seche experyence of hym that speketh in me Cryste And of seynt Stephen it is sayd they myght not resiste his wysedome ne to the holy ghoost that spake in hym And Ambrose sayth in thexametre It is a ryght precious thynge that a man is made the membre of dyuyne voys And with his bodyly lyppes expressyth the wordes celestyall Thyrdly the feste of alle the sayntes is establysshed for the clensynge of oure neclygences For how be hit that we halowe the festes of a fewe sayntes yet we kepe them neclygently of tymes and leue many thynges vndon by ygnoraunce and by neclygence And yf we haue not solempnysed ony festes as we ought to do but neclygently Now in this generall feste we ought to fulfylle and amende it and purge vs of oure neclygence And this reason is touchyd in a sermon that is recited this day in the Chirche And hit is ordeyned that at this day memorye is made of alle saintes that what someuer fragylyte humayne hath done lasse than he ought by ygnoraunce by neclygence or by occupacion of seculer thynges in the solempnyte of sayntes that hit be appeased in thobseruacion of this holy feest It is to be noted that there be four differences of the sayntes that we honoure by the cours of the yere whiche ben of the newe testameÌ„t of whom on this day we gadre to gyder for taccomplisshe that whiche we haue neclygently done that ben thappostles martirs confessours and vyrgyns And after Rabane these foure ben sygnefyed by the foure partyes of the world By thoryent that is Eest thappostles by the southe the martirs By the norâ—he the confessours And by the west the vyrgyns The fyrst difference is of thappostles Of whom thexcellence is magnyfested by cause they surmounte all thother sayntes in foure thyngis First in soueraynte of dygnyte For they ben the wyse prynces of the chirche mylytaunt they ben the puyssaunt accessours of the Iuge perdurable they ben swete pastours of the shepe and flock of our lord And they ben swete Iuges as Bernard saith It besemeth well to establysshe suche pastours and suche doctours of thumayne lygnage that ben swete or softe puyssaunt and wyse swete or softe that they receyue vs goodly by mercy Myghty For to defende vs puyssauntly wyse for to bryng vs to the way of trouthe After they surmounte the other sayntes in soueraynte of puyssaunce wherof saynt Augustyn sayth thus God gaf power to the Appostles ouer the deuyls for to destroye them Aboue thelementes to chaunge them A loue nature to cure it Aboue the sowles for to assoille them of their synnes aboue the deth for to despyse hit aboue thaungels for to sacre the precious body of oure lord Ihesu Cryst Thyrdly They excede other saintes in prerogatyf of holynesse soo that by their grete holynes and plenytude of graces the lyf and conuersacion of Ihesu Crist shone in them as in a myrrour and was knowen in them as the sonne in his splendour as a rose in his odour And as fyre in his hete And herof sayth Crysostome vpon Mathewe Ihesu Cryste sente his Appostles as the sonne his rayes as the Rose his odour And as the fyre his sparkles And lyke as the sonne appierith in his rayes And as the Rose is felte by his odour and as the fyre is sene in his sparkles so by the vertues of them is knowen the puyssaunce of Ihesu Crist Fourthly Thappostles excede other sayntes in th effecte of prouffyte Of whiche vtilite saynt Augustyn spekyng of thappostles seyth Of the moste vyle of the most ydeottis And of the lâ—ste ben ennoblisshed enlumyned and multeplyed the moste eloquente and fayr spekars the clerest wyttes and connynge And most plentyuous wysedome of facunde and spekynge of Auctours doctours The second dyfference is of martirs of whome thexcellence is shewed by that they suffrid in many maners prouffitably constaÌ„tly and multyplyengly For aboue the martirdome of blood shedyng they suffrid thre other martirdome without effusion of bloode that is 〈◊〉 in plente whiche Dauyd had largesse in pouerte
hyr and she sayd to hyr ne doubte the noo thynge well belouyd of god For this day thou shalt haue the royame perdurable For thys transytorye royame and an Inmortal spouse for a mortal And she was constaunte and ferme in the feythe and bad the tormentours deo as was to them commaunded And thenne the sergeauntes broughte hir out of the cyte and araced of hyr pappes with tonges of yron after smote of hir heed whos body porphyrye toke aweye buryed it the nexte day folowyng was demaunded where the holy body of the quene was and the emperour bad that many sholde be put to tormente for to knowe where the body was Porphyrye came thenne tofore them al and escryed sayeng I am he that buryed the body of the ancylle and seruaunte of Ihesu crist and haue receyued the feythe of god thenne maxence began to rore and braye as a madde man and cryed sayeng O wretchyd and caytyf loo porpherye whiche was the onely kepar of my sowle and comforte of al myn euylles is deceyued whiche thynge â—e tolde to his knyghtes to whome they sayd we also ben cristen and been redy for to suffre deth for Ihesu cryst thenne the emperour dronken in wodenes commaunded that al shold be byheded and that their bodyes shold be caste to dogges and thenne called he katheryne said to hir how be it that thou hast made the quene for to deye by thyn arte magyke yf thou repente the thou shalt be fyrst and chyef in my paleys For thou shalt this day do sacrefyse or thou shalt lese thyn heed she said to hym do al that thou hast thought I am redy to suffre al and thenne he gafe sentence ageynst hyr commaunded to smyte of hyr heed and whan she was brought to the place ordeyned therto she lyfte vp hir eyen to heuen prayeng said o Ihesu criste hope helpe of them that byleue in the o beaute glorye of virgyns good kyng I beseche and praye the that who someuer shal remembre my passyon be it at his deth or in ony other necessyte calle me that he may haue by thy mercy th effecte of his requeste prayer thenne came a voys to hir sayeng come vnto me my fayr loue and my spouse loo beholde the yate of heuen is opene to the and also to them that shal halowe thy passâ—on I promyse the comforte of heuen of that they requyre and whan she was byheded there yssued out of hir body mylke in steed of blood aungellys toke the body bare it vnto the mouÌ„te of Synay more thenne twenty iourneyes fro thens and buryed it there honourably contynuelly oyle rennyth out of hir boones whiche heleth al maladyes sekenesses she suffred deth vnder maxence the tyraunte about the yere of our lord thre hondred how maxence was punysshed for thys felonye for other it is conteyned in thystorye of thynuencyon of the holy crosse but for as moche as it was not knowen longe after where this holy body was becomen there was grete sorowe lamentacion emonge cristen men sayeng alas the moste clere lyghte of our feyth of wysdom the temple of the holy ghoost is goon from vs and besought god deuoutely that it myght plese hym to shewe to them this holy relyque which after came to knowleche in thys manere In the deserte a boute the mounte of Synay there were many cristen heremytes whyche were enflamed with grete deuocyon toward thys holy vyrgyne Saynt katheryne Wherfore by comyn assente they ordeyned a chapel In whyche thys holy vyrgyne shold be specyally remembryd whiche chapell was by the mounte of Synay not ferre from the hylle faste by the place where as our lord apperyd in the busshe to moyses In whyche place the holy heremytes lyueden in grete abstynence and deuocyon a gloryous lyf To whome on a tyme the aungell of god apperyd and sayd God hath be holden your affectuel deuocyon fro heuen Therfore he hath graunted to you this grace that by you shal be founden 〈◊〉 knowen the holy body of the gloryous virgyne Saynt katheryne to his souerayn honoure and glorye and therfore aryse ye vp and folowe me and though it soo be that ye see me not yet the shadowe of the palme that I bere in myn honde shal neuer departe fro your syght And thenne these Heremytes wente forth and folowed the aungel tyl they came to the place where vnnethe ony creature myght entre for straytenes of the waye and sharpenesse of the rockes and whan they came to the toppe of the hylle they sawe not thaungel but they sawe euydently the shadowe of the palme that it semed al the place had be shadowed by the leuys of the palme by whiche they came vnto the place where the body had layen a hondred and thyrty yere in a stone and hir flesshe was dryed vp for lengthe of tyme but the bones were so compacte and pure that they semed to be kepte by the cure of aungellys Thenne they toke vp with grete ioye and reuerence thys holy body and bare it doun in to the chapel whyche they had made and this was doon by grete myracle for the place where as she laye in was so stepe thycke streyte and soo daungerous that it semed to mannes reson Impossyble to come ther to and these holy men after they had broughte this body wyth solempnytee ordeyned the feste of thynuencion of this holy body shold be solempnysed whiche is yet there kepte and is about the tyme of thynuencyon of the holy crosse whiche place is gretely honoured and our lord shewith there many myracles and out of the bones floweth out oyle largelye by whiche many maladyes been guarisshed and it is sayd that tofore the body was founden that a monke wente to the mounte of synay and dwellyd there by the space of seuen yere moche deuoutelye in the seruyce of saynt katheryne and on a tyme as he prayed with grete deuocyon that he myght haue somme thynge of hir body Sodeynlye there came a ioynte of one of hir fyngres of hir honde whyche yefte he toke ioyefully of our lord It is reddâ— that there was a man moche deuoute to saynt katheryne and ofte called on hir to his ayde and by lengthe of tyme he fyl in foule thoughte loste the deuocion that he had to the saynt and cessyd to praye to hir and as he was on a tyme in prayer he sawe a grete multytude of vyrgyns passyng by hym emonge whome there was one more replendysshaunte thenne the other and whan she approched hym she couerd hir vysage and passed to fore hym hir face couerd and he meruaylled moche of the beaute of hyr demaunded what she was and one of the virgyns sayd that it was katheryne whome thou were wonte for to knowe and by cause thou knowest ne remembryst hir not she passed tofore the thith face couerd without knowleche It is to be
word vocabis nomen eius ihesum And here thou shalt Impose to hym this name whiche was gyue to hym by thangele to fore begynnyng of this world whan thēne he sayde thou shalt Impose to hym this name he sheweth the denominacion made by Ioseph And whan he said that of the angelle or of the souerayn it was made he towched the ij other domynaciōs And therfore was this Circumsicion establyssyd in the heed begynnyng of the yere at Rome whiche is chief of the world and ennobled with the first lettre of the chief of the A.b.c. sette in the first place thus fourmed Ihesu Crist the hede of the chirche is this day circūcided the name is gyue to hym and Imposed And the vtas of the natyuyte is halowed The thirde thynge that is considered of this holy day is theffusion or shedyng of the blood of Ihesu Cryst For on this day fyrst he began to shede his bloode the whiche after dyuerse tymes he shedde Fyue tymes he shedde his blood for vs First atte his circumsicion And this tyme was the begynnyng of oure redēpcion Secondly in oryson And in this tyme he shewde the desire that he had of our redempcion Thirdly wan he was bound to the pyler and beten and this was the merite of our redempcion for by his woūdes we were saued Fourthly whā he was crucyfyed And this tyme was the prys of oure redempcion And thēne he payed that whiche he had not taken Fyfthly whan his syde was opened And this tyme was of our redempcion the sacrement For thenne out of his syde yssued blood water whiche signefyeth that we ought to be puryfyed by the water of baptesme the whiche water ought to haue vertue and effect of the precious blood of Ihesu Cryst The sixthe thyng of this holy day is the signacle of the Circumsicion the whiche Ihū Cryst on this day of his benygnyte daygned to take And ye ought to knowe that for many resons he wold be circuncised First for the cause of hym self that he wold shewe that he had takē our uery flessh humayne For he knewe wel that ther shold somme come after that shold saye that he had not taken body real of the virgyne Marie And therfore wold he be circumcised really in flessh humayne for to destroye theyr erroure And to shede his naturel blood For a body fantastyque shal shede no blood Secondly for the cause of vs for to shewe to vs how we shold be circuncised spirituelly After that saynt bernard saith Ther be two maner of circumsicions that we ought to doo that is to wete withoute forth our flessh within our herte The circumsiciō of our body is in thre thynges in habyte that it be not noyeful In operacion that it be not repreuable in worde that it by not despytous The circumsicion of the herte within forth is also in thre thynges in thought that it be holy in affection that it be pure in encencion that it be rightfull Item for the rightful cause of vs to that he wold saue vs in this maner that he was cutte in one mēbre for to saue all the body In lyke wyse wold Ihū Cryst suffre the cuttyng of his circumcision for to saue all the spyrituel body of the chirche They ben the mēbres of the chirche that byleue in hym whiche by the faith of the chirche shall be saued Of whiche circumsicion saith saynt poul ad Colocenses secundo ye haue taken the circumcison not made with the honde to despoylle cutte the flesshe but the spirituel circumsicion of Ihesu Cryst is that all vices be cutte of take away Thirdly he wold be circumcised by cause of the Iewes that they shold haue none excusacion but for to byleue in hym For yf he had not be circumsised they myght saye they ought not to receyue hym by cause he folowed not the fadres of the lawe Fourthly by cause the deuyl shold haue no knowleche of the mystery of thyncarnacion As the circumsicion was gyuen ayenst orygynal synne the deuyl wende that he that receyued it were a synnar had nede of the remedye of circumsicion And for this cause Ihesu Cryste wold that his moder beyng all way a virgyne shold be maryed by cause that by the sacrament of matrymonye his Incarnacion shold be hyd from the feende Fyfthly for to fulfylle parfyght Iustice and parfyght humylyte the whiche is to submytte hym to one lower than hym selfe therfore wold he thus be circumcised for to shewe to vs this humylite as he that is lorde and maistre of the lawe submysed hym selfe to the lawe Sixthly for tapproue and fulfyll the lawe of Moyses the whiche was good holy For he was not comen for to destroye the lawe but for to fulfylle and kepe the lawe Thus saith saynt poul the xv chapytre I saye to you that Ihesu Cryst was mynystre of the circumsicion for the trouth of god to conferme the promesses that he had mad vnto the fadres of tholde lawe And the cause why the circumsicion was made the viij day ther ben assigned many reasons The first is for to vnderstonde the sence of the lettre as it lyeth For lyke as Raby moyses whiche was a right grete philosophre in theologye how wel that he was a Iewe whan a chylde in the state of vij dayes after he is born is also tēdre as he were yet in the wombe of his moder And atte vij day he is fortefyed and affermed Therfor as he saith our lord wold that the lytil children atte viij day shold be circumcised by cause they shold not be hurte by the grete tendrenes that they haue yet And he wold not that they shold abyd aboue the viij day for iij causes that he assigneth The first is fore to eschewe the peryll of deth that he shold not deye within the viij dayes The seconde is for teschewe the payne of the chyldren For in the doyng of the circumsicion is a grete payne And therfore wold our lord god that they were circumcised whylis they had lytyl ymagynacion For whan they haue lytil vnderstōdyng they fele not so moche payne The thirde cause for teschewe the heuynes of the parentes For by the circumsicion many chyldren deyed And yf they had abyden til they had be gretter And thēne deyed the fader and moder shold haue ben more soroufull than they shold be atte age of viij dayes The second cause is vnderstande in spirituel dede that is to wyte that the viij day is taken for the resurrexion whiche is the vtas of our lyf For thenne shal we be circumcised fro alle payne and fro all myserye And thus thies viij dayes shall be vnderstod by the viij ages The first is fro Adam to Noe The secōd fro Noe to abraham The thirde fro abrahā to Moyses The fourthe fro moyses vnto Dauid The fyfte fro Dauid to Ihesu Cryst The vj fro Ihesu Cryst vnto th ēde of the world The vij of the deyeng
saynt poul ad hebreos sexto To Ihesu cryst we renne for refuge for to kepe the hope that hath be delyuerd to vs as an ancre whiche is ferme to the sowle and sure whiche ledeth to wythin heuen where Ihesu cryst byfore vs entred And saynt lyon saith thus the Ascencion of Ihesu cryst is our mountyng and lyftyng vp And where the Ioye of our hede is there abydeth the hope of our body â— The seuenth is the shewyng of the waye of heuen wherof sayth Mychee the prophete he ascended to shewe vs the way And saynt Austyn saith Thy sauyour hath made the way to the Aryse thou and goo thyder For thou hast that thou entendeste be not now slouthfull The viij is the openyng of the yate of heuen for lyke as adam opened the yate of helle in lykewise IhÌ„u crist opened the yate of heuene as the chirch syngeth Lord god Ihesu cryst thou art he that hast ouercome the pryâ—k of deth that is the deuyll and hast opened the royame of heuen to them that byleue in the The ix is the preparacioÌ„ of the newe place wherof Ihesus saith in the gospell of IohÌ„n I goo for to make redy your place in heuene And saynt Austyn sayth Lord araye that thou hast made redy Thou arayest vs lord to the and thou arayest the to vs whan thou makest redy the place to th ende that to the in vs and in the to vs may be the preperacion of the place and the mansion of the euer lastyng helth Amen Thus endeth thystorye of Thascencion Here begynneth of the blessyd holy feste of pentecost or of the holy gost THe holy ghoost as wytnessheth saynt luke in thystorye of thactes of thappostles on this day was sente to thappostles in the fourme lyknes of tongues of fyre And of this sendyng comyng viij thynges ben to be considered Fyrst fro whoÌ„ he was sente SecoÌ„dly in hou many maners he was seÌ„te Thirdly in what tyme he was seÌ„te Fourtly how ofte he was seÌ„te to thappostlis Fyftly in what wyse he was sente Syxtly in to whoÌ„ he was sente Seuently wherfor he was sente And eyghtly by whome he was sente As to the first it is to wete that he was sente fro the fader fro the sone he was sente he also hym self the holy goost gaf sente hym self Of the first saith saynt IohÌ„n IohÌ„is xiiij The holy ghoost which is said paraclitus whoÌ„ god the fader shal sende in my name This is he that shal teche vs alle Of the secoÌ„d saith saynt IohÌ„n yf I goo saith IhÌ„us I shal sende hym to you Now it is to wyte that the sendyng is coÌ„pared in thre maners to the sendar First as he that gyueth beyng in his substauÌ„ce in this maner the sonne gyueth his rayes or bemes SecoÌ„dly as in gyuyng vertu or strengthe and so is the darte gyuen by the vertue strâ—engthe of hym that casteth it Thirdly to hym that gyueth his iurisdictioÌ„ to another thus the messager is sente froÌ„ hym of whooÌ„ he hath the comandemÌ„t after thyse iij maners the holy ghoost may be said to be sente For it is said sent of the fader of the sone as hauyng vertu auctorite in his operacioÌ„ not withstondyng hym self gyueth sendeth hym The whiche thyng semeth to be verytable after this that the gospel of IohÌ„n saith Iohannis decimosexto Cum venerit ille spiritus veritatis cÌ„ ¶ Whan the spyrite of trouth shal come whiche procedeth fro the fader he shal bere wytnes of me that he cometh fro me Now sayth saynt lyon in a sermoÌ„ of the pentecoste The Incomutable deyte of the blessyd trynyte is wythout ony chaungyng one in substaunce not dyuyded in operacion alle one in wylle lyke in omnypotencye egalle in glorye and in hys mercy he hath taken to hym self the werke of our redempcion that the fader be to vs mercyful the sone to vs proufytable and god the holy ghoost enflawme vs ¶ And by cause that the holy ghoost is god therfore he gyueth hym self And that this is trewe Saynt Ambrose in the booke of tholy ghoost sayth thus The glorye of the diuynyte is approwued by iiij reasoÌ„s or for he is without synne or for that he leueth the synnes or for that he is creatour not creature or for that he worshiped none but he is worshippid in that is shewed to vs that the blessid trynyte was all gyuen to vs For the fader hath offred all that he had as saith saynt austyn he hath sente to vs his sone in prys of oure redeÌ„pcion the holy ghoost in signe of our adopcioÌ„ Semblably the sone of god hath gyueÌ„ hym self vnto vs For thus saith saynt bernard he is our pastour he is our pasture he is our redeÌ„pcion For he gaf his soule in pris of our redeÌ„pcion his blood in to drynk his flesh in to mete his dyuynyte in to fynal reward SeÌ„blably the holy ghoost gaf hym self alle to vs lyke as thapostle saith by the holy goost is gyueÌ„ the word of sapieÌ„ce to one to another of scieÌ„ce thus of all graces particuler is gyuen by the same holy ghoost and herof saith saynt lyon the 〈◊〉 The holy ghoost is thynspyrer of the faith gyuer of scieÌ„ce techer of chastete cause of all helthe As to the secoÌ„d he is sente in iiij maners that is to wete that the holy ghoost in ij maners Inuysebly vysebly As touchyng in to the hertâ—s pure and chast he descended vysybyly whan by somme signe vysyble he is shewed ¶ Of the sendyng Inuysyble saith saynt IohÌ„n Iohannis iij. Spiritus vbi wlt spirat The holy ghoost where he will he Inspyreth the hertes but thou knowest not whens he cometh ne whither he wille goo And it is no merueylle ¶ For as saynt bernard saith of this word niuysyble he is not entred by the eyen for he is not couloured ne by the eeres for he sowneth not ne by the nosethrelles ¶ For he is not medled with the ayer ne he entreth not by the conduyte of the mouth For he may not be swolowed ne by the felyng or attouchyng For he is not manyable ne may not be handlyd Thou demaundest thenne yf he hath sought ony place naturelle or humayne by whiche thou mygktest knowe that he be comen in to the Knowe thou saith saynt benrard that of the â— moeuyng of the herte I haue vnderstande by his presence And by the fleyng of vyces I haue felte the vertu of his puyssaunce And by the discuscion repreuyng of my synnes hydde I am ameruaylled of the depnesse of sapyence And of thamendement of my maners how lytyl and smale that they be I haue experience of the bounte of his mansnetude and of the reformacion and renouacion of the spirite of my herte I haue perced the thyknes and the noblenes of his beaute And of the regard and consideracioÌ„ of all thise thynges I am
to god and by obedyence to his maistre and this is the treble maner of musyke whiche is reported to the treble difference of thoffyce of the chirche For thoffyce of the chirche is made in psalmes in lessons and in songe The first maner of musyke is made by touchyng of fyngres as in the sawtrye and semblable instrumentis The second is the songe as of the voys and that aparteyneth to the lessons And therof saith Synge ye to hym in deportyng your voys The thirde that is by blowyng apparteyneth to the songe of a trompe And herof saith dauid Prayse ye hym in the sowne of the trompe The temple or the chirche is halowed for fyue reasons The first is by cause that the deuyl and all his power be put oute Wherof saynt gregorye recounteth in his dialogue that as a chirche of theretyques Arryens was yelden to good crysten men And they halowed it and had brought in reliques of seynt fabyen and sebastyen and of saynt agathe alle the peple were there assembled and they herde sodenly an hogge crye renne hyther and thyder emonge their feet sechyng the doores of the chirche And he myght not be seen of noman wherof the peple had grete meruaylle But our lord shewed to them that it was the foule spiryte that dwellyd to fore in that place And that nyght was a grete noyse vpon the coueryng of the chirche lyke as they had ronne vpon it ¶ And the second nyght was yet a gretter noyse And the thirde nyght was so ferdful and so horrible agrete noyse as that the chirche shold haue be thorwen doun vnto the fouÌ„demeÌ„t And thenne the wicked spirytes departed and cam nomore there The hydows sowne signefyed that for certayn the fâ—nde yssued by constraynt the whiche he had longe holden Secondly it is halowed by cause that they that flee to the chirche shold be sauf wherof somme chirches after the dedicacion be preuyleged of prynces that they that ben culpable fle to the chirche that they may be sauf wherof the Canone saith The chirche defendeth the culpables fro blood that they ne lese lyf ne meÌ„bre And therfore Ioab fledde to the tabernacle toke the aulter Thirdly it is halowed by cause that the orysons be enhaunsed there And it is signefyed in the book of kynges the viij chapitre whan the temple was dedicate Salomon saide who someuer shal praye in this place thou shalt here hym lord in heuene And whan thou hast herde hym thou shalt be to hym debonayr And we worshippe god in the chirches toward the cest for thre reasons after that danyel saith in the fourth book the first chapitre First by cause that we shewe that we requyre our peas Secondly that we beholde Ihesu crist crucyfyed Thirdly that we shewe that we abyde hym a Iuge to come And danyel saith God plaÌ„ted paradys in the hous of the eest Fro the whiche he exyled man by cause he brake his comandement and made hym to dwelle to fore paradys toward thoccydent er he wente ony other part and therfore we loke now in the chirche toward thoryent And our lorde crucyfyed beheld toward thoccydeÌ„t And thus loke we worshyppyng hym toward thoryent he was born an hye and so worshippe hym thappostles ¶ And so shal he come as they sawe hym gooyng to heuene And so worshippe we hym toward thoryent in abydyng tyl he come Fourthly the chirche is halowed by cause that there lou ynges and preysynges be rendred and gyuen to god ¶ And this is doone atte vij tymes or houres canonycalls at matyns at pryme at tierce and so atte other And how be it that god is to be preysed in all the houres of the daye but by cause our infirmyte suffyseth not therto it is ordeyned that at thise houres we prayse god specyally by cause that thies houres in som thynge ben more preuyleged than the other for at mydnyght whan matyns ben songen IhÌ„u cryst was born also was taken despysed of the Iewes And atte same hour he despoylled helle takyng mydnyght largely that is to saye afore day he aroos fro deth to lif And he appiered atte hour of pryme it is said that he shal come to the dome at mydnyght wherof saynt Iherome saith I wene that tho thynges that thappostles haue said shal be by fore day For the day of the vygylle of ester byfore mydnyght it hehoueth not to leue matynes For the people abyde the comyng of IhÌ„u cryst And whan this tyme shal come men ought to haue surete that all men make feste that daye And we synge at that hour praysynges by cause that we yeue hym thankynges for his natyuyte for his takyng of the delyuerauÌ„ce of the holy apostlis so that we may besyly abyde his comyng and the lawdes ben adiousted to the matynes by cause that in the morow tyde he drowned thegypciens in the see and created the world and aroos at this hour late vs gyue thaÌ„kynges to god that we be not drowned in the see of this world with the egipciens And that We rendre louynges to god for our â—racion and for his resurrection Atte our of pryme Ihesu crist cam in to the temple and the people asseÌ„bled there to hym as lucas saith the xxj chapitre he was at that hour psented to pylate And at this hour after he was rysen he appiered first to the wymeÌ„ this is the first hour of the day And therfore late vs reÌ„dre our thaÌ„kynges to god and praysyng by cause that we may folowe IhÌ„u cryst that we may yelde to hym the first fruyt of alle our werkis At the hour of tierce Ihesu cryst was crucifyed in the tongues of the Iewes and was bounde to a stake and beten to fore pilate And as it is said the stake or pyler that he was bouÌ„de to shewyth yet his blood And this same houre was the holy ghoost sente to thappostles In the syxte houre he was naylled to the crosse derknesses were thurgh out all the world so that the sonne bywept the deth of his lord couerid hym with black in suche wyse that he gaf no lyght to them that crucyfyed his lord And at this hour was he atte dyner the day of his ascencion with his disciples Atte hour of none IhÌ„u cryst gaf vp his spyrite and the knyght percyd his syde And the companye of thappostles had a custome for tassemble thenne for to praye And Ihesu cryst ascended that hour in to heuene And for thise honours prayse we our lord at alle oures At euensonge tyme IhÌ„u cryst made the sacrement of his body and of his blood to gydre he weesshe the feet of his appostles and disciples he was taken doun of the crosse and born to the sepulcre he manyfested and shewed hym self vnto his disciples in habyte of a pylgryme And for thyes thynges the chirche gyueth thankynges to god at this hour Atte complyn IhÌ„u Crist swette water
chyldren whiche answerd Our helth is in thyn hōde late our lord only beholde vs and we shal gladly serue the kynge fro that tyme vnto this present day In alle the lande of egipte the fifte part is paid to the kynge and it is holden for a lawe exept the londe longyng to the prestes whiche is fre fro this condicion Thenne Israhel dwellid in egipte in the londe of Iessen and was in possession therof he encreced multiplied gretly and lyuyd therin xvij yere and alle the yeres of his lyf were an honderd and seuen and fourty yere whan he vnderstode that the day of his deth approched he callid to hym his sone Ioseph and said to hym Yf I may fynde so moche grace in thy sight do to me so moche mercy as thou promyse and swere that thou berye me not in egipte but that I may reste with my faders and take and carye me fro this lande And leye me in the sepulchre of my forn faders To whom Ioseph answerd I shal doo that thou hast cōmanded thenne said he Swere that to me And so he swore And thenne Israhel adoured and worshipped our lord and torned hym toward his beddes heed Thenne this don anon after it was told to Ioseph that his fader was seke and feble who anon toke his sones Manasses and effraim and cam to his fader anon it was told to the fader Lo thy sone Ioseph cometh to the whiche thenne was conforted satte vp in his bedde And Ioseph entrid in and Iacob saide Almyghty god apperid to me in luza whiche is in the lond of canaan and he blessid me and saide I shal encrece the and multeplye in to tourbes of peples I shal gyue to the this londe and to thy seed after the in sempyternal possession therfore thy two sones that ben born to the in this londe of egypte to fore I cam hether to the shal ben my sones Effraim and manasses they shal be reputed to me as symeon and Ruben The other that thou shalt gete after them shal be thyn and shal be called in the name of theyr brethern in theyr possessions Thenne he seyng Iosephs sones said to hym who ben thyse chyldren Ioseph answerd they be My sones whiche god haue gyuen to me in this place brynge them hether said he to me that I may blesse them Israels eyen were dymmed and myght not see clerly for grete age he toke them to hym and kyssed them and said to Ioseph I am not defrauded fro the sight of the and furthermor god hath shewd to me thy seed Thenne whan Ioseph toke them fro his faders lappe he worshippid hym knelyng lowe to therthe And sette Effraym on his right side on the lyft syde of Israhel and manasses on the right side of his fader Israhel whiche toke his right hande and leyde it on the heed of effraim the yonger brother and his lyft hande on the heed of manasses which was first born Thenne Iacob blessyd the sones of Ioseph and said God in whos sight walked my faders Abraham and ysaac God that had fedde me fro my yongthe vnto this present day The angele that hath kepte me from alle euyllis blesse thyse chyldren and my name be called on them and the names of my fadres Abraham and ysaac growe they in to multytude vpon therthe Thenne Ioseph seeyng that his fader sette his right hand vpō the heed of effraim the yonger brother toke it heuyly and toke his faders hande and wold haue leyd it on the heed of Manasses and said to his fader Nay fader it is not conuenyent that ye doo this is the first begoten sone sette thy right honde on his heed Whiche renyed that and wold not doo so but said I wote my sone I wote what I doo and this sone shal encrece in to peples and multeplye but his yonger brother shal be gretter than he and his seed shal growe in to gentyles And blessyd them sayēg that same tyme In the shal be blessyd Israhel shal be said Make god the like to Effraim manasses And said to Ioseph his sone lo now I dye god shal be with yow and shal reduce and brynge you agayn vnto the londe of your faders And I gyue to the one parte aboue thy brethern whiche I gate and wan fro the hande of Amorrey with my swerd and mybowe Thenne Iacob called his sones to fore hym and said to hem gadre ye all to gydre to for me that I may shewe to yow thynges that ben to come And here your fader Israhel ¶ And there he told to eche of them his condion singulerly And whan he had blessid his xij sones he comanded them to berye hym with his faders in a double spelūke whiche is in the felde of ephron ethey ayenst mambre in the londe of canaan whiche Abraham bought And this saide he gadred to hym hys feet and deyde whiche anon as Ioseph sawe fylle on his visage and kissed hym he comanded to his maistres of phisik medicines whiche were his seruauntes that they shold enbame the body of his fader with swete spices aromatykes whiche was alle don and thenne wente they sorowyng hym .xl. dayes the egypcyens waylled hym lxx dayes and whan the wayllyng was passyd Ioseph dyde saye to pharao how he had sworn and promysid to berye hym in the londe of Canaan To whom pharao saide Goo and berye thy fader lyke as thou hast sworn whiche thenne toke his faders body wente and with hym were accompanyed all the aged men of pharaos hous And the noblest men of burthe of all the londe of egypte the hows of Ioseph with his brethern without the yong children flockes and beestis whiche they lefte in the londe of Iessen he had in his felawship chares cartes horsmen And was a grete tourbe companye and cam ouer Iordan where as they halowed thexequyes by grete wayllyng vij days long And whan they of the contre sawe this plancte and sorowyng they saide This is a grete sorow to thegypcyens And that same place is named yet the bewayllyng of egypte The children of Israhel dyde as they were cōmanded and bare hym in to the londe of Caanan and buryed hym in the double spelūke whiche abraham had bought Thenne whan Iacob their fader was buryed Ioseph with alle his felowship retorned in to egypte Thenne his brethern after the deth of their fader spaken to gydre pryuely and dredyng that Ioseph wold auenge the wronge and euyll that they had don to hym camen to hym and saide Thy fader comāded vs er he deyde that we shold saye thus to the we praye the that thou wilt forgete and not remembre the synne and trespaas of thy brethern ne the malyce that they executed in the we beseche the that thou wilt forgyue to thy fader seruaunt of of god this wickednes whiche whan Ioseph herde wepte bitterly and his brethern cā to
hym knelyng lowe to the grounde worshippid hym and sayd we ben thy seruauntes To whom he answerd be ye nothyng aferd ne drede you not wene ye that we may resiste goddes wyll ye thought to haue don to me euyl but god hath Torned it in to good and hath exalted me as ye see and knowe that he shold saue moche peple Be ye nothyng aferde I shal fede you and your children And conforted them with fair wordes and spack frendely and Ioyously to them And he abode and duellyd stylle in egypte with alle the hous of his fader And lyuyd an hondred ten yere And sawe the sones of Effraym in to the thirde generation After thyse thynges he said to his brethern After my deth god shal vysyte you and shal doo you departe fro this londe vnto the londe that he promysed to Abraham Ysaac and Iacob whan that tyme shal come take my bones lede them with you fro this place and thenne deyde whos body was enbamed with swete spyces and aromatikes And leyde in a chest in egypte Thus endeth thystorye of Ioseph and his brethern Hyer next foloweth thystorye of moyses whiche is redde in the chirche on mydlēte sonday THyse ben the names of the children of Israhel that entryd in to egipt with Iacob And eche entrid with their houshold and meyne Ruben Symeon Leuy Iudas Ysachar Zabulon Beniamyn Dan Neptalyn Gad Aser they were alle in nombre that entred lxx Ioseph was to fore in egypte And whan he was deed and all his brethern and kynred the chyldren of Israhel grewe and multeplyed gretly and fylled the erthe Thenne was ther a newe kynge vpon egypte whiche knewe nothyng Ioseph and said to his peple Loo see the peple of the children of Israhel is grete and strenger than we be Come and late vs wysely oppresse them leste they multeplye gyue vs bataylle and fyght with vs and dryue vs out of our londe Thenne he ordeyned prouostes and maystres ouer them to sette them awerke and put them to affliction of burthens They bylded to pharao two tones phiton and Ramesses how moche more they oppressid them so moche more they encreced and multeplyed The egypcyens hated the chyldren of israhel and put them to affliction scornyng and hauyng enuye at them oppressyd bytterly theyr lyf wyth hard and sore labours of tyle and claye and greuyd alle them in suche werkis The kynge of egypte said to the mydwyues of the hebrews of whom that one was callyd Sephora and that other phua and comanded whan so is that the tyme of burth is and that ye shal doo your offyce in helpyng in the burthe of chyldren yf it be a mā chyld slee hym yf it be a maid childe kepe it and late it lyue The mydwyues dredde god and dyde not as the kyng comanded them but reseruyd and kepte the men chyldren For whom the kynge sente said what is the cause that ye reserue and kepte the men chyldren they answerd Ther ben of thebrewys wymen that can the crafte of mydwyuys as wel as we and er we come the chyldren be born God dyde wel herfore vnto the mydwyues And the peple grewe and were gretly comforted And by cause the mydwyues dredde god they edefyed to them howses Thenne Pharao cōmanded to his peple sayeng whatsomeuer is born of males Caste ye in to the Ryuer what of wymen kepe ye them and late ye thē lyue After this was a man of the hows of leui wente out and toke a wyf of hys kynrede whiche conceyuyd and brought forth a sone and he sawe hym elegaunt and fayr hydde hym thre monethes And whan he myght no lenger hyde hym toke a lytyl krybbe of rysshes and wykers and pitchid it with glewe pitche and put therin the chylde and sette it on the Ryuer And lete it dryue donn in the streme and the suster of the chyld stondyng aferre consyderyng what shold falle therof and it happed that same tyme the doughter of kynge pharao descended doun to the Ryuer for to wasshe her in the water and her maydens wente by the brynke whiche thenne whan she sawe the lytyl crybbe or fiscelle she sente one of her maydens to fetche and take it vp whyche so fette and brought to her she sawe therm lyeng a fayr chyld and she hauyng pyte on it said This is one of the chyldren of the ebrewis To whom anon spack the suster of the chyld wilt thou said she that I goo calle the a woman of thebrews that shal and may norysshe this childe She answerd Go thy waye The mayde wente and called his moder To whom pharaos doughter saide ¶ Take this chylde and norysshe hym to me and I shal gyue to the thy mede and rewarde The moder toke her chyld and norysshid it And whan it was wened and coude goo she delyured it to the doughter of kyng pharao Whom se receyuyd and adopted in stede of a sone and named hym Moyses sayeng that I toke hym out of the water And he ther grewe and wexe a praty chyld And as Iosephus antyquitatū saith this douhgter of pharao whiche was named termuthe louyd wel moyses reputed hym as her sone by adopcion and on a day brought hym to her fader who for his beaute toke hym in hys armes and made moche of hym And sette his dyademe on his heed wherin was his ydole And moyses anon toke it and caste it vnder his feet and trade on it wherfore the kyng was wroth and demanded of the grete doctours and magyciens what shold falle of this child And they kalked on his natyuyte and said this is he that shal destroye thy Regne and put it vnder foote and shal Rewle and gouerne thebrews wherfore the kynge anon decreed that he shold be put to deth but other said that moyses dyde it of chyldhood and ought not to dye therfor conceyled to make therof a preef and so they dyde they sette to fore hym a plater ful of coles brennyng and a plater ful of cheryes and bad hym ete and he toke and put the hoote coles in his mouth and brenned his tongue whiche letted his speche euer after thus he escaped the deth Iosephus said that whan pharao wold haue slayn hym Thermuthe his doughter plucked hym away and sauyd hym Thenne on a tyme as moyses was ful growen he wente to his brethern and sawe the affliction of them and a man of egypte smytyng one of the hebrews his brethern And he loked hether theder sawe nomam he smote thegypcien slewe hym and hyd hym in the sonde And another day he wente out and fonde two of the hebrews braulyng syghtyng to gydre thenne he said to hym that dyde wronge why smytest thou thy neyhbour whiche answerd who hath ordeyned the prince and Iuge vpon vs wilt thou slee me as thou slewest that other day an egypcyen Moyses was aferde and said to hym self
the childreÌ„ of Israhel songe this soÌ„ge to our lord CaÌ„temê° dnÌ„o magnificatus est Late vs synge to our lord he is magnefied he hath ouerthrowen the horsmen carre men in the see marie the suster of aaron a ê“phetesse toke a tympane in her haÌ„de de and alle the wymen folowed her with tympanes and cordes and she weÌ„te to fore syngyng Cantemus domino Thenne moyses brought the chyldren of Israhel fro the see in to the deserte of Sur And walked with them iij dayes and iij nyghtes and fonde no water and cam in to marath and the waters there were so bytter that they myght not drynke therof Thenne the peple grutched ayenst Moyses sayeng what shal we drynke And he cryde vnto our lord whiche shewd to hym a tre whiche he toke and put in to the water and anon they were torned in to swetnes There our lord ordeyned comandementis and Iugements And ther he tempted hym sayeng Yf thou herest the voys of thy lord god and that thou doo that is rightful to fore hym and obeyest his comandements and kepe his preceptis I shal not brynge none of the langours no sorowes vpon the that I dyde in egypte I am lord thy sauyour Thenne the chyldren of Israhel cam in to helym where as were xij fontaynes of waters and lxx palme trees And they abode by tho watres Thenne fro thens wente alle the multytude of the chyldren of Israhel in to the deserte of syn whiche is bytwene helym Synay and grutched ayenst Moyses and Aaron in that wildernes and said wold god we had duellyd stylle in egypte where as we satte and hath plente of brede and flesshe why haue ye brought vs in to the deserte for to slee alle this multytude by hungre Our lord said thenne to moyses I shal Rayne brede to you fro heuen late the peple goo out and gadre euery day that I may proue theÌ„ whether they walke in my lawe or none The sixte day late them gadre doble as moche as they gadred in one day of the other Thenne said Moyses Aaron to all the chyldren of Israhel At euyn ye shal knowe that god hath brought you fro the londe of egypte to morn ye shal see the glorye of our lord I haue wel herd your murmour ayenst our lord what haue ye mused ayenst vs what be we and yet said moyses Our lord shal gyue you at euen flesshe for to ete to morn brede vnto your fylle for as moche as ye haue murmured ayenst hym what be we your murmour is not ayenst vs but ayenst our lord As Aaron spack to all the companye of the chyldren of Israhel they beheld toward the wyldernes and our lord spack to moyses in a clowde said I haue herd the grutchynges of the chyldren of Israhel saye to them at eueÌ„ ye shal ete flessh to morn ye shal be fyllyd wyth brede ye shal knowe that I am your lord god And whan the euen was come ther cam so many curlews that it couerid all their lodgyngis And on the morn ther laye lyke dewe all aboute in their circuyte which whan they sawe cam for to gadre it was smal white lyke to Colyandre And they wondred on it and said Mauhu that is as moche to saye what is this To whom moyses sayd this is the brede that god hath sente you to ete god comandeth that euery man shold gadre as moche for euery heed as is the mesur of gomor And late notyng be left tyl on the morn And the syxthe day gadre ye doble so moche that is two mesures of gomor And kepe that one mesure for the sabate whiche god hath sanctefyed and comandeth you to halowe it yet somÌ„e of them brake goddes comandement and gadred more than they ete and kept it tyl on the morn And theÌ„ne it began to putrefye and be ful of wormes And that they kept for the sabate day was good and putrefyed not And thus our lord fedde the chyldren of Israhel xl yere in deserte And it was called manna moyses toke one gomor therof put it in the tabernacle for to be kept for a perpetuel memorye remeÌ„brauÌ„ce TheÌ„ne wente they forth alle the multytude of the chyldren of Israhel in the deserte of syn in her maÌ„syons cam in to Raphydym where as they had no water theÌ„ne alle grutchyng they said to moyses gyue vs water for to drynke To whoÌ„ moyses answerd what grutche ye ayenst me why teÌ„pte ye our lord the peple thirsted sore for lacke penurye of water sayeng why hast thou brought vs out of egipte for to sle vs our chyldreÌ„ and beestis ¶ Thenne moyses cryde vnto our lord sayeng what shal I doo to this peple I trowe within a whyle they shal stone me to deth TheÌ„ne our lord said to Moyses Goo to fore the peple and take with the the oldremeÌ„ and senyors of Israhel take the rodde that thou smotest with the flood in thy hand I shal stonde to fore vpon the stone of Oreb And smyte thou the stone with the Rodde And the waters shal come out therof that the peple may drynke Moyses dyde so to fore the senyors of Israhel and callyd that place Temptacion by cause of the grutche of the chyldreÌ„ of Israhel said is god with vs or not TheÌ„ne caÌ„ Amalech fought ayenst the chyldren of Israhel in Raphidim Moyses said theÌ„ne to Iosue Chese to the men goo out fyght ayenst Amalech to morow I shal stande on the toppe of the hylle hauyng the rodde of god in my hand Iosue dyde as moyses comanded hym faught ayenst Amalech Moyses Aaron hur asceÌ„ded in to the hylle whan moyses helde vp his haÌ„des Israhel wan ouercam their enemyes whan he leyd theÌ„ doun thenne Amalech had the better The haÌ„des of moyses were heuy Aaron and hur toke theÌ„ne a stone and put it vnder hem And they susteyned his handes on eyther syde so his handes were not wery vnto the goyng douÌ„ of the sonne so Iosue made Amalech to flee and his peple by strength of his swerd Our lord said to moyses wryte this for a remembrauÌ„ce in a book delyure it to the ceris of Iosue I shal destroye put awaye the memorye of Amalech vnder heueÌ„ Moyses theÌ„ne edefied an aulter vnto our lord callyd there on the name of our lord the lord is myn exultacion sayeng for this is the hand only of god And the batayll of god shal be ayenst Amalech fro generacion to generacioÌ„ whan Ietro the prest of madyan whiche was cosyn of Moyses herd saye what our lord had don to moyses to the chyldren of Israhel his peple ¶ Toke sephora the wyf of moyses his ij sones gersam elyazar cam with them to hym in to deserte whom Moyses receyuyd wyth worship kyssyd hym whan they were to gydre Moyses told hym all
is to seye thou shalt worshipe no god but me And thou shalt not reteyne thyn hope but in me For who that setteth pryncypally his hope on ony creature or faith or byleue in ony thyng more than in me synneth dedly And suche ben they that worshippe ydoles and make their god of a creature who someuer so doth synneth ayenst this comandement And so doo they that ouermoche loue their tresours gold or syluer or ony other erthely thynge that ben passyng and transytorye or sette their herte or hope on ony thynge by whiche they forgete and leue god their creatour and maker whiche hath lente to them alle that they lyue by And therfor ought they to serue hym with al their goodes And aboue alle thynge to loue hym and worshipe hym wyth all theyr herte with alle their soule and with all their strengthe lyke as the first comandement enseigneth techeth vs ¶ The seconde comandement is this that thou shalt not take the name of god in vayn that is to saye thou shalt notswere by hym for nothyng In this comandement our lord comandeth in the gospel that thou shalt not swere by the heuen ne by erthe ne by other crature But for good cause and rightful a man may swere without synne as In Iugement or in requyryng of trouthe or without Iugement in good and nedful causes And in none other maner without reson by the name of our lord and for nought yf he swere false wetyngly he is forsworn And that is ayenst the comandement and synneth dedely for he swerith ayenst his conscience that is whan he swerith by auys by delyberacion but aman shold swere truly yet not for nought or for ony vayn or ylle thynge ne malycyously but to swere lyghtly without hurte or blame is venyal synne But the custome therof is perylous and may wel torne to dedly synne But yf he take hede But he thenne that swereth horrily by our lord or by ony of his membris or by his sayntes in despyte and blasphemeth in thynges that ben not trewe or other wyse he synneth dedely he may haue no reson wherby he may excuse hym And they that most accustome them in this synne they synne most c̄ ¶ The thirde comandement is that thou shalt haue mynde and remembre that thou halowe and kepe holy thy sabate day or sonday That is to saye that thou shalt doo no werke ne operacion on the sonday or holy daye but thou shalt reste fro alle worldly labour and entende to prayer and to serue god thy maker whiche restid the vij· day of the werkes that he made in the vj. dayes to fore In whiche he made and ordeyned the world This comandem̄t accōplyssheth he that kepeth to his power the pees of his cōscience for to serue god more holyly Thēne this day that the Iewes called sabate is as moche to saye as reste This comandem̄t may noman kepe spirituelly that is accōbred in his cōscience with dedely synne Suche a cōsciēce can not be in reste ne in pees as lōge as he is in suche astate In the stede of the sabate day which was straitly kept in the olde lawe holy chirche hath stablysshid the sonday in the newe lawe For our lord aroos fro deth to lyf on the sonday And therfore we ought to kepe it holyly be in reste fro the werkes of the weke to fore to cesse of the werke of synne tētende to doo ghoostly werkes to folowe our lord besechyng hym of mercy to thācke hym for his benefaites for they that breke the sonday the other solēpne festes that ben stablysshed to be halowed in holy chirhe they synne dedly For they do dyrectly ayenst the comandem̄t of god aforsaid holy chyrche but yf it be for som̄e necessite that holy chirche amytteth and graūteth But they synne moche more thēne the ēploye the sondayes the festes in synnes in lecherye in goyng to tauernes in the seruyse tyme in gloutonye and drynkyng dronke in other synnes oultrages ayenst god For alas for sorowe I trowe ther is more synne cōmysed on the sonday and holy dayes and festes than in the other werke dayes For thenne ben they drōke Fyghte and slee and ben not ocupyed vertuously in goddes seruyce as they ought to doo and as god comandeth vs to remembre and haue in mynde to kepe and halowe the holy day they that so doo synne dedely and obserue and kepe not this third comandement Thyse thre comandementes ben wreton in the first table and apparteynen only to god ¶ The fourth comandement is that thou shalt honoure and worshippe thy fader and moder For thou shalt lyue the lenger on therthe This comandem̄t admonesteth vs that we be wel ware to angre fader and moder in ony wyse Or who that curseth them or sette hande on them in euyl wylle synneth dedely In this comandement is vnderstanden thonour that we shold doo to our goostly and spirytuel faders that is to thē that haue the cure of vs to teche and chastyse vs as ben the prelates of the chirche and they that haue the charge and cure of our sowles and to kepe our bodyes And he that wil not obeye to hym that hath the cure ouer hym whā he enseigneth and techeth hym good that he is bound to doo he synneth greuously and is inobedyent whiche is dedely synne ¶ The fyfthe comādement is that thou shal slee noman This comandement wil that noman shal slee other for vngeance ne for his goodes or for ony other euyl cause it is dedely synne but for to slee malefactours in executyng of Iustice for other good cause yf it be lawful it may wel be doon In this comandement is defended the synne of wrath and hate of Rauncour and of yre For as the scripture saith who hateth his brother is an homycide whā it is by his wylle and he sinneth dedely ¶ And he that bereth angre in his herte longe For suche Ire longe holden in the herte is Rauncour hate which is dedly synne and is ayenst this comandement And yet synneth he more that doth or pourchaceth shame vylonye or hurte to another wrongfully or counseylleth or helpeth to greue another for tauenge hym But wrath or angre lyghtly passed without wyll to noye or greue ony other is not dedly synne ¶ The sixthe comandemēt is thou shalt not doo aduoultrye that is to saye thou shall not haue flesshly cōpanye with another mānes wyf In this comādemnēt it is forboden defended all maner synne of the flesshe which is called generally lecherye whiche is a right fowle synne and vylaynous how be it that ther is somme braunche of it that is not dedly synne As ofte meuynges of the flesshe that may not be eschewed whiche men oughte to restrayne and refrayne as moche as they maye And this cometh ofte tymes by outrageous drynkyng etynge or by euyl thought or foule touchyng For in suche thynges may be grete
to the by me and shal cutte thy regne fro thyn hande and shal gyue it to thy neyghbour dauid For thou hast not obeyed his voys ne hast not don his comādement in Amalech Therfor thou shalt lose the batayll and Israhel shal be ouerthrowen To morow thou and thy chyldren shal be with me ¶ And our lord shal suffre the chyldreen of Israhel falle in the handes of the phylysteis ¶ Anon thenne Saul fylle doun to the erthe the wor des of Samuel made hym aferde and ther was no strenght in hym for he had eten no brede of all that day he was gretly trobled Thenne the phytonesse desired hym to ete and she slewe a paske lambe that she had and dighted and sette it to fore hym and breed and whan he had eten he walked with his seruauntes alle that nyght And on the morn the philisteis assailled Saul and them of Israhel and fought a grete bataylle and the men of Israhel fledde fro the face of the philisteis And many of them were slayn in the moūte of Gelboe The philysteis smote in agaynst Saul and his sones and slewe Ionathas amynadab and melechesue sones of Saul And alle the burthen of the bataylle was torned on Saul And the Archers folowed hym and wounded hym sore Thenne said Saul to his squyer plucke out thy swerd and slee me that thyse men incircumcised come not and scornyng slee me And his squyer wold not for he was gretly aferd Thenne Saul toke his swerd and slewe hym self whiche thyng whan his squyer sawe that is that Saul was deed he toke his swerd and fylle on hit and was deed with hym Thus was Saul deed and his thre sones and his squyer and all his men that day to gydre Thēne the chyldren of Israhel that were ther aboutes and on that other syde of Iordan seeyng that the men of Israhel fledde ¶ And that Saul and his thre sones were deed lefte theyr cytees and fledde The philisteis cam and duellyd there And the next daye the philisteis wente for to ryfle pylle them that were deed and they fonde Saul and his thre sones lyeng in the hylle of Gelboe And they cut of the heed of Saul And Robbed hym of hys armours and sente it in to the londe of phylistym all aboute that it myght be shewd in the temple of their ydollis and vnto the peple And sette vp his armes in the temple of Astaroth and henge his body on the walle of bethsan And whan the men that dwellyd in Iabes sawe what the phylisteis had doon vnto Saul alle the strongest men of them aroos and wente alle that nyght and toke doun the bodyes of Saul and of his sones fro the walle of bethsan and brente them and toke the bones and buryed them in the wood of Iabes And fasted seuen dayes Thus endeth the lyf of Saul whiche was first kynge vpon Israhel and for disobedyence of godes comandement was slayn and his heyres neuer regned long after Here foloweth how Dauid regned after Saul gouerned Israhel shortly taken out of the bible the most historyal maters and but litil towched AFter the deth of Saul Dauid retorned fro the Iorney that he had ayenst Amalech For whiles Dauid had ben out with Achis the kyng they of Amalech had ben in Sychelech and takē all that was therin prysoners and robbed and caryed away with hem the two wyues of Dauid and had sette fyre and brente the toun And whan Dauid cā agayn home and sawe the toun brente he put syewed after and by the conueyeng of one of them of amalech that was lefte by the waye seke for to haue hys lyf he brought Dauid vpon the hoost of Amalech where as they satte and ete dronke and Dauid smote on them with his meyne and slewe doun alle that he fonde and rescowed his wyues and all the good that they had taken and toke moche more of them And whan he was come to Secelech the thirde day after ther cam one frō the hoost of Saul told to dauid how that Israhel had loste the batayll and how they were fledde and how Saul the kyng and Ionathas his sone were slayn Dauid said to the yong man that brought thyse tidynges how knowest thou that Saul Ionathas ben deed and he answerd it was so by aduenture that I cam vpon the moūte of Gelboe And saul rested vpon his spere And the horsmen chares of the phylisteis approched to hym ward And he looked byhynde hym and sawe me and callyd me and said to me who art thou And I said I am Amalechytes and than he said stonde vpon me and slee me For I am ful of anguysshes and yet my sowle is in me And I thenne stondyng on hym slewe hym knowyng wel that he myght not lyue after the ruyne And I toke the dyademe from his heed and the armylle fro hys arme whiche I haue brought hether to the my lord Dauid toke and rente his vestement and alle the men that were with hym waylled and sorowed moche the deth of Saul Ionathas and of all the men of Israhel and fasted that day tyl euen And Dauid said to the yongmā Of whens art thou And he said I am the sone of amalechites And Dauid said to hym why dreddest not thou to put thy hand forth to slee hym that is enoynted of god Dauid called one of his men and bad hym to sle hym and he smote hym and slewe hym 〈…〉 saide thy blood be on thy heed Thyn owen mouth hath spoken ayenst the sayeng I haue slayn Saul which was kyng enoynted of our lord Dauid sorowed bewaylled moche the deth of Saul and of Ionathas After this Dauid counceylled with our lord and demaunded yf he shold goo in to one of the cytees of Iuda And our lord bad hym goo And he asked whyder And our lord said in to ebron Thenne dauid toke his two wyues and all the men that were with hym euerich with his houshold and dwellyd in the townes of hebron and theder cam the men of Iuda enoynted Dauid kynge to regne vpon the trybe of Iuda And Abner prynce of thoost of Saul and other seruantes of Saul toke hisboseth the sone of Saul and ladde hym aboute and made hym kynge ouer Israhel exept the tribe of iuda hisboseth was xl yere whan he began to regne ¶ And he regned two yere The hows of Iuda only folowed dauid After this it happed that Abner prynce of the hoost of hisboseth with certayn men went out of the castellis And Ioab with certayn men of Dauid wente also out and ran by the piscene of gabaon One partye was on that one side And that other on that other And abner said to Ioab late our yong men pleye scarmusshe to gydre Ioab agreed ther roose xij of beniamyn of the party of hysboseth xij of the chyldren of dauid whan they mette to gydre eche
toke the only sheep of the poure man and made mete therof to his gheest dauid was wroth said to nathan by the lâ—uyng god the maÌ„ that hath so doo is the childe of deth the man that hath so doo shal yelde therfore iiij double Thenne said NathaÌ„ to Dauid thou art the same maÌ„ that hath don this thynge This said the lord god of Israhel I haue enoynted the kynge vpon Israhel and I haue kept the fro the hande of Saul and I haue gyuen to the an hows to kepe in thy houshold and wyues in thy bosom I haue gyuen to the the hous of Israhel and the hous of Iuda And yf thyse be smale thynges I shal adde and gyue to the moche more and gretter why hast thou therfor despysed the word of god and hast don euyl in the sight of our lord Thou hast slayn vrye with a swerd And his wyf hast thou taken vnto thy wif And thou hast slayn hym with the swerd of the sones of Ammon Therfor the swerd shal not goo fro thy hows world withoute ende For as moche as thou hast despysed and hast taken vryes wyf vnto thy wyf This said our lord I shal reyse euyl ayenst the And shal take thy wyues in thy sight and gyue them to thy neyghbour and shal lye wyth thy wyuys to fore thyn eyen Thou hast don it pryuely but I shal make this to be don and open in the sight of alle Israhel And thenne said dauid to Nathan peccaui I haue synned ayenst our lord Nathan said Our lord hath taken away thy synne thou shalt not dye but for as moche as thou hast made the enemyes to blaspheme the name of god Therfor the sone that is born to the shal dye by deth And nathan retorned home to his hous And for this synne dauid made this psalme Miserere mei deus whiche is a psalme of mercy For Dauid dide grete penauÌ„ce for thyse synnes of aduoultrye and also of homycyde For as I ones was by yonde the see Rydyng in the companye of a noble knyght named Syr IohÌ„n Capons and was also doctour in bothe lawes was born in malyorke and had ben viceroye and gouernour of Aragon and Catelone that tyme CouÌ„ceyllour vnto the duc of bourgonye Charloys It happend we comened of the hystorye of Dauid and this said noble man told me that he had redde that dauid dyde this penauÌ„ce folowyng for thyse said synnes that he dalf hym in the ground standyng nakyd vnto the heed so longe that the wormes began to crepe in his flesshe and made a verse of this psalme Miserere and theÌ„ne cam out and whan he was hole therof he wente in agayn and stode so agayn as longe as afore is said and made the second verse and so as many tymes he was doluen in the erth as ben verse in the said psalme of Miserere mei deus and euery tyme was abydyng therin tyl he felte the wormes crepe in his flesshe This was a grete penaunce and a token of grete repentaunce For ther ben in the psalme xx verses And xx tymes he was dolueÌ„ Thus thys noble man told me rydyng bytwene the toun of Gaunt in Flaundres and the toun of Bruxellis in Braband Therfor god toke away this synne and forgaue it hym but the sone that she brought forth deyed and after this bersabee that had ben vryes wyf conceyuyd and brought forth another sone named SalomoÌ„ whiche was welbyloued of god and after Dauid Salomon was kynge After this Dauid had moche warre and trouble and angre in so moche that on a tyme Ammon oldest sone of Dauid louyd thamar his suster This thamar was Absalons suster by the moder syde and Ammon forced and laye by her and whan he had don his pleasir he hated her and threwe her out of his chambre and she complayned her vnto Absalon Dauid knewe herof and was right sory for it but he wold not rebuke his sone Ammon for it For he louyd hym by cause he was his first begoten sone Absalon hated Ammon euer after And whan Absalon on a tyme dyde do shere his sheep he prayd alle his brethern to come ete with hym And made hem a feste lyke a kynges feste At whiche feste he dyde do slee his brother Ammon And anon it was told to the kynge dauid that Absalon had slayn all the kynges sones wherfor the kynge was in grete heuynes and sorowe But anon after it was told hym that ther was nomo slayn but Ammon And the other sones cam home And Absalon fledd in to gessur and was there thre yere durst not come home And after by the moyen of Ioab he was sente for and cam in to Iherusalem but yet he myght not come in his fader the kynges presence and dwellyd there two yere myght not see the kynge his fader This Absalon was the fayrest man that euer was For fro the sole of his foot vnto his heed ther was not a spotte he had so moche heere on his heed that it greuyd hym to bere wherfore hit was shorn of ones a yere it weyed two hondred cycles of good weight Thenne whan he abode so longe that he myght not come to his faders presence he sente for Ioab to come speke with hym and he wold not come he sente agayn for hym and he cam not Thenne Absalon said to his seruauÌ„tes knowe ye Ioabs felde that lyeth by my felde They said ye Goo ye sayde he And sette fyre in the barle that is ther in and brenne it And Ioabs seruauÌ„tes cam and told to Ioab that AbsaloÌ„ had sette fyre on his corn Thenne Ioab cam to Absalon said why hast thou sette fyre on my corn And he said I haue sente tweys to the prayeng the to come to me that I myght sente the to the kyng and that thou sholdest saye to hym why I cam fro gessur It had be better to me for to haue abyden there I praye the that I may come to his presence and see hys vysage And yf he remembre my wickednes late hym slee me Ioab wente in to the kynge and told to hym all thyse wordes Thenne was Absalon callyd and entred in to the kynge he fylle doun and worshipped the kynge And the kyng kyssyd hym Aftir this absalon dyde doo make for hym self Chares and horsmen and fyfty men to goo byfore hym And walked emong the tribus of Israhel and grette and salued them takyng them by the hond and kyssed hem by whiche he gate to hym the hertes of the peple and said to hys fader that he had auowed to make sacrefise to god in hebron and hys fader gaf hym leue And whan he was there he gadred peple to hym and made hym self kynge And dyde doo crye that all men shold obeye wayte on hym as kynge of Israhel whan Dauid herd this he was sore abasshed and was fayn to flee out of Iherusalem And Absalon cam wyth hys
swalows neste aboue ther fylle doun hote donge of them on hys eyen and he was therof blynde Thys temptacion suffred god to falle to hym that it shold be example to theÌ„ that shal come after hym of hys pacience lyke as it was of holy Iob For fro hys Infancye he dredde euer god and kepte hys preceptis and was not grutchyng ayenst god for hys blyndnes but he alode vnmeuable in the drede of god gyuyng and Rendryng thankyngis to god aâ—â—e the dayes of hys lyf For lyke as Iob was assaylled So was thobye assaylled of hys kynnesmen skoâ—nyng hym and sayeng to hym wher is now thy hope and reward for whiche thou gauest thy almesses and madest sepultures Thobye blamed them for suche wordes sayeng to them In no wyse saye ye not soo For we be the sones of holy men and we abyde that lyf that god shal gyue to them that neuer shal chaunge theyr faith fro hym anna hys wyf wente dayly to the werke of wenyng and gate by the labour of her handes theyr lyuelode as moche as she myght wherof on a day she gate a kydde brought it home whan thobye herde the voys of the kyd bletyng he saide See that it be not stolen yelde it agayn to the ownar For it is not leeful to vs to ete ne touche ony thyng that is stolen To that hys wyf all angry answerd Now manyfestely and openly is thyn hope made vayne And thy almesses lost And thus wyth suche and lyke wordes she chydde hym Thenne thobye began to syghe and began to praye our lord with theris sayeng O lord thou art rightful And alle thy domes ben trewe and alle thy wayes ben mercy trouthe and Ryghtwisnes And now lord remembre me and take thou no vengeance of my synnes ne remembre not my trespaces ne the synnes of my fadres For we haue not obeyed thy comandementis therfore we ben betaken in to dyrepcyon â–ª captyuyte deth fables and in to repreef and shame to alle nacions in whiche thou hast dysperâ—lyd vs And now lord grete be thy IugemÌ„ts For we haue not don accordyng to thy preceptes ne haue not walkyd wel to fore the And nowe lord doo to me after thy wylle and comande my speryte to be receyuyd in pees It is more expedyeÌ„t to me to dye than to lyue The same day it happed that Sara doughter of Raguel in the cyte of medes that she was rebuked herde repeâ—â— of one of the handmaidens of her fader For she had be yeuen to vij men And a deuyl named Asmodeus slewe them assone as they wold haue gon to her therfor the mayde repreuyd her sayeng we shal neuer see sone ne doughter of the on the erthe thou slear of thy husbondes wilt thou slee me as thou hast slayn vij men wyth thys voys and Rebuke she wente vp in the vpperist cubicle of the hows And thre dayes and thre nyghtes she ete not ne dranke not but was contynuelly in prayers besechyng god for to delyuer her fro this repreef and shame And on the thirde day whan she had accomplysshed her prayer blessyng our lord she said Blessyd be thy name god of our fadres For whan thou art wroth thou shal doo mercy And in a tyme of trybulacion thou forgyuest synnes to theÌ„ that calle to the vnto the lord I conuerte my vysage And vnto the I addresse myn eyen I aske and requyre the that thou assoylle me fro the bonde of the repreef and shame or certaynly vpon the erthe kepe me Thou knowest wel lord that I neuer desired man but I haue kepte clene my sowle from all comcupyscence I neuer medlyd me with players ne neuer had parte of them that walke in lightnes I consented for to take an husbond wyth thy drede but I neuer gaf consente to take one with my luste Or I was vnworthy to them or happely they were vnworthy to me or happely thou hast coÌ„seruyd and kepte me for som other maÌ„ Thy counseyl is not in mannes power this knoweth euery maÌ„ that worshippeth the For the lyf of hym yf it be in probacion shal be crowned and yf it be in trybulacion it shal be delyuerd and yf it be in correction it shal be lâ—efull to come to mercy Thou hast none delectacion in oure perdicion For after tempeste thou makest tranquyllyte And after wepynge and shedyng of teeris thou bryngest in exultacion Ioye Thy name god of Israhel be blessyd world without ende In that same tyme were the prayers of them bothe herde in the sight of the glorye of the hye god And the holy angele of god Raphael was sente to hele them bothe of whom in one tyme were the prayers recyted in the syght of our lord god ¶ Thenne whan Tobie supposed his prayer to be herd that he myght deye he called to hym his sone thobye said to hym here my sone the wordes of my mouth and sette them in thy herte as a fundameÌ„te whan god shal take away my sowle burye my body thou shalt worshippe thy moder alle the dayes of her lyf Thou owest to remeÌ„bre what how many peryllis she hath suffred for the in her wombe whan she shal haue accomplisshid the tyme of her lyf burye her by me Alle the dayes of thy lyf haue god in thy mynde And beware that thou neuer consente to synne ne to disobeye ne breke the comandements of god Of thy substance doo almesse and torne neuer thy face fro ony poure man So doo that god torne not hys face fro the as moche as thou mayst be mercyful yf thou haue moche good gyue habundantly yf thou haue but lytyl yet studye to gyue and to depte therof gladly Thou makeste to the therof good tresour and mede in the daye of necessyte For almesse delyuerith a man fro alle synne and fro deth and suffreth not hys sowle to goo in to derknesse Almesse is a grete sykernesse to fore the hye god vnto all them that doo it beware my sone kepe the fro alle fornycacion And suffre not thy self sauf with thy wyf to knowe that synne And suffre neuer pryde to haue domynacioÌ„ in thy wytte ne in thy worde that synne was the begynnyg of alle perdicion who someuer werke to the ony thynge anon yelde to hym hys mede and hyre late neuer the hyre of thy seruaunt ne mede of thy mercenarye remayne in no wyse wyth the That thou hatest to be don to the of other sâ—e that thou neuer doo to an other ete thy brede wyth the hungry and nedy And couer the naked wyth thy clothis Ordeyne thy brede and wyn vpon the sepulture of a rightwysman but ete it not ne drynke it not wyth synners Aske and demaunde counseyl of a wyseman Alleway and in euery tyme blesse god and desyre of hym that he adresse thy wayes and late all thy counseilles abyde in hym I telle to the my sone that whan thou were a lytyl chylde I lente to gabele x besauntes of syluer
holy psalme In te domine speraui vnto In manus tuas And so sayeng lord In to thyn hondes I comende my spyrite he rendrid vp hys sowle and deyde the yere of our lord thre honderd and xliij with grete melodye songen of the celestiall company ¶ And whan he was buryed in a tombe of marble a fontayne of oylle sprange out fro the heed vnto hys feet And vnto this day holy oylle yssueth out of hys body whiche is moche vayllable to thelthe of sykenesses of many men And after hym in hys see succeded a man of good holy lyf whiche by eÌ„uye was put of hys bysshopriche And whan he was out of his see the oylle cessed to renne And whan he was restored agayn therto the oylle ranne agayn ¶ Longe after this the turkes destroyed the cyte of myrre And thenne caÌ„ theder iiij knyghtes of Bar and iiij Monkes shewed to theym the sepulcre of saynt Nicholas And they opened it And fonde the bones swymyng in the oylle And they bare them away honourably in to the cyte of bar in the yere of our lord Mlxxxvij Ther was a man that had borowed of a Iewe a somÌ„e of moneye And sware vpon the aulter of saynt Nicholas that he wold rendre and paye it agayn as sone as he myght and gaf none other pledge And thys man helde thys monye so longe that the Iewe demaunded and axed hys moneye And he said that he had paid hym Thenne the Iewe made hym to come to fore the lawe in Iugement And throth was gyuen to the debttour And he brought with hym an holow staff in whiche he had put the money in golde And he lente vpon the staf And whaÌ„ he shold make his oth and swere he delyuerd hys staf to the Iewe to kepe hold whilys he shold swere And thenne sware that he had delyuerd to hym more than he ought to hym and whan he had made the oth he demaÌ„ded hys staf agayn of the Iewe And he nothyng knowyng of hys malyce delyueryd it to hym Thenne this deceynour wente hys waye and anon after hym lyste sore to slepe and leyde hym in the way And a carte with iiij whelis cam with grete force and slew hym and brake the staf wyth gold that it spredde a brood And whan the Iewe herd this he cam theder sore moeued and sawe the frawd And many said to hym that he shold take to hym the gold And he refused it sayeng but yf he that was deed were not reysed agayn to lyf by the merytes of saynt Nicholas he wold not receyue it And yf he cam agayn to lyf he wold receyue baptesme and become crysten Thenne he that was deed aroos And the Iewe was crystened ¶ Another Iewe sawe the vertuous myracles of saynt Nicholas and dyde do make an ymage of the saynt and sette it in hys hows and comanded hym that he shold kepe wel hys hows whan he weÌ„te oute And that he shold kepe wel all hys goodes sayeng to hym Nicholas lo here be alle my goodes I charge the to kepe theym And yf thou kepe theym not well I shal auenge me on the in betyng and tormentyng the And on a tyme whan the Iewe was oute theuys cam and Robbed alle his goodes and lefte vnborn away only thymage And whan the Iewe cam home he fonde hym robbed of alle hys goodes he aresonned thymage sayeng thyes wordes Syre Nycholas I had sette you in my hows for to kepe my goodes fro theues wherfore haue ye not kepte theym ye shal receyue sorow and turmentes and shal haue payne for the theues I shal auenge my losse and refrayne my wodnes in betyng the And thenne toke the Iewe the ymage and bete it and turmented it cruelly Thenne happed a grete meruaylle For whan the theuys departed the goodes The holy saynt lyke as he had be in his araye apyeryd to the theuys and said to them wherfore haue I be beten so cruelly for you and haue so many turmentis See how my body is hewen and broken See how that the rede blood renneth doun by my body goo yee faste and restore it agayn or ellis the yre of god almyghty shal make you as to be one out of hys wytte and that all men shal knowe your felonnye and that eche of you shal be honged and they saide who art thou that saist to vs suche thynges he said to them I am Nicholas the seruaunt of Ihesu Cryst whom the Iewe hath so cruelly beten for hys goodes that ye bare away ¶ Thenne they were aferde and cam to the Iewe and herd what he had don to thymage and they tolde hym the myracle and delyuerd to hym agayn all hys goodis And thus cam the theuys to the waye of trouthe and the Iewe to the waye of Ihesu cryst ¶ A man for the loue of hys sone that wente to scole for to lerne halowed euery yere the feste of saynt Nicholas moche solempnly On a tyme hyt happed that the fader had do make redy the dyner and called many clerkys to thys dyner And the deuyl cam to the yate in thabyte of a pylgrym for to demande almesse And the fader anon comanded hys sone that he sholde gyue almesse to the pylgrymÌ„e he folowed hym as he wente for to gyue to hym almesse And whan he cam to the quarfâ—xr the deuyl caught the chylde and strangled hym And whan the fader herde thys he sorowed moche strongly and wepte and bare the body in to hys chambre and began to crye for sorowe and saye right suete sone how is it wyth the saynt Nicholas is thys the guerdon that ye haue don to me by cause I haue so longe seruyd you ¶ And as he said thyse wordes and other semblable The chyld opened hys eyen and awoke lyke as he had ben aslepe and aroos vp to fore alle was reysed fro deth to lyf ¶ Another noble man prayd to saynt Nicholas that he wold by hys merites gete of our lord that he myght haue a sone And promysed that he wold brâ—nge his sone to the chirche wold offre vp to hym a cuppe of gold TheÌ„ne the sone was born caÌ„ to age the fader comaÌ„ded to make a cuppe the cuppe plesid hym moche reteyned it for hym self dide do make another of the same value as they weÌ„te saylyng in a shippe toward the chirche of saynt Nicholas And whan the child wold haue fylled the cuppe he fille in to the water with the cuppe And anon was lost caÌ„ nomore vp yet neuertheles the fader perfourmed hâ—s auowe in wepyng moche tendrely for hys sone and whan he caÌ„ to the aulter of saynt Nicholas he offred the second cuppe And whaÌ„ he had offrid it If fyl doun lyke as one had cast it vnder the aulter And he toke it vp sette it agayn vpoÌ„ the aulter and theÌ„ne yet was caste ferther than tofore And yet he toke
remembryd that that day he had not said hys oures of our lady wherfore he sente home the bryde hys wyf and the peple to hys hous ¶ And he abode in the chyrche besyde an aulter for to saye hys houres ¶ And whan he cam to thys Antheme Pulcra es et decora filia Iherusalem that is to saye thou art fayr and gracious doughter of Iherusalem Anon appered to fore hym the gloryouse vyrgyne marye wyth ij angelis on eyther syde and sayd to hym I am fayre and graciouse wherfor leuest thou me and takest thou Another wyf or where hast thou seen one more fayr than I am And the clerke answerd madame thy beaute surmounteth alle th◠beaute of the world Thou art lyfte vp aboue the heuenes and aboue the Angelis what wylt thou that I doo And she answerd and said yf thou wylt leue thy wyf flesshely Thou shalt haue me thyn espowse in the Royaume of heuen And yf thou wylt halowe the feste of my concepcion the eyght day of decembre And preche it aboute that it may be halowed thou shalt be crowned in the Royame of heuen And anone therwyth our blessyd lady lady vanysshid awaye Late vs thēne pray to that glorious virgyne our lady saynt marye that we after thys short and transitorye lyf may be crowned in heuen in glorye celestial to which god brynge vs Amen He endeth the Concepcion of our blessid lady The lyues of the seyntes gencien fulcien and victorice Saynt Fulcien and saynt vyctorice of whom that solempnyte is halowed camē fro the cyte of rome for to preche the faith of Ih̄u crith in to thise parties were in the cite of terwane preched there the faith And they repayred by amyens and passed by a lytyl vylage named Sayns foūde there a good man that byleued in god but he was not yet baptised was named gēcien And he salewed thē said sires ye be welcome And they said god saue you And after he demanded thē what seche ye and they answered we seche one of our felawes called quyntyne and he said ha faire sires he was but late byheedyd not longe sith and sentence was gyuen that where suche maner people myght be foūden that prechid of god that they shold be slayn but come ye ner ete ye a morsel of breed And as they were there a tyraunt that was callid Rixionayre cam with sergeants said to gencien delyuer to vs theym that ben here in and he said I shal not doo it Thēne he he drewe out his swerde al naked Gencien said they take non hede of you The tyraunt Rixionaire had grete angre sorowe and made to take gencien and smote of hys heed And after he made to be taken seynt fulcyen and saynt victoryece and brought thē to amyens And saide to thē that they shold forsake their god whom they had made dye an euyl deth and they said they wold not Thenne he dyde do take broches of yron and pute them thurgh their eeres thurgh theyr nosethrelles after dide do smyte of their heedes by the wil power of our lord they aroos vp and toke their heedes in their hondes and bare them two myle ferre fro the place where they had ben beheded And alle thre were buried to gydre in that toun whiche is called saynt fulcien a grete rage and madnes toke the tiraūt Rixionaire he cried thurgh the cyte of amyens alle araged Alas Alas Alas Now ben wel the sayntes auenged on me And sith deyed fowle in hys wodenes And thus were the frendes of our lord auenged on the tyraunt And by suche martirdom the glorious sayntes departed out of this lyf vnto the Royame of heuen Theenne praye we vnto the glorious martirs saynt fulcien saynt victorrice And saynt Gencien that they wil praye god for vs that by their merytes we may haue pardon foryeuenes of our synnes Amen Thus enden the lyues of the holy seynttes Gencien Fulcien victorice Here foloweth the lif of the blessid virgyne lucye Lucie is said of light And lyght is beaute in beholdyng after that saynt Ambrose saith the nature of light is suche She is gracious in beholdyng She spredeth ouer all without lyeng doun She passeth in goyng right without crokyng by right longe lygne ¶ And it is without dilacion of taryeng ¶ And therfor it is shewde the blessyd lucye hath beaute of virgynyte without ony corrupcion ¶ Essence of charyte without disordynate loue Rightful goyng and deuocion to god with out squaryng out of the waye Rightlonge lyne by contynuel werke without necglygence of slowful taryeng In lucye is said the waye of lyght SAynt lucye the holy vyrgyne was born in Cecylle and extrayt engendred of a noble lygnage in the cyte of Syracuse whan she herd of the good fame and renomee of seynt Agathe or Agaas whiche was publysshid and sprad al aboute Anone she wente to her sepulcre with her moder whiche was named eutice whiche had a maladye named the blody flux ◠by the space of iiij yere the whiche no maistre in phisike ne in Cyrurgerye coude hele And whan they were ther atte a masse ¶ One redde a gospell whiche made menycion of a woman which was heled of the blody flux by touchyng of the hemme of the cote of Ihesu cryst whan saynt lucye herd this anon she said to her moder Moder yf ye byleue that this whiche is redde be trewe also that seynt Agathe hath now presently with her Ihesu cryst and also that for his name she suffred martirdom And yf ye with this bileue touche her sepulcre withoute doubte ye shal be anon guarysshyd and heelid vpon this they after the messe whan the peple were deparded they tweyne fyl doun on their knees on the sepulcre of saynt Agatha in prayers and wepyng began to praye for her helpe and aid Seynt lucye in makyng her prayers for her moder fylle a slepe and she sawe in her slepe saynt agathe emong thaungeles nobly aourned and arayed with precious stones whiche said thus to her Lucye my swete suster deuoute virgyne to god wher for prayest thou to me for thy moder for suche thyng as thou maist thy self right soone gyue to her For I telle the for trouthe that for thy faith and thy good lyf thy moder is sauf and hooll with thyse wordes saynt lucye awook alle aferde and said to her moder Moder ye be guarisshed and alle hool I praye you for her sake by whoos prayers ye ben heled That ye neuer make mencion to me for to take an husbond ne spouse But alle that good that ye wold gyue me wyth a man I praye you that ye wylle gyue it to me for to doo almesse with alle that I may come to my Sauyour Ih̄u cryst Her moder answerd to her Fayr doughter thy patrymonye whyche I haue receyued thys ix yere syth thy fader deide I haue nothyng
that Ioseph was goon wyth our lord in to egypte And was there vij yere vnto the deth of herode And after the prophecye of ysaye atte entryng of our lord in to egypte the ydollis fyllen doun For lyke as at departyng of the chyldren out of egypte in euery hows tholdest sone of thegypciens laye one deed in lyke wyse atte comyng of our lord laye doun the ydollis in the temples Cassiodore sayth in thystorye trypartyte in hermopolyn of Thebaide ther was a tree callyd perfidis whiche is medycinal for alle sekenesses For yf the leef or rynde of that tree ben bouÌ„de to the necke of the seke persone it he lith hym anon And as the blessyd virgyne marye fledde wyth her sone that tree bowed doun and worshypped Ihesu cryste Also macrobius saith in a cronycle that a yong sone of herode was nourisshed at that tyme and he was slayn emon ge the other chyldreÌ„ And thenne was fulfyled the prophecye sayeng The voys is herd in rama of grete wepyng and wayllyng that the sorouful moders wept for the deth of theyr chyldren and myght not be comforted by cause theyr were not alyue Thus endeth the feste of the Innocentis Here foloweth the lyf of seynt Thomas marter of Caunterburye and first thexposicion of hys name THomas is as moche to saye as abysme or double or trenchyd and hewen he was an abysme profounde in humylite as it apperid in the hayer that he waer and in wasshyng of the feet of the poure peple double in prelacion that was in worde and in ensample and hewen and trenchid in his passion SAynt Thomas the martir was sone to gylbert bequet a burgeys of the cyte of london And was born in the place where as now stoÌ„deth the chyrche callyd saynt Thomas of akirs And thys Gilbert was a good deuoute man and toke the crosse vpon hym and wente on pilgremage in to the holy londe and had a seruaunt wyth hym And whan he had accomplysshed hys pylgremage he was taken homeward by the hethen men and brouht in to the pryson of a prynce named Amerant where longe tyme he his felawshyp suffred moche payne and sorowe ¶ And the prynce had grete affection toward thys gylberd and had ofte comynycacion wyth hym of the crysten fayth and of the Royame of englond by whyche conuersacion it fortuned that the doughter of thys prynce had especial loue vnto thys gylberd and was famylyer with hym and on a tyme she disclosed her loue to hym sayeng yf he wold promyse to wedde her she shold forsake frendes heritage and contrey for hys loue and bycome Crysten after longe comynycacioÌ„ bytwene them he promysed to wedde her yf she wold become Crysten And told to her the place of hys dwellyng in englond And after by the purueaunce of god the said gylbert escaped and come home And after thys it fortuned so that thys prynces doughter stale pryuely away and passed many a wyld place and grete aueÌ„ture and by goddes purueance atte laste caÌ„ in to london demandyng and cryeâ—g beket beket For more englyssh coude she not wherfor the peple drewe aboute her what for the strange araye of her as for that they vnderstode her not and many a shrewd boye so longe she wente tyl she came to fore gylbertis dore And as she there stode the seruaunt that had ben with gylbert in pryson whyche was named rychart sawe her and knewe that it was she and weÌ„te in to hys mayster and told hym how thys mayde stode at hys dore and anon he wente out to see her And assone as she sawe hym she fyl in a Swowne for Ioye And gylberd toke her vp comforted her brought her in to hys hows And sith wente to the bysshoppis whiche thenne were vj at powlis and reherched alle the mater and after they crystened her and forthwith weddid vnto gylberd beket And within tyme resonable acustomed was brought forth bytwene them a fayr sone named Thomas And after thys yet the seyd gylberd wente agayn to the holy lond and was thre yere or he come agayn And thys chyld grewe forth til he was sette to scole and lerned wel and becam vertuous And whan he was xxiiij yere old hys moder passed out of this world And after thys he serued a marchaunt of london a whyle in kepyng hys charge and acomptes And fro hym he wente to Stygand Archebysshop of Caunterbury And he was in so grete fauour with hym that he made hym Archedeken and chyef of hys counseyll And wel executed he hys offyce in punysshyng the culpable and cherysshyng the good peple And dyuerse tymes wente to Rome for to supporte and helpe holy chyrche And after thys henry the second that was themperesse sone was made kynge of englond and he ordeyned thys Thomas hys chaunceler and had grete rule and the londe stode in prosperite And saynt Thomas stode so gretly in the kynges fauour that the kynge was content with all that he dyde And whan the kynge wente in to normandye he betoke the gouuernance of hys sone and the Royame in to the Rule of saynt Thomas whych he wysely gouerned til hys retorne agayn And anon after deyde Thybauld tharchebysshop of Caunterbury ¶ And thenne the kynge gaf hys nomynacion to saynt Thomas And by the chapytre was electe in the yere of hys age xliiij and was ful both to take that grete charge on hym And so atte laste hys bullys had he was sacred and stalled and becam an holy man sodenly chaunged in to a newe man doyng grete penaunce as in weryng hayer with knottes a breche of the same doun to the knees And on a tryuyte sonday receyued he hys dygnyte And ther was at that tyme the kynge wyth many a grete lord xvj bisshoppis And fro thens was sent thabbot of euesham to the pope with other clerkis for the palle which he gate brought to hym he ful mekely receyued it And vnder hys habyte he ware thabyte of a monke so was he vnder withinforth a monke outward a clerke dyde grete abstynence makynge hys body lene and hys sowle fatte he vsed to be wel serued at hys table toke but litil refectioÌ„ therof lyuyd holily in gyuyng good ensample After this many tymes the kynge wente ouer in to normandye And in in hys absence alleway saynt Thomas hadde the rule of hys sone of the Royame which was gouerned so wel that the kynge coude hym grete thanke theÌ„ne abode longe in this Royame and whan so was that the kynge dyde ony thyng ayenst the fraunchyses lybertees of holy chyrche Seynt Thomas wold euer wythstonde it to hys power And on a tyme whan the sees of london of wyncestre were vacaÌ„t voyde the kynge kept theÌ„ bothe loÌ„ge in his hoÌ„de for to haue the pruffytes of theÌ„ wherfore saynt Thomas was heuy cam to the kynge desired hym to gyue the ij
that shold abyde by the ryght of the chirche to be ayenst holy chirche me and ye knowe wel that I may not fyght but am redy to suffre deth rather than I shold consente to lese the right of holy chirche Thenne said the kyng thou spekest as a proude clerke but I shal abate thy pryde or I leue the For I muste rekene with the thou vnderstondest wel that thou were my chaūcheler many yeres ones I lente to the vC pound which thou neuer yet hast repayd whiche I wil that thou paye me agayn or ellis incontynent thou shalt goo to pryson And thenne saynt thomas answerd ye gaf me that vC pound it is not sittyng to demaunde that whiche ye haue gyuen Not withstondyrig he fondesurete for the said vC pound departed for that day And after thys the next day the kynge demaunded xxxMli that he had surmysed on hym to haue stolen he beyng chauncheler wher vpō he desired day tanswer at whyche tyme se said that whan he was archebysshop he sette hym free therin without ony clayme or dette by fore good recorde wherfore he ought not tanswere vnto that demaunde And the bysshoppis desired saynt Thomas tobeye the kynge but in no wyse he wold not gree to suche thyngis as shold touche ayenst the lybertees of the chyrche And thēne they cam to the kynge forsoke saynt Thomas and agreed to alle the kynges desire ¶ And the propre seruauntes of saynt Thomas fledde fro hym and forsoke hym and thenne poure peple cam and accompanyed hym And on the nyght cam to hym two lordes and told to hym that the kynges meyne had enprysed to slee hym And the next nyght after he departed in thabyte of a brother of Symprynham and so cheuyssyd that he went ouer see ¶ And in the meaue whyle certayn bysshops wente to Rome for to conplayne on hym to the 〈◊〉 And the kynge sente lettres to the kynge of fraunce not to receyue hym And the kynge lowys said that though a man were banyssyd and had commysyd there trespaces yet shold he be free in fraunce And so after whan thys holy saynt Thomas cam he receyued hym wel and gaf hym licence to abyde there and doo what he wold In thys meane whyle the kyng of Englond sente certayn lordes vnto the 〈◊〉 complaynyng on tharchebysshop Thomas whiche made greuous complayntes whyche whan the 〈◊〉 had herde said he wold gyue none answere tyl that he had herd tharchebysshop Thomas speke whych wold hastely come theder but they wold not abyde hys comyng but departed without spedyng of their ententis and cam in to Englond agayn And anon after saynt Thomas cam to rome on saynt markes day at after none and whan hys Catour shold haue bought fyssh for his dyner by cause it was fastyng day he coude gete none for no money and cam told to his lord saynt Thomas so And he bad hym bye suche as he coude gete thēne he bought flesshe made it redy for their dyner and saynt Thomas was seruyd thith a capon rostid his meyne with boylled mete And so it was that the pope herde that he was come sende a Cardynall to welcome hym he fonde hym at his dyner etyng flesshe whiche anon retorned told to the pope how he was not so parsight a mā as he had supposed for contrarye to the Rule of the chyrche he eteth this day flessh The pope wold not byleue hym but sente another cardynal which for more euydēce toke the legge of the capon in his keuerchyef affermed the same And opened his keuerchyef to fore the pope and he fonde the legge torned in to a fyssh callid a carpe And whan the pope sawe it he said they were not true men to saye suche thyngis of this good bisshop They said faithfully that it was flessh that he ete And after this saynt Thomas cam to tho pope dide his reuerence obediēce whom the pope welcomed after certayn cōmynycacion he demanded hym what mete that he had eten and he said fhessh as ye haue herd to fore by cause he coude fynde no fysshe veray nede compellid hym therto thēne the pope vnderstode of the myracle that the capōs legge was torned in to a carpe Of his goodnes graūted to hym to all them of the dyocyse of Caūterbury licence to ete flessh euer after on saynt markes day whan it falleth on a flessh day pardon with all whiche is kept acustomed vnto this day And thēne saynt Thomas enformed the pope how the kyng of englond wold haue hym consente to dyuerse articles ayēst the libertees of holy chyrche what wrōges he dyde to the same that for to deye he wold neuer consente to them whā the pope had herd hym he wepte for pyte And thanked god that he had suche a bysshop vnder hym that had so wel defended the libertees of holy chirche And anō wrote oute lettres bulles comādyng alle the bysshoppis of crystendom to kepe and obserue the same And thēne seynt Thomas offred to the pope his bisshopriche vp in to the popes hond his mytre with the crosse ryng And the pope comanded hym to kepe it stille and said he knewe nomā more able than he was And after saynt Thomas said masse to fore the pope in a white chesible And after masse he said to the pope that he knewe by reuelacion that he shold suffre deth for the right of holy chyrche And whan it shold falle that chesible shold be torned fro whyte in to rede And after he departed fro the pope came doun in to fraunce vnto thabbaye of pounteney And there he had knowleche that whā the lordes spirituel tēperel whyche had ben at Rome were comē home had told the kyng that they in nowyse myght haue their entente that the kynge was gretly wroth And anon banyssed alle the kynnesmē that were longyng to saynt Thomas that they shold incontynent voyde hys londe made thē swere that they shold goo to hym telle to hym that for hys sake they were exiled And so they wente ouer see to hym to poūtney and he beyng there was ful sory for them And after ther was a grete chapytre in englond of the monkes of cysteaus And there the kyng desired them to wryte to pounteney that they shold no lenger kepe ne susteyne Thomas tharchebysshop For yf they dyde he wold destroye them of that ordre beyng in englond And for fere therof they wrote so ouer to poūteney that he must departe then◠with hys kynnesmen And so he dyde And was thenne ful heuy And remytted hys cause to god And anon after the kynge of fraunce sente to hym that he shold abyde where it plesid hym and duelle in hys royame And wold paye for the costes of hym and hys kynnesmen And he departed and wente to seynes And thabbot brought hym on the
songen for hys sowle And whan the quer began to synge Requiem An angele on hye aboue begaÌ„ thoffyce of a martir Letabitur Iustus And thenne all the quyre folowed syngyng forth the masse of thoffyce of a martir And the pope thanked god that it plesed hym to shewe suche myracles for his holy martir Atte whos tombe by the merytes and prayers of this holy martyr our blessyd lord hath shewde many myracles the blynde haue recouerd ther their sight the dombe their speche the deef their heeryng the lame their lymes And the dede theyr lyf yf I shold here expresse alle the myracles that it hath plesyd god to shewe for thys holy saynt It shold conteyne an hole volume therfor at thys tyme I passe ouer vnto the feste of hys translacion where I purpose wyth the grace of god to recyte somÌ„e of them Thenne late vs praye to thys glorious martir to be our aduocate that by hys peticion we may come to euerlastyng blysse amen Here endeth the lyf and passion of saynt Thomas of Caunterbury Here foloweth the lif of saynt Siluester The interpretacion of hys name SIluester is sayd of silue or sole whyche is lyght and of terterra the erthe as who saith the light of therthe that is of the chyrche Or siluester is said of siluas of trahens that is to saye he was drawyng wyld men and harde vnto the faith Or as it is said in glosario siluester is to saye grene that is to wyte grete in contemplacion of heuenly thynges and a tylyar in labouryng hym self he he was vmbrouse or shadewous that is to saye he was colde and refrigerat fro all concupyscence of the flesshe full of bowes emonge the trees of heuen Eusebe of Cezarce compyled hys legende whyche the blessyd Gelagius in the counseyl of lxx bysshops recordeth lyke as it is had in the decrete Of the lyt of saynt Siluestre SIluester was sone of one Iusta And was lerned and taught of a preste named Ciryne whyche dyde merueyllously grete almesses made hospytalytees hyt hepped that he receyued a crysten man in to hys hows named Thymothee whom noman wold receyue for the persecucion of tyrauntes wherfore the said Thymothee suffred deth and passyon after that yere whylis he preched Iustly the faith of Ihesu cryst it was so that the prefecte tarquynus supposed that Thymothee had had grete plente of Rychesses whiche he demanded of siluestre thretenyng hym to the deth but yf he delyueryd them to hym And whan he fonde certaynly that Thymothee had no grete Rychesses he comanded to saynt siluestre to make sacrefyse to the ydollys and yf he dyde not he wold make hym suffre dyuerse tormeÌ„tis Saynt siluester answerd Fals euyl man thou shalt deye thys nyght and shalt haue tourmentes that euer shal endure And thou shalt knowe whether thou wilt or none that he whom we worshype is veray god Thenne saynt syluester was put in pryson and the prouoste wente to dyner Now it happed that as he ete a bone of a fysshe torned in hys throte and stacke faste so that he coude neyther haue it doun ne vp And after at mydnyht deyed like as saynt siluester had said and thenne saynt siluester was delyuerd out of pryson he was so gracious that alle cristen men and paynems loued hym For he was fair lyke an aungele to loke on a fayr speker hool of body holy in werke good in counseylle pacyent and charytable and fermly establysshed in the faith he had in wrytyng the names of all the wydowes and orphanes that were poure to theym he admynystred theyr necessyte he had a custome to faste alle frydayes and saterdayes ¶ And it was so that melchiades the bysshop of Rome deyed And all the peple chese saynt siluester for to be the hye bysshop of Rome whyche sore ayenst hys will was made pope he Instytued for to be fasted wednesday fryday and saterday And the thursday for to be halowed as sonday ¶ Now it happed that themperour Constantyn dyde doo slee all the crysten men oueral where he coude fynde them And for thys cause saynt siluester fledde out of the toun wyth hys clerkes and hydde hym in a montayne And for the cruelte of Constantyn god sente hym suche a sekenes that he becam lazare and mesell And by the counceyll of hys phisicyeÌ„s he gate thre thousand chyldren yonge for to haue cut their throtes for to haue their blood in abaygne all hoot and therby he myght be heelyd of hys meselrye ¶ And whan he shold ascende in to hys chare for to goo to the place where he shold be baygned the moders of the chyldren camen cryeng and brayeng for sorow of theyr chyldren ¶ And whan he vnderstode that they were moders of the chyldren he had grete pyte on them and said to hys knyghtes and them that were aboute hym ¶ The dygnyte of th empyre of Rome is brought forth of the fontayne of pyte the whyche hath stablysshed by decree that who that sleeth a chyld in bataylle shal haue hys heed smeton of ¶ Thenne shold it be grete cruelte to vs for to doo to oures suche thynge as we deffende to straunge nacions for so shold cruelte surmounte vs It is better that we leue cruelte and that pyte surmounte vs And therfor me semeth better to saue the lyues of thyse Innocentis than by their deth I shold haue agayn my helthe of the whiche we be not yet orâ—â—ayn Ne we may recouuer nothyng for to slee them For yf so were that I shold be therby haue helthe that shold be a cruel helth that shold be bought with the deth of so many Innocentis Thenne he comaÌ„ded to rendre and delyure agayn to the maders their chyldren and gaf to euerich of them a good yefte And thus made them retorne to their howses wyth grete Ioye For whens they departed with grete sorowe And he hym self retorned agayn in hys chare vnto hys palays Now it happed that the next nyght after saynt peter saynt poul appiered to thys emperour ConstaÌ„tyn sayeng to hym By cause that thou hast had orrour to shede and spylle the blood of Innocentis our lord Ihesu cryst hath had pyte on the And comaÌ„deth the to sende vnto suche a montayne where siluestre is hyd with his clerkes And saye to hym that thou comest for to be baptysed of hym and thou shalt he heled of thy maladye And whan he was awaked he dyde do calle hys knyghtes And comanded them to goo to that montaygne And brynge the pâ—pe siluestre to hym courtoisly and fayr for to speke with hym whan saynt siluestre sawe froÌ„ ferre the knyghtes come to hym he supposed that they sought hym for to be martyred And began to saye to his clerkes that they shold be ferme and stable in the faith for to suffre martirdom whan the knyghtes cam to hym they said to hym moche courtoysly that Constantyn sente for hym and prayd hym that he
fro the culture and worshypyng of false ydolles fro the vemyin of the dragon Atte laste whan saynt siluestre approched toward hys deth he called to hym the clergye and admonested them to haue charyte And that they shold dylygently gouerne their chirches And kepe theyr flock fro the wulues And after the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord thre hondred twenty he departed out of thys world and slept in our lord cÌ„ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Siluester Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Poul the first heremyte SAynt Poul whiche was the first heremyte as saynt Iherome wryteth was in the tyme of decius and valeryanus emperours the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord ijClvj Thys holy man saynt poul sawe men for Crysten faith cruelly tormented wherfore he fledde in to the deserte Emonge whome he sawe two cruelly tourmented The first for that he abode fermly in hys fayth The Iuge dyde do enoynte alle hys body wyth hony And dyde do bynde hys hondes by hynde hym on hys back And soo dyde hym be sette in the hete of the sonne for to by byten and stongen of flyes and waspes That other that was yonge he made hym to lye in a right softe bedde bytwene ij shetes emonge flowres and delectable Roses and herbes swete smellyng And there in he was bounden so that he myght not meue hym After made an harlote a Rybaulde come to hym allone for to touche hys membres and hys body to moeue to lecherye Fynably whan the voluptuosyte of hys flesshe surmounted hym and myght not deffende hym self ne hys meÌ„bres he bote of a pyâ—ce of hys tongue and spitte it in her vysage whiche alleway enticed hym to lecherye by touchyng and by kyssynges And so he voyded the temptacion flesshely and the Rybaulde also and deserued to haue lawde and victorye In thys tyme saynt poul to fore said was yong aboute xvj yere of age and dwellyd in thebayde whyche is a partye of Egypte wyth hys suster mauryce And whan he sawe the persecucions of crysten men he departed and becam an heremyte so longe and so many yeres that he was olde an honderd and xiij yere In thys tyme saynt Anthonye was an heremyte in an other deserte was thenne lxxxx yere of age And on a tyme he thought in hym self that in the world was none so good ne so grete an heremyte as he was hym self Herupon cam to hym a reuelacioÌ„ as he slepte that bynethe alle alowe doun in that deserte was an heremyte better than he And that he ought to goo and see thys holy man Anon after the next day he toke hys staf by whyche he susteyned hym and began in goo thurgh that deserte And it happed that he mette a persone whyche was half aboue an hors and bynethe a man whome the fables of the poetes calle centaure And anon made to fore hym the signe of the crosse And demaunded of hym where thys holy maÌ„ theremyte dwellyd And he shewed to hym the waye on the right side and anon vanysshyd away from hym It is not certaynly knowen yf thys beste was a beste of the deserte or the deuyl in fygure of a beste After thys saynt Anthonye mette with a monstre in a valeye beryng the fruyte of a pal myer croked and had in hys forhede hornes and hys legges and feet lyke a ghoot of the woodes And anon he made to fore hym the signe of the crosse Thys bestial man gaf to saynt Anthonye the fruyte of the palmyer And saynt Anthonye demauÌ„ded what he was And he answerd I can mortal and dwelle in deserte And the sarasyns calle vs sacraros I am the messager of our companye we praye the that thou praye the lord for vs we knowe wel that the sauyour of the world is comen And hys renomee is spred thurgh the world And by cause herof noman shold haue doubtauÌ„ce Alle men knowe that in the tyme of Constantyn themperour suche amaÌ„ was brought in to the cyte of Alexandre to fore the peple and whan he was deed hys body was fylled with salt ayenst the hete of the sonne And was sente to themperour to Anthioche for a meruaylle But retorne we to our mater Saynt Anthonye had grete labour in goyng by the deserte where as was no waye Fynably he fonde a she wulf whyche brought hym by the wille of god vnto thermytage of saynt poul But assone as he knewe that saynt Anthonye cam hastely he shytte hys dore And saynt Anthonye prayd hym for charyte that he wold opene it to hym said thou wotest wel who wherfore I am come I knowe wel I am not worthy to rendre gyue to the ony thyng for thy labour Neuertheles I shal not departe fro hens vnto the tyme that I haue seen the Atte last he opened hys dore and sâ—â—h entrebraced eche other And eche of them dyde reuerence eche to other And saynt poul demaunded of thestate of the world and of the gouernaunce And yf Crysten faith were spredde and vsed ouerall And whyles they were thus talkyng A crowe cam fleyng and brought to them two loues yf breed And whan the crowe was goon Saynt Poul said be thou glad and Ioyeful For our lord is debonayre and mercyful he hath sente vs brede for to ete It is xl yere passed that euery day he hath sente me half a loof But now at thy comyng he hath sente ij hole loues and double prouende And they had question to gydre vntil euensong tyme whyche of them bothe shold entame or bygynne to take of the breed Atte laste the bred departed euen bytwene theyr handes and thenne they ete dranke of the welle or fontayne After graces said they had alle that nyght collacion to gydre On the morn said saynt poul Broder it is longe sith that I knewe that thou dwelledeth in this region and in thys contree And god had promysed to me thy coÌ„panye I shal now shortly deye and shal goo to Ihesu cryst for to receyue the crowne to me promysed Thou art comen hyther for to burye my body whan saynt Anthonye herd that anon he begaÌ„ tendrely to wepe and waylled prayeng that he myght deye with hym and goo in hys companye Saynt Poul said hyt is nede yet that thou lyue for thy brethren to th ende that they by the ensample of the be made forme and taught wherfore I praye the retorne to thyn abaye And brynge to me the mantel whyche Athanases the bysshop gaf to the for to wrappe in my body Thenne saynt Anthonye merueylled of thys that he knewe of this bysshop and of thys mantel and after durst nothyng saye â—ut dyde to hym reuerence lyke as god had spokeÌ„ to hym And wepyng kyssed hys feet and hys hondes and cam aâ—ayn to hys abbaye with grete trauayl and labour for he had fro that one parte to that other many Iourneyes and foul waye thurgh hayes and hedges woodes stones hylles and valeyes and saynt
and the wordes of the peple he suffred that his wif shold come to hym as she dyde to fore And anoÌ„ after she conceyued a doughter whom he comanded to name a foxes whelpe And after cam to saynt Remyge and confessed hym of hys synne and toke the stole of hys necke wold leue hys bysshoprich â—ut saynt Remyge after he had confessyd hym coÌ„forted hym and gaf hym penaunce and shytte hym in a lytil celle vij yere longe and gaf to hym brede and water and in the meane whyle he gouerned the chyrche hym self Atte ende of vij yere an angel cam to the pryson and said to hym that he had doun wel hys penaunce and bad hym goo out of the pryson to whom he said I may not goo out For my lord saynt remyge hath closed the dore and sealed it And the angele said to hym knowe thou that the dore of heuen is opened to the I shal opene thys dore without brekyng of the seal whyche saynt Remyge hath scalled And anon the dore was opened Thenne genebald fylle doun in the myddes of the dore in maner of a crosse and said yf our lord Ihesu cryst cam hether I shal not goo out but yf saynt Remyge whyche shytte and closed me herin come brynge me out And theÌ„ne than gel wente anon and fette saynt remyge and brought hym to laon And he delyuerd hym out of pryson And remysed hym and sette hym agayn in hys see there where he lyued after all the dayes of hys lyf holyly After his deth theef hys sone was made bisshop after hym whiche is also a saynt in heuen And atte laste saynt Remyge after that god had shewed many myracles for hym he departed out of this lyf vnto euerlastyng Ioye the yere of the Incarnacion of our lord vC Here endeth the lif of saynt Remige Here foloweth the lyf of saynt hylare ¶ Thynterpretacion of hys name Hylaire is said of Ioyouste For he was Ioyous in the seruyce of god Or hylaire is said vertuous and hye For he was hye and stronge in science and vertuous in hys lyf Or hylaire is said of yle whyche is to saye derke mater For he had in his dictes grete obscurete profoundnes Of the lif of saynt Hilaire SAynt hilaire which was bysshop of poytiers was born in the contre of Guyan he had a wif wedded and a doughter And where he was in habyte seculer he lyued after the lyf of a monke he prouffyted so moche in holy lyf and sciences that he was chosen Archebisshop of poytiers A maner of an heresye regned in hys contre and thurgh all fraunce whyche was the secte of the Arryans the whyche he destroyed to hys power Neuertheles by the comandemÌ„t of themperour whiche was of the partye of the heretikes by the suggestion of two byssoppis of that secte he was exiled wyth whyche ij bisshoppis he disputed and ouercam theÌ„ afterward For they myght not gaynsaye the trouthe of the mater ne coude not bere ne answere to hys eloquence so that he was constrayned to come agayn to poytiers And as he passed by an Ile of the see wicke was ful of serpentes he chaced them away by the vertue of hys comandemÌ„t and by hys sight only And pyght a staf in the myddle of the yle and gaf to the serpentes liberte to come to that staf and not to passe ferther And the serpentes obeyed hym whiche parte is no londe now but see Whan saynt hylaire cam to poytiers he mette a chyld deed born for to be buryed and the chyld was not baptysed whyche child by the vertu of hys prayer he reysed to lyf For he laye longe in the duste in prayer And whan he aroos out of his prayer the chyld aroos fro deth to lyf Saynt hylayre had a doughter named Apra And wold haue be maryed but saynt hylaire prechyd to her so moche of thestate of virgynyte that she chaunged her purpoos And whan she was confermed in thys wylle and purpoos saynt hylaire doubted that she shold chaunge And prayd our lord for to take her whyles she was in good porpoos And anon she deyde And saynt hylaire buried her And whan her moder the wyf of saynt hylaire sawe that her doughter was deed she prayde to her husbonde that he shold Impetre and gete for her lyke as he had don for hys doughter And anon as saynt hylayre had made hys oryson She deyed And by thys maner he sente to fore hym his wyf and his doughter In thys tyme the pope lyon whyche fauoured heresye called a couÌ„seyl of bysshoppis but he sente not for saynt hylaire that he shold come therto not wythstondyng saynt hylaire cam theder whan the pope sawe hym comen he comanded that noman shold aryse ayenst hym ne gyue hym no place Thenne said the pope to hym thou art hylaire the cocke and not the sone of an henne And saynt hylaire answerd I am hylaire no cock but a bysshop in gallia that is in frauÌ„ce thenne said the pope thou art hylaire gallus And I am leo of the papal see Iuge to whom hylaire said yf thou be leo yet art thou not of the trybe of Iuda Thenne the pope had grete indignacion and said to hym Abyde thou a lytyl and I shal paye to the thyn hyer And saynt hylayre answerd â— yf thou come not agayn who shal paye me for that the pope answerd I shal come agayn shal bete doun thy pryde Thenne the pope wente doun in to the lowe chambre for to ease hym And by the conduyte of hys neyther parte voyded out all the entraylles of his body and so deyde sodaynly thus thenne as he abode the pope saynt hylaire fonde no place to sytte on ne none wold remeue to make hym place And whan he sawe that he sayde Domini est terra therthe longeth to our lord and satte doun vpon therthe And therthe aroos vp by myracle by the wylle of our lord in suche wyse that he satte as hye as the other And anone after worde cam that the pope was deed Thenne saynt hylaire confermed alle the other bysshops that were there in the faith and so confermed eche wente in to hys contrey In th ende whan saynt hylaire had Impetred of god many myracles to be shewde by hys prayer he becam seek and sawe hys deth approche Thenne he called to hym one his chapelayn whom he moche loued and said to hym Goo thou out And brynge to me word what thou hyerest whan he had ben longe withoute he cam in and told to saynt hylaire that he had herd a grete noyse in the cyte And whan it was mydnyght he sente hys chapelayn agayn to herkene as he had don to fore And whan he cam agayn in to the chaÌ„bre for to telle that he had herd nothynge A grete clere light entred in that the preest myght not behold it And whan the light departed saynt hylaire deyde that was the yere
pope he ordeyned thurgh out all the contrees vij dekens and to them vij subdekens for to wryte the lyues of martirs Ther was an Emperour in his tyme named phylyppe whyche was moche synful and cam boldly in the vygyle of ester in to the chyrche for to be houselyd and coÌ„myned whom the pope droof away and denyed to hym the comunyon vntyl he had goon and shryuen hym of hys synnes and lete hym stonde emong the seculiers Thys holy pope also ordeyned the crysme in the chyrche ¶ Thenne atte laste whan he had ben pope xiij yere decius themperour comanded to smyte of hys heed And so he was crowned with the crowne of martirdom the yere of our lord CCliij Of saynt Sebastian and first thynterpretacion of hys name SEbastian is sayd of sequens and beatitudo and astin and ana that is to saye folowyng the blessydnes of the heuenly cyte and thys he gace v maner wyses after saynt Austyn that is to saye he gate by pouerte the regne with sorow Ioye with labour reste with trowble glorye with deth lyf Or sebastianus is said of basto For by the helpe of cryst he flourid in the chyrche And had a customÌ„e to comforte the marters in their tormÌ„tis ¶ Of saynt Sebastian SAynt Sebastian was a maÌ„ of grete faith a good crysten man And was born in HerboÌ„ne and after taught endoctryned in the cite of melan was so wel byloued of dyoclesian maximian emperours of Rome that they made hym maistre duc of their mayne power and alleway wold haue hym in theyr presence And he was alleway wyth them in habyte of a knyght was gyrde with a gyrdle of gold aboue lyke as was vsed And all this dide he not for Iolyte ne for cause that he dredde deth or to deye for the loue of Iesu cryst but he dyde it for to comforte the crysteÌ„ men in their bileue whan they were in destresse for to renye the faith for drede of tormeÌ„tis of their body It happed that ij brethern germayns very crysten men and noble of lignage named marcus marcellianus were taken and constrayned by theÌ„perours for to worshipe doo sacrefyse vnto thydolles And ther was gyuen to theÌ„ respite of xxx dayes to be in prison without to receyue deth for their crysteÌ„ faith within whiche tyme they myght couÌ„seyll aduyse them self whether they wold do sacrefise to thydolles or to leue their frendes were suffred in this tyme of respite to come to theÌ„ in prison for tentrete reuoke them fro their faith for to saue their lyues TheÌ„ne cam their parentis frendes to them bygan to saye whens cometh this hardnes of herte that ye despise the old age of your fader and moder whyche ben now olde ye gete vnto theÌ„ new sorowes the grete payne that they had in your byrthe was not so grete as the sorow that they haue now and the sorow that your moder suffreth is not to reherse wherfor right dere frendes we praye you that ye wylle to thyse sorowes put somme remedye And departe you and leue the errour of the crysten men And anon after thyse wordes theyr moder cam and entred in in cryeng and teryng the heeres of her hede in shewyng her pappes and sayd alle wepyng Alas I am meschaunt and vnhappy that lese my two sones that I haue gyuen souke and nourisshyd so swetely Thou fair sone thou were swete debonaire to me And to that other she said thou were lyke and semblest wel thy fader Alas to what meschief and sorowe am I delyuerd for you my fayr sones I lese my sones which by their owen will goon for to deye My most dere chyldren haue ye mercy on your sorouful moder that am in so grete mesease and in so grete Wepyngis for you O pour caytyf that I am what shal I doo that lose my two sones and to the deth I see them goo by theyr fre wyll Alas thys is a newe maner of deth for to desyre the deth to fore it come The moder had vnneth said her complaynt but that theyr fader was brought bytwene ij seruantes whiche at thentre shewde to hys sones dust vpon the pouerte of hys hoore hede And cryed Alas I sorowful caytyf come to the deth of my two sones which by theyr owen agreement wyll deye O my ouerderest sones that were the sustenance and staf of myn olde age swetely nourysshed and taught lerned in science what is thys open folisshnes and rage that is comen on you and causeth you to loue and desire so the deth ther was neuer suche a folye ne rage seen in the world O ye my frendes come forth and helpe me to bywepe my chyldren ye that haue hertes of pyte And ye old and yong wepe ye And I wyl wepe so moche that I see not the deth of my sones In the whyle that the fader thus wepte and said cam the two wyues of thyse ij sones whiche bare in their armes their chyldreen whiche wepyng and cryeng said Saye ye now that ben our dere husbondes In what ward leue ye vs and your chyldren Alas what shal bycome of vs our chyldren and our goodes that for your sake shal be lost Alas caytyues that we be what thyng is to vs happened how haue ye herte of yron in what maner may ye so be harded so out of nature and so cruel that also despyse your fader moder and refuse all your frendes chace a-away your wyues and renye and forsake your chyldren and with your will delyuer your self for to deye shamefully Of thise lamentable wordes to fore wretoÌ„ the ij said sones marcus marcellianus were so abasshed and their hertes mollified that almost were retorned fro the crysten faith wold for the fauour of their pareÌ„tis frendes haue don sacrefyse to thydolles but at thise wordes was saynt sebastian as a knyght whan he sawe theÌ„ thus trauelled so amolisshid anon cam to theÌ„ said O ye right noble knyghtes of IhÌ„u cryst wise hardy which ben comeÌ„ to the victorye now goo abacke for a fewe blaundissyng wordes vayne myserable ye wyll lose the victorye ê‘manable lese ye not the euerlayng lif for the blauÌ„dysshyng wordes of wymen be ye exaÌ„ple to other cristen meÌ„ for to be strong in the faith Addresse ye your hertes aboue the world lose ye not your crowne for the wepynges of your wyues childreÌ„ They that now wepe certes shold this day be glad Ioyous yf that they knewe that ye know They we ne that ther be none other lif but this which they see to fore their eyen which after this shal come to nought yf they knewe what is that other lyf without deth thithoute heuynesse in which is Ioye permanable euerlastyng wythoute doubte they wold haste theÌ„ for to goo with you vnto that lyf and shold repute this lyf as vayne For it
lyue and brought hym to her hows and toke charge of hym tyl he was all hool Many crysten men cam to hym whyche counseylled hym to voyde the place but he was comforted and stode vpon a stappe where themperour shold passe by and said to hym the bysshoppis of thydolles deceyue you euyll whyche accuse the crysten men to be contrayre to the comyn prouffyt of the cyte that praye for your estate for the helthe of Rome dyoclesyan said arte not thou sebastyen whom we comanded to be shoten to deth And saynt Sebastian saide therfor our lord hath rendred to me lyf to th ende that I shold telle you that euylle and cruelly ye doo persecucions vnto crysten men Thenne made dyoclesyan hym to be brought in to pryson in to hys palays And to bete hym so sore wyth stones tyl that he deyde And the tyrauntis threwe hys bodye in to a grete pryuee by cause the crysten men shold make no feste to burye hys body ne of hys martredom but saynt sebastian appyerid after to saynt lucyne a glorious wydowe And said to her in suche a pryue shalt thou fynde my body hangyng at an hoke whyche is not defouled with none ordure whan thou hast wasshed it thou shal burye it at Cathacombes by the appostlis And the same nyght she and her seruantes accomplysshyd alle that sebastian had comanded her he was martred the yere of our lord CClxxxvij And seynt gregory telleth in the first boke of hâ—s dyaloges that a woman of tuskane whych was newe wedded was prayd for to goo wyth other wymen to the dedicacion of the chyrche of sebastian and the nyght to fore she was so moeued in her flessh that she myght not absteyne her from her husbond And on the morn she hauyng gretter shame of men than of god wente theder and anon as she was entryd in to the oratorye where the relyques of saynt sebatian were the fende toke her and tormentid here byfore all the people And thenne the preest toke the couerture of the aulter and couerd her And theÌ„ne the deuyl assaylled the preest her frendes lad her to thenchauntours that that they shold enchaunte the fende but assone as they began thenchaunte by the IugemeÌ„t of god a legion of deuylles entryd in to her that is vjMvjClxvj and vexid her more sharply than to fore And an holy man named formatus by hys prayers heled her It is redde in the gestes of the loÌ„bardis that in the tyme of kynge gylberte all ytalye was smeton wyth so greet a pestilence that vnnethe they that were alyue myght burye the dede And this pestylence was most at Rome and pauye Thenne the good Angele was seen vysybly of many and an euyl Angele folowyng beryng a staf whom le bad smyte and slee And as many strokes as he smote an hows so many deede persones were born out of it Thenne at laste it was shewed to one by goddes grace that this pestylence shold not cesse tyl that they had made an aulter to saynt sebastian at pauye whiche thenne was made in the chyrche of saynt peter and anone the pestylence seassed And thyder fro rome relyques of saynt sebastian were brought And saynt Ambrose in his preface saith thus O lord the blood of thy blessyd martir saynt sebastian was shedd for the confession of thy name he hath shewed thy meruaylles that they prouffyte in infirmyte vertue and gyueth to our studyes prouffyt and to them not stedfast to the it gyueth ayde and helpe Thenne late vs praye to this holy martir saynt sebastian that he praye vnto our lord that we may be delyuerd from all pestylence and sodeyn deth and so departe aduysedly hens that we may come to euer lastyng Ioye and glorye in heuen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Sebastian And next foloweth of saynt Agnes and first thynterpretacion of her name AGnes is said of agna a lambe For she was humble and debonayr as a lambe or of agno in greke whyche is to saye debonayr and pyteous For she was debonayr and mercyful Or agnes of agnoscendo for she knewe the waye of trouthe and after thys saynt Austyn saith trouthe is opposed ayenst vanyte falsenes doublenes For thyse thre thyngis were taken from her for the trouthe that she had ¶ Of saynt Agnes THe blessyd virgyne seynt Agnes was moche wyse and wel taught as saynt Ambrose wytnesseth and wrote her passyon she was fayr of vysage but moche fayrer in the crysten fayth she was yong of age aged in wytte For in the xiij yere of her age she lost the deth that the world gyueth And fonde lyf in Ihesu cryst whyche whan she cam fro scole the sone of the perfecte of Rome for themperour louyd her And whan hys fader and moder knewe it they offred to gyue moche Rychesse wyth hym yf he myght haue her in maryage And offryd to saynt Agnes precyous geÌ„mes and Iewellis whyche she refused to take wherof it happed that the yong man was ardauntly esprysed in the loue of saynt Agnes and came agayn and toke wyth hym more precious Rycher adournementes made wyth all maner of precious stones And as wel by hys parentes as by hym self offred to saynt agnes Ryche yeftes and possessyons and all the delytes and deduytes of the world and all to th ende to haue her in maryage but saynt agnes answerd to hym in thys mater Goo fro me thou fardel of synne norysshyng of euyllys and morsell of deth and departe And knowe thou that I am preuented and am loued of another louer whych hath gyuen to me many better Iewellis whych hath fyanced me by his fayth And is moche more noble of lygnage than thou art of estate he hath clad me wyth precyous stones and wyth Iewellis of golde he hath sette in my vysage a signe that I receyue none other espowse but hym And hath shewde me ouer grete tresours whiche he must gyue me yf I abyde wyth hym I wyl haue none other spowse but hym I wyl seche none other In no maner may I leue hym wyth hym am I ferme and fastned in loue whyche is more noble more puyssant fayrer than ony other whos loue is moche swete and gracious of whom the chambre is now redy for to receyue me where the virgynes syngyn meryly I am now embraced of hym of whome the moder is a vyrgyne And hys fader knewe neuer woman to whom the angelles serue the sonne and the mone merueylle them of hys beaute whos werkes neuer faylle whos Rychesses neuer mynusshe by whos odour dede men reyse agayn to lif by whos touchyng the seke men be conforted whos loue is chastyte To hym I haue gyuen my faith To hym I haue comanded my herte whan I loue hym thenne am I chaste and whan I touche hym theÌ„ne am I pure and clene And whan I take hym thenne am I a virgyne Thys is the loue of my god whan the yong man had
herd all this he was despayred as he that was taken in blynde loue and was ouer fore tormented in so moche that he laye doun seke in hys bedde for the grete sorowe that he had Thenne cam the fysiciens anon knewe hys maladye and sayd to hys fadre that he languysshid of carnal loue that he had to somÌ„e woman Thenne the fader enquyred and knewe that it was thys woman And dyde doo speke to seynt agnes for hys sone and said to her how hys sone languysshid for her loue seynt agnes answerd that in no wise she wold breke the faith of her first husbond vpon that the prouost demaÌ„ded who was her first husbond of whom she so moche auaunted and in hys power so moche trusted Thenne one of her seruauntes said that she was crysten and that she was so enchaunted that she said Ihesu cryste was her espowse And whan the prouoste herde that she was crysten the prouost was moche glad by cause to haue power on her For thenne the crysten peple were in the wylle of the lord yf they wold not renye theyr god and theyr byleue all theyr goodes shold be forfayted wherfore theÌ„ne the prouoste made saynt agnes to come in Iustice And he examyned her swetely and after cruelly by menaces Saynt agnes wel comforted sayd to hym doo what thou wylt For my purpoos shalt thou neuer chaunge whan she sawe hym nowe flateryng and now terrybly angry she scorned hym And the prouost said to her beyng all Angry One of two thyngis thou shalt chese eyther doo sacrefyse to our goddes wyth the vyrgyns of the goddes vesta or goo to the bordell to be abandonned to alle that thyder come to the grete shame and blame of alle thy lygnage Saynt Agnes answerd yf thou knewest who is my god thou woldest not saye to me suche wordes but for as moche as I know the vertue of my god I sette nothyng by thy menaces For I haue his angele which is kepar of my body Thenne the Iuge all araged made to take of her clothys and all nakyd to be ledde to the bordell And thus saynt agnes that refused to doo sacrefyse to thydollys was delyueryd nakyd to goo to the bordell but anon as she was vnclothed god gaf to her suche grace that the heeris of her heed bycam so longe that they couerd all her body to her feet so that her body was not seen And whan saynt agnes entred in to the bordell anon she fonde thangele of god redy for to defende her and enuyronned saynt agnes with a bryght clernes in suche wise that noman myht see her ne come to her There made she of the bordel her oratorye And in makyng her prayers to god she sawe to fore her a whyte vesture And anon therwith she clad her and saide I thanke the Ihesu cryst whyche accomptest me wyth thy virgyns and hast sente me thys vesture Alle they that entred made honour and reuerence to the grete clerenes that they sawe a boute saynt Agnes And cam oute more deuoute and more clene than they entred Atte laste cam the sone of the prouoste with a grete coÌ„panye for taccomplysshe his foule desires and lustes And whan he sawe hys felaws come out and yssue all abasshyd he mocqued them and callyd them cowardis And thenne he all araged entryd for taccomplyssh hys euyl wyll and whaÌ„ he cam to the clerenes he auaunced hym for to take the virgyne And anon the deuyl toke hym by the throte and strangled hym that he fyl doun deed And whan the prouoste herde thyse tidynges of his sone he ranne wepyng to the bordel and began cryeng to saye to saynt agnes O thou cruel woman why hast thou shewde thyn enchantemÌ„t on my sone and demaunded of her how hys sone was deed and by what cause To whom saynt agnes answerd he toke hym in to hys power to whom he had abaundonned hys wylle why ben not all they deed said he that entred here to fore hym For hys felawes sawe the myracle of the grete clernes and were aferd and wente theyr waye vnhurte For they dyde honour to my god whyche hath clad me wyth thyse vestement and hath kept my body but your vylaynous sone assone as he entred in to thys hows began to braye and crye and whan he wold haue leyde honde vpon me anon the deuyl slewe hym as thou seest yf thou maye reyse hym said he It may wel appere that thou hast not put hym to deth And saynt agnes answerd how wel that thy creance is not worthy to impetre ne gete that of our lord neuertheles by cause it is tyme that the vertue of god be shewed Goo ye all oute that I may make my prayer to god And whan she was in her prayers thangele cam and reysed hym to lyf And anon he wente out and bygan to crye wyth an hye voys that the god of crysten men was very god in heuen and in erthe and in the See And that thydolles were vayne that they worshypped whyche myght not helpe them self ne none other Thenne the bysshops of thydolles made a grete discorde emonge the peple so that alle they cryed Take away this sorceresse and witche that torned mennes myndes and alyeneth theyr wyttes whaÌ„ the prouoste sawe thyse merueylles he wold gladly haue delyuerd saynt agnes by cause she had reysed hys sone but he doubted to be banysshyd And sette in hys place a lyeutenauÌ„t named aspasius for to satisfye the peple and by cause he coude not delyuere her he departed soroufully Thys aspâ—sius dyde do make a grete fyre emong alle the peple and dyde do caste saynt Agnes therin Anon as thys was doon the flamme departed in to two partyes brente them that made the discordes she abode alle hole wythout felyng the fyre The peple wente that she had don all by enchauntement Thenne made saynt agnes her oryson to god thankyng hym that she was escaped fro the paryll to lese her virgynyte and also fro the brennyng of the flamme And whan she had made her oryson the fyre loste all hys hete and quenchyd it aspasius for the doubtance of the peple comanded to put a swerd in her body And so she was martred Anon cam the crysten men and the parentis of saynt Agnes and buryed her body but the hethen defended it and caste so stones at them that vnnethe they escaped She suffred martirdom in the tyme of constantyn the grete whyche began to regne the yere of our lord CCCix Emong them that buryed her body ther was one Emerenciana whyche had be felaw to saynt Agnes how be it she was not yet cristened but an holy virgyne she cam also to the sepulces of saynt agnes whyche constaÌ„tly repreued the gentyles and of theÌ„ she was stoned to deth and slayn Anon thenne cam a erthe quaue lightnyng and thondre that many of the paynems perisshed so that forâ—hon the
thaÌ„ god is not worthy to be with god A man that semed to be her frende sente her word on a tyme that she had grete nede to kepe wel her brayne For by cause of thardeur that she had in vertues she semed to be out of her witte And she answerd In thys world we be reputed as fooles for the loue of Ihesu cryst And our lord said to his appostles the world hateth you For ye be not of the world yf ye were of the world that is to saye of the conuersion of the world the world shold loue you Fayr lord god we mortyfye our self allewaye and we be reputed as sheep that be brought to deth by cauâ—â— that without playnyng we mortefye our bodyes In suche pacience was she vnto the deth and suffred humbly thenuye of them that were euyll She had in her mynde the holy scriptures And she helde her more to the spyrituel vnderstondyng than to thystoryes of the scripture She coude parfyghtly hebrewe greke latyn frensshe and redde coursably the scriptures in thyse foure langages who may recounte wythout wepyng the deeth of this woman She fylle in a maladye mortall and sawe wel that she shold deye For all her body bycam cold And she felte that her spirite helde her in her brest Thenne said she wythout playnyng and with out hauyng ony charge sauf to god Fayr swete lord I haue coueyted the beaute of thy hous for to be in thyn habytacion that is so fayr My sowle hath desired to be in thy Royame And whaÌ„ I demaunded her wherfor she spack nomore And she wold not answere me and I asked yf she suffred grete payne she said to me in grekis tongue that she was wel and in good peas And anone she lefte spekyng te me and closed her eyen in sayeng to god Lord lyke as the herte desireth to come to the fontayne so desireth my sowle to come to the Alas whan shal I come to the fayr lord god And in sayeng thyse wordes she made a crosse vpoÌ„ her mouth There were bysshoppis prestes clerkes chanones and monkes wythout nombre And atte laste whan she herd her spowse Ihesu cryst whyche callid her sayeng Aryse and come to me my swete loue and fayr espowse For the wynter is passed she answerd gladly the flowres ben shewde in our contrey And I byleue that I shal see the goodes in the Royame of heuene of my lord Ihesu cryst And thus she rendred her sowle and passed out of thys world And anone all the congregacioÌ„ of vyrgynes made no crye in wepyng as don the peple of the world but redde deuoutly their psaltier not only vnto the tyme that she was buryed but all the day all the nyght with grete payne coude not EustochiuÌ„ her venerable doughter the virgyne be withdraweÌ„ fro her but she kyssed her and embraced her pyteously in wepyng the deth of her moder And Ihesus wytnesseth that saynt paulyne left not one peny to her doughter she hadde so gyueÌ„ almesse of alle her grete Rychesse many gyue largely for goddes sake but they gyue not somoche but somÌ„e abydeth whan she was passed as said is her lyppes ne her face were not pale but was as reuerent to loke on as she had ben yet alyue She was buryed in a sepulture in bethleem wyth right grete honour bÌ„y the bysshoppis preestis clerkes monkes vyrgyns and all the poure peple of the contrey whyche playned that they had loste their good moder that had nourisshed them She lyued in Rome holyly xxxiij yere And in bethleem xx yere And alle her age was liij yere vij monethes and xx dayes fro the tyme of honoure Emperour of Rome Thenne late vs praye to thys holy woman that she praye for vs Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Pawlyne Here foloweth of saynt Iulien the bysshop And first the interpretacion of hys name IUlien is as moche to saye as Iubilus Syngyng and ana that is an hye And therof Iulyen as goyng to hye thynges in syngyng Or it is said Iulius that is as moche to saye as not wyse and anus that is old For he was old in the seruyce of god and not wyse in reputacion of hym self SAynt Iulyen was bysshop of cenomanence It is said that it was he that was said SymoÌ„ the lepre wham our lord heled of hys meselâ—rye and bad Ihesu cryst to dyner And after thascencion of our lord he was ordeyned of thappostles bysshop of Emaus full of grete vertues he appyered to the world he reysed thre dede meÌ„ and after he ended hys dayes in grete preysyng of god Of thys saynt Iulyen somÌ„e saye that this is he that pylgryms and weyfaryng men calle and requyre for good herberowe by cause our lord was lodged in hys hows but it semeth better that it is he that slewe hys fader and moder ignorauÌ„tly of whom thystorye is here after Ther was another Iulyen born in almayne whyche was of noble lygnage and yet more noble in fayth and in vertue whyche for the grete desire that he had to be martir he offrid hym self to the tyrauntis where he had not forfayted Now it happed that crispmus whyche was one of the gouernours of rome sente to hym one of hys mynystres for to put hym to deth anon as the mynystre cam to hym he yssued out of hys place And cam to fore hym And offred to hym to suffre deth And hys heed was smeten of And they toke the hede and shewde it to saynt Feryel that was hys felowe And sayd they wold so doo of hym yf he sacrefyed not And by cause he wold not obeye to them they slewe hym And toke the heed of saynt Iulyen and the body of saynt Feryoll and buryed them bothe in one pytte And a grete whyle after saynte mamertyne bysshop of vyane fonde the heed of saynt Iulyen bytwene the handes of saynt feryol also hoole as it had be buryed that same day ¶ â—mong the other myracles of saynt Iulyen it is said that a deken toke alle the whyte sheep that were of the chyrche of saynt Iulyen And the shepherdes defended them but he sayd to them that saynt Iulyen ete neuer no motoâ— And anon after a feuer toke hym so grete and hooot that he knowleched that he was of the martir so brente And he dyde water to be caste on hym for to cole hym And anon yssued out of hys body suche a fume and smoke and therwith so grete a stenche that all they that were present were constrayned to flee and anon after he deyde ¶ Another myracle happed of a man of a vyllage that on a sâ—nday wolde ere hys londes and whan he toke the share to make clene hys cultre hyt cleuyd to hys hond and two yere after atte prayer of saynt Iulien in the chyrche he was helâ—d ¶ Ther was another Iulyen whyche was brother to one named Iulie Thyse two brethern wente to themperour Theodose whyche was a very crysten man
thydolles Saynt Ignace shewd to them clerely that theyr goddes had ben theuys Rybauldes and men of abhomynable euyl lyf And that they were dampned in helle And that they had ben in grete errour in thys that of so cursid men they made theyr goddes and worshypped deuyllys and had forsake god whyche had made and created all the world And hys blessyd sone whyche in humayne nature had redemyd and sauyd the world Fynably after thys that he had be tormented by fyre by betyng pryson Themperour dyde sende for the romayns in a place and there dyde do sette saynt Ignace And dydde doo brynge theder two lyons for to deuoure hym but he had neuer drede for deth ne for other tormentes of whyche he had suffred many but was alleway cōforted for to deye for the loue of Ih̄u crist and he said atte laste I am wheete of Ihesu cryst whyche ought to be groūden bytwene the teeth of thyse bestes by whych I may be pure brede for to be presented to my lord And anon the lyons cā strangled hym wythout treryng of hys flessh or ony thyng hurtyng it wherfor traian had grete merueylle and departed fro the place It is redde that saynt Ignace in alle hys tormentes and alle the paynes of martirdom that he suffred that his tongue neuer ceassed to name the name of Ih̄us And whan they that tormented hym demanded hym wherfor he named this name so ofte he answerd knowe ye for certayn that I haue in my herte thys name wreton◠¶ And therfor I may not leue to name thys name ofte And by cause herof whan he was deed they that herd thyse wordes opened hys body drewe out his herte cut it open And they fonde wyth in the name of Ihesu wreton wyth fayr lettres of gold ¶ For whyche myracle many receyued the fayth of Ihesu cryst ¶ Of thys saynt sayth saynt bernard vpon the psalme Qui habitat Saynt Ignace martir of god gloryous is of grete meryte whyche was mynystre to the dyscyple that Ihesus so moche louyd And in hys epystles the whyche he sente to the gloryous vyrgyne marye he salewed her as moder that had born Ihesu cryst And she resalewed hym agayn in sygne that he was a persone of grete honour of grete dygnyte and of of grete Auctoryte The body of whom was honourably buryed of crysten mē to the worshyppe of Ihesu cryst which is blessyd in secula seculorum Amen Here endeth the lyf of saynt Ignacien And here foloweth the puryficacion of our lady POstquam impleti sunt dies purgacionis marie secundum legem moysi tulerunt Ihesum in Iherusalem luce secundo capitulo Th auncyent lawe had his cours vntil the tyme that god hath suffred deth for vs And whan he deyde on the crosse he sayd Iohannis nono capl̄o Consummatum est That is to saye alle thyng is fynysshed and ended that hath be wreton of me whyche lawe he kepte duryng hys lyf as it is wreton I am not comen for to breke the lawe In whych he gaf vs example of humylyte and of obedience lyke as saynt Poul saith In lyke wyse our lady for tobeye to the lawe bare her swete sone Ihesu Cryst vnto the temple of Iherusalem after the xl daye of hys byrthe for to offre hym to god and for to gyue offryng for hym suche as in the lawe was ordeyned that is to wete a payr turtellis or two douues was thoffryng of poure folke lyke as it is wreton Our lord whyche in alle caas cam to make our sauacion dayned not only to humble hym self and descende fro his royame and becam man mortall semblable to vs Also he dayned to be born of a poure woman And was poure for tenriche vs and drawe vs out of the myserye of thys world to the richesse permanable ¶ And we that ben poure by cause of our synnes and wythout Richesses of good vyrtues ¶ So worthyly shold we come and be atte feste of our lord we shold offre to hym that whyche by the offryng is signefyed The douue whiche is of her nature symple wyhout galle And the turtle naturelly chaste ¶ For whan she hath loste her make she wyl neuer haue other make And wyth that she taketh the wepyng for her songe we ought to offre to our lord in stede of ij douues one symple wyll and a good Intencion wythout reteynyng in our herte ony galle of angre or of hate toward our neyhbour For as our lord sayth yf thyn eye be symple all thy werkes shal be in light ¶ And herof sayth saynt Iohan theuangelist in thapocalipse The cyte nedeth no sonne ne mone to shyne in it For the clerenes of god shal enlumyne it And hys lanterne in lambes The lambe is the lyght by the lambe whyche is symple is signefyed to vs a symple conscience and ryghtwys whyche maketh true Iugement of thyntencion For all werkes ben good or euyl yf they be doon in euyl entencion or by ypocrysye they ben euyl and wythout prouffyt lyke as sayth Ihesu cryst yf thyn eye be euyll Alle thy body shal be derke by the eye is vnderstande thentencion with goodnes symple And debonairte signefieth by the douues we ought also to offre a payre of turtles to our lord that is to saye a chast lyf and a very entenciō to leue our synnes the whiche is signefyed to vs by the chasttete of the turtle ¶ And by her wepyng the contricion As Bede saith Contricion ought to begynne in drede and ende in loue For the sowle faithful whan she remembreth her synnes in her conscience ¶ She wepeth for the drede of the paynes of helle that she hath deseruyd and thus offreth she to god a turtle And whan she hath wepte ther cometh to her an hope to haue mercy and pardon of her synnes And thys hope conceyued of drede in hym a loue of god to serue and to be in hys companye So that that soule that ought to synge wepeth for loue whyche hath delyuerd her so sone fro the paryllis and myseryes of thys world and for to come to the swete companye of our lord And thus offreth she that other turtle in wepyng wyth dauid the prophete the longe pylgremage that she hath made in the myseryes of thys world sayeng Heu me quia incolatus meus prolongatus est For whan she begynneth to thynke after the Ioyous companye of Angellis and of the sowles that ben in heuene And what Ioye and deduyt that they haue in the ouerdesirous syght of our lord Thenne alle the world greueth them and desireth to be delyuerd fro the faytes of the body for to goo in to the companye of thyse holy sowlis And also that saynt Symeon which by reuelacion of the holy ghoost cam in to the temple of Iherusalem in the same houre that the blessyd virgyne brought her dere sone for to offre hym And the holy ghoost had shewd to hym that to fore that he
to saynt valentyne that he gete vs pardon of our synnes Amen Thus endeth the lyf of Saynt Ualentyn Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Iulian and first thynterpretacion of her name IUliane is as moche to saye as brennyng playnly for she brente her self ayenst the teÌ„ptacioÌ„ of the deuyll which wold haue deceyued her And she helped many other to byleue in the fayth of our lord Ihesu cryst ¶ Of saynt Iuliane SAynt Iuliane was gyuen in maryage to the prouoste of Nychomede whyche was named Elongius And he was a paynem And therfor she wold not assente to the maryage ne assemble wyth hym but yf he wold first take the fayth of cryst and be baptysed whan her fader sawe this Anone he dyde do her to be naked and made her to be beten sore And after delyuerd her to the prouost And after whan the prouoste helde her and sawe the grete beaute in her he sayd to her my most swete Iulyane why hast thou brought me in suche coÌ„fusion that I am mocqued by cause that thou refusest to take me She sayd yf thou wylt adoure my god I shal assente and agree to take the And otherwyse shalt thou neuer be my lord to whom the prouost sayd Fayr lady that may I not doo For themperour shold thenne smyte of my heed And she sayd yf thou doubtest so moche themperour whyche is mortal why shold not I doubte myn emperour Ilesu cryst whyche is inmortal doo what thou wylt For thou maist not deceyue me TheÌ„ne the prouoste dyde her to be bete most cruelly wyth Roddes And half adaye to hange by the heeris of her heed and molten leed to be caste on her heed And whan he sawe that all thys greued her not he made her to be bounden in chaynes and to be sette in pryson To whome the deuylle cam thenne in the lyknes of an Angele which said to her in thys manere Iulyane I am the angele of god whyche hath sente me to the to warne and saye that thou make sacrefise to thydolles for teskape the tormentis of euyl deth Thenne she began to wepe And made to god thys prayer Lord god suffre not me to be loste but of thy grace shewe to me what he is that maketh to me thys monycion The same tyme cam to her a voys that sayd that she shold sette honde on hym and that she constrayne hym to confesse what he was ¶ And anon she toke hym and demanded hym And he said that he was the deuyll ¶ And that hys fader had sente hym theder for to deceyue her She demaunded hym who is thy fader ¶ And he answerd beelzebub whyche sendeth vs for to doo all euyll And maketh vs greuously to be beten whan we comen vaynquysshyd of the crysten peple And therfor I am certayn I shal haue moche harme by cause I may not ouercome the ¶ She sayd to hym of what craft is thy fader belzebub the deuyll sayde he contryueth all euyl whan we come in to helle he sendeth vs for to tempte the sowles of the peple She demaunded what tormentis suffreth he that cometh vaynquysshid of a crysten creature the deuyl sayd we suffre thenne moche grieuous torment ¶ And by cause whan we be vaynquysshyd of a good man we dar not retorne and whan we be sought and can not be founden thenne comaÌ„deth our maystre to other deuylles that they tormente vs where somÌ„e euer they fynde vs ¶ And tâ—erfore we must obeye to hym as to our fader And of what craft art thou I take solace in the shrewdnes of the peple I loue homycyde luxurye bataylle and make debate and warre And she demaunded hym goost thou neuer to doo good werkes and prouffytable the deuyl answere Madame to th ende that I answer the trouthe To my right grete harme and euyl am I come hether For I had wel supposed to haue deceyued the and made the to make sacrefise to thydolles and to renounse thy god whan we come to a good crysten man and we fynde hym redy to doo seruyse to god we sende in hym many thoughtes vayne and euyll and also many euyl desires and torne hys thought by thys that we sette to fore hym and we sende errours in hys thougtes And we lete hym not perseuere in hys orysons ne in noo good werkes yet yf we see ony that wyl goo to the chyrche or in other place for ony good anon we ben in theyr wayes and caste in theyr hertes dyuerse thoughtes and occasions by whyche they be dystorned for to do wel But who someuer may vnderstonde our temptacions and apperteyne them to th ende that he put away fro hym the euyl cogytacions thoughtes and wylle make hys prayers and do hys good werkis and here the wordes of god and the dyuyne seruyse Of hym we be cast out And whan they receyue the body of Ihesu cryst we departe forthwyth fro them we sette our entente to nothyng but to deceyue good persones that lede an holy lyf and whan we see them doo good werkes we sende in them bytter and greuous thoughtes for to leue alle and doo our wylle Seynt Iulyane sayd O thou esperyte how art thou so hardy to tempte ony crysten persone And the deuyl answerd how darst thou thus holde me yf it were not thou affyest in Ihesu cryst ryght so trust I in my fader whyche is a malefactour and I doo that plesith hym I haue payned me to doo oft many euylles And somtyme I come to myn entente accoÌ„plyssh my desire but at this tyme I haue failled I wold I had not comen hyther Alas how vnderstode my fader of this that shold not happe Madame late me goo gyue me leue to goo in to somÌ„e other place for it is no nede that I accuse the to my fader Atte laste she lete hym goo On the morn the prouost comaÌ„ded that saynt Iulian shold be brought to fore hym in Iugement And whan he sawe her so wel guarisshed and her vysage so fayr and so shynyng thenne said the prouoste to her Iulyane who hath taught the and how mayst thou vaynquyssh the tormentis And she sayd herkene to me and I shal saye to the My lord Ihesu cryst hath taught me to adoure the fader the sone and the holy ghoost For I haue ouercomen and vaynquysshyd Sathanas thy fader and alle hys other deuyllis For god hath sente hys Angell for to conforte me and to helpe me Meschaunt man knowest thou not that the tormentis ben made redy fore the euerlastyng where thou shal be tormentid perpetuelly in a perpetuel derkenes and obscurete Anon the prouoste made to be brought a whele of yron bytwene two pylers and iiij horses to draw it forth And foure knyghtes at one side and foure knyghtes on that other to drawe and foure for to drawe forth the whele so that alle the body was tobroken in suche wyse that the mary cam out of the
that he had ben a paynem And he torned to the chyrche of saynt peter wayllyng for thorrour of the mescreaunce of traian Thenne answerd a voys fro god sayeng I haue now herd thy prayer and haue spared traian fro the payne perpetuell By thys thus as som̄e saye the payne perpetuel due to traian as a mescreaunt was somdele take away but for al that was not he quyte fro the pryson of helle For the sowle may wel be in helle and fele ther no payne by the mercy of god And after it is sayd that the angele in hys answere sayd more to thus by cause thou hast prayd for a payneme god graunteth the to chese of ij thynges that one which thou wylt Or thou shalt be ij dayes in purgatorye in payne or ellis all the dayes of thy lyf thou shalt languysshe in sekenesse Thenne answerd saynt gregory that he had leuer to haue sekenesse all his lyf in this world than to fele by ij dayes the paynes of purgatorye And euer after he had contynuelly the feures or axces or the goute in hys feet And herof hym self maketh mencion in one hys epystle and sayth I am so moche tormented of the gowte in my feet and of other sekenesses that my lif is to me a grete payne euery day me semeth that I ought to deye And alleway I abyde the deth Som̄e tyme my payne is lityl somtyme right grete but it is not so lityl that it departeth fro me ne so grete that it bryngeth me to deth And thus it is that I that am alleway redy to deye am withdrawen fro deth It happed that a wydowe that was wonte euery sonday to brynge hoostes to synge masse wyth shold on a tyme be houselyd cōmuned And whan saynt gregory shold gyue to her the holy sacrament in sayeng Corpus dominj nostrj c̄ that is to saye the body of our lord Ih̄u cryst kepe the in to euerlastyng lyf Anone thys woman began to smyle to fore saynt gregorye And anon he wythdrewe hys honde and remysed the sacrament vpon th aulter And he demaunded her to fore the peple why she smyled And she sayd by cause that the brede that I haue made with my propre handes thou namest it the body of our lord Ihesu cryst Anone saynt gregory put hym self to prayer wyth the peple For to praye to god that herupō he wold shewe hys grace for to conferme our byleue And whan they were rysen fro prayer saynt gregorye sawe the holy sacrament in figure of a pyece of fhessh as grete as the lytil fynger of an honde And anone after by the prayers of saynt gregorye the flesshe of the sacrament torned in to semblaūce of breed as it had be to fore And therwyth he comuned and howseled the woman whiche after was more relygyous and the peple more ferme in the fayth Saynt gregorye made and ordeyned the songe of thoffyce of holy chirche and establysshed at Rome two scoles of songe that one beside the chyrche of saynt peter And that other by the chyrche of saynt Ioh̄n latian where the place is yet where he laye and taughte the scoliers and the rodde wyth whiche he menaced them And the anthyphoner on whyche he lerned them is yet there he put to the canon of the masse thse wordes Diesque nostros in tua pace disponamus atque ab eterna dampnacione nos eripias et in electorum tuorum iubeas grege numerari Atte laste whan saynt gregory had ben pope xiij yere vj monethis and x dayes he beyng ful of good werkes departed out of thys world in the yere of our lord vjCvj yere in the tyme whan foca was Emperour of rome Lete vs thēne praye to saynt gregory that he gete vs grace that we may amende so our self here in thys lif that we may come vnto euerlastyng lyf in heuen Amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Gregorye Here begynneth of saynt longius the lyf LOngius whyche was a puyssaūt knyght was wyth other knyghtes by the comandement of pylate on the side of the crosse of our lord and percyd the side of our lord wyth a spere And whan he sawe the myracles how the sonne lost his light and grete erthequauyng of therthe was whan our lord suffred deth and passion in the tre of the crosse Thenne byleued he in Ihesu cryst Som̄e saye that whan he smote our lord wyth the spere in the syde the precious blood aualed by the shafte of the spere vpon hys hondes And of auenture wyth hys hondes he touched hys eyen And anon he that had be to fore blynde sawe anon clerly wherfor he refused all cheualrye and abode wyth thappostles of whom he was taught and crystened and after he abandonned to lede an holy lyf in doyng almesses and in kepyng the lyf of a mōke aboute xxxviij yere in cesaree and in Capadoce And by hys wordes and hys example many men conuerted he to the fayth of cryste And whan thys cam to the knowleche of octouian the prouoste he toke hym and wold haue constrayned hym to do sacrefise to thydollis And saynt longius said Ther may noman serue two lordes whyche ben contrary to other Thyn ydollis ben lordes of thy malices corruptours of all good werkis and enemyes to chastyte humylite and to bounte And frendes to all ordure of luxurye of gloutonnye of ydelnesse of pryde and of Auaryce And my lord is lord of sobrenesse that bryngeth the peple to the euerlastyng lyf Thenne sayd the prouoste it is nought that thou saist Make sacrefice to thydollis And thy god shal forgyue the by cause of the comandement that is made to the longius said yf thou wylt becomē cristen god shal pardonne the thy trespaces Thenne the prouost was angry and made the teeth of saynt longius to be drawen out of hys mouth and dyde do cutte hys mouth open And yet for alle that longius lost not hys speche but toke an axe that he there fonde hewe and brake therwith thydollis and said now may we see yf they be very goddes or not And anon the deuyllis yssued out and entred in to the body of the prouoste amd hys felaws And they brayed lyke beestes and fyll doun to the feet of saynt longius and sayd we knowe wel that thou art seruaunt vnto the souerayn god And saynt longius demaunded of the deuylles why they dwellyd in thyse ydollis and they answerd we haue foūden place in thyse ydolles for vs For ouerall where Ihesu crist is not named ne hys signe is not shewd there dwelle we gladly and by cause whan thyse paynems come to thyse ydolles for to adoure and make sacrefise in the name of vs thenne we come and dwelle in thyes ydolles wherfor we pray the man of god that thou sende vs not in in thabysme of helle And saynt longius said to the peple that there were what saye ye wyll ye haue thyse deuylles for
your goddes and worshyppe them Or haue ye leuer that I hunte them out of thys world in the name of Ihesu cryst And the peple sayd wyth an hye voys Moche grete is the god of crysten peple holy man we praye the that thou suffre not the deuylles to dwelle in thys cyte Thenne comanded saynt longius to the deuyllis that they shold yssue out of thys peple in suche wyse that the peple had grete Ioye and byleued in our lord A lytyl tyme after the euyl prouost made saynt longius come to fore hym and sayd to hym that all the peple were departed by hys enchauÌ„tement had refused thydollis yf the kynge knewe it he shold destroye vs and the cyte also Afrodisius answerd how wilt thou yet tormÌ„â— thys good man whyche hath saued vs and hath don so moche good to the cyte And the prouost said he hath deceyued vs by enchantrye Afrodisius said hys god is grete and hath none euyll in hym Thenne dyde the prouost cutte out the tongue of afrodisius wherfore saynt longius sighed vnto god And anone the prouoste becam blynde and loste all hys membres whan afrodifius sawe that he said lord god thou art Iuste And thy Iugement is verytable And the prouost said to afrodisius Fayr brother praye to saynt longius that he pray for me For I haue don yll to hym And Afrodisius said haue not I wel told it to the do nomore so to longius Seest not thou me speke wythout tongue And the prouoste sayde I haue not only lâ—st myn eyen but also my herte and my body is in grete payne And saynt longius said yf thou wylt be hool and guarysshed put me appertly to deth And I shal pray for the to our lord after that I shal be deed that he hele that And anon thenne the prouost dyde do smyte of hys heed And after he cam and fyll on the body of saynt longius and sayd all in wepyng Syre I haue synned I knowleche and confesse my fylthe And anon cam agayn his sight and he receyued helthe of hys body And buryed honourably the body of saynt longius And the prouoste byleuyd in Ihesu cryst And abode in the company of crysten men and thanked god and deyde in good astate All thys happed in Cesaree of Capadoce to the honour of our lord god to whom be gyuen laude and glorye in secula seculorum Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Longius Here begynneth the lif of saynt Maure THe yere that saynt benet deied he sente seynt Maure foure felaws wyth hym in to fraunce that is to wete fuscinien symplicien Antoninien and constantinen atte prayer of varricam the bysshop of maulx for to founde an abbaye which the said bisshop wold make of hys owen good And gaf to saynt maure a book in whyche he had wreton the rule of hys hande And as they passed the montaynes of mongus sourgus one of theyr seruantes fyll fro hys hors vpon a grete stone and hys lyft fote was all to frusshed but assone as saynt maure had blessyd it and made hys oryson he was guarisshed and al hool After thys he cam in to the chyrche of saynt mauryce And ther was at entre a blynde man beggyng that had seten there xj yere and was named lieuyn whyche for the longe vsage that he had ben there he knew all thoffice of the chirche by heryng that he had lerned ther by wythout more he coniured saynt maure by the vertue of the martirs that he wold helpe hym And anone he was guarisshid and had agayn hys sight by hys prayer And thenne saynt maure comaÌ„ded hym that he shold serue alle hys lyf in the chyrche as he had don On a nyght thys holy man and hys felawe herberowed in the hows of a wydowe whiche was named themere the whyche had a sone that was so seke that eche man sayd that he was deed And thys holy man heled hym And whan he was hool he said to saynt maure thou art he that by thy merytes and by thy teeres hast delyuerd me fro the Iugement where I was in condempned to the fyre of helle Thus as they helde theyr waye on the good fryday in thabbaye of whyche seynt Romayn was abbot And saynt maure sayd to saynt Romayn Seynt benet shal departe out of thys world to morowe On the morn after the hour of tierce as saynt maure was in hys prayers he sawe the waye by whyche saynt benet mounted in to heuen and he was aourned wyth palles and grete foyson of clerenes and thys vision sawe two other monkes Also whan saynt maure hys felowe cam to orlyance they herd saye that the bisshop varicam of maulx was deed And he that was in his place wold not receyue them Thenne saynt maure and hys felawe wente in to a place that is callyd restis And there founded â—e fyrst an hows for to adoure god there in thonour of saynt martyn and comaâ—ded that he shold be buryed therin A clerke that was there named langyso fyl doun of an hie steyer vpon an hepe of stones and was all to frusshed but saynt maure heled hym anon And after flocus whyche was one of the grettest frendes of the kynge had hym in so grete reuerence that he durst not approuche but yf he bad hym Thre werkmen that wrought in that hows bygan to saye shrewdly of saynt maure and saye that he coueyted ouer moche vayne glorye but anon they be cam so madde that that one of hym lost forthwyth hys lyf And the other ij to tare them self wyth theyr teeth the holy man anon put hys hande in theyr mouthes and made the feende to goo out benethe And after he reysed the thyrde to lyf whyche had be deed and comanded hym yf he wold lyue that he shold nomore entre in to that hows And thys comaÌ„ded he for theschewe the fauour of the world Theodebers kyng of frannce cam for to visite hym and prayd to saynt maure and the brethern that they wold pray for hym And he gaf to them of that hows the fee Ryall of that buscage and alle the rentes therto belongyng and the townes On the morn saynt maure wente to see the yeft that the kyng had gyuen And there he heled one hauyng the paleseye whyche had be vij yere seke The second yere that thys hows was founded cam many noble men of the contre whyche demanded that theyr chyldren myght be clothed and receyued in to the religion And ther cam so many that the xxvj yere of the fondacion of thabbaye there were an hondred fourty brethern saynt maure comandeth that they shold abyde in that nombre wythout more or lasse and not tencreace ne mynuysshe that nombre After thys â—lotaire the kynge cam in to thys abbeye And gaf therto the chyef of blason and the toun longchamp therwith And after thys tyme saynt maure wold nomore yssue out of thabbeye but he wente and abode in a
yf hit plese god ne I haue no fere ne drede of dethe for we haue a good lord In this tyme assemblyd his foure dekens and began to trete who shold be a good bisshop after hym And they named secretely emonge them self that vnnethe they them self herde hit Symplycien Saynt ambrose was ferre fro them they wende that he myght not haue herde them And he cryed on hye thryes he is olde and he is good whan they herde hym they were moche abasshed and departed And syth after his deth they chase the same symplicien for the good wytnesse that saynt ambrose had borne of hym A bysshop whiche was named honorius that abode the deth of saynt ambrose slepte and herde a voys that thryes called hym and sayd aryse thou vp for he shal goo his waye anone Thenne he aroos anone hastely went to melane and gaue to hym the holy sacramente the precious body of our lord And anone saynt ambrose leyde his armes in fourme of a crosse and made his prayers and so departed and gaue vp his ghoost emonge the wordes of his prayers aboute the yere of our lord thre hondred lxxx the vygyle of ester and whan his body in the nyght was borne in to the chyrche many children that were baptyzed sawe hym as they sayd syttyng in a chayer honowrably and other shewed hym wyth theyr fyngres to theyr fader and other And somme sayd that they sawe a sterre vpon his body There was a preest that satte at mete wyth other whiche sayd not wel of hym but myssayed but anone god so chastysed hym that he was borne fro the table deyed anone after In the cyte of cartage were thre bysshoppes to gyder at dyner and one of them spake euyl by detraccyon of saynt ambrose And there was a man that tolde what was befallen for suche langage to this forsaid preest but he mocqued and iaped so moche that he felte a stroke mortal that that same day he deyed and was buryed It is founden wryten in a cronycle that the Emperour valentynyen was wrothe bycause that in the cyte of thessalonyke the peple had stoned to deth his Iuges that were sente thyder in his name and for tauenge the same the emperour dyd doo slee v thousand persones grete and lytel good euyl as wel them that had not trespaced as them that had deseruyd hit And whā after thys occysyon he came to melane and wold entre in to the chyrche Saynt abmrose came ageynst hym and defended hym thentre sayd to hym that after so grete woodnesse thou oughtest not to do so grete presūpsyon but perauenture thy power suffreth not the to knowlege thy trespace hit aperteyneth that reason surmounte power thou art emperour but that is for to punysshe the euyl peple how art thou so hardy to entre soo boldely in to the hows of god whom thou hast horrybly angred how darest thou wyth thy feet towche his pamente how darst thou stretche thy handes whyche heen al blody and of whome the blood of Innocentes renne and droppe of By what presumpsion darest thou put forthe thy mowthe to receyue the precious body and blood of our lord of whyche mowthe thou hast doon the commaundemente of the deuyl Goo hens goo hens and put not synne vpon synne Take the bonde that our lord hath bounden the wyth For hit is gyuen to the in waye of medecyne Whan the Emperour herde thyse wordes he was obedyent and began to wayle and wepe And retorned in to his paleys and abode there longe wepyng Thenne Ruffyn the mayster of his knyghtes demaunded wherfore he so sorewed and Wepte and he answerd Ruffyn thou knowest not my sorowes for I see that seruauntes and poure beggers may entre in to the chirche but I may not entre For ambrose hath excomyned me And he sayeng this at euery word he syghed Thenne sayd ruffyn to hym yf thou wylt I shal make hym anone to assoyle the He answerd thou mayst not For Ambrose doubteth not the force ne the power of the Emperour To th ende that he holde fermely the lawe of god And whan Ruffyn said more and more that he shold make hym enclyne to assoyle hym Thenne he sent hym to Ambrose And the Emperour folowed sone after moche humbly Whan Saynt Ambrose sawe Ruffyn come he sayd to hym thou hast no more shame thenne an hownde for to do suche occision and now comest boldely to me Whan ruffyn had prayed longe for to assoyle themperour whiche came foloweng hym saynt ambrose said to hym certeynly I deffende to hym the entre in to the chircche And yf he Wyl be a tyraunt I wyl moche gladly receyue the deth Thenne retorned Ruffyn to the emperour recounted to hym how he had doon And themperour said certeynly I shall goo to hym that I may receyue of hym vylonye ynough For it is wel ryght whan he was come to hym he demaunded of hym absolucion moche deuoutelye Saynt ambrose demaunded of hym what penaūce hast thou doon for so grete wickednesse Themperour aledgyd to hym that dauyd had synned and after had mercy Saynt ambrose sayd thou that hast folowed hym that synned folowe also hym repentaunte ¶ Thenne sayd the emperour it apperteyneth to the to gyue and enioyne penaunce and I shal doo hit Thenne he bad hym doo opene penaunce and comyn tofore all the people And themperour receyued hit gladly and refusyd hit not whan the emperour was reconsyled to the chyrche he stode in the chauncel Thenne sayd to hym saynt Ambrose what sechest thou here He answerd I am here for to receyue the sacred mysteryes And ambrose said this place apperteyneth to no man but to preestes Goo out for ye ought to be wythout the chauncell And abyde there thyth other Thenne obeyed themperour humbly and went out And after whan the Emperour came to Constantynoble and he stood wythout wyth the laye peple the bysshop came said to hym that he shold come in to the chauncell wyth the clerkys he answerd that he wold not For he had lerned of Saynt Ambrose what dyfference there was betwene on Emperour and a preest I haue founde a man of trouthe my mayster ambrose and suche a man ought to be a bysshop ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Ambrose ¶ The lyf of saynt Alphey bysshop and marter SAynt Alphey the holy bysshop and Marter was borne in englond in the shyre of Gloucestre and he came of a noble kynne And was hys faders heyre but he forsoke alle for goddes loue And bycame a manke at derherste fyue myle from Gloucestre but afterward good kyng Edward gaue that hows of derherst to the hows of saynt denys in fraunce And whā saint alphey had ben monk there long tyme lyuyng a ful holy lyf thenne he wente fro thens to the abbey of bathe to be there in more contemplacyon and reste of sowle And he bylded there that fayr abbey and establisshed therin blacke monkes
goo in to deserte wiâ—hout greuyng or doyng ony harme to ony persone anone he departed with out apperyng after forthwith saynt phylip heled al them that were seek reysed the thre that were dede were al baptised preched to them the space of a yere the fayth of Ihesu crist whan he had ordeyned prestes dekens after he departed came in to the cyte of Ierapolym in asye where he destroyed the heresye of the Iheronyques whiche sayd preched that Ihesu crist had not taken veray flessh humayn but onely the semblauÌ„ce of the body humayn In this cite were his ij doughters by whome our lord had conuerted moche peple to the cristen feyth saynt phelip tofore his deth made to come tofore hym al the bisshoppes vij dayes tofore his deth also al the preestes said to them these vij dayes hath our lord gyuen to me respyte for to warne you to do wel he was of the age of lxxxvij yere after this the paynyms toke helde hym fastenyd hym to the crosse like vnto hys mayster so he yelded vp his sowle deyed his body was worshypfully buryed there his ij doughters deyed longe after hym and were also buryed that one on the right syde that other on the lyfte syde of the body of their fader Ysodore writeth in the book of the lyf deth of sayntes saith that philip preched to the frensshmen to men that were in derkenes he enlighted them in the feyth after be was taken in the cite of Iherapolym of the paynyms and of them stoned crucefyed of whome the martiloge of holy chirche speketh not but of another philip which was one of the vij dekens saynt Iherom saith in the martilogye that he was buryed in the cite of cezayr where god shewed many fayre myracles for hym besyde whome iij of his doughters ben buryed and the fourth doughter lyeth at ephesym The fyrst phylyppe differenceth fro this philip For he was apostle this was a dekene thappostle resteth at Iherapolym and the dekene at Cezaire he had two doughters and this foure Though historia ecclesiastico saith that philippe the appostle had iiij doughters prophetesses but it is 〈◊〉 more to byleue saynt Iherome Thenne lete vs praye to the holy appostle saynt phelyppe that he praye for vs to oure lord that we may come to his blysse amen ¶ Thus endeth The lyf of the blessyd appostle saynt philip ¶ And here foloweth of saynt Iames the lasse IAmes is as moche to say as supplantour or supplantyng a feste or makyng redy or Iames is said of Ia of cobar which is as moche to saye as the burthen or weyght of god or Iames may be said of Iaculo a darte cope smytyng which is to say smeten with a darte or smeten with glayues he was said a supplantour of the world for he despysed hit in supplantyng the feste for he supplanted the deuyl he is said makyng redy for alweye he made redy his body to do wel for as gregore of nycene saith we haue in vs thre euyl passyons whiche comen of euyl norisshyng or of right false conuersacion or of euyl custome of the body or of the vyce of ignorauÌ„ce they ben cured by good conuersacion for to haunte studyes of good exersitacion of doctryne So theÌ„ne the blessid Iames is escryed for he was alwey redy in his body to al good he is sayd the burthen or weyghte of good or godly maners that he vsed by exercitacion of vertues he was smeten wyth glayues by marterdom ¶ Of saynt Iames the lasse IAmes the appostle is said the lasse how wel that he was elder of age than was Saynt Iames the more by cause lyke as is in relygyon he that entred fyrst is called ayne and grete he that cometh after shal be called lasse though he be the older and in this wyse was thys saynt Iames called the lasse he was called also the broder of our lord by cause he resembled moche wel our lord in body in vysage and of manere he was called Iames the Iuste for his right grete holynesse Far saint Iherome recordeth that he was so holy that the peple sâ—râ—f how they myght touche the hemme of his robe or mantel he was also called Iames the sone of alphey this Iames was euer holy after that he yssued out of his moders wombe he neuer dranke wyne mede ne sydre ne neuer ete flesshe ne neuer rasour touched his heed ne he neuer baygned he knelyd so ofte in prayers that his knees were as harde as the horne of a camel he sange in Iherusalem the fyrst masse that euer was songe therin he was fyrst bysshop of Iherusalem Ioseph recordeth that he had auowed at the deth of our lord that he wold neuer ete tyl our lord were rysen fro deth to lyf theÌ„ne on ester day our lord apperid to hym said 〈◊〉 the table fayr broder ete for the sone of the virgyn is rysen fro deth to lyfe Thenne toke he the breed and made the benediction and gaue it to hym The seuenth yere after the appostles assembled in Ierusalem on ester day there saynt Iames demaundyng what god had done by them tofore the peple that they shold telle and whan saynt Iames had preched seuen dayes in the temple with the other appostles Cayphas and somme other wold haue ben baptyzed And thenne entryd in a man sodeynly in to the temple and said cryeng O ye syrres what wyl ye doo why suffre ye thus to be dysceyued of thyse enchauntours be ye ware kepe you that they dysceyue you not he moeuyd so moche the people that they wold haue stoned the appostles Thenne thys felowe wente vp to the lectron where as saynt Iames preched and threwe hym doun bacwarde and fro thenne forthon euer after he halted And thys was doon the vij yere after the ascencion of our lord And he was bysshop there by the space of xxx yere And in his xxx yere whan the Iewes sawe that they myght not slee Saynt Poule bycause he had appeled to the Emperour to Rome and was sente forthe to Rome they torned al theyr persecusyon ageynst saynt Iames and sayd to hym the peple is dysceyued for they supposed that your Ihesus were messyas Thenne for as moche as thou arte moche byleuyd we praye the that thou assemble the peple and that thou stonde vp on hye and shewe to them that it is not he For thou arte so iuste that We alle shal byleue in the Thenne saynt Iames wente vp on the fronte of the temple on ester day and alle the peple were assembled bynethe Thenne sayde the Iewes to hym wyth an hye voys Right Iuste trewe man we knowe wel that thou shalt not lye Shewe to vs of Ihesus that was hanged vpon the crosse that whiche thou knowest for al the world is dysceyued Thenne answerd he with
an hye voys wherfore demaunde ye me of the sone of the vyrgyn I say to you that he is now in heuen and sytteth on the ryght syde of god the fader and shall come deme the lyuyng and the deed whan the crysten men had herde hym they were moche glad But the pharysees and the maysters of the lawe repented them of thys that they had made hym to say and bere this witnesse tofore the people And toke counceyll to gydre for to caste hym doun for to make the people aferde by cause they shold not byleue hym and they cryed O the Iuste man hath erryd at thys tyme and after they threwe hym doun and the peple began to stone hym but he was on his knees and sayd Fayre lord god pardone them for they wote not what they doo Thenne escryed one of the sonnes of the preest named Iacob Syres leue ye this iuste man in pees but there was a man in that companye toke a fullers staffe and smote hym on the heed that his brayne fyl alle abrode And thus by marterdom he fynysshed his lyf and was there buryed nygh vnto the temple And the peple wold haue slayne these malefactours bycause they had sleyne hym but they fledde this was done in the tyme of nero the yere of our lord lvij ¶ Iosephus sayth that for thy grete synne of the deth of saynt Iames Was Ierusalem afterward destroyeed For tofore that the destruccion came god shewed meruayllous signes For there was a sterre right clere and shynyng whiche had the fourme of a swerde that henge ouer Ierusalem but this token ne the tokenes hereafter folowyng cam not onely for the deth of saynt Iames but for the dethe of our lord Ihesu crist pryncypally for he said ther shal not in the be left a stone vpon a stone but bycause our lord wold not the dethe of synnars but that he wold they shold doo penaunce and repente them he abode fourty yere and called them vnto penaunce by his appostles and moste by saynt Iames broder of our lord whiche contynuelly prechyd to them For in thys fourty yere were many signes and prodyges shewed to them as Iosephus reherceth of which the sterre lyke the swerde was one Whiche was seen ouer the cyte an hole yere duryng brennyng with grete bryghte flames The nexte yere after in a feste of Ester there was a clerenesse and lyghte aboute the temple in the nyghte that it was lyke vnto clere day In that same tyme there was a cowe brought forth to be sacrefyed whyche anone calued or brought forth a lambe ageynst kynde After this a litel tyme aboute goyng doun of the sonne there was seen in the eyre cartes waynes and grete companye of men of armes that enuyronned the cytee sodaynly In a feste of whytsontyde whyche is called penthecoste the preestes wente in to the temple by nyght for to doo theyr mysteryes and they herde a voys sayeng lete vs goo hens fro this place iiij yere after tofore that the destruccion came a man whos name was Ihesus the sone of ananye began to crye sodeynlye the voys of thorryent the voys of thoccident the voys of foure wyndes vpon Iherusalem woo on the husbondes woo vpon the wyues and woo vpon alle the people the said man was taken smeten and beten tormented broughte tofore the Iuge and he neuer wepte ne cryed mercy but he euer perseueryd and cryed howlyng the same wordes addyng therto woo woo to Iherusalem al thys sayth Iosephus yet for al these tokenes warnynges prodygis the Iewes were neuer aferde Thēne xl yere after the passyon of our lord Ihesu cryste came titus and vaspasyanus ageynst Iherusalem destroyed hit The cause and by whome it was destroyed is recorded in an hystorye though hit be not autentyke For pylate which doubted the furour angre of themperour Tybere bycause he had wrongfully Iuged and condempned Ihesu cryste thynnocent sente one of his seruauntes for to excuse hym and the seruauntes name was albane In thys tyme vaspasyanus was gouernour of galace for themperour And the messager of pylate whyche wolde haue gone to Rome was constrayned by a contrarye wynde to arryue in galace and was broughte to vaspasyan For the custome of the contree was that who was taken on the see and brought so in ageynst his wylle shold be atte wylle of the lord body goodes And whan vaspasyanus sawe hym he demaunded hym what he was and fro whens he came he sayd that he was of Iherusalem Thenne said vaspasyan A lord god in that contre were wonte to be good maysters and moche good surgyens my frende sayd he canst thou ony thynge of surgerye This sayd he bycause he had in his nose a botche ful of wormes fro his yongthe and neuer myght man be founden that myght hele hym of it the messanger of pylate answerd said that he coude no thynge therof Vaspasyan sayd yf thou hele me not I shal slee the The messanger sayd he that enlumyned the blynde and chaced deuyls out of men And reysed deed men to lyfe in our contree knoweth wel that I can not hele the but he can wel hele the yf he wyl Thenne demaunded vaspasyan what he was he sayd to hym that it was Ihesus of nazareth whome they of Iherusalem had sleyne wrongfully for enuye and yf thou wylt beleue in hym he shal hele the Thenne sayd vaspasyanus I beleue wel that he that reysed deed men may wel hele and make me al hole sayeng thyse wordes the waspys fyll from his nose wyth the botche wythin whyche they were and forthwith he was made parfytely hole wherof he had moche grete ioye And sayd I am certeyn that he that hath thus made me hole was the veray sone of god I shal demaunde lycence of the emperour Tybere and I shal goo destroye the cursyd traytours that haue sleyne thys man And thenne he lete Alban the messager of pylate goo where he wold After thys vaspasyan wente to Rome and gate lycence of themperour for to destroye thys peple and the cyte of Ierusalem And assembled his hoost in the tyme of nero themperour and came sodaynly The Iewes thenne beyng the moste parte in Iherusalem on ester day and byseged the towne For on that day al the Iewes of the contre were comen to the feest so that they were sodaynly enclosed Now was it soo that tofore that vaspasyan came the good men of the cyte were warned by the holy gooste that they shold goo out of the cytee And they wente to a place called pellam bycause that the vengeaunce shold not falle on them but on the wycked peple of the Iewes There was another cyte of the Iurye named Ionaparam In whiche Iosephus was duc whiche vaspasyan first assayled but Iosephus with suche men as he had resysted them manlye but at the laste whan Iosephus sawe the destruccion of it and myght no lenger kepe hit he toke wyth hym
was come and sawe that she wold not consente to do his wylle anon he made her heed to be smyten of Than the squyer that byheded her herde thangels synge that bare the sowle of the holy vyrgyne in to heuen with moche grete Ioye and sollempnyte anon he retorned vnto his maystre and tolde hym al that he had seen herde sythe fyl doun deed at his feet Thenne the duc and al his companye had moche grete drede and the duc hym self clad hym next his flessh in a sharp heyr hard for grete repentaunce and praid saint marcyal that he wold praye god that hit myght plese hym to reyse his squyer fro deth to lyf and he wold beleue in the fayth of Ihesu criste and be crystyned anone after that saynt marcyal had prayd our lord reysed thesquyer Thenne the duc and wel a xvMl persones in his companye were baptysed In this tyme the same duc by the commandement of the emperour Nero wente in to Italye with a grete companye of men of armes whan he had acomplysshyd the commandement of nero they wente to rome for to see saynt peter whom they fonde prechyng to the peple whiche peple were barefote and had clothed them wyth the heyr lyeng on the grounde tofore saynt peter in demaundyng hym pardon of theyr synnes whan Saynt peter sawe the duc and so moche fayre people in his companye he demaunded them what they were of what contre TheÌ„ne the duc tolde hym by ordre how he and his companye had ben conuerted and baptysed of saynt marcyal After whan they were departed from rome they thoughte that they wolde goo see saynt marcial tofore or they retorned in to theyr contrey Thus theÌ„ne as they were lodged nyghe by a ryuer and the sone of the erle of poytiers bayned hym in the sayd ryuer thenemye the deuyl drowned and smored hym to the dethe whan his fader knewe it he wente wepyng tenderly to Saynt marcyal and prayed hym to reyse his sone fro dethe to lyf Thenne Saynt marcyal wente to the place where he was drowned and commaunded to the fende to brynge the body out of the water and that he shold appere in a lykenes vysyble tofore theym alle Anone yssued out of the water thre fendes lyke ethyopyens more blacke than cooles and had terryble feet and eyen and grete heyr that couerd alle the body and caste out at theyr mowthes and nosethrilles fyre lyke sulphre and cryed lyke rauens whan they had tolde to saynt marcyal the harmes and euylles that they had doon He commaunded them that they shold departe and goo in to places deserte where as they myght neuer noye ne greue persone lyuyng Saynt marcial whiche had pyte and compassyon on them that wepte for the dede chylde reysed hym fro dethe to lyf thenne the chylde tolde tofore them alle that were there how the fende had drowned and smoldred hym and how they wold haue bounden hym with chaynes of yron brennyng but an aungel of heuen delyuerd hym and shewyd hym the fyre of purgatorye and fro thens ledde hym to the yate of paradys and as the fendes requyred to haue hym a voys came fro heuen and commaunded that he shold aryse ageyn that he shold lyue yet xxvj yere whan he had tolde al this he gaue hym self al ouer to saynt marcial and fro than forthon lyued in grete abstynence and holy lyf lyke as thaungel had taught hym Saynt marcyal dyd many myracles and vertues There was in that tyme a woman that had an husbond seke of the palseye to whiche woman saynt marcyal delyuerd hys burdon wyth whiche she touched a lytel hyr husbond and Incontynent he was hool Another tyme the fyre was so grete in the cyte of lourdews that alle was on a flame Saynt marcial helde vp his burdon ageynst the fyre and anone â—it was quenchyd Another tyme as he wold haue halowed a chyrche at lymoges the prynce aforsayd conueyed and sommoned al the peple poure and riche to come to the dedycacion of this chyrche And whan they were al assemblyd saynt marcial admonested and warned them to be in veray chastyte It happed emonge them whyles the masse was on sayeng that there was a knyght whyche he his wyf were sore vexyd troublyd wyth fendes as they were broughte tofore saynt marcyal he demaunded of the fendes why they vexed theym soo and they answerd to hym thou haste commaunded them that the peple shold mayntene chastite and thyse two haue al this nyght exposed them in lecherye and this is the cause that wherfore we ben entryd in to them saynt marcyal at the requeste of the prynce and peple heled them This same yere that is to say the xl yere after the passion of our lord Ihesu cryste the same our lord Ihesu cryste apperyd to hym shewyd how that hastely he shold departe fro thys world and be wyth hys other frendes in the royame of heuen Thenne he dyd doo assemble alle the crysten people that he had conuerted to them made a moche swete sermone in takyng leue of them Sone after he was seek of the feuers and thenne our lord apperyd to hym with a grete quantyte of aungellys whyche wyth moche ioye and gladnes bare the sowle of saynt marcyal in to heuen vbi est honor gloria in secula seculoruÌ„ amen This Saynt marcyal of whome we speke here was the same childe as soÌ„me say on whome our lord layed hys honde vpon his heed whan the contencyon and stryffe was emonge the appostles whiche of them shold be grettest in the royame of heuen and thenne our lord sette the chylde marcyal in the myddle of them layeng his honde vpon his heed as sayd is and said to them yâ— ye be not lytel and humble as this chylde is ye shal not entre in to heuen he that shal be leeste emonge you he shal be grettest in my royame as the gospel maketh more playne mencyon the whiche glorious saynt saynt marcial lete vs praye vnto that he procure vnto our sayd lord Ihesu cryste that all we may haue parte wyth hym in the ioye and glorye perdurable amen ¶ Here endeth the lyf of saynt marcial one of the disciples of our lord Ihesu cryste And foloweth the lyf of saynt Geneuefe THe noble saynt Geneuefe was borne at nauÌ„cerre besyde parys in the tyme of themperours honorius and theodosius the lasse was with hir fader moder vnto the tyme of themperour valentynyen anone after hir natyuyte the holy ghoost shewed vnto saynt germayn of ancerre how she shold serue god holyly virgynely the which thynge he tolde to many after she was sacred of the bysshop of chartres viliques came to dwelle at parys ful of vertues of myracles in the tyme of saynt nychase the marter whom the hongres marterd and after in the tyme of saynt re nyge vnder chyldrik kynge of fraunâ—â— and after vnder cloyus his
spare this mā thou shalt be slayn and alle thy men Thenne seynt Leo wrote a pistle to fabyane bisshop of constantynople ayenst enticium and nestonum which he layde vpon the sepulcre of seynt Peter and was in contynuell fastynges and prayers sayeng O holy peter what that I haue erred in thys epystle as man thou to whome the cure of the chirche is commysed correcte amende And after xl dayes Peter apperid to hym prayeng and sayde I haue redde it and amended it Thenne leo toke the epistle and fond it corrected and amended with the handes of thappostle Other also xl dayes he was contynuelly in fastynges and prayers at the sepulcre of seynt Peter Bysechyng to gete hym forgyuenes of hys synnes To whom peter appered and sayd I haue prayed our lord for the and he hath forgyuen the alle thy synnes sauf only of thymposicion of thy honde thou shalt be examyned He deyed aboute the yere of our lord four hondred and sixty Thus endeth the lyf of Seynt Leon the Pope Here foloweth of Seynt peter thappostle and first of his name PEter had a grete Name For he was called Symon bariona symon is as Moche to saye as ryght obeysaunt or commysyng grete heuynesse bariona is as moche to saye as sone of a douue or of a culuer he was obedyent whan our lord callyd hym For atte voys of one only callyng he obeyed to our lorde he was cōmysing heuynes and sorowe whan he renyed Ihesu cryst For he went out and wepte bitterly he was sonne of the douue For he serued god wyth symple Intencyon Secondly he was callyd Cephas whiche is as moche to saye as chief or stone or blamyng with the mouth he was sayd chief by reson of the pryncipalyte in prelacyon A stone by reson of his stedfastnes in his passyon blamyng with his mouth by reson of constaūce in his prechyng Thirdly he was called peter whiche is as moche to say as knowyng on vnhosyng shoyng or vnbyndyng knowyng for he knewe the dygnyte of cryst whan he sayd thou art cryst sonne of the lyuyng god In vnhosyng and shoyng whan he vnshodde hys feet fro thaffectyon of alle dedely erthely werk sayeng loo we haue lefte alle thyng c̄ vnbyndyng For he hath vnbounden the bondes of synne And that was by the keyes that he receyued of our lorde And he had thre surnames he was sayd simon Iohanna whiche is as moche to saye as the beaute of our lord Secondly he was sayd symon Iohānis that is to saye to whom it is gyuen And thyrdly he is sayd Symon bariona that is to say sonne of the douue By whiche is gyuen to vnderstonden that he had beaute of maners yefte of vertues and habundance of teeres For the douue hath waylyng for her song This name peter Ihesus promysed to put to hym Ioh̄is primo Thou shalt be called cephas that is to saye Peter Secondly he dyd that he promysyd as it is sayd Mathei quarto And he named symon peter c̄ Thirdly he confermed it mathei xvj And I saye to the that thou art peter vpon thys stone c̄ his martirdom wrote marcellus linus papa Egesippus and leo the pope ¶ Of Seynt Peter SAynt Peter thappostle among al other aboue alle thother was of moost feruent and brennyng loue For he wold haue knowen the traytre that shold betraye our lord Ihesu cryst As seynt austyn sayth yf he had knowē hym he wolde haue torn hym with his tethe And therfore our lord wold not name hym to hym For as Crisostome sayth yf he had named hym peter had arysen and alle to torn hym Peter went vpon the see he was chosen of god to be at his transfiguracōn And reysed a mayde from deth to lyf he fond the statere or piece of money in the fisshes mouth He receyued of our lord the keyes of the kyngdom of heuē he toke the charge to fede the sheep of Ih̄u crist he conuerted at a whitsōtide thre thousand men he heled claude with Ioh̄n thenne conuerted v thousand men he sayde to Ananye and saphyre their deth byfore he heled Enee of the palscy he reysed thabyte he baptysed cornelye with the shadowe of his body he heled seek men He was putte in pryson by herode But by the angelle of our lorde he was delyuerd what his mete was and hys clothyng the boke of seynt Clement wytnessith For he sayde brede only wyth olyues and selde with wortes is myn vsage And I haue suche clothyng as thou seest a Cote and a mantel And whan I haue that I demaunde nomore It is sayd for certeyn that he bare alway a sudary in his bosom with whiche he wyped the teres that ran from his eyen For whan he remembryd the swete presence of our lord for the grete loue that he had to hym he myght not forbere wepyng And also whan he remembred that he had renyed hym he wepte habundauntly grete plente of teres In suche wyse that he was so acustomed to wepe that hys face was brent wyth teres as it semed lyke as Clement sayth And sayth also that in the nyght whan he herde the cocke crowe he wold wepe customably ¶ And after that it is redde in historia ecclesiastica That whan Seynt Peters wyf was ledde to her passyon ¶ He had grete ioye And called hyr by hir propre name and sayd to her My wyf remembre the of our lord On a tyme whan Seynt Peter had sente two of hys dysciples for to preche the faythe of Ihesu Cryst And whan they had goon twenty daye Iourneyes one of them deyed And that other thenne retorned to seynt peter and told hym what was happened Som say that it was seynt mercyal that so deyde ¶ And somme saye it was seynt maternus And other saye that it was seynt Franke Thenne seynt Peter gaf to hym hys staffe and cōmaunded that he shold retorne to his felawe and lay hit vppon hym which he so dyd Thenne he whiche had ben xl dayes deed anone aroos al lyuyng That tyme Symon thenchauntour was in Ierusalem And he sayd he was first trouthe and affermed that who that wold byleue in hym he wold make them perpetuel And he also said that nothyng to hym was impossyble It is redde in the boke of seynt Clement That he sayd that he shold be worshipped of alle men as god and that he myght doo alle that he wold And he sayd yet more whan my moder Rachel cōmaunded me that I shold go repe corne in the felde sawe the ziekle redy to repe with I commaūded the siekle to repe by it self alone And it reped ten tymes more than ony other And yet he added herto more after Iherom And sayd I am the word of god I am the holy ghost I am almyghty I am al that is of god he made serpentes of brasse to moeue made thymages of yron and of stone to lawhe and dogges to synge
lord opened the eyen of them that were there and wepte so that they saw the angelys wyth crownes of roses of lylyes standyng by peter that was on the crosse with the angelys And thenne Peter receyued a boke of oure lord wherin he lerned the wordes that he sayd Thenne as egesippus saith Peter sayd thus lord I haue desired moche to folowe the but to be crucyfyed vpryght I haue not vsurped Thou art allwey ryghtfull hye and souerayne we ben sones of the first man whiche haue the hede enclined to therth of whoÌ„ the falle signefyeth the forme of the generacoÌ„n humayne Also we be borne that we ben seen enclyned to therthe by effecte And the condicion is chauÌ„ged For the world weneth that suche thyng is good whiche ys euyll badde lord thou art alle thyng to me nothyng is to me but thou only I yelde to the thankynges wyth all the spyrite of whiche I lyue by whiche I vnderstande And by Whom I calle the And whan seint Peter sawe that the good crystyn men sawe his glorye In yeldyng than kynges to god and coÌ„mendyng good peple to hym he rendred vp his spirite Thenne marcel and apuleus his broder that wer his dissciples toke of the body fro the crosse whan he was dede and enoynted hit wyth moche precyous oynement and buryed hym honourably Ysodore sayth in the boke of the natiuyte deth of seyntes thus Peter after that he had gouerned Antioche he fouÌ„ded a chirche vnder claudyus themperour he went to Rome ayensâ—e symon magus there he prechyd the gospell xxv yere and helde the bisshopriche xxxvi yere after the passyon of oure lord he was crucifyed by nero torned the hede dounward for he wold be so crucyfyed hec ysodorus That same daye peter and poul appered to seynt dyonyse as he saith in his forsayd epistle in thyse wordes vnderstond the myracle see the prodyge my broder thymothe of the day of the martirdom of them for I was redy in the tyme of departyng of theym After their deth I sawe them to geder hond in hond entryng the yates of the cyte clad with clothes of light and arayed wyth crownes of clernes light hec dionisius Nero was not vnpunyssyd for their deth and other grete synnes tyrannyes that he commysed for he slewe hym self with his owen hond whiche tirannyes wer ouer long to telle but shortky I shall reherce here somme he slewe his master seneca by cause he was aferd of hym whan he went to scole Also Nero slewe hys moder and slitte hyr bely for to see the place where he lay in The phisiciens maysters blamed hym and sayd the sone shold not slee his moder that had borne hym with sorow and payne then sayde he make ye me with child after to be deliuerd that I may knowe what payne my moder suffred whiche by craft thei gaf to hym a yong frosshe to drynke and grewe in his bely then he said but if ye make me to be deliuerd I shal slee you alle so they gaf hym suche a drynke that he had a vomyte cast out the frosshe And bare hym on honde that bycause that he abode not his tyme it was misshapen whiche yet he made to be kepte Then for his plesyr he set Rome a fyre whiche brennyd vij dayes and vij nyghtes and was in an hye toure enioyed hym to see so grete a flame of fyre song merylye he slewe the senatours of Rome to see what sorowe and lamentacyon theyre wyues wold make he wedded a man for his wif he fisshed wyth nettes of gold threde And the garment that he had worn one day he wold neuer were it ne see it after Thenne the Romaynes seyng his wodnes assayled hym and pursewed hym vnto without the cyte And whan he sawe he myght not escape them he toke a stake sharped hit with his tethe therwith stak hym self through the body so slewe hym self In an other place it is redde that he was deuoured of wolues then the romayns retorned and fonde the frosshe threwe it out of the cite and there brent hit In the tyme of seint Cornelys the pope grekes stale awaye the bodyes of the appostles peter poul but the deuyls that wer in the ydoles were constreyned by the deuyne vertue of god cryed and sayde ye men of rome socour hastely your goddes whiche ben stolen fro you for whiche thyng the good crysten peple vnderstode that they were the bodyes of peter and poul And the paynems had supposed that it had ben theyr goddes thenne assembled grete nombre of cristen men and of paynems also And pursewed so long the grekes that they doubted to haue be slayn threwe the bodyes in a pitte at catacumbas but afterward they wer drawen out by crysten men Seynt gregorye sayth that the grete force of thondre lightnyng that cam fro heuen made them so affrayed that they departed eche fro other and so lefte the bodyes of thappostles at catacombes in a pitte But they doubted whiche bones wer peters and whiche poules wherfor the good cristen men put them to prayers fastynges and it was answered them from heuen that the grete bones longed to the prechour the lass to the fisshar so were departed the bones wer put in the chyrche of hym that it was dedicate of other saye that siluester the pope wold halow the chirches and toke all the bones togyder and departed them by weyghte grete and smale and put that one half in one chirche and that other half in that other And seint gregore recouÌ„teth in his dyalogue that in the chirche of seint peter wher his bones resteÌ„ was a man of grete holynes of mekenes named gencyen And there came a mayde into the chirche whiche was crepel and drewe hir body legges after hir with hir handes And whan she had long requyred prayed sent peter for helth he appered to hir in a vision and sayd to hyr Go to gencyen my seruaunt and he shall restore thy helth Then began she to crepe here and there through the chirche and enquired who was gencyn and sodenly it happed that he cam to hyr that hym sought she sayde to hym the holy appostle seynt Peter sent me to the that thou sholdest make me hole and delyuer me fro my disease and he answerd yf thou be sent to me fro hym Aryse thou anon and goo on thy feet And he toke her by the hand and anon she was alle hole in suche wyse as she felt nothyng of her grief nor maladye And thenne she thanked god and seynt peter and in the same boke seynt gregore sayth whaÌ„ that an holy preest was com to th ende of his lyf he began to crye in grete gladnes ye be welcom my lordes ye be welcome that ye vouchesauf to come to so lytyl poure a seruaunt and he sayd I shal come
dede and that themperour louyd so moche whom whan he was brought he reysed to lyf and sent hym with his felawes to the emperour whom themperour knewe hym for dede whiles he made lamentacyon for hym hit was told to the emperour that patroclus was comen to the yate And whan he herd that patrocle was alyue he moche merueyled and coÌ„maunded that he shold come in To whom nero sayd Patrocle lyuest thou and he sayd ye emperour I lyue and nero sayd who hath made the to lyue agayn and he sayd the lord IhÌ„u Cryst kyng of alle worldes Thenne nero beyng wroth sayd thenne shalle he regne euer and resolue alle the Royames of the world To whom patroclus sayd ye certenly emperour thenne Nero gaf to hym a buffette sayeng therfor thou seruest hym and he sayd ye veryly I serue hym that hath reysed me fro deth to lyf Thenne fyue of the mynystris of nero that assisted hym sayd to hym O emperour whi smitest this yong man truly and wysely answeryng to the Trust verily we serue that same kyng almyghty And whan Nero herd that he put them in prison for strongly to tormente them whom he moche had loued Thenne he made to enquyre and to take alle cristen men And without examynacion made them to be tormented with ouer grete tormeÌ„tys Thenne was paul emong other bounden and brought to fore nero To whom nero sayd O thou man seruaunt of the grete kyng bounden to fore me why withdrawest thou my knyghtes and drawest them to the To whom paul sayd Not only fro thy corner I haue gadred knyghtes But also I gadre fro the vnyuersal world to my lord To whom our kyng yeueth suche yeftes that neuer shalle fayle And graunteth that they shalle be excluded fro alle indygence and nede And yf thou wilt be to hym subgette Thou shalt be sauf For he is of so grete power that he shal come and Iuge alle the world and destroye the figure therof by fyre And whan nero herd that he shold destroye the fygure of the world by fyre coÌ„maunded that al the crysten men shold be brent by fyre paul to be byheded as he that is gilty ayenst his mageste And thenne so grete a multitude of cristen peple wer slayn thenne that the peple of rome brake vp his paleys and cryed and meued sedycion ayenst hym sayeng Cezar ameÌ„de thy maners and attempre thy coÌ„uaundementis For thyse ben our peple that thou destroyest and defende the empire of Rome Themperour thenne dredyng the noyse of the peple Chaunged hys decree and edicte that no man shold touche ne hurte no cristen man tyll the emperour had otherwyse ordeyned wherfore paule was broughte a gayn to fore nero whom assone as nero saw he cryed and sayd take awaye thys wycked man and byhede hym And suffre hym no lenger to lyue vpon the erthe To whom paul sayd Nero I shalle suffre a lytyl while but I shalle lyue eternally with my lord Ihesu crist Nero sayd smyte of hys hede that he may vnderstond me strenger than hys kyng that whan he is ouercomen we may see whether he may lyue after To whom paul sayd to th end that thou knowe me to lyue euer lastyngly whan my hede shal besmyten of I shal appere to the lyuyng And then thou mayst knowe that crist is god of lyf and of deth And whan he had sayd thys he was ledde to the place of his martirdom and as he was ledde the iij knyghtes that ledde hym sayd to hym Telle to vs paul who is he your kyng that ye loue so moche that for hys loue ye had leuer deye thenne lyue what rewarde shal ye haue therfore Thenne paule preched to them of the kyngdom of heuen and of the payne of helle in suche wyse that he conuerted them to the fayth And they prayed 〈◊〉 to goo frely whyther he wold 〈◊〉 forbede brethern sayd he that I shold flee I am not fugytyf But the lauful knyght of cryst I knowe wel that fro this transitorye lyf I shalle goo to euerlastyng lyf Assone as I shalle be byheded trewe men shal take awaye my body Marke ye wel the place and come thyder to morowe and ye shalle fynd by my sepulcre two men luke and titum prayeng to whome whan ye shall telle for what cause I haue sent you to them they shal baptyse yow and make you heyres of the kyngdom of heuen and whiles they thus spaken to geder Nero sent two knyghtes to loke yf he wer slayn and byheded or no And whan thus seynt poul wold haue conuerted them they sayd whan thou art dede And rysest agayn thenne we shalle byleue Now come forth and receyue that thow hast deseruyd And as he was ledde to the place of his passyon in the yate of hostyence a noble woman named plantille a disciplesse of paule who after another name was called lemobia For happely she had ij names mette ther with paul whiche wepyng commendyd her to his prayers To whom paule sayd Fare wel plantilla doughter of euerlastyng helthe lene to me thy veyl or keuerchief wyth whiche thou kouerst thy hede that I may bynde myn eyen therwith and afterward I shall restore it to the agayn And whan she had delyuerd it to hym the bouchers scorned hir sayeng why hast thou delyuerd to this enchauntour so precyous a cloth for to lese it Thenne whan he cam to the place of his passyoÌ„ he tornid hym toward the eest holdyng his hondes vp in to heuen right long with teres prayeng in his owne langage and thankyng our lord And after that bad his brethern fare well and bond his eyen hym self wyth the keuerchyef of plantille and knelyng doun on bothe knees stratched forth his necke and so was byheded And assone as the hede was fro the body hit sayd Ihesus crystus whiche had ben to hym so swete in his lyf It is sayd that he named Iesus or crystus or bothe fyfty tymes Fro his wound sprang out mylke in to the clothes of the knyght and afterward flowed out blood In thayer was a grete shynyng â—â—ght and fro the body cam a moche 〈◊〉 odour Dyonyse in a pystle to â—â—ymothee sayth of the deth of paule â—â—us In that hour ful of heuynes my welbeloued brother the boucher sayeng Paul make redy thy necke Thenne blessyd paul loked vp in to heuen markyng hys forhede and his breste wyth the sygne of the crosse and theÌ„ne said anon my lord Iesu crist in to thi hondes I comende my spirite cÌ„ And thenne without heuynes compulsion he stratched forth his necke and receyued the crowne of martirdom The bocher so smytyng of his hede The blessid martir poul toke the keuerchif and vnbonde his eyen and gadred vp his owen blood and put it therin delyuerd to the woman Thenne the boucher retorned and plantille mette hym and demaunded hym sayeng where hast thou lefte my mayster The knyght
is leyde in the fyre is made alle fyre Ryght so paule enbraced wyth charyte was made alle charyte And ryght as it had ben a comyn fader of alle the world so he louyd alle men and surmounted alle other faders bodyly and ghoostly by curyosite and pyte And desired and hasted hym to yelde alle men to god to hys kyngdom as though he had engendred them alle This holy paul that was so symple and vsed the craft to make baskettis cam to so grete vertue that in the space of xxx yere he cōuerted to the crysten fayth the persees and parthes them of mede the yndes and the Scites the Ethiopes the Saromates and sarasyns and more ouer al maner men and lyke as fyre put in strawe or in towhe wasteth it ryght so wastyd poule alle the werkis of the fende And whan he was ledde through the grete see he Ioyed hym as gretly as though he had ben ledde to see an empyre And whan he was entred in to Rome It suffyced hym not to abyde there but he went in to spayne And was neuer ydle ne in reste But was alway more brennyng than fyre in the loue to preche the word of god Ne dradde no parrellys ne had no shame of despytes But was euer redy vnto batayle And anon shewde hym selfe pesyble and amyable And whan his discyples sawe hym bounde in cheynes for alle that he sessed not to preche whiles he was in pryson wherfor some of the brethern consyderyng hys techyng toke the more strengthe to them And were more constant ayenst the enemyes of crystes fayth al thys and moche more saith seynt Ioh̄n grisostom which were ouer moche to write here but thys shal suffyse thenne late vs praye vnto almyghty god that by the merites of seynt poul we may haue foryeuenes of our synnes and trespaces in thys present lyf that after the same we may come to euer lastyng Ioye in heuen Thus endeth the commemoracion of Seynt poule thappostle and Doctoure Here folowen the lyues of the vij bretheren THe seuen brethern were sonnes of Seynt felycite whos names be Ianuarie ffelix philippe siluanus alexander vitalis and marcialis Alle thyse wer called by the comaundement of the emperour anthonye to fore publyen the prouoste And thenne the prouoste counseylled the moder that she sholld haue pyte vpon her self and on her sones who answerd and sayde Neyther for thy flateryng ne by thy blaundesshyng wordes thou mayst not drawe me to thy desyre ne wyth thy thretenynges thou mayst not breke me I am assured of the holy ghoost whom I haue that I shalle a lyue ouercome the And better shal vaynquysshe the whan I am dede thenne she torned her to her sones sayde My sones see the heuen and loke vpward my derest children for cryst abydeth you there ffyght ye strongly for cryst and shewe you faithful trewe in the loue of Ih̄u crist whan the prouost herde that he cōmaūded that she shold be smeton and buffeted and as the moder her sones abode most constantly in the fayth the moder seyng comfortyng them they wer sleyn with dyuerse tormentis seynt gregore calleth this blessyd felicite more than a martir ffor she suffred vij tymes deth in her vij sones and the eyght tyme in her propre body and he sayth in his omelye that seynt felicyte in byleuyng was the hādmayde of crist in prechyng was made the martir of crist she dredde to leue after her for to lyue her vij sones in prisō lyke as wordly frendes drede lest they shold deye in prison she childed bare them by the holy ghoost whom she had born to the world of her flesshe them whom she knewe wel wer of her own flessh she myght not see dye without sorowe but it was the force of the loue wythin forth that ouercam the sorowe of the flessh and I haue sayd by right thys woman to be more than a martir that so ofte hath be extynct in her sones in which she hath therin multeplyed martirdom she ouercam the victorye of martirdom whan for the loue of god her only deth suffyced her not And they suffred deth aboute the yere of our lord Cx vnder decius themperour Here endeth the passyon of the vij brethern The lyf of Seynt Theodora THeodora was a noble woman and a fayr in Alysaunder in the tyme of zenone themperour and had a ryche man to her husbond dredyng god The deuyl hauyng enuye to the holynes of theodore entysed a riche man of the toun in to the concupiscence of her which sent to her dyuers messagers and yeftes requyryng that she wold assent to his desyre but she refused theyr message and despised the yeftes he was so besy on her so moche greuous that she coude haue no reste was almost ouercome atte last he sent a witche promysed to her many thynges yf she coude bryng aboute that she shold consent to his desire she went exorted her to doo this sinne wyth y◠man to haue pyte on hym To whom she said that to fore god al thinges wer knowen wherfor she wold in no wyse doo so grete a synne this fals enchaūteresse said what someuer is don in the day tyme god seeth knoweth But what is don after the sonne is doun in the west is derke god knoweth no thyng therof to whom theodora seyd sayst thou trouthe ye veryly I telle you trouthe And so the woman beyng deceyued bad the man shold come at nyggt and she shold accomplyssh his wyl desire and whan thys ylle woman had told thys to the man he was glad Ioyful and kepte hys houre and had his wyll of her and departed theodora retornyng to her self began to wepe most bytterly and smote her vysage and breste sayeng Alas Alas I haue loste my soule And haue destroyed the beaute of my name her husbond cam fro wythout and fond hys wyf so sorowyng and desolate desyred to knowe the cause for to comforte her But she wold receyue no consolacion On the morn erly she went to a monasterye of nonnes and demaunded of the abbesse yf god coude knowe ony synne don and commysed by nyght after the day was passed To whom she sayd Nothyng may be hyd fro god For god seeth and knoweth alle that is don in what hour it be commysed by nyght or day And thenne she wepte bitterly sayeng gyue me the boke of the gospellys that summe lotte may falle to me And she openyng the boke fonde wreton Quod scripsi scripsi Thenne she retorned home to her hows And on a day whan her husbonde was oute she cutte of her heer and clad her wyth the clothes of her husbonde and went to a monasterye of monkes whiche was xviij myle thens And hyed her and there requyred that she myght be receyued wyth the monkes She was demaunded of her name and she sayd that she was
named Theodorus And there she was receyued And mekely dyd alle thoffyces and her seruyce was acceptable to euery body After certeyn yeres thabbot called brother theodorik for to yoke the oxen and commaūded her that she shold goo to the cite and fetche oyle her husbond wepte moche for sorowe dredde lest she were goon away with an other man And the angelle of god appered to hym sayd Aryse erly and stonde in the way of the marters Peter and paule and she that shalle mete the is thy wyf whiche don theodora with her camellis cam and seyng her husbond knewe hym wel And sayd wythin her self alas good husbond how moche labour doo I that I may haue forgeuenes of the synne that I haue don to the And whan she approched hym she salowed hym sayeng Our lord gyue the Ioye my lord He nothyng knewe her And whan he had long abyden he helde hym deceyued And a voys sayd to hym he that yesterday salowed the was thy wyf Theodora was of so grete holynes that she dyd many myracles She saued a man al to torn wyth a wyld beste by her prayers And she cursed that beste and sodenly it dyed and fyl doun The deuyl coude not suffre her holynes apperid to her sayeng Thou strompet aboue alle other and aduoulterer thou hast forsake thy husbond for to come hether and despyse me By my myght power I shal reyse a batayle ayenst the and but I make the renye the crucifyed god saye it am not I She made the signe of the crosse And anon the deuyl vanysshed On a tyme as she retorned fro the cyte And in a certayn place was herberowed a wēche cam to her in the nyght sayeng Slepe with me this nyght whom she refused And thenne this wenche went to a nother that laye in the same hostery when her bely began to swelle she was demaunded of whom she had conceyued And she sayde that monke hath leyn by me whan the child was born they sent it to the Abbotte of the monasteri whiche blamed sore theodorik and he mekely demaunded that it myght be forgyuen hym but he was cast out of the monastery and toke the child vpon his sholder and so she abode out of the monastery vij yere and norisshid the chyld wyth the mylke of the bestes the deuyl hauyng enuy of her moche pacyence in the lyknes of her husbonde he transfygured hym cam and sayd to her come now thou my wif for if thou hast leyn with another man I forgyue it the and she had supposed it had be her husbond and sayde I shalle nomore dwelle with the for the sonne of Iohan the knyght hath leyn by me and I wil do penaunce for that I haue synned agaynst the she made her preyer and anon the deuyl vanisshyd away and knewe that it was the deuyl another tyme the deuyl wold make her afferd for deuylles cam to her in the lykenes of terryble wyld bestes and a certeyn man seyd to hem ete ye this strompet she thenne prayed and anon they vanysshed away Another tyme a multytude of knyghtes cam whome a prynce tofore and the other worshipped hym which knyghtes said to theodore arise worship our prynce whiche answerd I worshippe and adoure my lord god and whan it was told to the prynce He commaunded that she shold be brought to fore hym And to be tormented wyth so many tormentes that she shold be estemed for dede And thenne she made her prayers And alle the multytude vanysshed away Another tyme she sawe there moche gold and she blessed her and commended her to god And it vanysshed away another tyme she sawe a baskette born ful of alle maner of good mete And he that bare it sayd to her The prynce that bete the sayth that thou sholdest take this and ete for he did it vnwittyngly she blessyd her anon he vanysshed away whan the seuen yere wer complete that she had ben out of the monestarye the abbot consyderyng her pacyence toke her in agayn in to the monasterye wyth her chyld And vnnethe two yere after whan she had laudably accomplysshed her obseruaunce she toke the chyld closed it wyth her in her celle And whan the abbot knewe therof he sente certayn of his monkes to take hede what she dyd and sayde And she embrasyng the chyld and kissyng saide My swete sonne the tyme of my deth cometh I leue and commaunde the to god take hym for thy fader and helper And my swete sonne see that thou fast and praye And serue my brethern deuoutly And she thys sayeng yaf vp her spirite and slepte in our lord Aboute the yere of grace four hondred sixti and x which the chyld beholdyng began to wepe bytterly In that same nyght was a visyon shewed to thabbot in thys wyse hym semed that a grete mariage was made and therto cam angellys prophetes marters and alle seyntes And in the myddle of them was a woman besette aboute with grete glorye And they that assysted her worshipped her And a voys was herde sayeng This is theodoryk the monke that was falsely accused of a chylde And seuen tymes ben chaunged on her She is chastysed for she defouled the bedde of her housbond And thenne thabbot awoke And astonyed went wyth his brethern to her celle and fond her theer dede And they entred in and vncouerd her And fonde that she was a woman the abbot sent for the fader of the wenche that sklaundred her and sayd to hym the man that hath leyne by thy doughter is now dede And toke away the cloth And so knewe that she was awoman And alle that herde herof were in grete drede The angel of god spacke to the abbot sayeng Aryse hastely and take thy hors and ryde in to the cyte And hym that thou mete take and bryng hym wyth the And forth he rode And mette wyth a man rennyng Whom thabbot demaunded whyther he ranne And he sayd my wyf is now dede and I goo to see her the abbot toke sette the husbond of theodora on hys hors And cam to gydre wepyng moche sore and wyth grete reuerence and solempnyte buried her The husbond of Theodora entryd in to the celle of hys wyf and abode theryn Tyl that he deyed in our lorde The chyld folowyng hys noryce Theodora floured in alle honeste And whan thabbot of the monestory was dede He was electe wyth one voys of the couent for to be abbot Thenne late vs praye to thys holy seynt Theodora To pray to almyghty god for vs AMEN Thus endeth the lyf of Seynt Theodora Here foloweth the lyf of seint Swithine bisshop SAint Swithyne the holy cōfessour was born besydes wynchester in the tyme of Seynt Egberte kyng he was the vij kyng after kenulf that seynt byryne cristened For seynt austyn cristened not alle englond in seynt athelbertus dayes but seynt byryne cristened the west partye of englond in the dayes
of kenulf the kyng And that tyme thys holy Seynt Swythyne serued oure lady so deuoutly that alle peole that knewe hym had grete Ioye of his holynesse And elmeston that was in that tyme bysshop of wynchester made hym preest And theÌ„ne he lyued a strayter lyuyng than he dyd byfore And he become thenne so holy in lyuyng that kyng Egbert made hym his chaunceler and chyef of hys counseyll and sette ethulf hys sone and his heyer vnder his rule and guydyng And prayd hym to take hede to hym that he myght be broughte vp vertuously And within short tyme after the kyng deyed And thenne his sone ethulf was made kyng after hym And he guyded this lond ful wel wysely that it encreased gretly in good lyuyng thrugh the counseyl of Seynt Swythyne ¶ And whan Elmeston the bysshop of wynchester was dede Swythyne was made bysshop there after hym wherof the people were ful glad by his holy lyuyng he caused the peple to lyue vertuously And to paye truly theyr tythes to god and holy chyrche ¶ And yf ony chyrche fyl doun or was in decay seint Swythyne wold anon amend it at his owne cost ¶ Or yf ony chyrche were not halowed he wold goo thyder a fote and halowe it For he louyd no pryde ne to ryde on gay hors ne to be praysed ne flatred of the peple whyche in thyse dayes suche thynges be vsyd ouer moche god ceasse it Seynt Swythyne guyded ful wel hys bysshopryche And dyd moche good to the toun of wynchester in hys tyme He dyd do make wythout the west gate of the toun a fayr brydge of stone at hys proper cost And on a tyme ther cam a woman ouer the bridge wyth her lappe ful of egges And a rechelles felaw stroglyd and wrestlyd wyth her And brake alle her egges And it happed that this holy bisshop cam that waye the same tyme And bad the woman lete hym see her egges And anon he lyfte vp his honde and blessed the egges And they wer made hole and sounde euerichon by the merytes of thys holy bysshop And beyng thenne glad thanked god and this holy man for the myracle that was don to her and sone after deyde kyng ethulf And hys sone Egbert reyned after hym And after hym was athelbert kyng And in the thyrd yere of his regne deyde thys blessyd bisshop seynt Swythyne And whan he shold deye he charged hys men to bury hym in the chircheyerde For the people shold not worship hym after hys deth ¶ For he louyd no pompe by his lyf Ne none wold haue after hys deth ¶ He passyd to our lord the yere of grace viij hondred and vj And he laye in the chyrche or he was translated an hondred and ix yere And odde dayees But in the tyme of holy kyng Edgar hys body was translated and putte in a shrine in thabbay of wynchester by seynt dunstone and Ethelwold And the same yere was seynt Edward kyng and martyr shryned at shaftesbury Thyse two bysshops dunston and Ethelwold were warned by our lord to see that thyse two holy seyntes Swythyne and Edward shold be worshypfully shryned ¶ And so they were wythin short tyme after And an holy man warned Ethelwold whyles he lay seke to helpe that thyse two holy bodyes myght be shryned ¶ And thenne he shold be parfyghtly hool And so endure to his lyues ende And the token is that ye shalle fynd on Seynt Swythynes graue Two rynges of yron nayled fast theron ¶ And assone as he sette honde on the rynges they come of of the stone and no token was seen in the stone where they wer fastned in and whan they had taken vp the stone fro the graue they sette the rynges to the stone agayn And anon they fastned to it by them self And thenne thys holy bysshop gaf lawde and praysyng to our lord for thys myracle And atte openyng of the graue of seynt Swythyne suche a swete odour and sauour yssued out the kyng edgar and alle the multitude of peple were fulfilled with heuenly swetenes ¶ And a blynd man receyued there hys syght agayn And many men heled of dyuers sekenes maladyes by the merites of this holy Seynt Seynt Swythyne to whom â—ate vs preye that he be our aduocat to the good lord for vs cÌ„ Here endeth the lyf of Seynt Swithyne Here foloweth the translacion of Seynt Thomas of caunterbury THe Translacion of the gloryous martir Seynt thomas of Caunterbury we shal shortly reherce â—â—to the laude and praysyng of almyghty god Thenne in the fifty yere after his passyon whiche was the yere of Iubylee that is of remyssyon For of auncyent tyme the fyfty yere was called the yere of the Iubylee of pardon and remyssyon and is yet vsed emonge relygyous men For whan a relygyous man hath contynued in his cedre l yere thenne he shal be admytted to make his Iubylee and that made he is pardonned and hath remyssyon of many obseruauÌ„ces that to fore he was bouden vnto Thenne in this yere of Iubylee fro his passyon was the solemnyte of hys translacion accomplysshed In the tyme of honoryus the third pope of that name The whiche graunted yerly remyssyons and Indulgencies so grete and large that to fore in no tyme of mynde hath be seen ony popes to haue graunted and yeuen lyke Thenne late vs calle to mynde that on a tewysday his translacion was accomplisshed On the tewysday happed to hym many thynges On a tewysday he was born On a tewysday he was exyled On a tewsday our lord appered to hym at pounteney in frauÌ„ce seyeng thomas my chirche shal be glorifyed in thy blood On a tewsday he retorned fro his exyle And on a tewsday he suffred martirdom Thenne how hys holy translacion was fulfilled now ye shal here The reuerend fader in god Stephen Archebisshop of caunterburye Rychard bisshop of salisbury Waltere the pryour of the same wyth the couent wyth spyrytual songe and deuoute ympnes whan it was nyght went to the sepulcre of this holy martir And alle that nyght and day of his translacoÌ„n they perseuered in prayers and fastynges And after mydnyght iiij prestes electe therto chosen approchyng to his body toke vp the holy hede with grete deuocion reuerence And vnto them alle offrid it for to kysse it Thenne tharchebyssop and al the other made grete honour to it toke al the relyques of the precious body And leyed them in a cheste and shette it fast with yron lockes And sette it in a place for to be kepte vnto the day that the translacoÌ„n shold be solempnysed ¶ The day thenne of thys holy translacoÌ„n beyng comyn There were present a grete Innumerable multitude of peple as wel of riche as of poure there was pandulphus a legate of our holy fader the pope and two archebysshopis of fraunce of Reynes and arensis wyth many other bysshoppis and abbottes And also kyng harry the thyrd wyth
day lyft vp by the handes of thangellys in to thayer and haue deserued to here with my bodely eeris the ryght swete song of the companye celestyal And bycause it is shewed to me of our lord that I shalle departe out of thys world Goo to Maxymyne and say to hym that the next day after the resurrection of our lord in the same tyme that he is acustomed to arise goo to matyns that he allone entre in to his oratorye and that by the mynysterye and seruyce of Angellys he shal fynd me there And the preest herd the boys of her lyke as it had be the boys of an angelle but he sawe nothyng and thenne anon he went to seynt maxymyn and told to hym alle by ordre Thenne saynt maxymyn was replenysshed of grete Ioye And thankyd gretly our lord And on the sayde day and hour as is aforesayd he entrid in to his oratorye And sawe the blessyd marie magdalene staÌ„dyng in the quyre or chore yet emong thangellys that brought her and was lyfte vp fro therthe the space of ij or iij cubyttis And prayeng to our lord she held vp her handes and whan Seynt maxymyn sawe her he was aferd to approche to her And she retorned to hym and sayd come hyther myn own fader and flee not thy doughter And whan he approched cam to her as it is redde in the bokes of the said seint maxymyn For the customable vision that she had of angellis euery day the chyere and visage of her shone as cleer as it had ben the rayes of the sonne And thenne alle the clerkes and the prestes a fore sayde were called And marie magdalene receyued the body and blood of our lord of the handes of the bysshop wyth grete habundaunce of tâ—eres and after she stratched her body tofore the aulter And her ryght blessyd soule departed fro the body and went to our lord and after it was departed ther yssued out of the body an odour so swete smellyng that it remayned there by the space of senen dayees to al them that entrid in ¶ And the blessyd maxymyn enoynted the body of her with dyuers precious oynementis and buryed it honourably And after commauÌ„ded that his body shold be buryed by heers after hys deth Egesippus wyth other bokes of Iosephus accorden ynough wyth the sayd storye ¶ And Iosephus sayth in hys tratye that the blessyd man magdalene After the ascencion of our lord for the brennyng loue that she had to Ihesu Cryste ¶ And for the grief and descomfort that she hadde for the absence of her mayster our lord she wold neuer see man but after whan she cam in to the countray of Ays She went in to deserte and dwellyd there xxx yere wythout knouyng of any man or woman And he sayth that euery day atte vij houres canonyques she was lyft in to thayer of the angellys But he sayth that whan the preest cam to her He fond her enclosed in her celle And she requyred of hym a vestement And he delyuerd to her one whiche she clothed and couered her wyth And she went wyth hym to the chirche and receyued the commynyon and thenne made her prayers with Ioyned handes and rested in pees In the tyme of charles the grete in the yere of our lord vijClxxj Gerard duc of burgoyne myght haue no child by his wyf wherfor he gaf largely almesse to the pour peple founded many chirches and many monasteries whan he had made thabbay of uisiliacense he thabbot of the monasteri sent a monke wyth a good resonable felawshyp vnto ays for to bryng thyder yf they mygt of the reliques of saint marie magdalene whan the monke cam to the sayd cite he fond it all destroyed of paynems Thenne by auenture he fond the sepulcre for the writyng vpon the sepulcre of marble shewed wel that the blessyd lady marie magdalene rested and lay there and thistory of her was merueyllously entayled coruen in the sepulcre and thenne this monke opened it by nyght and toke the relyques and bare them in to his lodgyng and that same nyght marie magdalene apperyd to that monke sayeng doubte the nothyng make an ende of thy werke thenne he retorned homward vntil he cam half a myle fro the monastery But he myght in no wyse remeue the relyques fro thens til that thabbot monkes cam wyth prosessyon and receyued them honestly And sone after the duc had a chyld by hys wyf Ther was a knyght whiche had a custome euery yere to goo a pylgrymage vnto the body of seint marie magdalene whyche knyght was slayne in batayle And as his frendes wepte for hym lyeng on the byere they sayd wyth swete and deuout quarelles why she suffred her deuoute seruaunte to dye wythout confessyon and penaunce Thenne sodenly he that was deed aroos Alle they beyng sore abasshed And made one to calle a preest to hym and confessyd hym wyth grete deuocion And receyued the blessyd sacrament And thenne rested in peas There was a shyppe charged wyth men and women that was perisshed and alle to brake And there was among them a woman wyth chylde whyche sawe her self in peryl to be drouned And cryed fast on marye magdalene for socour and helpe makyng her auowe that yf she myght be saued by her merytes and escape that perylle yf she hadde a sone she shold gyue hym to her monasterye And anon as she had so auowed A woman of honourable habyte and beaute apperyd to her and toke her by the chynne and brought her to the ryuage alle sauf And the other perysshed and were drowned And after she was delyuerd and had a sone and accomplisshed her auowe lyke as she had promysed Some say that marie magdalene was wedded to Seynt IohÌ„n theuangefist whan crist called hym fro the weddyng and whan he was called fro her she had therof IndignacoÌ„n that her husbond was taken fro her went gaf her self to alle delyte but by cause it was not couenable that the callyng of seynt IohÌ„n shold be occasion of her dampnacoÌ„n therfor our lord conuerted her mercifully to penaunce and bycause he had taken fro her souerayn delyte of the flesshe he replenyshed her with souerayn delyte spirituel to fore al other that is the loue of god it is sayd that he ennoblesshed seynt IohÌ„n to fore al other with the swetnes of his famyliarite by cause he had takeÌ„ hym fro the delyte aforsayd there was a man whiche was blynde on both his eyen dyd hym to be ledde to the monastery of the blessid marie magdalene for to visite her body his leder sayd to hym that he sawe the chyrche And theÌ„ne the blynd man â—scried and said with an hye voys O blessyd marye magdalene helpe me that I may deserue ones to see thy chyrche And anon hys eyen were opened and sawe clerly all thynges aboute hym There was another man that wrote hys synnes in
may auenge them of theyr enemyes yf they be wroth Thenne demostenes patricyus seeyng that he wold doo no sacrefise delyuerd hym vnto a Centuryon thenne beyng crysten by whos prayer he went in to the strete of lepres And that he shold there hyde hym from the wodnes of the paynems But the peple folowed hym and bete hym vnto the deth where he abode and lyued by the space after of vin dayes And prechyd to hys dyscyples And thenne yaf vp hys spyrite vnto our lord and deyed and there was honowrably buryed aboute the yere of our lord lxx vnder vaspasian of this martir saith saynt ambrose in his preface appollynare most worthy bisshop was sent fro petâ—r prynce of the appostles to rauenne for to shewe the name of IhÌ„u vnto the paynems who didde merueyllous signes of vertues to them that byleue in Cryst And was al to rente torn wyth wode â—etynges of the wicked paynems And by cause the crysten men shold not doubte He dyde and performed merueyles lyke to thappostles after his tormentes he reysed a mayde from deth to lyf to blynd men he yaf syght and to a dombe man he restored his speche One that was vexyd wyth a deuyl he delyuerd He clensyd a lepre he heled the membres broken wyth a pestelence sekenes of another The symylacre of the god Iubyter wyth the temple he ouerthrewe O most worthy bisshop of merueyllous praysyng thou deseruedest the power dygnyte of thappostle O most strong champyon of our lord whyche in thyn olde age constantly prechest our lord IhÌ„u cryst redemer of the world Thus endeth the lyf of Seynt Appollynare Here foloweth the lyf of seynt Cristyne And first the interpretacion of her name CRistyne is as moche to saye as enoynted wyth crisme She had sothly the bame of good odour sauoure in conuersacion And oyle of deuocion in mynde and also the benedyction of grace CRistyne was born in tyre in Italye and was comen of Noble kynrede of fader and moder And by cause of her beaute her fader enclosed her in a certayn tour wyth xij chamberers to serue and awayte on her And ordeyned ther wyth her goddes of syluer and of gold and bycause of her grete beaute she was desyred of many noble men for to haue wedded her but her fader in no wyse wold gyue her to no man but wold haue her contynue in her virgynyte to do worshyp and sacrefyse to the goddes But she beyng enspired of the holy ghoost abhorâ—ed the sacrefyse of thydolles And thencence that was delyuerd to her to do sacrefise wyth she hidde it in a wyndowe and whan her fader cam the maydens and chamberers sayde to hym Thy doughter despyseth to offre to our goddes And sayth that she is crysten Thenne her fader prouoked her with swete and fayre wordes for to doo sacrefyse to theyr goddes To whom she sayde Calle not me thy doughter but thys to whom sacrefyse belongeth I wil not offre to no dede goddes but to god of heuen I offre sacrefyse of lande and preysyng thenne sayd her fader to her O my douyhter thou oughtest not to offre to one god leste the other be wroth to the to whom she sayde thou hast sayd wel not knowyng the trouthe I offre truly sacrefyse to the fader and to the sone and to the holy ghoost thenne seyd the fader yf thou worshyppest thre whi wilt thou not adoure the other To whom she sayd They thre be but one god After thys Crystyne brake alle the goddes and the gold and syluer she gaf to pour peple her fader thenne cam agayn for to worshyppe his goddes and he not fyndyng them demaunded of the maydens what crystyn had don to them And whan he had knowleche what she had don commaunded her to be despoyled and to be beten with xij men vnto the tyme that they began to fayle and were so wery that they myght no more theÌ„ne crystyn sayd to her fader O thou that wythout honour and wyth shame art abhomynable to god For they that bete me fayle and be faynt requyre thy goddes that they gyue to them strength yf they may Thenne be dyd do bynde her wyth cheynes of yron and dyd doo sette her in pryson and whan her moder herd that she rente her clothes and cam to the pryson and fil doun at her doughters feet and sayd my doughter Crystyn the lyght of myn eyen haue pyte on me To whom she sayd why callest thou me thy doughter wotest thou not wel that I haue the name of my god And whan she myght nothyng make her to torne fro her fayth She retorned to her husbond and tolde to hym what she hadde ansuerd to her thenne the fader commaunded that she shold be brought to fore hym in Iugement And sayd to her doo sacrefyse to our goddes or â—llys thou shalt suffre many tormentes and shalt no more be called my doughter To whom she sayd Thou hast goten to me grete grace For now thou callest not me doughter of the deuyl what is born of the deuyl is a deuyl thou art the sone of the same sathanas theÌ„ne he coÌ„mauÌ„ded that her flesshe shold be alle to rente and drawen with hokes of yron and her tendre membris be all to broken and departed fro other crystyne thenne toke parte of her flessh and threwe it in to the vysage of her fader sayeng O tyraunt take the flessh whiche thou hast goten and ete it Thenne her fader sette her vpon a whele and put vndre fyre and oyle And the flame yssued out so grete that it slew and brent vC men The fader ascrybed al thys werke to nygromancy and sayd she had don that by wytchecraft and commaunded her agayn to pryson and badde her seruauntes whan it was nyght that they shold bynde a grete stone to her necke and cast her in to the see and anon as they hadde so don Angellys toke her vp and Cryst descended and baptysed her in the see sayeng I baptyse the in the name of god my fader and in me IhÌ„u cryst his sone and in the holy ghoost And commytted her to mychel the arkangelle whiche ledde her to the londe and whan her fader herd that she was come agayne to londe he smote his forhede and sayde to her By what wythe craft doost thou thyse thynges that in the see thou excersysest thy cursed werkys To whom crystyne sayde O thou fool and vnhappy I haue receyued thys grace of crist Thenne he commaunded that she shold be put in pryson and on the morn to be byheded And that same nyght vrbane her fader was founded deed Thenne after hym folowed and succeded a wycked and euyl Iuge named dyon whyche dyd do make a tubbe of yron And dydde do put theryn pitche oyle and rosyn and sette them a fyre And whan it was redy he made Crystyne to be cast therin and made four men meue the tubbe that she shold be the sonner consumed
Thenne crystyne praysed god and thanked hym that she was so renewed and rocked as a chyld in a cradle thenne the Iuge beyng wroth made her hede to be shauen And naked to be ledde thrugh the cite vnto the temple of Appollyn whom she commaunded to ouerthrowe And anon fil doun in to pouldre And whan the Iuge herde therof he deyde and gaf vp hys speryte After hym Iulyanus succeded whiche dyd do sette afyre a grete forneys and crystyne to be cast therin wheryn she abode fyue dayes with angellys syngyng and walkyng vnhurt after yssued out therof saufly with out harme and whan Iulyanus herd herof he sayd that she dyd allle this by art magyke and wytchecraft and did doo be put to her two addres two serpentes and two aspydes the serpentes lycked her feet the two aspydes heng at her brestes and dyd her none harme the ij addres wond them aboute her necke and licked vp her swete Iulyanus thenne sayd to his enchaunteour art not thou an enchauntour meue the bestes whan he began to meue them they made assaulte to hym and slewe hym forth wyth Thenne cristyne commaunded the serpentes that they shold goo to a deserte place And she reysed thenchaunter that was deed to lyf a gayn thenne Iulyanus commaunded that her brestes shuld be cutte of out of whom flowed mylke wyth blode Thenne he made her tongue to be cutte out of her hede But Crystyne lost not her speche for cuttyng out of her tonge But toke it and threwe it in the vysage of the Iuge And smote out ther wyth one of hys eyen Thenne was Iulyan wroth And made to shote at her And she was smeton wyth one arowe in to the syde And wyth a nother vnto the herte And she so smeton yelded vp her soule vnto god and thus suffred martirdom aboute the yere of our lord two hondred four score and seuen her body was beryed in a castell bulsena bytwene thold toun and viterbe and tirus whyche was not ferre fro that castel whiche is now destroyed Thus endeth the lyf of Seynt Cristyne Here begynneth the lyf of seint Iames the more And appostle and first of thinterpretacion of his name THis Iames thappostle is sayd Iames the sone of zebedee brother of Seynt Iohan theuangelyst And beonarges that is the sone of thondre And Iames the more he was sayd Iames sone of zebedee not only in flesshe but in thexpocision of the name ffor zebedee is interpreted gyuyng or gyuen and Iames gaf hym self to god by martirdom of deth and he is gyuen to vs of god for a specyalle patrone he is sayde Iames brother of IohÌ„n not only by flesshe but by semblaunce of maners For they bothe were of one loue of one estudye and of one wylle They wer of one loue for to auenge our lord For whan the samaritans wold not receyue IhÌ„u cryst Iames and IohÌ„n sayd yf it plese the lord late fyre descende fro heuen destroye them they were of lyke studye for to lerne for thise ij were they that demauÌ„ded of our lord of the day of Iugement and of other thynges to come And they axed that one of them myght sytte atte ryght syde of hym and that other on his lyft syde he was said the sone of thondre by cause of the sonne of his predycacion for he fered the euyl and exyted the slouthful and by the hyenes of his prechyng he dyd merueyles in conuertyng them to the fayth wherof bede sayth of saynt IohÌ„n that he thondred so hye that yf he had thondred a lytel hyer al the world myght not haue comprysed hym He is sayde Iames the more lyke as that other Iames is sayde the lasse First by reson of hys callyng for he was first called of IhÌ„u cryst secondly by reson of famyliarite For Ihesu crist was seen to haue greter famyliarite with hym than wyth the lasse Iames lyke as it apperyth atte reysyng of the mayde and at hys holy transfyguracion thyrdly by reson of his passyon For emong alle thappostles he was the first that suffred deth and he may be sayde more by cause he was first called to be appostle so he was first called to the glory perdurable Of Seynt Iames the more and appostle IAmes thappostle sone of zebedee prechid after thassencoÌ„n of our lord in the Iewerye and samarye after he was sente in to spaygne for to sowe there the worde of Ihesu cryst but when he was there he prouffyted but lytel for he had conuerted vnto crystes lawe but ix discyples of whom he left ij there for to preche the word of god and toke the other vij wyth hym and retorned agayn in to Iudee Mayster IohÌ„n beleth sayth that he conuerted there but one man only and whan after he preched the word of god in Iudee there was an enchauntour named hermogenes wyth the pharseeis whiche sent philette hys disciple to seynt Iames for to ouercome hym to fore alle mâ—n and to preue his prechyng fals but thappostle ouercam hym tofore alle men resonably And dyd many myracles tofore hym Phylete thenne retorned to hermogenes approued the doctryne of Iames to be trewe and recited to hym hys myracles and sayd that he wold be his discyple And desired and counseyllyd hermogenes in lyke wyse to be his dysciple Thenne hermogenes was wroth And by his craft and enchauntementis he made phylete in suche wyse that he myght not moeue and sayd Now we shalle see yf thy Iames may saue the thenne phylete sent his chyld to seynt Iames and lete hym haue knowleche herof Thenne seynt Iames sent to hym hys sudarye or keuerchyef and sayd Say to hym that our lord redressyth them that ben hurt and vnbyndeth them that ben empesshyd and assone as he sayd soo and touched the sudarye he was vnbouÌ„den and losed fro al thenchauntyng of hermogenes and aroos vp wenâ— Ioyfully to seynt Iames thenne hermogenes was angry and called many deuylles and commauÌ„ded them that they bryng to hym seynt Iames bounden and philete wyth hym for to auenge hym on theym lest hys dysciples after ward adresse them ayenst hym Thenne whan the deuyls cam toward seynt Iames they cryed howlyng in thaier sayeng Iames thappostle of god haue pite on vs For we brenne tofore our tyme comme To whom Iames sayd wherfor come ye to me and they sayd hermogenes hath sent vs to the and to phylete for to bryng you to hym and thangele of god hath bound vs wyth cheynes of fyre and tormenteth vs And Iames sayde the angele of god shal vnbynd you And goo ye to hym and bryng hym to me bounden but hurt hym not thenne they went and toke hermogenes and bound his hondes and broughte hym so bounden to seynt Iames and they said to hermogenes thou hast sent vs thyder where we were strongly tormented and greuously bounden And thenne sayd they to seynt Iames gyue to vs power ayenst hym that we may
men shold goo out And thenne he made hys prayers to god And alle thydolles fyl doun and were broken and whan new herd that he commaunded to cast hym in to the see And yf it happed that he escaped they shold folowe and take hym and brenne hym shold take the ashes of hym cast it in to the see nazaryen thene the chyld Celse were put in a shyppe and brought in to the myddle of the see And were bothe cast in and anon about the shyppe aroos a grete tempeste and about them was grete calme and tranquylite whan they thenne that were in the shyppe were aferd to be perisshed and repented them of the harme and wyckednes that they had coÌ„mysed in the seyntes Nazaryen wyth the chyld celse walked vpon the see and apperid to them with a glad chere and entred in to the shyppe to them And thenne they beleuyng By his prayer the see was peasid and fro thens they sayled vjC paas and cam to a place besyde Iene where they long prechyd And after cam to melane where they fond geruase and prothase in the place where he had left them whan Anolynus the prouost herd that sent hym in exyle and Celse the chylde abode in the hous wyth a noble woman Nazaryen thenne cam to rome fond hys fader thenne olde and crysten and enquyred of hym how he was crystened whiche sayd that peter thappostle had appiered to hym and bad hym byleue as his wyf and his sone dyd thenne fro thens he was exyled of tho bisshoppes vnto melane agayn Fro whens tofore he was exyled to rome and was now compellyd agayn wyth wronge to goo to rome where he was presented to the prouost with the chyld Celse whiche thenne was ladde out of the yate of rome whiche is named thre wallis with the childe celse and there was byheded whos bodyes cristen men toke vp and by nyght buryed it in a gardyne and the next nyght they apperyd to an holy seynt named Ciriake sayeng that he shold burye theyr bodyes in his hous more depper for drede of nero To whom he sayd I praye you first my lordes that ye make my doughter hole of the palsey whiche anon whan she was hool he toke the bodyes and as they commaunded he dyd Long tyme after this god shewed theyr bodyes to seynt Ambrose and he lefte celse lyeng in his place and toke vp the body of nazarien with as fresshe blode as he had be buryed the same day smellyng a merueyllous swete odour Incorupte with his here and hys berde and brought it to the chirche of thappostles And there buried it honourably and after toke vp the body of celse and beryed it in the same chirche They suffred deth about the yere of our lord lvij Of this martir sayth Ambrose in his preface O thou holy noble champyon and blessyd martir shynyng by thy shedyng of thy blood thou hast deserued to haue the kyngdom of heuen whiche by the Innumerable assaultes of tormentis hast ouercomen the wodenes of the tyraunt by the constance of fayth And hast gadred to gydre a multitude of peple to euerlastyng lyf O thou martir of whos helth the chyrche Ioyeth more than the world Ioyed in his punysshyng O thou blessyd moder of her chyldren glorifyed wyth tormentis whiche ledde them not with waylyng ne sorowyng to helle But departyng hens folowed her with perpetuel laude vnto the heuenly kyngdoms All this more sayth Seynt Ambrose Thus enden the lyues of seint Nazaryen and Seynt Celse Here foloweth the lyf of seynt Felyx and first of his name FElyx is sayde of felicitate that is blessydnes Or ellys felix as beryng stryues and tribulacions of this worlde for euerlastyng lyf Or felix beryng lyhe or water to faythe whiche is to saye ledyng peple to the fayth Of seynt Felix FElyx was chosen pope in stede of liberie and was ordeyned sacred For by cause lybery the pope wold not consent to the heresy of tharryens he was sent in to exyle of constancyen sone of constantyn and there abode thre yere Wherfore alle the clergy of rome ordeyned Felix to be pope by the wyl and consent of liberie And thenne this Felix assembled a counseyl of xlviij bisshoppes And condempned Constancien Arryen and he retike and two prestes whiche fauoured and susteyned hym in his heresye For whiche thyng constancien was Wroth and chased Felix out of hys bisshopriche and called agayn liberien by this couenaunte that he shold be partener with hym and thother whom Felix had condempned and liberien whiche was tormented by the greuousnes of his exyle submytted hym vnto the euyl heresye and thus the persecucion grewe more In so moche that many prestes and clerkes were slayn wythin the chyrche wstthout that lyberien defended them and Felix whiche was cast out of his bysshopriche dwellyd in his owne heritage of whiche he was put out and was martred by smytyng of of his hede aboute the yere of our lord CCC and xl Thus endeth the lyf of seynt felix pope and Martir Here foloweth of the Seintes Simplicien Faustyn and Beatrice and first of their names SYmplicien is as moche to say as symple or Without ony plyte of falsehede He was symple by meknes and humylite For he humbled hym self to receyue martirdom he was knowyng For he knewe the cristen fayth and for the fayth he suffred martirdom â— Faustyn is as moche to say as fortunate Beatrice is to saye holdyng blessydnes or it is sayde of beata that is blessyd And of ares that is vertue whiche is a blessyd vertu And beatryce is sayd sorouful or beuy For she was sorouful of the passyon of her brethern and she was blessyd by her martirdom Of the Seintes Simplicien Faustyn and Beatrice SYmplicien ffaustyn brethern whan they wold not by no constraynt do sacrefyse to thydolles and refused it vtterly they suffred many tormentis at rome vnder dioclâ—sien and atte last sentence was gyuen ayenst them and were byheded theyre bodyes cast in to tyber the ryuer And Beatrice theyr suster toke vp the bodyes of them and buried them honourably Lucrete whiche was prouost of rome went on a tyme playeng aboute therytage of beatrice and sawe her and made her to be taken and commaunded her that she shold make sacrefyse to his goddes and she refused it And lucrete made his seruauntes to strangle her in a nyghte and lete her lye and lucyne the virgyne toke away the body and buried it with her brethern and after that lucrete entrid in to theyr heritage And thus as he assayled the martirs And dyd do make a grete feste to hys frendes And as he satte atte dyner A yong child that lay wounden in smale clowtes in hys moders lappe whiche yet souked sprange out of the lappe of his moder that helde hym and all men seyng escried and sayd O thou lucrete here and vndestande thou hast sleyne and
assayled the marters of god and therfor thou art yeuen in to the possessyon of the fende and thenne anon lucrete tremblid and fered And was forthwith rauysshed of the deuyll and was so tormented by iij houres of the deuyl that he deyed at that same dyner whan they that were there sawe that they were conuertid to the fayth and recompted to al men how the passyon of seint beatrice was aduengyd at the same dyner And they suffred deth aboute the yere of our lord CClxxxvij Thus enden the liues of the Seintes Simplicien Faustin and Beatrice And here foloweth the lyf of Saynt Martha SEynt Martha hostesse of our lord Ihesu cryste was born of a ryalle kynrede Her fader was named Syro And her moder euchalia The fader of her was duc of Sirie and marytyme And martha wyth her suster posseded by the herytage of theyr moder thre places that was the castel magdalene and bethanye and a parte of Iherusalem It is nowher redde that martha had euer ony husbond ne felawsshyp of man But she as a noble hostesse mynystred and serued our lord and wold also that her suster shold serue hym and helpe her ffor she thought that alle the world was not suffycyent to serue suche a ghâ—ste After thascencyon of our lord whan the dyscyples were departed she wyth her brother lazare and her suster Marie Also Seynt maxymyne Whiche baptised them and to whom they were commysed of the holy ghoost And many other were put in to a shyppe wythout sayle ores or rother gouernayle of the paynems whyche by the conduyte of our lord they cam alle to marcelle and after cam to the territorye of Aquense or ays And there conuerted the peple to the fayth Martha was ryght facounde of speche and curtoys and gracious to the sight of the peple There was that tyme vpon the Ryuer of rone in a certayn wode bytwene ari late and auynyon a grete dragon half leste and half fysshe gretter than an oxe lenger than an hors hayng tethe sharpe as a swerde and horned on eyther syde hede lyke a lyon tayle lyke a serpent and defended hym wyth two Wynges on eyther syde and coude not be beten wyth cast of stones ne wyth other armour And was as strong as xij lyons or beres whiche dragon lay hydyng and lurkyng in the ryuer and perysshed them that passyd by drowned shippes he cam thyder by see fro galyce and was engendryd of leuiathan whyche is a serpent of the water and is moche woode And of a beest callyd bonacho that is engendryd in galyce And whan he is pursiewed he cast out of his bely behynd hys order the space of an aker bond on them that folowe hym it is bryght as glasse And what it toucheth it brenneth as fyre To Whom martha at the prayer of the peple cam in to the wode And fond hym etyng a man And she cast on hym holy water shewed to hym the crosse whiche anon was ouercomen and stondyng stil as a sheep she bonde hym wyth her owen gyrdle and thenne Was sleyn with speres and glayues of the peple the dragon was called of them that dwellyd in the contre tharasconus wherof in remembraunce of hym that place is called tharasconus whiche tofore was called verlue and the blacke lake by cause there ben wodes shadowous and black and there the blessyd martha by lycence of maxymyne her mayster and of her suster duellyd and abode in the same place after dayly ocupyed in prayers and in fastynges and there after assembled and were gadred to gydre a grete couente of susters and bilded a fayr chirche at thonour of the blessyd marie virgyne where she ledde an harde a sharpe lyf she eschewed flesshe and alle fatte mete egges chese and wyne she ete but ones a day An hondred tymes a day and an hondred tymes a nyght she kneled doun and bowed her knees On a tyme at Auynyon whan she preched bytwene the toun and the Ryuer of roon ther was a yong man on that other syde of the ryuer desyryng to here her wordes and had no bote to passe ouer he began to swymme naked but he was sodenly taken by the strengthe of the water And anon suffocate and drowned whos body vnnethe was founden the nexte day And whan it was taken vp it was presented at the feet of martha for to be reysed to lyf She thenne in maner of a crosse fyll doun to the grouÌ„de and prayed in thys maner O adonay lord IhÌ„u crist whiche reysedest somtyme my wel byloued brother beholde my most dere gheste to the faythe of them that stonde here and reyse thys chylde And she toke hym by the honde and forthwith he aroos lyuyng and receyued the holy bapteme Eusebyus tellith in the v boke of thistorye ecclesiast that a woman named emorissa After that she was heled of our lord she made in her courte an ymage lyke vnto Ihesu cryst with cloth and hâ—me lyke as she sawe hym whan she was heled And worshipped hym moche deuoutly The herbes that grewe vnder thymage to fore that she had touched the hemme were of no vertue but after that she had touched it they were of so moche vertue that many seek peple by them were heled That woman emorissa whom our lord heled ambrose saith that it was martha Seint Iherome sayth and it is had in historia tripertita that Iulianus apostata toke away that ymage that Emorissa made and sette his owne there whyche with the stroke of thondre was al to broken Our lord cam to her a yere tofore her deth and shewd to her that she shold departe out of this worlde and al that yere she was seke and laboured in the febrys viij dayes tofore her deth she herde the heuenly felawships of angellis beryng her susters soule in to heuen and anon dyde do come all the couent of brethern of susters and sayd to them my frendes and moste swete felawes I pray you to reioyse and enioye with me For I see the felawship of angellys bere the soule of my suster marie vnto heuen O most fayr and swete suster thou lyuest now with thy mayster and my ghest in the blessid sete in heuen and theÌ„ne anon Martha sayde to them that were present that her deth was nyghe And had to lyght the tapers aboute her And that they shold wake vnto her deth And aboute mydnyght to fore the day of her deth they that shold watche were heuy of slepe slepte and there cam a grete wynde and extyncte â—nd dyd out the lightes She thenne seyng a grete tourhe of wycked spirites began to praye and sayed My fader hely my dere gheste thise deâ—cyuers ben gadred for to deuour me bryngyng wreton alle the euyl dedes that euer I dyde O blessyd hely be not for withdrawen fro me but entende in to myn helpe and fâ—rthwith she sawe her suster comyng to her holdyng a
bronde in her honde and lyghted the tapers and lampes and as eche of them called other by theyr name Crist cam to them sayeng come my welbelouyd hostesse For where I am thou shalte be with me Thou hast receyued me in thyn herberugh and I shal receyue the in myn heuen and all them that calle vpon the I shal here them for thy loue Thenne the hour of her deth approchyng she commaunded that she shold be born out of the hous that she myght be holde and loke vp in to heuen and to lâ—ye her on the erthe and to holde the sigâ—e of the crosse to fore her and sayeng thyse wordes she prayed My swete ghâ—ste I beseche the to kepe me thy pour creature And lyke as thou hast vouched sauf to be lodged with me so I beseche the to receyue me in to thyn heueÌ„ly herberugh And thenne she had that the passyon after luke shold be redde tofore her And whan this was said Pater in manus tuas comendo spiritum meum she gaf vp her spirite and deyed in our lord The next day folowyng that was the sonday whyles they said laudes aboute her body and dyd her obsequyâ— and aboute the hour of tierâ—â— at petogoriâ—e our lord appered to the blessid ffrancone syngyng masse whiche after thepystle slepte in his chayre and said to hym my welbelouyd ffrancone yf thou wilt fulfille that thou behyghtest long sithe to my hostesse martha arise anon and folowe me whos commaundement he obeyed sodenly both cam to tharascone And syngyng thoffyce aboute the body And the other answeryng they with ther owen hondes leyd the body into tâ—e sepulture And trouth it was that at petogorike whan they had songen in the chore and the deken shold goo rede the gospel and receyue the benediction they awoke the bysshop demaundyng the benediction Thenne the bysshop awoke and sayd why haue ye awakend me my brethern Our lord Ihesu Crist hath ledde me to his hostesse martha And we haue leyed her in her sepulture Now sende thyder messagers for to felche our rynge of gold and our gloues whiche whiles I made me redy to burye her I delyuerd them to the sextayne and I haue forgoten them there by cause ye awoke me so soone Thenne were messagers sent forth as the bysshop sayde they fond his rynge and one gloue whiche they brought agayn and that other the sextayn reteyned for a wytnes and memorie And the blessyd ffrancone added therto sayeng that after her sepulture a brother of the same place a lerned man in the lawe demaunded of our lord what was his name To whom he ansuerd not but shewed a boke open in his honde in Whiche was wreton thys versycle In euerlastyng memorye shal be my rightful hoostesse and she shal drede non euyl in the last day and whan he shold torne the leues of the boke in euery leef he fonde that same wreton where afterward many myracles were shewd and don at her tombe ¶ Thenne Clodoneus kyng of ffraunce was after thys made a cristen man and baptised of seynt remyge And suffred grete payne in his mynes cam to her tombe and there receyued very helth For whyche cause he enryched that place And the space of iij myle way about on both sides of the ryuer of Roon as wel townes as castellys he gaf to the same place and that place he made free Marcilla her seruaunt wrote her lyf whiche afterward went in to sclauonye And there prechyd the gospel of cryst after x yere fro the deth of martha she restid in our lord Thenne late vs praye to this blessyd martha hostesse of our lord that after this shorte lyf we may be herberowed in heuen wyth our blessyd lord Ihesu crist to whom he yeue Ioye laude and preysyng world without ende Amen Thus endeth the lyf of the blessyd Seynt martha And here folowen the lyues of Abdon and Sennen ABdon is sayde of Absein in greek which is as moche to saye as cutte in latyn dolos Whiche is to saye as seeyng He was cutte hewen in his body and sawe god by martirdom Sennen is sayde of senos in greek Whyche is as moche to saye as Wytte and en that is in And therof is sennen as in witte or sennes as olde As who sayth he was olde in wytte Of seyntes Abdon and sennen ABdon and sennen suffred martirdom vnder decyen the emperour whaÌ„ decius themperour had surmounted babilone the other prouynces he fond somme cristen men within the cite And brought them wyth hym bounden to the cyte of Cordule And made them there to dye by dyuers tormentys And thenne Abdon sennen whyche were as gouernours of the contray toke the bodyes and buryed them Thenne were they accused and brought to decyen and he dyd do lede them wyth hym bounden in chaynes to rome thenne were they brought tofore decien and tofore the senatours thenne was it commaunded that they shold doo sacrefyse And they shold haue al theyr thynges frely Or ellys they shold be deuoured by bytynges of wyld beestes But they dyspyseden to make sacrefyse and spytten ayenste the fals ydollys and statues thenne were they drawen to the place of martirdome and made to be brought to them two lyone and ij berys whiche dyde to them non harme ne touched them not But rather kepte them fro harme Thenne began they to cast speres and swerdes at them and atte last they were alle to hewen wyth swerdis and thenne they were bouÌ„den by the feet and drawen thrugh the toun vnto thydolle of the sonne And whan they had leyn there iij dayes quyryne subdeken toke the bodyes vp and buryed them in his hous And they suffred deth aboute the yere of our lord two hondred liij Thus endeth the lyues of Abdon and Sennen Here foloweth the lyl of seynt Germayne and first of hys name GErmayne is sayde of germe and ana that is hye thys is to saye souerayn germe Thre thynges ben fouÌ„den in seed germynyng that is to wete natural hete humour nutrimental and reson of seed Thenne the holy Seynt Germayn is sayd as seed germynyng For in hym was hete by brennyng of loue humour by fatnesse of deuocion and reson of the seed by vertu of predycacion by whiche he engeÌ„dryd moche peple to the fayth And in good maners And constance the preest wrote his lyf to seynt seueryn bysshop of Anserre ¶ Of Seynt Germayne GErmayn was of moche noble lygnage born in the cite ancerre And was taught and enformed wel in the artes lyberalle And after he went to rome For to lerne the scyence of the decretees droytes lawe And there receyued he so moche of dygnyte that the senate sent hym vnto ffraunce for to haue and obtayne the dygnyte of the duchy of alle burgoyne And thus as he gouerned the cyte more dylygently than al the other ther was in the myddes of the cite a tre whiche
lettres to eusebe and he knewe well that the malice of hym was so grete that he daygned not come to hym wherfore themperour establisshed ayenst thexcusacion of hym that the counseyl shold be solempnysed at mylane whiche was nygh to hym and whan he sawe that eusebe was not there He commaunded to the Arryens that they shold wryte theyr fayth and send it to Denys bysshop of Melane and xxix bysshoppes he made subscrybe the same fayth And whan Eusebe herde that he yssued out of his cite for to goo to mylane And sayd wel to fore that he shold suffre moche And thus as be cam to a flood for to goo to mylane the shyppe taried longe on that other syde of the Ryuer but the shippe cam at his coÌ„mauÌ„dement And bare hym ouer his felawshyp without gouernour Thenne the forsayd denys cam ayenst hym and kneled doun to his feet and requyred pardon and whan Eusebe coude not be torned by yeftes ne by menaces of this Emperour he sayd tofore them alle ye say that the sonne is lasse than the fader wherfor haue ye thenne made my sonne and my dyscyple gretter than me for the dyscyple is not aboue the maistre ne the sonne aboue the fader Thenne were they meuyd by this reson And shewed to hym the wrytyng that they had made and denys had wreton they sayd that he had wreton And he sayd nay I shal not subscrybe after my sonne to whom I am souerayn by auctorite but brenne thys writyng And after write another yf ye wyll er I shalle write and thus by the wyl of god that cedule was brent whyche denys and the xxix bisshops had subscrybed and thenne tharcyens wrote agayn another cedule and delyuerd it to Eusebe and to the other bysshoppes for to subscrybe but the bysshoppes enhardyed of Eusebe wold in no wyse consent to subscribe but they were glad that thylke cedule which by constraynt they had subscrybed was brente theÌ„ne was constancien angry and delyuerd Eusebe to the wylle of tharcyens and anoÌ„ they drewe hym fro the myddle of the bysshoppes and bete hym cruelly and drewe hym fro the hyest of the palays by the stappes doun to the lowest and fro the lowest to the hyest vnto the tyme that hys hede was al to brused and bledde moche blood And yet he wold not consente to them and thenne they bond is handes behynde hym after drewe hym with a corde aboute his necke and he thanked god and sayd that he was alle redy for to deye for the defence of the fayth of holy chirche Thenne constancien exyled liberâ—en the pope Denys Paulyn and alle the other bysshoppes that Eusebe had enhardyed And thenne thareyens ledde Eusebe in to Ierapolyn a cite of palastyne and enclosed hym in a strayt place in so moche that it was strayt and short that he myght not stretche out his feet ne torne hym fro one syde to a nother and he had hys hede so strayt that he myght not meue it ne torne hither ne thyder his mombres in no maner sauf only his sholdres armes the place was so strayt in lengthe and in brede And whan Constancien was dede Iulien sucâ—eded hym And wold plese euery man and commaunded that alle the bisshoppes whyche had ben exyled shold be repeellyd And the temples of the goddes to be opened and wold that alle men shold vse peas vnder what lawe he were And by this occasion Eusebe yssued out of pryson and cam to Athanase and tolde to hym what he had suffred Thenne Iulyen deyde And Ionynyen regned And tharcyens sessed Seynt Eusebe retorned to the toun of versayll where the peple receyued hym wyth grete Ioye And after whan valent regned tharryens cam agayn in to theyr forces and entred in to the hous of Eusebe and stoned hym wyth stones and so put hym to deth And deyed debonayrly in our lord And was buryed in the chyrche that he had made and it is said that he Impetred and gate grace of our lord that none arcyen myght lyue in that cite And after the cronyques he lyued lxxxviij yere He floured aboute the yere of our lord CCC l Thus endeth the lyf of seynt Eusebe Here foloweth the seuen machabees There were vij machabees with theyr worshipful moder And a preest named eleazar whiche wold ete no swynes flesshe by cause it was defended in theyr lawe And after that it is conteyned in the fyrst book of the makabees they suffred grete tormentis suche as neuer were herd to fore and it is to vnderstonde that the chirche of the Oryent maketh the solempnytees of the seyntes of that one and of that other testament and the chyrche of the occident maketh no feste of them of tholde testamente sauf of the Innocentes by cause that the soules of the seyntes of that tyme descended in to helle but she maketh feste of the innocentes by cause that IhÌ„u was slayne in eueriche of them and also of the machabees and there ben iiij resons wherfor the chirche maketh solempnytes of the machabees how be it that they descended in to helle â— The first reason is bycause they had prerogatyue of martirdom not tofore lyke herde amd aboue that ony other of the olde testament haue suffred And therfor ben they preuyleged that their passyon be solempnysed by theyr merite And this reason is sette in scolastyca historya The seconde reason is for the representacion of the mysterye the nomber of vij is vnyuersal generall And by them be vnderstonden and signefyed alle the faders of tholde testament worthy to be solempnysed And how be it that the chyrche maketh not solempnyte of them by cause they desceÌ„ded in to helle And also bycause that there cam so grete a multitude of newe seyntes neuertheles in thise vij is don reuerence to them alle For as it is sayd by the nombre of seuen is assygned an vnyuersite The thyrd is bycause of thensample of suffryng And there ben purposed in ensample of good crysten men for two thynges that is to saye the constance after the constance of them they ben enhardyed in the loue of the faith and also for to suffre for the lawe of the gospell lyke as they dyd for the lawe of moyses The fourth reson is for by cause of theyr tormentis For they suffred suche tormentes for theyr lawe that they helde for to deffende like as crysten men doo for the lawe of the gospell And mayster IohÌ„n beleth assygneth thise thre last resons in hys somme of the offyce Thus endeth it of the machabees Here foloweth the feste of seint Peter ad vincula at lammas THe feste of seynt peter thappostle that is callyd ad vincula was establisshed for foure causes That is to wete in remembraunce of the delyueraunce of seynt peter And in mynde of delyueraunce of Alexander For to destroye the custome of the paynems And for to gete Absolucion
And made of them wythout nombre to be drowned in the see And thus the deuyll aduenged hym on them And many of them that escaped bycam cristen ffor whan they wold haue goon vp on the montayne wyth the other they myght not go vp so sharpe roches in suche wyse that they that went vp were alle to cutte with the stones And the other were drowned in the see and weren alle deed And whan the other wolde haue doon the same and tarryed by cause they wyst not what was happed of the other certayn fysshers goyng by them told what was fallen of the other and thus they that myght escape retorned and wente not after the other And al thise thynges ben conteyned in the said historye The fourth cause of the Instytucion of this feste may be assygned here in this wyse â— For our lord delyuerd seynt Peter out of his chaynes by myracle And gaf hym power to bynde and vnbynde ffor we be holden and bounden vnto the londe of synne and haue nede to be assoyled Therfor we worship the solempnyte of the chaynes afor sayd For as he deserued to be vnbounde of the bondes of his chaynes so receyued he power of our lord IhÌ„u crist to assoyle vs And thys last reson may be lyghtly apperceyued For thou seest that thepystle accordeth thabsolucoÌ„n and losyng of the chaynes made to thappostle And the gospell recordeth the power that was gyuen to hym for tassoyle And thoryson of the dethe requyreth that absolucion be made to vs And thys that somtyme he gyueth absolucion And assoylleth the dampned otherwhyle by the power of the kayes whiche he receyued It apperyth in a myracle of the blessid virgyne marrie On a tyme there was a monke a scolyer whiche was in the cyte of coloyne in the monastery of seynt peter whiche monke was synful and whan this monke was supprysed with sodeyn dethe the deuyllis accused hym and cryed on hym that he had don alle maner synnes That one sayd I am couetyse whiche so oft thou hast coueyted ayenst the commaundement of god And another sayd I am vayne glorye of whyche thou hast enioyed the in makyng a vaunte emong men And another sayde I am thy lesyng in whiche thou oft synâ—edest in lyeng And other in lyke wyse And contrarye to them some good werkys that he had don excused hym sayeng I am obedyence whyche thou dydest to thyn elders and soueraynes Another sayd I am the song of psalmes that thou hast songen to god moche ardantly seint peter to whom he was a monke went to god for to pray for hym and our lord ansuerde to hym hath not the prophete sayd by my Inspyracion OneÌ„ quis hitabit in tabernaculo tuo lord who shal dwell in thy tabernacle or who shal reste in thy hye holy montayn he that shall be wythout spotte of synne how may this man thenne be saued whiche is not entred wythout spotte Ne hath doon no rightwisnesse And yet peter prayed for hym with the blessid virgyne moder of god Thenne our lord gaf vpon hym this sentence that the soule shold retorne agayn to the body and that he shold doo penaunce And thenne seynt peter with the kay that he held in his hond fered the deuyllis and made them to flee and after delyuerd the soule to a monke of the same monastery and commaunded hym that he shold bryng it to the body and he bare it to hym and requyred of hym for his rewarde that he had brought it agayn that he shold say euery day for hym the psalme Miserere mei deus and that he shold of te swepe his sepulture kepe it clene And thus he reuyued fro the deth and cam agayn to the world and dyde hys penaunce and recompted to alle the peple this that had happed to hym Thenne late vs praye this gloryous appostle seynt peter to be our aduocate to our lord Ihesu cryste that we may by the power of the kayes gyuen to hym haue very absolucion of oure synnes that after the accomplysshemeÌ„t of this short transitory lyf we may come to euer lastyng lyf in heuen amen Thus endeth thistorye of seint Peter ad vincula Here foloweth the lyf of seynt Stephen the Pope WHan seynt stephen the pope had conuerted many of the paynems vnto the cristen fayth both by word and by example and had also buryed many bodyes of the marters in the yere of our lord two hondred lx he was sought by grete studye of valeryen and of galyen thenne empereurs For by cause that he and his clerkes shold doo sacrefyse vnto theyr ydolles or ellis to be slayne by dyuers tormentis and the sayd emperours made ordynaunce that who someuer broughte them he shold haue all theyr substauÌ„ce and for that cause x of his clerkes were taken and brought forth and anon wythout audyence were byheded And the day folowyng seynt Stephen the pope was taken and brought to the temple of mars theyr god to th ende that he shold adoure and doo honour to thydolle or ellys he shold haue sentence to be byheded But whan he was entred in to the temple he prayed to our lord IhÌ„u cryst that he wold destroy the temple and anon a grete party of the temple fylle And alle they that were there ffledde for drede that they had and thenne he went to the Cymetoyre of seynt luke and whan valerien herd that he sent to hym mo knyghtes than he dyd tofore and whan they cam they fond hym syngyng masse And anon he fynysshed deuoutly that which he had begonne And that doon theâ— byheded hym in his seete ¶ Thus endeth the passyon of seynt Stephen the pope Here foloweth thynuencion of seynt Stephen prothomartir THe Inuencion of the holy body of seynt Stephen prothomartir was made in the yere of our lord iiijCxvij in the xvij yere of honorius themperour The Inuencion of hym the translacion and the coniunction were made by ordre For a prest named lucyen of the contray of IhÌ„rlm Of whom gerard recompteth emong the noble men and wryteth thus that on a fryday Whan he was in his ledde rested and vnnethe awoke He sawe an auncient man of noble stature wyth a long berd wyth a semely vysage enuyronned in a Whyte mantel In whiche there were litil ouches crosses of gold tissued he was hosed wyth hosen browdred with gold aboue which helde in his honde a rodde of gold wyth whiche he touched hym and sayd Goo and with grete dylygence opene our tombes For We ben leyde in a place dyshonest and of despyte Goo thou therfor vnto IohÌ„n the bysshop of Iherusalem and say to hym that he lay vs in a more honourable place And by cause that drought and tribulacion is thrugh the world God hath ordeyned to be debonayr and merciful to the world by our suffragyes and prayers And lucian sayd to hym Syre who art thou I am sayd he gamaliel which norisshed thappostle poule enseygned hym
that we may deserue to be enoynted with thoynement of charyte and of mercy that after this shorte lyf We may come to euerlastyng lyf in heuen Amen Thus endeth the lyf of seynt Domynyk Here foloweth the lyf of seynt Sixte and first of his name SIxtus is sayde of Sios that is god and of status that is to say state so sixtus is as moche to say as godly state Or sixtus is sayd of sisto sistis as it were stedfast and ferme and fixus that is fixed For he was stedfaste and fyxe in the fayth in passion and in good werke and operacion Of Seynt sixte pope martir SIxtus the Pope was of athenes and was first a phylosophre and after was dsciple of Ih̄u cryste was the souerayn bysshop And after was presented to decien valerien Emperours With two of hys discyples and dekenes felycyssyme Agapite And whan decien myght not enclyne hem in no manere he made them to be brought to the temple of Mars for to doo sacrefyse to hym or for to be put in pryson of mamertyn and whan he had refused to doo sacrefise and Was brought in to pryson of mamertyn the blessyd seynt laurence cryed after hym sayeng Fader whyther goost thou wythout thy sonne preest whyther goost thou without thy mynystre To whom sixte sayd Sone I leue the not but gretter bataylles ben due to the after thre dayes thou deken shal folowe me preest but in the mene whyle take the tresours of the chirche and departe them where thou wylt whan he had destributed them to poure crysten men valerien the prouost ordeyned that Syxte shold be broughte agayn for to doo sacrefyse in the temple of mars And yf he refused it he shold haue his hede smeton of And whan he was ledde the blessyd laurence cryed after hym sayeng Fader leue me not For I haue despended alle thy tresours and thenne the knyghtes herd speke of the tresours and helden Laurence And thenne they beheded sixte Felicissym and Agapyte and so they thre suffred deth to gydre In thys same day is the feste of the transfyguracion of our lord and renewyd of newe wyn yf it may be founden of a ripe grape in somme chyrches and this day ben the grapes blessyd in somme places and the peple take therof and ete it in stede of holy brede And the reson why is of thys that our lord sayd in his soper to his dyscyples I shalle not drynke of thys generacion of the vyne tofore I shalle drynke it newe wyth you in the regne of my fader And this transfyguracion in that whyche he sayd newe representeth the gloryous Inuocacion that Ihesu cryste had after his resurrection and therfor on this day of the transfyguracion whiche representeth the resurection men seke newe wyn And it is to wyte that some say that the transfyguracion Was made in veer but the dyscyples disclosed it not but kepte it secrete by cause our lord commaunded that they shold not dysclose it tyl he was rysen fro deth to lyf But after they manyfested and dysclosed it on thys day Thus endeth of Seynt Sixte pope and Martir Here begynneth the lyf of seint Donat and first of his name Donat is as moche to say as borne of god And that is by regeneracion of grace Infusion and glorificacōn For there is treble generacion spirituel of god that is to saye of natyuyte religyosite and of body mortalite For whan seyntes deye that it is sayd that they be born For the passyng out of thys world of sayntes is not sayd deth of sayntes but natalyte the chyld appetiteth to be born to haue larger place to dwelle in more mete for to ete better ayer to respyre and to see lyght And whan the sayntes yssue out of the bely of holy chyrche theyr moder by deth the four thynges they receyue aforsayd after theyr manere and therfor they be sayd born or gyuyng or gyuen of god ¶ Of Seynt Donat DOnat was norysshyd and taught of the emperour Iulyan thēne thys Iulian was ordeyned to be soubdeken but whan he was enhaunsed to be Emperour he slewe the fader and moder of donate And donate fledde in to the cite of arentyne dwellyd there with hyllarye monke and dyd there many myracles ffor the prouost of the cyte had a sonne demonyake and whan he was brought to for◠Seynt donate the wyckyd spirite began to crye and say In the name of our lord Ih̄u cryst doo me none harme ne be greuous to me ne that I goo out of my hous O donat wherfor constraynest thou me to yssue out with tormentes but he was anon delyuerd whan donat prayed There was a man named Eustace whiche receyued in Tuskane the rentes of the prynce and lefte the money in the kepyng of his wyf named Eufronye But for sorowe that she had of the enemyes that destroyed the contree she hyd the money and deyed for sorowe and whan her husbond cam agayn he coude not fynde the money and whan he with his children shold be brought to tormente He fledde to Seynt donat and donat went with hym to the sepulcre of his Wyf sayd with a clere voys Eufronye I coniure the by the vertu of the holy ghoost that thou say where thou hast leyde this moneye And she answerd out of the sepulture and sayd At the entree of the hows where I dalue it And thenne they went thyder and fonde it like as she had sayd a lytil whyle after Satirus the bysshop deyed in our lord and alle the clergy choos donat to be bysshop in his place and so he was On a day as seynt gregore recounteth in his dyalogue whan Seynt donate houseled the peple after masse and the deken mynystred the body of our lord to the peple sodanly the deken fyll wyth the chalyce by thympulsion and threstyng of the paynems that cam thyder and the chalyse brake wherof he was sory and so was alle the peple And seynt donat gadred to gydre the pieces of the chalice and made his prayer and remysed it in his first forme and a lytil pyece the deuyll toke awaye and hydde it which piece lacketh yet in the chalyce and that chalice is kepte in the sayd chyrche in Wytnes of thys myracle And the paynyms that sawe thys Were conuerted to the fayth in so moche that lxxx of them receyued bapteme There was a welle or a fontayne enfected that who that dranke if it was anon deed And seynt donat went anon thyder vpon his asse for to praye and make the water hool and anon an horryble dragon yssued out of the fontayn and wonde his tayle aboute the legges of the asse and adressyd hym ayenst donate and donate smote hym wyth his staffe or as somme say he spytte in hys mouth and he deyed and thenne he prayed to our lord chased awaye alle the venym out of the fontayne Another tyme whan he
I that am lest of the Appostles and of yow alle shalle bere with the And thenne Peter and Powle lyfte vp the bere And Peter beganne to synge and say Israel is yssued oute of Egypte And the other Apostles folowed hym in the same songe And our lord couerd the bere and thappostles with a clowde soo that they were not sene but the voys of them was herd only And the Aungels were with thappostles syngyng and replenysshed all the londe with merueylous swetnes And thenne alle the peuple was moeued with that swete melodye and yssued hastely oute of the cyte enquyred what hit was And thenne ther were somme that sayde to them that Mary suche a woman is deed the disciples of her sone Ihesu bare her and made suche melody as ye here about her And thenne ran they to armes they warned eche other sayeng Come and late vs slee alle the disciples and late vs brenne the body of her that bare this traytre And whan the prynce of preestes sawe that he was al abasshed and full of angre ang sayd loo here the tabernacle of hym that hath troubled vs and oure lygnage beholde what glory he now receyueth And in sayeng soo he leyd his hondes on the bere wyllyng to torne it and ouerthroweÌ„ it to the ground Tunne sodenly bothe his handes wexe drye and cleued to the bere so that he henge by the handes on the bere and was sore tormented and wepte and brayed And the Aungels that were there in the clowdes blynded alle the other peple that they sawe no thyng And the prynce of preestes said saynt Peter despyse me not in this trybulacion And I pray the to pray for me to our lord Thou oughtest to remembre when the Chambriere that was vssher accused the And I excused the And saynt peter said to hym we be now empeshyd in the seruyce of oure lady and maye not now entende to hele the but and yf thou byleuest in our lord Ihesu cryste and in this that bere hym I wene hope that thou soone shalt haue helthe and be al hoole And he answerd I byleue our lord Ihesu Crist to be the sone of god And that this is his right hooly moder ¶ And anone his hondes were losed fro the bere but yet the dryeÌ„nes and the payne cessid not in hym And theÌ„ne saynt peter said to hym kysse the bere and saye I byleue in god Ihesu Crist that this woman bare in her bely and remayned Vyrgyn after the chyldyng And when he had so sayd he was anone all hoole parfiÈtely And thenne saide peter to hym Take that palme of the honde of oure broder Iohan and leye it on the peple that be blynde And who that wylle bileue shalle receyue his sight ageyne And they that wylle not byleue shall neuer see And thenne thappostles bare marye vnto the monument And satte by it lyke as oure lord had commaunded And at the thyrdde day Ihesu crist cam with a grete multytude of Angels and salewed them and saide pees be with yow And they answerd god glory be to the whiche only makest the grete myracles and merueyles And oure lord sayd to thappostles what is now youre aduys that I ought now to doo to my moder of honour and of grace Syre it semeth to vs thy seruauntes that lyke as thou hast vaynquysshyd the deth and regnest world with oute ende that thou reyse also the body of thy moder and sette her on thy ryÈt side in perdurabylyte And he graunted it And thenne Mychael the angel cam and presented the sowle of Marye to oure lord And the saueour spacke and sayde Aryse vp haste the my culuer or douue tabernacle of glorye vessel of lyf Temple celestyal And lyke as thou neuer feltest conceyuyng by none atouchement thou shalt not suffre in the sepulcre no corrupcion of body And anon the sowle cam ageyne to the body of marye and yssued gloryously oute of the tombe and thus was receyued in the heuenly chambre and a grete companye of angels with her And saynt Thomas was not there And whan he cam be wolde not byleue this And anone the gyrdell with whiche her body was gyrde cam to hym fro the ayer whiche he receyued And therby he vnderstode that she was assumpt in to heuen And alle this here to fore is sayd and called Appcriphum Wherof saynt Ierom sayth in a sermon to paula and Eustochium her doughter That book is said to be apocryfum sauf that somme wordes whiche hen worthy of feythe and ben approued of seyntes as touchyng nyne thynges that is to wete that the comforte of thappostles was promysed and gyuen to the Vyrgyne And that al the sayntes assembled ther And that she deyde without payne And was buryed in the vale of Iosephat And there were made redy the obsequyes and the deuocion of Ihâ—su crist and the comyng of the celestyall company and the persecucion of the Iewes and the shynyng of the myracles and that she was assumpt in to heuen body and sowle But many other thynges ben put there more at fantasye and symulacion than at trouthe As that that Thomas was not there And whan he cam he doubted and other thynges semblable whiche ben better not to byleue them than to bileue her clothes and vestymentes were lefte in her tombe to the comforte of good cristen men And of one partye of her vestymentes it is sayd that ther happed suche a grete myracle as foloweth whan the duke of Normandy hadde assyeged the cyte of chartres The bisshop of the cyte took the cote of oure lady And sette it on the hede of a spere lyke a baner and wente oute ageynst the enemyes surely and the peple folowed hym And anone all the hoost of thenemyes were tourned in to franesye and were blynde and trembled and all were abasshed And when they of the cyte sawe this thyng aboue the dyuyne demonstraunce they wente on egrely and slewe their enemyes the which thyng displesid moche the vyrgyn saynt Marye as it was proued by that that her cote vanysshed awey And the duk their enemy fonde it in his lappe It is redde in the reuelacions of saynt Elysabeth that on a time as she was rauisshed in spyryte she sawe in a place moche fer fro folk a tombe or a sepulcre enuyronned with moche lyght and was like the forme of a womaÌ„ within forth And there were aboute it a grete multytude of angels and a lytell whyle after she was taken oute of the sepulcre and borne vp on hyghe with that multitude And thenne cam ageynst her a man beryng in his right arme the signe of the crosse had with hym many angels withoute nombre whiche receyued her moche ioiously and ledde her with grete melodye in to heuen and a litel whyle after Elyzabeth demaunded of an angel to whom she spak ofte of that vysion that she saw It is shewed to the sayde the aungel in that vysyon
to his wyf whiche yet slepte in the chirche bad hym that he shold caste awey alle the Rychesses of the deuylle And whan he cam ageyne he fond his wyf yet slepyng and awoke her and told to her alle that was byfallen And whan they were comen home they threwe aweye alle the rychesses of the deuylle and duellyd alwey in the louynges of oure lady and receyued afterward many rychesses that our lady gaf to them There was a man whiche was rauysshed in Iugement to fore god For he had moche synned and the deuyl was there and sayd ye haue nothyng on this sowle but it ought to be myn For I haue therof an Instrument publyque To whome oure lord sayd where is thyn Instrument I haue he said an Instrument that thou saydest with thy propre mouthe and hast ordeyned it for tendure perpetuelly For thou saydest in what houre that ye eten of it ye shalle dye And this is of the lygnage of them that tooke of the mete forboden And by the ryght of this Instrument publyque he ought to be Iuged to me And thenne oure lorde saide late the man speke but the man spack not And the deuyll sayd yet ageyne the sowle is myn For yf he hath done ony good dedes the wykked dedes passen the good withoute comparyson And thenne our lord wold not anon gyue sentence ageynst hym soo that he gaf hym terme of eyght dayes soo that at the ende of eyght dayes he shold appere ageyne to fore hym and gyue acomptes of alle these thynges And as he wente fro the vysage of oure lord sorowyng and tremblyng he mette with a man whiche asked the cause of his heuynes And he tolde to hym all by ordre And he sayd to hym doubte the no thyng ne be not aferd For I shalle helpe the manly for the first And he demaunded of hym his name And he sayde Veryte And after he found another whiche promysed to helpe hym for the second And when he had asked his name he sayd his name was rightwysenes At the eyghte day he cam to the dome to fore the Iuge and the deuylle opposid to hym the first caas and trouthe answerd and sayd We knowe well that ther is double deth corporelle and Infernal and this Instrument that the deuylle alledgeth ageynste the speketh no word of the dethe of helle but of the deth of the body And of that it is clere that al men be enclosed in that sentence that is to wyte that he dyeth in his body and that is not the deth of helle And as touchyng the dethe of the body the sentence endureth alwey but as to the dethe of the sowle it is repelled by the dethe of Ihesu Criste Thenne the deuylle sawe that he was discharged of the fyrste Thenne he opposed and alledged the second but rightwysenes cam ansuerd thus how be it that he hath ben thy seruauÌ„t many yeres netheles reason gayn sayeth it For reson murmured alweye by cause he serued so cruel a lord But at the thyrdde obiection he hadde none helpe and oure lord sayde brynge forth the balaunce and late alle the good and euylle be weyed and thenne trouthe and rightwysenes sayde to tâ—e synner Renne with al thy thought vnto the lady of mercy whiche sytteth by the Iuge and studye to calle her to thyn helpe And whanne he had so done the blessid Vyrgyne marye cam in to his helâ—e and leyd her hand vpon the balaunce on the syde where as were but fewe good dedes And the deuylle enforced hym to drawe on that other syde but the moder of mercy wan and obteyned and delyuerd the synner And thenne he cam ageyne to hym self and amended his lyf It happed in the Cyte of Bourges aboute the yere of our lord v C xxvij that whan the crysten men were comyned and hou seled on an eesterday A childe of a Iewe wente to the aulter with the other children and receyued oure lordes body with the other And whan he cam home his fader demaunded hym whens he cam And he answerde that he cam fro scole and that he had ben howseled with them at masse And thenne the fader full of wodenes tooke the chylde and threwe hym in to a brennyng furnays that was there And anone the moâ—â—â— of god cam in the forme of an ymage whiche the child had sene stondyng on the aulter and kepte hym fro the fire withoute takyng ony harme And the moder of the child with her grete cryeng made tassemble many Crysten men and Iewes the whiche sawe the child in the furnays without ony harme or hurte and drewe hym oute And demaunded hym how he escaped And he answerd and sayd that reuerent lady whiche stoode vpon the aulter cam and helpe me and put awey alle the fire fro me Thenne the Crysten men vnderstondyng this to be thymage of our lady took the fader of the childe and threw hym in to the fornayce whiche incontynent was brent consumed Ther were certeyn monkes to fore day stondyng by a ryuer and talked and iangled there of fables and ydle wordes And they herd a grete rowyng and oores betyng the water comyng hastely And the Monkes asked who ben ye And they sayde we ben deuyls that bere to helle the sowle of Ebronyen prouost of the hows of the kyng of Fraunce which was Apostata in the monastery of saynt Galle And whan the Monkes herd that they doubted strongly And cryed hyghe saynt mary praye for vs And the deuylles sayden well haue ye called Marye For we wold haue disioyned yow and haue drowned yow by cause your dissolute oute of of tyme Ianglyng And thenne the Monkes retorned to their Couent And the deuylles wente in to helle There was a woman that suffred many greues and iniuryes of a deuyll whiche appered vysybly to her in the forme of a man And she sought many remedyes now hooly water now one thyng now other but he cessed not And thenne an hooly man counceyled her that whan he cam to her that she shold lyfte vp her handes to heuen and crye saynt Mary helpe me And whan she had soo done the deuylle fled all afrayed as he had be smyten with a stone and after stoode and sayd The cursyd deuyll entre in to his mouthe that taught the that And anone vanysshed awey And neuer cam ageyne Here foloweth yet of the assumpcion of oure blessid lady THe name of thassumpcion of the right holy vyrgyn Marye is shewed in a Sermon made and ordeyned of dyuerse sayenges of sayntes the whiche is redde solempnly in many chirches and therin is conteyned alle that I can fynde in the world In narracions of holy faders of the departynge oute of this lyf of the gloryous vyrgyn Marye moder of god that I haue sett here to the louyng praysyng of her Seynt Cosme whiche had to surname vesture sayth he hath lerned of his forn goers whiche dyd that ought not to
their forn goers haue receyued it And hyderto endure the wordes of the sayd Sermon ¶ Yet of thassumpcion of our blessid lady VEryly Iohan damascene whiche for the tyme was a greke sayth many merueilous thynges of thassuÌ„pcion of the right holy and gloryous vyrgyne marye For he sayth in his sermons that this day the right holy and sumptuous Arke whiche bare within her her maker was brought sette in the temple whiche was not made of hondes On this day the right holy culuer or douue Innocent and symple fled fro the arke that is to say fro the body in whiche god receyued and fonde reste On this day the vyrgyn that conceyued not knowyng the passions erthely but enduced by thenteÌ„dements celestyall shalle nat fayle but shalle be called very heuen sowle dwellyng in the celestyal tabernacles And how be hit that the right holy sowle be separate fro her blessid body And that her body was leyd in sepulcre neuertheles it is not dede ne shal not be corrupte by rotyng That is to wete the body of whome childyng the vyrgynyte remayned withoute ony hurtyng or dissolucion is transported to better more hooly lyf withoute corrupcion of deth for to remayne in the tathrnacles perdurable And lyke as the sonne shynyng clere otherwhyle is hyd and apperyth faylyng a short tyme yet she hath nothyng lost of her lyght but in her self is the fontayne of lyght perdurable And thou arte the fontayne of lyght withoute wastyng the tresour of lyf how be it that by shorte interualle or space of tyme thou shalt be brought to corporell dethe Neuertheles thou gyuest to vs habundantly clerenes of lyght with oute defaute And thyn holy dormycion or shepyng is not called deth but a passyng or departyng or more propyrly a comyng For thou departyng fro the body camst to heuen And Ihesu Cryst Angels and Archangels And al the heuenly company cam to mete the The fowle and dampned spyrytes doubte moche thy noble and excellent comyng And thou blessid and glorious vyrgyn thou wentest not to heuen as dyde Helye and thou mountest not as powle dyde vnto the thyrd heuen only â—ut thou camest and touchedest the syege ryall of thy sone The dethe of other sayntes may wel be sayd deth for that deth maketh them blessid but she hath no place in the For thy deth ne thy traÌ„smygracion or thy perfection or thy departyng maketh the not ne gyueth to the surete to be blessid for thou arte begynnynge myddell and ende of alle weles and goodes whiche excede thought humayne Thy surete thy very perfection and thy concepcion withoute sâ—ed And thy dyuyne habytacion haue made the blessid wherof thou saydest thy self that thou art not made blessid by thy deth but of thy concepcion in all generacions And deth hath not made the blessid but thou hast ennoblysshed the deth in takyng awey the heuynes and sorowe therof conuertyng it in to Ioye For god sayd lest parauenture the first forme of man that is to wete Adam put forth his hande and take of the tree of lyf and lyue perdurably how thenne shalle not she lyue in heuen perdurably that bare this lyf which is perdurable and withoute ende Somtyme god putted oute of paradys the fyrst parentes whiche slepte in the dethe of synne buryed fro the begynnyng of in obedyence and glotony and now she that hath borne lyf to all humayne lignage and was obedyent god the fader and putte awey fro her all ordure of synne how shalle not she be in heuen Wherfor shold not she enioye the yates of heuen Eue stretched her ere to the serpent of whom she tooke the venym mortal And by cause she dyd it for delyte she was subdued to beryng and bryngyng forth children in sorow and payne and was condempned with Adam But this blessid vyrgyne that enclyned her ere to the word of god whom the hooly ghoost replenysshed whiche bare in her wombe the mercy of tâ—e fader whiche conceyued withoute knowlege of man and childed withoute payne and sorowe how durst deth swolow her how myyht ony thyng haue corruâ—cion that bare lyf And yet sayth tâ—e sayd damascene in his sermons Veryly the Apostles were departed thorugh the world in al couÌ„trees enteÌ„ded to preching to men to draw them out of the depe derkenesse by one hooly word broughte them to the table celestyall to the solempne espousaylles of God And thenne the dyuyne commaundement which is a nette or a clowde brought them fro alle the partyes of the world in to Iherusalem in assemblyng them bytwene his wynges And thenne Adam and Eue our fyrst parentes cryed Come to vs ryght hooly and holsome Celyer whiche fulfyllest oure desyre And the company of sayntes whiche was there sayd ageyn Remayne with vs our comfort And leue vs not orphelyns thou art the comforte of oure trauaylles refresshyng of oure swetynges that yf thou lyue hit is to vs a gloryous thyng to lyue with the And yf thou dye it is gloryous to vs to deye with the how sholde we be in thys lyf and shalle be detestable fro the presence of thy lyf And as I suppose suche thynges and semblale sayden thappostles with grete plente of them of the chirche with grete waylynges and syghes in compleynyng them fro the departyng And she retornyng toward her sone sayde Syre I pray the to be very comfortour to my sones whom it plesyd the to calle bretheren whiche ben heuy and sorouful of my departyng And with that I shalle blysse them with my honde gyue to them thy blyssyng vpon my blyssyng And thenne she stretched oute her honde and blessyd alle the college of good Crysten men And thenne sayd after lord I commende my spyryte in to thy handes receyue my sowle thy loue whiche thou hast kepte withoute blame of synne to thy self And I commende my body to the erthe for to kepe it hoole or where it shalle plese the to enhabyte it transporte me to the soo where thou arte theÌ„fantement or fruyte of my wombe that I be duellyng wiâ—h the Alle these wordes herd thappostles Thenne sayd oure lord Aryse vp my beloued and come to me O thou moost fayr among wymmen my loue thou arte fayre and no spotte of fylthe is in the And whan the right blessid Vyrgyn herd that she commended her spyryte in to the handes of her sone Thenne thappostles were bedewed with teres and kyssed the tabernacle And by the blessyng and holynes of the hâ—ly body who someuer touched the bere deuoutely were heled of what someuer sekenes they had deuyls were chaced fro demonyakes The ayer and the heuen Were puryfyed by thassumpcion of the sowle and the erthe by the deâ—â—sicion of the body And the water was sayntyfyed by the wasshyng of the body For the body was wasshen with ryght hooly water and clene And the hooly body was not made clene by the water but the water was halowed of her And after the holy body
was wouÌ„den and wrapped in a clene sudary and was leyd vpon the bed and lampes brente full bryght aboute her Oyggnementes gaf a grete and fragraunt odour the louynges and preysynges of angels resowned And thappostles other that were there songe dyuyne songes And the Arke of oure lorde was borne in to Mount of syon vnto the vale of Iosephat vpon the â— heedes of the Apostles And the Angels wente to fore some And somme folowed the body And other conueyed her And she was accompanyed of alle the plente of the chirche And some of the Iewes herd hit in their euyl malyce descended doune fro the Mount of syon one of them whiche was a membre of the deuylle ranne folyly vnto the holy body And assaylled it for to haue cast it to the erthe drawyng hit with bothe hys handes both his handes cleuyd to the bere were departed fro the body lyke as two staues had ben sawed of soo he was lyke a tronke til that fâ—yth chaÌ„ged his thought And he waylyng soroufully repented hym they tâ—at bare the bere taryed made that Iewe worshipe touche the holy body theÌ„ne cam his handes ageyne in to their fyrst estate theÌ„ne was the body borne vnto the vale of Iosephat ther it was emâ—raced kissed songes songen of holy â—ouynges preysynges ther were wepte many teres theÌ„ne that holy body was leid in the tombe honourably but her sowle was not left in helle ne her flesshe felte neuer corrupcion And they sayden that she was the welle whiche neuer was dygged the felde not â—red The vygne not cut tholyue berynge fruyte whiche shalle not be holden in the bosome of the erthe For hit apperteyneth that the moder be enhaunced with the sone And that she mounte to hym like as he descended in to her And that she that hath kepte her virgynyte in her childyng ought to see no corrupcion And she that bare the creatoure of alle the world in her bely ought to duelle in dyuyne tabernacles And that she whome the fader had taken to espouse were kepte in the chambres celestyalle And tho thynges that longe to the sone ought to be posseded of the moder And alle this sayd Iohan damascene ¶ Yet of thassumpcion of oure lady aftir saynt Austyn SAynt Austyn sheweth autentyckly in a sermon of the right holy assumpcion of oure blessid lady sayenâ— we that haue begoÌ„nâ— to speke of the body of the Vyrgyn perâ—urable of thassumpcion of her blessid sowlâ— We say thus Fyrst that we fynde nothyng of her wreton syth that oure lord hangyng on the Crosse commaunded her to his disciple sauf that Luke recordeth in his wrytynges sayeng that all they were by one courage perseueryng with the Vyrgyne Marye moder of our lorde Ihesu cryste what is thenne to saye of her deth and of her assumpcion Wherof the scripture remeÌ„bryth no thynge It is thenne as me semeth to be enquyred thynge whiche is acordynge to trouthe withoute whichâ— Auctoryte is nothyng we remembre the condicion humayne We doubte not to saye that surely she wente to temporall deth And yf we saye that she is resolued in to comyn putrefaction in wormes and in to asshes or dust It behoueth vs to weye and thynke suche thyng as apperteyneth to soo grete holynesse and to the seygnorye of suche a chambre of god We knowe wel that it was sayd to the fyrst fader thou art poudre and in to poudre thou shalt retorne but the flessâ— of Ihesu Cryst escaped fro this condycion For his flesshe suffred neuer corrupcion Thenne is excepte fro this generall sentence the nature taken of tâ—e Vyrgyne And god sayd to the woman eue I shal multyplye thy dyseases and thou shat bryng forth chyldren with payne and sorowe But marye suffred neuer suche dyseases of whome the swerde of sorowe perced 〈◊〉 sowle But Marye childed withoute sorowe And thenne yf she were ouyte and had no parte of sorowe in childyng thenne ought she not to haue paâ—te of dyseases ne of corrupcion â—ut she is excepte of somme other generalytees by cause that the dignyte gafe to her suche seygnorye And though we saye that she suffred deth yet is she not reteyned with the bondes of dethe yf oâ—re lord wold kepe his moder entyer and hoole and the chastyte of her vyrgynyte Wherfor may he not kepe hâ—r withoute corrupcion of stenche of rotynnesse It apperteyneth thenne vnto the debonayrte of oure lord to kepe thonour of hys moder whiche was not come to breke the lawe but to accomplysshe it And in his lyf had worshiped hâ—r to fore al other by the grace of her conceyuyng And therfor we ought well to byleue that he honoureth her at her dethe wyth synguler saluacion and of special grace And rotynes and wormes ben but reproche of humayne condycyon And whan Ihesu cryst is oute of thâ—t reproche the nature of Marye is excepted the whiche is the nature that he toke of her For the flessh of Ihesu cryste is the flessh of Mary the whiche he bare aboue the sterres in worshypyng man aboue nature and in worshypynge more his moder yf he be sone of the very moder Thenne is it couenable thynge that she be moder of the same sone Not as to the vnyte of the Persone but to the vnyte of bodyly nature yf grace withoute propyrte of especial teÌ„porell nature may make vnyte how moch more theÌ„ne may the grace of corporall and especiall natyuyte make vnyte of grace lyke as the disciples in Ihesu Crist of whome he sayth hym self that they ben one as we be And after he sayth Fader I wylle that where I am they be wyth me And thenne yf he wyll haue with hym them that ben ioyned soo wyth hym in the feythe and that they be Iuges with hym what shalle thenne be iuged of his moder Where is she worthy to be but in the presence of her sone Therfor I vnderstonde and byleue that the sowle of marye be honoured of her sone by a right excellent prerogatyf possedyng her body gloryfyed in Ihesu Crist whome she conceyued And why shold not she possede her body gloryfyed by whiche she conceyued For so grete an halowyng is more worthy to be in heuen than in erthe The sete of god the Chambre of oure lord and the worthy tabernacle of Ihesu Cryste ought and apperteyneth better to be there as he is than els where and soo right precious tresoure is more worthy to be in heuen than in erthe And by ryght no resolucion of rotynnes maye not folowe so grete entyernes of thyng not corumpable And by cause I fele not that the ryght hooly body be not delyuerd in to mete of wormes I doubte to saye it And by cause that the yefte of grace incomparable surmounteth gretely thys estymacion that I fele that the consideracion of many scriptures admoneste me to saye trouthe God sayth somtyme to his mynystres
commauÌ„ded that they tweyn to gyder perseueryng in the confession of our lord sholde be byheded aboute the yere of oure lord lvj ¶ Thus ende the passions of Thymothe and Appollynare Here foloweth of saynt Symphoryen SYmphoryen was borne in the Cyte of Augustydynense And he beyng a yong child shone in soo grete habondaunce of vertues that he surmounted the lyf of thauncyentes And as the paynyms halowed the fest of Venus Symphoryen was there and wold not worshipe thymage to fore Eraclye the prouost And thenne he was long beten and after sette in prysonne And they wold haue constreyned hym to doo sacryfyse and promysed to hym many yeftes He answerd and sayd ¶ Oure lord canne well rewarde the merytes And also he can wel punysshe the synnes Thenne the lyf that we owe to god of dette late vs paye with good wylle Slowe penaunce is to vnderstande synners enharded ben enoynted wyth the swetnes of hony whiche engendath venym and thoughtes euylle byleuynge youre coneâ—yse to fore al thynges possedeth no thynge For hit is bounden to the artes of the deuylle And shalle be witholden in the boundes of the cursyd and euyll wynnyng And youre Ioyes whan they begynne to shyne shalle be broken lyke glas And thenne the Iuge fulfylled with wrathe yaf sentence and commaunded that Symphoryen shold be slayn And as he was ledde to the place of his martyrdom his moder cryed fro the walle of her hows and sayde Sone Sone Remembre the of the lyf perdurable loke vpward and beholde hym that regneth in heuen The lyf shal not be take aweye fro the but it shalle be chaunged in to a better And thenne he was anone byheded And his body taken of Crysten men And was honourably buryed And soo many myracles were shewed att his Tombe that hit was holden greete honoure of the paynyms Gregorye of Tours reherceth of the place where his blood was shedde A Cristen man bare away thre stones whiche were befprenct with his bloode and put them in a caas of syluer and tables of tree enclosed about it bare them in to a castel whiche castell was al brente with fyre And that caas was founden hoole and sauf in the myddel of the fyre And he suffryd deth aboute the yere of oure lord CC lxx Thus endeth the lif of saynt Symphoryen Here begynneth the lif of saynt Bertylmewe thappostle And first thexposicion of his name BErtylmew is expowned the sone of aboue hangyng the waters or sone of ouerhangyng the see he is said of bar that is as moch to saye as sone and tholos whiche is as moche to saye as soueraynte and of Moyes that is to say water And here of is sayd Bartylmewe as a sone hangyng ouer the waters That is of god whiche enhaunceth the myndes of doctours on hyhe For to shede and besprynge bynethe the waters of doctryne And it is a name of Syrye and not of hebrewe And by the fyrst thre suspendynges that he had ought to be noted he was suspended or taken vp fro the loue of the world and he was suspendyd that is to say ententyf in heueÌ„ly loue And he was suspended that is to saye wrappyd in the grace and in the ayde of god not by his merytes his lyf shone but by thayde of god Of the second cam the depenesse of his wysedome of whiche depenes of wisedom Denys sayth in his mystycal theologyâ— The dyuyne Bertylmewe of whome is moche dyuynyte and ryght lytel And that the gospel is brode and grete and also it is short And after the entent of saynt Denys Bertylmewe wylle shewe that alle thynges may be affermed and shwed of god vnder one consyderacion And by another consideracion may be more propyrly denyed Of saynt Bertylmew thappostle SAynt Bartlmew thappostle wente in to ynde whiche is in th ende of the world And therin he entryd in to a Temple where an Idoll was which was named Astaroth And he as a pylgrym abode there In that ydoll dwellyd a fende that said that he coude hele al maner sekenesses but he lyed for he coude not make them hoole And he cessed to make them seke the temple was ful of seke peple coude haue none answer of that ydoll wherfore they went in to another cyte where as an other ydol was worshiped named berith they demauÌ„ded hym wherfor astaroth gaf to them none answer And Beryth sayde youre god is bouÌ„den with chaynes of fyre that he neyther dar drawe breth ne speke after that bartylmewe thappostle of god entryd in to the temple And they sayd to hym who is that Bertylmew And the deuylle sayd he is the frende of god almyghty And he is comen in to this prouynce for to auoyde alle the goddes of ynde And thenne they sayd telle vs somme tokens and signes that we may knowe hym and fynde hym and the deuylle sayd to them he hath his heres black and cryspe his skyn whyte eyen grete his nosethrellis euen streyt his berde longe and hoor a lytel and of a strayte and semely stature he is clad in a whyte cote and a whyte maÌ„tell whiche in euery corner ben gemmes of purpur and precious stones therin And it is syth xxvj yere that his clothes neuer wexed olde ne fowle he prayeth and worshipeth god on his knees an honderd tymes a day and an honderd tymes by nyght The Angels gone with hym which neuer suffre hym to be wery ne to be an hongryd he is alwey of lyke semblaunt glad and ioyous he seeth alle thynges to fore he knoweth alle thyng he speketh all maner langages and vnderstondeth them And he knoweth wel what I saye to yow And whan ye seche hym yf he wylle he maye shewe hym self to yow And yf hym lyst not not shalle ye fynde hym And I pray yow whan ye fynde hym that ye praye hym that he come not hyder that his Aungels doo not me as they haue doo to my felawe Thenne they wente and sought hym dylygently and besyly two dayes and fonde hym not On a day one that was bisette with a deuylle cryed and sayd Appostle of god Bertylmewe thy prayers brenne me And thappostle sayd holde thou thy pees and come theÌ„s And anone he was delyuerd And whan Polemyen kyng of that regyon herd this thynge whiche hadde a doughter lunatyk he sente to thappostle prayeng that he wold come to hym hele his doughter And whan thappostle was come to hym and sawe that she was bounden with chaynes and bote alle them that wente to her he commaunded to vnbynde her And the mynystres durste not goo to her And he sayd I holde the deuylle fast bounden that was in her And therfor be not aferd And thenne anone she was vnbounden and delyuerd And thenne wold haue presented to thappostle Camellys charged with gold and syluer and precious stones but he coude not be founden in no maner And on the morowe folowyng thappostle appyered to the
our lord as it is sayd myght not be brente And this sayd fyngre was founden of the sayd monkes whiche afterward as it is had in historia Scolastica Seynt Tecle brought it ouer the Montayns and sette it in the chirche of saynt Martyn And thys wytnesseth Mayster Iohan Beleth sayeng That the sayd saynt Tecle brought the same fyngre fro beyonde the see in Romayn And there buylded a chirche in thonoure of saynt Iohan whiche chirche as it is sayd was dedycate and halowed this same day wherfor it was stablysshed of our hooly fader the pope that this day sholde be halowed thorugh the world And Gobert sayth that a moche deuoute lady toward saynt Iohan was in Fraunce whiche moche prayd to oure lorde that he wold gyue to her somme relykes of the sayd seynt Iohan And whan she sawe that it prouffyted not in prayeng to god She beganne to take affyaunce in god and auowed that she wold faste and neuâ—â—ete mete tyll she had of hym somme relyque And whan she had fasten â—â—â—tayne dayes she sawe vpon the table to fore her a fyngre of merueylous whytenes And she receyued with grete ioye that yeft of god Thenne after cam thyder thre Bisshops and eche of them wold haue parte of the fyngre Thenne by the grace of god the fyngre dropped thre droppes of blood vppon a cloâ—h by which they knewe that eche of them had deseruyd to haue a droppe And thenne Theodolye quene of the lomâ—â—rdes founded at 〈◊〉 besyde Meâ—â—n a noble chirche in thonour of saynt Iohan baptist And lyke as Powle witnessith in thystorye of lombardes anâ— the tyme passed vnto Constaunce themperour whiche wolde haue take ytalye fro the lombardes And he demaunded of an hooly man whiche had a spyâ—yt of prophecye how he shold do with 〈◊〉 bataylle whiche he hadde enterprysed And that man was all nyght in prayer and cam to theÌ„perour and ansuerde to hym and sayde The quene hath deâ— made a chirche of saynt Iohan baptist And prayeth contynuelly for the Lombardes And therfore thou mayst not surmounte them but the tyme shall come that that place shalle be despised And thenne they shalle be ouercomen Whiche was accomplysshed in the tyme of Charlemayne On a tyme cam a man of grete vertu as saynt gregorye sayth in his Dyalogue whoes name was sanctyn and hadde receyued in his kepyng a dâ—ken that was taken of the lombardes by suche a conâ—icion that yf he fledde he shold haue â—is hede smyten of The sayd Sanctyn constrayned the deken to flee and delyuerd hym And whanne the â—â—ken was gone they toke the same sanctyn and ledde hym forth to be byheded And they chese a stronge tyraunt to doo hit And he had no doubte to smyte of his hede att one stroke And thenne the sayd Sanctyn stretched forth his necke And the strong Boucher lyfte vp his arme with the swerd and Sanctyn cryed saynt Iohan receyue my sowle And thenne anone the arme of the Boocher was so styf that he couthe not bryng it doune ageyne ne bowe it in no maner And thenne that Boucher made his othe that he wold neuer after in his lyfe smyte no Crysten man And the good man Sanctyn prayd for hym And anone the arme cam doune and was all hoole Thenne late vs praye vnto this hooly saynt saynt Iohan baptist to be a moyen bytwene god and vs that we may so lyue vertuously in in this lyf that whan we shalle departe we may come to euer lastyng lyfe in heuen Amen Thus endeth the fest of decollacion of saynt Iohan baptist Here foloweth of saynt Felix And first of his name FElix is said of fero fers that is to saye as to here And of this word lis litis whiche is as moche to saye as stryf For he bare stryfe for the feythe of our lord Ihesu Cryste ageynst alle the myscreauntes and the ydolles and destroyed them alle by his blowyng ¶ Of saynt Felix SAynt Felix was a preest and so was his broder and was named also Felix And they were presented to Maximyan and to dyoclesyan whiche were Emperours for to sacryfyse vnto the goddes of whom tholdest of them assone as he was brought to the temple of Serapis for tâ—do sacryfyse vnto thidols he blewe in his vysage And as soue as he had don so the ydolle fylle to the erthe and all to brake And theÌ„ne he was ladde to thydolle of Mercurye on whiche he blewe also and fylle doune thenne to the erthe And after he was lad to the third ymage whiche was of Dyane and dyde lyke as he had to that other And thenne he was tormented with the grete tormente of Eculee that is a torment whiche is made lyke a Crosse Thenne he was brought after to the tre of sacryfyse for to sacryfyse there And the hooly man kneled doune and prayd and blewe ageynst the tree And Incontynent the tree tourned the rote vpwarde and fylle doune and in the fallyng destroyed the symylacre with the aulter and Temple And whan the prouost herd that he commaunded that he shold there be byheded And that the body shold be lefte to houndes and beestes And there sprang a maÌ„ in the myddle among them confessyng hym frely to be a Crysten man And bothe of them kyssyng other were ther byheded to geder The Crysten men not knowyng his name callyd hym a dauctum by cause he wente soo hardely to saynt Felyx and sayd he was a Cristen man whan he suffred martirdome And there were they byheded bothe tweyne to geder thenne Crysten men toke the bodyes and buryed them in the pytte where the tree fylle And after the paynyms wold haue taken hem out And anone they were taken of the deuyll And they suffred deth aboute the yere of our lord CClxxxvij ¶ Thus endeth the lif of saynt Felix and Audacte martirs Here foloweth of saynt sauyen And first of his name SAuyen may be sayd of sale whiche is as moche to say as bitter For he was bytter toward god For he was a paynym And sythe he was paysyble to hym whanne he was conuerted to hym by the pees of Crysten faythe and was bytter to hym self For he had leuer haue deyde than not to vnderstonde the lettre For he myght not vnderstonde paynym speche And was right bytter to his fader For he wold neuer obeye hym ne adoure his goddes ¶ Of saint Sauyen SAynt Sauien and Sauyne his suster were children of Sauayn a ryght noble paynym and was twyes maryed he had Sauyen of his fyrst wyf And of the second he hadde Sauyne his doughter And gaf to them that name On a tyme sauyen redde this verse Asperges me do mine And anone he demaunded what it was to saye but he myght not vnderstonde what hit was to saye and he entryd in to his chambre and ware the hayre And kneled within his chambre and sayd to hym self that he had leuer deye there than he shold not
vnderstonde the sens of that verse Thenne the angel apperyd and sayd to hym tormente the not for thou hast founde grace auenste oure lord Ihesu Cryst And to th ende that thou be more whyte Make the clene It behoueth the to be baptysed And thenne thou shalt vnderstoÌ„de and knowe that whiche thou requyrest to knowe now And thenne he was ioyous and glad by the word of the grace of god And thenne he had in despyte thydollys and wold not adoure them Thenne he was repreued and strongly chyden of his fader And sayd hym ofte why honourest thou not our goddes It is better that thou deye allone thenne we al be wrapped in the deth And thenne Sauyen fledde secretely awey and wente vnto the Cyte of Trecasyne And as he went ouer the Ryuer of Secane he prayd our lord that he myght be baptysed there and so he was And theÌ„ne our lord sayd to hym thou hast fouÌ„den now that whiche thou hast longe sought so longe with grete labour And anone he pyght his stat in therthe and made his prayer to god and his staf flourysshed brought forthe leues to fore alle them that were there in soo moche that a thousand an honderd and eyght men byleuyd in oure lord god And whan Auâ—lyan the Emperoure herde herof he sente many knyghtes to take hym whome they fouÌ„de prayenge and dredde for tapproche hym And whan themperour sawe that they retourned not he sente moo after than he dyde before And whanne they cam they founde the other prayeng with hym And whanne he aroos fro prayer they sayd to hym Themperoure desyreth to see 〈◊〉 and sendeth for the by vs that thou sholdest come to hym And this hooly good man wente moche huÌ„bly to hym whan he was to fore the emperour he requyred of hym yf he were crysten or not And he sayd yes Thenne themperour beyng ful of wodenes had hym to sacryfyse to his goddes or els he wold make hym deye an euylle deth Sauyen refused hit And anone he commaunded to bynde hym by the handes and by the feet and to bete hym with staues of yron And theÌ„ne sauyen sayd to hym encrece the tormentes yf thou mayst hardyly For I doubte not ne fere not the ne the tormeÌ„tes that thou dost to me And thenne themperour beyng all wrothe commaÌ„ded that he shold be brought in to the myddel of the Cyte and there be bounden vpon a benche and make a grete fiâ—â— ther vnder and cast oyle therin that he myght be brente and bruyled And he beyng within the flamme themperoure byhelde hym and sawe that he was ioyous therin as he had ben in a bayne wherof he was moche abasshed and sayd to hym Euylle beeste suffyseth it not ynough to the the sowles that thou hast deceyued though thow not assaye to deceyue by thy art magyke To whome Sauyen sayd ther ben many sowles yet and also thy self whiche shalle by me byleue in our lord Ihesu Cryst And thenne themperoure blamed the name of Ihesu Cryst and commaunded that he shold be bounden on the morne at a stake and be shotten at with arowes The arowes abode hangyng in the ayer on the right syde and on the lyfte and none of them hurted hym And whanne themperour knewe that he hadde none harme he wende to haue ben enraged And commaunded that the next day folowyng he shold be brought to hym And after he demaunded hym where is thy god Now lete hym come hyther and delyuer the fro these arowes And as soone as he had sayd soo one of the arowes sprange in to the eye of themperour smote oute his eye thenne theÌ„perour was angry And commaunded to put hym in pryson And that on the next morne erly he shold be byheded And thenne Sauyan prayd our lord that he myght be brought in to the place where as he was baptised And thenne the chaynes with which he was bouÌ„den all to braken and the dores of the pryson were opened and he wente out of the pryson And wente to fore alle the knyghtes that kept hym And they in no maner apperceyued hym And wente in to the same place And when themperour herde saye that he was escaped he commaunded that he shold be pursewed And that his hede sholde be smyten of And whan saynt Sauyen apperceyued that the knyÈtes folowed and that he approched the water he made the signe of the Crosse and wente vpon the water lyke as he shold haue gone vppon the erthe drye and wente vnto the place where as he was baptysed thenne the knyghtes folowed hym and were moche abasshed of that they had sene hym gone on the water And whan they were nyghe hym they doubted moche to smyte at hym And he sayde to them smyte me whan ye wylle al surely and bere of my blood to youre emperoure and late hym rubbe his eye therwith and he shalle be hoole to th ende that he knowe the vertue of god And after this they smote his hede of And he roose vp and bare it thene nyne fourty paas and there was buryed And after that the knyghtes bare of his blood to theÌ„perour wherwith he enoynted his eyen and anon he had his sight and was al hoole And thenne he sayd his god is good and myÈty And ther was by a woman that herde what themperoure sayde whiche wuman hadde be blynde by the space of fourty yere And thenne she made her to be borne thyder And assone as she had touched his sepulcre and made hir prayer anone she receyued helthe her sight ageyne And he suffred dethe aboute the yere of our lord CC lxx in the kalendes of Feuerer and the historye of his suster is here sette by cause that the feste of her is on the same day And as Sauyne his suster wept euery day for her broder and sacryfised for hym to thydollis and in th ende the angel appered to her in her slepe and sayd Sauyne wepe nomore but loue all that thou hast and thou shalt fynde thy broder in grete honour Thenne she awoke sayd to her felawe My swete loue haste thou herde no thyng and she saide yes lady For I haue sene a man that spake to the But I wote not what he sayd and thenne she sayd to her wylt thou not accuse me and she sayd no lady but doo what thow wylt soo that thou slee not thy self And thus they bothe went aweye that mornyng and whenne her fader wyste it that she was gone he was moche so rouful and dyd doo seche her longe And thenne he lyfte vp his eyen to heuen and sayd yf thou arte very god of heuen I praye the destroye myn ydollys which maye not saue me ne my childeren And anone our lord made it for to thondre and brake all the ydollys and moche peple sawe it whiche bileuyd in our lord Thenne the blessid Sauyne wente to Rome And there she was baptysed of the
was gretely troublyd how she myght do to make eugenne to haue to do with her thenne she fayned her to be seke sent for this broder eugenne to come haue pyte on her whan she was come she tolde to her in what manere she was taken in his loue how she brenned in desyryng hym praid her that she wolde lye by her haue to do carnally embraced her kyssed her exhorted her for to do synne eugenne had grete horrour abhomynacion of her said thou art by ryght called me lancye for hit is an euyl name fulfilled of trayson thou art said black derke douÈter of derkenes frende of the deuyll lyÈt of pollucion nourisshyng of lechery anguisshâ—us douÈter of sempyternal deth when she sawe her deceyued of that she coueited she doubted that eugenne shold discouere her felonnye began fyrst to crye that eugenne wold â—â—er haue enforced her thenne she wente to the prouost phelyp complayned sayeng that a yong man a fals cristen was come to me by cause of me dycyne took me wold haue enforced me by strengthe for to haue synned with hym yf I had not be holpen delyuerd by a chamberere which was in my chaÌ„bre when the prouost herd this he was gretely meuid sent for a multitude of peple made eugene to be brought with the other seruauÌ„tes of Ihesu crist bouÌ„den in yron establisshed a day whan they al shold be delyuerd to beestes for to be deuoured thenne were they called to fore the prouost whiche said to eugene say to me thou ryÈt cursyd wretche yf your god hath taughte yow to do suche werkes as for to corrumpe defowle the wymmen forcibly ayenst theyr wylle thenne Eugenne whiche had the hede enclyned by cause she wold not be knowen sayd that our lorde taught and enseygned chastyte entyerly and promysed to them that kepte hit the lyf perdurable And we maye wel shewe that Melancye is fals and lyeth But hit is better to vs to suffre than she sholde be vaynquysshed and pugnysshed And that the fruyt of our pacyence perysshe not but notwithstondyng lete her chaÌ„berere be brought forth here She is the wytnes of oure felonye so that the lesynges of her may be repreuyd And whan she was come she beynge lerned of her lady opposed ageynst eugeÌ„ne sayd that he wold haue taken her by force And also alle the other of the meyne corrupte by the lady wytnessyd that it was soo And EugeÌ„ne sayd the tyme is passed of scylence and the tyme to speke is now I wylle no lenger suffre that this shameles creature put more blame gyltles on the seruaunt of Ihesu cryste ne that she gloryfye not in her malyce ne in her falsete And by cause that trouthe surmounteth her lesynge and that wysedome surmounteth her malyce I shal shewe the trouthe for none auauntage but for the glorye of our lord And thenne she tooke her cote and rente it vnto her gyrdel aboue and sayd that she was a woman as it apperyd And also sayd to the prouost thou art my fader and Claudyenne is my moder And the tweyne that sytte wyth the Auyce and Serge ben my bretheren And I am Eugenne thy doughter And these tweyne ben Prothus and Iacyncte And whanne the fader herde that he knewe well his doughter And thenne he and her moder embraced her and wepte tendyrly for ioye And thenne they clothed Eugenne with clothes of gold and enhaunced her on hyhe And after this cam a fyre from heuen and brente Melancye alle her meyne Thenne Eugenne conuertid to the faythe her fader moder bretheren and alle the meyne therfore lefte the fader the prouostye And was ordeyned Bisshop of the Crysten peple And as he was in prayer and oryson he was slayne of the myscreauÌ„tes and paynyms Thenne Claudyenne with her sones and Eugenne retorned to Rome and there couertid moche peuple vnto the faythe of Ihesu Cryst Thenne by the commaundemente of the emperour ther was a grete stone bounden to the neck of Eugenne and was throwen in to tyber but the stone brake and she wente withoute harme vppon the water Thenne she was throwen in to a brennynge fornays but the fornays was quenchyd by myracle and bycam cold And thenne she was putte in to a derke pryson but a grete shynynge lyght made it all clere and lyghte And whanne she hadde ben there ten dayes withoute mete our lord Ihesu Cryste apperyd to her and brought to her a ryght whyte loof and sayd to her take this mete of my hande I am thy sauyour whome thou hast loued wyth alle thy thought And on that day that I descended in to therthe I shal receyue the Thenne on the daye of the Natyuyte of oure lord the tormentour was sente to her and he smote of her hede And after that she appered to her moder and sayd to her that she shold folowe her on the sonday after And whanne the sonday cam claudyenne put her self to prayer gaf her spyryte to god thenne Prothus Iacyncte were drawen to the temple for to do sacryfyse they by their prayers al to brake thidolle whan they wold in no wyse do sacryfyse they accoÌ„plysshed their martirdom in suffrynge their hedes to be smytoÌ„ of suffred deth vnder Valeryen galyen about the yere of our lord ijC lvij by whos merytes late vs praye almyghty god to haue mercy on vs brynge vs to his blysse Amen Thus enden the lyues of Prothe and Iacincte Here foloweth the Exaltacion of the holy Crosse TExaltacion of the holy Crosse is sayd by cause that on this daye the hooly crosse faythe were gretely enhauÌ„ced And it is to be vnderstonden that to fore the passion of our lord Ihesu crystel the tree of the crosse was a tree of fylthe For the crosses were made of vyle trees of trees without fruyte For all that was planted on the Mount of caluarye bare no fruyte It was a fowle place for hit was the place of the torment of theuys it was derke for it was in a derke place and without ony beaute It was the tree of deth for men were put there to dethe It was also the tree of stenche for it was planted amonge the caroynes after the passion the Crosse was moche enhaunced For the vylte was transported in to preciousyte Of the whiche the blessyd saynt Andrewe sayth O precious holy Crosse god saue the his bareynes was torned in to fruyte as it is sayd in the Cantyques I shall ascende vp in to palme tree et cetera His ignobylyte or vnworthynes was tourned in to sublymyte and heyght The Crosse that was tormente of theuys is now born in the fronte of themperours his derkenes is torned in to lyght and clerenesse wherof Crysostom sayth the Crosse and the wouÌ„des shall be more shynyng than
and made the sowne And they torned hastely soo that the whele brente the mayster of the werke and kepte Eufemye without hurte syttyng vpon the whele And the pareÌ„tes of thartyllour wepte and putte the fyre vnder the whele and wold haue brent Eufemye with the whele but the whele was brent and Eufemye was vnbounden by the aungel of god and was sene stonde all hoole vnhurte in an hyhe place And thenne Apulyen sayd to the Iuge the vertue of Crysten peuple maye not be ouercomen but by yron therfore I counceylle the to doo smyte of her hede Thenne they sette vp laddres and as one wold haue sette hond on her he was anon smeton with a palasye and was borne thens half dede And another named softnes wente vp on hyhe but anone he was chaunged in his corage and repentyd hym and requyred her humbly pardon And whanne he had his swerd drawen he cryed to the Iuge that he had leuer slee hym self than touche her whome the angels deffended At the last whanne she was taken thens the Iuge sayd to his chauÌ„celler that he shold sende to her alle the yonge men that were Ioly for tenforce and to make her do theyr wylle tyl she shold fayle and deye And thenne he entryd in and sawe with her many fayre vyrgyns prayenge with her And she made hym to be crystend wyth her admonestementes And thenne the Iuge dyde do take the vyrgyne by the heer and henge her therby And she euer abode Constaunt and vnmeuable And thenne he dyd doo shytte her in pryson withoute mete seuen dayes and pressyd her there bytwene foure greete stones as who shold presse olyues but she was euery daye fedde with an Angel And whanne she was bytwene those two hard stones she made her prayers And the stones were conuertid in to ryght softe asshes Thenne the Iuge was ashamed for to be vaynquysshed of a mayde And thenne he made her to be throwen in to a pytte where as cruel bestes were whiche deuoured euery man that cam therin swalowed them in And anone they ranne to this hooly vyrgyne in fawnynge her and ioyned theyr taylles togyder And made of them a chayer for her to sytte on And whanne the Iuge sawe that he was moche confounded soo that almoost he deyde for anguysshe and sorowe Thenne the Boucher cam for tauenge thyniurye of his lord and smote his swerde in to her syde al to hewe her and made her there the martir of Ihesu Cryste oure lord And the Iuge clad hym with clothys of sylke and henge on hym owches brochys of gold But when he shold haue yssued oute of the pytte he was rauysshed of the beestes and all deuoured anon And thenne his peple souÈt hym longe and vnnethe fonde they a lytel of his bones with his clothe of sylke and his ouches of gold And thenne the Iuge ete hym self for madnes and soo was fonde dede wretchydly And Eufemye was buryed in calcedoine and by her merytes alle the Iewes and paynyms of calcedoine byleuyd in Ihesu Cryst And she suffryd deth aboute the yere of our lord ijC lxxx And saynt Ambrose sayth of this vyrgyne thus The hooly vyrgyn tryumphaunt in vyrgynyte reteynyng the mytre deseruyd to be clad with the crowne by whos merytes the wycked enemy is vaynquysshed and Prysais her aduersary and Iuge is ouercomen The vyrgyne is saued fro the fornaye of fyre hard stones ben conuertid in to pouldre whiche beestes ben made meke and tame and enclyne doune theyr ueckes and all maner of paynes and tormentes by her oracions and prayers ben ouercome And at the laste smeton with a swerd she left the cloistre of her flesshe and is ioyned to the celestyall company gladde and ioyous And blessyd lord this blessyd Vyrgyne commaundeth to the thy chirche And good lord lete her praye to the for vs synnars and this vyrgyne withoute corrupcion flourysshyng gete vnto vs that oure desyres maye be graunted of the Thus endeth the lyf of saint Eufemye Here begynneth the lyf of saint Lambert And first of thynterpretacion of his name LAmbert is said of lampos in greke whiche is as moche to saye as brennyng And of thus that is encence That is to saye encence brennynge to god Or he may be sayd of lampas a lampe whiche gyueth lyght in the chirche he was encence brennynge to god by distresse of conscyence and for to kepe obedyence And he was lyght in the chirche by noble predicacion and by ensample of good operacion ¶ Of saint Lambert TAmbert was of a noble lygnage but he was more noble by holynes And was enformed in lettrure in his first age so for his holynesse he was louyd of all the peple in suche wise that after his maister The obarde he deseruyd to be promoted to be bisshop of Trecht whom Chylderik kynge of Fraunce loued moche And had hym alweye dere before other bisshops But whanne the malyce of the Iewes grewe the felons put hym out of his honour withoute cause and sett Ferramund in his chayer And lambert entryd in to a monasterye and was there and conuersyd seuen yere goodly On a nyght whanne he aroos fro prayer he â—â—te wynde goo behynde by ignoraunce And whanne thabbott herd it he sayd he that hath done that late hym go oute to the crosse barefote And anone Lamberte wente oute to the crosse barfote in his haire and was there and wente in the snowe and in the froste whanne the bretheren chauffed them after matynes And the abbot demaunded where Lamberte was And a broder sayde that he was gone to the crosse by his commaundement he dyde doo calle hym And thenne the abbot and his Monkes requyred hym to pardone them but he not only pardonned them but also prechyd to them the vertue of pacyence And after vij yere Ferramond was putt oute And saynt Lambert was brought ageyne by the commaundement of pepyn to his fyrst see And there he shone by worde and by ensample in all vertue Thenne two wicked men adressyd them ageynst hym and beganne to rebuke and blame hym strongly And the frendes of the same bisshop slewe them In that tyme Lambert beganne to blame strongly pypyn for a comyn womaÌ„ that he helde And Dodo a Cosyn of them that had be slayne and brother of the same cemyn woman and offycer of the kynges halle assemblyd a grete felaushippe and assyeged al aboute the bisshops place And wolde auenge the dethe of his Cosyns on saynt Lambert And whanne a child cam to saynt Lambert whiche was in his prayers and told hym therof he trustynge wel in oure lord thought he shold well vaynquysshe them And toke a swerde And whanne he had remembryd hym self he threwe aweys his swerde And Iuged hym self better to vaynquysshe in suffrynge of deth than to leye his hooly hondes in the blood of the felons And this hooly man warned his peple that they sholde confesse theyr synnes and suffre pacyently
the loue of god withoute takynge of ony reward There was a lady whiche had spente al her goodes in medycyns and cam to these sayntes and anone was heled of her sekenesse and thenne she offrid a lytell yefte to saynt Damyan but he wold not receyue it And she sware and coniured hym by horryble othes that he graunted to receyue hit And not for couetyse of the yefte but for to obeye to the deuocion of her that offred it And that he wold not be sene to despyse the name of our lord of whiche he had be coniured And whanne saynt Cosme knewe hit he commaunded that his body shold not be leyd after his dethe with his broders And the nyght folowynge our lord apperyd to saynt Cosme and excused his broder And whanne Lysyas herd theyr renommee he made them to be callyd to foâ—e hym and demaunded their names and their countrey And thenne the holy martyrs sayd Our names ben Cosme and Damyan And we haue thre other bretheren whiche he named Antyne Leonce and Euprepye Our countreye is Arabye but Crysten men knowe not fortune Thenne the preconsul or Iuge commaunded them that they shold brynge forth theyr bretheren And that they shold alle togyder doo sacryfyse to the ydollys And whanne in no wyse they wold do sacryfyse but despysed thydollys he commaunded they shold be sore tormentid in the handes and feet And whanne they despysed his tormentys he commaunded them to be bounden with a chayne and throwen in to the See But they were anone delyuerd by thaungell of oure lord and taken oute of the See and cam ageyne to fore the Iuge And whan the Ingr sawe them he sayd ye ouercome our grete goddes by your enchauntementes ye despyse the tormentis and make the see peasyble Teche ye me your wytchecraft And in the name of the god Adryan I shall folowe yow And anone as he had said this two deuyls cam and bete hym gretely in the vysage And he cryeng sayd O ye good men I praye yow that ye pray for me to our lord And they thenne praid for hym And anon the deuyls departed Thenne the Iuge sayd Loo ye may see how the goddes had indignacion ageynst me by cause I thonght to haue forsaken them but I shal not suffre my goddes to be blasphemed And thenne he commaunded them to be cast in to a grete fyre But anone the flamme sprange ferre from them and slewe many of them that stode by And thenne they were commaunded to be puâ—te on a torment named Eculâ—e but they were kepte by the Aungel of our lord And the tormentours tormentid them aboue alle men And yet were they taken of with oute hurt on gryef and foo cam all hole to fore the Iuge Thenne the Iuge commaunded the thre to be put in pryson And made Cosme and Damyan to be crucyfyed and to be stoned of the peple but the stones retourned to them that threwe them and hurted wounded many of them Thenne the Iuge replenysshed with woodenesse made the thre bretheren to stande by the Crosse And commaunded that foure knyghtes shold shote arowes to Cosme and Damyan but the arowes retorned and hurted many and dyd no harme to the martirs And whan the Iuge sawe that he was confused in alle thynges he was anguysshous vnto the dethe and dyde doo byhede all fyue bretheren to gydre Thenne the crysten men doubted of the word that saynt cosme had sayd that his broder shold not be buryed wyth hym and as they thoughte theron there cam a voys whiche cryed and sayd they ben al of one substaunce berye them all to gydre in one place And they suffred deth vnder Dyoclesyan aboute the yere of oure lord two honderd four scorâ— and seuen It happend that an husbond man after that he had laboured in the felde aboute repynge of his corn he slepte With open mouthe in the feld And a serpent entryd in by his mouthe in to his body thenne he awoke felte no thynge and after retorned in to his hows And at euen he beganne to be tormented and cryed pytously and called vnto his helpe the holy sayntes of god cosme and damyan and whanne the payne and anguysshe encreced he wente to the chirche of the sayntes and fylle sodenly a slepe and thenne the serpent yssued oute of his mouthe lyke as it had entryd There was a man that shold haue gone a longe vyage and recommended his wyf to cosme and Damyan and lefte a token with her that yf he sente for her by that token she shold come to hym And the deuylle knewe well the token transfygured hym self in the fonrme of a man and brought to the woman the signe of her husbond sayd thyn husbonde hath sente me fro that cyte to the for to lede the to hym And yet she doubted for to goo wyth hym and sayd I knowe wel the token but by cause he lefte me in the kepynge of the sayntes cosme and Damyan Swere to me vpon theyr aulter that thou shalt brynge me to hym surely And thenne I shalle goo with the And he sware lyke as she hadde sayd Thenne she folewed hym And whan she cam in a secrete place the deuylle wolde haue throwen her doune of her hors for to haue slayne her And when she felte that she cryed to god and to the sayntes cosme and damyan for help And anone these sayntes were there with a grete multytude clothed inn whyte and delyuerd her and the deâ—ylle vanysshed away And they sayd to her we ben Cosme and Damyan To whoos othe thou byleuedest Therfore we haue hyed vs to come to shyn helpe Felyx the eyght pope after saynt gregory dyd doo make a noble chirche at Rome of the sayntes Cosme and Damyan and ther was a man whiche serued deuoutely the hooly martirs in that chirche whome a Canâ—â—e had consumed al his thye And as he slepte the hooly martirs Cosme and Damyan apperyd to hym theyr deuoute seruaunt bryngynge with them an Instrument and oynement of whome that one sayd to that other where shal we haue flesshe whan we hane cutte aweye the roten flesshe to fylle the voyde place Thenne that other sayd to hym Ther is an ethyopyen that this day is buryed in the chircheyerd of saynt peter ad vincula whiche is yet fresshe late vs bere this thyder and take we oute of that moryans flesshe and fâ—ll this place with all And soo they fette the thye of this dede man and cutte of the thye of the seke man and soo chaunged that one for that other and when the seke man awoke and felte no payne he put forthe his honde and felte his legge withoute hurte And thenne tooke a Candel and sawe wel that it was not his thye but that hit was another And when he was well come to hym self â—e sprange oute of his bedde for ioye and recounted to al the peple how hit was happed to hym and that
meruayled of hym For they that demed hym an Heretik were madde he was al in lessons all in bookes he ne rested day ne nyghte but alway redde or wrote Hec Seuerus And lyke as it apperyth by these wordes And also he wytnessyth hym self He suffred many persecutours detractours whiche persecucions he suffred pacyently and goodly as it apperid in an Epystle that he sente to asselle I yeue thankynges to oure lord god that I am worthy that the world hate me And that wycked men and Ianglers holde me for euylle For I knowe wel that men come to heuen by the dyffame of wycked men more than by good renommee And I wold that the companye of myscreauntes shold pursewe and persecute me for the name and ryght of oure lord My wylle is that the repreef of the world aryse more feruently ageynst me soo that I myghte deserue to be preysed of our lord and that I may hope the reward of his promesse Temptacyon is desyrous and agreable whoos merite in resystynge is to be hoped reward of Cryste in heuen Ne the cursynge ne malediction is not greuous whiche is chaunged in to dyuyne laude and praysynge He deyed aboute the yere of our lord CCC lxxx and eyghte ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Iheromme Here foloweth the lyf of seint Remyge And first of his name REmyge is said of Remige that is a boteman or a rower Or hit is sayd of Remys whiche ben Instrumentes by whiche the shippe is rowed and conduyted and of gyon â—hat is to saye wrastlynge He gouerned the Chirche and kepte it fro paryll of wrake and brought it to the porte of heuen And for the chirche he wrastlyd ageynst the assaultes of the deuylle Of saint Remyge SAint Remyge conuertid to the fayth the kynge the peuple of Fraunce The kynge had a wyf named Rotilde whiche was Crysten And she enforced her moche to conuerte her husbond to the Crysten fayth but she myght not And whan she hadde a childe She wold haue Crystened hym But the kynge deffended it to her And she rested not til at the last the kyng grauÌ„ted that it shold be crysten And after that it was cristened it deyde anone Thenne said the kynge Now hit apperith well that Cryst is a vyle god for by cause he may not kepe hym whiche in his faythe shold haue ben enhauÌ„ced in my kyngdome after me And she said to hym Now fele I wel that I am louyd of my god by cause he hath receyued the fyrst fruyte of my wombe he hath enhaunced to a better kyngdom my sone and to regne perpetuelly with outen ende whiche is moche better than thy kyngdome is And sooâ—e after she conceyued ageyne and had a fayr sone whome with grete prayers she baptysed as she dyd the fyrste but anone after he was seke soo that they hadde none hope of his lyf And thenne the kynge sayd to his wyf Certeynly this is a feble god whiche may not coÌ„serue ne kepe none that is baptysed in his name And yf thou haddest a thousand and dydest them to be baptysed al shold perisshe yet neuertheles the child reuyued was hole so that he regned after his fader And the faythful quene enforced her to brynge her husbond to the faythe but he reffused it in alle maners It is sayed in that other feste whiche is after thepyphanye how the kynge was conuertid to the fayth And the forsayd kynge Clouys when he was crystened sayd that he wold gyue to saynt Remige for tendowe his chirche as moche lond as he myght go aboute whyles he slepte at mydday And soo it was done but ther was a man whiche had a mylne within the circuyte whiche saynt Remyge hadde closed And as saynt Remyge wente aboute it the Mylnar putted hym out with indignacion and grete despyte And saynt Remyge sayd to hym frende haue no desdayne and late it not be to harde yf we haue also this Mylne with that other Neuertheles the Mylnar put hym out And anone the whele of the Mylne beganne to torne contrarye And thenne the Mylnar cryed after saynt Remyge and sayde Seruaunt of god come and late vs haue the mylle to gydre And saynt Remyge sayd nay hit shalle neyther be myn ne â—hyn And anone the erthe opened and swolewed in all the mylle And saynt Remyge knewe by the spyrite of prophecye and by the wylle of god that a grete famyne shold come And assembled in a Towne grete plente of whete And the dronken Vylayns of the Towne mocqued and scorned hym of his prouydence And sett the garners a fyre And when he knewe hit he cam thyder And by cause he was cold for age and his last tyme approchyd fast he satte doune by the fyre and warmed hym and sayd with a peasyble herte the fyre is alwey good Neuertheles they that made that fyre and alle the men of theyr lygnage were broken in her membres And the wymmen gowty And this endured in the same Towne vnto the tyme of Charles whiche chaced and maade them goo theyr waye and soo disperplyd them And it is to be knowen that the feste of saynt Remyge that is halowed in Ianyuer is the feste of his blessyd deth and deposicion and thys is the feste of the translacion of hys blessyd body For when after his deth the hooly body shold have be broughte to the chirche of saynt Thymothe and Appollynare with the shryne and cam nyghe vnto the chirche of saynt Cristofre it beganne to weye soo moche that they myght not meue hit fro thens in no manere At the last they prayd our lord that he wold vouchesauf to shewe them yf it were his wylle that the body shold be buryed in that chirche where as no relyques reste And thenne anone they took vp the body lyghtely ynowe and buryed hym there honourably And many myracles were ther shewed soo that they enlarged and made the chirche more ample and large And thenne they made an oratoyre behynde the aulter and wold haue do lâ—â—en for to haue leyd the body in that oratoyre but they couthe not meue hit in no manere Thenne they watched and prayd vnto oure lord and att mydnyght they fylle all a slepe And on the morne they fonde the sepulcre with the body in the place whiche aungels had borne thider whyle they slepte And this was the k lendes of octobre whiche afterward by long tyme on the same daye it was translated in to a feretre or shryne of syluer he flowrid about the yeres of our lord CCCC four score and ten ¶ Thus endeth the translacion of saint Remyge Here foloweth the lyf of seint Logier And first of his name LOgier is said of leos that is to saye peple and of ganos that is to saye angell Logyer was aungel of the peple For an angel is propyrly lyght And is a messagyer for to shewe the peuple good werkes And soo he shewed to the peple to fore the
For on a tyme he wyth other men of peruse was taken prysoner And were put in a cruell pryson where all the other waylled and sorowed And he only was gladde and enioyed And whanne they had repreuyd hym therof he answerd knowe ye sayd he that I am ioyeful For I shall be worshipped as a saynt thorugh oute alle the world On a tyme he wente to Rome by cause of deuocion And he tooke of alle his clothes and cladde hym with the clothes of a beggar and satt amonge the poure men to fore the chirche of saint Peter And as one of them begged with hem coueytously And moche oftener wold haue done but the shame of knowen peple letted hym The old enemy the deuylle enforced hym to lette hym of his hooly purpos And shewed to hym a woman monstruous and horrybly diffygured croke bak and lame whiche was in that Cyte And he sayd to hym that he left not that he had enterprysed he wold make hym semblable and lyke vnto her But he was comforted of our lord whiche herd a voys sayenge to hym Fraunceys take these bytter thynges for the swete and despyse thy self yf thow desyre to knowe me On a tyme he mette a lepre whome naturelly men abhorre but he remembryd hym of the word that was sayd of god and ranne to hym and kyssed hym And anon the lazare vanysshed away wherfor he wente to thabytacion of the lazars And kyssed deuoutely theyr handes and gaf to them moneye And lete hem haue no nede of suche as he myÈte doo ¶ On a tyme he entryd in to the Chirche of saynt Damyan for to make his prayers And thymage of Ihesu Cryst spak vnto hym and sayd FrauÌ„ceis goo and repayre my hows which is alle destroyed as thou seest And from that houre the sowle of hym lyquefyed And the passion of Ihesu Cryst was merueylously infyxed in his herte And thenne he dyde grete payne and was besy in repayryng the chirche And sold alle that he hadde and gaf the money therof to a preeste And he durst not receyue hit for fere of his parentes and kynne Thenne he castynge it awey to fore the preeste as dust settynge not therby wherfore he was taken of his fader and bounden and restored to hym his money And resygned also his clothes and soo naked he fled to our lord clad hym with hayre And thenne the blessyd Fraunceys wente vnto a symple man whome he took in stede of his fader and prayd hym that lyke as his fader doublyd on hym his curses that in contrarye he shold blesse hym his owne broder germayn sawe hym in a wynter tyme haue on hym but fowle and fewe clothes and that he tremblid for cold and was entendynge to his prayers sayd to his felawe Goo to Fraunceys and saye to hym that he selle to the a penyworthe of his swote And whanne he herd it he answerd with a glad chere I wylle selle hit vnto my lord god On a day he herd in the chirche that whiche oure lord sayd to his discyples whanne he sente them to preche And anone he adressyd hym with alle his myght to doo and kepe all tho thynges he dyd of his hosyn shone fro his feet and clad hym with a fowle cote and tooke a corde for his gyrdle He wente on a tyme in a snowe by a woode and was taken by theues and they demaunded hym what he was And he sayd that he was the messager of god And anone they toke hym and caste hym in the snowe sayenge to hym lye thou there vilayn messager of god Many noble and vnnoble clerkes and laye men hadde despysed the world and begonne to folowe hym And the hooly fader enseygned and taught them the perfection of the gospel whiche was for to be in pouerte and that they shold go by the wey of symplenesse he wrote thenne a rule after the gospel to hym self and his bretheren had and to be had whiche pope Innocent confermed And fro than forthon he beganne to sprede more ardauntly the sedes of the word of god and wente aboute cytees castels by a feruent and merueylous desyre There was a Frere whiche semed outward of merueylous holynes and kepte scylence soo straytly that he wold not be shryuen by wordes but by sygnes and euery man preysed hym as a saynt this hooly man Fraunceis cam thyder and sayde leue ye bretheren to preyse hym for I shall not yet preyse hym leste it be by fayntyse of the deuylle late hym be warned to be shryuen twyes in the weke by worde and spekynge And yf he doo it not this is but temptacion of the deuylle and fraudelous deceyte and thenne the freres warned hym so to doo and he put his fyngre to his mouthe and shoke his heede and shewed that in no wyse he wold confesse hym And anone after he retourned ageyne to worldly lyf as an hound to his vomyte And wente oute of his ordre and fynysshed his lyf in synful actes and werkes On a tyme saynt Fraunceis was wery of goyng and rood vppon an asse And his felawe one Leonard of Assyse was also wery of goynge and saynt FrauÌ„ceis biganne to thynke thus and saye in hym self his kynne my kynne were not lyke And incontynent he alyghte doune and sayd to the Frere It apperteyneth not to me to ryde and the to goo afoote For thow art more noble than I am And the Frere was abasshed and kneled doune and requyred pardon On a tyme as he passed by a place a noble lady ranne soo hastely ageynste hym that she myght not speke for werynes And he axed of her what she wold and she saide praye for me fader For I maye not performe the purpoos of helthe whiche I haue bigonne for my husbond whiche letteth me doth to me many aduersytees in the seruyce of god and he said to her goo thy waye doughter For thow shalt haue anone comfort of hym And saye to thyn husbond in goddes name and myn that now is the tyme of helthe And herafter shall be tyme of equyte and righte And when she hadde said so to her husbond the man was sodenly chaunged and auowed to god contynence and chastyte On a tyme a poure labourer was almost lost in a woode for thurst And this hooly saint impetred a fontayne by his preyers He said on a tyme to a Frere that was famylyer with hym this secrete whiche was shewed to hym by the hooly ghoost Ther is a seruaunt of God lyuynge in the worlde on this daye For whoos sake as long as he shal lyue our lord shall suffre no famyne among the peple but withoute doubte it is said that when he was deede alle that condicion was chaunged to the contrarye For after his blessid deth he apperyd to the same frere and said to hym loo now is the famyne comen whiche as longe as I lyued vppon erthe our lord wold not suffre to come On an eester daye the
seke man tasted and reuyued anone helthe And also dyd many other myracles And when his laste dayes aporochyd And was greuyd by longe infyrmyte thenne he made hym self to be leyd vpon the bare ground And dyd doo calle alle the Freres that were there And whanne they were alle present he blessyd them And lyke as oure lord fedde his disciples at souper in sherthursdaye he gaf to eche of them a morselle of breed And warned them as he was woned to doo to gyue lawde to theyr maker And the very dethe whiche is to alle men horryble and hatefulle he admonested them to preyse it And also he warned and admonested deth to come to hym and sayd Deth my suster welcome be thou And whanne he cam at the laste houre he slepte in our lord Of whome a Frere sawe the soule in maner of a sterre lyke to the mone in quantyte and to the sonne in clerenes There was a Frere named Augustyn whiche was mynystre and seruaunte in the londe of laboure of the erthe And as he was in his last ende and had lost his speche he escryed sodaynly and sayde abyde me Fader abyde I shalle goo with the Thenne the Freres demaunded hym what he sayd And he sayd See ye not oure Fader Fraunceys that goth vnto heuen And anone he slepte in pees and folowed his holy fader ¶ A lady which hadde be deuoute to the blessyd FrauÌ„ceys deyed and the Clerkes prestes were at the byere for to synge thexequyes of her she aroos vp sodenly of the biere and called one of the preestes that were there sayd fader I wold confesse me I was deed and shold haue be put in a cruelle pryson by cause I hadde not shryuen me of a synne that I shalle saye But saynt Fraunceys prayd for me that this confessyd and shewed I shalle haue foryeuenesse And anone as I shalle haue seyd and confessyd hit to the I shalle reste in pees to fore yow alle And thenne she was confessyd and assoylled and rested anone in our lord The Freres of Vyterbe wold haue borowed a carte of a man And he answerd in despyte I had leuer see two of yow flayn with saynt Fraunceys than I shold leue yow my carte but he cam ageyne to hym self and repreuyd hym self and repentyd hym of the blame that he had sayd and doubted the Ire of god And anone hys sone was seke and deyde And whan he sawe his sone deed he slepte on the erthe wepyng and called saynt FrauÌ„ceis and sayd I am he that synned thou sholdest haue beten me gyue ayene to me hooly saynt prayenge dâ—uoutely to the whome thow hast taken away fro me blamynge the and blasphemynge wyckedly And anone his sone reuyued and sayde whanne I was deed seynt Fraunceys ladde me by a longe way and derke And atte laste he brought me vnto a ryght faire grene And after sayd to me Retorne to thy fader I wylle no lenger holde the ¶ There was a poure man whiche ought vnto a certayne Ryche man a quantyte of moneye· And prayd hym for the loue of saynt Fraunceys he wold prolonge the terme of payment To whome he answerd prowdely I shalle sette the in suche a place that neyther Fraunceys ne none other shalle helpe the And anone he took bonde hym and sette hym in a derke pryson And anone after saynt FrauÌ„ceis cam thyder and bracke vp the pryson and losed his bondes and brouÈt the man al saufly to his owne hows Ther was a knyghte whiche detracted the werkes and myracles of saynt fraunceys and on a tyme as he played at the dyes he beynge alle araged and full of woodenes and cruelnes sayd to theym that stoode by hym yf saynt Fraunceis be a saynt late come eyghten on the dyes And anone cam in thre dyes in eche of hem sixe and soo it apperyd nyne tymes at euery tyme thre sixes at eche caste And thenne he adioustyng woodenes to wodenes he sayd ysit be trewe that frauÌ„ceis be a seynt late a swerd ryue me thurgh my body this day And yf he be no saynt that it escape saufly And whan the playenge at dyes was ended by cause he hadde made that prayer in synne he sayd Iniurye to his neuewe And he tooke his swerd and stack it thurgh belye slewe hym anone ¶ There was a man that hade loste his thye that he couthe not moeue hit And cryed to saynt Fraunâ—â—is thus sayenge helpe me saynt fraceis remembre the of the deuocion and of the seruyse that I haue done to the For I caryed the vppon myn asse and kyssed thy feet and thy hondes And now I deye for payne of thys ryght hard tormente Thenne the hooly man appyeryd to hym with a litille staf that he helde whiche hadde the signe of thau and touchyd therwith the place of his payne and the postume bracke and receyued anone ful helthe but the signe of thau abode alwey in the same place with that signe saynt Fraunceys was wonte alwaye to signe his lettres There was a mayde whiche duellyd in the Montaynes of puylle in a castel and her fader moder ne had but only this doughter And she deyde And her moder was moche deuout toward saynt fraunceis But thenne she was full of heuynes And saynt Fraunceys appyeryd to her and sayd wepe nomore for the lyght of thy lanterne is quenchyd And it apperteyneth not that I yelde her ageyne to the by thy prayer But yet the moder had affyaunce and trust in the saynt And wold not suffre to bere awey the body but in callynge saynt Fraunceis she took her doughter that was deed and reysed her vp alyue and hoole Ther was a lytel childe in Rome fallen oute of a wyndowe to the ground and deyde forthwythe And they called to saynt Fraunceys for help and he was anone restored to lyf In a cyte of Swetse hit hapned that an hows fylle and slewe a child And whanne they had putt the corps in a chyste for to berye the moder callyd on saynt Fraunceys with all her deuocion And aboute mydnyght the chyld cowhyd and aroos all hoole And beganne to preyse god Frere Iames of Reaten had passyd a floode in a vesselle with other Freres whiche were sette a lond and he hasted so sore after to goo oute by cause he was laste and the shyppe recuyeled backward in to the water soo that he fylle doune in to the deppest of the flood And thenne alle the Freres prayde saynt Fraunceys for hym And he hym self as he myght with lyke deuocion callid the hooly saynt vnto his ayde and helpe in his herte And that same Frere beganne to goo in the bottom of the water as drye as he had gone on the erthe and caught the bote whyche was drowned and brought hit to the banke and cam vp withoute wetynge of his clothes that he ware Ne nener drope of water touchyd his cote ne wette no thynge on hym Thenne
mayst happely knowe somme wordes that haue suche myghte and vertue And pawle sayde I shal write to fore the forme of the wordes whiche ben these In the name of Ihesu Cryste borne of the vyrgyne crucyfyed and deed whiche aroos ageyne ascended in to heuen and from thens shal come for to Iuge the world See And by cause that alle suspecion be taken awey Pawle seyd to Denyse that he hym self shold pronounce tho wordes And whanne Denyse had seyd those wordes in the same maner to the blynd man Anone the blynd man recouerd his syghte And thenne Denys was baptysed And Damare hys wyf and alle his meyny And was a trewe Crysten man And was Instructe and taughte by seynt Powle thre yere and was ordeyned Bisshop of Athenes And there was in predycacion And conuertyd that Cyte and grete paÌ„te of the regyon to crysten feith And it is seyd that seynt Powle shewed to hym that he sawe whanne he was rauysshed in to the thyrd heuen lyke as seynt Denyse seyth shewyth in dyuerse places wherof he speketh so clerly of the gerarchyes of Aungels of the ordres and of the disposicions offyces of them soo that it is not supposed that he lerned of ony other but only of hym that was rauysshed vnto the thyrdde heuen and hadde sene alle thynges He flouryd by the spyryte of prophecye lyke as it appieryth in an epystle that he sente to Iohan theuangelyst in the yle of pathmos to whiche he was sente in exyle where as he prophecyed that he shold come ageyne sareng thus Enioye thou veryly byloued very wonderfulle and to be desyred ryÈt well byloued thow shalt be laten oute fro the kepynge that thow hast in pathmos And shalt retorne vnto the land of Asye And thou there make there the folowynge of thy good god and the good werkes of hym and shalt delyuer them to them that shalle come after the And as it is sene and shewed in the booke of the names dyuyne he was at the deyenge of the blessyd virgyne Marye And whanne he herd that peter powle were enprysoned at Rome vnder Nero he ordeyned a Bisshop vnder hym and cam for to vysyte them And whanne they were martryd and passyd to god And Clement was sett in the see of Rome After a certayne tyme he was sente of the seyd Clement in to Fraunce and he hadde in his companye Rustyke and Elentherye And thenne he cam with them to parys and conuerted there moche peple to the faith and dyde doo make many Chirches sette in them clerkes of dyuerse ordres And thenne he shone by soo grete heuenly grace that when the Bisshops of thidolles moeued by stryf the peple ayeâ—st hym And the peple cam for to destroye hym Anone as they had sene hym they lefte alle their cruelte And knelyd doune at his feet where they hadde soo grete drede that they fledde aweye from hym for fere But the deuylle whiche had enuye and sawe euery day his power mynnysshed and destroyed And that the chirche encreaced and hadde vyctorye of hym and moeued Domycyen themperour in soo grete cruelte that he made a commaundement that who someuer myght fynde ony cristen man that he shold constrayne them to doo sacryfyse or tormente them by dyuerse tormentes And thenne he sent the prouost sysynnyeÌ„ of Rome to paris ageynste the Crysten men And fonde there the blessyd denyse prechynge and made hym cruelly to be beten bespytte and despysed and fast to be bounden wyth Rustyke and Elentherye and to be brought to fore hym And whan he sawe that the sayntes were constaunt and ferme in the knowlechynge of oure lord he was moche heuy and soroufull Thenne cam thyder a noble matrone whiche sayd that her husbond was fowly deceyued of these enchaunteurs And thenne anone the husbond was sente fore And he abydynge in the coÌ„fession of our lord was anone putte to deth And the sayntes were beten cruelly of twelue knyÈtes and were straytly bounden with chaynes of yron put in pryson the day folowynge Denys was leyd vpon a gredyron and stratched al naked vppon the celes of fyre And there he sange to our lord sayeng Lord thy word is vehemently firy And thy seruaunt is enbraced in the loue therof And after that he was putte amonge cruel beestes whiche were excited by grete hongre and famyne by longe fastynge And as soone as they cam rennynge vpon hym he maade the signe of the crosse ageynste them anone they were made mooste meke tame And after that he was cast in to a fornais of fyre and the fyre anone quenchyd And he hadde neyther payne ne harme And after that he was putte on the crosse and theron he was longe tormentid and after he was taken doune and put in to a derke pryson with his felawes And many other Crysten men And as he song ther the masse and communed the peuple our lord appyeryd to hym with greete lyght and delyuerd to hym brede sayenge Take this my dere frende For thy reward is moost grete with me After this they were presented to the Iuge and were put ageyne to newe tormentes And thenne he dyde do smyte of the hedes of the thre felawes that is to seye denyse Rustyke and Elentherye in the name of the hooly trynyte this was done by the temple of Mercurye And they were byheded wyth thre axes And anone the body of saynt Denys reysed hym self vp and bare his heede bitwene his armes as the aungels ladde hym two leghes fro the place whiche is sayd the hylle of the martirs vnto the place where he now resteth by his election and by the purueaunce of god And there was herd soo grete and swete a melodye of Aungels that many of them that herd hit byleuyd in oure lorde And Laâ—sia wyf of the forsaid prouost lubye sayd that she was Crysten And anone she was byheded of the wycked felons was baptysed in her blood and soo deyed And Lysbyen his sone whiche was a knyght at Rome vnder thre Emperours cam afterward to parys and was baptysed and putte hym self in the nombre of the Relygyous and the wycked paynyms doubted that the good Crysten men wold burye the bodyes of Rustyke and Elentherye and commaunded that they shold be caste in to sayne the Ryuer And a noble woman badde them to dyne that bare them And whyles they dyned this lady toke aweye the bodyes and buryed them secretely in a felde of heerys And after whanne the persecucion was cessyd she tooke them thens and leyde theym honourably with the body of seynt Denys And they suffred deth aboute the yere of our lord four score and sixten vnder domycyan the yere of the age of saynt Denys four score and ten On a tyme whanne Regulus the holy bisshop songe masse at Arelatence reherced the names of thappoostles in the canone he added and ioyned to the blessid martirs Denyse Rustyke and Elentherye whiche soo sayd many
supposid that they had yet lyuyd and merueyled why he so reherced their names in the canone And they so wondryng ther appyered vppon the Crosse of the aulter thre dounes syttynge whiche hadde the names of the sayntes marked and wreton on their brestes with blood whiche dylygently beholdyng vnderstode well that the sayntes were departed oute of this world And ygnarus Bisshop of Reynes sayth in a pistse whiche he sente to Charles that this denys that was sent in to Fraunce was denyse Ariopagita as afore is sayd And the same sayth Iohannes scotus in a pystle to charles lest by the reason of the countynge of the tyme shold be sayd ageynst as somme wolde obiecte Aboute the yere of our lord eyght honderd xxxij in the tyme of lowys kynge of Fraunce the Messagyers of Mychael emperour of Constantinople amonge other thynges brought to Lâ—wys sone of Charles le graunt the bookes of saynt denys of the gerarchye of the aungels translated oute of greke in to latyn and were receyued with grete ioye And that same nyght were nynten seke men heled in his chirche Aboute the yere of oure lord sixe honderd and thre and fourty lyke as hit is conteyned in a Cronycle Dagobert kynge of Fraunce whiche regned longe to fore pyppyn beganne to haue fro his childehode grete reuerence to saynt Denys For whanne he douted in that tyme the Ire of his fader Clotayre he fledde anone to the Chirch of saynt Denys And whanne thys holy kynge was deed it was shewed in a vysyon vnto an hooly man that the sowle of hym was rauysshed to iugement and that many sayntes accused hym that he hadde despoylled theyr chirches And as the wycked Aungels wold haue had hym to the paynes the blessyd Denys cam thyder by hym he was delyuerd at his comynge and escaped fro the paynes And peraduenture the sowle retorned to the body and dyd penaunce Clouys kynge discouered the body of saynt Denys not dewely and brake the bone of his arme and rauysshed it awey coueytously And anone he becam oute of his mynde Thenne late vs worshipe almyghty god in his seyntes that we by their merytes maye amende our self in this wretchyd lyf that we may after this lyf come vnto his sempyternal blysse in heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Denyse Here foloweth of saint Calixt pope And first of his name CAlixte is said of caleo cales that is to say eschauffe or to make warme For he was hoote and brennynge Fyrst in the loue of god And after he was hoote and brennynge in gâ—tynge and purchacyng sowles and thyrdly he was hoote in destroyeng the false ydolles and also in shewynge the paynes for synne Of saint Calyxte CAlixte the pope was martryd the yere of our lord two honderd and two and twenty vnder Alysander the Emperour And by the werkes of the sayd emperoure the mooste apparaunt partye of Rome was thenne brent by vengeaunce of god And the lyfte arme of thydolle Iupyter whiche was of fyne gold was molten And thenne alle the prestes of thydolles wente to themperour Alysander and requyred hym that the goddes that were angry myght be appeased by sacryfyses And as they sacryfysed on a thursday by the morne the ayer beynge al clere foure of the preestes of thydolles were smeton to deth with one stroke of thondre And the aulter of Iupiter was brente soo that alle the peple fled out of the walles of Rome And whan Palmachyen Consul knewe that Câ—lyxt with his clerkes hydde hym ouer the water of Tybre requyred that the Crysten men by whom this euyll was happed and comen shold be putte oute for to purge and clense the cyte And whanne he hadde receyued power for to doo soo he hasted hym incontynent wyth his knyghtes taccomplysshe hit And anone they were al made blynde And thenne palmachyen was aferd And shewed this vnto Alysandre And thenne themperour commaunded that the wednesday alle the peple shold assemble and sacryfye to Mercurye that they myghte haue answere vpon these thynges And as they sacryfyed a mayde of the temple whiche was named Iulyane was rauysshed of the deuylle and beganne to crye The God of Calyxte is very trewe and lyuyng whiche is wrothe and hath indignacion of our ordures And whanne palmachyen herd that he wente ouer Tybre vnto the Cyte of Rauenne vnto seynt Calixte and was baptysed of him he his wyf and alle his meyny And when themperour herd that he dyd do calle hym and delyuerd hym to Symply cyen Senatour for to warne and treate hym by fayr wordes by cause he was moche prouffitable for the comune And Palmachyen perseueryd in fastynges and in prayers Thenne cam to hym a man whiche promysed to hym that yf he heled his wyf whiche hadde the palseye that he wold bileue in god anone And whan Palmachien had adourid and praid the woman that was seke aroos and was al hole And ran to Palmachyen sayenge Baptise me in the name of Ihesu crist whiche hath taken me by the hand and lifte me vp Thenne cam Calixte and baptised her and her husbond and symplycyen and many other And when themperour herd herof he sente to smyte of the hedes of all them that were baptised And made Calixte to lyue fyue dayes in the prison withoute mete and drynke And after he sawe that calixt was the more comforted and gladde And commaunded that he shold euery daye be beten with staues And after he made a grete stone to be bounden to his neck and to be throwen doun from an hihe out of a wyndowe in to a pitte And Asteryen his preest took vp the body oute of the pytte And after buryed the body in the Cymytorye of Calipodyen Thus endeth the lyf of saint Calixte ¶ Here foloweth the lyf of seint Edward kynge and confessour IN old tyme the Royamme of Englond was gretely troublyd wyth the Danes So that in many kynges dayes there couthe no pees be maade But contynuelly werre And the Danes preuayled ageynste Englond And they brought it vnder their subiection for their cruelte and tyrannye was soo grete that withoute sparynge of ony thyng brent and destroyed But at the last it plesyd almyghty god that this tyrannye shold cease And sente of his grace vnto this Royame of Englond a peasible kyng named Edgar In whos byrth angels songen that pees shal be in his tyme so in his dayes was no werre in englond saynt edward kyng martir his sone regned not long after hym For his stepmoder dyde do slee hym in his yonge age by cause her sone Ethelrede shold regne saynt Dunston baptysed Ethelrede and saide by cause he defowled the fontstone that he shold lyue in grete trouble so he dyde for the danes warryd alle his tyme thys Etheldrede wedded Erle Goodwyns doughter on whome he gate Edmond yronsyde And after the deth of that quene he wedded the doughter of Rychard duke of Normandy which hiÈt Emme by whome
he had two sones Alurede and Edward whiche was a saynt and Confessour of whome we purpose to speke whan kyng Etheldrede was falle in age he made a parlement whiche of his two sones shold be kynge after hym And thenne by the prouysyon of god it was concluded that Edward whiche was not thenne borne in his moders bely shold be kyng and excluded Edmond yrensyde Alfrede whiche were the kynges older sones And whan the kyng had consented therto a generall othe was made to performe the same in tyme comynge And after whan this child was borne Alle the londe enioyed in his byrthe hopyng to be gretely releiud by hym yet alweye the cruelte of the danes was soo grete whiche the kyng so moche doubted that he sente the quene and his two sones â— Alfrede Edward in to Normandy took his oldest sone edmond with hym to batayll to fyght ageynst the danes the sorow was thenne grete in Englond for moche peple torned to the danes ageynst theyre owne kyng withoute pyte dyd brenne and slee their owne Countre wyth the danes among whome was slayne saynt Alphey Archebisshop of caunterbury at grenewyche and many other good men some bisshops prestes men of Relygyon fledde in to secrete places and desertes where they deuoutely praid vnto almyÈty god for to haue very pees in this lond but this werre contynued alle the lyf of Etheldrede accordyng to the prophecye of saynt Dunston And after Etheldrede regned Edmond yrensyde his sone in ful grete trouble for in his dayes no man durst truste other ne open his courage to his neyghbour for that tyme eche man appechyd other of treason to then tente that he myght haue his good And they that were not of power to ouercome their neyghbour torned vnto the danes ageynst their owen neyghbours so by the helpe of the danes they fulfylled theyr cursyd purpoos so ther was moche extorcion And moche peple slayne in dyuerse places in howses feeldys wayes that the people vnneches durst burye them Also in that tyme was grete tyranny murthre oporessyng of wymmen as wyues wydowes and maydens ageynst their wylles And in this persecucion Englysshmen were nyghe destroyed and grete desolacion was in holy chirche For monasteryes Chirches howses of Relygyon were brente destroyed whiche caused many to flee in to wyldernes among whome the good bisshop of wynchestre bryghtwold fledde in to thabbay of glastenbury where he dayly prayd vnto almyghty god for pees of this Royamme of Englond Our blessyd lord seynge his mekenes shewed to hym a vysyon by which he was grely comforted For in a nyght as he was in his oratorye he fylle in a swete slombre sawe the gloryous Appostle saynt Peter with bryght shynyng clothes appieryng in an hyhe place of dygnyte with hym a semely yonge man rychely arrayed in clothyng of a kyng whome saynt peter dyde consecrate and enoynte in to a kynge commendyng his chastite gretely his clene lyuyng it was shewed to this bisshop many yeres to fore that this edward shold regne in this londe the bisshop beyng abasshed of this vision desyred of seint peter to knowe the vision therof to whom saint peter seid thestate of this royam told that the furye wodenes of the danes shold cease sone after said that al this punysshement was for the synnes of the peple god shold purueye for a peasible kynge whiche shalle fynysshe alle the woodenes of his enemyes the danes In whoos tyme shalle be plente of pees bothe to the chirche and to the londe and grete haboundaunce of corn and fruyte And this Royamme shall be prosperous in alle thynges And the peple shal be of suche condicions That other londes shal bothe loue and drede them the kynges name shalle be Edward whiche shal rule all maner thynges to the plesyng of god And shal ende his lyf in the loue of our lord graciously And whan this holy bisshop awoke he knelyd doune and maade his prayers with shedyng of teres And though that pees was not yet reformed Neuertheles he thanked almyghty god that he was certayne that by goddes grace he shold see hit in his dayes wherfor he wente aboute and prechid to the peple for to doo penaunce And our lord shold shewe to vs mercy and gyue to vs pees and alle thynges plentyuous And in this werre was the kyng slayne by treason And he was buryed at glastenbury Thenne bothe his sones were broughte to kynge Canutus the dane to doo with them what he wold And whan he sawe them he myght not for pyte slee them but sente them oâ—er the see to be slayne there soo that he myght regne in Englond peasybly whan the ryghtfull blood were destroyed Notwithstondyng they were preseruyd kepte alyue and were conueyed to the Emperour of Rome the whiche kepte them tyll saynt Edward was maade kyng of Englond thenne he maryed tholdest of them to a cosyn of his by cause of the loue that they had to kyng Edward whiche was vncle to them Thenne hadde kyng Canute the rewle of Englond by strong honde Alle lawe good rewle set a syde For in his dayes was full moche trouble and robberye with other grete oppressions and Importable charges among the comonte For he drad no man excepte the ij sones of the kyng that were thenne with themperour wherfor his counceyl wold that he shold wedde the moder of them named Emme to make the more allyaunce bytwene them And sone after Alfrede cam in to Englond for to speke to his moder And anone as he was come ouer the see in to this lond Erle goodwyn cam and welcomyd hym And anone after slewe hym by treason er he cam to the presence of his moder For whos dethe saynt Edward made grete sorowe whyle this holy child saynt Edward was in Normandy he vsyd a full good lyf hauntyng oftymes holy Chirche And louyd and conuersyd many â—ymes with the company of hooly Relygyous men and specially among holy monkes And vsyd to praye ayd saye in this maner O good lord I haue none helpe but the only my frendes ben gone fro me And they ben become myn aduersaryes Myn fader is deed My bretheren ben slayne My moder is wedded to my moost enemy And I am left allone And daily they seke the moyens to slee me but to the lord I am left poure I beseche the lord to helpe me that am a faderles child for thou somtyme helpedest merueylously Edwyn and Oswold whiche were exyled and ordeyned for to deye Thow defendest them only from deth but also thou good lord restoredest them ageyne to their owne kyngdomes O good lord I beseke the and pray the to kepe me sauf and brynge me in to the kyngdome of my fader Thou shalt be my god And saynt Peter the Appostle my patrone The relyques of whome by the grace of god I purpose to vysyte and to
Gerasyne quene of Scycyle whiche hadde made of her husbond that was a cruel tyraunt a meke lambe And was suster of Moryce the Bisshop and of Darye moder of saynt Vrsula To whome the fader of saynt vrsula had sygnefyed by secrete lettres She by thynspyracion of god put her self in the weye with her foure doughters Babylla Iuliana Victorea and aurea and her lytel sone Adryan whiche for loue of his susters wente in the same pylgremage And lefte alle in the hande of his owne sone and cam in to Brytayne And saylled ouer see in to Englond And by the counceyl of thys quene the virgyns wâ—re gadred to gydre fro dyuerse Royammes And she was ledar of them And at the last she suffryd martirdome with them And thenne the condycion made all thynges were made redy Thenne the quene shewed her counceylle to the knyghtes of her companye And made them alle to swere this newe chyualrye And thenne beganne they to make dyuerse playes and games of bataylle as to renne here and there and fayned many maner of playes And for alle that they lefte not their purpoos And somtyme they retourned fro this playe at mydday and somtyme vnnethe at euen songe tyme And the barons and grete lordes assembled them to see the fayre games and disportes And alle had ioye and playsyre in beholdyng them and also meruaylle And at the lasie whan Vrsula hadde conuertid all these Virgyns vnto the faith of Cryst they wente alle to the see And in the space of a daye· they sailled ouer the see hauynge soo good wynde that they arryued at a porte of gaule named Tyelle and fro thens cam to Coboyn where an Angel of our lord appyeryd to vrsula and tolde her that they shold retorne ageyne the hole nombre to that place and there receyue the crowne of martirdom fro thens by the monycyon of the angel they went toward Rome And whanne they cam to Basyle they lefte there theire shippes and wente to Rome a fote At the comynge of whome the pope Ciriacus was moche glad by cause he was borne in Brytayne And hadde many Cosyns amonge them And he with his clerkis receyued them with alle honour And that same nyght it was shewed to the pope that he shold receyue with them the Crowne of martirdome whiche thyng he hydde in hym self and baptifid many of them that were not thenne baptised And when he sawe tyme couenable when he had gouerned the chirch one yere and enleuen wekes and was the xix 〈◊〉 after Peter he purposed to fore alle the peple and shewed to them his purpoos and resigned his offyce and his dygnyte but alle men gaynsayd it and specially the cardynallys whiche supposed that he trespaced leuynge the glorye of the papacye And wold goo after this folysshe vyrgyns but he wold not agree tabyde but ordeyned an holy man to occupye in his place whiche was named Ametus And by cause he left the syege apostolyque ayenst the wylle of the clergye the clerkes put oute his name of the Cathologue of popes and alle the grace that he had goten in his tyme This holy companye of wymmen made hym for to leue hit And thenne two felon prynces of the Chyualrye of Rome Maxymyen and Affrycan sawe these grete companye of vyrgyns and that many men and wymmen assemblyd to them doubted that Crysten relygyon shold moche be encreaced by them wherfor they requyred dylygently of their vyage And thenne sente they messagers to Iulyan theire Cosyn prynce of the lygnage of the Hunes that he shold brynge his hoost ageynst them And shold assemble at Coleyne And there byhede them by cause they were Crysten And the blessyd Cyryake yssued oute of the Cyte of rome with this blessyd company of vyrgyns And Vyncent preest Cardynal and Iaques that was come fro Brytayne in to Antyoche and had holde there seuen yere the dignyte of the Bisshop whiche thenne hadde vysyted the pope and was gone oute of his Cyte And held company with these virgyns whan he herd of their comyng and suffrid martirdome with them And mauryce Bisshop of Leuytane the Cyte vncle of babylle and Iulyan And Folarius Bisshop of lucence with supplyce bisshop of Rauenne whiche thenne were come to Rome put them in the companye of these virgyns Ethereus the husbond of Vrsula abydyng in britayne was warned of our lord by a vysyon of an Angel that he shold exhorte his moder to be Crysten For his fader deyde the fyrste yere that he was Crystned And Ethereus his sene succeded after hym in his regne And thenne whan these holy vyrgyns retorned fro Rome with the bisshops Ethereus was warned of oure lord that he shold anone aryse and goo to mete his wyf at Coleyne and there receyue with her the Crowne of martirdome the whiche anone obeyed to admonestements dyuyne And dyd do baptyse his moder and cam with her and his lytel suster Florence thenne also baptysed and with the bisshop Clement metynge the holy virgyns and accompanyed them vnto martirdome Marculus bisshop of grece and his nece Constaunce doughter of Dorothe kynge of Constantynople which was maryed to the sone of a kynge but he deyde to fore the weddyng And she auowed to our lord her vyrgynyte they were also warned by a vysyon cam to Rome and ioyned them to these vyrgyns vnto the martirdome And thenne alle these vyrgyns cam with the bisshops to Coleyne And fonde that it was besyeged with the Hunes And whan the Hunes sawe them they beganne to renne vpon them with a grete crye and araged lyke wolues on shepe and slewe alle this grete multitude And whanne they were al byheded they cam to the blessyd Vrsule the prynce of them seyng her beaute soo merueylous was abasshed and began to comforte her vpon the dethe of the vyrgyns and promysed to her to take her to his wyf And whan she hadde refused hym and despysed hym at all he shote at her an arow and perced her thorugh the body And so accomplysshed her martirdome And one of the vyrgyns whiche was named Cordula was sore aferd and hydde her self alle that nyght in a ship but on the morn she suffrid deth by her free wylle and toke the crowne of martirdome And by cause her feest was not holde with the other vyrgynes she appierid longe after to a recluse and commaunded hym that the next daye folowynge the feste of the virgyns her feest shold shold be remembryd They suffrid dethe the yere of our lord CCxxxviij But somme holde oppynyon that the the reason of the tyme sheweth that they suffred not dethe in that tyme For Cecylle ne Constantynople were thenne no Royammes but it is supposed that they suffryd deth longe tyme after whanne Constaunt was Emperour And that the hunes and gothes enforced them ageynste Crysten men in the tyme of themperour Marcyen that regned in the yere of oure lord four Clix Hit is
vesture and saide Fere the no thynge For thou shalte not deye Aryse vp And bere thou this chayne wyth the to my Chirche folowe me for I goo to fore ¶ Thenne he aroos and toke the chayne and folowed saynt Leonard whiche wente to fore hym tylle he cam to the chirche And anone as he was to fore the yates saynt Leonard lefte hym there and he thenne entrid in to the chirche and recounted to all the peple what saynt Leonard had done And be henge that grete chayne â—o fore his Tombe ¶ There was a certayne man whiche duellyd in the place of saynt Leonard And was moche faythful and deuoute to Seynt Leonard And hit happed that this goode man was taken of a Tyraunt whiche beganne to thynke in hym self that Seynte Leonard vnbyndeth and loseth alle them that ben bounden in yrons And the myghte of yron hath no more myghte ageynste hym than waxe hath ageynste the Fyre Yf I sette this manne in yrons Leonard shalle anone delyuere hym And yf I maye kepe hym I shalle make hym paye for his raunsonne a thowsand shyllynges I wote well what I shalle doo I shalle goo make a ryght grete and depe pytte vnder the erthe in my Toure And I shalle caste hym theryn bounden with many bondes And after I shalle doo make a cheste of Tree vpon the mouthe of the pytte And shalle make my Knyghtes to lye therynne al armed And how be hit that yf Leonard breke the yrons yet shalle he not entre in to hit vnder the erthe And whanne he had made al thys that he thought This man whiche was enclosed therin cryed oft to saynt Leonard so that on a nyght saynt Leonard cam and tourned the chyst wherin the knyghtes laye armed and closed them therin lyke as dede men ben in a tombe And after entryd in to the fosse or pitte with grete lyght And toke the hand of his trewe seruaunt and sayd to hym Slepest thou or wakest loo here is Leonard whome thou so moche desyrest And he sow merueylyng sayd lord helpe me Anone his chaynes were broken and tooke hym in his armes and bare hym oute of the toure And thenne spak to hym as a frende doth to a frende and sette hym at home in his hows There was a pylgrym whiche retorned fro the vysytynge of saynt Leonard and was taken in Almayne and put in a pytte or fosse and fast closed therin And this pylgrym prayd strongly saynt leonard and also them that tooke hym that they wold for the loue of saint leonard lete hym go for he had neuer trespaced to them And they answerd but yf he wold paye moche money he shold not departe And he sayd be it bytwene yow and saynt Leonard to whome I remytte the mater And the nyght folowynge saynt Leonard appired to the lord of the castell and commaunded hym that he shold delyuere his pylgrym And on the morn he supposed he hadde dremed and wold not delyuere hym The next nyghte he appiered to hym ageyne and commaunded hym to late hym goo but yet he wold not obeye The thyrd nyght saynt Leonard took this pylgrym and brought hym oute of the castel And anone the toure and half the castell fylle and oppressyd many of them that were therm And the prynce only was le te to his confusion a lyue and hadde his thyes broken etcetera There was a knyghte in pryson in Brytayne whiche ofte called on saynt Leonard whiche anone appiered to hym in the syght of al men and knowynge hym And they beyng sore abasshed entryd in to the prison and brake his bondes and putte them in the mannes hand brought hym forth before them alle beynge sore aferd There was another Leonard whiche was of the same profession of one vertu of whome the body resteth at Corbigny And whanne this Leonard was prelate in a monastery he was of so grete humylite that he was sene to be lowest of all And moche peple cam to hym so fast and so many that they that were enuyous sayd to the kyng Clotayre that yf he took not good hede to the Royamme of Fraunce he shold suffre damage and that grete by Leonard whiche gadred to hym moche peple vnder the shadowe of Relygyon And thenne this cruel kyng commaunded that he shold be chaced awey but the knyghtes that come for to chace hym were so coÌ„uertid by his wordes that they were conpuncte and promysed to be his disciples And thenne the kynge repentid hym and requyred pardon of hym And putte them from hym that had soo myssayd of hym and fro their goodes and honours And louyd moche saynt Leonard soo that vnnethe the kynge wold not restablysshe them ageyne to their estate at the prayers of the holy saynt And this holy saynt Impetred and hadde graunte of god that who someuer were holden in pryson and prayd in his name that he shold anone be delyuerd And on a daye as he was in his prayers a ryght grete serpente stretched hym fro the foote of saynt Leonard a longe vpward vnto his brest And he neuer therfor left his oryson And whanne he had accomplysshâ—d his orysons he sayd to the Serpent I know Wel that sythe the begynnynge of thy creacion thow tormentest men as moche as thou maist but thy myght is gyuen to me now do to me now that whiche I haue deseruyd And whanne he had sayd thus the Serpente sprange oute of his hode And fylle doune deed at his feet After this on a tyme when he had appeased two Bisshops that had ben in discord he sayd that he sholde on the morne fynysshe his lyf And so he dyde And that was aboute the yere of oure lord vC lxx Here foloweth the lyf of saint Leonard ¶ Here foloweth of the foure crowned martirs THe four crowned martirs were Seuerus Seuerianus Capoforus and Victorinus whiche by the commaundement of Dyoclesian were beten with plommettis of lede vnto the deth The names of whom coude not be founden but after long tyme they were shewed by dyuyne reuelacion hit was was establysshed that theire memorye shold be worshipped vnder the names of fyue other martirs that is to wete Claudyen Castor Symphorian Nychostrate and Symplycyen whiche were martred two yere after the foure crouned martirs And these martirs knewe all the craft of sculpture or of keruyng dyoclesian wolde haue constrayned them to kerue an ydolle but they wold not entaylle ne kerue hit ne consente to do sacrefyse to thydolles And thenne by the commaundement of Dyoclesian they were put in to tonnes of leed all lyuynge and cast in to the see about the yere of our lord two honderd foure score and seuen And Melchyades th◠〈◊〉 ordeyned these foure sayntes to 〈◊〉 and to be callyd foure crowned martirs bifore that their names were founden And though their names were afterward founden and knowen yet for thusage they ben alwey called the foure crowned marthes Thus endeth of the four crowned marters
wise that for al the force and power that they couthe 〈◊〉 they myght not bere her ouer a lytelle broke And the men that were in the feldes and ryuer cam for to helpe them but they myghte nuer remeue her fro the erthe And thenne one of them said in mockyng It is no wonder though she be heuy For she hath eten moche lede Thenne the lord mouualt her vncle lyft vp his arme for to bete her cruelly but an ache and payne took hym sodenly and tormentid hym a long tyme ryght cruelly After that this sayd Agnes hadde suffred this long wrastlyng of her kynnesmen and Frendes cam saynt Clare and prayd them for goddes sake they shold leue this bataylle with her suster and go their waye take hede of them self And she receyued the cure and charge of Agnes her suster whiche laye theron the ground in grete dysease And fynally her kynnesmen departed in grete anguysshe an and sorowe of herte ¶ And thenne anone after she aroos vp moche gladly And had moche grete ioye of that fyrst bataylle that she had suffred for the loue of Ihesu Cryst And fro this tyme forward she ordeyned her self to serue god perdurably And saynt Fraunceis cutte of her heres with his owne handes and enduced and taught her to serue god and so dyd saynt Clare her suster And by cause we may not shortely acompte with fewe wordes the grete perfection of the lyf of Agnes therfore we shalle entende vnto the lyf of saynte Clare the vyrgyne Was hit not grete meruaylle of the orysons and prayers of saynt Clare whiche were so strong and so moche auaylleth ageynst the malyce of the peple whan they fledde and were puissaunt to brenne the deuyls It happed on a tyme that a moche deuoute woman of the bisshopryche of Pyse cam to one of the ladyes for to yelde thankynges to god and saynt Clare whiche had delyuerd her fro thandes of v deuyls For they fledde and waylled that the orysons of saynt Clare brente them alle And therfore they myghte no lenger dwelle in that place The pope gregory had moche grete fayth grete deuocion in the prayers of that hooly vyrgyne And not withoute cause For he had preued and felte certayne vertue therof whiche had holpen many and dyuerce that had necessyte and nede And whanne he was Bisshop of hostence and after whanne he was pope he sente his lettres to her by whiche he requyred her to pray for hym And anone he felte hym eased and alleged by her prayers Thenne certaynly yf he whiche was vycayre of Ihesu Cryst by his humylyte as we may see had so grete deuocion to saynt Clare of whome he requyred her ayde and recommaunded hym to the vertue of her orysons well ought we thenne tensiewe with all our power the deuocion of suche a man For he knewe wel how moche loue is myghty and how the pure vyrgyns haue delyuerd entree in to the dore of the herte of oure lord And yf oure swete lord gyue hym self to them that loue hym fermely who maye he denye them for whome they requyre hym deuoutely Alwey sene that they requyre hym that is nede and behoeffull The holy werk sheweth well the grete faythe and the grete deuocion that she had in the hooly sacrament of the aulter For in that grete maladye whiche had so vexed her that she lay in her bedde she aroos and did her to be borne from one place to another did spynne a fyn smale clothe of whiche she made mo than fyfty corporas sente them in fayr towellis of sylke in to dyuerce chirches in dyuerse places of Assyse Whan she shold receyue the body of oure lord it was meruaylle to see the teres that she Wepte of whiche she was all wete And she had soo grete fere whan she approchyd nyghe vnto her saueour that she ne doubted hym no lasse whiche is in semblaunce very god in the forme of breed the sacramēt than hym that gouerneth heuen and erthe whiche is al one Thus as she hadde alwey souuenaunce and mynde of Ihesu Cryst in her maladye so god comforted her and vysited her in her Infyrmyte and languore In the houre of the natyuyte of Ihesu crist at cristemas whan the angels the world made feest songen enioyed of litil Ihesus that was born al the poure ladyes wēt to matyns in to their monastery left allone their poure moder sore greued in her maladye Thenne she began to thynke on litil Ihesus was sorouful that she myght not be at the seruyse preyse our lord And sayd in syghynge Fayr lord god I wake here allone And anone she beganne to here the Freres that songen and saynt Fraunceis and herd well the Iubylacion the psalmodye and the grete melodye of the songe how be it her bed was not so nygh that the voys of a man ne of a woman myght not be herde ne vnderstonde yf god dyd hit not by his curtosye or yf god had not gyuen to her aboue al nature of man force and power to here hit but this passyd all For she was worthy to see in her oratorye the ioye of oure lord On the mornynge whanne the ladyes her doghters cam to her she sayd to them Blessyd be oure lord Ihesu Cryste For whanne ye lefte me he lefte me not truly And I saye to yow that I haue herd this nyghte alle the seruyse and solempnyte that hath be done in the chirche by saynt Fraunceis thorugh the grace of Ihesu crist Atte paynes of her deth oure lord comforted her alwey For she drewe oute of the hooly woundes of Ihesu criste a bytternesse of whiche her herte her wil And her thought were full of anguysshes merueyllously bytter And often as she hadde be dronken of the sorowe and teeres that she wepte for the loue of Ihesu Cryste For oftymes the loue of god whiche she hadde emprynted in her herte within forthe she made to appere by signes outeward She enfourmed and taughte the nouyces and admonested them that they haue in theyr mynde the sorowe and payne of the dethe of Ihesu crist And that she said with her mouthe she dyd it in her herte and gaf ensample Whanne she was secretely all one to fore she myght saye ony thynge she was al bedewed with teres She was most deuoute and had more feruour of deuocion bytwene vndern and none than ony other tyme by cause she wold that in the houre that Ihesu crist was crucyfyed in the aulter of the crosse that her herte shold be sacrefyed to god our lord On a tyme hit happed at the houre of none that she prayd to god in her celle And the deuylle gaf to her suche a stroke vnder the ere that her eyen and her vysage were al couerd with blood She hadde lerned an oryson of the fyue woundes of Ihesu cryst whiche she ofte recorded and remembred by cause her herte and thought were nourysshed therin and myght
the mene tyme tydynges came to rome how that grete brytaygne whiche now is called englond rebellyd ageynst the empyre wherfore by the aduys of the consulate it was concluded that constancius kynge of ermonye shold goo in to brytaygne to subdue them whiche adressyd hym thyder in shorte tyme after he entryd in to the londe by his prowesse and wysdom he appeasyd the royame and subdued it ageyn to the empyre of Rome And also he was so acceptable to the kynge of brytayne named coel that he maryed his doughter heleyne whyche afterward fonde the holy crosse And in shorte tyme he gate on hir constantyn whyche after was Emperour And thenne sone after deyed constancyus and constantyn after the dethe of kynge Coel by his moder was crowned kynge of brytaygne And costus the fyrste sone of constancyus wedded the kynges doughter of cypre whyche was heyre of whom as shal be here after was engendred Saynt katheryne whiche came of the lignage of constancyus Now foloweth the lyf of saint Katheryne IN the yere of our lord two hondred regned in cypre a noble and prudent kynge named costus which was a noble semely man ryche and of good condycyons and had to his wyf a quene lyke to hym self in vertuous gouernaunce whiche lyued to gyder prosperously but after the lawe of paynyms and worshypped ydolles Thys kynge by cause he loued renommâ—e wold haue his name spradde thorugh the world he founded a cyte in whyche he edefyed a temple of his false goddes named that cyte after his name costy whiche after to encrece his fame the peple named it fama costi and yet in to thys day is called famagous in whiche cytee he and the quene lyued in grete welthe and prosperyte and lyke as the fayr rose spryngeth emonge the brerys and thornes Right soo betwene thyse two paynyms was brought forth thys blessyd vyrgyn saynt katheryne and whan this holy virgyn was borne she was so fayr of vysage and so wel formed in hir membrys that alle the peple enioyed in hir beaute and whan she came to vij yere of age anone after she was sette to scole where she prouffyted moche more thenne ony other of hir age and was enformed in the artes lyberal wherin she dranke plenteuously of the welle of wysdom for she was chosen to be a techer enformer of euerlastyng wysdom The kynge costus hir fader had soo grete ioye of the grete towardnes and wysdom of his doughter that he lete ordeyne a toure in hys paleys with dyuers studyes and chambres in which she myght be at hir plesure and also at hir wylle and also he ordeyned for to wayte on hir seuen the best maisters and wysest in connyng that myght be goten as in tho partyes and wythin a whyle they that came to teche hir they after that lerned of hyr and became hir dyscyples and whan thys vyrgyne came to the age of xiiij yere hir fader kynge cosâ—us deyed thenne she was lefte as quene heyre after hym and thenne the estates of the londe came to this yonge lady katheryne and desyred hir to make a parlemente in whiche she myght be crowned and receyue the homage of hyr subgettes and that suche rule myghte be sette in hir begynnyng that pees prosperyte myght ensyewe in hir royame and thys yonge mayde grauÌ„ted to them theyr askynge and whan the parlamente was assemblyd and the yonge quene crowned with grete solempnyte and she syttyng on a day in hir parlamente and hyr moder by hir with al the lordes eche in his place a lord aroos by thassente of hir moder the other lordes and comyns knelid doun tofore hir sayeng thyse wordes Ryght hyghe and myghty pryncesse and our moste souerayn lady please it you to wyte that I am commaunded by the quene your moder by alle the lordes comyns of thys your royame to requyre your hyenes that it may plese you to graunte to them that they myght prouyde soÌ„me noble kyng or prynce to marye you to th ende that he myght rule and deffende your royame and subgettes lyke as your fader dyd before you and also that of you myght procede noble lygnage whyche after you may reygne vpon vs whiche thynge we moste desyre and herof we desyre your good answer This yonge quene katheryne heeryng thys request was abasshed troubled in hir corage how she myght answer to contente hir moder the lordes and hir subgettes and to kepe hyr self chaste For she had concluded to kepe hir virgynyte and rather to suffre deth than to defoule it and thenne wyth a sadde chere and meke loke she answeryd in thys wyse Cosyn I haue wel vnderstonde your requeste and thanke my moder the lordes and my subgettys of the greâ—e loue that they alle haue to me to my royame as touchyng my maryage I truste verayly there may be no peryll consyderyng the grete wysedom of my lady my moder and of the lordes wyth the good obeysauÌ„ce of the comyns trustyng in their good contynuaunce wherfore we nede not to seke a straunger for to rule vs and our royame for wyth your good assystaunce and ayde we hope to rule gouerne kepe this our royame in good Iustyce pees and reste in lyke wyse as the kynge my fader helde you in Wherfore at thys tyme I praye you to be contente and to cesse of thys matere and lete vs procede to suche maters as ben requesyte for the rule gouernauÌ„ce and vnyuersal wele of thys royame and whan this yonge quene katheryn had achyeued hir answer The quene hir moder and al the lordes were abasshed of hir wordes and wyst not what to say for they consyderyd wel by hyr wordes that she had no wylle to be maryed and thenne there aroos stood vp a duc whiche was hir vncle and with due reuerence sayd to hir in thys wyse My souerayn lady sauyng your hygh and noble dyscrescion this answer is ful heuy to my lady your moder and to vs al your humble lyege men wythout ye take better aduys to your noble corage wherfore I shal moeue to you of four notable thynges that the grete god hath endowed you before al other creatures that we know which thynges ought to cause you to take a lord to your husbond to th ende that tho plentyuous yeftes of nature and grace may sprynge of you by geeracion whiche may sucorde by ryght lygne to reygne vpon vs to the grete comforte and ioye of alle your peple subgettes the contrarye shold torne to grete sorowe and heuynesse Now good vncle sayd she what been thyse iiij notable thynges that so ye repute in vs madame sayd he the fyrst is this that we be acerteyned that ye be comen of the moste noble blode in the world the second that ye be a grete enherytour and the grettest that lyueth of woman to our knowleche the third that is that ye in science connyng and
said to hym yf thou wylt consente to the prynce I shal spare the and gyue to the medecyne To whome Iames sayd haste not thou seen the strock of the vygne that whan the braunches been cutte of the knotte that remayneth in his tyme whan the erthe achauffeth It germeth and bryngeth forth newe buddes in al the places of the cuttyng thenne yf the vygne be cutte by cause he shold burgyne brynge forth fruyte in his tyme how moche more ought a man burgyne more plenteuously in the feyth that he suffreth for the loue of Ihesu cryste whyche is the veray vygne and thenne the boucher cutte of the forfyngre Thenne sayd Saynt Iames lord receyue two braunches whiche thy ryght honde hath planted he cutte of the thyrd and Iames sayd I am delyuerd fro thre temptacions I shal blysse the fader the sone and the holy ghoost and lord I shal confesse thâ— with the thre chyldren that thou sauedest fro the chymney of fyre and Ihesu cryste I shal synge to thy name in the quere of marters thenne the fourth was cutte of and saynt Iames sayd O protectour of the chyldren of Israhel whiche in the fourthe blessyng were pronounced receyue of thy seruaunte the confessyon of the fourthe fyngre lyke as the benedyccion was in Iuda and thenne the fyfthe fyngre was cutte of and he sayd my ioye is accomplisshed and thenne the bouchers said to hym spare thy lyf that thou perysshe not and angre the not though thou hast loste one hande for there ben many that haue but one hande that haue moche honour and rychesses And the blessyd Iames sayd to them whan the shepeherdes shere theyr sheep they take not onely the ryght syde 〈◊〉 also the lyfte syde thenne yf the lamâ—â— whiche is but a brute beest wyl lese his flese for his mayster how moche more thenne I that am a man resonable ouÈt to be smyton in pyeces for the loue of god and thenne the felonne bouchers wente to that other hande and cutte of fyrst the lytel fyngre and saynt Iames sayd lord whan thou were grete thou woldest be made lytel for us and therfore I yelde to the body and sowle whiche thou madest and redemyst wyth thy propre blood Thenne the seuenth fyngre was cutte of and he sayd lord I haue said to the seuen tymes in the tyme preysynges Thenne they cutte the viij fyngre and he sayd Ihesu cryste was circumcysed the eyght day and thebrewes were circumcised the eyght day for to accomplysshe the commaundementes cerymonyalles of the feythe and lord lete the mynde of thy seruaunte goo fro thyse Incircumcysed and that I may haue the prepucye vndefouled that I may come and beholde thy face lord Thenne the nynthe fyngre was cutte of and he sayd the nynthe houre Ihesu cryste rendryd his spyryte in the crosse to his fader and therfore lord I confesse me to the in the sorowe of the ix fyngre and thanke the Thenne the tenthe fyngre was cutte of and he sayd the tenthe nombre is in the commaundementes of the lawe Thenne somme of them that were there sayden right dere frende confesse thou our goddes tofore our prynce soo that thou mayst lyue how be it that thy handes be cutte of there ben right wyse leches that shal wel hele the and ease the of thy payne To whome saynt Iames sayd god forbede that in me shold be ony false dyssymylacion no man that put his honde to the ploughe loketh bacwarde is not couenable to come to the kyngdom of heuen Thenne the bouchyers hauyng despyte and cutte of the grete too of the ryght foot and saynt Iames sayd the foot of Ihesu cryste was persyd and blood yssued out The second was cutte of and he sayd this day is grete to me tofore all other dayes this day I conuerted shal goo sothely to the stronge god thenne they cutte the thyrd and threwen it tofore hym and saynt Iames sayd smylyng goo thou thyrd too to thy felowes for lyke as the grayne of whete rendryth moche fruyte so shalte thou do wyth thy felawes and shalt reste in the last day The fourth was thenne cutte of and he said my sowle wherfore arte thou sorowful and why troublest me hope in god for I shal confesse to hym that is the helthe of my chere and my god The fyfthe was cutte of and he sayd I shal now begynne to say to our lord dygne praysyng for he hath made me worthy felawe to his seruauntes Thenne they came to his lyfte foot and cutte of the lytel too and saynt Iames sayd lytel too be comforte for the grete and lytel shal haue one resurrexyon an heer of the heed shal not perisshe and thou shalte not departe fro thy felawes And after they cutte of the seconde too and he sayd destroye ye the olde hows for a more noble is maad redy The thyrd was cutte of and he sayd by suche kuttynges shal I be pourged fro vyces and they cutte of the fourth too and he sayd comforte me god of trouthe for my sowle trusteth in the Thenne the fyfthe was cutte of and he sayd O lord loo I offre and sacrefyse to the twenty tymes and thenne they cutte of his right fote and saynt Iames sayd Now I shal offre a yefte to god for whos loue I suffre this Thenne they cutte of the lyfte fote he sayd thou arte he lord that makest meruaylles here thou me lord and saue me They cutte of after his right hande and he sayd lord thy mercyes helpe me they cutte of his lifte hande and he sayd lord thou arte he that louest the ryghtful and they cutte of the ryght arme and he sayd my sowle prayse the our lord I shal gyue lawde to our lord in my lyf and shal synge to hym as longe as I shal lyue and thenne they cutte of the lyfte arme and he sayd the sorowes of dethe haue enuyronned me and I shal thynke ageynst them thenne they cutte of the ryght legge to the thye Thenne saynt Iames was greued in grete payne and sayd lord Ihesu cryste helpe me for the wayllynges of deth come about me and he sayd to the bouchyers our lord shal clothe me wyth newe flesshe so that your wouÌ„des shal neuer appere in me and thenne the bouchyers began to fayle and were wery fro the first houre of the day vnto the nynthe they had swette in cuttyng his membyrs and after they came to them self and cutte of the lyfte legge vnto the thye and thenne the blessyd Iames escryed and sayd o good lord here me halfe a lyue thou lord of lyuyng men and dede lord I haue no fyngres to lyfte vp to the ne handes that I may enhaunce to the my feet be cutte of and my knees soo that I may not knele to the and am lyke to an hows fallen of whome the pylers ben taken aweye by whiche the hows was born vp and susteyned here me lord Ihesu cryste
of sharp thornes the visage whiche was most fayr of all other membres is fowled byspette and hurte with the thornes of the Iewes The eyen more shynyng than the sonne ben extynct in the deth The eeris heere not the songe of thangellis but th assaultes of the synners The mouthe that techeth and enseygneth thangelis is made drynke vynaygre galle The feet of whom the stappes ben worshipped ben atached with nayles to the crosse The handes that fourmed the heuenes ben stratched on the crosse and naylled with nayles The body is beten The syde is perced wyth a spere And what may more be said ther abode nothyng sauf the tongue for to praye for the synners And for to recomende his moder to his disciple Secondly his passyon was despited of mocqueries and derysions of the Iewes Fore foure tymes he was mocqued Fyrst atte hous of anne where he receyued spyttynges buffetes and blyndfellyng of the Iewes werof saynt bernard sayth Ryght swete and good Ihesu thy desyrous vysage whiche angellis desyre to see the Iewes wyth theyr spyttynges haue defoylled wyth theyr handes haue smeton wyth a veyl for torn they haue couerd ne they haue not spared to hurte it with byttyr woundes Secondly he was mocqued in the hous of herode whiche reputed hym for a fool and alyend fro his wytte by cause he myght haue of hym none answere And by derysyon he was clad with a whyte vesture wherof saith saynt bernard Tues homo cÌ„ he saith thus ¶ Thou art a man and hast a chapelet of flowres And I am god and haue a chapelet of thornes Thou hast gloues on thyn hondes And I haue the naylles fyxed in myn hondes Thou daunsest in white vestures And I god am mocqued And vilipended and in the hows of herode had receyued a whyte vesture Thou daunsest and playest with thy feet And I with my feet haue laboured in grete payne Thou lyftest vp thyn armes in Ioye And I haue stratched them in grete repreef Thou stratchest out thyn armes a crosse in carollyng and gladnes And I stretche myn in the crosse in grete obprobrye and vylonye Thou hast thy syde thy breste open in signe of vayn glorye And I haue myne opened with a spere Neuertheles retorne to me and I shal receyue the But why and wherfore Ihesus in the tyme of his passyon to fore herod pilate and the Iewes was thus stylle and spack not ther ben thre reasons and Causes The first was by cause they were not worthy to hiere his answere The seconde was by cause eue synned by spekyng and Ihesus wold make satisfaction by beyng stylle not spekyng The thirde is by cause that all that euer he answerd they peruerted it Thirdly Ihesus was moqued in the hous of pylate For they clad hym with a rede mantel And in his honde they toke hym a reed And sette vpon his heed a crowne of thornes And kneled on their knees to fore hym sayeng hayll kyng of Iewes This crowne was of Ionkes of the see And we hold saye that the blood sprang out of his hede wherof saith saynt bernard Caput illud diuinum cÌ„ The heede precious dyuyne was percyd with thornes vnto the brayne of the soule Ther ben thre opynyons in what place pryncipally the soule hath her place or in the herte for the scripture saith Cut of the herte comeÌ„ the euyl thougthes Or in the blode by cause the scripture saith the soule of euerych is in the blode or in the hede by cause theuangeliste sayth whan he enclyneth his hede he rendred his spyryte and this treble opynyon it semeth that the Iewes had knowen For whan they wold make the sowle yssue out of the body they sought it in the hede whan they thrested the thornes to the brayne They sought in the blood whan they opened his vaynes in the feet and handes And they sought it in the herte whan they perced his syde Ayenst thise thre Illusions on gode fryday to fore the crosse is shewed we make thre adoracions in sayeng Agyos Otheos yskyros cÌ„ in honouryng hym thre tymes lyke as he was for vs moqcued scorned on the crosse Fourthly he was scorned on the crosse The prynces of the preestes with thold men maistres of the lawe clerkes and doctours sayd to hym yf he be kynge of Israhel late hym desceÌ„de fro the crosse now to th ende that we byleue in hym wherof saith saynt bernard In that Ihesu shewde the more grete vertue of pacience he comanded humylyte he accomplissyd obedyence he performed charite And in signe of thise iiij vertues the iiij corners of the crosse ben aâ—urned wyth precyous gemmys stones And In the most aparaâ—te place is charite And on the right syde is obedyence And on the lyft side is pacience And bynethe is humylyte the Rote of all vertues And alle thise thinges that IhuÌ„ Cryst suffred saynt bernard gadryth to gydre sayeng I shal said he as longe as I shal lyue remeÌ„bre the labours that he had in prechyng of the trauaylles that he had in gooyng fro one place to a nother by londe and fro Cyte to cyte Of his wakynges in prayeng of his teÌ„ptacions in fastyng of his wepinges and teres in hauyng coÌ„passion of the awaytynges on hym in spekyng in assayeng hym temptyng And at laste of the vylonyes of the spyttynges of the mocqueryes of the obprobryes And of the naylles Thirdly his passion was proufytable fructuous the whiche may be proufytable in thre maners That is to wete in remission of synne In yeftes of grace And in demonstracion of glorye And thies thre thinges ben shewd in the tytle of the crosse The first is Ihesus The second nazarenus And The thirde rex in deorum For there shal we all be kynges of the prouffyt spekyth saynt Austyn sayeng Our lord Ihesu cryst hath put away the synnes passed present to come the synnes passed in pardonyng them the present in withdrawyng men from them them to come in yeuyng grace to esschewe the synnes yet the same doctour saith thus we ought to preyse to thanke to loue and to honoure hym For by the deth of our savyour and redemer we ben brought to lyf fro corrupcion to incorrupcion from exyle vnto our contree fro wepyng to Ioye we ben called agayn And how wel the maner of our redempcion was prouffytable it appiereth by v reasons that is to wete by cause it was right acceptable tappese god right helpyng to saue vs right effectuel to drawe to hym thumayne lignage Ryght wyse to fyght ayenst thenemy of humayne lynage And to reconcyle vs to god for After this that saynt Ancelme saith Ther is nothyng more sharp ne more stronge that a maÌ„ may suffre by his propre wyll without it be of god than to suffre deth with his owne propre will for thonour of god ne noman may better yeue to god to his honour thaâ— gyue hym self to deth for
hym And this is that thappostle saith ad ephesiâ—eâ— iij Our lord hath gyuem hym self in to oblacion and sacrefice for vs in to the odour of swetenesse to god the fader And how he was sacrefyed that was in vs appeasyng god Seynt Austyn in the boke of the Trynyte saith thus what thyng may be more grâ—ciously playsantly receyued than the flesshe of our sacrefyse whiche was maad the precyous body of our preest Therfor iiij thynges ought to be considered in all sacrefise First hym to whom is offred that whiche is offred hym that offreth And hym for whom the offrynge is offred he hym self is the moyen of bothe two that is to saye god and man he was hym self that dyde offre And he was hym self that was offred And the same doctour saith yet of this sacrâ—fyse how we be to god reconcyled IhuÌ„ Cryst is the preest And the sacrefyse he is god and also he is the temple he is the preest by whome we beÌ„ reconcyled God to whom we ben reconcyled And the temple in whom We be recoÌ„cyled The sacrefyse of whom we ben reconcyled saynt Austyn saith consideryng them that despyse this reconciliacion And sette nought therby he saith in the persone of IhuÌ„ Cryst in repreuyng theÌ„ whan thou were enemy to my fader I haue reconcylyd the whan thou were ferre I brought the agayn whan thou were taken I cam for to redeme the whan emonge the montaynes and the forestes thou were out of the waye I sought the to th ende that of the vulues ne of the euyll bestes thou were not eten ne all to tornÌ„ I gadred the And bare the in myn armes and delyuerd the to my fader I laboured I swette I put myn hede ayenst the thornes stratched myn hondes vnto the naylles opened my syde to the spere haue shedde my blood And haue gyue ouer my sowle and lyf for to Ioyne the to me And thou hast departed thy self fro me Secondly Ihesu crist was right couenable and necessarye for to saue vs and to hele and cure vs of our maladye and sekenesse for by cause of the tyme and of the place And of the maner of the tyme as it apperith For Adam was made and synned in the moneth of marche and on the fryday whiche is the vj day of the weke and therfor god in the moneth of marche on the fryday wold suffre deth and at at mydday whiche is the vj hour Secondly For the place of his passyon the whiche myght be considerid in thre maners for one place eyther it is comyn or especyal or singuler The place comyn where he suffred was the londe of promyssyon The place especyall the mouÌ„t of caluarye The place singuler the crosse In the place comyn the first man was there fourmed that was in a feld aboute or nygh damas where it is said in a place specyall he was there beryed For ryght in the place where Ihesu cryst suffred deth it is said that adam was buryed how wel that this is not auteÌ„tyque For saynt Iherome saith that adam was buryed in ebron And also in the book of Iosue is wreton the xiiij chapitre In a place singuler he was deceyued that is to wete in the tre not in this on whiche IhÌ„s suffred deth but in an other tre Thyrdly he was right couenable by cause of the curyng the whiche by manere was semblable to the preuaricacion by lyk and contrarye For thus as saith saynt Austyn in the booke de doctrina cristiana By a woman he was deceyued And by a woman he was born a man And the man delyuerd the men one mortal delyuerd the mortall and the deth by his deth And saynt ambrose saith Adam was of therthe a virgine Ihesu cryst was born of the virgine Adam was made to thymage of god Ihesus was thymage of god by a woman folye was shewde by a woman wysedom was born Adam was naked Ihesu cryst naked The deth cam by the tre the lyf by the crosse Adam in deserte And Ihesus in deserte but by the contrarye ¶ For after saynt gregorye Adam synned by pryde by mobedience and by gloutonye For he coueyted the hyenes of god for the serpent said to theym ye shal be semblable to god he brake the comandement of god and desired and coueyted the swetenes of the fruyt by gloutonnye And by cause the maner of the sauour ought to be by the coÌ„trarye therfore this manere was right couenable by the humyliacion by the fulfyllyng and affliction or of the dyuyne volente And herof sayth thappostle ad philipenses humiliauit sepisum Thirdely Ihesus was right proufitably to drawe to hym thumayn lynage For one of the world his frewil saued myhgt neuer haue drawen mankynd to hys loue And how he draweth vs to his loue saynt bernard saith Aboue alle thyng o good Ihesu gyue me grace to loue the And by this thyng he drewe vs most to his loue That is the chalys good lord that thou hast dronkeÌ„ whiche was the werke of our redempcion This châ—lys is thy passyoÌ„ whiche lightly may appropre our lord to the this is that draweth most playsantly oure deuocion and Iustly reyseth it and sonnest streyneth and most vehemently taketh our affection And where thou lamentest and there as thou despoyllest the of thy rayes naturell there shyneth most thy pyte there is most clere thy charyte And there habundeth most thy grace how also we ought to retorne to the affyaunce of hym saynt poul saith ad romanos viij he spareth not his owen sone but for vs alle he delyuerd hym wherof saynt bernard saith who is he that is not rauysshid to hope of affyauÌ„ce whiche taketh none hede to the disposicion of his body he hath his hede enclyned to be kyssed the armes stratched tembrace vs his hondes perced to gyue to vs The syd open to loue vs The feeet fixed with nayles for to abyde with vs And the body stratched all for to gyue to vs Fourthly he was right wyse and right wel aduysed for to fyght ayenst thenemy of thumayne lygnage Iob xxv His wysedom hath smeton the prowde man ¶ And after may ye not take the fende wyth an hoke Iesu Cryst hath hydd the hoke of hys dyuynyte vnder the mete of our humanyte and the fend wold take the mete of the flesshe and was taken wyth the hooke of the godhede Of this wyse takyng sayth saynt Austyn Oure redemptour is comen and the deceyuer is vaynquysshed And what dyde our redemptour he leyd out his bayte to our deceyuour and aduersayre he hath sette forth his crosse And within he hath sette his mete that is his blood For he wold shede his bloode not as a dettour And therfore he departed fro the dettours And this dette here thappostle calleth Cirographe or oblygacion the which Ihesu Cryst bare and attouchyd it to the crosse Of which saynt Austyn saith Eue toke of the feÌ„de synne by borowyng by vsure and wrote an
obligacion she leyde it for pledge ¶ And the vsure is augmented and grewe vnto alle the remenaunt of the lignage ¶ Thenne toke Eue of the fende synne whaÌ„ ayenst the comandement she consented to hym She wrote thobligacion whan she put hâ—r hande to the tree ayenst the deffeÌ„ce of god She delyuerd pledge whan she made Adam to consente to the synne And thus thusure grewe and augmentid vnto the remayne of alle the lignage Ayenst them that retche nothyng of this redempcioÌ„ Seynt bernard saith in the ê‘sone of IhÌ„u cryst My peple saith IhÌ„u what myght I haue don for the that I haue not doÌ„ to the what cause is ther that ye serue sonner the deuyll our aduersary than me For he hath not created ne hath nourisshid you but this semeth a lytyl thyng to them that be ful of Ingratitude I haue redemed you and not he and for what prys not with gold ne siluer ne of the sonne ne of the mone ne with ony of the angellis but with my propre blood And after Considere yf of right for so many benefices ye ought to chese to haue my companye And yf ye will alle leue me atte lest come wyth me for to wynne a peny a day And by cause they delyuerd Ihesu cryst to deth that is to wete Iudas for auarice the Iewes for enuye And pylate for drede And therfore it is to see what payne was delyuerd to them of god for this synne But of the payne and of the birthe of Iudas thou shalt fynde in the legende of saynt mathye Of the payne and ruine of the Iewes in the legende of saynt Iames the lasse And of the payne of pylate and his byrthe thou shalt fynde in one apocryfum where as it is said in this manere Ther was a kyng callyd tyrus whyche knewe carnelly a mayde called pilam whiche was doughter of a myllar named atus And of this doughter he engendrid a sone she toke her name and the name of her fader whiche was callid Atus and composed thus of their names one name to her sone and named hym pilatus And whan he was thre yere old she sente hym to the kynge And the kynge had a sone of the quene whiche semed to be of the age of pylate And thise two sones whan they were of age of discrescion ofte they fought to gydre and with the slynge they pleyed oft And the kynges sone also which was legytyme was more noble And in all feates he knewe more and more was sette by by cause of his birthe And pylatâ— seeyng this was moeued of enuye and wrath and pryuely slewe his brother the whiche thyng the kyng herd saye and was moche angry And demaunded of his counseyll what he myght doo and make of this trespaas and homycyde ¶ The whiche all with one voys said that he was worthy to suffre deth ¶ And the kynge wold not double the payne and pugnycion but by cause he ought to the romayns yerly a trybute he sente hym in hostage to the Romayns as well for to be quyte of the deth of his sone and that he shold not be constrayned to put hym to deth as wel as for to be quyte of the trybute that he ought to Rome In this tyme was at Rome one of the sones of the kynge of fraunce whiche also was sente for trewage ¶ And whan pylate sawe hym he anon accompanyed with hym ¶ And sawe that he was preysed to fore hym for the wytte and for the maners that were in hym pylate slewe hym also And whan the Romayns demaÌ„ded what shold be doon in this matere They answerd that he whiche had slayn his brother And estraunglyd hym that was in hostage yf he mygt lyue shold be yet moche prouffytable to the comyn wele And shold daunte the neckes of theÌ„ that were cruel and wood And thenne sayd the Romaynes that syth he was worthy to dye he shold be sente in to an yle of the see named ponthus to them that wyll suffre no Iuge ouer them to th ende that his wyckednes may ouercome and Iuge them or ellys that he suffre of hem lyke as he hath deseruyd Thenne was pylate sente to this cruelle peple wylde whiche tofore had slayn their Iuge And it was told to hym to what peple he was sent And that he shold considere how his lyf was hongyng And in grete Ieopardye he wente consyderyng his lyf thought to kepe it dyde so moche what by menaces and promesses of torment as by yeftes that he subdued them alle and put them in subiection And by cause he had victorye of this cruel pepâ—e he was named of this yle of pontos pounce pilate And whan herode herde his Inyquytees and his fraudes he had grete Ioye therof And by cause he was wycked hym self he ld wo haue wycked with hym And sente for hym by messagers and by promyse of yeftes that he cam to hym And gaf hym the power vpon the Royame of Iudee Iherusalem whan he had asseÌ„bled gadred to gydre moche moneye he wente to rome with out knowyng of herode offred right grete sommes of moneye to themperour for to gete to hym self that whiche herode so helde And so he gate it And for this cause herode pilate were enemyes vnto the tyme of the passioÌ„ of Ihesu cryst whom pilate sente to herode Another cause of enemyte is assigned in scolastica historia Ther was one that sayd hym self to be god and had deceyued many of galylee and brought the peple in to garizain where he had said that he wold goo vp to heuen And pilate cam vpon them And whan he hath knowleche of the dede he slewe hym all his peple by cause he doubted that he wold haue deceyued them of Iudee And therfore were they enemyes to gydre For herode regned in galylee And whan pilate had delyuerd Ihesu Cryst to the Iewes for to be crucyfyed he doubted themperour that he shold be reproued of that whiche he had Iuged an Innocent And sente a frende of his for texcuse hym and in this whyle Tyberius theÌ„perour fyl in to a greuous maladye ¶ And it was told to hym that there was one in Iherusalem that cured al maner maladyes ¶ And he knewe not that pilate and the Iewes had slayn hym he said to volusien whiche was secrete with hym Goo in to the parties ouer see And saye to pylate that he sende to me the leche or maistre in medecyne for to hele me of my maladye And whan he was come to pylate And had said his message pylate was moche abasshyd and demaunded xiiij dayes of dylacion with in whiche tyme volusien fonde an old woman named veronica whiche had be famylyer and deuoute with Ihesu Cryst he demauÌ„ded of her where he myght fynde hym that he sought She thenne escryed and sayd Alas lord god my lord my god was he that ye axe fore whom pylate dampned to deth and
Freres grekes that were in desert hadde leyd their table more curyously than in an other tyme And had made redy the glasses and sette them on the lorde And when saynt Fraunceis sawe that he anone withdrewe hym sat on his hede the hat of a poure maÌ„ whiche was there and bare his staf in his honde and wente oute and abode at the gate And when the freâ—s ete at dyner he cryed at the dore that they sholde gyue for the loue of god an almesse to a poure seke man Thenne the poure man was callid in And entrid and satte doune allone vppon the erth and set his dysshe in the dust whiche whanne the Freres sawe they were abasshed and were sore agast And he sayd to them I see the table arayed and aourned And I knowe well that it is not for poure men that seke their mete fro dore to dore he loued pouerte in hym self and in all other soo that he called alwey pouerte his lady But whanne he sawe one more poure than hym self he had therof enuye and doubted to be ouercome of hym On a day he sawe a poure woman he shewed her to his felawe and sayde the pouertâ— of this woman doth to vs shame and repreueth strongly oure pouerte For for my Rychesses I haue chosen my lady pouerte And she shyneth more in this woman than in me whanne on a tyme a poure man passid to fore hym and the hooly man was meuyd with inward compassion his felawe sayd to hym though this man be poure parauenter ther is not a rycher of his wylle in alle the prouynce Thenne saynt Fraunceis sayd to hym Anone despoylle the of thy cote and gyue it to the poure man and knowleche thy self culpable and knele doun to his feet To whome anone he obeyed and dyd so On a tyme thre wymmen lyke of vysage all thynges of habite entrid met hym salewed in this manere Welcome my lady pouerte and anone they vanysshed awey and were nomore sene On a tyme as he cam to the cyte of Arete and a mortall bataylle was meuyd in the Cyte This holy man sawe vpon the burgh on the ground the deuyls makyng ioye and were glad Thenne he called his felawe named Syluestre and sayde to hym go to the yate of the Cyte And commaunde to these deuyls in goddes name that is almyghty that they go oute of the Cyte· Thenne he wente hastely and ceyed strongly Al ye deuyls departe from hens in the name of god and by the commaundemeÌ„t of Fraunceis onâ—e fader And they wente awey And thenne the Cytezeyns anone bycam to accorde The forsayd Syluester whanne he was yett a seculer preest he sawe in his slepe a golden Crosse yssue oute of the mouth of saynt Fraunceis of the whiche the ouer ende touched heuen and the armes of the Crosse stratched fro that one to that other parte of the world Thenne this preest hadde conpunction and left the world and folowed perfightely this hooly man saynt Fraunceis and on a tyme as this holy man was in prayer the deuyll callid hym thryes by his owne name and whanne the holy man had answerd hym he said none in this world is soo grete a synnar but yf he conuerte hym our lord wold pardone hym But who that sleeth hym self by hard penaunce shall neuer fynde mercy And anone this hooly man knewe by the reuelacion the fallace and deceyte of the fende how he wold haue withdrawen hym for to doo well and whanne the deuyll saw that he myght not preuayle ayenst hym He tempted hym by greuous temptacion of the flesshe and whan this holy seruaunt of god felte that he despoyllid of his clothes and bete hym self right hard with an hard corde sayeng Thus broder Asse it behoueth the to remayne and to be beten and whan the temptacion departed not he wente oute and plonged hym self in the snowe al naked and made seuen grete balles of snowe and purposed to haue taken them in to his body and sayd this grettest is thy wyf and of these foure two ben thy doughters â— and two thy sones and the other tweyne that one thy chaÌ„berer and that othir thy varlet or yemaÌ„ haste the and clothe them For they al deye for cold and yf thy besynes that thow hast aboute them greue the sore Thenne serue our lord parfightely and anon the deuyll departed from them al confused and saynt Fraunceis retournyd ageyne in to his celle gloryfyeng god And as he dwellyd on a tyme with Leon the cardynal of saynt Crosse in a nyght the deuils cam to hym and bete hym right greuously Thenne he callyd his felawe and said to hym these ben deuyls Iaylers of our lord whome he sendeth to punysshe the excesses but I can remembre me of none offencis that I haue done but by the mercy of god I haue wasshed them awey by satisfaction But parauenture he hath sente me them by cause he wylle not suffre me to falle by cause I dwelle in the Courtes of greete lordes whiche thynge perauentur engendreth not good syspection to my right poure bretheren whiche suppose I habounde in delyces And erly in the mornynge he aroos and departed thens On a tyme as he was in his prayers he sawe vpoon the couerynge of the hows assembles and companyes of deuyls whiche ranne hyder and thyder with grete noyse And he wente oute and signed hym with the signe of the Crosse and sayd I saye to yow in the name of almyghty god that ye deuylles do to my body all that is suffrid to yow to doo And I shall suffre hit pacyently For I haue no gretter enmye than my body and ye shal auenge me of myn aduersarye whyles ye take on hit vengeaunce by my lyf thenne they vanysshed awey al confused There was a Frere whiche was felaw of saynt Fraunceis was on a tyme rauysshed and sawe in spyryte the gloryous place in heuen wherin he sawe amonge other seetes a ryght noble seete shynynge of more noble glorye than the other And as he merueyled for whome this noble syege or sete was kepte he herd that it was sayd that this sete longed somtyme to one of the prynces that fylle And is nowe made redy to the meke and humble Fraunceys And when saynt Fraunceys yssued fro his prayers that frere demauÌ„ded hym Fader what wenest thou of thy self And he sayd I wene that I am grettest of alle synners And anone the spyryte cam in to the herte of the frere and sayd beholde what was the vysion that thow sawest Fro humylyte shal lyfte vp the mooste meke man vnto the sete lost by pryde This hooly man saynt Fraunceis sawe in a vysion aboue hym Seraphyn crucyfyed the whicehe emprynted in hym the signes of his crucyfyenge that hym semed that he was crycyfyed and that in his handes his feet and in his syde hym semed were the signe of the wouÌ„des of the crucyfyeng but he dyde hyde these tokenes
as moche as he myghte that noman shold see them And yet neuertheles somme sawe them in his lyf and at his deth they were seene of many and were shewed by many myracles that tho signes were trewe Of whiche myracles tweyne shalle suffyse for to be sette here There was a man named Rogyer and was in puylle to fore thymage of saynt Fraunceis And beganne to thynke and saye maye this be trewe that this man was so ennobled by suche myracle or was this an illusion or an Inuencion dissimyled of his bretheren the Freres And as he thought this he herde sodenly a sowne lyke as a quarel had he shotte out of Arbalaste or a Crosse bowe and he felte hym greuously hurte in his lyfte honde but ther appyeryd no hurte in his gloue And thenne he took of his gloue and sawe in the palme of his honde a wounde as it hadde ben of an arowe oute of whiche wounde ther yssued soo grete payne of ache and brennynge that almoost he deyde for sorowe and payne And thenne he repented hym and sayd that he byleuyd ryght veryly the signes and toknes of saynt Fraunceis and when he hadde praid by twâ— dayes saynt fraunceis by his holy signes and stygmates he was anone delyueryd of his payne and maade al hoole In the Royamme of Castyle ther was a man deuoute to saynt Fraunceis whiche wente on a tyme to Complyne to the chirche of seynt Fraunceis And men lay in a wayte for to slee hym and in stede of another man he was taken by errour and ignoraunce and was wounded and left as half deede And after the cruel morderer stycked his swerd in his throte and lefte it therin and myght not drawe it oute but wente his way And thenne men cryed and ranne hyder and thyder and the man was bewayled lyke as he hadde ben dede And when they ronge to matyns at mydnyght at the chirche of the Freres the wyf of the man beganne to cry Aryse vp syre and goo to matyns For the belle calleth the And anone he lyfte vp his hande to shewe that some man shold take awey the swerde fro his throte And anone in the syÈt of them alle the swerd sprange oute a ferre as it had be throwen of a stronge Champyon And anone the man arose parfyghtely hole And sayd that saynt Fraunceys cam to hym and ioyned his stygmates to my woundes enoynted them with the swetenes of his signes and sewyd them to gydre merueylously by his towchynge And whanne he wold haue gone I shewed hym that he shold take aweye the swerd For els I shold not conne speke And anone he tooke it oute And threwe it awey ferre from hym And heled me with touchyng my throte with his signes The two clerkes grete lumynayres of the world that is to saye saynt Domynyke and saynt Fraunceys were in the Cyte of Rome to fore the Lord hostyence whiche afterward was pope of Rome And this Bisshop sayd to them wherfor make ye not of your freres Bisshops and prelates whiche shold preuayle more by techynge and example gyuynge And ther was long contencion bytwene them who sholde fyrst answere And Humylyte ouercam Fraunceys that he wold not speke to fore that other And thenne saynt Domynyk humbly obeyed and sayde Syre oure bretheren ben lefte vp in good degree yf they knowe hit And I shalle neuer suffre to my power that euer they shalle hope to haue ony hyer dygnyte ¶ After that answerd saynt Fraunceys Syre my Bretheren ben callyd Mynours by cause they wold not be made gretter And the blessyd saynt Fraunceys ful of ryght grete symplycyte admonested and warned alle creatures to loue their Creatour he prechyd to byrdes and was herd of hem they suffryd hym to touche â— them and withoute lycence they wold not retorne ne flee fro hym And on a tyme whanne he prechyd the Swalowes chyteryd and songe And anon by his comaundement they were stylle There was also on a tyme a byrde on a fygge tree besyde his celle whiche sange ofte ful swetely And saynt Fraunceys put forth his hand And called that byrde And anone the byrde obeyed and cam vppon his honde And he sayd to her synge my suster and preyse thy lord And thenne anone she songe And departed not tylle she hadde lycence He spared to touche lyghtes lampes and Candels by cause he wold not defowle them with his handes He wente honourably vpon the stones for the worship of hym that was callyd stone He gadryd the smale wormes oute of the waye by cause they shold not be troden with the feete of them that passyd by He commaunded in wynter to gyue hony vnto bees that they shold not perysshe for hongre He called alle beestes his Bretheren He was replenysshed of merueylous Ioye for the loue of his Creatoure He behelde the Sonne the Mone and the Sterres And somoned them to the loue of theyre Maker He defended for to make hym a greete Crowne sayenge I wylle that my symple Bretheren haue parte in my hede ¶ There was a Seculer man whiche sawe saynt Fraunceis the Seruaunt of God prechynge att saynt Seueryns And sawe by reuelacyon of God that saynt Fraunceys was stratched on a Crosse maade of two clere swerdes Of whiche that one cam fro his heede to his feete And that other stratchyd from that one hande to that other soo that he neuer hadde sene suche a demonstraunce Thenne he was moeued in his herte And entryd in to the ordre And fynysshed goodly his lyf ¶ On a tyme as saynt Fraunceys was seke on hys eyen for contynuelle wepynge hys Bretheren sayd to hym that he sholde refrayne hym fro wepynge And he answerd The vysytacyon of the lyghte perdurable is not to be putte awaye for the lyghte that we haue here with the flyes And whanne his bretheren constrayned hym to take a Medycyne for his eyen And the Surgeon helde a brennynge yron in his hande And the blessyd Fraunceys sayde My brother Fyre be thow to me in this houre debonayre and curable I praye to our lord that made the that thou attempre my hete And thenne he made the signe of the Crosse ageynste the fyre And the fyry yron wat put in his tendre flesshe from his ere vnto his eye lyddes And he felte no payne He was strongly seke in the deserte of saynt vrban And whanne he felt that nature faylled in hym he axyd for to drynke wyn And ther was none And they brought to hym water and he blessid it and made the signe of the Crosse theron and it was conuertid and torned in to ryght good wyne And the hooly man gate of our lord that the pouerte of the deserte myghte not gete And as sone as he had tasted it he becam stronge and was alle hoole he hadde leuer here blame of him self than preysynge And for by cause that the peuple preysed in hym ony thynge of meryte of holynes he commaunded to somme broder