aboute somÌ„e wordly occupacion or seculer thyngis of whych he wold not gladly entremete and wente hys waye and departed but atte last as vaynquysshyd by the prayers of the kyng he graunted hym And thus thenne as he baptised the chyld noman answered the chyld wyth a clere voys sayd and answerd Amen And after thys the kyng promâ—ted hym to be bysshop of sence And â—â—han he sawe that the word of god in predicacion was despised and not sette by he wente in to Gascoygne where he sawe a Iogeler mocqued hys wordes The feend toke hym and with hys owen treth he tare hym and confessid that he had don Iniurye to the persone of god and anon deyd myserably Now it happed on a tyme that he weesshe hys handes and a bysshop made the water to be kepte of whych water a blynde man had hys sight agayn It happed that in that place by the wyll of the kyng he wold edeffye a monasterye of monkes thenne a bysshop that was of the next cyte toke it greuously and was moche angry therwith and comanded hys seruantes to caste hym out or ellis they shold slee hym And anon they came to hym and sayd to hym in gyle and treson that he shold goo wyth them and they wold shewe to hym a place apte and good and water ynough for to edyfye vpon a monastery for monkes And he that knewe theyr malyce and theyr euyl purpoos wente with them vnto the toppe of an hye moÌ„tayne where as they wold haue slayn hym And he desired moche the martirdom for the loue of our lord and for to come in to hys companye but anon sodenly descended fro heuen suche a tempest of Rayne and of orage that it couerd alle the montayne so moche that that one coude not see that other and supposed to haue deyde sodenly And they fyl doun to therthe on their knees praieng hym to pardonne them And that they myght departe thens alyue For whom he put hym self to prayer and anone the storme was appeasid and the wether fayr They wente to theyr place And saynt amande thus escaped fro thys perill And many other myracles he shewde and dyde in thonour of our lord And fynysshyd in holy vertues hys lyf and departed out of thys world in the tyme of heraclius themperour abou the yere of our lord vjCliij Here endeth the lyf of saynt Amande Here next foloweth the lyf of saynt Uedaste SAynt Uedaste was ordeyned bysshop of arras by the hand of saynt remyge And saynt vedast was of moche grete holynesse and clennesse For whan he cam to the yate of Arras he fonde there ij poure men of whom the one was lame and that other blynde Thyse two poure men demaunded of hym somÌ„e almesse And saynt vedast answerd to them and said I haue neyther gold ne siluer but thys that I haue I gyue to you Thenne he made them bothe hool by the vertue of hys prayer ¶ It happed on a tyme he caÌ„ in to a chyrche destroyed and fonde there a wulf emong the busshes And he comaÌ„ded hym that he shold goo his way And anon he obeyed to hym fledde so that sith that tyme he was not seen Atte laste whan he had conuerted moche peple by hys word and predicacion to the fayth of god and also by good ensamples shewde euydently to the peple in the fourtythe yere of hys bysshopryche he sawe a douue of fyre that cam fro heuen to hys hows And by that he vnderstode wel that he shold fynysshe and passe out of thys world And so he dyde For he dede anon after aboute the yere of our lord vCl whan hys body shold be translated Saynt omer whyche was blynde for age was sory that he myght not see the body of saynt vedast and anon our lord enlumyned hym and rendryd to hym hys sight And sawe the body of saynt vedaste but anon after he was blynde agayn as he had ben to fore late vs praye to hym cÌ„ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Uedaste Here begynneth the lif of seynt Ualentyne and first thynterpretacion of hys name UAlentyne is as moche to saie as conteynyng valeur that is perseueraunt in grete holynesse valentyn is sayd also as a vayliaunt knyght For he was a right noble knyght of god And the knyght is said valiaunt that fleeth not and smyteth defendeth valiantly and ouercometh moche puyssauntly And so saynt valentyn wythdrewe hym not fro hys martirdom in fleyng he smote in dystroyng thydolles he deffeÌ„ded the faith he ouercam in suffryng Of saynt Ualentyn the martre SAynt Ualentyne frende of our lord and preest of grete auctoryte was at Rome It happed that Claudius themperour made hym to come to fore hym And said to hym in demandyng what thyng is that whiche I haue herd of the valentyn why wilt thou not abyde in our amyte and worshyppe thydolles and renounce the vayne opynyon of thy creaunce Sayyt valentyne answerd hym yf thou haddest very knowleche of the grace of Ihesu cryst thou sholdest not saye thys that thou sayest but sholdest renye thydolles and worshyppe veray god TheÌ„ne sayd to saynt valentyn a prynce Thenne said to saynt valentyn a prynce whiche was of the couÌ„ceylle of themperour what wylt thou saye of our goddes and of theyr holy lyf And saynt valentyn answerd I saye none other thyng of them but that they were men mortall and meschaunt and full of all ordure and euyll Thenne sayd claudius themperour yf Ihesu cryst be god veryly wherfor saist not thou the trouthe And saynt valentyn sayd Certaynly Ihesu cryst is only very god And yf thou byleue in hym veryly the sowle shal be saued thy Royame shal multyplye and he shal gyue to the alleway vyctorye of thyn enemyes Thenne claudius torned hym vnto all them that were there and said to them lordes Romayns here ye how wysely and resonably thys man speketh Anone the prouoste of the cyte sayd Themperour is deceyued and bytrayed how maye we leue that whyche we haue holden and acostomed to holde sith our enfancie wyth thyes wordes themperour torned and chaunged hys corage And saynt valentyne was delyuerd in the kepyng of of the prouoste whan saynt valentyn was brought in an hows in pryson Thenne he prayd to god sayeng lord Ihesu cryst very god whyche art very lyght enlumyne thys hous in suche wyse that they that dwelle therin may knowe the to be veray god And the ê“uost said I meruaylle me that thou sayst that thy god is very light neuertheles yf he may make my doughter to here and see whyche longe tyme hath ben blynde I shal doo all that thou comandest me and shal byleue in thy god Saynt valentyn anon put hym in prayers And by hys prayers the doughter of the ê“uoste receyued agayn her sight And anon all they of the hows were conuerted After theÌ„perour dyde do smyte of the heed of saynt valentyn the yere of our lord ijClxxx Thenne late vs praye
the wordes of the aungel whiche he sayd to the for al thynges shal be performed that he hath sayd to the Of alle thyse thynges saynt elysabeth knewe no thynge whan our lady came ne yet our lady had no thynge sayd to hyr but the holy ghoost by the merites of hir holy chylde that she bare replepysshed hir and made hyr to prophecye TheÌ„ne answerd our lady made the holy psalme sayeng Magnificat aiaÌ„mea dominum alle the remenaunte Our lady abode wyth Saynt elysabeth thre monethes or there aboutes tyl she was delyuerd and layed a bedde and it is sayd that she dyd the offyce and seruyse to receyue Saynt Iohan Baptyst whan he was borne Whan thenne he was borne and the neyghbours and cosyns and frendys knewe the grace that our lord had done thyse holy folke noble of lygnage riche of goodes and of grete dygnyte to whome in the ende of theyr age he had gyuen an heyr male ayenst double or treble nature They maad grete ioye and feste wyth them whan the viij day came and the chylde shold be circumsyced they callyd hym after hys faders name Zacharyas The moder sayd that he shold be named Iohan and not Zacharye And they wente vnto the fader and sayd that there was none in that kynrede that soo was callyd And thenne the fader demaunded peÌ„ne and ynke and wrote Iohannes est nomen eius Iohan is hys name And alle they merueyled Anone after by the merytes of saynt Iohan his faders mowthe was openyd and had ageyn hys speche and spake glorefyeng our lord god And thyse tydynges of thys holy chylde thus borne were anone spradde alle aboute the contreye And eche man sayd in hys herte and withoutforth one to another what suppose ye shal be of thys chylde he shal be grete and a man of our lord For he is al redy now wyth hym and the hande the werke and the vertue of our lord is wyth hym The fader holy Zacharye replenysshed wyth the holy ghoost sayd and prophecyed and made thenne the holy psalme Benedictus dominus deus israhel which psalme is alwey songen in th ende of matyns It is sayd that holy zacharye dwellyd vpon the montayns two myle nyghe to Iherusalem and there Saynt Iohan baptyst was borne after that saynt Iohan was circumcysed he was nourisshed as a chylde of a noble and riche man and sone of grete dygnyte But whan he had vnderstondyng strength of body god our lord and the herte perfourmed the werke he yssued out of his faders hows and lefte richesses honours dygnytees noblesse and al the world and wente in to deserte on fâ—om iordan Somme say he wente in the eage of xv yere accomplisshed And other say he departed at xij yere of eage for to serue our lord without empesshement by whiche he kepte scilence bydwonge his lyf his sowle fro ydle wordes This holy saynt IohÌ„an dwellyng in deserte ware an heyr maad of the heyr of camellys Somme say that he ware the skynne of a camell in whiche he had maad an hole to put his heed in and gyrded it wyth a gyrdle of wulle or of lether cut out of an hyde or a bestys skynne He ete locustes not suche as we haue here that we calle hony sokellys Somme say that it is flesshe of somme beestys that habouÌ„de in deserte of Iudee where he baptysed wyth wylde hony he ete it That it was flesshe the legende of saynt austyn doth vs to vnderstonde whyche sayth that Saynt austyn ete flesshe by the exaumple of helye the prophete whiche ete the flessh that a crowe brought to hym and so saynt Iohan ete locustes somme saye that there ben rootes so callyd There seruyd he our lord solytarylye vpon the flome Iordan tyl that he was aboute xxix yere olde the aungel of our lord came to hym and sayd that he shold shewe the comyng of our lord and preche penaunce for to purge them that were baptysed in a customyng the baptesme of our lord Ihesu cryste This aungel sayd to saynt Iohan baptyste that Ihesu cryste saueour of the world shold come to hym for to be baptysed and it shold be he on whome the holy ghoost shold descende in semblaunce of a dowue Saynt Iohan drewe hym toward bethanye vpon the ryuer or deserte not fer fro Iherusalem there prechyd he and taughte baptysed them that wolde amende theyr lyf and sayd to them that the sauyour and helthe of the world was nyghe Thenne came to hym many and he sayd to somme religyous men of euyl lyf ye chyldren of serpentys who hath gyuen to you counceyl to eschewe the yre of our lord yf ye wyl be baptysed in sygne of penaunce do ye the werkes of penytentes leue the euyl humble you do the werke of mercy wene ye by cause ye be circumsysed and be the chyldren of abraham that ye shal be saued Our lord shal make of thyse stones yf it plese hym the chylde of abraham whyche wyth abraham shal be sauyd Saynt Iohan prechyd aboute a yere tofore that our lord came to hym for to be bapâ—ysed Whan the pharysees herde say that he baptysed they sente to knowe what he was and they demauÌ„ded yf he were cryste the grete prophete that was promysed in theyr lawe and he said nay they demaunded hem yf he were helpe and comen fro paradyse tereâ—stre He sayd nay They demaunded hym yf he was a prophâ—te he sayd nay They demaunded hym wherof he medlyd thenne to baptyse sythe he was neyther cryste ne helpe ne prophete Saye to vs sayd they who that thou arte that we may answer to them that haue sente vs hyther He answerd I am he of whome ysaye prophecyed I am the voys of the cryar in deserte Adresse ye and make redy the wayes to god and make ye right the pathes of our lord They sayd to hym wherfore baptysest thou thenne He answerd I baptyse and wasshe the body wyth water in sygne af penaunce but emonge you is he that ye knowe not whyche was tofore me came after me of whome I am not worthy to lose the latchet of hys shoo He shal gyue you baptesme in the vertu of the holy ghoost in water and fyre of penaunce whan Saynt Iohan alonge the flome Iordan had prechyd and baptysed aboute a yere Our Lord came vnto hym and wolde be baptysed of hym Saynt Iohan enlumyned of the holy ghoost knewe hym And dyd to hym reuerence as to hys god hys maker and lord He was so espyred that humayn nature whyche was pure in hym myght not susteyne so grete knowleche And he sayd ryght humbly Syr thou comest to me whyche arte pure and clene to be baptysed and wasshen of me that am foule and wasted whyche oughte to be baptysed of the and wasshen how dare I laye on the myn handes Our lord sayd to hym do thys that I say now For thus behoueth it to fulfylle alle Iustyce and to humâ—le and
was come and sawe that she wold not consente to do his wylle anon he made her heed to be smyten of Than the squyer that byheded her herde thangels synge that bare the sowle of the holy vyrgyne in to heuen with moche grete Ioye and sollempnyte anon he retorned vnto his maystre and tolde hym al that he had seen herde sythe fyl doun deed at his feet Thenne the duc and al his companye had moche grete drede and the duc hym self clad hym next his flessh in a sharp heyr hard for grete repentaunce and praid saint marcyal that he wold praye god that hit myght plese hym to reyse his squyer fro deth to lyf and he wold beleue in the fayth of Ihesu criste and be crystyned anone after that saynt marcyal had prayd our lord reysed thesquyer Thenne the duc and wel a xvMl persones in his companye were baptysed In this tyme the same duc by the commandement of the emperour Nero wente in to Italye with a grete companye of men of armes whan he had acomplysshyd the commandement of nero they wente to rome for to see saynt peter whom they fonde prechyng to the peple whiche peple were barefote and had clothed them wyth the heyr lyeng on the grounde tofore saynt peter in demaundyng hym pardon of theyr synnes whan Saynt peter sawe the duc and so moche fayre people in his companye he demaunded them what they were of what contre TheÌ„ne the duc tolde hym by ordre how he and his companye had ben conuerted and baptysed of saynt marcyal After whan they were departed from rome they thoughte that they wolde goo see saynt marcial tofore or they retorned in to theyr contrey Thus theÌ„ne as they were lodged nyghe by a ryuer and the sone of the erle of poytiers bayned hym in the sayd ryuer thenemye the deuyl drowned and smored hym to the dethe whan his fader knewe it he wente wepyng tenderly to Saynt marcyal and prayed hym to reyse his sone fro dethe to lyf Thenne Saynt marcyal wente to the place where he was drowned and commaunded to the fende to brynge the body out of the water and that he shold appere in a lykenes vysyble tofore theym alle Anone yssued out of the water thre fendes lyke ethyopyens more blacke than cooles and had terryble feet and eyen and grete heyr that couerd alle the body and caste out at theyr mowthes and nosethrilles fyre lyke sulphre and cryed lyke rauens whan they had tolde to saynt marcyal the harmes and euylles that they had doon He commaunded them that they shold departe and goo in to places deserte where as they myght neuer noye ne greue persone lyuyng Saynt marcial whiche had pyte and compassyon on them that wepte for the dede chylde reysed hym fro dethe to lyf thenne the chylde tolde tofore them alle that were there how the fende had drowned and smoldred hym and how they wold haue bounden hym with chaynes of yron brennyng but an aungel of heuen delyuerd hym and shewyd hym the fyre of purgatorye and fro thens ledde hym to the yate of paradys and as the fendes requyred to haue hym a voys came fro heuen and commaunded that he shold aryse ageyn that he shold lyue yet xxvj yere whan he had tolde al this he gaue hym self al ouer to saynt marcial and fro than forthon lyued in grete abstynence and holy lyf lyke as thaungel had taught hym Saynt marcyal dyd many myracles and vertues There was in that tyme a woman that had an husbond seke of the palseye to whiche woman saynt marcyal delyuerd hys burdon wyth whiche she touched a lytel hyr husbond and Incontynent he was hool Another tyme the fyre was so grete in the cyte of lourdews that alle was on a flame Saynt marcial helde vp his burdon ageynst the fyre and anone â—it was quenchyd Another tyme as he wold haue halowed a chyrche at lymoges the prynce aforsayd conueyed and sommoned al the peple poure and riche to come to the dedycacion of this chyrche And whan they were al assemblyd saynt marcial admonested and warned them to be in veray chastyte It happed emonge them whyles the masse was on sayeng that there was a knyght whyche he his wyf were sore vexyd troublyd wyth fendes as they were broughte tofore saynt marcyal he demaunded of the fendes why they vexed theym soo and they answerd to hym thou haste commaunded them that the peple shold mayntene chastite and thyse two haue al this nyght exposed them in lecherye and this is the cause that wherfore we ben entryd in to them saynt marcyal at the requeste of the prynce and peple heled them This same yere that is to say the xl yere after the passion of our lord Ihesu cryste the same our lord Ihesu cryste apperyd to hym shewyd how that hastely he shold departe fro thys world and be wyth hys other frendes in the royame of heuen Thenne he dyd doo assemble alle the crysten people that he had conuerted to them made a moche swete sermone in takyng leue of them Sone after he was seek of the feuers and thenne our lord apperyd to hym with a grete quantyte of aungellys whyche wyth moche ioye and gladnes bare the sowle of saynt marcyal in to heuen vbi est honor gloria in secula seculoruÌ„ amen This Saynt marcyal of whome we speke here was the same childe as soÌ„me say on whome our lord layed hys honde vpon his heed whan the contencyon and stryffe was emonge the appostles whiche of them shold be grettest in the royame of heuen and thenne our lord sette the chylde marcyal in the myddle of them layeng his honde vpon his heed as sayd is and said to them yâ— ye be not lytel and humble as this chylde is ye shal not entre in to heuen he that shal be leeste emonge you he shal be grettest in my royame as the gospel maketh more playne mencyon the whiche glorious saynt saynt marcial lete vs praye vnto that he procure vnto our sayd lord Ihesu cryste that all we may haue parte wyth hym in the ioye and glorye perdurable amen ¶ Here endeth the lyf of saynt marcial one of the disciples of our lord Ihesu cryste And foloweth the lyf of saynt Geneuefe THe noble saynt Geneuefe was borne at nauÌ„cerre besyde parys in the tyme of themperours honorius and theodosius the lasse was with hir fader moder vnto the tyme of themperour valentynyen anone after hir natyuyte the holy ghoost shewed vnto saynt germayn of ancerre how she shold serue god holyly virgynely the which thynge he tolde to many after she was sacred of the bysshop of chartres viliques came to dwelle at parys ful of vertues of myracles in the tyme of saynt nychase the marter whom the hongres marterd and after in the tyme of saynt re nyge vnder chyldrik kynge of fraunâ—â— and after vnder cloyus his
he was lyberal to poure men Poule had no pocessyon sauf his body And with that he mynystred suffyciently to them that had nede whyche in a place sayth vnto my nescessytes and to them that were wyth me thyse hondes haue mynystred And to holy Iob were yeuen wormes woundes and sores whiche dyd to hym moche peyne and sorowe but thou wil considre paule yâ— shal see betynges hongre cheynes and peryllys that he suffred of his knowen men and of sâ—â—aungers he suffred of alle the world besynes for the chyrches and brennyng for sklaundres thou mayst see that he was harder than ony stone and hys sowle ouercam wyth infirmyte yron adamant what Iob suffred wyth hys body That paul susteyned wyth hys mynde whiche is more greuous than ony worme And ofte his eyen flowed of teres not only on dayes But also on nyghtes he was more tormented than a woman in the byrth of her childe wherfor he sayde My lytel chyldren whom yet I bryng forth Moyses chas for to be defaced out of the boke of lyf for the helthe of the Iewes and offryd hym self to perysshe with other But paule wold not only perysshe with his kynrede but that alle other shold be saued wold be cast down from euer lastyng Ioye And moyses repugned ayenst pharao And paule ayenst the deuyl euery day He for one peple of the Iewes And paule faught for al the vnyuersal world Not by swete but by blood Seynt IohÌ„n the baptyst ete locustes and wyld hony but paul in the myddle of the world was as strayte in his conuersacion as seint IohÌ„n was in deserte Not only he was fedde wyth locustes and wylde hony but wyth moche fouler mete he was contente For ofte he lefte hys necessary mete for the feruent study that he had to preche the word of god Truly there appiered in seynt Iohan grete constance in prechyng ayenst herodiades But Paule not one ne two ne thre but he corrected Innumerable men sette vp in hye power And also older tyrauntes It resteth now that we compare paule to Angellys In whiche we shal preche a grete thyng for wyth alle charge they obeyen vnto god whyche dauyd sayth merueyllyng that they be myghty in vertue And euer doon the commaundementes of god And also the prophete sayth that he maketh hys angellys spyrites And his mynystres fyre brennyng And alle thys we may fynd in paule that lyke to fyre and a spyrite he hath ronne thrououte alle the world and with his prechyng hath purged it And yet he hath not sorted heuen and that is wonderful For he conuersed suche as in heuen was yette enuyronned wyth his mortal flesshe A lord how moche be we worthy dampnacion whan we see all good thynges to be assembled in one man And we studye not to folowe the leste parte of them Ne he had in thys world none other thyng Ne none other nature ne none other soule dyssemblable to vs ne dwellyng in none other worlde but in the same erthe the same regyon also vnder the same lawes nourisshed and maners and he surmounteth alle men that now ben or haue ben by vertue of his corage Ne thys thyng is not to be merueilled in hym only that for the haboundauÌ„ce of deuocion he felte no payne But he recompensyd in hym the vertue for hys rewarde And whan he sawe that hys deth approchyd He callyd other to the delyte of his Ioye sayeng Make ye Ioye and reioyse ye wyth me And certeynly he hasted more to wronges Iniuryes whiche he suffred for his true prechyng And was gladder therof than he were boden to a feste of grete Ioye For he desyred more deth than bodely lif he desired more pouerte than richesse traueyle than rest for in his reste he chaas rather wepyng than rest He vsed to praye more for his enemyes than other doo for theyr frendes And aboue alle other thyng he dradde the wrathe of god And had none other desyre But only to plese god And he forsoke not only alle present thynges But alle thynges that ben for to come He refused alle prosperytees that euer were or euer shalle be in erth and yf we shal speke of heuenly thynges thou shalt see the loue of hym in IhÌ„u cryst And wyth thys loue he thought hym self blessyd he conuerted not to be felaw wyth angelys ne archangelys ne with none ordre of angelis but he coueyted more with the loue of god to be lest of them that be punyshed than without his loue to be emong souerayn honours that was to hym most gretest tormente for to departe fro his loue for that departyng shold 〈◊〉 hym an helle payne wythouten ende And on that other syde for to vse the charyte of cryst was to hym lyf world and promyssyon and alle goodes with out nombre And so he despised al that we drede lyke as we despyse an herbe putrefyed and roten he reputed the tirauntes conspyryng theyr furour in to the appostles lyke as bytynges of flees and he reputed deth cruelnes a thousand tormentes but as a playe or game of children whyles he suffred them for crystes sake he thought he was made more fayre with byndyng of cheynes Than he had be crouned wyth a dyademe For whan he was constrayned to be in pryson he thought he was in heuen And he receyued more gladlyer betynges and woundes than other victoryes he loued no lesse sorowes than medes For he reputed tho sorowes in stede of rewardes And suche thynges that ben to vs cause of sorowes were vnto hym grete delyte And was euer enbraced wyth grete wepynges wherfor he sayde who is sclaundred I brenne not and who can sey I delyte in sorowyng many ben wounded wyth the deth of theyr children take comfort whan they may wepe ynough it is most greuauÌ„ce to them whan they ben restrayned from theyr wepyng In lyke wyse paule nyght day had consolacion of his teres wepyng there coude no man wepe ne bewayle his oun defautes as he bewayled other meÌ„nes defaultes for like as thou wenest hym to be in torment that wepeth the perysshyng for his synnes the whiche desyre to be excluded fro the Ioye of heuen to th ende that they myght be saued ffor he felt as moche the perysshyng of other soules as he felt or trowed hym self to perisshe to what thyng may he theÌ„ne be lykened to what yron or to what adamant For he was strenger theÌ„ne ony adamant more precyous than gold or geÌ„mys that one mater he ouercome with strengthe that other with precyousnes theÌ„ne we may say that poul is more precious than al the world all that is therin For he fleyhe as he had had wynges thrugh alle the world in prechyng and he despised al laboures perellys as though he had ben wythout body And lyke as he posseded heuen so he despysed alle erthly thynges And lyke as yron that
is leyde in the fyre is made alle fyre Ryght so paule enbraced wyth charyte was made alle charyte And ryght as it had ben a comyn fader of alle the world so he louyd alle men and surmounted alle other faders bodyly and ghoostly by curyosite and pyte And desired and hasted hym to yelde alle men to god to hys kyngdom as though he had engendred them alle This holy paul that was so symple and vsed the craft to make baskettis cam to so grete vertue that in the space of xxx yere he cōuerted to the crysten fayth the persees and parthes them of mede the yndes and the Scites the Ethiopes the Saromates and sarasyns and more ouer al maner men and lyke as fyre put in strawe or in towhe wasteth it ryght so wastyd poule alle the werkis of the fende And whan he was ledde through the grete see he Ioyed hym as gretly as though he had ben ledde to see an empyre And whan he was entred in to Rome It suffyced hym not to abyde there but he went in to spayne And was neuer ydle ne in reste But was alway more brennyng than fyre in the loue to preche the word of god Ne dradde no parrellys ne had no shame of despytes But was euer redy vnto batayle And anon shewde hym selfe pesyble and amyable And whan his discyples sawe hym bounde in cheynes for alle that he sessed not to preche whiles he was in pryson wherfor some of the brethern consyderyng hys techyng toke the more strengthe to them And were more constant ayenst the enemyes of crystes fayth al thys and moche more saith seynt Ioh̄n grisostom which were ouer moche to write here but thys shal suffyse thenne late vs praye vnto almyghty god that by the merites of seynt poul we may haue foryeuenes of our synnes and trespaces in thys present lyf that after the same we may come to euer lastyng Ioye in heuen Thus endeth the commemoracion of Seynt poule thappostle and Doctoure Here folowen the lyues of the vij bretheren THe seuen brethern were sonnes of Seynt felycite whos names be Ianuarie ffelix philippe siluanus alexander vitalis and marcialis Alle thyse wer called by the comaundement of the emperour anthonye to fore publyen the prouoste And thenne the prouoste counseylled the moder that she sholld haue pyte vpon her self and on her sones who answerd and sayde Neyther for thy flateryng ne by thy blaundesshyng wordes thou mayst not drawe me to thy desyre ne wyth thy thretenynges thou mayst not breke me I am assured of the holy ghoost whom I haue that I shalle a lyue ouercome the And better shal vaynquysshe the whan I am dede thenne she torned her to her sones sayde My sones see the heuen and loke vpward my derest children for cryst abydeth you there ffyght ye strongly for cryst and shewe you faithful trewe in the loue of Ih̄u crist whan the prouost herde that he cōmaūded that she shold be smeton and buffeted and as the moder her sones abode most constantly in the fayth the moder seyng comfortyng them they wer sleyn with dyuerse tormentis seynt gregore calleth this blessyd felicite more than a martir ffor she suffred vij tymes deth in her vij sones and the eyght tyme in her propre body and he sayth in his omelye that seynt felicyte in byleuyng was the hādmayde of crist in prechyng was made the martir of crist she dredde to leue after her for to lyue her vij sones in prisō lyke as wordly frendes drede lest they shold deye in prison she childed bare them by the holy ghoost whom she had born to the world of her flesshe them whom she knewe wel wer of her own flessh she myght not see dye without sorowe but it was the force of the loue wythin forth that ouercam the sorowe of the flessh and I haue sayd by right thys woman to be more than a martir that so ofte hath be extynct in her sones in which she hath therin multeplyed martirdom she ouercam the victorye of martirdom whan for the loue of god her only deth suffyced her not And they suffred deth aboute the yere of our lord Cx vnder decius themperour Here endeth the passyon of the vij brethern The lyf of Seynt Theodora THeodora was a noble woman and a fayr in Alysaunder in the tyme of zenone themperour and had a ryche man to her husbond dredyng god The deuyl hauyng enuye to the holynes of theodore entysed a riche man of the toun in to the concupiscence of her which sent to her dyuers messagers and yeftes requyryng that she wold assent to his desyre but she refused theyr message and despised the yeftes he was so besy on her so moche greuous that she coude haue no reste was almost ouercome atte last he sent a witche promysed to her many thynges yf she coude bryng aboute that she shold consent to his desire she went exorted her to doo this sinne wyth y◠man to haue pyte on hym To whom she said that to fore god al thinges wer knowen wherfor she wold in no wyse doo so grete a synne this fals enchaūteresse said what someuer is don in the day tyme god seeth knoweth But what is don after the sonne is doun in the west is derke god knoweth no thyng therof to whom theodora seyd sayst thou trouthe ye veryly I telle you trouthe And so the woman beyng deceyued bad the man shold come at nyggt and she shold accomplyssh his wyl desire and whan thys ylle woman had told thys to the man he was glad Ioyful and kepte hys houre and had his wyll of her and departed theodora retornyng to her self began to wepe most bytterly and smote her vysage and breste sayeng Alas Alas I haue loste my soule And haue destroyed the beaute of my name her husbond cam fro wythout and fond hys wyf so sorowyng and desolate desyred to knowe the cause for to comforte her But she wold receyue no consolacion On the morn erly she went to a monasterye of nonnes and demaunded of the abbesse yf god coude knowe ony synne don and commysed by nyght after the day was passed To whom she sayd Nothyng may be hyd fro god For god seeth and knoweth alle that is don in what hour it be commysed by nyght or day And thenne she wepte bitterly sayeng gyue me the boke of the gospellys that summe lotte may falle to me And she openyng the boke fonde wreton Quod scripsi scripsi Thenne she retorned home to her hows And on a day whan her husbonde was oute she cutte of her heer and clad her wyth the clothes of her husbonde and went to a monasterye of monkes whiche was xviij myle thens And hyed her and there requyred that she myght be receyued wyth the monkes She was demaunded of her name and she sayd that she was
commauÌ„ded that they tweyn to gyder perseueryng in the confession of our lord sholde be byheded aboute the yere of oure lord lvj ¶ Thus ende the passions of Thymothe and Appollynare Here foloweth of saynt Symphoryen SYmphoryen was borne in the Cyte of Augustydynense And he beyng a yong child shone in soo grete habondaunce of vertues that he surmounted the lyf of thauncyentes And as the paynyms halowed the fest of Venus Symphoryen was there and wold not worshipe thymage to fore Eraclye the prouost And thenne he was long beten and after sette in prysonne And they wold haue constreyned hym to doo sacryfyse and promysed to hym many yeftes He answerd and sayd ¶ Oure lord canne well rewarde the merytes And also he can wel punysshe the synnes Thenne the lyf that we owe to god of dette late vs paye with good wylle Slowe penaunce is to vnderstande synners enharded ben enoynted wyth the swetnes of hony whiche engendath venym and thoughtes euylle byleuynge youre coneâ—yse to fore al thynges possedeth no thynge For hit is bounden to the artes of the deuylle And shalle be witholden in the boundes of the cursyd and euyll wynnyng And youre Ioyes whan they begynne to shyne shalle be broken lyke glas And thenne the Iuge fulfylled with wrathe yaf sentence and commaunded that Symphoryen shold be slayn And as he was ledde to the place of his martyrdom his moder cryed fro the walle of her hows and sayde Sone Sone Remembre the of the lyf perdurable loke vpward and beholde hym that regneth in heuen The lyf shal not be take aweye fro the but it shalle be chaunged in to a better And thenne he was anone byheded And his body taken of Crysten men And was honourably buryed And soo many myracles were shewed att his Tombe that hit was holden greete honoure of the paynyms Gregorye of Tours reherceth of the place where his blood was shedde A Cristen man bare away thre stones whiche were befprenct with his bloode and put them in a caas of syluer and tables of tree enclosed about it bare them in to a castel whiche castell was al brente with fyre And that caas was founden hoole and sauf in the myddel of the fyre And he suffryd deth aboute the yere of oure lord CC lxx Thus endeth the lif of saynt Symphoryen Here begynneth the lif of saynt Bertylmewe thappostle And first thexposicion of his name BErtylmew is expowned the sone of aboue hangyng the waters or sone of ouerhangyng the see he is said of bar that is as moch to saye as sone and tholos whiche is as moche to saye as soueraynte and of Moyes that is to say water And here of is sayd Bartylmewe as a sone hangyng ouer the waters That is of god whiche enhaunceth the myndes of doctours on hyhe For to shede and besprynge bynethe the waters of doctryne And it is a name of Syrye and not of hebrewe And by the fyrst thre suspendynges that he had ought to be noted he was suspended or taken vp fro the loue of the world and he was suspendyd that is to say ententyf in heueÌ„ly loue And he was suspended that is to saye wrappyd in the grace and in the ayde of god not by his merytes his lyf shone but by thayde of god Of the second cam the depenesse of his wysedome of whiche depenes of wisedom Denys sayth in his mystycal theologyâ— The dyuyne Bertylmewe of whome is moche dyuynyte and ryght lytel And that the gospel is brode and grete and also it is short And after the entent of saynt Denys Bertylmewe wylle shewe that alle thynges may be affermed and shwed of god vnder one consyderacion And by another consideracion may be more propyrly denyed Of saynt Bertylmew thappostle SAynt Bartlmew thappostle wente in to ynde whiche is in th ende of the world And therin he entryd in to a Temple where an Idoll was which was named Astaroth And he as a pylgrym abode there In that ydoll dwellyd a fende that said that he coude hele al maner sekenesses but he lyed for he coude not make them hoole And he cessed to make them seke the temple was ful of seke peple coude haue none answer of that ydoll wherfore they went in to another cyte where as an other ydol was worshiped named berith they demauÌ„ded hym wherfor astaroth gaf to them none answer And Beryth sayde youre god is bouÌ„den with chaynes of fyre that he neyther dar drawe breth ne speke after that bartylmewe thappostle of god entryd in to the temple And they sayd to hym who is that Bertylmew And the deuylle sayd he is the frende of god almyghty And he is comen in to this prouynce for to auoyde alle the goddes of ynde And thenne they sayd telle vs somme tokens and signes that we may knowe hym and fynde hym and the deuylle sayd to them he hath his heres black and cryspe his skyn whyte eyen grete his nosethrellis euen streyt his berde longe and hoor a lytel and of a strayte and semely stature he is clad in a whyte cote and a whyte maÌ„tell whiche in euery corner ben gemmes of purpur and precious stones therin And it is syth xxvj yere that his clothes neuer wexed olde ne fowle he prayeth and worshipeth god on his knees an honderd tymes a day and an honderd tymes by nyght The Angels gone with hym which neuer suffre hym to be wery ne to be an hongryd he is alwey of lyke semblaunt glad and ioyous he seeth alle thynges to fore he knoweth alle thyng he speketh all maner langages and vnderstondeth them And he knoweth wel what I saye to yow And whan ye seche hym yf he wylle he maye shewe hym self to yow And yf hym lyst not not shalle ye fynde hym And I pray yow whan ye fynde hym that ye praye hym that he come not hyder that his Aungels doo not me as they haue doo to my felawe Thenne they wente and sought hym dylygently and besyly two dayes and fonde hym not On a day one that was bisette with a deuylle cryed and sayd Appostle of god Bertylmewe thy prayers brenne me And thappostle sayd holde thou thy pees and come theÌ„s And anone he was delyuerd And whan Polemyen kyng of that regyon herd this thynge whiche hadde a doughter lunatyk he sente to thappostle prayeng that he wold come to hym hele his doughter And whan thappostle was come to hym and sawe that she was bounden with chaynes and bote alle them that wente to her he commaunded to vnbynde her And the mynystres durste not goo to her And he sayd I holde the deuylle fast bounden that was in her And therfor be not aferd And thenne anone she was vnbounden and delyuerd And thenne wold haue presented to thappostle Camellys charged with gold and syluer and precious stones but he coude not be founden in no maner And on the morowe folowyng thappostle appyered to the
herynge this thyng the blessyd Adryan enioyed hym strongly merueiled moche of his wyf that was soo yonge and ryght fayre noble and maryed but xiiij monethes withoute more hâ—u she myght saye this And therfor he was the more ardaunt to martirdome And herd gladly these wordes But whanne he sawe her ouermoche tormented he sayd to her opene the dore to me Natalye my loue and lady For I haue not fledde the martirdom as thowwenest but I am come to calle the as I promysed to the And she byleuyd it not but sayd to hym See how this traytoure renegate deceyueth me why lyest thou that other Iudas Flee thou vnhappy fro me or I shal slee my self And thenne thou shalt be ful sory whyle she taryed to opene the dore he sayd opene anone for I must goo thenne thou shalt see me no more and thenne shalt thow wepe that thou hast not sene me to fore my deth I haue leyd to pledge for me the hooly martirs And yf the mynystres seche me they fynde me not they shal cause the sayntes to suffre theyr martyrdome and myn alâ—o And whan she herd that she opened the dore And they thenne embraced and kyssed eche other went to gyder to the pryson And there Natalye clensyd seuen dayes duryng the woundes of the sayntes with precious clothes And thenne themperour commaunded them to be brought to hym And they were so broken with the paynes that they myght not goo but were borne as beestes And Adryan certaynly was bounden his handes behynde hym And spake to Natalye was born vpon the torment of Eculee and presented to Cezar And Natalye ioyned her to hym and sayd to hym My lord beware that thow tremble not for none aduenture whan thou shalt see the tormentes thou shalt not suffre here but a lytel but thou shalt be anone enhaunced with the Aungels And thenne Adryan wold not sacryfyse and was beten right greuously And thenne Natalye ranne to the sayntes that were in the pryson and said my lord hath begonne his martirdome And the kynge warned hym that he sholde not blame his goddes And he answerd yf I be thus tormented that blame theÌ„ that be no goddes hou shalt thou be tormented that blasphemest hym that is very god And the kyng sayd to hym these other traytours haue tauÈt the these wordes To whom adryan sayd Why callest thou them traitours whiche ben Doctours and enseygne the lyf perdurable And Natalye ranne to the other with grete ioye and tolde the wordes that her husbond had sayd And thenne the kyng dyde hym to be beten with foure strong men And Natalye anone reported to the other martirs that were in the pryson alle the martirdome the answers and the paynes of her husbond and he was so sore beten that his entrailles sprang oute of his bely And thenne he was bounden with yron and put in pryson with the other And Adryan was a yong man lusty and moche fayre of eyght and twenty yere of age And when Natalye sawe her husbond lye grouelynge vppon the erthe and al to broken she leyde hir hande on his heede in comfortyng hym and sayde Thew arte blessyd my lord For thou art made worthy to be of the nombre of sayntes thow arte blessid my lyghte when thou suffrest for hym that suffred dethe for the Goo thenne forth my swete loue that thou mayst see his glory And when themperour herd that many wymmen mynystred to the sayntes in pryson he commaunded that they shold no more be suffred to entre And Natalye herd that she shoof her heede and tooke thabyte of man and serued the sayntes in the prison and made the other wymmen doo soo by the ensample of her And she praid her husbond when he sholde be in glorye that he wolde praye for her that she myght kepe her vndefowled in this worlde or rather to be taken out therof And when the kyng herd what the wymmen had done he commanded to brynge forth an anuelt or a stythye soo that the holy martirs sholde haue theron her legges and armes all to frusshed and broken theron and dye the sonner And thenne Natalye doubted that her husbonde shold be aferd for the tormentes of the other prayde the mynystres that they wolde begynne with hym Thenne they hewe of his legges and thyes And Natalye prayd hym that he wold smyte of his hondes to th ende that he shold be lyke to the other saintes that had suffred more than he And when he had hewen them of he gaf vp his spyryte to god The other sayntes helde forthe their feet with theyr free wylle and passyd to our lord And the kyng commaunded that the bodyes sholde be brent And Natalye hyd in her bosome the hond of saynt Adryan And when the bodyes of the sayntes were throwen in to the fyre Natalye wolde haue with them sprongen in to the fyre and â—e cam And sodenly anone 〈◊〉 a 〈…〉 quenchyd the fyre soo that the bodyes of the sayntes had none harme And the Crysten men tooke counceylle to gydre and dyd doo bere the bodyes to constantynople tille that the pees was gyuen to the chirche that they were fette ageyne with honour And they suffred dethe aboute the yere of oure lorde two honderd and four score Natalye thenne abode and dwellyd in her hows reteyned the honde of saynt Adryan And for to haue therof she kepte it al wey at her beddes hede And after the Iuge sawe natalye so fayre soo ryche and soo noble by leue of themperoure he sent wymmen to her by cause she sholde consente to hym by maryage to whome Natalye answerd who is he that may doo soo moche honour that I may be ioyned to hym by maryage but I requyre yow that I maye haue terme of thre dayes to araye and make me redy And thiâ— she sayd to th ende that she myght flee awey Thenne beganne she to praye our lord that he wold kepe her fro touchynge of man And theÌ„ne sodenly she fylle a slepe and one of the martirs appered to her and comforted her swetely and commaunded her that she shold goo to the place where the hooly bodyes were And whan she awoke she took the hond of Adrian only with her and entryd in to a ship with many Crysten men whan the Iuge herd it he folowed after with many knyghtes thenne the wynde cam contrary to them And drowned many and constrayned the other to retorne And thenne in the nyght the deuylle appered to them in guyse of a maronner in a shippe of fantasme and sayd to them fro whens come ye and whyder goo ye And the Crysten men sayd we come fro Nychomedye and goo vnto Constantinople And he sayd ye erre goo toward the lyfte syde And ye shalle sayle more ryght And he sayd soo by cause he wold haue drowned them in the See And as they folowed the sterres anone sodenly Adryan appered to them in a
dede hou he and Ebronyen shold fynysshe theyr lyues ¶ Of saint Logyer LOgyer whan he shone and resplendyd in al vertu he deserued to be Bisshop of Aduense Clotayre was deed he was moche greued for the cure and charge of the Royamme And by the wylle of god and couÌ„seyll of the princes he crowned Childryck yet yonge to be kynge But Ebronyen wold haue made Theoderyck broder of Childryck kyng not for the prouffyte of the Royamme but by cause he was put oute of his power and was hated of alle the peple And doubted the Ire of the kynge and of the prynces And therfore he requyred of the kynge lycence for to entre in to Relygyon And the kynge graunted it to hym Thenne the kynge dyd hold his broder the oderich in garde that he shold machyne nothynge ageynste the Royamme And by the holynes and prouydence of the good Bisshop Logyer alle the peple were in ioye and in pees And soone after the kynge beynge enpayred by euylle counceylle was meuyd in wrath ageynst this hooly Bisshop seruaunt of god And sought menes ententyfly how he myght couenably putt hym to deth But Logyer suffred all goodly and reputed his enemyes lyke as his frendes and dyde so moche toward the kynge that on eester day he shold synge masse in the cyte wherof he was a bisshop And that day it was told to hym that the kynge shold performe that nyght all that he had treted for his deth but he ne doubted nothynge but dyned that day with the kyng at his owne table And thenne he fledde his persecutour in suche maner that he wente to the monasterye of Lucon ther seruynge oure lord in whiche Ebronyen ther was hyd in thabyte of a 〈◊〉 And also seruyd hym in grete charyte And a whyle after the kynge deyde And Theoderyche was enhaunced in to the regne For which thyng the blessyd saynt Logyer meued by the wepynges and teeres of the people and constrayned by the commaundemente of his abbot retourned vnto his see in his Cyte But Ebronyen anon renouÌ„ced his relygyon And was ordeyned steward of the kynge And how be it that he was euylle to fore yet he was worse after And studyed how he myght brynge Logyer to deth And sente knyghtes for to take hym And whan the blessyd Logyer knewe it he wold haue escaped fro theyr woodenes and malyce And as he yssued out of thâ— Towne in thabyte of a Bisshop He was taken of the knyghtes whiche anone put oute his eyen And thenne two yere after saynt Logyer with guâ—ryn his broder whom Ebronyen hadde exyled were brought vnto the palays of the kynge And as Ebronyen mocqued the bisshop they answerd wysely and peasybly Not wythstondynge that wycked man Ebronyen sente guâ—ryn for to be stoned to deth with stones And made the Bisshop to be ladde all the nyght bare foote vppon sharp stones on whiche the water ranne faste And whanne he herd that he preysed god in his tormentes he made to cutte oute the tonge of his heede and after to kepe in pryson for to make hym suffre newe tormentes But for all that he lost neuer his speche but entended to preche and to exhortacion as wel as he myght And sayd to fore how he Ebronyen shold deye and whan Thenne a grete lyghte in maner of a crowne enuyronned his heede whiche moche peple sawe And somme demauÌ„ded hym what thynge hit was And he kneled doune and made his prayers yeldynge graces to god And admonested alle them that were there that they shold chaunge theyr lyf in to a better And whanne Ebronyen herd that he had grete enuye at hym And sente four men for to smyte of his hede And whanne they ledde hym forthe he sayd to them It is no nede to yow to laboure ony more but fulfylle ye here the desyre of hym that sente yow And thenne thre of them had so grete pyte of hym that they kneled doune and requyred pardon And the fourth smote of his hede whiche anone was rauysshed of the deuylle and throwen in the fyre ended his lyf myserably Thenne two yere after Ebronyen herd that god shewed many myracles for his blessyd saynt and the renomme of it shone ouer all and was tormentid with cursyd enuye and sente thyder a knyght to wete the trouthe and to retorne and telle to hym And whan the knyght cam thyder he prowdly smote the tombe with his foote and sayd an euylle dethe mote he haue that sayth byleueth that this dede body maye doo myracles And anone he was rauysshed of the deuylle and deyde sodenly And the saynt was the more worshyped by his deth And whanne Ebronyen herd this he was thenne more tormentid wyth malyce of enuye and enforced to quenche the fame of the holy saynt but after the sayenge to fore of the saynt he felonnously slewe hym self with a swerd And this holy bisshop saynt Logyer suffred deth aboute the yere of our lord vjC lxxx in the tyme of Constantyn the fourthe ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Logier Here foloweth the lyf of saint Fraunceis first begynner of the Freres mynours And first of his name FRaunceis was first named Iohan but after his name was chaunged and was called Fraunceys The cause of chaungynge of his name was manyfold Fyrst for the reason of his merueylous chaungynge For it is knowen that he receyued of God by myracle the frensshe tongue And it is sayd in his legende that whanne he was replenysshed of the grace of god and of thardoure of the hooly ghooste he pronounced oute brennynge wordes in Frensshe Secondly by the reason to publysshe his offyce wherof is sayd in his legende that the dyuyne prouyden gaf to hym that name by cause of hym synguler And is acustomed name thoppynyon of this mysterye was knowen thorugh oute alle the world Thyrdly by reason of his offyce in effect wheruppon was gyuen to vnderstonde that by hym and by his sones he shold make many seruauntes of the deuylle and bonde to synne free Fourthly by reason of grete courage and magnanymyte of herte For frensshe men ben sayd of fyersnes For in them is naturell fyersnes and grete câ—rage of herte Fyftly by reason of the vertuosyte in spekynge For his word keruyd awaye the vyces lyke an axe Sixtely by reason that he chaced awey comnnely the deuyls Seuenthly by reason of honeste in his conuersacyon of perfection of werke And it is said that somme signes that were brought to Rome to fore the Consuls whiche were in terrour of the peple and in worship were callyd Franciscas ¶ Of saint Fraunceis FRaunceis seruaunt frende of Almyghty god was borne in the Cyte of Assyse and was maade a Marchaunt vnto the xxv yere of his age and wasted his tyme by lyuyng vaynly whome our lord corrected by the scorge of sekenes and sodenly chauÌ„ged hym in to another man soo that he beganne to shyne by the spyryte of prophecye
of leos that is peple and of nardus that is an herbe swete smellynge For by the odour of good fame he drewe the peple to hym by thodour of good renommee Or Leonard may be said as gaderynge hyhe thynges Or hit is said of lyon the lyon hath in hym self four thynges The fyrst is force or strengthe And as Isydre sayth hit is in the brest and in the hede And so the blessyd saynt Leonard had strengthe in his brest by the refraynyng of euyl thoughtes in the heede by contemplacion of souerayne thynges Secondly the lyon hath subtilyte in two thyngis For he hath his eyen open whanne he slepeth And diffaceth his traces when he fleeth And thus Leonard waked by labour of good werke and in wakynge he slepeth by rest of contemplacion And diffaceth in hym self the trace of alle worldly affection Thyrdly the lyon hath myght in his voys For by his voys he reyseth the thirdde daye his whelpe that is dede borne And maketh alle other beestes by hym to be in pees and reste And in lyke wyse Leonard reysed many that were dede in synne and many that lyued bestyally he fixed them in good werkes and prouffitable Fourthly the lyon hath drede in his herte after that ysydore sayth He doubteth two thynges that is the noyse of wheles of chariottes or cartes fyre brennyng In lyke wyse Leonard doubted and in doubtyng he eschewed all the noyse of the world And therfor he fledde in to the deserte And he eschewed the fyre of couetyse and therfor he reffused the tresours that were of fryd to hym ¶ Of saynt Leonard AT is said that leonard was aboute the yere of oure lord vC And he was baptysed in the holy fount of saynt Remyge Archebisshop of Raynes And was Instructe of hym and enduced in holy disciplynes of helthe And the parentes and kynnesmen of saynt Leonard were chyef and hyest in the palays of the kynge of Fraunce This Leonard gate so moche grace of the kynge that alle the prysonners that he vysyted were anone delyuerd And whanne the renommee of his holynes grewe and encreaced the kyng constrayned hym for to dwelle with hym long tyme tyll that he hadde tyme couenable and gaf to hym a Bisshopryche And he reffused it and left al desyrynge to be in deserte And wente to Orleaunce prechynge there with his broder Lieffart And there lyued a lytel whyle in a Couente And thenne Lyeffart had desyre to dwelle allone in a deserte vpon the Ryuer of Loyre And Leonard was warned by tholy ghoost to preche in guyan And thenne they kyssyd to gyder and departed Thenne Leonard prechyd there and dyd many myracles and dwellyd in a forest nyghe to the Cyte of Lymoges In whiche forest the kyng had do made an halle or a lodge whiche was ordeyned for hym whan he shold go hunte And hit happed on a daye that the kyng wente for to hunte in that forest And the quene whiche was gone thyder with hym for her recreacion whiche thenne was grete with child beganne to trauayll of child And the trauayll endured longe and was in poynt to perysshe so that the kynge and al the meyny wepte for the peryl of the quene And thenne Leonard passyd thorugh the forest and herd the vois of them that wepte and was moeued with pyte and wente thyder And the kyng called hym And demaunded hym what he was and he sayd that he was a disciple of saynt Remyge And thenne the kynge had good hope by cause he hadde ben enformed of a good maistre And brought hym to the quene prayd hym that he wold praye for her and for the fruyt that she bare that she myght gete of god double ioye And anone as he hadde made his prayer he gate of god that he requyred Thenne the kynge offryd to hym moche gold and syluer but he reffused al and desyred hym to gyue hit to poure men sayd I haue no nede of no suche thynges It suffyseth me to despyse the Rychesses of the world and to serue god in this wode and that is that I desyre And thenne the kynge wold haue gyuen to hym alle the wode I wylle not haue all but as moche as I maye go aboute with myn asse in a nyght I desyre whiche the kyng gladly graunted to hym And there was made a monastery In whiche he lyued longe in abstynence and two monkes with hym And theire water was a myle fro them wherfore he dyde do make a pytte alle drye the whiche he fylled with water by his prayers And called that place noble by cause he hadde receyued it of a noble kynge And he shone there by soo grete myracles that who that was in pryson and called his name in ayde anon his bondes feters were broken and wente awey withoute ony gaynsayeng frely And cam presentyng to hym their chaines or yrons And many of them that were soo delyuerd dwellyd stylle wyth hym and seruyd there our lord And there were seuen of his noble lygnage whiche folde awey alle their goodes duelleden wyth hym And he delyuerd to eche of them a parte of that woode And by his holy ensample he drewe many to hym And at the laste thys holy man beynge endowed with many vertues the eyghte ydus of Nouembre departed oute of this world slept in oure lord wherafterward for the many myracles that god shewed there it was shewed to the clerkes of the Chirche that by cause that place was ouer lytil for the grete multitude of peple that cam thyder that they shold do make in another place another Chirche And bere therin the body of saynt Leonard honourably And thenne the Clerkes and the peuple weâ—â— alle thre dayes in fastynges and in prayers ¶ And on the third day they sawe alle the countreye couerd with snowe sauf only the place wherin saynt Leonard wold reste whiche was alle voyde And thyder was the body transported And the Chirche made And the grete multitude of yrons of dyuerse maners witnesse well how many myracles oure lord hath shewed for hym And specially to prysoners of whome the feters and yrons hange to fore his tombe The vycounte of lymoges had do make a grete chayne for to fere with alle the malefactours and commaunded that it shold be fastned vnto a tronke in his Toure And who someuer was bounden with this chayne to that tronke ther as it was sette he myght see no lyght And hit was a place ryght derke And who soo deyde there deyde not of one dethe only but more than of a thousand tormentes And it happed that one of the seruauÌ„tes of Seynt Leonard was bounden with this Chayne withoute deseruyng Soo that almost he gaf ouer his spyrit And thenne as he myght in his courage he auowed to Seynt Leonard And prayd hym that sythe he delyuerd other that he wold haue pyte on his seruaunt ¶ And anone saynte Leonard appierid to hym in a whyte
Here foloweth of saint Theodore And first of his name THeodore is seid of theos that is as moche to say as god and of das that is to saye gyue And of â—usruris that is a felde And thus Theodorus is as moche to saye as a felde gyuen of god For he gaf hym to god and renounced the feld of the Chyualrye of themperour ¶ Of saint Theodore THeodore suffred dethe vnder Dyoclesian and maxymyan in the Cyte of Maryne And whanne the Prouost sayd to hym that he shold doo sacrefyse and retorne to his fyrst chyualrye Theodore ansuerid I serue my god and his sone Ihesu Cryst To whome the prouost sayde thenne thy god hath a sonne and theodre sayd ye certaynly To whome the prouost sayde Of whome may we knowe hym And the odore sayd Forsothe ye may well knowe hym and go to hym And thenne ther was terme gyuen to saynt Theodore for to doo sacryfyse vnto thydolles And he entryd in to the Temple of Marte by nyÈt and put fyre in it vnder and brent alle the Temple And thenne he was accused of a man that had sene hym and was enclosed in the pryson for to deye there for hongre theÌ„ne our lord appyerid to hym saide Theodore my seruaunt haue thou good hope For I am with the Thenne cam to hym a grete company of men clad in whyte the dore beyng closed and began to synge with hym And whanne the kepars sawe that they were aferd and fledde Thenne he was taken oute and warned to do sacryfyse he said yf thou brenne my flesshe by fyre and consumest hit by dyuyne tormentes I shall neuer renye my god as longe as my spyryte is in me Thenne he was honged on a tree by the commaundemente of themperour and cruelly his body was rente and torne with hokes of yron that his bare rybbes appyeryd Thenne the prouost demaunded of hym Theodore wylt thou be with vs or with thy god crist Theodore answerd I haue ben with my Ihesu Cryst and am and shalle be Thenne the prouost commaunded that he shold be brente in a fyre In whiche fyre he gaf vp his spyryte but the body abode therin without hurt Aboute the yere of oure lord two honderd lxxvii And alle the peple were replenysshed with ryght swete odoure And a vois was herd whiche sayd Come to me my frende And entre in to the ioye of thy lord And many of the peple sawe the heuen open Thus endeth the lyf of saint Theodore Here foloweth the lyf of saint Martyn And first of his name MArtyn is as moche to say as holdyng Marte that is the god of bataill ageynst vyces and synnes Or Martyn is sayd as one of the martyrs for he was a martir by his wylle and by mortyfyenge of his flesshe Or Martyn is expowned thus as despysynge prouokynge or seygnoryenge He despysed the deuylle his enemy He prouoked the name of oure lord to mercy And he seygnoryed ouer his flesshe by contynuelle abstynence in makynge it lene ouer whiche flesshe reason or corage shold domyne as saynte Denys sayth in an epystle to Demophyle lyke as a lord domyneth ouer his seruaunt or a fader his sone or an old man a yonge wanton so shold reason domyne the flesshe Seuerus whiche otherwyse was called Sulpicius disciple of saynt Martyn wrote his lyf whiche Seuerus Genandius remembreth and nombreth amonge the noble men Of saynt Martyn MArtyne was borne in the castelle of Sabarye in the towne of Pauonye but he was nourysshed in ytaly at pauye with his fader whiche was mayster and trybune of the knyghtes vnder Constancyen and Iulyane Cezar And Martyn rode with hym but not with his wylle For fro his yong Infancye he was enspyred deuynely of god And whanne he was twelue yere old he fled to the Chirche ayenste the wylle of alle his kynne And requyred to be made newe in the faythe And fro thens he wold haue entryd in to deserte yf Infyrmyte of maladye had not lette hym And as themperours hadde ordeyned that the sones of Auncyent knyghtes shold ryde in stede of their faders And Martyn whiche was fyften yere old was commanded to doo the same and was maad knyght and was contente with one seruaunt And yet oftymes Martyn wold serue hym and drawe of his botee In a wynter tyme as Martyn passed by the yate of Amyens he met a poure man al naked to whome no man gaf ony almesse Thenne Martyn drewe oute his swerd And carf hys mantell therwith in two pyeces in the myddel And gaf that one half to the poure man For he hadde nothynge els to gyue to hym And he clad hym self with that other half The next nyght folowyng he sawe oure lord Ihesu crist in heuen clothed with that parte that he hadde gyuen to the poure man And sayd to the Aungels that were aboute hym Martyn yet newe in the fayth hath couerd me with this vesture Of whiche thynge this hooly man was not enhaunced in vayne glorye But he knewe there by the bounte of god And whanne he was eyghten yere of age he dyde do baptyse hym self And promysed that he shold renounce the dygnyte to be the Iuge of the knyghtes and also the world yf his tyme of his prouostye were accomplisshyd Thenne helde he yet chyualry two yere And in the mene whyle the barbaryns entred amonge the frenshe men And Iulyan cesar whiche shold haue foughten ageynste them gaf grete moneye vnto the knyghtes And Martyn wyllynge nomore to fyghte reffused his yefte but sayd to cezar I am a knyght of Ihesu crist It apperteyneth not to me for to fyghte Thenne Iulyan was wrothe and sayd that it was not for the grace of Relygyon that he renounced chyualrye but for fere and drede of the present bataylle folowyng To whom Martyn not beyng aferd sayd to hym by cause that thou holdest it for cowardyse and that I haue not do it for good faythe I shalle be to morne alle vnarmed to fore the bataylle And shalle be protected and kepte by the signe of the crosse not by shelde ne by helme And shalle passe thorugh the bataylles of the enemyes surely And thenne he was commaunded to be kepte For to be on thâ— morne all vnarmed ayenst thenemyes But on the morne thenemyes sent messagers that they wold yelde them and their goodes wherof hit is no doubte but that by the merytes of this hooly man that this vyctorye was hadde withoute shedynge of blood And thenne forthon he lefte chyualry And wente to saynt Hyllarye bisshop of poytyers And he made hym acolyte And he was warned of oure lord in his slepe that he shold yet vysyte his fader and moder whiche yet were paynyms And also that he sholde suffre many tribulacions For as he wente ouer the montaynes he felle among theuys And whanne one of the theues hadde lyfte vp an axe for to haue smeton hym in the hede he bare the stroke
be alweye seek tyll thou haste accomplysshed and fulfylled thyn auowe and anone his Infyrmyte toke hym ageyn and wold not leue hym And afterwarde by the lycence gyuen of his abbot he accomplisshed â—is auow and was made al hool There was a mayde demaunded drynke of a seruaunte of hir faders and she gafe hir drynke and sayd the deuyl mote thou drynke and she dranke hir semed that fyre entryd in to hir body Thenne began she to crye hyr bely to swelle lyke to a barelle so that eche man sawe that she was demonyake she was two yere in that estate and after was broughte to the tombe of saynt elysabeth and was made parfytely hool and delyuerd of the fende There was one herman a man of the dyosyse of coloyn whych was holden in pryson and he callyd wyth grete deuocion saynt elysabeth vnto his helpe and the nyght folowyng she apperyd to hym and comforted hym and on the morne sentence was gyuen ageynst hym that he shold be hanged and the Iuge gaue lycence to his frendes to take hym doun of the galowes and they bare hym aweye al deed began to praye saynt elysabeth for hym and anone he aroos fro deth to lyf tofore them al A chylde of foure yere olde was fallen in to a pytte drowned and a man came for to take water espyed the deed chylde was drawen out and thenne they auowed hym to saynt Elysabeth and he was anone restablysshed to hys fyrst lyf helthe There was one frederyk a maronner which was connyng in swymmyng and on a tyme baygned hym in a water he mocaued a poure man whiche saynt elysabeth had enlumyned and yeuen ageyn to hym hys syght And the poure man sayd This holy lady whiche hath helyd me wyl auenge me on the so that thou shalt neuer come out of the water but deed and anone the swymmer loste al hys strengthe myght not helpe hym self but sanke doun to the bottom lyke a stone and was drowned thenne was drawen out of the water and forthwith soÌ„me of his frendes auowed hym to saynt Elysabeth and she gafe to hym hys lyf ageyn There was a man named dyeryk whyche was greuously vexyd in hys knees and in his thyes so that he myght not goo and he auowed that he shold goo to the tombe of saynt elysabeth and was viij dayes on goyng thyder and abode there a moneth and had no remedye and wente ageyn to hys hows and thenne he sawe in his slepe a woman sprynge water vpon hym and awoke wythal and was angrye and sayd to hyr wherfore hast thou awaked me and caste water on me and thenne she said I haue wette the and thys wetyng shal doo to the prouffyte and ease and thenne anone he aroos al hool and gaue thankynges to god and to saynt elysabeth Thenne lete vs praye to hir that she praye for vs for suche thynges as shal be for the moost prouffyte of our sowles amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Elysabeth ¶ Here foloweth the lyf of Saynt edmunde confessour SAynt Edmunde the confessour and bysshop whyche restyth at pounteney in fraunce was borne in englond in the towne of abendon his moder was named mabely the ryche she was ryÈt holy bothe wyf and wydowe and this said saynt edmond hir sone was borne on Saynt edmondes day the kynge and marter and in his byrthe no clothe was fowled by hym and he was borne in the fyrst spryngyng of the day and laye al that day tyl nyght as he had been deed so that the mydwyf wold haue had hym buryed but hys moder said nay and sone after he reuyued and was borne to chyrche and crystenyd named edmond by cause he was borne on saynt edmondes day as he grewe in eage so encreced he in vertues He had a brother named robert and the moder sette theym bothe to scole Also she had two doughters that one was named marye and that other alyce whiche were bothe made nonnes at cattesby in northamton shyre by the labour of theyr broder edmonde And the moder gaue to them gyftes to faste the fryday and drewe them to vertuous and holy lyuyng by yeftes and fayre byhestys so that whan they cam to more parfyte age it greuyd theym not Theyr moder ware harde heyre for our ladyes loue and ladde hyr lyf in grete penaunce and dayly laboured and on a tyme as she put out wulle for to spynne she delyuerd soo moche for the pounde that the spynners myght not lyue therby whiche compleyned therof to hir sone edmond and he toke the yarne that was spoÌ„ne 〈◊〉 pounde and rakyd it in the fyre and a certeyn tyme after he toke hyt out of the fyre and the Iuste pounde was not hurt ne lassed but as moche as was more than a pounde was wasted and brente by the fyre And whan she sawe this she repentyd hyr gretely and dyd so neuer more after After thys she sente hyr two sones to paryâ— to scole and delyuerd to them money for â—â—eyr costes and scolehyre and also two shyrtes of heyre and prayed theym for goddes loue heres that they wold were tho shyrtes ones or twyes in the weke and they shold lacke no thynge nedeful to them and they graunted gladly to do after their moders desyre in so moche that wythin a whyle of custome they ware the heyr euery day laye therin euery nyght This was a blessyd moder that so vertuously broughte forth hyr chyldren and in shorte tyme saynt edmond encreaced so gretely in vertue that euery man had ioye of hym gyuyng lawde to god therof And on a day as his felawes and he wente to playe He lefte their felawshyp and went allone in to a medowe and vnder an hedge he sayd his deuocions and sodeynlye there apperyd tofore hym a fayr chylde in whyte clothynge whiche sayd hayle felawe that goest allone and Saynt edmond beyng abasshed meruaylled fro whens thys chylde came To whom the chylde sayd edmond knowest thou not me and he sayd nay I am thy felawe in the scole and in alle where thou goest I am euer on thy right syde and yet thou knowest me not but leke in my forhede and there thou shalt fynde my name wryton theÌ„ne edmonde loked in his forhede sawe wryton therin with letters of golde Ihesus nazarenus rex Iudeorum and thenne the chylde sayd drede the not edmond for I am Ihesu Cryste thy lord and I shal be thy deffendour here whyle thou lyuest thenne edmond fyl doun mekely thankyng hym of his grete mercy and goodnes And thenne our lord taughte hym to say whan he shal goo to hys bedde or aryse and blysse hym with this prayer Ihesus nazarenus rex Iudeorum fili dei miserere mei in remembrauÌ„ce of my passyon and the deuyl shal neuer haue power to ouercome the thenne anone thys chylde vanysshed aweye and saynt edmond thankyd humbly our lord that it
and euery euyl dede shal be punyssled and the sonday ageynst euen ther came a grete multytude of fendes blastyng and roryng and bad saynt brandon goo thens that they myght haue theyr seruaunte Iudas for we dare not come in the presence of our mayster but yf we brynge hym to helle with vs and thenne sayd saynt brandon I lete not you to do your maysters commaundemente but by the power of our lord Ihesu I charge you to leue hym thys nyght tyl to morowe how darest thou helpe hym that so solde his mayster for thyrty pens to the Iewes and caused hym also to deye the moste shameful dethe vpon the crosse and thenne saynt brandon charged the fendes by his passyon that they shold not noye hym that nyght thenne the fendes wente theyr weye roryng cryeng towarde helle to their mayster the grete deuyll thenne Iudas thanked saunt brandon soo ruthefully thot it was pyte to see on the morne the fendes came wyth an horryble noyse sayeng that they had that nyght suffred grete payn by cause they broughte not Iudas sayden that he shold suffre double payn the vj dayes folowyng and they toke thenne Iudas tremblyng for fere with them to payne and after saynt brandon saylled southward thre dayes and thre nyghtes and on the fryday they sawe an yle londe and thenne Saynt brandon began to syghe and sayd I see the ylonde wherin saynt poule thermyte dwellyth and hath dwellyd there xl yere wythout mete and drynke ordeyned by mannes honde and whan they came to the londe saint poule came and welcomed them humbly he was olde and forgrowen so that no man myght see his body of whome saynt brandon said wepynge now I see a man that lyueth more lyke an aungel thenne a man wherfore we wretches may be ashamed that we lyue not better Thenne Saynt Poule sayd to Saynt brandon thou arte better thenne I for our lord hath shewed to the moo of his preuytes thenne he hath doon to me Wherfore thou oughtest to be more praysed than I To whome saynt brandon sayd we ben monkes and must labour for our mete but god hath prouyded for the suche mete as thou holdest the plesed wherfore thou arte moche better than I To whome Saynt poule sayd somtyme I was a monke of Saynt patrykes abbey in yrelonde and was wardeyn of the place where as men entre in to saynt patrykes purgatorye and on a day there came one to me and I asked hym what he was and he sayd I am your abbot Patryke and charge the that thou departe from hens to morne erly to the see syde and there thou shalt fynde a shyppe in to whiche thou muste entre whiche god hath ordeyned for the whos wylle thou must accomplysshe and so the nexte day I aroos and wente forthe and fonde the shyppe in whiche I entred and by the purueaunce of god w I as brought in to this ylonde the seuenth day after and thenne I lefte the shyppe wente to londe and there I walked vp and doun a good whyle and thenne by the purueaunce of god there came an otter gooyng on his hyndre feet and brought me a flynte stone an yron to smyte fyre wyth in his two fore clawes of his feet and also he had aboute his necke grete plente of fysshe whiche he caste doun before me wente his waye and I smote fyre and made a fyre of styckes and dyd sethe the fysshe by whyche I lyued thre dapes and thenne the ottyr came ageyn and brought to me fisshe for other iij dayes and thus he hath done this lj yere thorugh the grace of god and there was a grete stone out of whiche our lord made to sprynge fayr water clere and swete wherof I drynke dayly thus haue I lyued one and fyfty yere and I was fourty yere olde whan I came hyther and am now an hondred and xj yere olde and abyde tyl it please our lord to sende for me and yf it plesyd hym I wold fayn be dyschargyd of thys wretched lyf and thenne he bad saynt brandon to take of the water of the welle and to carye in to hys shyppe for it is tyme that thou departe for thou hast a grete iourneye to doo for thou shalt sayle to an ylonde whiche is fourty dayes sayllyng hens where thou shalte holde thyn ester lyke as thou hast doon tofore where as the tree of byrdes is and fro thens thou shalte sayle in to the londe of byheest and shalte abyde there fourty dayes and after retorne home in to thy contre in saufete And thenne thyse holy men toke leue eche of other they wepte bothe ful sore and kyssed eche other thenne saynt brandon entryd in to his shyppe and sayled xl dayes euyn southe in ful grete tempeste and on ester euen cam to theyr procuratour whiche maad to them good chere as he had before tyme and from thens they came to the grete fysshe wheron they sayd matyns and masse on ester day and whan the masse was doon the fysshe began to meue and swāme forth faste in to the see wherof the monkes were sore agaste whiche stode vpon hym for it was a grete meruayl to see suche a fysshe as grete as alle a contre for to swymme so faste in the water but by the wylle of our lord this fysshe sette al the monkes a londe in the paradys of byrdes all hole and sounde and thenne retornyd to the place he came fro and thenne Saynt brandon and his monkes thankyd our lord of theyr delyueraunce of the grete fysshe and kepte theyr estertyde tyl trynyte sonday lyke as they had doon before tyme and after this they took theyr shyppe and saylled eest xl dayes and at the fourty dayes ende it began to hayle ryght faste therwyth came a derke myste whiche lasted longe after whyche feryd Saynt brandon and 〈◊〉 monkes prayed to our lord to kepe and helpe them and thenne anone came theyr procuratour and bad them to be of good chere for they were come in to the londe of byheest and sone after that myste passed aweye and anone they sawe the fayrest contre eestward that ony man myght see and was so clere bright that is was an heuenly syght to beholde and al the trees were charged wyth rype fruyte and herbes ful of floures In whyche londe they walked fourty dayes but they coude see none ende of that londe and there was alweye day and neuer nyght and the londe attemperate ne to hote ne to colde and at the laste they came to a fayr ryuer but they durste not goo ouer there came to them a fayre yonge man and welcomed them curtoysly and called eche of them by his name dyd grete reuerence to saynt brandon and sayd to them be ye now ioyeful for thys is the londe that ye haue soughte but our lord wyl that ye departe hens hastelye and he wyl shewe to you more of