ê“fyted nat somwhat with vyolence neuerthelesse reuerently they ledde hir out of hir house vnto the watersyde And loo a meruaylous thyng the olde myracle was reuyued for lyke as in the tyme of Iosue the water of fleme Iordane was stopped ayenst the natural course so at the entryng of the holy virgyn Katherin into the water of Tyber suche vtue yssued out of hir by the power of almyghty god that it restreyned the strength of the water so that it coÌ„pellyd the streme with a great swyftnes to go into the olde course wherof all men ioyed laudyng the great power of o r lord shewyd iÌ„ his blessyd vgyn seynt Katheryn Iugeburgê the iii. dought of seit birget in hir youth was made a noÌ„ne in the Monastery of Rysaburga where in shorte tyme after she yelded hit soule to almyghty god And whenne hir moder knewe that she was deed with great Ioye she sayd O lorde Ihesu criste blessyd be thou that thou haste called hir to the or the worlde had be wrappyd hir with synne and anone after seynt Birget was in hir oratory she fell vpon such great wepynge and sobbynge that all that were nygh to hir harde and sayd loo howe she wepyth for the deth of hir doughter Then our lorde apperyd to hir sayd woman why wepyst thou though I knowe all thynges yet by thy wordes I wyll knowe to whom she sayd O lorde I wepe nat for that my doughter is deed but I am glad therof for if she hadde lyued lenger she shuld haue had before the a gretter accomptê but I wepe for this cause that I haue nat enformed hir after thy coÌ„maundementê bycause I haue gyuen hir examples of pryde And I haue neclygently corrected hir when she hath offendyd To whom our lorde answered and sayd euery moder that wepyth bycause hir doughter hath offen dyd god and enformyth hir after hir beste conscyence she is a very moder of charite and moder of terys and hir doughter is the doughter of god for the moder But that moder that Ioyeth of that that hir doughter can behaue hir after the worlde nat carynge of hir lyuynge so that she may be eraltyd and honoured in the worlde she is no very moder but a stepmoder therfore for thy charyte and good wyll thy doughter by the nyghest waye shall goo vnto the Kyngdome of heuyn and at the Sepulture of the sayd gloryous virgyne Iugeburgê he done many great myracles Cecily the fourth doughter of seynt Birget was the laste childe that euer she had and she is to be had in great honour moste specially for the synguler grace gyuen vnto hir by our blessyd lady before she was borne For when hir moder at hir byrthe was in great parrell in despayre of hir lyfe our blessyd lady was seen in whyte clothynge of sylke goynge to hir and as she stode byfore the bed she towched seynt Birget in dyuers ê‘tyes of hir body so that all the women there beynge present greatly meruayled therof nat knowynge any thynge who it was And as soone as our lady was gone out of the house seynt Birget was delyuered without defyculte and shortly after our lady sayd to seynt Birget when thou was iÌ„ icopardy at thy delyueraune I came vnto the and helpyd the. Therfore thou art vnkynde if thou loue me nat wherfore labour that thy children may also be my children AftseiÌ„t Birget induced hir husbande to lyfe in contyneus many yeres And also they both went on pylgremage to seynt Iames in Gales with great deuocyon after came agayne into their Countre at Swecia and by comen assententendyd bothe to haue entred into Relygyon and in that purpose the sayd Ulpho hir husbande dyed the .xii. daye of Februarii the yere of our lord god a Thousande CCC and .xliiii. and is buryed in the monastery of Albastra After his deth seynt Birget put all hir wyll to the wyll of god and thought she wolde for the loue of god forsake all the worldly pleasure and determyned hir selfe with the assystaunce and grace of our lorde to lyue in chaste wydowhed all hir lyfe and contynuelly made hir prayer to almyghty god to knowe by what way she myght beste please hym And after she gaue all hir landes and goodes to hir children and to pore men so that she myght in pouerte folowe our lorde and reseruyd to hirselfe oonly that that wolde symply and mekely serue hir for mete drynke and clothynge and that to lyue in symple array After by the coÌ„maundement of almyghty god folowynge the example of Abraham she left his owne countrey and hir carnall frendes went in pylgremage to Rome the yere of our lorde god M.CCC.xlvi the .xlii. yere of hir age therto abyde in the lyfe of penaunce to vysyt the lyghtê of seynt Peter and Paule the relykes of other seyntê tyl she had of our lorde other coÌ„mauÌ„dement hauyng euer with hir .ii. olde faders spirituell wherof one was a monke called Peter whiche was pryor of Albastra of the ordre of Cisteux a pure virgyn was a man of great connynge of vertuous lyf and the other was a preest of Swecia whiche also was a vgyn a man of holy lyfe he by the coÌ„maundemeÌ„t of almyghty god taught hir hir doughter Katheryn graÌ„mer to whiche faders spirituall of hir lyfe she obeyed in all vertue as mekely as a very meke monke is wont to obey his pÌ„late in somoche that she came into so ê‘fyte humylyte obedyens mortyfiynge of hir owne wyll that when she went to ê‘dons and holy places amonge the recourse of the people euer accompanyed with the sayd preest hir fader spirituall she durste nat lyft vp hir iyen fro the grouÌ„de tyll she had leue of the the â—ayd fader sperituell And after the deth of hir husbande in the honour of the Trinite she weer nere next hir bare skyn a corde of hempe with many knottes harde bouÌ„den to hir in lykewyse about euery of hir legges vnder hir knees And she neuer vsed any lynen cloth though it weer in tyme of sykenes but oonly vpon hir hed next hir skyn she weer euer rough sharpe wolen cloth hir outwarde appareâ— was nat after the coÌ„dicion of hir ê‘sone but moch meke abiecte she nat oonly kepe the fastyngê or vigylles that holy churche coÌ„mauÌ„deth but she suê‘added therto many other in so moche that beyonde the coÌ„maundement of the churche she fasted .iiii. tymes in the weke aswell in hir husbandes lyfe as after And after hir husbandê deth vnto a lytel byfore hir blessyd passage out of this world after fastyngê prayers other dyuyne labours most comeÌ„ly she reâ—resshed hir self with right short slepe in hir clothes that she was wont to weer lyinge vpon a carpet wtout federbed matres strawe or any otherthing euery fryday in remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of the gloryous passion of our sauyour criste Ihesu she absteyned in brede water oonly bysyde lyke abstyneÌ„ce that she
Clothis vnhurte And also in the yere of our Lorde a Thousand a hundred and foure his Body was agayne fouÌ„de vncorrupte And he lyeth now at Duresme in the latter ende of seynt Cuthbertys Lyfe is made mencyon of many Kynges in Englond that haue lefte theyr Kyngdomes And some entered into Relygyon some went on Pylgrymage to Rome or otherwyse made a blesyd ende as in the Legende apperyth ¶ De sctaÌ„ Cuthburga regina virgyne SEynt cuthburge was Syster to Ibe kynge of westsaxones And alfryde Kynge of Northamhumber herynge the fame of her beauty vertusent Ambassatoures to her Broder desyrynge to haue her in maryage And when her Broder had shewyd to her the message she Answeryd that if she myght lyue after her owne Appetyte there shulde no Husbonde in all Bretayne please her but she sayde she wolde not be dysobedyent to hym if he otherwyse ordeynyd lest it shulde be a dysobedyens to god puttynge her truste only in our Lorde and so she was maryed And whan her Husbond she came into the ChauÌ„ber she shewyd hym her purpose of kepynge virginyte and exortyd hym therto in such maner with such great charyte mekenes that he was therto coÌ„tentyd And so she lefte all pompe of the worlde and buyldyd a Monasterye in wymburne and there she punysshed her Body with fastyngys and watchyngys and vsyd coÌ„tynuall prayers and was very meke to god and man and in her monasterye she gatheryd many virgyns And whenne she knewe that her tyme drewe nere to go out of this worlde she exortyd her systers to consyder desceytfulnes of the worlde And with all dylygence to kepe theyr hert for of that lyfe procedyth And to loue all that our Lorde which is theyr spouse Louyth and to hate all that he hatyth and to loue eche other and alway to desyre the euerlastynge Lyfe and when she had made theym a longe exortacyon she chauÌ„gyd thys lyfe the day before the kalendas of September ¶ De sancto Cinigaro heremyta SEynt cinigar was sone to the Emperour of CoÌ„stantynople and to the Empryse lucyna And when he shulde haue ben maryed to a great kyngys Doughter he wente a way pryuely in poure apparell And the Emperoure sent messaÌ„gers after hym but our Lorde sauyd hym fro theym And soo he came into Fraunce and so to Englonde and with all his dylygens he entendyd to kepe a solytary Lyfe and beynge in that porpose he came into somerset shyre And by monycyon of an Aungell he came to a place now callyd CuÌ„gresbury he were the heer and dylygently kepte Fastyngys Prayers and euery mornynge he stode in the water tyll he had sayd thre Pater nosters And at .ix. of the cloke he refresshyd hymselfe with harley Breed The kynge Iue gaue hym the terrytorye about Cungresbury And there he made a teÌ„ple of .xii. ChanoÌ„s by reasoÌ„ of his great Myracles there was suche great Resorte to hym that for his more quyetnes he lefte that place and went into Wales And in a place shewyd to hym by an Aungell he made an Oratory and after he went on pylgrymage to Rome so to Iherusalem And at Iherusalem he chauÌ„gyd his Lyfe And as it is sayde his Company brought his Body with theym into Englonge to cungresbury ¶ De sancto Dauyd epÌ„o confessore SEynt dauyd was sone to the Kynge of Nortwales And his moders name was NuÌ„nyta And as seynt Patryke was in the vale of Rosyn where is nowe seynt Dauithis An aungell apperyd to hym and sayd that that place was not ordeynyd for hym but for oon that shulde be Borne .xxx. yerys after And when seynt Patryke was therwith astonyed that he was soo abiectyd for oon not yet borne an Aungell shewyd hym beynge in Wales all the lande of Irlande and tolde hym that in that Countrey he shulde suffre moche for our Lorde And that our Lorde shulde be with hym in all that he dyd And when the Chylde was Borne all the place where he was shone with a great clerenes And a stone at the feet of Nonyta in her traueyle gaue place to her Feet as if it had ben waxe And in the same place a Churche is made And when he was at scole his felawes sawe a Doue with a golden byll fleynge before his face and Techynge hym and he helyd his Mayster that was blynde He made .xii. Monasteryes and came to Glastonbury and made the churche And with his blessynge puryfyed waters at Bath and made them contynually to be hote and holsome to be wasshed in when brede poysonyd was seruyd to hym he Blessyd it and gaue oon parte to a Lytyl dogge which strayghte way dyed a nodre parte he gaue to a Crowe which also Dyed the thyrde ê‘te he ete hym felfe had no hurte an Abbot vpon a Horse that he borowyd of seynt Dauyd and trustynge on his Blessynge rode on hym ouer the See safe on a tyme whenne his dyscyples and he had sufferyd a great wronge He sayd to theym that he that wyll serue oure Lorde shall suffre trybulacyon but he may not be ouerome with euyll but he muste ouercome euyll with goodnes for he sayd if oure Lorde be with vs who shal be agaynste vs he wolde haue all his discyples laboure seyinge with the appostell he that wyll not laboure shall not ete and as they laboured they other prayed or thought some thynge plesaunte to almyghty god and they lyuyd with Breed and Lekys toke Mylke for theyr drynke wheÌ„ laboure was doon they wolde be Prayenge redyng or wrytynge he wolde take no thynge of theym that shulde be resceyuyd amonge theym into Relygyon and after by monycyon of an AuÌ„gell he went to Iherusalem with seynt Thelyans and seynt Patrone And there they prechyd agaynste the Iewes and strengthyd many in the faythe And euery man vnderstode theym in theyr owne tonge and there he was made an Archebusshope the patryarke gaue hym an Aulter a staffe a belle a cote coueryd with Golde wherby great Myracles haue beÌ„ don And wheÌ„ he was come home agayne He was desyryd to Preche agaynste the Heresye of Pelagyen and as he stode amoÌ„ge the people he had a Chylde that he hadde Reysyd by the way fro deth to Lyfe ley his napkyn vnder his feet standynge therupon he began to Preche And as he prechyd the grounde that he stoude on rose with hym lyke a Hyll wheruppon a Churche is buldyd And by his prechynge the people were confermyd And all the Clergye toke there doctryne at hym And he was as a Father to all the people And he knewe the verye Day of his Deth And at his departynge our Lorde apperyd vnto hym with a great company of AuÌ„gellys And he sayde to hym Lorde take me with the And so he wente with oure Lorde in the kalendas of Marche and he was Buryed at Seynt Dauythys and oure Lorde hath shewyd for hym many Myracles bothe in his lyfe and after his
Deth And foure hundred and .xxi. yere after his departynge out of this worlde his Body was translatyd to Glastonbury as in the latter ende of seynt Patryckys lyfe apperyth ¶ De sancto decimiano heremyta martyre SEynt Decymyan otherwyse callyd Dekeman was borne in the west parte of Walys and when he was paste yerys of Chyldhode he suffred not his mynde to be vagarant But kepte it vnder discyplyne And when his felowes wolde goo on huÌ„tynge he wolde goo to the Churche and pray he sette not his pryncypall intent to great connynge but to good Lyfe and contemplacyon and after for that he moughte the more quyetly serue our Lorde he thoughte to leue his Countrey And soo he dyd and whenne he came to Seuerne he had no Shyppe to goo ouer And vppon a borden of Roddys that he made he came ouer into Englonde nygh to the Castell of Dorochester where was thenne a great wyldernes and there he lyuyd with Herbys Rootys with Fastyngys and Prayer and vsyd the heer And the lesse that he was vysytyd with men the more he was visyted with Aungellys a cursyd man for enuy that he had to his holy Lyfe stroke of his hed and he toke vp his heed bare it to a well that he was wonte to wasshe his Heed in and there he was fouÌ„de and was buryed honorably ¶ De sancto Deusdedit archiepÌ„o SEynt deusdedyt was of the Countrey of Westsaxones in Englonde His very name was Frythona but for his great merytys the people chauÌ„ged his name and caullyd hym Deusdedith that is god sent hym And after the Deth of the Archebusshope honoryus he was made archebusshope of CauÌ„terbury And he was a Louer of vertues a destroyer of vyces a dylygent sower of the worde of god And was busy in prayers fastyngys and in gyuynge of Almes And with grete studye laboured for the people coÌ„mytted to hym And after that he had takyn the Ordre of preesthode he had alwayes his mynde fyxyd to our Lorde and refresshyd poure men Clothed the nakyd vysytyd the syke had perseueraunt Loue to god and to his neyghboure and was full of the spyryt of wysdome and mekenes and that that seynt Augustyne seynt Laurence seynt Mellytus iustus Honoryus succedynge one after a nother had begon this Blessyd man by Prechynge Admonysshynge correccyoÌ„ hygh charyte more fully stablysshed and wheÌ„ he had brought all thyngys to good ordre in the yere of our Lorde god syx huÌ„dryd .lxiiii. in the Idus of Iuly he went to our lorde And lyeth at CauÌ„terbury ¶ De sancto Dubry con epÌ„o confessore THe moder of seynt Dubryce had no Husbonde wherfore her Fader whiche was a Kynge in Wales perceyuynge her to be with Chylde in great woodnes caste her into the water in a vessell of glasse and as ofte as she was caste in she was brought agayne safe to Londe And thenne her Fader caste her into a great Fyre and in the mornynge whenne they thoughte she had ben all to brent they founde her safe and her sone newe borne in hir armys and not one heer of hyr hurte And the Kynge herynge therof sent for theym And as he kyssyd the Chylde the Chylde with his Hande touchyd the kynges Face anon he was made hooll of a grete desease that he had in his Mouthe when he was set to lernynge he prophytyd so moche therin in good maners that men of great cuÌ„nynge came to here hym amoÌ„ge whom was seynt Thelyans Sampson Aidanus many other and after the Kynge made hym Archebusshope of the Cytie of Legyons And in the yere of oure Lord .v. C. .xii. he went out of this worlde and now he lyeth at Landanense in his Legende be dyuerse goodly thynges of Kynge arthur of Stonthynges and of dyuerse Myracles here omyttyd ¶ Descâ—oÌ„ Dunstano archiepÌ„o SEynt dunstane was borne of noble blode of Englonde of the countrey of westsaxons in the tyme of Kynge Ethelstane in the whiche tyme the lyfe of obedyence was lytell desyred And the name of an Abbotskaresly knowen seynt Aldelme archebusshop of cauÌ„terbury vncle to seynt Dunstane commyttyd hym to the kynge Athelstone of whom he was moche cherysshyd somtyme he vsyd Prayers some tyme Iudged causys of the people And so he vsyd hym selfe that he dipleased no man that lyuyd well As he was makynge avestemeÌ„t for a preest his harpe without touchynge sownyd the antiphone gaudent in Celis And though all the company thought it was by veyll coÌ„nynge yet he toke it for a warnynge that it was the wyll of our lord that he shulde lyue a harder lyfe And after certeyn malycyous persones by entysement of the Deuyll persuadyd the kynge to beleue that DuÌ„stan dyd nothynge by the helpe of god But by wichecrafte so he lefte the courte and went to his vncle elphegus Busshope of wynchester there he toke order of preesthode was made Monke at glastonbury and there as he was workynge in a forge the deuyll apperyd to hym lyke a woman to tempte hym And he by spyryt knowynge who it was toke hym by the nose with his hote Tongys so sore that he cryed out so terrybly that it feryd all the InhabytauÌ„tys in the towne The deuyll had great enuy to hym because of his blessyd lyfe and he had suche especyall grace that he knewe euer in Spyryte the leest thynge that the enemy dyd And euer he had the victorye And he lyuyd .vii. Kynges dayes Athelstan Edeâ— Edred Edwyn Edgare Edwarde the martyr Ethel drede his Broder he was in suche fauoure with Edrede that he preferryd hym aboue all Men in soo moche that there was nothynge doon in the Realme without hym he dyd Iustyce and equyte in all the Realme And after the deth of Edred he reprouyd Edwyn of his abhomynable auoultre wherwith the Kynge toke displeasure and banysshyd hym the Realme and so he taryed in Flaunders all the dayes of Edwyn and there he lyuyd a blessyd Lyfe in the Monasterye of Gandanense And after the deth of Kynge Edwyn kynge Edgare brought hym agayne with great honoure And after the deth of Odo archebusshope of CauÌ„terbury elsynus which longe had labouryd for it by corrupcyon of money was made Archebusshope wherefore as he was goynge towarde â—ome he dyed of Colde in the snowe And shortly after seynt DuÌ„stane was electyd archebushope And he fet his pall at rome and the fyrste daye that he came home and was howselynge the people sodeynly a Clowde came ouer the Churche and a whyte Doue was seen descende vppon hym And after on a tyme he came to Kynge Edgare reprouyd hym for kepynge of a Nonne And when the Kynge wolde haue had hym syt downe by hym he sayd he wolde not be freÌ„de with hym to whom our Lord was Enemy And the Kynge herynge that was aferde And anon knowlegyd his offence and askyd penaunce forgyuenesse And seynt Dunstane gaue hym
of helpe of Edryke the traytoure whome the Kynge had put in great auctoryte And bycause the Kynge put his broder to deth for his offencys he went out of the courte and confeterd hymselfe with danes and they besegyd the Cyte of Caunterbury And when they had wonne it they dyd Merueylouse great cruelte to the people wherfore seynt Elphegus offerde hymselfe to them and bad them spare the people and take hym And so he was taken and put in pryson And there he lay tyll the offenders were so punysshed with sykenes by the stroke of god that they toke hym out of prysone cryed hym mercye and he forgaue them and blessyd Brede and gaue it to them And anon they were hoole and when they were hoole the rulers askyd of hym if he wolde haue his lyfe and lyberte thre thousande marke And because he wolde not greue the people to leue the Money he denyed it And soo he was put agayne in cruell pryson and there the Deuylle apperyd to hym lyke an AuÌ„gell of lyght and perswadyd hym to go out of pryson by many exauÌ„ples and soo he folowyd hym and when he had brought hym amonge waters in the derke nyght he lefte hym and then he knewe it was the crafte of the enemye wherfore he lyftyd hys mynde to our Lorde and cryed for helpe And anone a yonge man in bryghte shynynge apparell apperyd to hym and had hym goo agayne to receyue the Crowne of martyrdome and when he came to the pryson and there he was truellye takyn Betyn And foule Stynkynge Donge was caste vppon hym And thenne Seynt Dunstanne aperyd to hym and comfortyd hym And at the laste he was betyn with stones And his owne godson with a hachet stracke hym in the Hed and soo martyryd hym the .xiii. kalendas of Maii the punysshemeÌ„t of god felle vppoÌ„ the offenders so that some kyllyd theymselfe And some went madde many fledde to the see and theyr Shyppys were drownyd about a C. and .lx. Shyppes And after when Kunt came into Englonde and sawe great punyshement fall vppon hym and his pleople he toke counceyle of some Englysshemen that toke his ê‘te they thoughte it was for the wronge don to seynt Elphege And soo by theyr counceyle he promysyd that when he had peace he wolde brynge the body of seynt Elphege to cauÌ„terbury And .xvii. yere after he fouÌ„de his Body vncorrupte And brought it to CauÌ„terbury honorably as he had ê“mysed ¶ De sâ—toÌ„ Erkenwaldo epÌ„o confessore SEynt erkenwalde and his syster Ethelburghe comonly callyd Alburgh were borne in that parte of Englonde callyd Lynsey And seynt Erkenwalde was conuertyd to the feythe when seynt Augustyne came into Englond and was dyscyple to the Busshope Mellyt And his syster folowed the exauÌ„ple of her broder And when she was Cristenyd she was callyd Ethelburghe And seynt Erkenwalde foundyd the Monasterye of Chertesey for hymselfe where he was Abbot and Barkynge for his syster And after he was made busshope of London by seynt Theodre Archebussope of Caunterbury And when a beame that was ordeynyd for the monastery of Berkynge was to shorte he and his syster Ethelburghe drew it in length made it longe ynough And as he was goynge on Prechynge in a chare oon of the whelys went of and yet the chare went vpryghte he shewyd the very day of his deth and vnto his laste ende he comfortyd the people besylye with the worde of god And he Dyed at barkynge And there was at his deth a meruâ—ylous swete Sauoure in all the house And as he shulde be brought to London the water rose at Ilforde and wolde not suffer theym to passe tyll the people fell to prayer And anone the Water deuydyd and soâ— they went thrughe And all the Candellys that were out lyghtyd agayne by themselfe And so he was buryed at seynt Poulys in London And was leyde in leed in a Coffyn of wodde And it was coueryd with a Palle of small pryse many yerys And after in the tyme of Wyllyam Conqueroure the Churche of poulys and great parte of london was Brent And neuerthelesse the sayde palle and sepulcre was not hâ—rte wherfore the people gaue Laudys to our Lorde And thoughe that that punysshemeÌ„t came to theym bycause they had not doon condygne honoure to the sayd blessyd Relyquys And after the Churche of Poulys was newe buyldyd by thre Busshoppys of London oon after a noder And by a hoole Deuocyon of the people his Body was traÌ„slatyd to a more honorable place in the yere of our lorde god a Thousande a hundred xl the .xiii. daye of Nouember And when the place that was newe made was to lyttyll for the Chest of leed wheâ—in his Relykys lay fyrst the people for that neclygence were sory And anon the stone waxyd more holow and gaue place to the blessyd relykys And after at his shryne were doon many great myracles as in the legeÌ„de apperyth at great length which be here omyttyd ¶ De sancta Ermenilda regina SEynt ermenylde was doughter to Ercomberte kynge of kent of seynt sexburghe his wyfe she was dysposyd to all pytye coÌ„passyon and endeuouryd herselfe with a moderly pytye to helpe the necessytes of euery man there was in hyr alway oon stablenesse on Benygnyte on Charyte on desyre to Heuynly thingys She was maryed to wlferus son to penda kynge of Marshyes which after his Faders Deth was crystenyd by her exortacyon good maners she tamyd the wylde people and brought theym to the feythe thruste downe Rebellys myghtyly And she ceassyd not tyll the Idollys worshyppynge of deuyllys with the helpe of the Kynge was clene put a way Chyrchys were buyldyd for Dyuyneseruyce thrughe all the Realme they had a doghter callyd werbuxga And after the deth of the Kynge the quene Erâ—â—enylde her Doughter enteryd into Relygyon at Ely vnder her moder sexburghe so for our lord she forsoke all the pleasurys and loue of the worlde And punysshyd her body with abstynence prayers and lamentyngys and shewyd her selfe moost lowe of all folkys and she endyd her lyfe full of good werkys in the Idâ—â— of February And a man that was bounden with Iâ—â—â—s prayed at her tumbe at masse for helpe and at the gospell the Irons were strykyn fro his arme with such a vyoleÌ„ce that they flewe to the Aâ—ter that all mâ—n myght see De sancto Esterwino Abbate SEynt esterwyn was mynyster to kynge Egfryde And he lefte the Temporall armoure toke Espyrytuall armour enteryd into Relygyon vnder his vnkyll Benet busshope in the Monasterye of seynt peter but for all the kynred he lokyd not to be anythynge the more honowryd But he was anon foo meke that he wolde wynnow and thresshe with the bretherne mylke Kyen shepe And be with theym galdlye in the Bakhouse Kechyn in all other busynes of the Monasterye And after seynt Coolfryde abbot of the monasterye of
lyued halfe a daye and then dyed he buylded a Monastery at Wynchester and a stone that was appoynted to that werke wolde nat remoue by any maner connynge And when seynt Oswalde came thyder he sawe the deuyll sytte vpon the stone mockynge theym that laboured with the sygne of the Crosse he droue hym away and then fewe men remoued it that .lxxx. coulde nat remoue byfore He was bysshop of Worcestre after by coÌ„pulcion of kyng Edgare seynt DunstanÌ„ by hole assent of the Clergye he was made Archebysshop of yorke he chaunged seynt Albones Elye Beamflet .vii. other places fro clerkê to monkê he fed euery day .xii. pore meÌ„ gaue them money he knewe that he shuld dye the daye byfore and that nygâ—t he went to Churche and kepte the Quere the resydewe of the nyght he expended in laudynge of almyghty god and in the mornynge was howseled anelyd and gyrded a lynnen clothe aboute hym and wasshed the fete of pore men dryed theym and kyssed them as he was wont to do after the .xv. Psalmes he sayd Glia patri c. And as he payed the pore men was seyinge spuÌ„isancto he yelded vp his spirit in the yere of our lorde .ix. C. lxxxxii the day byfore the Kalend of Marche as he was had to the churche a whyte doue a bryght beame were seen descendynge vpon hym he was buryed at yorke .xii. yeres after his deth he was remoued to Worcestre as he wylled to be where he lyeth now this daye our lord hath shewyd for hym many great myracles both in his lyfe and after his deth ¶ De sancto Oswaldo Rege martyre THe quene Acta moder to seynt Oswalde after her husbonde kynge Ethelfryde was slayne in batayle by kynge Edwyn fled with seynt Oswalde other of her children into Scotâ—ade and there seynt Oswalde after the Counsell of his moder was Cristened after with small coÌ„pany he came to recouer his right enherytaunce agaynst Cedwalla kyng of Deiâ— and Bernysshe that had slayne in batayle his broder Daufride kyng of deirÌ„ Osryke kynge of bernysshe and when they shuld go to batayle he set vp a Crosse made the people knele downe pray for helpe iÌ„ their rightwyse quarel so with small coÌ„pany he had the victory in a place called Deuysborne ayenst the sayd Cedwalla that a right myghty cruell kyng by the sayd Crosse also in the sayd place where he made his prayer that is called Heuynfelde great myracles haue be done after seint Oswalde sent into scotlande where he was Baptysed desyryng to haue seynt Aydane the bysshop to Instruct hym and his people in the fayth And when seynt Aydane was come the kynge gaue hym a bysshoppes see in the I le of Lyndesernense anone the people were conuerted Churches were buylded Monasteryes founded This blessyd man beyng instruct with worde and example of seynt Aydane nat oonly atteyned a full hope of an Euerlastynge kyngdome but also of Erthely kyngdomes he had more lordshyp then any of his auncestours for he atteyned nat oonly the kyngdom of Deir and Bernysshe but also all the Nacions of Brytayne wherin then were .iiii. dyuers speches bryttysshe scottysshe englysshe of the pictes he toke in his domynion He was a great gyuer of almes and wolde suffre no Cristen man go openly on beggynge As he seynt Aydane oâ— Eester day satte at dyner a great multitude of pore men came to aske almes and the kynge hauynge no other thynge redy at hande gaue theym a dysshe of syluer with mete therin the bysshop seynge his great charyte toke his hande and prayed to almyghty god that that hande which was so redy to gyue almes shuld neuer Rotte and his prayer was herde On a tyme he prayer for his people that were moche vexed with pestylence and shortly after he hym selfe had the same desease wherupon thre AuÌ„gelles appered vnto hym and sayd that he shuld nat dye of that sykenes and that his people by his prayer shuld be delyuered therof and so they were Moreouer the sayd aungellys shewyd hym that he shuld be martyred and the daye and place where it shuld be sayd they wolde be there with hym at that tyme so vanysshed away after that there was neuer in his dayes pestylence in Englande fro that tyme he abode his ende Ioyously and with great deuocyon with almes and teres redemed his neclygences and as it is sayd fro Matens to day he wolde be in prayers and where so euer he satte he wolde holde his handes vp to praye and to gyue thankynges to our lorde after he was slayne in batayle by kynge Penda in a place called maseyfelde seuyn myles fro Shrewysbury the .viii. nonas of August as it was shewyd hyÌ„ byfore as he was slayne he was in prayers deuoutly prayeng for hym for the people his relykes haue ben oft remoued his hed lyeth now in the Monastery of seynt Cuthbert one of his armes at Bamburgh and the other at Peterburghe his body and bones at glouerma where Etheldrede duke of Mershes made a churche iÌ„ honour of his name at FaruerhmÌ„ a nother churche is buylded to his honoure where great myracles haue ben done a thefe that robbed that church was sodeynly stryken blynde in the Lengende is a goodly Pedegre fro Ida that was the firste Englysshe kynge in NorthmÌ„humbre The kyngdome of DeirÌ„ streched fro humbre to tyne the kyngdome of Bâ—rnyshe strechyd fro tyne to the Scottysshe see that in Scotlande is called forth whiche two kyngdomes were dyriuyed out of the kyngdome of Northamhumbre as it apperyth in dyuerse Cronycles ¶ De sancto Oswino Rege martyre AFter the deth of seynt Oswalde kynge and martyr Oswy his broder succeded vnto hym in the kyngedomes of deyre Bernyssh and after this blessyd seynt Oswyne kyng and martyr that was sone of kynge Osrik kynge of deyre whiche of longe tyme for fere of Cedwalla kynge of brytons that had kylled his fader had ben as an outlawe with the West saxons herynge that kynge Oswalde was deed by couÌ„sell of his frendes came agayne to deyre by assent of al the people of deyt he was made kyng of that couÌ„tre the sayd Oswy was put out therof and reygned oonly in Bernysh seynt Oswyne was a man of great charite he was as a staffe to feble men a fote to haltyng men an Iye to blinde meÌ„ as a fader to wydowes orphanes also he was beauteous of vysage hygh of statute mery of countenauÌ„ce sobre of maners and very lyberall wherfore he was byloued of all men great smal The kynge gaue to seynt Aydane a horse when a pore man asked almes of hym and he had none other thyng at haÌ„de to gyue hym he gaue hym the sayd horse when the kynge herde therof he was descontented sayd to the bysshop as the sat
¶ De sancto Sampsone epÌ„o confessore SEynt sampsone was borne in great Brytayne our Lord shewyd in vysyon to his moder callyd anne whiche was bareyne that lyuyd with her HusboÌ„de a blessyd Lyfe in fastyngys prayers that she shuld haue a sone whom she shuld call SaÌ„pson that shulde be great with our lorde worthye to haue order of preesthod when he was .vii. yerys olde he was commyttyd to seynt Iltut and he sayde he shuld be a great Busshope profyte moche in the chyrche of god and when he toke dekon preesthod and also when he was made busshope a whyte doue was seen descende vppon hym the hyer degre that he toke the streyghter lyfe he ledde iÌ„ all his lyfe he neuer ete flesshe the celerer that was neuew to seynt Iltute which was desyrous to be Abbot aftre his vncle feryd that seynt saÌ„psone shuld haue it wherfore he put a great poyson into his chales he blessyd it dranke it without hurte as the Celerer abydynge in his malyce shulde be houselyd by seynt Sapsone on a sonday the Deuyll enteryd into hym vexyd hym sore by seynt sampsone he was delyueryd with water and oyle that he blessyd and gaue hym by the Daye he labouryd and prayed And on the nyghte he redde scripture vsyd medytacyon and when he toke slepe he lenyd to some wall and neuer slept iÌ„ bedde His fader was syke and sayd he shulde neuer be hole nor receyue the sacrameÌ„tys tyll he sawe his son sampson and though he was ryght lothe to goo yet by counsell of seynt Iltute he went vnto hym which was moche gladde of his coÌ„mynge and confessyd hym to hym of a great hed synne that he had longe kept close after both he his wyfe with all theyr chylderne betoke them to the seruyce of god With the sygne of the crosse he kyllyd a great serpent after the sayde Celerer compleynyd that he had wasted the Houy and when the busshope Dubryee thought to proue it Sampson made the sygne of the Crosse ouer the vessellys and anon all the vessellys whiche he hadde afore geuyn in almes were fyllyd agayne full of Hony after he was Abbot thre yerys Then he wente into Scotlande where he dyd many great Myracles and instructyd the people and when he came whome dubrycyus by commaundement of an Aungell made hym Busshope so he went into lytyll brytayne where he fouÌ„de a man at the seesyde lokynge for oon that as it was shewyd hym by our Lorde shulde come fro be yonde the see that shuld hele his wyfe that was a lepoure and his Doughter that was vexyd with a Deuyll and soo he helyd theym bothe And there the quene had great malyce vnto hym and gaue hym Puyson And after that turnyd a wylde Lyon to hym and he escapyd both and by his worde the Lyon dyed and the Quene seynge that Myracle askyd hym forgyuenes euery Lent he wolde be in some secret place fro recourse of people He departyd fro this Lyfe the fyth kalendas of Auguste And lyeth at the Monasterye of dolo which he had foundyd in lytle Brytayne as he had doon dyuerse other Monasteryes This blessyd man had suche grace that euer as he was at masse he had Aungells to assyste hym and to mynystre to hym in the sacryfyce ¶ De sancta Sexburga regina abbatissa SEynt Sexburghe was Doughter to Anna kynge of eest Englonde And she was maryed to ercombertus kynge of Kent and hadde Issue Egbertus and Lotharyus whiche were after Kyngys and two doughters Ermenylde and ErkeÌ„gode she was in that hyghe degre meke and poore in spyryte she ruled her Ryches it rulyd not her she was good to them in hygh degre and also in lowe degre Seldome it was that she was seen amonge the people often in the Churche she enducyd her Husbonde to destroye all Idollys that were in his Realme And crystendome was brought in thrughe all the Realme and at her desyre he made dyuerse Monasteryes She taughte her Chyldrenne dylygentlye to drede God and to kepe his commaundemeÌ„tys And when the Kynge was dede she enteryd into Relygyon at Ely vnder her suster etheldrede whiche lyuyd there a Blessyd lyfe iÌ„ great Fastynges watchyngys laboure And in great mekenes she folowyd the example of her suster where after her deth she was made abbesse and then she was moche dylygent by cause she knewe she had more cure and charge then she had before and she endyd this present lyfe the daye before the Nonas of Iulii aboute the yere of our Lorde .vi. C. and .xl. and was buryed by her Suster ¶ De sancto Swithuno epÌ„o confessore SEynt Swythune was borne in the tyme of kynge Egbertus which was the .viii. kynge fro kynge kynegelfe that was coÌ„uertyd by seynt Byrynne and after he had taken ordre of preesthode He endeuouryd hymselfe to preche the worde of god catholycallye and truely to vse werkys of pyte to correcte theym that lyuyd inordynately after the deth of Helynstane whiche was busshope of wynchester he was chosen busshope there And he made Churches of newe and repayryd tho that were decayed and when he went to halowe any churche he went not with great pompe but went on his bare fete To his feestys he callyd not Ryche men but poore men euer he callyd vppon synners to do penauÌ„ce And encouragyd men that lyuyd vertuously to perseuer in vertue he neuer toke a full meale but moderatly for sustenaunce and after longe vygyllys great labourys that he shuld not all fayle he toke a lytyll slepe He made the brydge at the eest ende of Wynchester And as he was lokynge vpoÌ„ the werke a woman came bye with egges in a basket and by the neclygence of the werkemen her Eggys were brokyn wherfore she wepte and made sorowe And the Busshope hauynge pyte with his ryght hande blessyd the basket all the Eggys were hole agayne he was euer busy Psalmes and spirituell melodye and with all dylygence he kept his herte in all clennes and ê‘seuered in kepynge of the coÌ„maudementes of our lorde to his departynge out of this worlde whiche was the syxth nonas of Iulii in the yere of our lorde god D. CCC.lxii And he was translated in the yere of our lorde D. CCCC.lxxi in the Ide of Iulii And the same daye of his translacyon our lorde shewyd for hym many myracles A thilde contracte fro his byrth was helyd There blynde wymmen had their syght The yrons of one in pryson brake and the man was delyuered A man syke of the palsey was helyd and .xxv. other were also made hole of dyuers sykenes ¶ De sancto Thatheo confessore SEynt Thathe was sone to a kynge in Itlande called Thathalius fro his yonge age he kepte hym self vndefowled fro al vyces and when his Fader and moder sawe hym despyse all worldy thynges they set hym to scole
more to say Masse for that daye and when the kynge askyd hym why he wolde nâ—t say Masse he shewyd hym his vysyon by that occasion he ê“hybyted the kynge that he shuld neuer after go a huntynge on the sonday which monycion the kynge toke benygnely fro thens kept it all his lyfe This blessyd kynge in many thyngê maye be resembled to the great kynge Dauid for as kynge Dauid was fyrste kynge of Iuda and after was kynge of all the Lande aswell of Iuda as of Iherusalem and helde it at his deth peasyblye So this noble kynge was kynge of all this Realme of Englande and hadde the hole monarchye therof peasybly whiche hadde ben byfore tyme deuydyd in to many kyngdomes and was called Reâ—pacificus Also as kynge Dauid was a myghty defender of his subgettes a subduer of â—â—bellys and so was this blessyd kynge as in his lyfe And also in Crâ—nycles wyll appere and as kynge â—auâ—d moche encreasyd the seruyce of almyghty god And appoyntyd dyuers men therto pÌ„payrynge many thynges to haue buyldyd the Temple to the honoure of god so this blessyd man made repayred dyuerse Monasteryes in this Realme wherby the seruyce of god was moche encreacyd Also when kynge Dauid had offendyd and was wherfore reprouyd by the Prophete Natham anone he coÌ„fessyd his offence cryed mercy and dyd penauÌ„ce in lyke wyse when this blessyd kynge had offendyd and seynt Dunstane reprouyd hym therof anone ferynge the Iugement of god he knowlegyd his offence and dyd seuen yeres penaunce as in the lyfe of seynt Dunstane apperyth in the latter ende of seynt Patrykes lyfe in the Legende it apperyth that many yeres after the departynge of this blessyd kynge his body was founde vncorrupt and that when the place that was newly ordeyned for hym was to lytell Oon presumptuously attemptyd to make the body mete for the place wherupon incontynent the blode folowed so that all that were there present fearyd greatly and therupon he was honorably leyde in a Shryne by the hyghe Aulter whiche he had gyuen to the sayd Churche and anone he that so presuÌ„ptuously had offendyd sodeynly fell downe and expyred A man that was madde and also a blynde man at the tumbe of this blessyd kyng receyued helth and he lyeth at Glaston bury Praye we then to thyse glorious seyntê that be in this present Kalendre that by merytes of theyr prayers we may haue grace so to passe by thyse transytorye thynges that after this short lyfe we may come to the Euerlastynge lyfe in the kyngdome of heuen Amen ¶ Explicit ¶ Thus endyth the Kalendre of the new Legende of Englande Emprynted to the honour of the gloriouse Seyntê therin conteyned by Richarde Pynson prynter to our Soueraygne lorde Kynge Henry the .viii. ¶ Here 〈◊〉 the lyfe of seynt Birgette SEynt Birget was of the 〈◊〉 and lynage of the noble kyngê of Gothis of the kyngdome of Swecia hir Faders name was Byrgerus and his moders name was Sighryd One tyme as hir graunâ—moder was walkynge with hir seruauntê by the Monastery of Shoo one of the NoÌ„nes of the sayd monastery byholdâ—â— hir beaute apparell in maner despysed hir for the great pryde that she adiuged to be in hir And in the nyght folowynge there appered vnto the sayd Nonne a certeyne ê‘sone of a meruaylous beaute whiche as it had ben with an angrye couÌ„tenauÌ„ce sayd vnto hir why hast thou bakbyten my handemayde adiugynge hir to be proude whiche is nat trewe I shall make a doughter to come of hir ê“geny with whom I shall do great dedys in the worlde and I shall gyue hir so great grace that all people shall meruayle After whaÌ„ seynt Birget was in hir moders wombe iâ— happenyd hir moder for dyuerse causes to take the see where hir shyp with moche people were drowned with a sodeyn tempest and she was brought saue to the lande And in the nyght folowyng a persone appered vnto hir with shynynge apparell And sayd thou art sauyd for the childe that thou haste in thy body norysshe it therfore with the charyte of god for it is gyuen to the of the especyall goodnes of almyghty god And after whenne that blessyd childe was newly borne a preest which was curate of a Churche therby and was after Bysshop of Aboens a man of good and blessyd lyuynge as he was in his prayers sawe a bryght shynynge clowde and in the clowde a virgyne hauynge a boke in hir hande and a voyce sayde vnto hym Byrgerus hathe a doughter borne whose meruaylous voyce shal be harde thorugh all the worlde whiche shal be a voyce of gladnes and helth in the tabernacles of ryghtwyse men Fro the tyme of the byrth of this blessyd childe vnto the ende of thre yeres she was in maner as thoughe she had hadde no tonge and as she shuld neuer haue spoken but sodeynly agaynst the comon course of children nat stuttynge lyke the maner of other children that begynne to speke she speke complete and full wordes of suche thynges as she harde and sawe in hir tendre youth she was neuer ydell fro doynge some good werkes And when she was of the age of seuen yeres she sawe nygh vnto hir bed an Aulter and vpon the aulter she sawe our Lady syttynge in bryght clothynge hauynge in hir hande a precyous crowne whiche sayd vnto hir Birget wylt thou nat haue this crowne and she with mylde coâ—tenaunce assentyng to our Lady put it vpon hir hedde wherby she felte in maner as though a cerkyll of a crowne had gyrde hir faste aboute the hedde and furth with the vysyon vanysshed awaye whiche she neuer after coulde forgette In the .x. yere of hir age Whenne she on a tyme had harde in a Sermon of the passyon of our lorde the same nyght our lorde appered vnto hir lyke as he hadde ben the same houre newly Crucyfyed and sayd vnto hyr loo Birget howe I am woundyd and she â—hynkynge that it hadde ben newly done sayde O lorde who hathâ— done thus to the our lorde answeryd sayd they that do contempne mâ— and forgette my charyte they do this to me And fro that daye euer after she hadde suche affeccyon to the Passyon of oure Lorde that she syldome refreyned hir from wepynge whenne she remembred it seruynge our lorde as the Appostell techyth with mekenes and terys And â—boute the .xii. yere of hir age hir Aâ—â—te wente on a nyght vnto the bedde of the holy virgyne Seynt Byrgette where she founde Seynt Birget out of hir hedde knelynge all nakyd and she somwhat suspectynge the lyghtnesse of the virgyn commaundyd a rod to be brought vnto hir and as soone as she layde it vpon the backe of the virgyn to haue â—etyn hirtherwith the rod breke all in small pecys wherupon hyr Aunte merueylyng greatly sayd vnto hir Biâ—get what hast thou done â–ª hath nat some women taught the some falâ— prayers and she wepyng answeryd and sayd no Lady but I rose out
¶ Here begynneth the Kalendre of the newe Legende of Englande ¶ The Prologe THe firste treatyce of this preseÌ„t boke is taken out of the newe Legende of the sayntys of Englande Irelande Scotlande and Wales for theym that vnderstande not the Laten tonge that they atte theyr pleasure may be occupyed therwith and be therby the more apte to lerne the resydue when they shall here the hole Legende And it is to vnderstande that nat oonly those sayntes that were borne in theyse Countreys be in the sayde Legende and iÌ„ this lytell treatyse But also dyuerse other blessyd sayntes that were borne beyonde the see and that came into any of theyse countreys Englande Irelande ScotlaÌ„de and Wales doynge there any notable thynge to the honour of god and to the profyte of the people as to preche to theym the Faythe of oure Lorde and to sette the people in good ordre Or that haue lyued a blessyd lyfe iÌ„ any of theyse Countreys to gyue the people example of good lyuynge Be also in the sayde Legende and in this present treatyse be accompted to be of that countrey that they so came into As seynt Augustyne the appostell of Englande whom blessyd seynt Gregorye then beynge pope sent fro Rome with seynt Paulyn seynt Laurence the confessoure and dyuerse other in his company to preche the faythe of oure Lorde to the people of this Realme then beynge Idolatroures and clerely alyenatyd fro trueth wherupon Seynt Augustyne Faythfully accomplysshynge his Auctoryte with his company conuertyd Seynt Ethelbert then kynge of Kent and all his people to the fayth of our lorde And after seynt Paulyne conuerted seynt Edwyn then kynge of Northamhumbre and all his people in whiche countreys Churches were buylded Temples of Idollys destroyed or turned into Churches bysshoppes preestes ordeyned in all the countrey And the fayth gladly resceyued with great deuocyon and after the deth of seynt Augustyne and of kyng Ethelbert kynge Edbalde that was sone to kynge Ethelbert fell to Idolatrye forsakynge the cristen fayth wherby the faythe there was lyke to haue holly perysshed whom the sayd seynt LaureÌ„ce which was busshop of CauÌ„terbury next after seynt Augustyne by especyall myracle of seynt Peter reduced agayne to the faythe as in the lyfe of seynt Laurence apperyth longe after theyr tyme other holy men seynt Adryan seynt Honorye seynt Felyx seynt Beryn and dyuers other cam fro beyonde the see and moche edefyed the people iÌ„ this Realme of Englande and establysshed greatly that fayth whiche seynt Augustyne seynt Paulyne seynt Laurence and theyr company had begon also dyuerse countreys in Englande whiche were nat holly conuerted in seynt Augustynes dayes some that after his dayes fell agayne to Idolatrye theÌ„ they reduced to the fayth of our lord And neuerthelesse ryght fewe of this Realme of Englande specyally of the CoÌ„men people haue harde of any suche men in soo moche that the oonly herynge of theyr names wyll be a lernynge to most men and so it wyll be of dyuerse other blessyd men and women that were borne iÌ„ this Realme whiche haue done many notable thynges for the comen welthe of the people therof as well ê“fytable for this lyfe as for the lyfe to come as seynt Dunstane seynt Deus dedit seynt Wylfryde Seynt Oswalde seynt Cedd and seynt Chadde bysshoppes Seynt Ethelbert seynt Edwyn seynt Edgare and seynt Oswalde kyngys seynt Sexburgh seynt Ermenylde quenes seynt Wallen seynt Gylbert seynt Wulryke and dyuerse other holy men and women as in the sayd Legende and also in this treatyse apperyth by which gloryouse sayntys with other borne in other Countreys as before apê‘yth the fayth of our Lorde hath ben pÌ„ched receyued greatly prosperyd in this Realme so that many of oure Auncestours neyghboures and frendes by the mercye of our lorde be now in the Ioyes of heuyn to praye for vs. And for all the people we also by the grace goodnes of our lord be heyrys apparauÌ„te to the kyngedome of heuyn And if the lawe of god had nat ben knowen iÌ„ theyse parties both we our AuÌ„cestours myght ê‘case haue lyued in erroures as other do wherfore we be moche bouÌ„den to loue theym honoure them in lykewyse to do that is in vs to helpe other as they dyd to helpe vs our AuÌ„cestours and frendys And veryly if there were nowe in thyse dayes the hygh Charyte ê‘fyte loue to almyghty god to oure neyghboure that was in theyse blessyd seyntes or at leest a desyre therto with loue of Iustyce zele of the comen welthe lyke desyre to brynge the people to good lyfe with hole truste sure faythe iÌ„ our lord as was iÌ„ theyse blessyd men women It wolde renewe the face of this worlde and brynge a newe lyghte amonge the people as it dyd in the tyme of the sayd gloryous seyntys in whom florysshed shyned all ê‘feccyon of vertues as euydently wyll appere to theym that wyll rede theyr Legende trewe mekenes inuyncyble pacyence symple obedyence heuenly wysdome ê‘fyght charyte loue of Iustice with mercye pyte coÌ„passyon vppon theyr neyghbourys ryches in pouerte pouerte in ryches with other lyke vertues and gracyous gyftes of god many of them were nedye outwarde but within forthe they were replenyssed with goostlye swetnes and Comforte In the syght of the worlde and in theyr owne syght they were vyle and abiecte but in the syght of almyghtye god of all seyntes they were precyous syngulerly elect Wherfore the people of Irelande haue seynt Patryke for his blessyd lyfe and for that he conuerted moche people there to the faythe in great honour and in theyr necessyties they call vnto hym for helpe with great deuocyon And in lykewyse in Scotlande the people there haue seynt Nynian coÌ„menlye called seynt Tronyon in great honoure for the same cause And in Wales they haue deuocyon to seynt Dauyd for his blessyd lyfe and for confermynge and establysshynge of the people in the faythe by his prechynge good example but in this Realme of Englonde what so euer is the occasyon fewe people in comparyson of the multytude haue deuocyon to any of thyse blessyd seyntes that haue laboured for the welthe of the people in this Realme iÌ„ tyme paste or that haue theym in honoure as other Countreys haue other seyntes in lyke case yet we knowe ryght well that seyntys in heuyn be iÌ„ suche fauoure with almyghty god the they re prayer is herde for suche persones as they pray for and we maye not dowte but they be redye to pray for vs if we do worship theym and call vnto theym by our prayer for helpe God forbede that any of vs shulde thynke or saye the contrarye as thynkynge in his mynde or sayinge in this wyse Sayntes be aboue iÌ„ heuen and we be here bynethe and therfore they haue no mynde vppon vs for to helpe vs or to pray for vs so to thynke or
lerne this blessyd man omytted nothyng 〈◊〉 he lerned by the euangelystys or ê“phyttys to be 〈◊〉 fulfyllyd it in that he coulde howe be it in that he kepte 〈◊〉 Estre at the due tyme Bede prayseth hym not 〈◊〉 prayseth hym for he seyth ê‘case he knewe it not 〈◊〉 kepte it on a sonday but he praysyth hym that 〈…〉 pynge of his Ester he beleuyd nor worsh 〈…〉 other thynge but as we doo that is to say the Redempcion of mankynde by the Passyon Resurreccyon AsseÌ„cyon of the medyator betwixte God Man our Lorde Ihesu Criste And in the lyfes of Seynt Oswalde and Oswyn kynges And of Seynt Cuthbert dyuerse thynges thynges be spokyn of this Blessyd man ¶ De sancto Albano martire SEynt Albon dwellyd iÌ„ the Towne of verolame that now is callyd seynt Albons And in the tyme of the ê‘secucyoÌ„ of dioclesyan seynt Amphibell came into Brytayne and lodged in the house of seynt Albon and exortyd hym to be coÌ„uerted And shewyd hym sumwhat of the beleue of our lorde and he gaue lytle credence to his techynge And the same nyght seynt Albon sawe a vision that betokened the Misteryes of the Incarnaciou Passyon Resurreccion Assencion of our Lorde as in the Legende apperyth And in the mornynge he asked of seynt Amphibell what his visyoÌ„ betokened wheÌ„ seynt Amphibell had declared the hole misteryes therof how our Lorde suffred Passyon and Deth And how he Rose agayne and assendyd to Heuyn he sayd it was all trewe that he sayde And anon he Beleued and was Cristened And thenne he was complaynyd on that he was Cristened Wherfore he was sent for and was Takyn as he was prayenge before a Crosse And so he was broughte to the Iudge And there constauntly he confessyd that he was a CristeÌ„maÌ„ And so he was put iÌ„ prison there he lay .vi. Monethes in all that tyme there felle no rayne And therfore the people thynkynge that the god that AlboÌ„ worshypped ê“hibited the rayne toke hym out of prysone and wolde haue lette hym goo And he seynge that 〈◊〉 wold haue let hym goo prayde our Lorde that his martyrdome shuld not be lette And opynly dyspysyd theyr Idollys and soo he was had with great vyolence to be behedyd and as he went a ryuer that wolde haue lettyd theyr passage by his Prayer dryed vppe and oon of the Knyghtys that drewe hym to his marterdome seynge the great Myracles that our lorde shewyd for hym was coÌ„uertyd seynt AlboÌ„ was behedyd the .x. kaleÌ„das of Iuli the yere of our lorde god CClxxx vi And anon the eyen of hym that strake it offelle owte he was buryed at seynt Albons sumwhat the LegeÌ„d leuyth it for a dowte whether he lye now at seynt Albons or at ely but it semyth to be the more lyke that he shuld lye at seynt Albons And in the legend apperith how kynge Offa repayred the monastery ofseynt Albons And how the heresy of PelagianÌ„ began at Bangor and how it was extyncte ¶ De sancto Aldelmo episcopo confessore SEynt aldelme was of kynne to Iue kynge of we stesaxoÌ„s iÌ„ his youthe he ê“phyted moch iÌ„ coÌ„nynge after he was made monke at malmesbury so preest then Abbot And his fame went so ferre that it came to the pope Sergyus he sent for hym to Rome wheÌ„ he had sayd masse in the Church of lateraneÌ„se helde the vestemeÌ„t behynde hym to haue takyn it to one of his seruauÌ„tis none was there it hoÌ„ge vppoÌ„ a sonne beame a longe tyme a womaÌ„ that was with Chylde defamed the Popâ— therw t And saynt Aldelme herynge that was moch heuy coÌ„mauÌ„dyd the chylde which was but .ix. dayes olde iÌ„ the name of our lorde Ihesu criste to shewe if the Pope were his fader he sayd nay And so the Pope was delyuerd of the cryme And seynt Aldelme brought with hym fro Rome an Alterstone which by the way brake with his prayer blessynge it was made hoole And as it is sayd the same stone is yet iÌ„ the priory of Briton now callyd Bruton he was a great wryter of Bokes meynteyned moche the due kepynge of Ester he neuer went out of his Monastery without a great cause he gaue great almes wold stonde in the water thoughe it were froste snowe tyll he had sayd a hole psalter And after he was made busshop of Shyryburne and in great age full of good werkes he went to our Lorde the .viii. kalendas of Iune in the yere of our Lorde .vii. hundred .ix. and lyeth in his monastery at Malmesbury ¶ De sancto alredo EpÌ„o confessore When seynt Alrede was in his Cradell his face shone lyke the sonne And in his chyldehod he had the spirit of ê“phecy And tolde the very day of the deth of the Busshop of yorke he was in so great fauoure with Dauyd kynge of Scottys that he was seconde to hym whiche a Knyght enuyed much with great hatred insomoche that somtyme in presence of the kynge he wolde speke opprobrious wordys to hym he toke all paciently so that the Knyght meruaylyd toke penauÌ„ce askyd hym forgeuenes he tolde hym that he ought to loue hym the more for by his hatred he encresyd the more in the loue of our lord And by hym his pacieÌ„ce was prouyd And he was so meke that thoughe he were hurte he was not moche troubled therwith and if any accused hym he was not prouokyd to vengeaunce and he dyd alway good for euyll and when the kynge wolde haue made hym busshope he forâ—oke it entred into Relygyon at ryeuall which is of the ordre of cisteaux and was mayster of the nouyces a Nouyce that was vnstable was by his prayers twyse brought agayne to the Monasterye when he was goynge away and when he was made Abbot oftymes he counceyled his Bretherne that noo foule worde shulde goo out of theyr mouthe ne any detraccion or o the And he refourmyd the hole couÌ„trey of gallway and wrote the lyfe of Seynt Edwarde Kynge Confessoure and dyd many other thynges he was of great abstynence and wolde moche rede in Bokes that shulde moue compunccion and he had great sykenes ten yeres before he dyed and toke it in great pacieÌ„ce and wolde no fysyke and oftymes was visityd with Aungells and he knewe the veray daye of his Deth he sayde to his Bretherne that after he entered into Relygyon he neuer fret in malyce nor detraccyoÌ„ with any ê‘son that for any cause taryed with hym tyll nyghte and that he had louyd alway peace Broderly loue his owne espirituell quietnes he wente to our lord the day before the firste Idus of Ianuarye in the yere of our lorde god a. M. a huÌ„dred .lxvi. and dyuers thynges be here omytted c. ¶ De sancto Amphybalo martire WHen seynt Amphibell had coÌ„uertyd seynt Albon seynt Albon aduertysed hym to go
kyllyd with Wolfes which he accompted to be his defaute wherfore he dyd great penauÌ„ce many yerys and the Deuylle temptyd hym to make of stone Brede and to the contrary he made of Brede a stone that yet remaynyth at Bertesmesley and after he wente with seynt Guthlake fro kependon to Croulande there he lyuyd with hym many yerys in great penaunce doynge And when seynt Guthlake was goon oute of this transytorye Lyfe And seynt Bertelyn hadde seen hym Buryed he retourned agayne to his Fader And he gaue hym the grouÌ„de where staff is now Buyldyd theÌ„ beynge growen with Busshes breerys to lyue therin a solytary Lyfe but his fader knewe not that it was his sone And after his faders deth a Kynge that enteryd the Realme by myght wolde haue takyn the grounde fro hym vnder coloure of lawe and offerde to ioyne batayle therfore And by an Aungell that was his champyon he defendyd it and after that the Kynge and all the people louyd hym as theyr owne Father And he aduoydynge teÌ„porall honoure Lefte that place and Lyued in Deserte placys in prayers vygyll endyd this Lyfe the .v. Ious of September And at Stafforde our Lorde hathe she â—â—yd for this holy man many great Myracles De sancto Cadoco epÌ„o SEynt cadoke was sone to Kynge guÌ„dlens and before his byrthe there were seen in the Chaumber where is moder was .iiii. LauÌ„pes at .iiii. corners of the Chaumber with a great lyghte And when he was borne an AuÌ„gell bad the Kynge take a holy Eremyte which on the morowe shulde come vnto hym to crysten his sone And the same Nyght of his Byrthe all the Cellers were founde full of Oyle and Hony And when he came to age in vyle habyt he vsyd to be at the Church And at nyghte he toke a lytell Brede and Water and all that he had he gaue to poure men And when he was desyryd to play he wolde go to the Churche and pray cryenge out of the blyndenesse of man that euer couetyd traÌ„sitorye thynges and forsoke thynges euerlastynge seyinge that when the dredefull day of our Lord shall come laughynge shall be tournyd into waylynge and waylynge into Ioye This blessyd man was a man of great perfeccyon And had synguler gracys of oure Lorde as in his Lyfe apperyth which be here omyttyd he was thryse at Iherusalem and .vii. tymes at Rome And by the gyfte of our Lorde he spake in dyuerse langages And by his prayer a Quene that was Barayne conceyuyd had a sone that after was his successoure by his prayers a great Derkenes fell aboute a Kynge that wolde haue dystroyed his Countrey so that the Kynge myght se nothynge And when the Kynge repentyd hym the lyghte came agayne He conuertyd moche people in Scotlande there reryd a gyant that had ben many yerys deed was in Hell His monastery was in wales .iii. myle fro conbrydge and as he was comynge fro seynt myghellys mouÌ„te in Cornewalle and was very drye he strake his staffe in the grouÌ„de a fayre watersprange vp therby is a Churche buyldyd in honoure of his name after by the porueyaunce of god he was made Abbot of beneuen tane beyonde yâ— see he was sodeynly had thyder by auÌ„gels and there he was namyd sophye And after he was made Busshope there And as he was seyinge masse he was stryken to the deth by company of a Tyraunt that came to destroye the Cyte and he had grauntyd to hym of our Lord that who so euerbeynge in trouble callyd to hym for helpe our Lorde shuld delyuer hym And soo he yeldyd his spirit to our Lord the .ix. kaleÌ„das of February ¶ De sancto Carodoco SEynt carodoke was borne in wales and in his youth he went to Lernynge after he was in seruyce with the Prynce of south wales there he had the kepynge of two Greyhoundes for Lesynge of them the kynge thret hym with great Punysshement of deth And then Carodokesayde he wolde serue a Mayster that wolde geue a better rewarde to his sernauntys And so he went to Landanense and there he toke orders and after went to seynt Dauythys and there he toke order of preesthod and encreacyd fro vertue to vertue the Deuyll on a tyme apperyd to hym vysybly in lykenes of a man he knew hym feryd hym nothynge the deuyll offeryd hym his seruyce And he sayde he wolde none of his seruyce And after he was in the prouynce of Rosence at the Monastery of seynt Ismaell there the see by his prayers went fro the Monasterye a great space and he knewe by reuelacyon as he was at masse the certeyne daye of his Deth he dyed of the Ares in the yere of oure Lord a. M.a. C. .xxiiii. is buryed at seynt Dauythis many yerys after his body was founde vncorrupte And when a monke of malmesbury of deuocyon wolde haue cut of oon of his fyngers for a Relyke He closyd his hande and drewe it awaye wherfore the Monke ferynge askyd mekely forgyuenesse ¶ De sancto carantoco SEynt carantoke was sone to Kynge keredicus And when the people wolde haue made hym kynge he fled awaye rather folowynge the wyll of God theÌ„ the fauoure of the people a whyte doue wente before hym to a place where he made a Churche after he went into Irlande for loue of seynt Patryke about .xxx. yere before seynt Dauyd was Borne and he dyd many Myracles And wyther soo euer he went an Aungell in lykenes of a doue accompanyed hym and Daylye and nyghtlye he sayde Innumerable of prayers And when he hadde conuertyd moche people in Irlande he came agayne into his owne countrey at Keretyca And there our Lorde gaue hym an Aulter that no man coulde tell of what Coloure it was and he put it into Seuerne and badde it goo before hym thyder as oure Lorde wolde he shuld fynde it And after at the desyre of Kynge arthour he kyllyd a Serpent And the Kynge of his Aulter wold haue made a table and what so euer he set appon it was caste a way and then it was caste into the see And there as it came vppe the Kynge gaue hym the twelfyth parte of the grounde and there he made a Churche and after by monycyon of an Aungell he went agayne into Irlande And there in great Age full of good werkys he went out of this worlde the .xvii. kalendas of Iune and is Buryed in a Cytie callyd chernac ¶ De sancto cedd episcopo confessore SEynt Cedd and thre other Prestys were sente by Oswy kynge of Northamhumbre with peada Kynge of mydle Englonde which hadde marryed his Doughter to Instructe hym and his people in the feythe And the sayde peada was Crystenyd before by the Busshope fynanus And there seynt Cedd with his companye conuertyd moche people to the Faythe after he was takyn fro thens by kynge Oswy And was sent to Sabertus Kynge of
in Penaunce that he shuld not were his Crowne of .vii. yere and that he shulde faste twyse euery weke whiche Penaunce the Kynge dyd And after seuyn yere he were his Crowne agayne whiche Penaunce doynge was great Ioye to all the realme And this blessyd man full of good werkys wente to oure Lorde the .xiiii. kalendas of Iune And he was Buryed at CauÌ„terbury and after was translatyd to Glasâ—â—â—buâ—y And he prophycyd that great and longe Punysshement shulde falle vppon the people of Englonde by estrauÌ„ge nacyons and that there in the ende of dayes the mercy of our Lorde shulde fall â—ppon theym De sancta Eauswida virgine abbatissa SEynt eauswyda was doughter to the Kynge son to kynge ethelbert Edbaldus And fro her youthe she forsoke the pompys of the worlde and enducyd her Fader to make her an Oratorye at Folkstan that she myghte in virgynyte serue our Lorde And as the oratory was in buyldynge the kynge of NorthamhumbroruÌ„ which was a paynym desyryd to haue her in maryage and her Father counceylyd her therto and praysyd the Kynge moche And she sayd if he coulde in the name of his goddys make a beame of her Oratorye which was to shorte longe I nough she wolde assente to hym if not she desyryd to be let a lone And the kynge trustynge in his Goddes gladly assentyd And when he hadde longe Prayde all was in vayne that he dyd and soo he went away with shame And thenne the virgyn Prayed in the name of oure Lorde And anone her Prayer was herde and the Bame made longe Inoughe And so the Kynge departyd And by her prayer water came agaynste the Hylle fro a Towne callyd Swecton to her oratory And it came by a noder Ryuer and yet Ioynyd not with it foure Bretherne of great Ryches denyed to geue Dysmes to seynt Eauswyda And after many yerys iii. of theym were compuncte and aduertysyd the .iiii. to goo with them to her sepulcre to doo penaunce and make satysfaccyon and he denyed it And anon the Deuyll enteryd into hym And soo his Bretherne bounde hym And broughte hym to her Aulter And anone he was made Hoolle and Payed his Tythes And she wente fro this present lyfe the day before the kaleÌ„das of september And bycause her church was dystroyed with the see her bodye was brought to Folkstane ¶ De sancto Eata epÌ„o confessore WHen seynt Oswalde had opteynyd the kyngdomes of Deyre Bernysshe had sent for seynt Aidan to instructe his people in the feythe of our Lorde seynt Aidan toke .xii. Englysshe chyldren to Instructe whereof â—ata was oon which anon folowyd the exaumples techynges of his maister And after he enteryd into Relygyon and was made abbot of Mayâ—rose otherwyse callyd menrose And thenne he shewyd to his Bretherne moo tokyns of mekenes and charyte then he dyd before And he made many monasteryes and gaderyd many dyscyples wherof seynt Cuthbert was oon And after he was made Abbot of lyndyffernens that nowe is callyd the holy Ilonde And after he was electyd Busshope of hagustaldeÌ„se with great gladnes of all the people he was busy iÌ„ prayenge dylygeÌ„t in exortynge the people ententyffe to geue Almes And what soeuer he knew by the holy goost was to be don besyly deuotlye he wolde se it to be doon And he endyd this lyfe of a sykenes callyd the Dyssentory by longe and greuous contynuaunce And lyeth at Hagustaldense Thomas archbusshope of yorke wolde haue translatyd hym to yorke And on the nyghte before he wolde haue traÌ„slatyd hym seynt Eata apperyd to hym and tolde hym that he had attemptyd to do that that was not the wyll of our Lorde shulde be doon And so he cessyd that enterpryse ¶ De sancta Ebbavirgyne abbatissa SEyntebba was syster to Kynge Oswy And she forsoke the worlde and all the pleasure therof was made a Nonne of seynt Fynan Busshope of Lyndyffernense and after she was Abbes of the Monastery of Coludy now callyd coldynghm .vi. mylys fro Berwyke And it is enhabytyd with Monkys of Durham And she made a noder Monasterye vppoÌ„ 〈◊〉 callyd Ebbcester which was destroyed by Danes And seynt Etheldred was her dyscyple though seynt Cuthbert fro his youth fledde the company of women as Pestylens yet he wolde speke with this blessyd Woman tary with her to informacyon of her and of her company certeyn tymes And she went to our Lorde .iiii. yere before seynt Cuthbert the. viii kalendas of September and was buryed in her Monasterye And after her Monasterye was destroyed for synne wretchydnes as it was shewyd to her it shuld be And her Relykys were hadde to the Churche of our Lady A yonge man that hadde a Bone in his Throte wasshyd his throte at her well and receyuyd helthe And wiste not where the Bone became she helyd dyuerse that were mute blynde obsessyd of Deuyllys and of dyuerse other diseasys ¶ De sancta Edburga virginâ— martyre SEynt edburgh was doughter to Kynge Ethelbert and she was great grauÌ„tmoder to Seynt Myldrede And after seynt Myldredis deth she toke the rule of the Monastery was made Abbasse and amonge the wauys â—o the worlde she confortyd her selfe with holy scrypture prayers and geuynge of Almys And all the pleasure of this worlde she dyspysyd she reputyd Golde and Syluer but oonly for ornamentys of the Churche and for other thynges for deuyne seruyet as donge And couetyd to be dyssoluyd and to be with our lorde And she endyd this lyfe in the Idus of december And lyeth now at CauÌ„terbury she helyd a Chylde that was mute a these that toke wytnesse of her that he was not gyltye And prayde god if he were that he shulde neuer goo ferther Anon expyryd a wrytynge of hers after her Dethe was vnauysydly throwen into the Fyre with other scrowes an it wolde not burne ¶ De sctaÌ„ Edytha virgine abbatissa SEynt edyth was Doughter to Kynge Edgare And her Moder mulstrudys after she was borne enteryd into Relygyon at wylton where she was made Abbesse And Edyth beynge in kepynge of her moder by assent of the Kynge Edgar her Fader also enteryd into Relygyon vnder her Moder And she was moche mouyd and comfortyd therto by the blessyd lyfe of her Aunte callyd also edyth which in tho dayes lyuyd a blessyd Lyfe in Polles worthe as she dyd at wyltoÌ„ she was full of Pyte and compassyon and the more dyfformyte of sykenes that she saw in any creature the more charytable and helpynge she wolde be vnto hym And vnder her vtter apparell that was sumwhat precyous she were the heer And seynt Ethel wolde sayde vnto her that suche apparell was not the way to please her spouse And then she shewyd hym the trouche what she were inwardly wherfore he was gladde consyderynge that all was oon purpure and sacclothe so that the mynde be clene And after she was made abâ—esse of thre monasteryes Wynton
of god our Lorde crist Ihesu And a merueylous ston fell into his mouthe And as seynt Egbyne helde our Lorde in his armys he lokyd vp and sawe beuyn open and a crosse apperyd vppon the hed of our lorde and Aūgellys came to mete hym And so he assendyd seyinge vnto theym bycause ye haue not refusyd me in my trouble I shall not refuse you in the kyngedom of heuyn And so he was receyuyd into heuyn and seynt winwalogus arettyd it to the merytys of seynt Egbyn for his great obedyence And seynt Egbyn referryd it to seynt wynwalogus for his order of presthode And after seynt Egbyn went into Irlonde and there made a Churche helyd a lame man reysyd a Chylde fro deth and when he was nyghe foure score yere olde thre he yeldyd his spirit to our lorde the .xiiii. kalendas of Nouember ¶ De sancto Egwino ep̄o confessore SEynt egwyn was of the Kyngys blood of marsshes lyuyd a Relygyous lyfe at worcestre leuynge all pleasure of Tēporall thyngys He toke order of Presthod gaue hym all to lyue a cōtēplatyf lyfe by holle assent of the Kynge ethel drede of his people he was made busshop of worcestre after that he vsyd moche p̄chynge here prouyd the people of theyr vnlaw full matrymony And other synnys soo terryble that of malyce they rose agaynste hym with feyned tales putte hym out of his see And complaynyd of hym not only to the kynge but also to the 〈◊〉 And so he disposyd hym selfe to goo to Rome And thoughe he knewe he had not offendyd the worlde yet for offencys doon to almyghty god he fetteryd his Leggys to geder and lokkyd the fetters and threwe the key into the ryuer of auyn And soo he wente feterd to Rome there as he was prayenge in seynt peters Church he sent his seruauntys to bye mete And the key was founde in a fysshes bely that his seruātys had bought And so he vnfetteryd hym selfe And that Myracle fyllyd all Rome moche people cam to se hym and to haue his blessynge And the 〈◊〉 herynge of his great laboryouse Iourney and of the sayd myracle sent for hym And had hym in great famylyaryte a herynge the cause of his commynge he sent hym Downe ageyne to his see And the kynge herynge his myracles and vertues was very gladde and restoryd hym agayne to his see And gaue hym a grounde wherin he foundyd the abbey of Euyshame And he buyldyd it in a place there as our Ladye apperyd to hym and also to a shepherde and for foundacyon therof he went agayne with off a Kynge of est Englonde and with kenred kynge of Marshes to rome And had great auctoryte fro the 〈◊〉 for the foūdaciō therof he alway were the heer and say often in asshes and were a gyrdell with knottys next his bare skyn and with drewe his mynde holly fro the worlde worldly thynges And gaue hym to contemplacyon redynges fastynges and vigyllys and especyally to prechynge and when he had ben longe syke And alwayes thankyd our Lorde therof He callyd his bretherne to hym shewyd theym the very perfyght way of good lyuynge and exortyd them to beware that the worlde deceyuyd theym not so full of good werkys he lefte this present lyfe aboute the yere of oure Lorde seuyn C. .xx. the thyrde kalendas of Ianuary And he lyeth at euesham our lorde hath shewyd for hym many myracles bothe in his lyfe and after his deth ¶ De sancta Elfleda virgine abbatissa SEynt Elfied was borne in Englond And when her moder was with chylde with her she sawe ī her slepe a thynge lyke a shynynge beame of lyghtenynge descend vppon her Hedde And it taryed there a longe tyme And whē she was borne the more she grew in age the more she wantyd the Ambycyousnes of all flesshelye pleasures And after her faders deth her moder by her faders wyll gaue his mansyon that he dwellyd in callyd clare to the monasterye of Romsey and after her moder toke a noder husbonde And then as is ofte seen in suche case enfled lakkyd oftymes that that she nedyd wher fore Kynge Edgare remembrynge the good seruyce of her fader put her to the monastery of Romsey vnder the Abbesse merwenne she louyd her as her owne doughter And broughte her vppe in all vertue And on a tyme her candell fell oute and the fyngers of her ryght hande gaue lyght to all that were aboute her when she was therfore the more honouryd of her systers she studyed to be therfore the more Meke obedyent And after when she was made abbesse no man can tell the almes that she gaue nor the prayers wepyngys that she vsyd aswell for her selfe as for the people on a tyme when she was with the quene she went in the nyghtys into the water was there in prayer And on a nyghte the quene seynge her goo furthe suspectyd it had ben for incontinence and folowyd whē she sawe her goo into the water sodēly she was astonyed went in maner oute of her mynde turnyd in agayne cryenge coulde take no reste tyll seynt Elfled prayed for her seyinge lorde forgyue her this offēse for she wiste not what she dyd And soo she was made hoole whē she was reprouyd as a waster of the goodys of the monasterye certeyn money that she had geuyn in almys by hyr prayer was put into the Baggys agayne when she had lyuyd many yerys in good lyfe she went to our lorde the fourth kalendas of Nouember aboute the yere of our Lourde .ix. C. and .lix. ¶ De sancto Elpheger archiep̄o martyre SEynt elphege was borne in Englōde and in his youthe he was so apte to lernynge of cōnynge vertue that his fader moder marueylyd at his capacyte let hym to scole and after his Faders deth he forsoke his enherytaūce and his moder that louyd hym tenderly he lefte And enteryd into relygyon at deherst and he prophyted to all men that he colde And those that he coulde not prophet to he studyed that he hurtyd theym not and after he cam to bathe where he lyuyd a merueylous lyfe of penaunce And there a great cōpany of Monkys anon resortyd vnto hym And when there was great varyaunce bytwyrte the clerkys and monkys for eleccyon of the busshope at wynchester seynt Andrew apperyd to seynt Dunstane and bad hym chose Elphegus And soo he was electyd And after when seynt Dunstane knewe he shulde dye he prayed to our lorde that Elphegus myght be his successour at caūterbury And so he was at this tyme Danys moche oppressyd this Realme And this blessyd man wolde preche to them the worde of god wolde redeme theym that were in captyuyte and fede theym that were oppressyd with hunger And after when the Cytie of Caunterbury was destroyed by Danys thrughe coūsell
of chyualry defeÌ„dyd hys Father myghtely agaynste his enemyes bette downe castellys townys in his moost cruelty he was also mercyfull wolde geue to his enemyes the thyrde parte of that he geet And after he consyderyd that the glorye of the worlde was but as smoke a vapoure of small abydynge wherfore he caste away his Armoure went to repeÌ„don toke orders geuynge hym to monastycall lernynge he wolde drynke nothynge that myght be occasyon of dystemperaunce And after he went to crowlande where then no man durste enhabyte for fere of wyckyd spiritis there he lyuyd a blessyd lyfe sufferyd great temptacyons persecucyons of wyckyd spiritis as in that Legende apperyth at great length he was ofte delyuerd owte of trowbles temptacyons by seynt Bartylmew whom he had in synguler deuocyon on a tyme two Deuyllys in lykenes of men came to hym ê‘swadyd hym to faste not two or thre dayes but by hole wekys put hym iÌ„ mynde of Moyses hely howe they fastyd of the fastyngys of olde fathers of sythye theÌ„ he knewe they were wyckyd spiritis wherfore he made his prayer anon they vanysshed awey then he toke his sustenaunce of Barley brede as he was wonte to do This blessyd man had suche a hoole entent to god that there was neuer in his harte but pyte charyte in his mouth there was nothynge but our lorde Ihesu Peas mercy forgyuynge He was neuer seen angry prowde or heuy but alwayes iÌ„oon sobrenes On a tyme he sawe two deuyllys wepe when he askyd them the cause why they wepte they sayd bycause he pÌ„uaylyd so ofte agaynste theÌ„ so he made the sygne of the crosse anon they vanysshyd away the busshope hedda as he was goinge to seynt guthlake praysid moch the strayghtnes of his lyfe oon of his chapleyns sayd that he had seen many Heremytes some good some euyll if he had ones seen hym he sayd he coulde tell whether he were so good as the fame raÌ„ne vppoÌ„ hym wheÌ„ he cam to seynt guthlake he by spyryt knowynge his wordys askyd of hym howe he sayd by that man that he spake of the day before then he was abasshyd fell downe askynge hym forgyuenes theÌ„ the Busshope made hym preest he had a suster callyd pega whom he wolde not see iÌ„ this lyfe to the enteÌ„t they myght the rather mete in the lyfe to come when his tyme drew nere he shewyd his discyple Bertelyn therof bade hym that he shulde praye his suster to se hym buryed then Bertelyn prayed seynt Guthlake to shewe hym who he was that he had seen euery day syth his fyrste cuÌ„mynge to hym spekynge with hym Mornynge euenynge he sayde that euer syth he came to that wyldernes he had an AuÌ„gell to coÌ„forte hym to helpe hym in his teÌ„ptacions that shewyd hym thynges to come with other great secretys that it was not laufull to speke bade Bertelyn kepe it secrete not to shew it to any ê‘sone but to his suster Pega to a holy Anker callyd Egbert when he had thus spokyn there came a swete smell out of his mouthe as of Rose flowrys or Balme fro mydnyght to the mornynge was a great lyght seen in all the house then he sayd to his dyscyple that his tyme was come lyftynge vp his Ien his haÌ„dys into Heuyn he slepte iÌ„ our Lorde aboute the yere of grace .vii. C. .vi. aboute a yere after his deth his body was remouyd was fouÌ„de vncorrupt with all his clothys a kynge callyd Ethelbalde which was wrongefully put out of his Realme had be moche famylyer with seynt gutlake in his lyfe came to his tumbe prayed deuoutly to hym for helpe he apperyd to hym tolde hym that within two yerys he shuld be restoryd to his kyngdoÌ„ so he was theÌ„ he buylded crowlaÌ„de endewyd it with great loÌ„des many lybertyes as he hadde promysed to seynt Guthlake in his lyfe that he wolde doo De sancta Helena regina Seynt helyn was doughter of cloell kyng of grete brytayn iÌ„ tho dayes the senate of romeseÌ„te coÌ„staÌ„cyus which had subdued to theÌ„ the couÌ„trey of spayne to subdue also to them brytayne now callyd EngloÌ„de And cloell ferynge the great wysdome of coÌ„stancius anon assentyd to pay yâ— olde trybute theruppon constancyus toke the sayd helyn his doughter to wyfe had by her constantyne whiche after the deth of his fader went to rome with great power of brytayne toke his moder with hym put downe maxencyus the tyrauÌ„te was made Emperoure after he was coÌ„uertyd to the feyth also Crystenyd by seynt syluester wherfore his moder praysyd hym that he had lefte the worshyppynge of Idollys but she thought he shuld rather haue receyuyd the feyth of the god of the Iues which she had theÌ„ receyuyd then to receyue the feythe of a man crucyfyed there vppon a tyme was appoyntyd betwyxte them to haue bothe lawes disputyd at which day by the ê“founde argumeÌ„tys of seynt Syluester also by myracles that our lorde shewyd in ê“ue of the feyth seynt Helyn all the docturys of the Iues that she brought with her were coÌ„uertyd to the feyth when she was crystenyd she encouragyd her selfe to enlarge the crysten feythe all that she could went to Iherusalem with a great power where she fouÌ„de the holy crosse with the thre naylys the crybbe that our lorde was leyed on ê‘te of the hey our Ladyes smokke she made monasteryes where our lord sufferyd his deth passyon there as the holy crosse was fouÌ„de at BetheleÌ„ in many other placys After she went to ynde she made many churchys brought with her the Bodyes of the thre kynges of coleyne she broughte with her ê‘te of the holy crosse to constantynople after she went to rome grewe to suche hyghe charyte that she was as a moder to all personys And after when she laye syke she sawe heuyn open our lord standynge with a great multytude of AuÌ„gellys with his Crosse meruaylously shynynge which comfortyd her moche She went to our Lord the .xv. kalendas of septeÌ„ber was honorably buryed by the Pope with great wepynge of all the people as it is sayd her body was traÌ„slatyd to constantynople now it lyeth at venys De sancto Henrico heremita SEynt henry the heremyte was borne in denmarke And on a tyme when all thynge was ordeynyd that he shuld haue ben maryed our lord prohybytyd hym to be maryed bad hym kepe hym selfe clene inmaculate fro this worlde that he shuld goo into the I le of Coket so he came to tynmouth there he had leue of the pryor to go into the I le of Coket And certen yerys he lyuyd with brede
water after he ete but thryfe iÌ„ a weke thre dayes in the weke he kept oâ— cylence On a tyme as he wolde haue goon to duresme but that he hadde no bote to goo ouer the water of were he made his prayer a bote of the ferther syde brake that that it was tyed with came ouer to hym so he went ouer therin His frendys herynge where he was sent to hym mouyd hym to come agayne into his couÌ„trey seyinge there were dyuerse solytary placys in that countrey more apte to lyue a solytary lyfe in then that somwhat for affeccyon to the couÌ„trey He was mouyd therto in the nyght folowynge he made his prayers before the crucyfyx to knowe the wyll of our Lorde with great deuocyon the Crucyfyxe spake vnto hym bad hym perseuer strongly in that he had begon that he shuld not leue that I le to th ende of his lyfe he herynge that laye prostrat besought our lorde that he shuld not haue power to goo though he wolde anon a great swellynge felle into his knee which grewe so greuous that as he sate agaynste the sone wormys came oute of it he wolde take them vppe byd them goo in agayne to that that was theyr InherytauÌ„ce lyue of that that had norysshyd them the more greuouse that the desease grewe the more gladde he was yeldynge euer thaÌ„kyngys to our lord thoughe the sykenes waxyd moche greuous yet he wolde be alone abydynge the werynes of all the longe nyghte without helpe And whan the houre of deth came he toke the bell rope in his hande to rynge the bell so deê‘tyd a monke he rynge the bell rynge ranne thyder fouÌ„de hym deed syttynge vppon a stone with the bell rope in his hande a Candell standynge by hym lyghtyd with a heuenly lyghte when his body was cleÌ„syd fro the fylthe anon it was whyte as snowe nothynge apperynge of the fyrste desease his face shone with such a bryghtnes that he coulde scarsly be knowen He dyed in the yere of our Lorde a thousande a hundred and .xx. the .xvii. kalendas of February lyeth at Tynmouth not farre fro the body of seynt Oswyne ¶ De sctiÌ„s Hewaldo nigro Hewaldo albo mtibus WHen seynt wylly brorde with his felowes had coÌ„uertyd moch people in fryseloÌ„de to the feyth two blessyd men borne in Englonde whiche were both callyd Hewalde that had longe tyme ben in Irlonde went into olde saxonye to pÌ„che there the worde of god for dyuersyte of theyr here the oon was callyd the blacke Hewalde the other the whyte Hewalde when they came into Fryselonde they were Harbored with a husbaÌ„de man of whom they desyred that they myght be coÌ„ueyed to the ruler of that couÌ„trey to do a message to hym he ê“mysyd theÌ„ they shuld so be when they had taryed with hym a certeyn tyme the harbarouse people herynge that they were of a noder relygyon that they vsyd moche prayers dayly dyd sacryfyce for they sayde dayly masse they suspectyd that if they shuld speke with theyr Ruler they shuld coÌ„uerte hym to the crysten feyth so all the ê“uynce lyke to folow leuynge theyr olde lawe wherfore they kyllyd them bothe the .v. nonas of October the whyte hewalde by shorte martyrdome the blacke hewalde by longe cruell tourmentys caste them into the Ryuer of Ryne when the ruler herde therof he was very sore angry that they wolde not let them speke with hym sendynge thyder kyllyd all tho barbarous people that had kyllyd the blessyd martyrs also burnyd the towne the Bodyes of the sayd blessyd men went .xl. myle ageyne the streme to a place there as theyr felowys were And a bryghte shynynge beame was seen euery nyght there as the Bodyes lay so they were takyn vppe buryed honorablye lyke gloryous martyrs and after pipinus the frenshe kynge remouyd theyr Bodyes to Coleyne in tho partyes theyr feest is halowyd with great deuocyon ¶ De sancta Hilda virgine abbatissa SEynt hylda was doughter to hereyce which was neuew to kynge Edwyn when kynge Edwyn was coÌ„uertyd by prechynge of seynt paulyn seynt hylda was also coÌ„uertyd anon she lefte her scler habyte decreed to serue our Lord She went to the kynge of eest Englond to whom she was of kyn desyrynge hym to helpe that she myght go to her suster hereswida into frauÌ„ce that was a NoÌ„ne in the monastery of Cale when she had ben a yere aboute the purpose seynt Aâ—dan brought her agayne into her owne countrey there she was made Abbesse at the Monastery of herthey whiche was fouÌ„dyd by a blessyd Woman callyd bega that was the fyrste NoÌ„ne that euer was in the ê“uynce of NorthamhuÌ„bre After seynt Hylda fouÌ„dyd the Monastery of streneshalch now callyd whytbye And as she had by couÌ„ceyll of holy men orderyd her fyrst Monastery with reguler discyplyne so she orderyd this monastery and taught them prety abstynence and other vertues especyall to haue peas charyte And she was of such great wisdome that not only pore men but also kyngys pryncys wolde aske couÌ„ceyll of her by her prayers a great multytude of serpentys that feryd her susters soo that they durste scarcely come out of theyr sellys were turnyd into stonys her seruauÌ„te by her coÌ„mauÌ„dement bad a grete flocke of gees that destroyed the Corne of her Monasterye to go into a certeyn grounde that was enclosyd without taryenge they went thyder before hym as they were bydden And when she came thyder she bade theym goo where they wolde And oon of the Byrdys that was deed she reysyd to lyfe bad her goo after her felowys and so she dyd And by the wyll of our Lorde she had great contynuell sykenesse .vi. yerys before she dyed in the .vii. yere by great inwarde peyne she lefte this worlde the .xv. kalendas of December And a Nonne in a Monastery callyd Hacanos which seynt Hylda a lytyll before her deth had foundyd that was .xiii. myle fro thens as seynt hylda was sawe her sowle borne into Heuyn with a great company of Aungellys ¶ De sancta Hildelitha virgine abbatissa SEynt hyldelythe was Abbesse of Barkyng next after seynt Alburgh lyuyd vnto great age iÌ„ kepynge of reguler obseruauÌ„cys And by her exortacyons good coÌ„uersacyon she couragyd all men to Heuenly thynges next to seynt Alburgh her feest is solempnysed at Barkynge in great honoure seynt Hyldelythe was not oonly had in honour with seynt DuÌ„stane seynt Ethelwolde seynt elphege but also of many other olde holy Faders her holynesse is coÌ„mendyd it is wryttyn of her that she was full of Charyte a techer of vertue a gyuer of good exauÌ„ples in vygyllys fastyngys benygnyte mercye that she with great dylygens ê“uydyd for all other that they
Sampson ê‘ceyuyng that the monke was the cause of that temptacion asked for gyuenes for hym wherupon seynt Paterne droue away the deuyll made hym hole wherfore the bysshop discharged hym of all suche paymentê After at a synode seynt Paterne had great trowble of some that enuyed hym at laste a full peace was made yet ferynge that suffraunce myght ê“uoke Ire or hurte his humylyte he lefte that couÌ„tre went in to Fraunce where he slepte in our lorde the .xvii. Kalend of Maii. Thre yeres after his deth fell no rayne or dewe in that countre wherfore the people remeÌ„brynge that seynt Paterne went out of the countre for iniuryes done vnto hym by a hole assent went into FrauÌ„ce to fet his body â–ª when they coulde nothyng gette but oonly a bone of one of his armes yet all theyr company coulde nat remoue it wherfore they were meruaylously troubled Then a noble man of the cyte of Guenet sayd that seynt Paterne in his lyfe had asked of hym oftentymes a grounde to make a Churche in that he wolde nat graunt it but nowe he was contented that sayd they toke the bone lyghtly bare it with theym to the sayd Cyte that was his bysshoppes see there it lyeth in a church made in the grouÌ„de of the sayd nobleman In his lyfe one of his seruauntê â–ª that went to ouer se the woddes was kylled with theuys byheded wherfore seynt Paterne heryng therof went to the wodde called the seruauÌ„t by his name asked where he was he answered here I am then he went to the place there as he harde hyÌ„ speke leying the hed the body togyther lyftyng his â—yen into heuyn he blessyd the deed body forthwith he rose vp hole And therupon a myghty man in that couÌ„tre came to the bysshop sayd they were his mynystres that dyd it ferynge that the vengeauÌ„ce of god wolde preuent hym asked mercy and gaue hym a parte of the groun he benyngly forgaue hyÌ„ seying to hym that byfore his dethde he shuld please our lorde and that he shuld be buryed honorably in holy buryall ¶ De sancto Patricio EpÌ„o confessore SEynt Patrike was borne in Brytayne now called Englande in his youth he was taken prisoner was put to kepeswyne a C. tymes in the daye as many tymes in the nyght he prayed after by an Aungell he was shewyd that he shuld fynde a certayne thyng there as a hogge Roted whiche he shuld take to pay his Rraunson so he was delyuered out of bondage as he was goynge home by his prayer his felowes founde mete that had ben longe wtout be raâ—ted .xxx. dayes by cause his coÌ„pany offered all their mete to theyr Idolles as he slept the deuyll tempted hym strongly lay vpon hym thre dayes thre nyghtê‘ lyke a stone the he coulde nat remoue then he cryed hely helpe twyse hely came and delyuered hym then the deuyll sayde that after that daye he shulde haue no power ouerhym And our lorde put fro hym all torpoure and heuynes his strength clerely restored agayne vnto hym In his slepe he thought that one brought hym a letter in the begynnynge was wryten her est vox hiÌ„bmensiuÌ„ And as he was redyng of it in the same moment he harde a voyce of many Iâ—fauÌ„tes of dyuerse Countrees in Irlande saynge we praye the Father that thou come and walke amonge vs and then he thought it was the wyll of god that he shuld preche in that couÌ„tre Therupon bycause he wold lerne scripture he went to the bysshop of Antisiodorense was with hym .xl. yeres redynge fulfyllynge holy scripture after he was with seynt Martyne .xl. dayes and of a holy Heremyte he had a staffe that our lord had in his owne hande which is called the staffe of Ihesu and this day the staffe remayneth in his Cyte in Irlande of a bysshop called Amotus he was made Bysshop so he went to Rome where he was in great fauoure with the Pope Celestyn and he sent hym into IrlaÌ„de to coÌ„uerte the people there to the fayth in the yere of our Lorde CCCC xxv And when he came to the see a lepour desyred to go ouer with hym his company wold nat assent wherfore seynt Patryke threwe his Aulter into the see the Lepour syttynge therupon folowed the shyp tyll they came in to the Countre of Lagyne Then he went into the couÌ„tre of Anathaylt where the people wold nat receyue hym wherfore the see destroyed al the countre Then he went into the North ê‘te of Irlande to the man where he was in bondage and there he sawe moche people abydynge his coÌ„myng for they had herde by ê“phetes that suche a man shulde come yet the kynge LoegarÌ„ coÌ„maunded them to put hym awaye when a fyers dogge was tourned to hym to haue deuoured hym he was anone made vnmouable lyke a stone TheÌ„ a gyaunt wold haue kylled hym whiche also was made vnmouable by the pÌ„chynge of seynt Patryke was coÌ„uerted Then the gyauntes brother that was a man of great age whiche was called Russeynge his broder coÌ„uerted faught agaynst seynt Partryke he asked hym what he ment of that age to dispose hym to fyght asked hym whether he wolde byleue if he made hym yonge agayne and he sayd ye then seynt Patrike put hym to prayer anone he was made in that state of a fayre yonge man wherfore he his sones many other were cristened then Patrike asked of hym whether he wolde lyue any longer in this worlde or streyght way to go to heuyn he desyred to go to heuyn so he receyued the sacrament went to our lorde As he was sayinge Masse a wytche caste downe his Chalys forth with the grounde opened Swalowed hym vp A great tyraunt called Magnil his companye Feyned one to be deed that seynt Patryke attempt to reyse hym so to be deceyued wheÌ„ they sawe that he was deed in dede they sayd amonge them selfe verayly this is the man of god anone Magnil was conuerted baptysed was redy to take penauÌ„ce then seynt Patrike sayd that he coulde nat Iuge hym but god shulde Iuge hym neuerthelesse he had hym go to the see takynge nothynge with hym but a vyle vestement and there to goo iÌ„to a shyp of one skyn without guyde or ore that he fetter his legges togyther throwe the kney into the see to what place souer the wynde brought hym there to serue god and when he had ê“mysed to do it seynt Patryke areysed the maÌ„ that was deed the same day he went to the see as he was bydden came into an I le called MannaÌ„ where he fouÌ„de two holy Byshoppes and they meruaylynge had pyte on hym and toke hym vp gladly he taryred with theym there and after was made a
deth to lyfe when he shuld dye he called his disciples and instructed theym how they shuld kepe ê‘fyght Relygyon aduysynge theym that they the had forsaken the wordly busynes shuld also eschewe all desceytfull plusures of the world that they shuld thurst downe all angre hatered fle frâ— lyes abanysshe enuye to pÌ„pare their hertes to be the temple of the holy ghost and so full of good werkes and blessyd myracles he chaunged this lyfe the day before the Nonas of Iune ¶ De sancto Pirano EpÌ„o confessore SEynt Pyran was borne in Irlande in his youth he went to an I le called Clera where he lyued in great abstynense holy werkes .xxx. yeres After he went to Rome where he was made bysshop seynt Patryke bad hym go byfore hym into Irlande to preche to the people and that he shuld buylde a monastery by the Ryuer of Waram there as he shuld here his Cymbale souÌ„de without touchynge so it was done By his prechynge the fayth encreasyd moche in Irlande by his exaumple many were styred to the loue of god forsakynge all wordly thynges folowed oure lorde amonge whom was Brendane whiche made hym a place nat ferre fro seynt Pyran a childe by instygacion of the deuyll put out the fyre that was vnder the Lycour to make drynke for the monkes wherupon seynt Pyran sayd there shal be no fyre be in this place tyll our lorde send it fro aboue the next daye the childe was kylled in a woode with wolfes And when Geran that was mayster of the childe came to seynt Pyran he made his prayers and forth with fyre fell into his bosom whiche he dyd bere without hurtynge of his clothes and when they shuld go to souper Geran sayd he wolde nat ete tyll his childe came a lyue to hym and then by praye of seynt Pyran the childe rose fro deth ete with theym A kynge toke fro the moder of seynt Pyran and kynges doughter called brunet whom she had to brynge vp kept her in his castell as a bond woman and when seynt Pyrane spake to hym for her he sayd he wolde nat delyuere her â—onlesse a byttour in the mornyng waked hym of his slepe whiche he thought had ben vnpossyble the same nyght fell a great snowe aboute the Castell there as seynt Pyrane his company was fell none and in the mornynge a byttoure came to the Castell with noyse that she made wakyd the kynge and then the kynge lay prostrate at the fete of seynt Pyrane and cryeng hym mercye delyue red the damosell vnto hym Neuerthelesse after he reputed that he had delyuered her and when he wolde haue taken her agayne he founde her deed wherfore he was moche angre and sayd he wolde put seynt Pyrane fro that place and he sayd to hym that he was nat god that that place was nat his but almyghty godes And when the kynge beynge veray angry was gone fro hym he sawe his castell on fyre and the Quene hauynge .ii. sones lefte that sone that she loued beste byhynde her for hast whom she coÌ„mytted to seynt Pyrane when all the Castell was burned the childe was sauffe then the kynge greatly marueylyng came to seynt Pyrane sayd he wolde gladly do whatsoeuer he bad hym do offered to hym his two sones to serue god And when the kynge was gone he Reysed brunet agayne fro deâ—h to lyfe Our lord shewyd for hym many other myracles The uys that were lyke to haue ben taken coÌ„mytted them to seynt Pyrane and sodeynly a fyre Rose in the woode bytwixt the theuys and theym that wolde haue taken theym so that they saued theym selfe and came to seynt Pyrane taryed with hym all his lyfe He reysed dyuerse fro deth to lyfe that were drowned and also otherwyse deed He went vpon the water he ceased the fyre by his blessynge He multyplyed meete that fedde moche people he tourned water into wyne Two kynges at his monycyon wolde nat cease fro Batayle wherfore by his prayer a great wodde that was bytwixt theym sodeynly felle downe and stopped them so that they coulde nat mete togyther In all his lyfe he neuer ware but bestes skynnes fro flesshe and flesshely desyres He absteyned strongely and fro all that myght dystemper hym He toke lytell slepe was oft visyted with aungellê he made many prestes and clerkes and was CC. yere olde or he dyed hauyng lytell sykenes neyther loste toth ne yet appeyred of his syght He made of his enemys his frendes dyd good for euyll He hadde mercye and pyte vpon his neyghboures and he moch laboured with his owne handes that he myght gyue that he wanne in almes He punysshed his body with fastynges and vigylles in colde hungre thurste dylygently kepynge charite chastyte and hospitalite He was alway fro his youth prayeng redynge techynge or doynge some good werkes and was humble gentyl in speche wyse sobre mercyfull he omytted nothynge of the coÌ„mauÌ„dementes of god he fedde the hungry gaue drynke to the thursty receyued them that were harborowles clothed the naked he taught the bretherne to loue togyther to direct that Iye of theyr mynde to Almyghty god and alway to desyre the kyngdome of heuyn after he called his disciples and tolde theym it was the wyl of god that he shuld go into Cornewayle and shewyd them of many great troubles that shuld come into that countre and prayed theym to praye for hym that after his deth he myght fynde our lorde meke and plesaunte vnto hym and when he came into Cornewayle he made a house where our lorde shewyd for hym many myracles when he knewe he shuld deê‘te this transitory lyfe called his disciples and prechyd to theym many thynges of the kyngdom of heuyn and caused his graue to be made goynge into it deê‘ted with great bryghtnes the thyrde nonas of Marche lyeth iu Cornewayle nygh Seuerne fro Petrokstowe .xv. myle and fro Monshole .xx. myle ¶ De sancto Richardo EpÌ„e confessore SEynt Richarde was borne iÌ„ the diocise of WigornÌ„ at the wyche and in his youthe he eschewyd daunsynges and vayne playes He forsoke twyse to be maryed and went to stodye at Oxforde Bonanye and Aurelian where he profyted moche both in lawe Cannon and in dyuynyte after he was made Chaunceler with seynt Edmunde Archbysshop of Caunterbury was to hym veray constaunte in all his troubles that he had for the lyberte of the Church in which offyce he refusyd to take ony maner of rewardys and dyd Iustyce to ryche and pore not regardynge the personys of grete man or small when he was Chosen busshope of Chichestre the kynge Henry the thyrde wolde iÌ„ no wyse assent to his eleccyon but kept hym fro his Landys and goodes and so he went to Rome and there he was consecrate by the pope Innocent the fourthe after he retournyd towardys Englonde in the coÌ„mynge
suche sobrenes that his seruauntes neuer sawe hym excede in mete or drynke he punysshed his body with vigylles fastyngê pryuely vsed to weer the heere and in the yere of our lorde M.CC.lxxv he was made bysshop of Herforde for defence of the right of his church to his great payne he went to Rome where he was honorably receyued of pope Martyn in retournynge home he deê‘ted out of this world at FlorentynÌ„nygh the hylle of Flascon the .vi. nonas of Octobre in the yere of our lorde god M.CC.lxxxvii and .vi. dayes his body was kept and gaue a swete sauoure and then his flesshe was shauen fro the bones and buryed in the Churche of seynt Seuery there and his bones were brought to Herforde Threscore and ten men haue ben reysed fro deth to lyfe by his meryt â–ª and .xii. blyndemen recouered theyr syght with dyuers other coÌ„tracte mute syke of the palsey that haue ben also made hole ¶ De sancto 〈…〉 THe lyfe and hole proses of this gloryous 〈◊〉 seynt 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 and of his fader moder How his moder beynge a pagan came to London fro fer countres and by the goodnes of our lorde was conuerted to the fayth how 〈…〉 was in fauoure with the kynge and was made his Chaunceller And after Archebysshop of Caunterbury where he lyued a blessyd lyfe in good eâ—ample dedes of charite and how he agreed at Clarendon to certeyn Articles which he after reuoked bycause they were agaynst the lyberte of the Churche and how he was therfore called ê‘iured and of the persecucion that he hadde for the lybertye of the Churche and how al his olde fauoure with the kynge tourned to malyce How he fledde at Northampton and went to Rome where he was as an outlawe .vii. yerê his kynnesfolke banysshed the Realme for his sake all his goodes and possessions seased and his frendes tourned to his enemyes howe he was logged in a place of the Cisteux by the 〈◊〉 assygnement and was put out fro thens for fere leste the kynge wolde haue hurted that Relygion in Englande how he went into Fraunce was there greatly cherysshed how after by the meanes of the kynge of Englande the Frenche kyng tolde hynthe was to wylfull so he knew none other but he shulde be banysshed from thens then the Frenche kynge seyng his constaunce toke hym in more great fauour then he dyd byfore how the Archebysshop of yorke was accursyd for that he toke vpon hym to crowne the kyngê sone where it belonged oonly to the see of Caunterbury whiche was cause of more grugge how he in the ende was 〈…〉 where by whom that the kynge sayd he was nat assentynge to his deth of the great repentaunce that the kynge toke by cause he had so moch attemptyd agaynst hym is so openly knowen to most people that the spekyng of it in this short treatyse shuld but make the story the more darke nat to open as it shuld be wherfore I coÌ„mytte the reder hereof that is disposed to se more of this 〈…〉 to rede his hole LegeÌ„de When 〈…〉 in his lyfe lyued moche prayed at his tumbe for helth had it after his desyre After when he was hole he consyderyd that ê‘case that helthe was nat expedyent to the helth of his soule wherfore he went agayne to his tumbe prayed that if that bodely helth were nat to the helth of his soule that his sykenes shuld co â— agayne so it dyd ¶ De sancto Thoma monacho a gallis occiso WHen Lowys sone to the Frenche kynge at the desyre of dyuers of the noble men of England came with a great hoste into EnglaÌ„de they founde this blessydmaÌ„ seynt Thomas at douersyttyng alone in the dormytorie a maÌ„ of a venerable age meke sobre fro his you the brought vp iÌ„ monastical â—uersacioÌ„ al his felowes were fled for fere of the FrenchmeÌ„ wheÌ„ he wold nat by fayr wordes neyther by thretes discouer the Riches of the Monastery But also boldely rebuked theym for theyr sacrelege and cruelte with a swerde in great malyce they martyred hym the nonas of August the yere of our lorde M. CC.lxxxxv and at his Tumbe a man of the Frenesy was made hoole Foure men had theyr fyght .v. were reysed fro deth to lyf ¶ De sancta Walburga virgine SEynt Walburgh was suster to seynt Willibrord Wynnybolde and with theym she went out of Englande when they came to seynt Bonyface bysshop of MaguntineÌ„se he made Willibrord bysshop of Heystatense Wynnobolde entered into Religion at Heydanhem and after theyr deth seynt Walburgh was made Abbes of that Monastery had rule of many virgyns And when the keper of the churche at nyght denyed to gyue her lyght and she toke it in great pacyence there was in the dortor where she went a great heuynly lyghte that endured to Matens tyme so that al the susters meruayled at it and she thanked our lorde therof and attrybuted it to the merytes of her bretherne and nat of her owne On a nyght she went vnknowen to a Riche mannes house where a mayde lay syke and when the man sawe her he badde her beware of the dogges and she sayd he that had brought her thyther shuld saue her fro the dogges and when he had lerned what was her name he toke her into his house with great reuerence and when it was tyme to go to reste he asked her where she wolde lye and she sayde there as her suster lay syke where she gaue her to prayers and helyd the mayde and in the mornynge retourned to her Monastery and full of good werkes she went to our lorde the. Kalend of May and was honorably buryed in the same Monasterye She appered After her deth to Otgare bysshop of Heystatense and blamyd hym that he kept the Monastery neclygently and tolde hym that she wolde shewe hym such a token that he shulde ê‘ceyue that he had nat done well to her and shortly after at the rofe of a house there was settynge vp the North wall fell and feryd theym moche and then Otgare repayred the Churche and remouyd the body of seynt Walburgh and of her brother Wynnybold to Heystatense ¶ De sancto Walleno abbate SEynt Wallene otherwyse called Walthesse was sone to Syrnon Erle of Huntyngdon his moder was doughter to the Erle of NorthumberlaÌ„de accordynge to his name he was a good thefe for he stale mekely the kyngdome of heuyn kepynge all his Reuelacions and vertues close when his fader was disheryted and was deed in Fraunce seynt Wallene was made Chanon in the Monastery of seynt Oswalde in yorke and there beyng sexten he was chosen to be Pryor of KyrkehmÌ„ and how moche he was in the oppynyon of other men hyer so moche he was in his owne syghte the more meke As he was at masse on Cristenmasse daye and he had spoken the
of my bed to laude and prayse hym that is euer wonte to helpe me to whom the lady sayd who is that The virgyne sayd our lorde Crucyfyed that I sawe of late And from that daye furth hir moder in lawe honoured hir and louyd hir more feruently then she was wont to do As seynt Byrget was playinge with Maydens of lyke age to hyr The deuyll appered vnto hir hauynge a hondreth handes and fete moste fowle lothsome to beholde of which syght she beynge merueylously a ferde went streyght and coÌ„mytted hir to the Crucyfyx wher the deuyll eftsones apperyd sayd I haue no power to do any thynge to the but the crucyfix suffer me to do it and therupon he vanysshed awaye And so our lorde delyuered hir from that daunger when she was .xiii. yeres of age though she entendyd by great feruent desyre to haue lyued all hir lyfe in virginite neuerthelesse aswell by the puruyaunce of almyghty god as by the counceyll of hyr Fader she was maryed tâ— a noble yonge knyght called Ulpho de Ulphasume prynce of Neryce of the age of .xviii. yeres otherwyse called Ulpho Gudhmarson whiche also was a virgyn And by the space of .ii. yeres after they were maryed they lyued togyder clene vgynes And after with deuoute prayers made to almyghty god that in the acte of matrymony he wolde kepe theym without offence and that it wolde please hym to sende theym yssue to his pleasur they had .viii. Childrene that is to say .iiii. sones .iiii. doughters The names of the sones were these Charles Birgerus Benedictus and Gudmarus And the names of the .iiii. doughters be thyse Merita Katerina Iuge burgys and Cecilia Charles the eldest sone of seynt Byrget was a noble knyght and went with his moder in pylgremage towarde Iherusalem redy to haue ieoparde his lyfe for the recouerynge of the holy lande and as he was goynge at â—apuls he dyed the .xii. day of Marche and in the day of the Ascencion of our lorde next folowyng his soule went to heuyn as it was shewyd to seynt Birgette by reuelacion as in the .vii. boke of hir reuelacions the .xiii. and .xiiii. chapter apperyth And this noble knyght hadde a sone also that was called Charles whiche after he had atteyned great coÌ„nynge in Dyuynyte he left studye the purpose that he had begon in and toke a wyfe And on a tyme as he after the deth of seynt Birget was prayinge at hir tumbe she appered vnto hym holdynge as it had ben an Horologe of glasse in hir hande and sayd Charles seest thou howe nyghe this glasse hath renne his course and he sayd ye lady I se it well she sayd ayene so nyghe is the tyme of thy lyfe and there is no more abydynge for the but as thou seest But if thou haddyst ben obedyent to god thou shuldest haue lyued lenger then any other in my progenye and thou shuldest haue ben Bysshop of Lyntopens and a notable pyler in the churche of god Then he prayed hir that she wolde praye for hym sayd he wolde gladly amende in all that he myght And she sayd nay sone nay veryly iugement is gyuen and the tyme is paste and anone after he fell seke and therupon takynge all the sacramentê of the churche he dyed and is buryed in the Monasterye of Watzstenes whiche seynt Birget in hir lyf founded and endowed it suffycyently for .lx. nonnes .xxv. bretherne Byrgerus the secunde sone of seint Birget went with his moder to Ihrt'in and there he was made knyght and came with hir agaynetâ— Rome And when seynt Birget was deed he and his suster Katheryne cuÌ„ueyed the relikes the bones of seynt Birget their moder to the sayd Monastery of Watzstenes in Swethyn And after many great labours and expensys done by the sayd Byrgerus by the coÌ„maundement of our lorde aboute the sayd Monasterye of Watzstenes for his moder the sayd Byrgerus chaunged this lyfe as it is mekely to bylue toke the blessynge of god with his seyntê in heuyn for the generacion of ryghtwysmeÌ„ shal be blessyd Benedict the thirde sone of seynt Birgette was longe seke in the monastery of Albastra wherfore seynt Birget wept tenderly prayed deuoutly for hym thynkynge it had ben for the synÌ„es of his Fader moder Then the deuyll appered vnto hir and sayd woman what menest thou with thy great wepynge so to feble thy syght all thy labour is in vayne trowest thou that thy terys can ascende into heuyn And anone our lorde cryste Ihesu was there present and sayd the sykenes of this childe is nat of the sterres nor for his synnes ne yet for the synÌ„es of his fader moder but it is of that coÌ„dicion of his nature for his morere wardeiÌ„ heuyn where beforetyme he hathe be called Benedict he shal be from hensforth called that sone of weâ—yng of prayers I shall shortly make an ende of his necessyte the .v. day after there was herde betwyx the bed where the childe laye the walle as it had ben the most swete songe of byrdes and then the soule of the childe went from the body Katheryne the seconde doughter of seynt Birget was maryed neuerthelesse she with hir husbande lyued in pure virginite after the deth of hir husbande she was alwayes with hir moderseit Birget lyued in the estate of wydo whod al hir lyfe This blessyd virgyne Katheryne bycause she was feruent in deuocion excellent in grauite of maners fayre of body lyued a blessyd lyfe to gyue other example of good lyuyng the moste honest woman of Rome loued to be in hir company And when she was on a tyme desyred by the moste noble matrones of the Cytie of Rome to walke with them for recreacyon without the walles of the Cytie as they walked here there amoÌ„ge many clusters of grapes They desyred the the sayd blessyd virgyne Katheryn bycause she was of an Eligant stature wold gather them of the sayd grapes as she streched vp hir armes to the grapes it semyd as thoughe hir armes had ben apperelled with shynyng cloth of golde where in dede for very voluÌ„tary pouerte that she had chosyn she had broken patchyd sleuys all that matrons meruayled that so meke a creature deuoute ê‘son wold weer so pÌ„cious apperell as it appered to them that she dyd nat knowyng that it was the mystery myracle of god that they sawe The ryuer of tyber rose with so great power of waâ— that it went ouer the bridge of LateraneÌ„ce the monastery of seynt Iames with many byldynges theraboute Wherfore the Cytezens of Rome dredynge the destruction of the cyte went vnto the house of the sayd blessyd virgyn Katheryn praying hir that she wold go with them to the Ryuer to pray to our lord for the cyte she of mekenes reputyng hir seâ—â— therto vnworthy desyred respyte wheÌ„ the cytezens lawe that by prayers they
toke many other dayes in the honour of dyuerse other seyntê wheder she fasted or otherwyse toke hir sustynaunce she rose euer with most great sobernes natfully saciate in the same frydayes she toke war candellys made breÌ„nyng droppes fall vpon hir bare flesshe so that the breÌ„nynge markê of them coÌ„tynuelly remayned gencian whiche is a moch bytter erbe she helde coÌ„tynually in hir mouth And when she was at Rome nat dredyng the vigour of the colde nor the impedymeÌ„t of the great hete rayne or foulnes of the waye ne yet the sharpnes nf the snowe or hayle and thoughe she myght haue ryden neuerthelesse vpon the strengthe of hir lene bodye she wente euery daye the Stacyons ordeyned by the churche And also visyted many other seyntes She vsed so many longe knelyngê that her knees were waxen harde as it had be of a Camel She was of so grete meruaylous mekenes that ofttymes she sat vnknowen with pore pylgrymes at the monastery of seynt Laurence in pamsperna in the cyte of Rome which is of the ordre of seynt Clare there she toke almes with them Ofttymes with hir owne haÌ„des for goddes sake she repayred the clothes of pore men euery day in hir husbandes lyf she fedde .xii. pore men in hir house seruyd mynystred to them hirselfe suche as they neded Of hir owne substauÌ„ce she repayred in hir countre many desolate hospytalles as a busy administratrice mercyful pytuous she visited the nedy syke meÌ„ that were ther haÌ„deled and wasshyd theyr sores without horror or lothsomnes And she was of so meruaylouse great pacyence that the sykenes that she had hir self wronges that were done vnto hir and the deth of hir husbande of hir sone Charles with all other aduersyties she suffred moost pacyently without murmur or gruttynge and in all thyngê with hygh mekenes she blessyd our lorde beynge for suche troubles the more constauÌ„te in the fayth the more redy in hope and the more brennynge in Charyte hyghly she loued Iustyce equyte The mocions of the flesshe vayneglory with a busy cure great truste in our lorde she despysed and ouercame She was of suche hygh wysedome discrecion that fro hir youth vnto his laste houre asmoche as fraylnes myght suffre she neuer sayd good to be euyll nor euyll to be good And euery fryday in hir husbandes lyf she was confessyd and after his deth she was euery day confessyd Euery sonday she hir doughter Katheryne whiche lyued with hir all hir lyfe in penaunce chaste wydowhed with great deuocioÌ„ and humylyte resceyued the holy body of our lord euer lyuyngâ— in secrete penauÌ„ce whiche they dyd nat to the apparaunte syght of the worlde but secretly to almyghty god in symplenes of herte and cleÌ„nes of spyrit On a tyme when the kyng of Swecia wolde haue charged his comons with agreat exacion that he myght therw t haue payed a great suÌ„me of money wherin he was in detted seynt Birget for great compassyon that she had to the people sayd to the kynge Osyr do nat so but take my two sones lay them in plegge to yo credytours tyl ye may pay your money do nat offende god yo subiettê There was a knyght that alway studyed to fynde newe inuencyons amonge the people whiche by his wordê euyll examples brought many to dampnacion this knyght had great enuy to seynt Birget and bycause he durste nat hym selfe speke â—uyll to hir he styred another that shuld fayne hym self dronken then he to speke vnto hir shamefull and coÌ„tumelious wordes to brynge hir out of pacyence whiche cursed man as seynt Birget was syttynge at the table with many honorable ê‘sones sayd in the herynge of theym all O lady thou slepest to lytell â—and thou wakest to moch it were expedyent for the to drynke well and to slepe more hathe god thynkest thou forsaken Relygyous ê‘sons and speketh with proude people of the world It is a vayne thyng to gyue any fayth to thy wordes and as he was so spekyng they that stode by wolde haue put hym away with violence to his rebuke and shame And seynt Birget prohybyted theym and sayd suffre hym to speke almyghty god hath sent hym hyther for I that in all my lyfe haue sought myn owne prayse why shuld I nat here my rightwysnes This maÌ„ sayth to me yÌ„e trouth And when the knyght herde of the great pacyence of seynt Birget he toke great repentaunce and came to Rome and asked forgyuenes of seynt Birget there he made a good and a laudable ende The sayd blessyd woman seynt Birget was so adourned fulfylled with all vertues that oure lorde receyued hir to be his spouse and vysyted hir many tymes with merueylous consolacyons and dyuyne graces shewyd hir many heuynly reuelacyons saynge vnto hir I haue chosen the to my spouse that I maye shewe to the my secretê for it pleasyth me so to do And another tyme he sayd to hir I take the to my spouse and to my proper delyte suche as it is my pleasure to haue with a chaste soule In whiche reuelacyons be conteyned the hyghe secrete my steryes of the moste gloriouse Trinite of the Incarnacyon natyuyte lyfe and passyon of our Sauyour criste Ihesu with the playne and trewe Doctryne to knowe vertue and to folowe it and to eschewe vycesshewynge the rewarde of vertue and the great intollerable payne and dampnacyon that shall fall to synners that dye in deedly synne exortynge also all men to do condigne penauÌ„ce for the synnes that they haue ben shryuen of to eschewe the great and dredefull paynes of purgatorye ordeyned for theyr purgacyon by the strenght equyte of Iustyce whiche terryble paynes our Sauyour shewyd dyuerse tymes to his sayde spouse seynt Birget to thentenâ— she shuld shewe them ouer the people whiche reuelacioÌ„ seynt Birget wrote in hir owne naturall tonge and the sayd Pryour of Albastra hir Fader espuÌ„ell by the coÌ„maundement of almyghty god translated theym into Latyn and deuyded theym into .viii. bokes bysyde a especiall reuelacion that she had of the praysynges and excellencye of our blessyd Lady whiche he appoynted for the Legend of the susters and bysyde many other Reuelacyons that she hadde for the Rule and foundacyon of hir sayd Monasterye of Watzstenes foure goodly chappytours for prayers with certeyn reuelacyons called the extrauagantê And natwithstandynge the great and synguler graces that she hadde as well in the sayde RevelacioÌ„s as otherwyse she was nat therfore any thynge exalted but dayly with many terys humbled hirselfe the more therfore and wolde gladly haue hydde and kept cloâ—â— the especyall gyfte that she had of our lord in the sayd Reuelacions but that our lorde coÌ„maunded hir oft tymes to wryte to speke them boldely to the Pope to the Emperour kyngê prynces and other people that by the reason of theym they myght the soner be conuertyd fro theyr synnes And
when she was in prayer contemplacoÌ„n she was ofte tymes seen by many deuoute ê‘sones eleuate lyfte vp fro the grounde the hyght of a man or there aboute an Aungell appered vnto seynt Birget and amonge many other thynges that he shewyd hir of the excellencye of our blessyd Lady he sayd yâ— she was the maystres of 〈…〉 martyrs the techer of CoÌ„fessouâ—â— the clereshynyng glasse of virgyns the helper of wydowes gyuer of hâ—â—some monycions to them that lyuyd in matrymonye a great strength to all them the lyued in the fayth of holy churche Firste he sayd that oâ— blessyd lady shewyd declared to thappostellê many thinges of hir sone that they knew nat byfore that she encouraged martyrs gladly to suffer trybulacioÌ„ for the name of criste whâ—â—he for theyr sake many yerê suffred great tribulacioÌ„ addynge therto yâ— she hirself .xxxiii. yerê byfore the deth of hir sone coÌ„tynuelly suffred trouble in hir herte with great paciens â–ª She taught to coÌ„fessourê yâ— very true lessoÌ„s of helth they by his doctrine example ê‘fytly lernyd to ordre the tymes of the daâ— of the nyght wysely to the laâ—de glory of almyght god to vse good discresoÌ„n in takyng of their slepe of their mete in labour of their bodyes of hir most vtuous lyf vgyns lerned to Rule them self honestly strongly to kepe theyr virgynall clennes vnto the deth to fle moch speche al vanyties to discusse with a dylygent pÌ„medytacion al their werkê that they had to do to examyne them streyghtly in a espuÌ„ell balauÌ„ce To wydowes she sayd to their comfort that though by moderly charyte it had moch pleased hir yâ— hir sone had had no more wyll to haue dyed in his manhed then in his godhed neuertheles she holy coÌ„fermed hir wyl to the wyl of god â—hewsyng rather to the fulfylling of the wyl of god mekely to susteyne al tribulacoÌ„n then for hir plesur anythyng to do ayenst the wyl of god with suche maner of speche she made wydowes pacient iÌ„ their tribulacoÌ„s coÌ„stauÌ„teiÌ„ al teÌ„ptacioÌ„s of the body Moreouer she 〈…〉 theim that lyued in matrymony that to the body soule in perfyght charyte nat sayued they shuld lyueâ—og◠〈◊〉 and that to the honour of almygâ—â—y god they shuld kepe one hole wyll sayinge to theym of hir selfe how she had gyuen all hir fayth and hole intent clerely to almyghty god and that for his loue she neuer withstode his wyll in any thynge Ulpho that was husbande to seynt Birget on a tyme after his deth apperyd vnto hir and sayd for a tyme I felte the great Iustyce of our lorde in purgatory nowe but mercy somwhat draweth nere vnto me thou shalâ— knowe that in my lyfelyne wayes I excedyd of the whiche when I was feke I toke nat suffycyent repentaunce The firste was that I toke to great delyte pleasure in the wantones of the child that thou knowest of The seâ—â—nde iâ— that â—f my neclygeÌ„ce I dyd nat restore a wydowe afore my deth for certeyn goodes that I bought of hir therfore that thou shall proue that I say trewe to morowe she shall 〈◊〉 to the and then gyue to hir what so euer she asketh for she wyll aske nothynge but that yâ— is right The thirde is that of the lyghtnes of my mynde I promysed a man to take his parte in all his difficultyes by reason wherof he was so â—olde that he attempted many thynges ayenst the kyng and the lawe The fourth is that in â—urneys and in vanytes of the worlde I occupyed myselfe more for the syght of the world then for any prophet The fyft is that in the exilynge of a certyn man I was ouer moche rygorouse ayenst hym for though he were worthy to haue that iugement yet I was lesse mercyfull to hym then I shuld haue ben then seynt Birget sayde vnto hym O blessyd soule what thynge hath profytyd the to thy helth or what thynge may prefyre the nowe to thy delyueraunce and he answeryd Sex thyngê haue profited me The fyrste is my confessyon that I made euery frydaye when I myght haue tyme hauynge full purpose to ameÌ„de The secoÌ„de is that when I sate in IugemeÌ„t I iuged not for the loue of money or for fauoure But all my Iugementys I examynyd dylygently redy to correcte where I had erryd to withdrawe where I had done that I shulde not haue doon The thyrde is that I obeyed vnto my ghostly Fader which couÌ„ceylyd me that I shulde not perfourme the acte of matrimony after I knewe that the chylde was quycke The fourthe is that when I was lodgyd in any place I toke hede as nyghe as I coulde that by my selfe or my Seruauntys I were not vnkynde to poore men nor that I was not chargefull to theym puttynge all my stody to se that I cam not into any det but that I prouydyd howe it shulde be payde The fyfte is that abstynence that I toke in the waye to seynt Iames for I ordeynyd soo that I dranke not betwyxte melys and for that abstyneÌ„ce is pardonyd to me the longe syttynge that I had at my table my loquacyte and excesse nowe I am sure of my helthe thoughe I be vncerteyne of the owre The syxte is that I commyttyd my Iugementys to them that I thoughte were ryghtwyse that wolde pay my dettys and bycause I doubtyd to be in det whyle I was on lyfe I resygnyd to the kynge his prouyncys that my sowle shulde not suffre the Iugement of god Therfore nowe in asmoche as it is grauÌ„tyd to me by almyghty god that I shall aske helpe and praye the that by a hoole yere thowe make contynuelly to be songe for me and for all that our Lord wolde haue to be prayed for massys of our Lady of Aungellys and of all seyntys and also of the passyon of our sauyour criste Ihesu for I truste I shal be shortly delyueryd specyally be dylygent aboute poore men to dystrybute to them suche Uessellys Horsys and other thynges wherin in my lyfe I had ouer moche delyte And also if thowe maye doo not forgete to gyue some chalyces for the sacryfyce of god for veryly they profyte moche to the helthe of the soule thyn vnmouable goodes leue to oure Chylderne for I dyd neuer euyll purchase any thynge or euyll holde any thynge ne wolde not haue doon if I myght And this blessyd woman seynt Byrget lyuyd after she went out of hyr owne couÌ„trey .xxviii. yere by all which tyme she neuer weÌ„t to any place but by the especyall commaundement of our Lorde by whos coÌ„maundement she went to Iherusalem and there dylygeÌ„tlye with great deuocyon vysyted all the placys where our blessyd Lady was salutyd by the Aungell Gabryell and where our Lorde was borne baptyzed conuersaunte or dyd any myracle where he was Illudyd Crucyfyed and buryed and where he assendyd into heuyn also at dyuerse other
tymes she vysytyd many Seyntys in hyr owne countrey and in other countreys therto adioynynge in Fraunce Italye Spayne Napuls many other placys after hyr sayd holy pylgrymagys she lyuyd the resydue of hir lyfe in the cyty of Rome fyue dayes before that seynt Byrgette shulde passe out of this transytory Lyfe our Lorde apperyd vnto hyr before an Aulter that was in hyr Chaumber and with a mery countenaunce sayde vnto hyr I haue not vysytyd the in this tyme with consolacyons for it was the tyme of thy probacyon Therfore nowe thowe arte prouyd procede and make the redy for the tyme is come that that I promysyd that shal be fulfyllyd that is to saye that before myn Aulter thou shalte be clothyd coÌ„secrate a Nunne from hensforthe thou shalte not onely be reputyd to be my espouse but also thou shalte be reputyd to be moder in watzstenys neuertelesse knowe it for a trouth thou shalte leue thy Body here in Rome vnto the tyme it shall come into the place ordeynyd for it knowe thou for certeyne that men shall come when it shall please me that with all swetnes and Ioye shall receyue the wordys of the Heuenly reuelacyons that I haue shemyd to the and all thynges that I haue sayde to the shal be fulfyllyd And though my grace be withdrawen fro many for theyr vnkyndenes Neuerthelesse other shall come that shall ryse in theyr place whiche shall opteyne my Grace And in the mornynge of the fyfte Daye nowe nexte folowynge after thou haste receyuyd the SacrameÌ„tys of the Chyrche calle to the seuerallye the persones that I haue namyd to the nowe and telle theym what they shall doo and then in theyr Handys thou shalte come into my ioye euerlastynge and thy Bodye shall be caryed to watzstenes And on the sayde fyfte Daye she callyd to hyr all hyr housholde and shewyd theym what they shulde doo and at the laste she gaue a great monycyon to hyr son Byrgerus and to hyr doughter Katheryne chargynge theym that aboue all thynges they shulde perseuer in the drede of god and in the Loue of theyr neyghbourys in good Warkys and theropon she made hyr Confessyon with great dylygens and Deuocyon and receyuynge the blessyd Bodye of oure Lorde was a noylyd And as a Masse was sayde afore hyr and she had honouryd the blessyd Bodye of oure Lorde she lyfte vppe hyr eyen to Heuyn and sayde In manus tuas domine commendo spiritum meum whiche is to seye Lorde into thy handys I coÌ„myt my spirite And with tho wordys she yeldyd her soule to our Lorde the .xxiii. daye of Iulii the yere of oure Lorde god a thousande thre hundreth .lxxiii. and the yere of hyr age .lxx. And anon a great fame went thrughe all the Cytye of rome of the deth of this gloryous woman and the people came with great deuocyon to se the holy body gloryfyinge and lawdynge almyghty god and in suche greâ—e recourse of the people the Body was caryed to the monastery of seynt Laurence as it was shewyd by hyr selfe that it shuld be for the great prese of the people it coulde not conuenyently be buryed vnto the seconde daye and before she was buryed a woman callyd Agnes de coÌ„tess a dwellynge in the Cytye of Rome whiche fro hyr byrthe had a great grosse throte moche foule dyfformyd came with other to the Bodye of seynt Byrgette and with hyr owne Gyrdell she towchyd the hande of this gloryous woman seynt Byrgette with great deuocyon and bounde the same gyrdell abowte her necke and anon aftyr her throte swagyd by the myracle of almyghty god was brought in to the due shappe conformyte Also there was a Nonne of the sayde monastery of seynt LaureÌ„ce which for feblenes and great sykenes that she had in her stomake by the space of .ii. yerys kepte hyr bedde well nere all that tyme and she was moch famylyer with seynt Byrgette in hyr lyfe thys Nonne with great peyn rose fro hyr bedde and with helpe came to the Beer lay by it all the nyght and cessyd not to praye almyghty god that by the merytys and Prayers of his gloryouse spouse seynt Byrgette whose Body was there present that she myghte haue soo moche ease of hyr sayde longe sykenes that she myght with hyr Susters be at deuyne seruyce and that she myghte when nede shulde requyre goo aboute the monastery with oute helpe And in the mornynge she hadde more helth of hyr Bodye thenne she prayed fore And the .xxvi. daye of the sayde moneth of Iulii the Bodye of Seynt Birgette was buryed in the sayde Monasterye of seynt Laurence in a cheste of wode enclosyd in a tombe of marbull and in the space of fyue wekys and a halfe the Flesshe by Myracle was clerely consumyd and goon and nothynge lefte but the clere whyte shynynge Bonys and after the sayde Bonys and Relykes of seynt Birgette were translatyd from Rome to the sayde Monasterye of watzstenes in swecia the fourth nonas of Iulii by the sayde Byrgerus and Katheryne and after this blessyd woman seynt Birgette was canonyzed by pope bonyface of that name the nynth the yere of our Lord god a thousande CCC lxxxxi as in the Bull of hyr canonyzacion apperyth A woman of the dyocesse of LyncopeÌ„ce callyd Elseby Snara with great peyne and sorowe was delyuered of a deed Chylde and when she was after her great peyne come to hyr perfyte remembrauÌ„ce with humble prayer she besoughte almyghtye god that by the merytes of his gloryouse espouse seynt Birgette the Chylde myghte be restoryd to Lyfe and made a vowe that if the Chylde came to lyfe that she wolde vysyte the sepulcre of Seynt Birgette And anon the Infaunâ—â— beganne to waxe hote and to take Brethe and afterwarde it was restoryd to full Lyfe wherfore the Moder with great deuocyon and gladnes fulfyllynge hyr auowe vysytyd the Relykes of Seynt Birgette in the Monasterye of watzstenes aboute the Natyuyte of oure Lorde certeyne persons of gothlande toke the See and with a great Tempeste they were dryuen into a place whiche was moche shalowe of Water and there theyr Shyppe was all to Broysyd and they taryed there a se nyght in great Hunger and Colde and Coulde not remoue theyr Shyppe At the wekys ende for asmoche as they were lyke to haue perysshyd for lacke of SustenauÌ„ce they drewe Cuttes amonge theym whiche of theym shulde be kyllyd and made mete for the other And he vppon whome the Lotte felle with great wepynge commyttyd hym to Seynt Birgette and prayde for helpe promysynge that if he escapyd that Daunger he wolde vysyte hyr at hyr Monasterye of watzstenes And anon by Myracle they fouÌ„de a great peace of Flesshe in the See and when they hadde refresshyd theym selfe therwyth there arose anon suche a great calmenes that in a lytell smalle Bote they came by great longe weyes in the See to londe And as he
seynt paule in the yere of our Lorde .vi. C.lxxxiii electyd hym beynge in the monastery of seynt Petyr and made hym Abbot there And wheÌ„ he was Abbot he was of the same mekenes that he was before so that when he sawe the Bretherne worke he wolde put to his hande as they dyd And he was a man of great strengthe of feyre speche mery and lyberall And he ete of the same mete as the bretherne dyd and laye as they dyd And when he shulde dye he kyssyd all the bretherne in tokyn of peas And instructyd theym with many Blessyd monycyons he wente to oure Lorde of the great Syknes in the Nonas of Marche ¶ De sancto Ethelberto rege confessore SEynt ethelbert was the thyrde kynge of Kent but he was the fyrste that wente to Heuyn And all that seynt Augustyne dyd to the Encreasynge of the faythe may be also attrybutyd to this blessyd kynge for as farre as to man apperyth if he had not holpen seynt Augustyne other werkes in the werke of 〈◊〉 lorde lytyll frute had come to the Londe of Englonde And when he was coÌ„uertyd with great benygnyte he â—â—â—yd other kyngys that were his subgyetty or his felowys to become crysten And those that beleuyd he lâ—uyd as hys bretherne and kynysmen and felawys to the kyngdome of heuyn And in all his realme Chirchys were buâ—â—yd placys of Idollys destroyed or tournyd into Churches By counceyll of seynt Augustyne he made the Churche of seynt saâ—youre in Caunterbury And without the wallys of the Cytle he made a monasterye in the honoure of seynt peter and poule whiche was a place of buryall for Kynges and busshoppes he buyldyd a Church of seynt paule in london and there was theÌ„ made a Busshoppyssee And he made a Churche of seynt Andrewe at Rochester where was also made a noder Busshoppyssee And he was founder of Ely thughe seynt Etheldrede bycause she repayryd it is takyn for foundres his realme stretchyd to humber And yet he shewyd hymselfe poore and meke as thoughe he had had nothynge It was a gloryus thynge to see hym that hadde rule and domynyon in great countreys to serue poore men And to see hym that kynges feryd to drede the preestys of our Lorde as this blessyd kynge dyd And he was a great exalter of vertue a fulfyller of the commaundementys of god of werkys of pyte And he went to our Lorde the syxte Kalendas of marche And when his feest was on a tyme not halowed nor the place where he laye adhournyd with lyghtys as it was wonte to be he apperyd to a preest that of deuocy on lay there all nyght and blamyd them of theyr necly De sancta Ethelburga virgine abbatissa SEynt ethelburgh coÌ„monly callyd seynt Alburgh was borne in the prouynce of lyndesey fro her youthe she abhorryd the bodely pleasurys the flaterynge of the worlde And the auncyent enemy enuyenge her werkys styrryd her owne fader agaynste her so that he was a cruell psecutor of her wherfore she went ofte to a Chapell where she was crystenyd And commyttyd herselfe to our Lord with deuoute prayer aâ—â—lyccyons it is sayd the grasse is alway grene there as she wente to the sayd chapell And after when she shuld haue ben maryed she lefte her Fader Moder with oon mayde went her waye pryuely by the waye the mayde fell in so great a drynes that withoute helpe she was lyke to Dye wherfore seynt Alburghe prayde for helpe to our Lorde And anon a feyre well sprange vppe that is there to this day And when certeyne werke was assygnyd to her by her hostes in Herueste she went to prayer and her werke was don without leyinge any hande to it and her fader by her was conuertyd to the feyth after her broder seynt Erken walde of his patrymonye made for her the Abbey of Barkynge where she was abbesse there she subdued the Body to the spyryte with contynuell Fastyngys vygyllys prayers she pÌ„chyd to the systers perseuerant lye and after was seen an Image bryght shynynge in the Dormytory of the systers bryght shynynge cordys were seen stretchynge into heuyn wherwith the sayd Image was pluckyd vppe And anone after seynt Alburghe deê‘tyd this worlde the .v. Idus of october about the yere of our Lorde .vii. C. .vi. so it apperyth to be for her that the sayd Image was shewyd her monastery hath ben often tymes pÌ„seruyd agaynste paganys by especyall myracle somtymes wylde bestys at the yatysferyd that enemyes so that they durst not come in sometyme the offenders were sodeynly strykyn some with woodnes some with blyndenes and some with Deth And dyuerse Myracles oure Lorde hath shewyd for this gloryous virgyn ¶ De sancta Etheldreda virgine SEynt etheldrede coÌ„menly callyd Seynt Awdry was doughter to anna Kynge of eest EngloÌ„de And agaynste her wyll she was maryed to Tonbert kynge of the south Gyrwyes where is the I le of ely And when she came into the ChauÌ„ber she comyttyd her virgynyte to our Lorde And as her husbonde lokyd in to the ChauÌ„ber it was lyke as if all the chauÌ„ber had ben on fyre And so he bad her fere no more for he wolde not touche her for he sayd our Lorde was hyr defender and shortlye after he dyed she was maryed ageyne by her frendys to Egfryde kynge of northamhuÌ„broruÌ„ .xii. yeyerys she was with hym not as a wyfe but as a Lady for her holynes he worshyppyd her moch promysyd to the Busshope wylfryde great gyftys to make her agree to hym in matrymonye And the Busshope coÌ„trarye wyse exortyd her to kepe virgynyte And at laste by assente of the Kynge she enteryd into Relygyon at Coldyngham vnder Ebba aunte to the kynge And when the kynge repentyd hym wolde haue fet her fro the monasterye she coÌ„myttyd her to our Lorde And with to systers went in to a Hyll there our lorde brought the see about theym preseruyd them there beynge in prayers with oute mete or drynke when the Kynge sawe that he went away repentyd hym of gis presumpcyon and after she went to Ely that was geuyn to her by her husbonde tonbert there she repayryd a Monasterye gaderyd many sustersgence that they had not don as was wonte to be And that doon the preest wakynge sawe hym goo into his toumbe agayne ¶ De sancto Ethelberto rege martire SEynt Ethelbert was Kynge of eest Englonde And when he had in his youthe moche prophytyd in lernynge he gaue not his mynde to voluptuous pleasurys but to Prayers almys dedys other good werkys And when his felowys were at Playe he wolde be at Churche after the deth of his Fader Kynge ethelrede he was made Kynge was profounde in counceyll ryghtwyse and mercyfull in Iudgement sober iÌ„ wordys He wolde spare his subgyettys and resyst prowdemen And after by hoole
assent of his coÌ„mons he was desyryd to marye and for loue of Chyldren he asseÌ„tyd therto And he refusyd the doughter of a great Consulle bycause her Fader was a man full of fraunde and dysceyte alienatyd fro Truthe And at the laste it was concludyd that he shuld goo to off a Kynge of mersshes And when he was goynge the Erthe quoke the sonne waryd derke so that oon of them myght scarcely see a nother And when all a boute hym were a frayde merueylyd what it shuld betokyn He sayde let vs doo that is in vs humble our hartys to almyghty god praye that he put awaye the derkenes both of Body and soule and that he send vs the lyghte of his clerenes And so they laye prostrate prayed And anon the Derkenes went awaye And then he wente forth in his Iourney when he cam into the kyngedome of Marshes he had a meruaylouse dreme that as he stode with his counceyll he thought his house fell downe anon he sawe a goodly tree that he neuer sawe any lyke to it that certeyn ê‘sones were he wynge at the tree to cut it downe a streme of blood folowyd of theyr hewynge he thought he hymselfe was a byrde that his wyngys were blody he sawe a bryght beame bryghter then the sonne com out of the south which asceÌ„dyd into heuyn he thought that he flewe into the toppe of the tree sawe all that was in the firmameÌ„t herde a songe of great melody some thought it shulde betokyn the exaltynge of his kyngdome he sayd how so euer our Lord wold dyspose of hym he wold take it pacyeÌ„tly when he came to Kynge off a by counceyll of the quene for ambycyon of hys kyngdome And to enhaunce theyr owne blode his hed was stryken of the .xiii. kaleÌ„das of Iune as apperyth in his legende at great length And when the virgyne alfryde whome he shulde haue maryed knew therof she bade his seuauÌ„tys goo into theyr couÌ„trey for they re mayster was behedyd taught of the holy goost she sayde to hir moder thy sone shall not lyue .iii. yerys thy kyngedome shall not be stabled thou shalt not lyue in the confeffyon of god ouer thre monethâ—s thou shalte be takyn with a Deuyll ete thyn owne tonge and dye an euyll deth and it folowyd as she sayd and therupon that blessyd virgyne auowyd to entre into relygyon at crowlande fro the tumbe there as the yonge kynge was buryed a bryght beame wente to heuyn And when Kynge off a herde therof â—e feryd greatlye toke penaunce and after his body was broughte to herforde And by the way a blynde man recoueryd his syghte a longe tyme was seen euery nyghte a bryghte beame vppoÌ„ his sepulcre the kynge Mylfryde made a goodly chyrche ouer hym and endewyd it with great possessyons And was the fyrste kynge that made there a Busshoppyssee callyd wakerynge to ramesey where they lye to this day that traÌ„slacyon was made the .xvi. kaleÌ„das of noueÌ„ber ¶ De sancto Ethelwoldo epÌ„o confessore SEynt ethelwolde was borne in wynchester his moder when she was with chylde with hym sawe two visions which signyfyed that she shulde bere a chylde of great ê‘feccyon when his norse hauynge the chylde in her armys wolde haue goon to the Chyrche coulde not for great tempest sodenly she was broughte into the Chyrche wiste not how she came thyder And when the chylde came to age he was set to scole he had a quycke witte what so euer he lernyd he kepte it in memorye kynge ethelstane herynge his famesent for hym to haue hym abyde with hym causyd hym to take order of preesthod And seynt DuÌ„stane and he And oon Ethelstane were made Preestys on oon daye by Seynt Aldelme and he sayde that two of them shulde be Busshoppes And the Thyrde shuld geue hym to Uoluptuousnes make an euyll Ende And soo it prouyd of the sayde Ethelstane And after seynt Ethelwolde went to glastenbury there was made a moÌ„ke vnder seynt Dunstan where euer he coueytyd to the hyghnesse of vertue though he was moche cherysshed belouyd of all men he ranne not therby in any peryll of Pryde but kepte hym alwey in humylyte And after Kynge edrede gaue hym a Place in abyngdon where he renewyd the Monastery of Abyngedon And put therin monkys there he was Abbot and after by coÌ„mauÌ„dement of Kynge Edgar seynt DuÌ„stan made hym Busshope of Wynchester there he put in monkys also at hyde he made a place of Nonnys at Wynchester he made Peterburgh thorney wente aboute all monasteryes to set them in good order to coÌ„forte good men to correcte theym that were obstynate he neuer punysshed any of cruelnes but for loue He was a fader a shepherde to Relygyous men a defender of virgyns a comforter of wydowys a receyuoure of pylgrymys a refressher of poure men a helper of pupyllys orphanys when a great derth was in all Englonde he solde the Ornamentys of his Churche the plate to helpe the poure people he had coÌ„tynuall sykenes so that many nyghtys he slepte nothynge And he neuer ete Flesshe but twyse onys by coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of seynt DuÌ„stane a noder tyme in the sykenes that he dyed of His Candell burnyd vppoÌ„ his boke tyll it weÌ„t out And yet it hurtyd not his boke It is red of hym in Cronycles that when he was at grete feestys which began in Englonde at the commynge in of the Danys he wolde ete no other thynge but Breed wolde drynke water And he went to our Lord in the kalendas of August in the yere of our Lord .ix. hundred foure score and foure and he lyeth at wynchester where our lorde hath shewyd for hym many Myracles a man and a Chylde that were blynde at his tombe receyuyd theyr sâ—gh ¶ DesctoÌ„ Felice epÌ„o confessore SEynt felix was borne in Pyes a cytie of BurguÌ„dye there was made Busshope in the tyme of the 〈◊〉 honoryus of honoryus Archebusshope of Caunterbury leuynge his owne countrey the pompe of the worlde He came into Englonde to preche the feyth of our Lorde to suche people as were not then coÌ„uertyd he was a man of great lernynge that he taught he fulfyllyd iÌ„ good werkys the Archebusshope honory us at his coÌ„mynge reseyued hym moche charytably but wheÌ„ he knewe his enteÌ„t was to ê‘seuer iÌ„ pÌ„chynge he was moch more glad so he weÌ„t into the ê“uynce of est EngloÌ„d the yere of our Lord .vi. C.lxxiii And after that she enteryd into Relygyon she neuer ware lynnen she ete but onys on a day She was dylygent to vigyllys prayers before her deth she had a great swellynge in her Throte in her cheke wherin she moche delytyd sayde it was a great goodnes
certeyne space And for asmoche as theyr tyme of tryumphe was not yet commen for theyr enemyes were not yet coÌ„men thyder they were warnyd agayne by the auÌ„gell for to goo to Rome there to coÌ„meÌ„de them to almyghtye god our Lady seynt Mary to the holy appostellys with all other sayntys wheroppon they toke theyr shyppes agayne so goynge towardes rome came to the Cytye of Basyle with a prosperous cource iÌ„ the space of .ii. or .iii. dayes which was .viii. dayes Iourney and agaynste the streme and there they were gladly receyuyd as is before sayd and lefte theyr shyppes there and so wente on theyr Iourney and pylgrymage to romewarde on fote without Charet Horse or Mule to carye theym but went all lyghtly and meryly for they were comfortyd streÌ„gthed thrugh the famylyer company felaushyp of aungellys and other seyntys holy virgyns so that nothynge was to theym heuy or peynfull in so moche that dyuerse matrones in theyr Felaushyp hauyuge youre Chylderne in theyr Armes went as lyghtlye and as easely as dyd the other which bare none the sayde yonge babes Chylderne were aswell comfortyd by vysyon of Aungellys other sayntys as other were and made therof many euydent sygnes of Ioye gladnes in theyr maner as they coulde ferdermore thyse Innocentys and 〈◊〉 Chylderne neyther greuyd nor noyed theyr kepers nor yet lettyd theym by soukynge vppon them as they were wont to doo but thrughe the grace largesse of â—â—â—yghtye god they put theyr fyngers in theyr owne Mowthes and sowkyd out there full swete delycate nourysshyngs wherwyth they were full well fedde susteyned 〈◊〉 ouer they neuer wet theyr selfe with theyr vryne nor other wyse after the maner as chylderne by course of nature be defould but euer pâ—â—re and clene as they that were fedde with AuÌ„gellys food in this holy mery pylgrymage all thynge succedyd ê“sperously better than they coulde thinâ—ke or desyre for if they disposyd them at mornynge â—o lodge at suche a cytie or place at nyght they came thyder with case at theyr pleasure neuer lesynge theyr wey wheresoeuer they came in couÌ„trey or Cytye they encreasyd in noÌ„ber for many ê‘sones both Kynges Busshoppes Prynces Dukys many other nobles matrones vyrgyns whiche câ—sortyd to theym to beholde so wonderfull a spectacle seynge coÌ„syderynge how almyghty god wrought in them that it coulde not be otherwyse but by his grace goodnes lefte theyr Countreys Londys goodys dygnytes all other frendys and Iâ—ynyd them in felawshyp with thyse holy virgyns in hope truste to be parteners with them of theyr gloryous Thryumphe vyctorye And so it was doon for they all suffryd martyrdome with them Also in this blessyd Pylgrymage Rayne ne dewe noyed theym nor any euyll Felawshyp nyghed to them they were so well tenderlye kepte defendyd by garde or kepynge sent from aboue hyghe Hyllys mouÌ„taynys wherof some semyd impossyble to passe ascape were to them lyke easy as playne feyre wayes or pathis the streyght wayes noyed them nor taryed them nothynge but they passyd all lyghtlye easly Also theyr apparayle Clothys were not enpeyryd nor in any thynge that worse for this Iorney lytyll corporall mete seruyd theym they were so well fedde so delycatlye fulfyllyd wtinforth iÌ„ the soules but it was rather tedious greuous to theÌ„ to take it at Rome certen of thyse vgins which were yet vncristenyd were baptyzed of the holy pope Cyryacus which Cyryacus warnyd by an Aungell lefte his 〈◊〉 and all his dygnyte and went to Coleyne with thyse by vyrgyns to be partener of theyr rewarde and so dyd a holy man callyd Cesaryus the Busshope of Basyle beforesayde And at the Cytye of Magunce goynge from Basyle to Coleyne mette with theym the foresayde noble prynce Olyfernes the spouse of the blessyd Uirgyn vrsula with his moder and dyuerse other persones which were Crystenyd and so went fourth with theym to Coleyne desyrynge to be parteners with theym aswell of theyr laboure Peyne as of theyr Rewarde and mede And when they came to Coleyne they fouÌ„de it besette with the cruell bardaryes And the Prynce and Capytayne of theym seynge thys grete multytude of virgyns merueylynge moch therat commaundyd hastely that they shulde be brought and presentyd before hym and soo they were And after many questyons He beholdynge the foresayde Blessyd vyrgyn Ursula admerueylynge her grete bautye her sober and stable countenaunce and stedfaste mynde anon was takyn and Rauysshyd in the loue of her but all that was in vayne for neyther for his feyre wordes and great behestys ne yet for his cruell thretenynges she â—â—lynyd nothynge nor in any wyse assentyd to hym but stedfastlye and with bolde countenaunce despysyd hym not desyrynge his fauoure nor dredynge his malyce wherfore the cruell tyraunt moche greuyd and anoyed seynge that he coulde in nothynge preuayle by fayre meanys ne yet by foule caused to be Slayne martyred before her face many vyrgyns other of her companye amonge whom was the noble prynce Olyfernes her owne spouse before sayde thynkynge therby to peruerte her But for all this she was nothynge mouyd nor chauÌ„gyd any countenauÌ„ce but as she whiche desyryd to be with her veray spouse cryste Iesu not onely feryd not deth but also affectuouslye desyryd it and longyd sore in her harte for it knowynge for certeyne therby to come to her purpose and her hartes desyre wherfore the sayde Tyraunte seynge that she wolde not in any thynge enclyne vnto hym after all her coÌ„pany causyd her to be slayne martyryd ryght cruelly There myghte a man haue seen moche tyrannye exercysyd by thyse bochers which as wood dogges or wolfes thrustynge Innocent blode without pytye or mercye deuoury and slewe all thyse Holy vyrgyns with all theyr companye in a rage and furye and cutte theyr Bodyes into smalle pecys and caste and sparkelyd them ouer all aboute the felde and amonges theym were Clayne yonge Chylderne in theyr moders wombes and as it was shewyd by reuelacyon they were also receyuyd to the euerlastynge lyfe and parteners with theyr moders of the Rewarde of martyrdome as Baptyzyd in the Blode of theyr Moders wich were slayne for crystys sake for otherwyse they coulde not haue ben sauyd In the whych we may see the great and Infynyte goodnes and mercyfull pyâ—â— of our Lorde that soweth and so largely spredyth his mercye Also thyse Inâ—auÌ„tys with many other persones Men Women and Chylderne were not accomptyd in the nombre of the .xi. M. vyrgyns but were besydes them to the nombre of CCCCC and aboue as it apperyth in yâ— hystorye of them in the legende Also in yâ— nombre of the xi thousande by vyrgyns was noon â—lâ—â—te but if she 〈◊〉 ry pure and chaste for other which 〈…〉 virgyns were noon thrugh the 〈…〉 of almyghtye god to whom nothynge is 〈◊〉 were putte out not chosen after the deth of thyse
holy vyrgyne Inmedyatlye alâ—yghty god not suffrynge thyse cruell Tyrauntys to goo all quyte without takynge vengeauÌ„ce of the Blode of his holy virgyns which was shed for his loue sent put into them such a â—eer that with all theyr myght they flâ—dde ran awaye glad to escape with theyr lyuesâ— for as them thought they sawe coÌ„mynge vppon theym to persecute them such a companye so great a multytude of armyd men so terrybly that they thought neuer to haue escaped so they fled iÌ„ all haste that they myghte where thrughe the wofull prysoners all desolute the Cytezyns of Coleyne which had loÌ„ge tymâ— be holden kepte thrall in dyspayre of lyfe seynge theyr enemyes chasyd fled awaye openyd theyr Gates went fourth all Ioyfull glad of theyr sodeyne delyuerauÌ„ce coÌ„syderynge this to be the hande of god thrughe the merytes of thise holy virgyns which they sawe lye in the felde slayne by theyr enemyes full dylygently gatheryd the bodyes of them togeder which were full â—yde caâ—â— sparkelyd in pecys and with great honoure reuerence buryed them vnto this day there dare noon burye any other Bodye within the coÌ„passâ— whâ—tâ— they ben buryed which myracle suffyseth to declare make open howe dere acceptable thyse holye blessyd vgyns were to almyghty god many other myracles appere in the hystory which I omytte for shortness Also seynt Elyzabeth that holy vyrgyn in her reuelâ—cioÌ„s spekyth moch of thyse holy vgyns which for the cause before sayde I leue to speake of after in ê“ces of tyme men beynge forgetfull by dulnes of wytte colde anf drye 〈◊〉 to beleue thyngys which they see not nor canot coÌ„preheÌ„de by theyr blynde Reason by theyr neclygens put thyse holy virgyns vtterly in oblyuyon wherfore our lord not sufferyng his deer belouyd vgyns so to be forgotten to his honoure praysynge pryncipally to the honoure of the sayd gloryous virgyns also for our socoure helpe many yerys after the passyon of them shewyd by reuelacyon the foresayd hystâ—â—ye to hym that was the wryter maker thereof furthermore the sayde blessyd seynt Ursula dyuerse other of the sayde virgyns apperyd vnto hym as he was wrytynge therof affermynge it to be true as apperyth more at large in the sayde legende there was of the same company of Blessyd virgyns one virgyn callyd Cordula the whiche when the other virgyns were in theyr martyrdoms hyd hyrselfe all nyghte in the bottom of a shyppe neuerthelesse in the mornynge she offeryd her selfe frely to deth as the other vgyns dyd receyuyd the Crowne of martyrdome and it is not for any man to thynke that this Blessyd virgyn by that lytyll fear ony thinge hyndred her rewarde or Crowne of martyrdom wheÌ„ neyther Peter denyinge our Lorde nor Thomas doubtynge of the resurreccion were aâ—â—â—â—â— fro the honoure to be Apostyll And parcase thys Blessyd Uyrgyne somewhat hadde presumed by the purpce of her Lyfe and constaunce of her feyth to putte a truste in her selfe to suffre Martyrdome soo that it was expedyent for her to be mâ—ked or to lerne to truste in our Lorde and not in her selfe After many yerys this blessyd virgin Cordula apperyd vnto a holy woman callyd Hellentâ—ude beynge recluse seyinge vnto her I am oon of those blessyd virgyns that suffred martyrdome at Coleyne lyuyd one nyght after them in the mornynge offred my selfe gladly vnto the deth so dyinge in our lorde I neyther lefte the company of my susters ne yet lackyd lyke rewarde as they had of the crowne of martyrdome wherfore I woll that thou shalte in my name commaunde the susters that the nexte daye after that they shall haue seruyd all the hoole companye of the sayde blessyd virgyns that they doo some thynge to my honoure for it is not expedyent for them that I only be lefte vnhonouryd amonge that company And then the â—ecluâ—e askyd of her what was her name she bade hee loke in her forhed what she sawe wrytten there and she lokynge vp sawe wrytten dystructlye Cordula whereupon she made relacyon to the Nounes therof wherfore in the daye folowynge they halowed her feest accordynge to the sayde coÌ„mauÌ„dement a certeyne Abbot desyryd of the abbey of Coleyne the body of one of those virgyns promysynge that he wolde sette her in his Chyrche in a Coffer of syluer And when he had kepte her a hoole yere vppon the Aulter in a Coffer of wood in a nyghte as the abbot and couent were 〈◊〉 matens they sawe the sayde vyrgyn descende vppoÌ„ the Aulter and goynge downe she â—â—wyd her 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 and went thrâ—ghe the quere that all the brethe 〈…〉 we so she departyd wheropâ—n that 〈◊〉 went to the Coffer and fyndynge nothynge therin wente to the Abbesse of Coleyne and shewyd heâ— then ofâ— And thenne they wente to the place fro whens the Bâ—dye was taken and there they fouÌ„de it agayne wherforâ— lawght at it And as he was goynge to dryue a way the hyndes he fell fro his Horse streyghtwaye dyed After full of good werkys good exaumples she went to our Lord and was buryed at dereham After that monastery was destroyed by Danes nowe ther is a parysshe Churche And in the yere of oure Lorde .ix. C.lxxiiii in the tyme of Kynge Edgar her Body was translatyd to Ely whiche was then newely repayryd by seynt Ethelwolde all the wey in the Nyghtys a bryght sterre folowyd the Bodye nyghe all the nyght longe in the yere of our Lorde a. M. and .xxvi. her Bodye was remouyd by Richarde the laste Abbot to the Place where it lyeth nowe And the Bodye also the clothes were fouÌ„de vncorrupte A munke towchyd her Bodye fouÌ„de it flexyble hir chekys rodye as roses lyke as she had ben a lyue ¶ De sancta Ursula et vndecim milibus virginuâ— martiribus THere was in moche Brytayne nowe callyd Englonde a Crysten Kynge whiche hadde a noble and a vertuose Quene to his wyfe and they lyued loÌ„ge togeder without ony chylde wherfore they were ryght heuy at the laste thorough contynuell prayers good werkys they opteynyd of almyghty god to haue a doughter whom they crystenyd namyd vrsula norysshed brought her vp in the feythe of our lorde full vertuosly gracyously with all theyr myght and cunnynge which encreasyd soo meruaylously in all vertue grace and therto was soo feyre that the fame of her was in short tyme spronge ouer all into many CouÌ„treys and Landes so farre that it came to knowlege of a certen Kynge heynge a Paynym but he was veray myghtye of great power and therto veray Harde cruell but the Quene his Wyfe was ryght noble in all her behauyoure Courteys and Gentyll and of euery persone bylouyd This Kynge had a yonge sone callyd Olyfernes Ryght lowly and Courteys and they herynge of this Fayre vertuous yonge Lady vrsula desyryd moch