mercy on vs of thyne hygh goodnesse Syth thou thy selfe in parfyte holynesse ¶ Alone thou arte sothely hooly and no mo And lorde alone ouer all thynge And worthyest and hyghest eke also O Christ Iesu of heuen and erthe kynge With the holy ghoste in glorie reyninge Ay with the father by eternite There knyt in one through parfyte vnite ¶ Howe the Shepeherdes founden Christ with our Lady Capitulo xliiii ANd whā the Angels with this heuēly songe The byrth of Christ had magnefyed With parfyte gladnesse that was hem amonge To heuen anone agayne they haue hem hyed And the herdes by one accorde a lyed Ben hastely vnto Bethleem gone Where they founden whan they came anone ¶ Marie and Ioseph and the chylde also Leyde in a stable accordinge euery dele As the Angell had sayde hem vnto And of the sight they lyked wonder wele And in hem selfe gan knowe and fele That all was soth that they sayde afore Of the Angell howe a chylde was borne ¶ In to this worlde mankynde for to saue After the recorde of olde prophecye Wherof they ganne so greate a ioye haue That all atones they gan magnefye God aboue deuoutely and to glorefye Retorninge hem deuoyde of euery smerte And Marie close within her hert ¶ Conserued all that she dyd se Worde and dede and euery maner thynge That befylle in this natiuite Full secretely theron ymageninge And prudently her selfe gouerninge Kepte her sone with all her besy cure Whiche on this day as sayth Bonauenture ¶ Lyke a Spouse from his chambre is gone His chosen chyldre through his benignite In his chyrche to ioye hem of Syon By parfyte peace and sothfast vnite And he this day hath shewed the beaute Of his face of excellente fayrnes In whose honoure this day of hygh gladnes ¶ Was made the ympne the Gospell sayth also Our alther myrthe and ioye to encreace Gloria in excelsis de◠And in erthe this day a parfyte peace To man was shewed withouten ony leace And as say the Poule goddes benignite This day appered in our humanite ¶ Howe god wolde nat be borne but of a mayde mother and wyfe Capitulo xlv ANd ouer this as he eke tell can God was this day in similitude In erthe honoured in lykenesse of man And he this day his godhede dyd enclude In our manhode and shortely to conclude This day also yf I shall nat fayne Befyll also other thynges twayne ¶ The wonderfullest and moste meruaylous That euer yet were sene tofore Wherof no wight by kynde is capyous Firste howe god to saue that was forlore Lowly in erthe liste to be bore And howe a mayde in her virginite Might also chylde and a mother be ¶ The whiche thynges passen and transende Reason of man by kyndes lykenesse But fayth aboue muste all comprehende And it enbrace by parfyte stablenesse And make his grounde vpon the witnesse Of Prophetes whiche in her prophecye So longe aforne gan to speke and crye ¶ After the cominge of this mighty Kynge Our olde wo and trouble to enchace To whome Dauid sayde in his writinge O bleffull lorde shewe to vs thy face And we in sothe onely through thy grace Shall saued be from all myschyef drede And also nowe in our greate nede ¶ Sende to vs thy confortable light Us to enlumine ligginge in derkenesse Eke Isaye with all his inwarde sight Up to heuen gan his loke to dresse And sayde lorde of thy greate goodnesse Out of deserte from the harde stone Unto the doughter dwellinge in Syone ¶ Sende downe thy lambe fulfilled with mekenesse That lordshyp hath and dominacion Of all the erthe our dole to redresse And wolde god for our saluacion This mighty lorde for to come a downe The hygh heuenes wolde breke on twayne Us to releue of that we so complayne ¶ And Dauid spake eke this lorde vnto In the Sawter our sorowes for to fyne And sayde lorde in relese of our wo In hygh heuenes thy mercy make enclyne And downe discende and let thy grace shyne Upon vs wretches in the vale of sorowe And lorde do dawe thy holy glade morowe ¶ Quod Salamon and shewe to vs thy light Of thy mercy and rewe on our distresse And with thy vertues that be so moche of might That no man may counte them ne expresse Fulfylle Syon and with hygh gladnesse Thy peoples hertes make to renewe That thy Prophetes may be founde trewe ¶ For out of the shall procede anone The myghty kynge and lorde of Israhell And nowe this day is coruen out of stone Without handes of that holy hell Of whiche somtyme the prophete Daniell In his boke wrote so longe aforne To signefye that there sholde be borne At Iherusalem where as a mighty Kynge Shall come in haste his people to visite And he shall bringe peace in his cominge Of whome the power shall not be alyte For it shall laste as hym liste to wryte From see to see and all the erthe sprede Thorugh out the worlde in lenghte and brede ¶ And Baruch commaunded to Iherusalem To be holde in all his beste entente Towarde the brightnesse of the Sonne beame And wysely loke in to the Oriente To se the gladnesse that this day is sent Downe to the erthe nowe that Christ is borne Of whose cominge so many day aforne ¶ Spake Isaye sayde in wordes playne The hygh heuens do your grace adewe And sayde also the skyes sholde rayne Upon erthe her moysture for to shewe And bad the grounde eke in wordes fewe For to open and thus this heuenly shoure For to brynge our alther sauyour ¶ And Ieronime spake eke of this daye And sayde on heyght god sholde make sede A grayne of Dauid fayrer than Floure in Maye Whiche in fresshnes shall euer springe sprede And consetue Iuda of drede And eke Israhell kepe in sykernes And he shall make dome and rightwisnes ¶ Upon the erthe of hygh and lowe degre And rightwisnes men shall his name call Whan he cometh to sitte in the see Of kynge Dauid in his ryall stall And he also tofore the prestes all Bothe of Iuda and Leui shall deuise With newe encence to do sacrefice ¶ To god aboue for the greate offence Of the people and ignoraunce With his offeringe make recompence Or that the swerde be whette of vengeaunce Euenlyke as made is remembraunce In Malachie in the same wyse This sonne of lyfe shall sprynge and aryse ¶ To all tho that hym loue and drede And ben expectant with all humilite On his cominge to suche he shall out shede His light of grace at his natiuite Wherfore be glad lyke as it may be Thou Bethleem I called Effrata Though thou be litell named in Iuda ¶ For out the shall procede anone The mighty kynge and lorde of Israhell And nowe this day is coruen out of a stone Withouten handes of that holy hell Of the whiche somtyme the prophete Daniell In his boke wrote so longe aforne To signefye that
in erthe and also rightwisnes ¶ And Sophone bad abyde a whyle Upon this day with deuocion For he shall gader oute of euery yle Of eche kyngdom and euery region His people in one of hygh affeccion And also there as he maketh mynde From the flodes of Ethiope and â—â—de ¶ They shal to hym deuoutely offerynge brynge And do to hym dewe sacrefyse And false goddes eke through his worchynge With royall might he shall also despise And from her sees make hem to arise And fro the bandes of her dwellynge place Of very force dryue hem and enchace ¶ And of his byrthe longe or that it fell In a vision wonderfull of sight Spake the prophete called Daniell And sayde hym thought he sawe vpon a night Lyke to beholde as he demed right A sone of man comynge with a skye To whome power honoure and regally ¶ There gyuen was perpetuelly to abyde And his kyngdome by eternite Shall stande hole and nat deuyde Whiche shall nat passe neyther corrupte be Whose comynge eke whan he dyd se The holy prophete olde Ezechiel Saythe thus the Bibell can you tell ¶ I shall ordeyne prudently prouyde An herdeman my slepe to kepe sure To wake the flockes euery tyde To kepe hem wysely into her pasture And forthermore he dothe vs eke assure The holy prophete forthe in his writtynge Sothely affermynge that there shall be a kynge ¶ Of all folkes whose empyre shall be one And no senger deuided into twayne Whiche in Idoles made of stocke and stonâ— Ne shall nomore be pollute to ordeyne False offerynges to god that they seyne And the prophecie that called is Adge Full openly who so liste to se ¶ Wryteth of his byrthe in a litell stounde Euen lyke as he was enspired That he shall meue heuen see and grounde And he that is of all moste desyred Shall come in haste lyke a kynge a tyred For ioye of the whiche holy Zacharie To Christes spouse this doth specefye ¶ Be glad and light thou doughter of Syon And singe thou doughter of Iherusalem Beholde thy kynge shall come right anone That shall be borne sothely in Bethleem And his power shall fro royalme to royalme The bondes stratche of his royalte As ferre in south as any flode or any see ¶ Holden her course as they with waues wynde Out of her mother the greate Occian Of whose comynge Malachie maketh mynde Within his boke the Bible tell can Howe the name of hym bothe god and man Shall strotche his streames withouten wene Fro thylke place where the Sonne shen◠¶ Reyseth his light whan it begynneth dawe At the vpriste in the mornynge Unto the weste where he goeth vnder wawe Till efte agayne his chariete he brynge In to the easte that dothe the larke synge For ioye onely that his beames ryse And of his coÌ„mynge dothe eke Amos deuyse ¶ And sayth he shall newely by miracle Restore agayne and eke reedefye Upon that day the mighty tabernacle Of kynge Dauid with all the regallye And of this chylde wryteth also I saye Whan he is borne that in his presence Kynges for drede shullen kepe scilence ¶ A question assoyled whiche is worthy est of kynge Wyne or womaÌ„ Capitulo lvii ANd as in erthe is made a question Of thynges thre whiche was worthiest Kynge wyne or woman in comparison Eche I praysed and holden as for best And all this stryfe and as Darius gan leste Zorobabell withouten any slouthe Aboue echone had preferred trouthe ¶ And whyle they were atrauerse of these thre Eueriche holdynge his opynyon Zorobabell of right and equyte To woman gaue his commendacion Makynge forthwith of trouthe mencion Onely in signe as he can deuyse Fro woman fyrste trouthe muste aryse ¶ Whiche is the bande knotte pryncipall Of all vertue it may nat be denyed And therwithall so excellent royall With god hymselfe that is next alyed And for it is so moche magnefyed Thorowe the worlde of pryce and worthy fame God chese hymselfe of that to bere the name ¶ And with his mouthe hymself so liste hym call As the Gospell maketh mencion And by recorde of prophetes all God descendynge to one conclusion This daye in erthe for our saluacion Of a woman in maydenhede flourynge To mankynde trouthe dyd sprynge ¶ And fro heuen rightwisnes behelde Howe trouthe mercy in a mayde mette And thus is trouthe spronge out of a felde Where the holy ghoste the rayne of grace settâ— To make the graffe that he fro Iuda sette To fructefie and a pure virgine That shall be tytle of the same lyne ¶ The crowne of Iuda to accepte anone And vnderfonge it as a champyon Whiche was byrafte so many a day a gone From Sedechie awaye in Babilon Whan that was made a transmigracion By the tyraunt Nabugodonosor Whose cruelte laste shall nomore ¶ Howe our Lady ought worthely to be recommeÌ„ded worshipped for the byrthe of Christe Capitulo lviii NOwe he is borne that is rightfull heyre That shall make beter than Neomie His people of Iuda for to haue repeyre Ierusalem agayne to reedefye Though Herode that falsely dothe occupye As a foreyn through his cruell might By tyrannye and no tytle of right ¶ Of whome the kyngdom shall nat loÌ„ge enduâ—â— The reygne vsurpynge by extorcion For the lorde of euery creature This day hath take his iuste possession In Bethleem within a smale dongeon He his mother as who sayth but all onâ— To wayte on hym other fewe or none ¶ A lady myne howe god hath made the ryche Thy selfe alone all richesse to possede For in this worlde none is the lyche Of plente royall fro the lande of mede Where the hylles of golde ben as I rede May no treasoure in his menes reyse Agayne thy treasure for to conterpeyse ¶ For certes lady thou alone haste all That within heuen Angels desyre The Iewell eyche the treasoure celestiall Of heuen kynge of erthe lorde and syre And hym that hath all the hole empyre Of lande see and the Monarchye Thou haste hooly lady myne to gye ¶ And as Augustine the holy doctour wryteth In a sermon of the natiuite We may to the saye right as he biddeth With deuoute herâ—e knelynge on our kne O blessed lady floure of virginite We prayen echone o welle of our welfare Lyke a mother nat thy mylke to spare ¶ Gyue hym plente that is so plenteous Of fulsomnesse Angels to fede And gyue hym souke the pyment gracious Of thy pappes let thy condyte shede The swete mylke all aboute in brede Motherly it makynge to auale On his fayre tender lymmes smale ¶ Glad maiste thou be that saue liste to vouce With his softe rounde lippes lyte To haue pleasauÌ„ce thy brestes for to touche Onely to souke thy blessed pappes whyte And that hym liste so godely to delyâ—â— For his playe to haue so moche â—â—â—ssâ— Euer amonge thy holy mouthe to kisse ¶ And sodeynly with childely chere Iocounde Than anone thy whyte necke to enbrace With his softe tender
armes rounde And than atones fall on thy face And of his eyen fulfilled of all grace A goodly loke to the warde enclyne And so forthe his chekes leye to thyne ¶ And with his fyngres mouthe eyen touche His small paumes on thy chekes leyne His yonge face betwene thy pappes couche And holde hym stille with all his besy peyne And grype hem faste with his hande tweyne For therin was his heuenly repaste Thy yonge sone whan he liste to breke his taste ¶ There was his fode and his norisshynge pure Soth faste seleer of his sustenaunce The tonne of lyfe that euer dyd endure Ay lyke fresshe vnto his plesaunce With sacred lycour of holy habundaunce That none but he may touche ne approche For it for hym was onely set abroche ¶ For in that licour is full remedye Holy refuyte and playne medecine Agayne the venym brought in by enuie Through â—aâ—â—â—â—ngyne malice serpentyne Whan the snake made Adam to dyne Of the appell that was intoxicate Falsely with god to make hym at debate ¶ But nowe the mylke of thy pappes twayne Benigne lady is to vs triacle Within thy breste spryngeth from a vayne Agaynste the deth to be to vs obstacle O howe it is a passynge hygh myracle Thorowe goddes might by nought elles Out of a breste to se two smale welles ¶ Of a mayde spryngynge as a ryuere To gyue hym drynke that is kynge of all O goodely lady o heuenly botelere Whan we in mischief to the clepe call Some drope of grace let vpon vs fall And to that celer make a redy waye Where thou of mercy alone bearest the keye ¶ And of grace let be no scarsete Good lady that arte of grace well For nowe this daye in erthe is borne of the The sothfast god of heuen erthe and hell Whiche is come downe with vs for to dwell And hath of the our mortall kynde ytake Of all our wo an ende for to make ¶ Somtyme fro heuen fill downe the manne To refresshe the hongry in her nede And that befell in deserte right thanne Whan Moyses the people dyd lede But nowe this daye in erthe man to fede An humble mayde to all that ben truwe In this deserte hath brought manna newe ¶ Whiche to Angell is the fode of lyfe To man repaste of ioye and of gladnes Chyefe reconforte and restoratyfe To all feble oppressed with sekenes O good lady o myrrour of mekenes Benigne floure of womanhede the well In this deserte where as nowe we dwell ¶ Sende vs thy manna of souerayne hertes helâ— To our conforte and consolacion And let vs grace in thy mercy fele For our refuyte and reâ—eccion And in this vale of confusion Let the grace fro the skyes rayne The manna of lyfe that we maye attayne ¶ For thou alone arte conforte syngule â— To tho that no reâ—uyte conâ—e This daye also of mercy the ryuere Fro whiche all grace is to mankynde ronne The sterre also that hath brought forth the sone The sone of lyfe in erthe for to wone O mayde o mother o doughter of thy sone ¶ Whiche none insoth sithe the worlde began Was bothe two but thy selfe alone For who is he that remembre can Fyrste or laste late or elles sone So bright a Sonne sprynge of so fayre a Mone Saue this daye the Sonne of lyfe moste shene From the arose thou a maydeÌ„ clene ¶ Without Eclipsinge or lesynge of thy light For thou a mother and mayde bothe two In vertue aye lyke shene and bright O fayre Rose o Rose of Ierico That haste this daye god and man also In Bethleem borne agayne the greye morowe The night to voyde of all our olde sorowe ¶ Of likenesse of our Lady in coÌ„mendacion of her Capitulo lix NOwe fayre Cedre Cipresse of Syon Springinge light of Nazareth Chosen chambre of wise Salamon Floure of the felde swettest on holte heth Of whome all vertue saueth men fro deth Of Siloe the water eke depured Wherâ—y the lepre of Naman was recured ¶ Lande and glorie of Iherusalem Thou named arte and of Israel gladnes Hoâ—â—om cestern this day of Bethleem The christe of Dauid to staunche and distres Of Paradise the well in sothfastnes Foyson that floweth in to sondry Royames The soyle to â—dewe with his swete streames ¶ The lande also of promission That mylke and hony bothe in fere shedeth The soyle and grounde of our saluacion With his herbes that fostereth vs and fedeth Nowe blessed mayde whose mercy euer nedeth Also that lyuen in thy seruise This hygh fest â–ª so for vs deuise ¶ That in honoure of thy sone dere We may of herte rede singe and prayâ— And let the streames of thyne eyen clere Thy seruauntes o lady myne conueye To contynue fully vutyll we deye The to seâ—ue with hertely loue and drede As moste is pleasynge to thy womanhede ¶ And this feste of festes principall Called the feste of the natiuite Make loue and peace to reygne ouerall And hertes ioye with parfyte vnite Uoyde all discorde let no rancour be In hertes closed by malice of enmite But of thy grace so gouerne vs and gye ¶ This hygh feste in whiche thy sone was borne Nowe this midwynter night full affeccion Whyle Phebus shyneth in the Capricorne We may the serue with all deuocion And lady myne in conclusion Nowe this monthe that called is Decembre Upon thy seruauntes faythfully remembre ¶ Howe Christe was circumcised Capitulo lx WHan Ianus bifrons in colde Ianuarie With frosty berde entred in the yere And Phebus chare neyeth to Aquarie His watery beames tofore Feuerere Whan that his light was pale nothynge clere And from hym late was passed Lucine The same night as I sawe her shyne ¶ A ourned newe with beames glad and merye On the heuen and caste his streames downe I gan remembre of the hygh ferye That called is the circumcision Howe it befell than by reuolucion By iuste acountynge in the Calenders The fyrste daye of the newe yere ¶ And though I wolde in my boke procede Of this feaste somwhat for to wryte And to the gospell fyrste I gan take hede Of this daye howe Luke liste to endyte Though he therof speke but a lyte And was full briefe and compendious yet of this daye hygh and glorious ¶ He writeth playnly sayth howe that anone After the daye of the natiuite Whan eyght dayes passed were and gone The chylde was brought with all humilite To the Temple lowly for to be As the lawe of the Iewes hath deuised The eyght daye to be circumcised ¶ And he therto mekely dyd obeye And with a knyfe made full sharpe of stone His mother lokynge with a pyteous eye The chylde was corue therwithall anone That all aboute the reed blode gan gone Without abode as saythe Bonauenture And for the payne he dyd endure ¶ And for sharpenes of the sodayne smerte The chylde gan wepe that pyte was to here Wherfore his mother of very
quene Lygge they nat graue vnder colours grene And yet all this maye nat your pryde atame Natwithstandynge that ye shall do the same ¶ And after deth abydeth no memorie For ay with deth cometh foriet fulnes And fare well than araye and all vayneglorie Saue onely vertue that standeth in sikernes I take recorde of the hygh mekenes Of her that is of holines well Of whome I thynke sothely for to tell ¶ Howe that she satte for all her worthynes Holdynge her chylde lowly on the grounde And kynges knelynge as ye haue herde expres Beholdynge her in vertue moste habounde Till at the laste they haue a leyser founde To take her leue and the same night They gan to ryde homwarde all her might ¶ Howe the Angell warned the thre kynges to passe nat by Herodes but by another waye Capi. lxxiiii ANd suynge after on the next night Whyle they slepte at her lodgynge place Came an Angell apperynge with greate light And warned hem that they nouht ne trace By Herodes but that they sholde pace Withouten taryenge in all the haste they maye To her kyngdome by another waye ¶ And in shorte tyme to theyr region They ben repayred the Gospell telleth thus And of her names to make mencion The firste in Hebreu was called Appolleus The next Amerus the thyrde Damarus And in Greke the firste Galgatha And Sarachim the thyrde Malgalatha ¶ And in Latine as bokes make mynde The firste of hem named was Iasper And the seconde playnly as I fynde Lyke myne auctour reherce as I dar Called was and named Balthasar And the thyrde ye gete of me no more As I rede was called Melchior ¶ Of whose repayre as some bokes seyne That firste of all they wenten to the see And retornynge to her kyngdom ageyne They shipped hem at Tharse the cyte For whiche Herode of cursed cruelte In Tharse made all the shippes brenne Wherof wryte Dauid the Saulter if ye kenne ¶ And vnto you clerely to specefie Touchynge this â—este and this solemnite Wherof is sayde this worde Epiphanie Whiche is a worde of greate auctorite And sayde and compouned who so can se Of Epi fyrste and Phanos soth to sayne And one worde compouned of these tweyne ¶ Cometh this worde of Epiphanie And this worde Epi by discripsion Is sayde of heyght as I can signefye And of a shewynge by demonstracion As Phanos sayde and so by good reason Epi and Phanos bothe knytte in fere Is a shewynge that doth a lofte appere ¶ And for this day alofte was the sterre Whiche Christes byrthe and incarnacion With his streames gan shede from so ferre From easte to weste in many a region Wherof this feste in conclusion As ye toforne haue herde me specefie This feste is called of Epiphanie ¶ The whiche feste hath a prerogatyfe Of myracles notable in speciall For thynges foure wrought in Christes lyfe Weren on this day by his power royall The fyrste of all for a memoriall Is of the kynges as ye haue herde me sayne Whiche were in ydell to reherce agayne ¶ The seconde is it is sothely tolde That Christe Iesu this day of saynt Iohan The yere whan he was thyrty wynter olde Baptised he was in the flow Iordayne At whiche tyme thre kynges vnder one Appered this day worthy of memorie The fyrste was that from the hygh glorie ¶ The fathers voyce as clerkes liste endyte Came downe to erthe that men might here An lyke a downe with fayre federes whyte The holy ghoste also dyd appere And Christe Iesu the fathers sone entere This daye apperynge in our mortall kynde Was of saynt Iohan Baptiste as I fynde ¶ And for as moche as they all thre This daye were sene by sothfaste apparence They beynge one in partyte vnâ—â—â— Therfore this daye of moste reuerence Named is truely in this sentence Theophanos for god in treble wyse Therin appered as ye haue herde deuyse ¶ For Theâ—s is as moche for to mene As god in englisshe yf ye liste to se And Phanos as shewynge withouten wene As ye haue herde afore reherced of me For in erthe â— god in trinite This daye appered withouten any lye ye truely may it calle Theophanie ¶ Eke whan Christe was olde thyrty yere This daye he torned water in to wyne That passyngly was to the eye clere And of tarrage inly good and fyne The whiche he seâ—t to Archedeclyne And for this myracle iuly vertuous In Galilee was shewed in an hous ¶ This same daye whiche man dyd espye As holy churche maketh mencion Therfore it is named Bethphanie Forâ—eth in englisshe by discripsion Is called a house or a mancion Of whiche myracle renomed of fame Bethphanie this daye hath the name ¶ Eke in the yere of his passion Fer in deserte this daye also I rede With loues fyue through his greate foyson Fyue thousande I fynde that he dyd fede Of whiche myracle yf ye taken hede This day is laste named Phagiphanie Lyke as firste was cleped Epiphanie ¶ For this worde Phagi in to our entente Is sayde of fedynge of reâ—eccion For whiche myracle passynge excellence That is so famous so hygh of renoun Lyke as the Gospell maketh mencion Therfore this daye amonge the other all ye lustely may it Phagiphanie call ¶ A declaracion of the thre Kynges of theyr thre giftes Capitulo lxxv NOwe Christe Iesu this day this hygh feste We the beseche with herte will thought Onely of mercy to here our requeste For the myracles that thou therin haste wrought For loue of hem that the so ferre haue sought The worthy kynges that came out of Caldee The â—o honoure in Bethleem the cyte ¶ And through the prayers of these kynges thre That for thy loue token her vyage Iesu defende vs from all aduersite And make vs stronge sure in our passage In this exyle and parlous pylgrimage With our fo men of malice and of pryde Whiche haue vs bysette an euery syde ¶ The whiche our golde of parfyte charite Wolden vs byreue by persecusion That we shulde offre of feruente vnto the Oâ— hertely loue and hygh deuocion And eke our Franke of contemplacion Wherwith he shulde make our sacrifise Oâ— hygh disdayne and malice they dispise ¶ For Golde of trouthe is falsely nowe alayed By fayned loue and simulacion And fayth with fraude is corrupt frayed With double tonges and detraccion Our Franke also of hygh perfeccion That sholde brenne clere aboue the skye Is with the code medlide of enuye ¶ That it alas gyue may no light In the centre of true affeccion For day of trouthe is tourned in to night Thorowe false reporte and false suspeccion And thus good â—ayth is roâ—â—ed vp sâ— dowâ—e And true menynge derked with a skye That we in Englisshe calleâ— flaterye ¶ And thus our offrynge goeth almoste wronge Of Golde of Franke for ought I can espye And our Myrre hath behynde full longe Us to preserue from all suche trecherye For nowe is torned into Ipocresye
there sholde be borne ¶ A chylde in soth without touche of man Of a mayde after his beheste That lyke a stone was I corne out than Whan he was borne of this hygh feste Onely to bere the crowne and the cheste In Babilonie of the greate ymage That made man fyrste for to do oultrage ¶ For nowe in soth comen is the day Of Prophetes so longe beforne behyghâ— For Christe Iesu playnly this is no nay Is lyke a stone who so loketh a right Whiche by his wysdome his fathers might And the vertue of the holy ghoste Was coruen out so clene of euery coste ¶ Of that blessed parfyte holy hill That groweth full of holsome floures fayre For our ofher that was in herte and will A parfyte mayde humble and debonayre Lyke as the dewe of heuen doth repayre Upon hermon alwaye newe and newe Amendynge ay the tresshnes of her hewe ¶ Right so thorowe vertue lastinge ay in oâ—â— Of the holy ghoste this day of Marâ—e Was coruen out the sothfast angle stoon Who me that prophetes prayse and magnefy For she this day was the glad skye Whiche the chylde of Elye dyd se So plesantly dessende from the tre ¶ Upon the erthe naked and barayne Of holsom faute and of erbes sote That hath shadde the confortable rayne The grayne of grace for our alther bote That perced hath euen to the rote Of our welfare to do the leues sprynge For the alone is the felde flouringe ¶ That somtyme gaue so passinge a swetenes To Isaac whan he was fall in age Of whiche he cast so inwarde gladnesse That hym thought hole his corage Renewed was and with a glad vysage Unto Iacob of hertely ioye sayde On his clothes as he his handes layde ¶ Howe Isaac prophecied the byrthe of Crist by touchinge of the clothes of his sone Iacob Capitulo xlvi MIne owne chylde and my sonne dere The greate swetenesse of y â— fresshe odoure Of thy clothinge to my is so entere That it fro me dâ—uâ—ydeth all langoure Saynge tofore that there sholde a floure Out of the felde springe of his kynrede The whiche sholde suche an odoure shede ¶ That all worlde shall conforte fynde hele In the swetenes agaynste eche maladye And souerayne helthe in euery mischyeffele So that this was no wight but Marie That hy dissent came of his alye Out of the whiche to glade all our chere This day in erthe there dyd a floure appere ¶ The swettest yet that euer man behelde Passinge the Rose and the floure delyse And of this holy fresshe fayre felde Somtyme the spouse spake in canticis Whan he it sawe so fresshe at his deuyse And habundaunt of a tempre eyre And that it was so passinge inly fayre ¶ Howe the Garnet appell is lykened to our Lady Capitulo xlvii O Howe the bawme of heuenly lycoure Of thy swetenes with souerayne suffesauÌ„ce Lyke Paradyse she dyth his vapoure Erly a morowe auoydinge all greuaunce Lyke the frute that is of suche plesaunce The garnet appell of colour golden hewed Thorowe whose odoure the corage is renewed ¶ Of euery wight that may the eyre receyue For euen lyke as the golden rynde Is playne shyninge as ye may conceyue His colour kepinge euer in one by kynde And doth his pepynes in the scales bynde To do conforte to seke in her accesse Right so Marie our sekenes to redresse ¶ This day hath borne the holsome holy fruyte The fruyte of lyfe that with his swete breth Is remedie and also chefe refute To mankynde agayne the feuer of deth For as the grayne of the garnet sleeth The stronge Axes and doth the hete auale Right so this day out of the golden scale ¶ The holsome pepyne and the grayne of lyfe Christe Iesu gan fyrste to appere And of Marie mother mayde and wyfe The golden Garnet with his scales clere Beynge all hole and euer a lyke entere Was borne in soth for to refresshe blyue Our olde Axes and right as the Olyue ¶ His Oyle shedeth and braunce lefe no tree Appereth nat of fayrnes ne coloure Right so Marie flouringe in chastite This day hat borne our alther sauiour The Oyle of peace to stynte our langour To softe our sores and our swellinge slake Of all our woundes whan they smerte or ake ¶ And nowe this day shortely for to wryte This blesfull tyme of the natiuite Of longe Ioseph the cote of polimite Wrought by the poure of all the Trinite Within the closette of chosen chastite Parformed was and by none hande of man As Alexander well reherce can ¶ Within his boke made in speciall On Cantica as ye may rede and se The whiche clothe of purpell moste ryall Hewed with clennes of virginite This day hath shewed in our humanite The godhede hole for by this cloth is mente Of our kynde the freel garnemente ¶ Howe Ioseph figured the Byrthe of Christe Capitulo xlviii ALso this day of Ioseph the canele Amyd the felde that dothe vertue floure Was gadered vp by clennes euery dele Whome all that other gan worshippe honoure For in chastite clene chosen bowre Of may denhede this canell grewe by kynde That whan the bretherne of Ioseph dyd bynde ¶ Eueriche his shefe the Byble gan deuyse Howe it stode vp amonge hem euerichone And all the other gan attones ryse And worshipped it mekely one and one For this Ioseph sawe this day alone Sonne and Mone and Sterres eke eleuen To hym obeye vpon the hygh heuen ¶ And the sothfast garnet of the holy grayne As sayth Guydo was a mayde swete In whome was shytte sothely for to sayne The sacred store and eke the halowed whete Of the seuen yere that dyd in plente flete For on this parfyte rote vertuous The seuen eres of grayne so plenteuous ¶ This day be growen to full perfeccion To saue Egipte in his greate nede And for to be to hym saluation In crafte whan he hath ende For this is the grayne that fostre and fede With full repaste woman chylde and man And all his bretherne dwellinge in Canaan ¶ This yonge Ioseph this Ioseph the seconde Shall by his wytte helpe and releue And Iacob made in plente to abounde With fulsum fode at moro we and eke at cue That the honger on no syde ne greue Of the seuene yere vnto his lignage And lyke as Ioseph in his tender age ¶ Thought he sawe hygh vp in heuen Sonne and Mone in his auysion And therwithall Sterres eke elleuen Honoure hym with greate deuocion Of this Ioseph excellinge of renowne This newe Ioseph Christe Iesu hymselue Of the Sterres and the signes twelue ¶ Honoured was with lowe subiection Though he laye lowe in a Oxes stall For bothe crony and dominaâ—ion And hole the courte aboue celestiall This hygh feste for a memoriall The laudes songe in the heuen quere Lyke as Dauid had in the Saultere ¶ Prayseth the lorde of the hygh empyre And with one wyse his byrthe
gan appere Whan Christe was borne af a mayde fre And the father sent his sone dere Downe to the erthe to make an vnite By parfyte loue and feruent charite Eternally be bounde that may nat fayle Fully assured by weddinge spousayle ¶ Betwene his sone his chosen eyre And holy chyrche perpetually to laste And in a chaumbre by excellence fayre Of maydenhede that hym selfe caste The holy knotte and the bonde so faste I bounden was that it neuer vntwyne And of that araye for to termine ¶ Where the feste and the weddinge was In all the erthe I halowed and I holde In all closette more clerer than verre or glas Or ony berelle brighter to beholde For by recorde of Patriarkes olde The chaste chaumbre was within adorned With golde of faythe fayre bright I borned ¶ With charite that geueth so clare a light To reconforte all that ben in presence And with syluer depured out so bright Thorugh hygh wisdome of ghostly sapience And all the gemmes chat haue excellence In mortall vertue for to shewe shyne The closette chosen so clerely enlumine ¶ That of vnclennesse there may no Clipsing be So fulsum light is there of parfytnesse For there the Uiolettes men may beholde se Of clene entent and of holynes With Roses strewed in god to haue swetenes And with Lylies of chastite I meynte And therof colour that neuer will be feynte ¶ These Uiolettes betoken maydenhede Lyke to purpell in signe of victorie And in this chambre full of honest drede The chose closette the chaste oratorie This day in soth the hygh kynge of glorie To shewe his might howe he for maÌ„ gan wirche y spoused hath our mother holy chyrche ¶ And lyke a spouse he proceded is Out of his chambre for to rectefye All that was wronge or in our kynde amys Wherfore this feste for to glorefye Full longe agone to singe his psalmodye The kynge Dauid entune dyd his harpe And with the tenoures trebbles sharpe ¶ He to heuen gan enhaunce and reyse This day of dayes moste worthy famous And all the prophetes in her sawes preyse This noble feste this feste gracious And fro heuen with voyce melodious Angels full lowe sende downe alight For to honoure this holy night ¶ The night of nightes hyghest of echone Excellynge all as in worthines For in this worlde was creature none In heuen ne erthe ne in sothfastnes On lande ne see that with greate busynes Her deuoyre dyd this night to honoure Hym that was borne mankynde for to socoure ¶ Howe the chiefe tâ—ple of Rome fyll y â— night of Christes byrthe and other woÌ„derfull tokenes ⸪ Capitulo L â—Or on this night by euery creature Was sothely shewed his natiuite In Bethleem howe of a mayde pure A chylde was borne moste souerayne of degre And fyrste of all in Rome the cyte His byrthe was shewed hyghly by myracle For walle and rofe Toures and pynacle ¶ Of the Temple moste famous in the towne To god of peace that was consecrate The same night the grounde fyll downe Playne with the erthe waste and dissolate In whiche Temple moste ryall of estate The statue stode of mighty Romulus And at the byldynge the storie telleth thus ¶ Of this Temple they of Rome went To Appollo with humble sacrefice To haue answere in her best entent Howe longe this fane ryall of asyse So stronge bylte and in so trusty wyse That it sholde laste euer and endure Agayne the assente of ony creature ¶ Or parturbynge on any maner syde And he gaue answer vnto one and all Howe this Temple with his walles wyde With his crestes and batalinge ryall Shall euer stande sure withouten fall Unto the tyme that a mayde chylde And they anone that fyrste made it bylde ¶ Of this answer glad full credible That this Temple euer sholde stande For hem thought it was inpossible A mayde euer eyther on see or lande To haue a chylde and so they vnderstande And they anone gaue to the Temple a name By one assent for the greate fame ¶ And called it as I can discerne The Temple of peace with his walles whyte And therwith named is eterne And at the entre so they dyd wryte But on the night the trouthe to endyte Whan Christe was borne of a mayde clene This Temple fyll downe enlonge the grene ¶ To fulfille the trewe prophecye Of Apollo that tolde hem all this thynge And in that place in worshippe of Marie And of her sone of heuen and erthe kynge Standeth a chyrche full ryall of byldynge And euen lyke the selfe the same tyme The greate statue longe or it were pryme ¶ Of Romulus that was edefyed Fell to the erthe and braste on peces smale And though Romayns made hym stellefyed His greate heed for all tht dyd auale Of whome all the werkmen made a tale That forged it many a day afore And in soâ—h tyll a chylde were bore ¶ Of a mayde it sholde stande vp right This greate ymage and neuer his heed encline But he alowted vpon the same night Whan Christe was borne of a pure virgine Lyke as the werkmen dyd aforne deuine Agayne the conceyte and the entencion Of that he mente in his opinion ¶ I fynde also that the skyes donne Whiche of custome curteyne so the night The same tyme with a sodayne sonne Enchaced were that it wexed all light As at mydday whan Phebus is moste bright To shewe sothely that the sone of lyfe Was borne that night to stynte all our stryfe ¶ Howe the night of Christes byrthe a well in Rome ranne Oyle ⸪ Capitulo li. ANd euen than as bokes also tell In very soth withouten any were The selfe tyme in Rome was a well Of his streames passyngly entere To loke vpon as any Cristall clere From his vaynes as it dyd boyle Of whiche the water chaunged into Oyle ¶ The same night and to Tibre rann So large plente that all myght it se Of whiche well longe beforne or thann All openly in Rome the cyte Sibille the wyse that had seueraynte Of prophecye playnly wrote and tolde That the water of this well sholde ¶ The same night chaunge his lycoure In to Oyle and so a day endure Whan of this worlde was borne the sauiour In Bethleem of a mayden pure And as I fynde also in scripture The same day hygh in the firmamente Towarde the partye of the Oriente ¶ Were sene thre Sonnes lustely appere Eueriche of hem large rounde and bright That caste abrode his fayre beames clere Thorugh all the worlde in euery mannes sight The whiche Sonnes drewe lyne right Her course holdynge in haste and that anone Tyll they thre were ioyned in to one ¶ To mankynde playnly to declare That he was borne in whome were founden thre To encreace our ioye and welfare Flesshe and soule and eke the deite Knytte all in one by sothfast vnite Whiche as a Sonne voydynge shoure and shade Was borne this day all the
to take ¶ And this was done with foyson and plente In very soth and greate habundaunce For in â—er presente was no scarsete For of richesse they had all suffisaunce Wherfore they â—â—ste with deuoute obeysaunce Of due â—ight with the chylde to parte Of her tresoure or that they departe ¶ And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is paâ—ed for tribute As it is founde of â—â—tiquite Therfore thâ— kynges for a maner sute That they hym 〈…〉 They brought hym golde ouâ— of her coâ—trâ— And gaue 〈…〉 Hooly of herte for a recogâ—isaunce ¶ And Franke also as clerkes can deuise Ordeyned is in conclusion To god onely to make sacreâ—ise With contrite herte and deuocion Therfore to hym for oblacion They brought Franke to signefye than That he was bothe sothfaste god and man ¶ And for they wolde in all thynge obeye To his hyghnes with all â—er besy cure In token he sholde for mankynde dye They brought myrre to his sepulture For like a man deth he muste endure And with his blode â—hed in his passion For our trespace for to make redempciom ¶ In Franke also who that can discerne Is vnderstande the hygh mageste Of his power whiche that is eterne And eke also his hygh deyâ—e The golde betokeneth his hygh dignite And myrâ—he declareth vnto vs at all Of his manhode that he was mortall ¶ And golde betokeneth of loue the feruence That he to maâ— had of affeccion And Franke betokeneth the souerayne excellence In holynes his conuersaâ—ion And myrre betokeneth the tribulacion That he suffred and all the greate penaunce For vs in erthe by continuaunce ¶ In golde he was knowe as a kynge In Franke a preeste who so can take hedâ— Of myrre also this daye the offerynge Was longynge onely to his manhede And thus he was withouten any drede Bothe kynge and preeste as I discriue can And for our sake in erthe a mortall man ¶ In golde also moste glorious metall Figured was his hygh deyte In Franke also that is so cordiall The soule also of Christe moste parfyte of degre And myrre betokeneth thorowe his dignite His flesshe the whiche by disposicion Maye neuer suffre no corrupcion ¶ And of these giftes passynge reuerence Full of misterie heuenly priuite And whan they had made theyr presente Unto the chylde ay sittynge on her knee And with greate auyse they began beholde see Tofore that they remeue from that place His godely chere and his fayre face ¶ Considerynge his fetures by and by With grete insight and humble entenâ—ion And ay the more they loke besely The more they thynke in her inspeccion And thoughten alwaye as in her reason Though kynde god hath sette in one figure The beaute hooly of euery creature ¶ It might nat in sothenes heuen ben liche To his fayrnes neyther peregall For he that is aboue nature riche Hath made this chylde â—ayreste in speciall For in his face they beholden all The hole beaute and fayrnes eke also Of heuen and eâ—the to gyder bothe two ¶ Wherfore no wonder though they hem delyâ—â— Moste passingly vpon hym to se For they in herte reioysen hem nat alyte On hym to loke that they haue liberte For ay the more playnly that they be In his presence the parfyte hote fyrâ— Of hertely â—oye hem brente in desyre ¶ And of one thynge good hede they toke Howe that the chylde demurely caste his sight Towarde hem and godely gan to loke On her faces with his eyen bright And howe that he put his armes right Goodely to hem makynge a maner signe To them of thankynge with chere full benigne ¶ And of his mother they moche thynge enquere Touchynge his byrthe with humble affeccion And she answereth moste femynyne of chere Full prudently to euery question With chere demure and loke ycaste adowne With all the porte of womenly clennes Her selfe demenynge chefely with mekenes ¶ Of vertuous pouerte and mekenes of our Lady Capitulo lxxiii O She that was of heuen and erthe quene And of hell lady and prynces O what was she alas that might fustene To be proude considered her mekenes O pryde alas o rote of our distres Though thy booste aboue the skye blowe Thy byloynge hygh shallbe brought full lowe ¶ O Surquedrie alas why nâ—â—te thou se Howe that she had heuen in her demeyne And lady is bothe of lande and see And of the axtre betwene the poles tweyne And of the enbracynge of the golden cheyne yet vnto her I saye in sothfastnes Aboue all this agryed her mekenes ¶ O pompe elate with thy cheres bolde Remembre and se and loke howe that she Of whome kynges haue ioye to beholde In her presence to knele on her kne Though she of women be hyest in degre Take hede se howe louly in a stable Howe that she sat this lady honourable ¶ Were there of golde any clothes founde Of Sylke Damaske or ryche Tartaryne Or whas there Aras aboute her hede bounde Or was there any Uelwet Crymsyne Or was there any Samyte or Satyne Or were there any Tapytes large or wyde The naked grounde to couer or to hyde ¶ Or was her paleys bylte of lyme and stone Or the pylers set on marbell graye Or the grounde pauyd on to gone Or fresshe parlours glased bright as day Or were therin chambres of aray Or for estates was there any hall Saue a Dongeon and an Oxes stall ¶ Or of her bed was the appareyle Of Golde Sylke corteyned large aboute Or were the shetes of longe or wyde entayle Kytte out of raynes naye without doute Or were there any ladyes for to loute To her hyghnes with besy obseruaunce Or of maydens any attendaunce ¶ O as me semeth of very dewe right ye women all sholden take hede With your Perles and your stones bright Howe that our quene floure of womanhede Of no deuise embrouded hath her wede Ne furred with Ermyn ne with Christi graye Ne Martyrâ—e ne Sabilâ— I trowe in good faye ¶ Was none founden in her garmente And yet she was the fayrest for to se That euer was vnder the firmamente That me semeth ye sholden haue pyte To se a lady of so hygh degre So semely atyred o ye women all So narowe closed in an Oxes stall ¶ Let be your pryde and your affeccion Of riche araye nothynge you delite In wordly pompe and suche abusion Of souÌ„dry clothes rede blacke and whyte And be well ware or the spere byte Of cruell deth and the fell smerte My councell is to lifte vp your herte ¶ To that lady to that worthy quene That you may beste helpe in your nede And you releue in euery wo and tene And delyuer from all mischyef and drede And thynke playnly take right good hede That all shall passe araye eke riches Whan ye leste wene all your semelines ¶ Let hem afore be to a Kalendere I sowde Eleyne and eke Policene Hester also and Dido with her chere And riche 〈◊〉 of Ethiope
gloresyeth That hath with loue brent and set a tyre Seraphyne wherfore hym magnefyeth Betwene two beastes though he in erthe lyeth Full humbly through his humilitâ— And nowe this feste of the Natiuite ¶ The hygh Angels and vertues all Praysen hym as they be wonte to done And let the swetens of theyr notes all Downe to the erthe where goddes owne sone This day hath chose with vs for to wone And lyeth nowe wrapped in his mothers barmâ— Whome well softely with her holy arme ¶ And with the fayrnes of his fyngers whyte Full softely she doth hym enbrace And in so moche in herte dothe delyte His tenderlymmes to welde and compace And to beholde the goodliste face That euer was forgede by nature For it was he I dare well assure ¶ Whome she behelde with her eyen meke That from eterne was in his fathers thought And one with hym who can take kepe His owne worde that all made of nought Whome a may de hath to mankynde brought Thorowe her mekenes of heuen erthe quene The lynyall stocke of Iuda to sustene ¶ Whome that Iacob on his fatall daye Whan Antropos sholde his threde vntwyne Whiche Cloto had put in delaye And Lachesis or they wolde it fyue Gan to blesse thus to hem deuine Whan all his bretherne stode enuyron This olde graye with a full softe sown ¶ O Iuda Iuda thy bretherne euerichone Shall prayse worshyp the greate renounâ— Of thyne estate whiche shalt of all thy fone The pryde oppresse and make hem lowte downe That shall be cleped the whelpe of the Lyon The ryall beaste whiche Maugri who sayth nay Shall mighty be to catche and take his praye ¶ And prowdly bere it home vnto his caue My sone Iuda in thy dredefull tenâ— For through thy might thou shalt victory haue Maugre echone that the reuers mene For who shall moue withstande or sustene Thy kyngly power to make resistence Agayne thy manhode and thy magnificence ¶ That shall in the so clerey shewe and shyne Without â—lipsinge of any maner clowde The sepâ—eâ— of whome in soth shall neuer fyne To be famous by reporte of lawe lowde He neuer cese ne in couert shrowde Tyll a Duke aryse of the kynrede Whome all the worlde shall obeye and drede ¶ The whiche in soth is for to be sent Out of the sede by succession Lyke a Kynge to holde his parlement With his lieges and his region And he shall be to euery nacion Sothfast abidynge socour in her nede And he shall bynde his mighty sterne stede ¶ Of very force at the holsome vyne And â—ye his Asse vnder the grapes rede And he his stole that lyke to god doth shyne And his palle by might of his manhede Shall wesshe in Grapes that shall blede The reed blode deper than scarlet hewe And thus arayed in his vesture newe ¶ Ofloke he shall be sterner to beholde Than the stremes of the light sterre And of eyen fayre many folde Than wyne fyned shyninge through a verrâ— And lyke Iuore that cometh fro so terre His tethe shall be euen smothe and whyte And lyke in soth as Ioseph liste endyte ¶ The sonne of Iacob in his testament Wherto his chyldren he maketh mencion To fore his deth with full entente His presence as they knelin downe To hem rehercinge the greate â—uision Whiche he had in Egipte goone full yore In the Foreste amonge the holtes hore ¶ Howe that he sawe twelue hertes whyte Full lustely go in her pasture And after that Lyncolne liste to wryte He sawe of Iuda borne a creature Of thought dede a veray mayde pure And in his dreme he thought he dyd sene Of her brought forth without spotte all clene ¶ A lambe moste fayre to his inspeccion That euer he same vnto his plesaunce On whose lifte hande stode a fierce Lyon And beastes all by one alyaunce That were in erthe through cruell resemblaunce Aforcinge hem by sheltron in batayle By fell malyce this fayre lambe to assayle ¶ But or they aâ—â—yle might in fight The lambes power made hem for the deye And hem vanisshed through his humble might That man Angell whan they this coÌ„quest sayâ— They fyllen downe and the lambe dyd obeye Sent of god this meke werriour Whiche was borne to be our sauiour ¶ Unto mankynde and proteccion To slee the Lyon that he may nat endure And accordinge with his auysion This lambe of god clade in our armure This day was borne of a mayde pure And lorde of all here in a litell cage By kyn descended out of lignage ¶ Of the worthy and mighty bretherne two And as burion out of a stocke growynge Right so this chylde from Leuy and also Fro mighty Iuda grewe out succedinge Borne of the blode to be preest and Kynge So entremed lyde by succession Of bothe these two was the generacion ¶ Tyll the braunches be ronne and so ferre gone By lyâ—â—all course deâ—â—endinge as a steyre Tyll the kynredes were bothe growen in to one In to a braunche to haue repeyre That was preued playnly to ben eyre The right of Leui in preesthode to succede And by Iuste title who so liste to hede ¶ For to be kynge and bere the Diademe After his father and by successoure To worthy Iuda of Israhel to queme To be her prynce and mighty gouernoure And fro Iacob this burion and this floure Fyrste gan sprynge to Iesse tyll it raught And so forth downe tyll the buddes caught ¶ Howe nature obeyeth to virginite Capi. xlix THe holy sydes in a pure virgine To bere fruyte that shall mankynde saue And nowe this day the prophecye to fyne In Bethleem within a litell caue Kynde and mayde suche werre haue For this mater howe no creature To mannes might iustely by nature ¶ That ben contrarie haue her restinge place For mayde and mother shortely for to seye In one persone to gyder may nat trace For by kynde that one muste voyde aweye But in this cas nature dyd obeye To a mayde and gaue vp hole her right Wysely aduertinge she was to feble of might ¶ In this mater to holde chaumpartye With her that was of face moste benigne Wherfore she voydeth all rancour and enupe And humbly her quarell doth resigne For it were vayne for nature to maligne Though she of kynde be the emperesse Agayne her lorde that made her so maystresse ¶ That she moste nede of necessite In euery thynge to his will obeye And be minister vnto his volunte Syth of her might he bereth hym selfe the keye For in to her by no maner weye It is no wronge ne no preiudice Though of a mayde without synne or vice ¶ That was so holy and parfyte founde at all He wolde grace descende downe so lowe To take the clothinge freel and mortall Of our kynde to make a burion growe That neuer was of man sette ne sowe But with a worde and the consentinge Of a mayde a graffe burgeninge ¶ Of Iudas stocke this day