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
meditacions Assendyng vp aboue the sterres bright In thyne inwardecon templacions Or the blessed holy vysitacions Who can reherce bright as sonne or leuen So oftesent downe to the fro heuen ¶ Or who can tell thyne holy slepes softe With god alway full in thy memorie For loue of whome thou sighedest full ofte Whan thou where sole in thyne oratorye Or who can tell the melodye or glorye That angelys hath made in the place For the ioye they had to loke in thy face ¶ I am rude to rehersen all For vnconnynge for lacke of space The mater is so mly spirituall That I dare nat so hygh a style pace But lady myne I put me all in thy grace This iyrst boke compyled for thy sake Of my symplenesse thus an ende I make ¶ Besechynge all to haue pyte routh That therof shall haue any inspeccion If oughte be lefte of necligence and slouthe Or sayd to moche of presumpsion I put it mekely to her correccion And ashe mercy of my trespace There as I erre put me in her grace ¶ And thorowe her benygne supportacion So as I can forth I wyll procede With all myne herte hole entencion Prayeng that mayde ofso goodlyhede Croppe rote to helpe in this nede Whome I nowe leue in Nazareth soiourne And to my mater I wyll agayne retourne ¶ Howe mercy and peace rightwysnes trouthe dysputed for the redempcion of mankynde Ca. xi W No that is bounde and fettered in prison Thynketh longe after delyuerauuce And he that feieth payne and passyon Desyreth sore after allegeaunce And who that is in sorowe and penaunce Lytell wondre of hertely heuynesse Though he coueyte relees of his distresse ¶ And who that lyueth in langour in wo Feare in exyle and prescripcion And is with sette with many a cruell fo And can no gayne to his saluacion To escape deth without grete raunson Full longe he thynketh of full litell space While he in bondes abydeth after grace ¶ And yet to recorde of olde felicite In sothfastnes encreseth more his payne Than all the constraynte of his aduersite And causeth hym more to sygh playne For ioye passed can herten more constrayne Her welthe afore to be wepe and wayle Than all the torment that hem dothe assayle ¶ O who coulde euersith the worlde began Of more ioye or of gladnes tell Than somtyme coulde the worthy kynde of man That shapen was in paradyse to dwell Tyll he alas was banysshed in to hell Feare in exyle from his possession And there to abyde stocked in pryson ¶ And he that lost his riches and honoure His myrthe his ioye his olde welfare His force his myght and holy his socoure And was of vertue nakyd made and bare And laye full secke languyssenge in care So feare proscripte out of his contre That by the lawe there may no recouerbe ¶ Whose necke oppressed with so stronge a châ—â—â— Laye plunged downe without remedye That whan mercy wolde haue ben aâ—ane Right wysnes gan hit anone denye And whan that peace for recouer gan to crye Came trouth forth with a sterne face And sayd playnly that he gete no grace ¶ For peace and mercy to gyder assembled ware Full longe agone to trete of this matere And rightwysnes with hem was eke there And trouth also with a deynous chere And whan they were all foure in fere As ye haue herde and gan to entrete Than fyrst of all cruelly to threte ¶ Trouthe beganne almoste in a rage Of cruell ire and of melancolye And sayd shortly that man for his outrage Of veray Right must nedes dye And thus began the contrauersye Betwene the susteren trouthe alway in one Sayd playnly that recouer was there none ¶ For I quod Trouth at his creacion Tolde hym the parell afore his offence But he me put out of his bandon And gaue to me no maner audyence And â— quod Right all my dyligence Wolde hym haue rewlyd but he toke none hede Wherfore of me he gete none helpe at nede ¶ And whan he gaue credence to the snake He made his quarell euen agaynst Right And agayne Trouth he fallely gan to take Whan he her clene put out of his sight And agayn peace began a quarell to fight Whan he from hym mercy sette aferre And so he sette hym selfe all out of herre ¶ Therfore quod Right pleteth for hym nomore But let hym haue as he hath deserued ye do grete wronge yf ye wyll hym restore That hath his heste to you not conserued Ayes quod mercy nature hath reserued To peace my suster playnly and to me On wretches euer for to haue pyte ¶ And offendeth hath of ignoraunce More than of malice y wys quod mercy to yet for all that he muste haue his penaunce Quod Right anone like as he hath do And thynke quod peace that towarde Ierico He was disposed amonge his cruell fone For lacke of helpe whan he lefte hym alone ¶ That was quod Trouth for he was recheles To go the waye I taught hym of reason Quod mercy than the mortall fo of peace The olde Serpent rote of all treason Of false enuye and indygnacion Lay a wayte to brynge hym in a trayne Whan he to hym falsely dyd fayne ¶ That yf he ete of the forboden tree The fayre fruyte in paradyse present He sholde lyke vnto God be Of good and euyll to haue entendement And for my syster trouth was absent And ye your selfe also rightwysnes He was betrayed sleyghtly by falsenes ¶ Wherfore quod mercy I purpose vtterlye Hym to releue yf I can or maye And I quod peace wyll helpe faythfullye The greate yre and rancour to allaye Of iugement to put it in delaye And here vpon to fynde full refuge I wyll procede afore the hye Iuge ¶ Howe mercy and peace brought in this plee before the hyghe iuge Ca. xii ANd right forth w t before the kyng of glorie Mercy and peace the cause brought alone And in the hygh heuenly consistorye Peace sayd thus amonge hem euerichone O blessed lorde that arte bothe thre and one So please it the benygnely to here What I wyll say and my suster dere ¶ Remembre lorde amonge thy werkes all Howe thou madest mercy souerayne That whan that euer vnto the she call Thou maiste not of right her prayer disdayne And specially whan that we bothe twayne To thyne hyghnes for any thynge requyre Thou muste of grace fulfyll our prayere ¶ Is not thy mercy greate aboue the heuen Thyne owne doughter chefe of thyne alye And hath her place aboue the sterres seuen With the ordres of euery Ierarchye Whome daye by daye thou canst so magnefye Amonge thy werkes to make her empresse To helpe wretches whan they ben in distresse ¶ Thy mercy eke abydeth euer with the Lyke thy gretnes thy magnyficence And who that dothe mercy and pyte Dothe sacrefice hygh in thy presence And is not mercy of more excellence Lyke as the sauter well
reherce can Upon the erthe than the lyfe of man ¶ Thy selfe also as it is playnly couthe Auysedly who so taketh hede therto Sayest openly with thyne owne mouthe That a thousande thou canst thy mercy do And holy Dauid recordeth eke also With his Harpe aboue all thynge That he thy mercyes eternally shall synge ¶ And howe myghte eke any creature Upon erthe in any maner kynde Without mercy any whyle endure For all were gone yf mercy were behynde Wherfore lorde on mercy haue thy mynde The wofull captyfe to take vnto thy grace That hath so longe be seuered fro thy face ¶ And though that I be humble meke fre Forsothe lorde of ouete and of right yet euer in owne my dwellyng is with the. For selde or neuer I parte out of thy sight Peace is my name that power hath myght Thorowe my connyng they that be mortal fone By the helpe of the to accorde in to one ¶ And also lorde as holy writte can tell That of thy peace there may none ende be And eke thy peace doth euery wyght excell And art thy selfe of very duere Called the prynce of peace and vnyte And yet by hotest wretches to releue That is mankynde shall neuer fro hym meue ¶ And Iob recordeth the holsomest fruyte Of all thys worlde spryngeth out of peace Now lorde sithen I am made to be refuyte And to the wofull comfort and encreace Graunte of thy grace nowe a full releace That I and mercy may the sone confounde Of thyâ—ke caytyse that lyeth in pryson bounde ¶ So that he may haue lyberte To go at large and haue rempssion Of this thraldome and captyuyte And be delyuered out of this pryson So that there may be made redempsyon For his seruage and fynall paye Lorde of thy mercy without more delaye ¶ And whan they had her mater full purposyd Mercy and peace with full hygh sentence Touchynge man with synne so enclosed The iuge gaue benigne audyence And whan he had kept longe scilence For all the skilles to hym that they layde Yet at the laste â–ª to hem thus hesayde ¶ Howe god the father of heueÌ„ answered to mercy and peace Ca. xiii â—Ine owne doughter next to myne alye Though your request come of teÌ„der herte ye moste consydere with a prudent eye Of ryghtwysnes it may not me asterte Lyke your askyng by tauour to aduerte Unto the cause that ye represent But right and trouth fully wolde assent ¶ Withouten whome I may not procede To execute any maner iugement Wherfore let call her in this greate nede For I moâ—e worche by her auysement And whan they waren come and present Than trouth alone touchynge this matere Sayd openly that all myghten here ¶ If hit so be this man that trespaced Ne be not dede for his iniquyte Though vtterly the franchesse is defaced Bothe of my suster ryghtwysnes and me And fynally our bothe lyberte Goeth vnto nought of our iurisdiccion But he be punysshed for his trausgression ¶ The worde of God that playnly may not erre Tolde hym afore withouten any drede The greate parelle of this mortall warre Etynge the appell that he muste be dede But he oâ— slouthe toke therto none hede Wherfore he muste as right lyste prouide Without mercy the dome of deth abyde ¶ And though that peace be of pyte meued Man to delyuere with zele of routhe Righwisnes wolde than be agreued With me to consente that am called trouthe And as me semeth it were to greate aslouthe Dome or cause plee or any sute Without vs tweyne to be execute ¶ Me semyth eke my syster peace dothe wronge To foster a man holde agaynst vs twayne That hath ben conuersaunt so longe Amonge vs discorde to restrayne Therfore quod peace nowe wyll I not fayne To do myne office right to modefye That she of rigoure cause hym not to dye ¶ Than quod right of necessyte Hit muste folowe though he were my brother That he muste dye by dome of equyte Or in his name moâ—e be dede suÌ„me other So of my shyppe guyded is the rather That ne may erreâ—tor wawe nor for wynde More than the anker of trouth wyll me bynde ¶ Certes quod mercy so it not dysplease Unto your noble and wyse prouidence His deth to you may be lytell ease For holy writte reherceth in sentence If you consyderd in your aduertence That deth of synners the hygh god to queme Is werst of deâ—hes yfye of right list deme ¶ For synfull blode is no sacrefyse To god aboue that euery thynge mayesâ—nâ— Than muste ye deth of one deuyse That is of synne innocent and clene And is I â—rowe vnder the sonne shene Thorowe the worlde to reherce mankynde It were full harde suche one for to fynde ¶ For rust with rust may not scoured be Ne â—oule with fylth may be purefyed But who is soyled with dishoneste To wasshe another it is not aplyed Blacke vnto white may not be dyed Ne blode enfecte with corrupcion To god for synne is none oblacion ¶ Fygure herof ye may not be dyed As the byble maketh mencion Howe that a lambe of spotte fylthe free Somtyme was take by eleccion And offred vp in satisfaccion To god for synne for to signefye Who sholde for mannes ransome dye ¶ Must be clene pure and innocent Right as a lambe from euery spotte blame And trewly vnder the firmamente There was nonesuche sithen Adam dyd atame The fruyte to ete for eyther halte or lame In souerayne vertue is all the kynde of man Wherfore quod mercy the best rede that I can ¶ That peace my syster cesse this discorde And all the stryte that is vs bytwene And that we praye our iuge myghty lorde To this mater benygnely to sene And of his grace to shape suche a mene For trouth right so prudently ordeyne That peace ne I haue no cause to pleyne ¶ And this request is nought agaynst right Ne vnto trouth playnly none oftence If that our iuge of his greate myght Ordeyne so in his prouydence To scape awaye thorowe his sapyence That trouth and right be not displeased Thorow peace me though man be holpe eased ¶ Howe the father of heuen accorded the fouresystren Ca. xiiii ANd whan that she by reason had fyned That grounded was playnly vpon skyll The hygh iuge by mercy is enclyned To condescende of grace to her wyll And in suche wyse her askynge to fulfyll That right be serued trouthe not dysmayed That peace she shulde eke be well apayed ¶ And by sentence alone diffynytyfe The iuge sayd for conclusion An innocent pure and clene of lyfe Shall mekely dye to paye the raunson For mannes gylt and trasgression And he so frely shall the deth abaye In all his payne that he â—o worde shall saye ¶ And thus shall right in all maner thynge Haue her desyre and trouth shall not fayle But agreably in theyr worchynge To execute fully to stynte this batayle And
compassion The salte teeres fall and renne downe For drede and loue they had for to sene So harde assaye made on her age grene ¶ But she alwaye constant as a wall In thought in chere abasshed neuer a dele Ne in her herte dredeth nat at all But vpon god tristeth alwaye wele That he of trouth shall trye out the stele And by that she spake but wordes fewe Withouten speche he shall the dede shewe ¶ And whan the water fully was confecte Lyke the statute and the rytes olde Tâ— Bisshoppe hath the cuppe fyrste directe Unto Ioseph and hym the parell tolde And manly he gan it holde And dranke her vp chaunged nat his chere And seuen tymes aboute the Aultere ¶ He went than by custome as he ought Of face and colour alwaye lyke newe And to Marie also the Bisshope brought A cuppe of water she of herte trewe Accepteth eke this godely fresshe of hewe And or she dranke this holy parfyte mayde All openly thus to god she sayde ¶ Howe our Lady prayed to god to shewe her virginite Capitulo xxxii OSothfast lorde that hast the knowlechynge Of euery thynge thorowe thy might And art so truwe and so iuste a kyng To hygh and lowe thou wilt do right And nothing may be shrouded fro thy sight Thorowe none engyne ne thy face asterte But sothtastly knowest euery herte ¶ So that no wight fade may ne fayne Tofore the eye of thy sapience Nowe let thy grace downe fro heuen trayne Clerely in dede and nat by apparence To shewe in me yf there be offence Of any gylte myne auowe to appeche To the I praye so thy light to reche ¶ That it be couthe here all openly To wete in soth whether I in chastite Haue ledde my lyfe as faythfully Lyke as thou knowest for the loue of the And if I haue my virginite Concerned hole this is myne oryson Make openly a demonstracian ¶ And with that worde the drinke she dyd ataste And went her course aboute the Aultre And all the people gan to gasen faste If any signe dyd in her appere Other in colour countenaunce or chere But all for nought playnly as I tolde The more on her they loken and beholde ¶ The more she was in her sight fayre And lyke as Phebus in Ioly grene maye Whan she hath chased the derke misty ayre Shineth more clere the bright Somers daye Whan thylke vapours ben driuen clere awaye Right so Ioseph and also Marie So fresshe were in euery wightes eye ¶ That to beholde they thought it dyd heÌ„ goode The longe daye in her opynion For in her face alwaye was the bloode Without poling or any drawing downe And alwaye more fayre of inspeccion Of whiche thinge the people gan meruayle And for astoned thoughten her wittes fayle ¶ Howe the Bysshope and the people drede hem of the assaye that was made to our Lady Capitulo xxxiii ANd in paâ—â—ye greately weren disâ—â—â—â—â— Lest that god on heÌ„ wolde take vengâ—â—â—câ— For they so ferre goddes might haue assayed Of errour blynde and veâ—ay ignoraunce And right forthwith of hertely repentaunce They bonchen her brestes with fystes woÌ„der sore And all attones fellen downe afore ¶ This holy mayde with humble reuerence And wolden her fete haue kyssed there a none Askynge mercy of her greate offence And she forgaue it hem euery chone And all the Bisshoppes and the people gone Benignely to brynge her awaye And to her paleyse fully her conueye ¶ Of whome the noyse to the heuen ronge With herte and speche as they magnefye The lorde aboue in euery wightes tonge For ioye and myrthe gan hym glorefye And all the daye thus in melodye They ladde forth tyll it drowe to eue And godely than of her they toke her leue ¶ And forth they went euery man his waye In the storye as made is memorye But Marie in all the haste she maye Entred is in to her oratorie As she that hath wonne the victorie Of all tho that aforne gan muse Her mayden hede of malice to accuse ¶ And thorowe her merite hath y e mouthes shette And lippes closed of hem that weren in were And day by day kepinge her closette Continuelly laye in her prayere Expectaunt euer lyke as ye shall here With humble herte and deuoute obeysaunce Upon the tyme of her delyueraunce ¶ The holy ghoste beynge ay her guyde Her chaumbre she kept her day awaytinge As ye shall here if ye liste to abyde And god toforne yet or the byrdes singe And or that Flora doth the floris sprynge Tofore the calendes of Apryll or of Maye My purpose is playnly if that I maye ¶ For to procede forth in his dyte So as I can or make mencion Of the feste and solempnite That called is the Incarnacion Onely through helpe and supportacion Of her that is so plenteous benigne Or that Phebus entre in the signe ¶ With this carecte of the Ariete Of this feste somwhat shall I wryte But o alas the Rethorikes swete Of Petrake fraunces that coude so endyte And Eullius with all his wordes whyte Full longe agone and full olde of date Is dede alas and passed into fate ¶ A comendacion of Chaucers Capitulo xxxiiii ANd eke my maister Chaucers nowe is greue The noble rethore Poete of Britaine That worthy was the laurer to haue Of Poetrie and the palme attayne That made firste to distille and rayne The golde dewe dropes of speche eloquence In to our tonge thrugh his excellence ¶ And fonde the floures firste of rethorike Our rude speche onely to enlumine That in our tonge was neuer none hym lyke For as the sonne dothe in heuen shyne In mydday spere downe to vs by lyne In whose presence no sterre may appere Right so his dyttes withouten any pere ¶ Euery makinge with his light distayne In sothfastnes who so taketh hede Wherfore no wonder though myne herte playne Upon his deth and for sorowe blede For want of hym nowe in my greate nede That sholde alas conueye and directe And with his supporte amende and correcte ¶ The wronge traces of my rude penne There as I erre and go not lyne right But that for he ne may me naâ— kâ—nne I can nomore but with all my might With all myne herte myne inwarde sight Prayeth for hym that nowe lyeth in cheste To god aboue to gyue his soule good reste ¶ And as I can forthe I will procede Sithen of his helpe there may no socour be And though my penne be quakinge ay for drede Nether to Clyo ne to Calyope Me liste not call for to helpe me Ne to no muse my poyncell for to gye But leue all this and saye vnto Marie ¶ O clere Castell and the chaste Toure Of the holy ghoste mother and virgine Be thou my helpe conceyle and socoure And let the stremes of thy mercy shyne In to my breste this thyrde boke to fyne That thorowe thy supporte and benigne grace It to parforme I may
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
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
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
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
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