haue lyfe and space ¶ Howe Criste was borne after the makīge of the worlde fyue thousande and hondred foure score and. xix yere Capitulo xxxv WHan all was hushte all was scilence And in his course the longe sterry night was halfe paste fresshe of apparence Lucina shone in heuen fayre and bright Thy worde o lorde that is moste of might Whiche ay abideth and parteth not fro the Sente dissendeth from the Ryall see ¶ Hath sodeynly vp on all erthe Shad his light for our saluacion As I shall synge or mayes day the ferthe If ye liste here of humble affeccion Howe in the yere of computacion Fourty and two of Octauian Ferthermore after the worlde began ¶ Fyue thousande as Beda liste defyne And an hondred sothely this is no leace And therewithall nynty yere and nyne Whan all the worlde in rest was in peace Withouten warre and of Olimpiades In the hondred nynty yere and thre And by Cronycle eke as ye may se ¶ Than Augustus by cōmaundement Generally withouten exception Bad by his lettres that the president Of eche prouince Cyte Borough or Towne Thorowe out the worlde make discripcion Of euery hede so that eche man At a certeyn day in all the haste he can ¶ Upon a payne be founde in the Cyte Where he was borne without more delaye Bothe hygh and lowe of what estate he be After his statute his tribute for to paye And that no man be hardy to say nay To quyte hym selfe of euery circonstaunce To make in open a reconisaunce ¶ With hande assured and hole profession Of the prouidence to fore the president That he is subiect vnto Rome towne With all his herte and his hole entente And here vpon that he payed his rente As the custome and the statute bande That is to say that he brenge in his hande ¶ A large peny enprinted with the name And the ymage of the Emperour And there vpon he shulde anone attame Another of newe and for the more honour With hande touched swere for swete or soure Whyle he liueth and neuer for to rewe With herte and body playnly to be trewe ¶ To tempre his biddinge to obeye Withouten grutchinge or rebellion With all his might for to lyue and dye And than anone the discripcion Of euery hede in his owne towne Was made in haste where that he was bore And after that I fynde furthermore ¶ His name was regestred with hem there Perpetuelly to be in mynde And this discriuinge if ye liste to here Was made fyrste in Sirie as I fynde By one Cirinus the people for to bynde To be to Rome in subiection For this Cirinus in that regyon ¶ Was perferred there vnder the Emperoure In bokes olde as made is mencion And whyles he was theyr gouernour Was fyrste than begonne the discripcion The yere in soth after the foundacion Of mighty Rome seuen hondred fyftene At whiche tyme with his beme shene ¶ Was fresshe Phebus in his fyrste face Of Capricorne the lowest stacion The same yere called the yere of grace The yere of conforte and remission Beynge the thyrtheneth the indition The golden nombre of the same yere Eyghtene acounted in our calendere ¶ Howe Ioseph our Lady went to Bethleem to paye trybute Capitulo xxxvi THe yere of Herode thyrty yere and one Whan made was the discripsion As ye haue herde that Ioseph muste gone To Bethleem for conclusion To paye his tribute in his owne towne As the statute afore dothe specefye By cause that he and also Marie ¶ Wherof the housholde the tribe borne Called Iuda and of the kynrede Of worthy Dauid as I haue sayde toforne And on her iourney as they gan hem spede And holy Ioseph dyd her brydell lede And sodeynly Marie than abrayde And vnto Ioseph euen thus she sayde ¶ I wys quod she me thinketh that I se Two folkes greately discordinge Upon the waye apperinge vnto me That one reioysinge that other compleyninge To whome Ioseph benignely lokinge Answered agayn bad her ryde in peace And prayed her also nat to be rechelece ¶ Ony wordes for to speke in vayne But holde her waye and her iourney right And vnwarely afore them in the playne Appered an Angell with face sterne bright Of whome the beaute gaue a pleasaunt light The place enuyron and a swete odoure And his clothynge lyke the Lyly floure ¶ Was whyte in soth as snowe that falleth newe Whiche gan anone chere and loke to meue And therewithall with a chaunged hewe Began also Ioseph to repreue And shortely bad his wordes that he leue And sayde in soth that he was to blame For to be bolde ony wordes to tame ¶ Agaynste Marie through thy necligence To saye that she spake ony wordes vayne For that she sawe was none apparence But veray soth as she hath it sayne For truste me well and be right certayne Of this folke of whiche she spake to the In sothfastnes lyke as thou shalt se ¶ Ben the folkes and the peoples twayne That ben disseuered in full large space That one of Iewes that wepe shall and playne With many tere distillinge in her face That wilfully shall refuse his grace Of frowarde herte for to be benigne To deuoyde and playnly to resigne ¶ The Synagoge with her rightes olde Whiche in shorte tyme shall drawe to decline And her faces quenche and wexe colde With sacred light that weren wonte to shyne For tyme is come that they muste fyne And the waylinge of her derked chere Unclose shall shewe as bright and clere ¶ This tyme of grace fully to obeye With herte will with humble chere For goddes worde that no man may withsaye Hath hasted it gone full many a yere To Abraham and also Isaac in feare And to Iacob that in her holy sede Full hastely who so will take hede ¶ Shall all the peoples blessed be Through out the worlde in euery lande reme And with that worde that Ioseph might se The Angell stye aboue the Sonne beme And he goth forthe towarde Bethleme With Marie tyll that they bothe twayne In full litell space gan to attayne ¶ To the bondes of Bethleem the cyte Wery and mate somdele of her vyage Where they founden of people suche plente In the cyte of euery maner age That they might haue no maner herbegage In all the Towne neyther boure ne hall Saue a stable and a litell stall ¶ That was sequestred and I sette a syde Out of all prees the story sayth expresse Made for bestes therin to abyde Full streyte narowe shadoweth with derknesse In to the whiche Ioseph gan hym dresse With Marie to reste there all night And as she entred a newe sodeyn light ▪ ¶ All the place enlumined enuyron That shoue as bright as ony somers day So that this litell humble mancion Was fresshe and light as Phebus is in May Whiche gan to wexe and encreace ay Whyle she was there all be that
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
wombe aâ—one of all vertu And shall hym calle whan he is borne Iesu ¶ That shall be greate named sothfastlye Sone of the hyest that euer was of myght And god to hym shall leue yeue full iustlye The see of Dauid his owne fathers right And he shall reygne in euery wyghtes sight In the house of Iacob eternally by ligne Whose kyngdom euer shall laste neuer fyne ¶ And though his heste where passynge of â—â—nowâ—â— Surmountynge eke as in excellence That vtwardly gaue so meruaylous aâ—owâ—â— And wonderfull to her audience Than she full mekely of greate reuerence And loke downe cast other eyen clere Benignely the Angell gan enquere ¶ In what maner shall this thynge betyde Sithen I no man knowe in no degre Quod Gabriell within thy blessed syde The holy ghoste shally shrowded be And all the vertue of the Trynite Enclose shall in thy breste so clene The sonne of lyfe with all his bemes shene ¶ Wherfore this childe that shall of the be borne Shall called be goddes sone eterne Beholde see a lytell here tofâ—râ—â— Elyzabeth thyâ—â— owne coâ—yn deâ—â— Conceyued hath sithen gone halfe yere Though she forage went to haue bene barayne And is with childe to put all in certayne ¶ That to god is nothynge impossyble But as hym list may euery thynge fulfyll Unto whose worde be fully nowe credible Byholde quod she of god the meke ancille With all myne herte obeyeng to his wyll In euery thynge right as hym liste it be And like thy worde fall it vnto me ¶ Lo she that was chosyn for to bene Of all this worlde lady and empres Of heuen erthe alone to be quene And goddes mother for her holynes Lo for all this howe lowly with mekenes She all committeth vnto goddes wyll As he ordeyneth redy to fulfill ¶ And wolde not calle her selfe none other name But goddes handmayde in full lowe manere O where is all the transitorye fame Where is your boste or daren you apere Of pompe or pryde or surquedrye in fere With your forblowe blowyng vanyte Sithen that a mayde thorowe her humylite ¶ Of pryde hath nowe wonne the victorye And openly hath gyuen hym a fall Thorowe whose lowlynes y â— hygh kyng of glorie Within her wombe hath made in speciall His dwellynge place his hospitall And with one worde of the mayde I spoke The holy ghoste is in her breste yloke ¶ A commendacion of our Lady Capitulo xix ANd whaÌ„ y â— Angell from her departed was And she alone in her tabernacle Right as the sonne perissheth thorowe the glasse Thorowe the cristall berall or spectacle Without harme right so by myracle In to her closer the fathers sapyence Entred is withouten vyolence ¶ Or any wemme vnto her maydenhede On any syde in party or in all For goddes sâ—ne takyng our manhede In her hath bylde his paleyce pryncipall And vnder pyght this mancion â—yall With seuen pylers as made is memorye And therin sette his reclynatorie ¶ Whiche is perfourmed all of pure golde Onely to vs for to signefye That he all holy made hath his holde Within this mayde that called is Marye And seuen pylers that sholden this mayde gye Ben seuen spirites so as I can disserne Of god aboue this mayde to gouerne ¶ For all the tresoure of his sapience And all the wisdome of heuen and erthe therto And all the richesse of spirituall science In her were shette and closed eke also For she is toure without wordes mâ— And house of puore in whiche Salamon Shette all his tresour in his possession ¶ She was the castell of the cristall wall That neuer man myght yet vnclose In whiche the kynge that made and causeth all His dwellyng chefe by grace gan dispose And like as dewe discendeth on the rose With syluer dropes and of the leues fayre The fresshe beaulte ne myght not payre ¶ Ne as the rayne in Aprille or in Maye Causeth the vertue to renne out of the rote The greate fayrnes nought appeyre maye On vyolettes and on herbes sote Right so this grace of all our greues bote The grace of god amyde the bely whyte The beaute causeth to be of more delyte ¶ And as the cokyle with heuenly dewe so clene Of kynde engendreth whyte perles rounde And hath no cherisshyng but the sonne shene To his fosterynge as it is playnly founde Right so this mayde of grace moste habounde A peerle hath closed within her brestes whyte That froÌ„ the deth myght all our rauÌ„soune quyte ¶ She was eke the gate of the lockes bright Sette in the northe of hygh deuocion Of whiche somtyme the Prophete had a sight Ezechyell as is written in his auysion Whiche stode euer close in conclusion That neuer man entre shall 〈◊〉 pace But god hym selfe to make his dwellynge place ¶ And yet in sothe as I reherce can So as the flâ—ce of Gedyon was wette Before he taught with hem of Madyan With heuenly dewe enuyron all be sette In signe onely he spede shall the bette Right so hath god on her his grace shewed With the holy ghoste whan she was bydewed â–ª ¶ In token playnly she shulde socoure be Unto mankynde manly for to fight Agaynst the deuyll that hath in his pouste All madyan with his fell myght And thorowe the helpe of this mayden bright And thorowe the dewe of her heuenly grace We shall this serpent from our bondes chace ¶ She was also of golde the ryche vrne Kepynge the man of our saluacion That all our wo may to ioye tourne With holsome fode and full perfection She was also as scripture maketh mencion The yerde of Aaron with fruyte and leues â—ade Of vertue moste to comforte vs and glade ¶ She was the aultre Cedre golde and stone Stedfast and true in perfeccion And as the Cedre conseruynge all in one His body clene from all corrupcion And for to make a full oblacion Of euery vertue to god in chastyte She shone as golde by parfyte charyte ¶ And on this aulter she made her sacrefyce With fyre of loue brennyng as bright To god and man in euery maner wyse As downe the sterres on the frosty nyght Her frankensence gaue so clere a light Thorowe good ensaumple that the parfyte leuen Of her lyuinge raught in to heuen ¶ She was the trone where that Salamon For worthynes sette his ryall set With golde and yuore that so bright shone That all aboute the beaute men myght see The golde was loue the yuore chastite And twelue Lyons so greate huge and large That of this werke bare vp the charge ¶ Of the olde lawe weren Prophetes twelue That longe before gan beholde and see That Salamon goddes sone hym selfe Sholde in this mayde beholde his ryall see So that in soth her clene virginite To be a mother sholde nothing lette Amyd her breste that he his trone sette ¶ She was the woman that saynt Iohan Sawe in heuen so richely appere Cladde in a sonne whiche brighter
worlde to glade ¶ Howe the Senates of Rome wolde haue holden Octauian her Emperour as for her God Capitulo lii ALso in Rome as writteth Innocente In his Cronicle makinge mencion Howe the Senates all by one assent In consistorie of affeccion Whiche they had in her opinyon Unto her noble and mighty Emperour Octauian of worthynes the floure ¶ Wolden echone hym haue deyfyed And called hym by name immortall The whiche thynge whan he had espyed As he that was full prudent founde at all To his presence made anone to call Sibille that was myrrour of sapience Here vpon to here her sentence ¶ And ther withall that she muste deffyne Without doubte or ambiguite As ferre in soth as Phebus doth nowe shyne If there were any of power more than he Or peregall vnto his degre From este to weste here in erthe lowe In all this worlde that she coude of knowe ¶ And this was downe vpon the selfe daye Whan Christe was borne in BethleeÌ„ by myracle And she full wysely Nolde put hym in delaye To geue answer mankynde a small obstacle Tyll at the laste the fyne of her oracle Amyd the chambre of the Emperour Standynge enuyron many a Senatour ¶ Was playnly thus with chere and face boldâ— O Emperour lifte vp anone thyne eye And loke vp gynder se the stercle of golde Aboute the Sonne whiche eche is to espye And there beholde thou mayste it nat denye A mayde sitte of beaulte moste souereyne Holdynge a chylde in her armes tweyne ¶ And yet anone as Octauian Sawe the chylde by clere inspeccion Without abode a voyce he herde than From alofte vnto the chambre downe Beholde and se with humble affeccion This is the Aulter of the hygh heuen Sette in the Sonne clere as any leuen ¶ Wherfore Sibille all abrode gan seye To hym anone liste nat for to byde Thy crowne auale and the chylde obeye Whose face the Sonne bright may nat hyde And let nowe be all thy pompe and pryde And at one worde she platly gan hym tell The chyldes mighâ— his power dyd excell ¶ Whiche thynge whaÌ„ he gaÌ„ playnly vnderstaÌ„de Of faythfull will and hole herte entere He kneled downe and liste no lengre stande And with encence caste in the sencere He dyd worshippe vnto the Aultere And to the chylde moste excellent of fame And liste nomore vsurpe on hym the name ¶ To be called agayne all skylle and right Wrongfully a god sith there is but one And right anone this noble worthy knight Through out y â— worlde his precept made to gonâ— To prouinces and contreyes euerichone Upon payne of deth that none of hem all Be herde more a god hym for to call ¶ For he well wiste by signes openly And euidencis eke in speciall There was one borne of power more worthy Than was hym selfe and therto immortall To whome nothynge in erthe is peregall Of all this worlde of hygh ne lowe estate And for this skylle after dedicate ¶ Was that chambre by hygh deuocion To Marie playnly this is no naye And called eke for this auisioâ— Ara celâ— yet vnto this daye The name abydeth and slydeth nat awaye Ne leseth nat the light of his brightnes Thorowe none Eclipsinge of sorietefulnes ¶ And in Edgadi the lusty large vynes That tyme of yere of her kynde 〈◊〉 Gan florisshe floure and in stede of vynes With riche baume her branches to repayre And the vertue that wynter made bare Thorowe constraynynge of colde in the rote Nature made with fresshe blossomes sote ¶ To assende vpon the same night Upon the croppe with fruyte and leues newe Makynge the bowes as lusty to the sight As fresshe as fayre of colour and of hewe And as plenteuous her colour to renewe As in Septembre whan Bachus hath pouere To â—â—eâ—â— his might that tyme of the yere ¶ Lo howe the lorde the mighty Kynge That hath lordeshipe ouer grape and vyne Unto whose might euery maner thynge Heuen and erthe muâ—â—â— encline Can branches bare â–ª with fresshe floures fyne Araye newe though they be sere and olde In frosty wynter and in weder colde ¶ As in somer whan Phebus is alofte Whan Flora reygneth in Maye in Aprill And make blossomes to be as smothe softe Amyd Decembre whan men for colde of chill Wherfore this feste frely at his will The night I meane of his natiuite To shewe his might in erbe floure tre ¶ He made the vynes as yâ— haue herderd 〈◊〉 In Edgadâ—â—â—er â—awâ—e for to shede Whan they were moste naked and harayne And out ofâ— eâ—oâ— who so can take hede Of whiche night longe aforne I rede That in Egipte the prophete Ieronime Full openly in his prophecye ¶ To the prestes of that kyngdome tolde That the Idoles of her Temples all Withouteâ— any reste by myracle sholde Breke her neckes and to grounde fall Whan a mayde in a Oxes stall Hath bâ—â—â—e a chylde this thynge shall 〈◊〉 Wherfore the prestes in her faâ—es wyde ¶ Of very faythe and of hygh credencâ— Secreteâ—â— vpon a litell stage Upon his worde with humble reuerence Of a mayde â— let make an ymage And in her arme a chylde of tender age Doynge therto in her paynym wyse After her rytes a maner of sacrifyse ¶ And on this heste ay fro yere to yere They were a waytynge whan â— wolde be Tyll on a day of happe the kynge came nere The noble worthy and wyse Tolome The whiche thynge whan that he dyd se Anone of hem the cause he gan enquere Why wherfore the ymage was set theâ—◠¶ And echone of 〈…〉 Gaue answerâ— liste nat for to lye It was ordeyned of olde tradicion She wed â—ofoâ—â—â— through hooly propheâ—ye In whiche they dyd faythfully espye Undispared the heste shall nat varye Of the prophecie a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though it carye ¶ And soth fastly â—n conclusion Upon the tyme of the natiuite The false Idolis in Egipte fell downe And all to braste in peces mo than thre To shewe truely that y borne was he Of heuen and erthe that hath the regallye And shall destroye all false maâ— meâ—ry◠¶ Howe Romayns whan they had dominacion ouer all the worlde maden to them an ymage and called it theyr god Capitulo liiii I Fynde also as writeth Carnotence In his boke Pollicronicon That whan Romayns hadden excellence Of hygh lorshippes so many day a gone And the peoples and Reâ—mâ—s euerâ— chone Stoden vnto hem vnder â—owe seruage From yere to yere payenge a treuage ¶ Of a tribute that was customable To the empyre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For with the Romaynes Senates honourable Whan they floured in moste felicite Deuised haue for a â—ialte Amyd her towne in moste worthy place A large statue feminyne of face ¶ That made was of coper and of bras Large and longe wonderfull to se And of entayle deuided the compas This greate ymage called sholde be Goddesse of Rome and lyke a mageste In her right hande
Our holynes that is greate ruthe And cause why for fraude hath banysshed truthe ¶ But Chrike Iesu that all this mayste amende And that is amisse in eche state redres This hygh feste suche grace to vs sende That we the Golde of stablenes And eke the Franke of parfyte holynes May on this day present vnto the With all true herte as dyd these kynges thre ¶ And graunte also bothe to hygh and lowe To haue suche Myrre in her a vertence That euery wyght his owne fautes knowe And that no man be hasty of sentence To deme lightly before or in absence For sodeyne dome meynte with ygnoraunce Hath a longe tayle shewynge of repentaunce ¶ For in sothnes if that euery man Wolde make a myrrour of his owne mynde To deme hymselfe of thynge that he well can And open his eyen that hath be longe blynde To se his fautes that he coude fynde I trowe in soth for any hasty rape Harmeles fro dome his felowe sholde ascape ¶ Howe we sholde do this offerynge ghostely Capitulo lxxvi NOwe Christe Iesu y â— knowest euery herte And nothynge may be hyde fro thy pÌ„sence Ne from thyne eye declyne ne asterte Graunte vs this daye of thy magnificence The Golde of loue the Franke of innocence And the chaste Myrre of clene entencion So to presente in our oblacion ¶ To thyne hyghnes that it be acceptable Whyle that we lyue euer from yere to yere As was the offrynge in Bethleem in a stable Made vnto the and to thy mother dere Of the kynges that with the streames clere Of a Sterre conueyed were by grace Where thou laye to come to the place ¶ And vnto the this day we clepe and call Thou blessed quene of kynges emperesse That gaue thy sone souke in a stall That chaste mylke of virginall clennes That thou this feste o Sterre of holynes Conueye our offrynge to that Sterre se Where next thy sone thou haste the souer aynte ¶ And good lady in this sorowfull vale Of trouble and wo and of heuines Sithen thou of Iacob arte the right scale The waye of lyfe the Ladder of holinesse Towarde that contre the euen waye dresse And make thy men thyder to assende Where euer blesse and ioye hath no ende ¶ For cerâ—es lady in this lyfe we lacke Of sothfaste ioye all the suffisaunce Saue amonge we knele afore the racke Wherwith thy sone was somtyme thy plesaunce And vs reioysynge as by remembraunce Onely by likenes to loke on thyne ymage And on thy sone with his fayre vysage ¶ But o alas there is but a likenes Of portrature that dothe greate offence For we maye nat haue full the blessidnes Of thy vysage neyther of thy presence And so to vs greate harme dothe apparence Whan that we se of our desyre we fayle We maye playne but it maye nat auayle ¶ yet day by day of true affeccion We gone of newe thy likenes for to sâ— Where of one thynge we haue compassion To se the bestes that so humble be To stande so nere betwene thy sone and the The rude Asse and the Oxe also And than we saye complaynynge in our wo. ¶ With all our herte o what thynge maye this be To se that lorde in a racke lye That hath the heuen in his postye And all this worlde power hath to gye O howe it is that the regallie Of heuen erthe is brought downe so lowe That no man liste vnnethe his power knowe ¶ And sodeynly our hertes gynneth colde For astonynge is for wonygh mate So greate a quene whan that we beholde Alone sittynge all disconsolate So fayre so good and so hygh estate Moste womanly and so benigne of chere Thy sone and the togyder sutynge in fere ¶ In the bandes of so narowe a dongeon Wherof all erthe tremble shall and quake And euery wight by lamentacion Wepe playne syghe and sorowe make O blissed quene onely for thy sake To se on the none other waytynge But bestes with hey hym selfe fedynge ¶ But in one thynge comforte yet we fele O good lady sothely yf we se Thre worthy kynges afore thy face knele Bryngen her giftes with all humilite And hem gouerne lyke to thy degre With meke attendaunce full besy cure But all this thynge we se but in picture ¶ Alas the whyle yet it dothe vs ease And in party as wageth our greuaunce For nothynge maye our sorowe so appease As euer of the to haue a remembraunce For in the lady is hoole our sustenaunce Though we lyue in langour for thyne absence yet good lady for thy magnificeuce ¶ To thy seruauntes of thy grace se And to thy sone be for vs a mene This hygh feste whiche longeth vnto the In whiche thou were honoured lyke a quene With Myrre FraÌ„ke Golde that shone so clene Nowe for the honoure this day was to the And for the loue of the kynges thre ¶ Whan we shall parte out of this wofull lyfe And make an ende of this captiuite Or Herodes through his mortall stryfe The fende by trappe vs thorowe his cruelte Nowe that tyme lady of thy benignite Agaynste the snares of this dredfull werre To lyfe eterne be thou our loode Sterre ¶ Howe our Lady was purified Capitulo lxxvii Glorie and pryce laude hygh honoure O blessed quene be gyuen vnto the That were of golde the close chaste toure Surely founded vpon humilite Shette with the keye of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From all synne fully to be assured And of the holy ghoste rounde aboute enuired ¶ That neuer no brennynge of flesshely hete Assayle might thyne holy tabernacle With dewe of grace thy closette was so swete Fulfilled with vertue onely by myracle God chase thy wombe for his tabernacle And halowed it so clene in euery cooste To make it sacrarie for his owne ghooste ¶ Natwithstandynge that thou were so clene Aboue all other by eleccion Of mekenes onely o thou heuenly quene Thou liste to haue none indignacion The day to passe of thy purificacion But to fulfille the precepte of the lawe In euery thynge nat a poynte withdrawe ¶ But euen lyke as it is specified Leuitici who so can vnderstande To the Temple to be purified Thou mekely come thyne offrynge in hande All be the lawe sette on the no bande For it is there made mencion Touchynge the lawe of purificacion ¶ If a women conceyue by a man And haue a chylde by medlynge hem betwene That it be a male the lawe teacheth than Fourty dayes that she shulde be vnclene And kepe her close â—that no man shulde her sene And after that she shulde her offrynge In lawe expressed to the Temple brynge ¶ But taketh thede in conclusion Howe this lawe lyke as ye shall fynde Ne was nat put but by condicion Onely to them that corupt weren by kynde Through touche of man of suche is made mynde The dayes nombred of her purgacion To come and make her oblacion ¶ And brynge a
myracle lent And tolde playnly the heste of god was trewe But howe hymselfe was somwhat necligent For to delyuer by coÌ„maundement Euery man his yerde as he oughte And whan the bisshop aright hym bethoughte ¶ He gan remembre playnly in his mynde That of disdayne and wylfull necligence The yerde of Ioseph was left behynde Wherby he knewe that he had done offence And gan alone to brynge hit in presence And toke hâ—â— Ioseph deuoutely in his honde Amonge hem all there they dyd stonde ¶ All behynde disseueryd from the pres With humble chere in the lowest place And of this yerde in maner recheles Full stylle of porte with a dreedfull face And whan he did with his hande enbrace His yerde agayne full debonayre of lokâ— For Innocence of humble drede he quoke ¶ And sodenly through grace about deuyne All openly in euery wyghtes sight Upon the yerde of Ioseph full benygne Was seen a dowâ—e of fetheris lyly whight That towarde heuen toke the flight And with one voyce the people tho abrayde And vnto Ioseph all attones sayde ¶ Blessed arte hou blessed is thy chaunce Thy face blessed thyne aduenture And blessed is thyne humble attendaunce And thou are blessed so longe tendure For to possede so feare a creature So good so holy nowe in thy passyng age So clene a mayde to haue in mariage ¶ And she alone by preestes of the lawe Aâ—signed was vnto his gouernaunce But sely Ioseph gan hym to withdrawe With humble chere shamefast countenaunce And said certes there is none accordaunce Betwene her yougth florâ—sshyng in fayrnesse And me whome age with vnluste doth oppresse ¶ For she is fayre fresshe as rose in maye And well I wote also a mayden clene And I am olde with whyte lockâ—s graye Passed full fore my tender yeres grene Wherfore I praye you to condsydre and sene To accorde discordaunt saith to me nomore Bitwene her beaute my lockâ—s hore ¶ And whan the bysshop sawe the humble entent Of this Ioseph and the Innocence And howe that he to take her nolde assent To hym he sayd in opyn audience Ioseph he sayde take hede to my sentence And be well ware that thou the not excuse Agaynst the wyll of god for to refuse ¶ This holy mayde assigned vnto the By open signe whiche all the people saye Thorugh godes grace myghty volunte Agaynst whiche beware to dyssobeye And thynke howe he somtyme made to deye Abâ—â—on and Dathan onely for the offence Done to hym of inobedyence ¶ Quod Ioseph that wyll I not in nothyng To godes wyll ne biddyng contrayre But her accepte in to my kepyng For whome god hath shewed signes fayre Whiche is so good benygne and debonayre That I to her wyll seruaunt be guyde Tyll for her god list bet to prouyde ¶ And as the custome of the lawe hem bonde So made was the confirmacion Be heste of wedloke betwene hem hande in hande And he her toke to his possession With herte clene and meke affeccion But whyle he went to Bethelem the cyte Marie abyde stylle in Galilee ¶ How Ioseph vsyd the crafte of a carpenter Ca. ix AT Nazareth in her fathers hous Lyke her auowe of herte alway in one And fyue maydens the most vertuous Of the temple where cosen out alone Of the bisshop with her for to gone To wayte on her by humble attendaunce In what they can to serue and do pleasaunce ¶ Of whiche the fyrst callyd was Reyca And Scepha the seconde as I fynde Susanna zabell and Abiega The other thre as bokes maken mynde Whiche wolde neuer thorowe slouth be behynde But ay in one as it is specefyed In werke and prayer were occupyed ¶ And vnto hym as made is mencion That of lyuynge so faythfull weren trewe And diligent in occupacion Delyuered was sylke of sondry hewe For to make dyuerse werkis newe In the temple of intencion Onely to be in mynystâ—acion ¶ And as it is put in remembraunce Eueriche her silke toke by aduenture Like as her hande â—yll theron by chaunce But Mary as god tho shope her eure The purpyll sâ—â—ke toke in to her cure Of gracious happe of sorte without sight The whiche colour of custome and of right ¶ To none estate is kyndely sytting Of doubte to speke in speciall But to the state onely of a kyng So that no wyght but of the stocke ryall By statuts olde this coloure vse shall For by olde tyme ye shulde no man sene In purpyll cladde but other kynge or quâ—ne ¶ Wherfore the sorte full rightfully is fall â—â—â—â—ly by dewe disposicion Upon Marye that before hem all By ligne right is discendyd downe Of blode ryall and by eleccioun Of god aboue was chosen for to bene For her merite of heuen and erthe quene ¶ And mother eke as ye shall after here Of thylke kynge that was clad in reed Of purpyll hewe bothe face and chere Downe to the fete from his blessed heed Whan he of purpyll dyd his baner sprede On Caluarye abrode vpon the rode To saue mankynde whan he shedde his blode ¶ And of this purpyll that I spake of toforne I fynde playnly howe that Marye wroughte Thylke vayle that was on tweyne torne The same houre whan he so dere vs boughte Lo howâ— that god in his eternall thoughte Prouyded hath by iust purueaunce The purpyll spâ—ke to his mothers chaunce ¶ How our lady is sete for an ensaumple of virgynyte Ca. x. BUt nowe I leue this blessed mayde there In Nazareth amonge her fâ—â—des to dwell Ledyng a lyfe more parâ—yte and entere Than any tonge suffyse may to tell For euyn like as a fulsum well Shedyth his stremys in to the ryuere Rtght so Marie an ensaumpeler clere ¶ Gaue to all by plenteuous largenes Onely vertue vpon euery syde O well were they to whome thou were maistres And blessed eke that myght on the abyde To haue by ensaumple so vertuous a guyde And blessed was that holy companye That day by day the sene with eye ¶ And blessid was the paleys the hous In whiche thou haddest thy holy maÌ„cion Fortuneth well wonder gracious So humble was thy conuersacion And blessed was also all the towne Tâ—â—â—ce thou abode blessed the vyllage O holy mayde where thou haddest hostage ¶ And blessed was the worthy table riche Where day by day thou wentest vnto borde For in sothnes the ioye was not lyche Of Cresus kyng for all his riche horde And blessed be they that herden worde by worde Of thy speche blessed the houre and tyme Of all thy lyfe from euyn tyll the pryme ¶ O weelfull eke and gracious the sight Of hem that myghten vpon the beholde For well they ought to be gladde and light That weren with the alway whan they wolde And blessed weren yonge and olde That were reioysed with thy excellence Whan that hem lyst of thy hygh presence ¶ O the ioye who coulde tell a right Of thyne heuenly
it was night And right anone the sothfast Sonne of light ¶ Of all our ioye cast hym to aryse And shedde his light to glade all mankynde For towarde midnight shortly to deuyse Whan all was hushte holy writte maketh mynde As sothely as he dyd hym wynde In the sydes of this holy mayde So esely this newe sonne abrayde ¶ Whan he was borne in to this mortall lyfe Upon the erthe to shede his brightnesse Withouten helpe of ony mid wyfe Or of his mother trauayle or sekenesse For she that fyrste conceyued in clennesse It sat right well that she shulde also Withouten trauayle or ony maner wo ¶ For to go quyte at her deliueraunce And specially haue a prerogatyfe In her chyldinge to fele no penaunce Sithen she was mayde mother and wyfe Chosen of god for to stynte our stryfe Of all women by her selfe alone Wherfore it sat nat her to crye and grone ¶ Lyke to other women that be inly syke In the tyme of theyr trauaylinge Wherfore sithen she was to none other lyke No payne felte she the houre of her childinge And as I fynde at her deliueringe There was no wight but her selfe alone For thylke tyme Ioseph was out gone ¶ Howe Ioseph went to seche a myd wyfe to our Lady Capitulo xxxvii IN full greate haste to enquere and seke Some mid wyfe to helpe in this nede And in this whyle with her eyen meke She chylded hath this floure of maydenhede And home agayne as Ioseph gan hym spede And to the place the midwyues brought Euen at the dore abasshed in her thought ¶ Stoden still a stoned of that light And the brightnesse that shone in the place Agayne kynde that tyme of the night That they ne might susteyne in her face And no wonder for the Sonne of grace Within whiche caste his light so ferre Of whome the Mone and eche other Sterre ¶ Receyuen her light eueriche in her spere All by that he laye here in erthe lowe In a stable with his sacred chere Sole with his mother that no man dyd knowe Of whome her loke she mekely gan to throwe Godely beholdynge his fayre yonge face And knelynge downe began to enbrace ¶ His tender lymmes in her armes twayne And wrapped hym in clothes tenderlye And toke hym vp sothely gan hym leyne In her lappe and full humbly She behelde his features by an by So fayre shapen in party and in all And with her mylke very celestiall ¶ And heuenly lycour of her pappes smale His tender lymmes she spredde in euery coste The whyte bawme to make it auale Fet from the conduyte of the holy ghoste Upon the thynge that she loued moste And gaue hym so wke of the pyment sotâ— That spronge grewe out of the holy rote ¶ Of maydenhede from the chaste vyne Of all clennes was I tryed oute Wherwith she made her yonge chylde to dynâ— Whome heuen erthe muste obeye and lowtâ— All be that he with beastes hym aboute Laye humbly as yâ— haue herde deuyse And after this his mother dyd aryse ¶ And lifte hym vp sothely in to the stall Where the Asse and the Oxe stode And on her knees she gan anone to fall And worshipped hym this beste of all good That gyueth to Angels and to man food And than this mayde with debonâ—yr chere With face erecte and handes eke in fere ¶ A deuoute prayer that our Lady made whan Christe was borne Capitulo xxxviii TO god aboue began thus for to praye O lorde quod she with all my full might Tho whome eche thynge iustely muste obeye To the I than as it is skyll and right That thou so godely liste to haue a sight To my mekenes though I vnworthy be And nat disdayne of thy benignite ¶ To graunte onely of thy hygh goodnesse Me to encrece in to suche excellence To be a mayden and mother in clennesse To bere thy sonne and thy sapience That neuer twynneth out of thy presence But in heuen abydeth ay with the And in erthe mekely nowe with me ¶ Lyeth in a stable of chere moste debonayre Tofore my face my ioye and my conforte Whiche with the lokinge of his eyen fayre Is hole my gladnes and fully my disporte Sothfaste pleasaunce and my chefe resorte My dere sonne and my lorde also Tho whome with herte all that I can do ¶ In thanke the lorde that liggest me beforne That thou liste chese to haue affeccion Of me so mekely in the erthe to be borne And fro thy father to discende a downe Onely for helpe and saluacion Of mankynde frely of thy will My blessed chylde that so good and styll ¶ Liggest nowe here mekely by sufferaunce Amyd the beastes so fayre vpon to se And haste no wighte to thyne attendaunce Lyke thyne estate awaytinge vpon the Saue that thou haste so godely chosen me Of thy grace vpon the to abyde I to serue and thou to be my guyde ¶ As it is right Ioseph with vs twayne To take his parte what fortune so betyde Lyke as thou liste of grace to ordayne And than anone right in the selâ—e tyde Ioseph cam me and stode her besyde And sodeynly whan he the chylde doth sâ— Full humbly knelinge on his kne ¶ Howe the midwyfe durste nat entre with Ioseph in to the house for a greate light appered within Capi. xxxix WOrshipped hym w t all his herte might With all his will all his full thought And telled Marie for feare of the light The midwyues that he had brought Astoned were that durste nought Entre me but kepte hem aferre For cause onely that a newe sterre ¶ Ascended was vpon that mancion That spredde his light his beames shyne From este to weste thorowe out the region That all they that dyd it sene Gan faste muse what it might mene And in her hertes greately for to charge That a sterre so bright so fayre and large ¶ Of newe dyd appere in that reem That neuer none suche was sene tofore Of whiche sterre prophetes in Iherusalem That tyme were astoned wondere sore Sayden playnly withouten any more That this sterre dyd signefye Thylke sterre whiche in his prophecye ¶ Howe Balaam prophecied the sterre that shewed Christes byrthe Capitulo xl BAlaam the sone of Beor as I fynde Commendeth so in all his beste wyse Whan he sayde sothely of the kynde Of worthy Iacob a sterre sholde aryse And eke also as he doth deuise Full openly the Byble can you tell Howe that a yerde out of Israhell ¶ Shall springe also to smyte and oppresse The â—elle dukes of Moab with her might And he shall waste in warre sothfastnesse The chyldren of Sethe and of kynde right With the shyninge â–ª of his beames bright Conquere also to his subieccion Withouten obstacle and haue possession ¶ Ofydume for his heritage With many another riche regyon And of Seyr the riche Baronage Shall to hym lowte for his renowne So that this Sterte in conclusion Whiche in
Bethleem bright of sterres all The whiche aboue the litell Oxes stall ¶ So shene shone at the Natiuite Of the chylde as ye haue herde me tell Betokeneth playnly as ye shall after here That the lorde of hâ—uen erthe and hell Whiche may of Moab the tyrannye fell Was there by loke helde his hostage In a stable norowe as ony cage ¶ Amonge beastes though he were lorde of all And all this may at his will gouerne Whiche in his hande hangeth as a ball In very soth his myght is so eterne And all this thynge Marie gan conceruâ— Within her selfe syker and full close And after that she mekely vp rose ¶ Howe our Lady receyued the mid wyues Capitulo xli ANd to the dore wonder womanly She went a paace and whâ—â—se dydse The mydwyue◠〈…〉 She brought he◠〈◊〉 with all hâ—milite Shephora and also 〈◊〉 And hem welcometh in full lowe manere And whan that they these signes sawe in â—â—re ¶ Of the sterres and the bestes knele Towarde the chylde to do â—â—m reuerence And gan also by other 〈◊〉 fele Of may denhede that there was none offence And that she stode hole in that excellence Of parfyte clennesse and virginite And mother to be and floure in chastyte ¶ Withouten wâ—â—me on any party â—ounde Of all the preues that they make coude And whan they sawe her pappes so habounde With heuenly mylke sent from aboue the cloude She phâ—ra gan 〈◊〉 to câ—yâ—full lowde That a mayde hath a chylde borne The whiche thynge was not sene beforâ—e ¶ In all this worlde who so liste to take hede For it iâ— soth the right of all nature Passeth playnly and also doth excede The wytte of man I do you well assure But I se wâ—ll through the mighty â—uâ—â— Of goddes hande this thynge is brought aboute Wherof platly I am nothynge in doubte ¶ But assented with herte and hole credence Hauinge theron none â—mbigâ—yâ—â— And thane aâ—oâ—e for 〈◊〉 greate offence And for wantruste of her â—â—owe Salome Openly that all men might se Were in that arme dede and colde as a stone With whiche she was hardy for to gone ¶ Howe the hande of Salome weâ—ed drye Capitulo xâ—ii THe chylde to touche of presumpsion And his mother without reuerence Deuoyde of drede or of deuocion Or any faythfull humble aduertence Done as her ought of his magnificence Wherfore anone for her hygh trespace All openly in the same place ¶ She punisshed was that all might it se And gan for sorowe wepe and complayne And sayde lorde haue pyte vpon me And of mercy rewe vpon my payne And of myne offence that thou nâ—t disdayne Ne to thyne hyghnes it be no displesaunce That I a wretche blynde of ignoraunce ¶ Offended greately hath in thy sight Of â—â—che â—â—coâ—â—inge and â—â—dâ—scression And sodeynly in all theyr sight Euen amiddes of that mancion An Angell bright sent from heuen downe Dyd appere biddinge her â—â—onâ— With deuoute herte that she sholde gone ¶ Full humbly in her beste entente Unto the chylde for to haue socoure And touche the hemme of his â—estemente Reuerently and with greate honoure For he in soth is the sauyoure Of all the worlde and of all mankynde And power hath playnly to vnbynde ¶ All tgo that playnen and ben in distresse Whan they to hym mekely will call And Salome deuoutly gan her dresse Towarde the chylde and on her knees fall And sayde o lorde that power haste of all Let thy mercy on me sprede For to socoure me â–ª in this greate nede ¶ Me wretched wight punisshed rightfully And loste for euer saue onely thy grace For in loth saue onely thy mercy I haue loste myne arme alas for my trespace And with that worde as she dyd enbrace To touche the cloth that he laye in bounde Without more this Salome hath founde ¶ Remedye and was made hole agayne Sodenly or she coude it spye And vp she rose and made no lenger â—ayne But in the strete openly gan to crye Howe the lorde that all this worlde may gyâ— Descended is and bycome man And whiles that she thus in the strete ran ¶ Tellinge the byrthe and of the sterre also And of her arme and of her sodeyn cure The people gan faste to drawe to To herken more of this aduenture For in her speche some gan hem assure And that her wordes myght be credible And specially for to them vysyle ¶ The sterre shone euer aboue the house Ay lyke fyx without mocion So bright so longe so glad so ioyouse That all that inspeccion In herte parfyte and tre we entencion That they weren reioysed and made light And all this thynge felle vpon the night ¶ On a sonday myne auctour will nat lye As ye may fynde if ye liste to rede The. viii Kalendes for sothe of Ianuarie Whan Marie example of may denhede Was of age who so will take hede Sâ—rtene yere this floure of Nazareth At the vysion of saynt Elizabeth ¶ Playnly recordeth loke and ye may sâ— And in this nyght of mooste worthynes Of Christes byrthe and natiuite As the Gospell sayth and bereth witnes Whan the Shepeherdes with greate besynes Kepte her watche the longe wynters night Upon her shepe an Angell with greate light Howe the Angels appered to the Shepe herdes and tolde the byrthe of Christe Capi. xliii AMyd the felde to hem dyd appere And gaue hem conforte in her greate drede And bad hem be light and glad of chere For I quod he shewe to you in dede A ioye that doth euery ioye excede That fynally shall of all dysease To all folke conforte be and ease ¶ And be to hem refuyte and socoure In all my myscheues and aduersite For nowe this day mankyndes sauyour In Bethleem of Dauid his cyte Is borne in soth lyke as ye may se Goth and beholdeth howe that is fall And ye shall fynde in â–ª a oxes stall ¶ Howe that he lyeth in clothes narowe wouÌ„de This yonge faunte with chere full benigne The whiche thynge whan that ye haue founde That all is soth let be to you a signe And sodenly with lawde pryse condigne With the Angell the hole chyualrye Of all heuen by one armonye ¶ For ioye her of gan to saye and synge Glorie and honour in the heuenly se Be vnto god eternally and duringe And in erthe peace and reste be To all to men that of one vnyte This hygh feste honoure and magnefye And we echone of one melodye ¶ O mighty lorde we prayse and blesse the And worship eke with humble reuerence And glorifye thyne hygh mageste And thankinge gyue to thy magnyficence For thy glorie and thyne excellence O thou lorde god o Kynge celestiall O god thy father moste myghty founde at all ¶ And god the sone his chylde aboue eterne Christ Iesu borne of this heuenly Quene O god also the chosen lambe so derne Sone of the father withouten spotte all clene That doest away the worldes synne and tenâ— Haue
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
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
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
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
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