he said I am he that disputeth Iustice and rightwisnes of helthe in the redempcion of humayne lignage he was Iustice in as moche as he that was creatour brought agayn his creatures fro the straunge Iurisdiction And he was rightwisnes in as moche as the enemye whiche had assaylled vs he put cast out of the domynacion that he had in thumayne lignage And after this maketh saynt denys a question Syth the pryncypal angellis ben nyghe to god and ben without moyen enlu myned of god wherfore demaunded they the one of the other lyke as that they wold haue lerned eche of other but he saith that gyueth this solucion that in that they demaÌ„unde eche of other it sheweth that they desire to knowe And in that first emonge them they had collacion it sheweth that they durste not auaunce them to fore the dyuyne progression And for this first they ought to axe echeone other by cause that paraduenture their interrogacioÌ„ were not ouer hasty vpon the illuminacioÌ„ that they had receyued of god without moyen The second question is And that was the first and souerayn aungele sayeng to Ihesu Cryst Why is thy clothyng rede and thy vestymentis as troden or fulled in a presse Our lord hath his clothyng and his body rede all couerd with blood by cause that yet whan he ascended he had his woundee in his body after this that bede saith he must kepe his woundes in his body for v reasons and he said thus Our lord kepeth his woundes And to the day of Iugement he shal kepe them to th ende that it conferme his resurrection And for to praye the fader for vs he presenteth them to th ende that the goode see the grete merci by whiche he hath redemed them ¶ And that the wycked peple may knowe that rightwisly they be dampned And that eternelly he bere with hym the signes of his gloriouse victory perpetuell And to this question answereth our lord Torcular calcaui cÌ„ The presse I haue torned fowled all allone And of all men ther was not one that wold helpe me the presse is the crosse in the whiche he was pressid in suche wyse that the blood sprange out ¶ Thus Ihesu cryst called the enemye the pressour whiche that thus had wrapped thumayne lygnage with cordes of synne and quenchid hym so clene that he had nothyng spirituel but that it was without expressyd And only he shewd it in the vyrgyne marye but our champion fought so strongly And defowled the pressour so foule that he brake the bouÌ„des of synne And ascended into heuen And after this hâ— opened the tauerne of heuen and poured out the wyne of the hooly goost The thirde question is the whichâ— the lasse angellis made to the gretter more in sayeng who is this kynge of glorye They answerd and sayde The lord of vertues he is kynge of glorye And of this question of thangellis and of thanswere of the other saith saynt Austyn Al the ayer is halowed in the companye dyuyne ¶ And alle the tourbe of deuellis fleyng in thayer fledde bacward whan Ihesu cryst ascended to whome thaungellis that were in the company of god ranne And demaunded who is this kynge of glorye And they answerd this is he that was whyte and colourd as a rose the whiche was seen without colour and wythoute beaute Seke in the tree stronge in his despoylle Fowll reputed in his body wel armed in the batayll styngyng in his deth Fair in his resurrection whyte bornÌ„ of the virgyne Rede in the crosse pale in repreuys And clere in heuene As to the fyfte it is for what merite he ascended And we ought to vnderstonde that he ascended in treble meryte wherof saith saynt Iherome Ihesu cryst ascended in meryte of trouth For that which had be promysed by prophetes he fulfyllyd in merite of humylyte debonayrte For lyke as he was sacrefyed lyke a lombe for the lyf of the peple in meryte of Iustice But by Iustyce and not only by puyssaunce but by Iustyce and by ryght thou hast delyured man and I haue withholden of thy puyssaunce And thy vertue shal brynge the to heuen this said god the fader to the sone As to the sixthe that is whither he ascended it ought to be knowen that he ascended aboue alle the heuenes as thappostle saith ad ephesios quarto He that descended fro heuen that is he that ascended aboue alle the heuenes by cause he fufylled all thynges he said aboue alle the hâ—uenes by cause ther be many heuenes aboue whiche he ascended ¶ There is an heuene materiel an heuene racionel an heuen Intellectuel and an heuene substaÌ„cyall Ther ben many heuenes materyel The heueÌ„ of thayer which is called aereuÌ„ one other called ethereuÌ„ Anotheâ— olâ—imperiuÌ„ another igneuÌ„ another sidereuÌ„ another crystallinum and another empireuÌ„ The heueÌ„ resonable is the man Iuste whiche is said Iuste by cause of the dyuyne habytacion For lyke as heuene is the sete of god as the prophete ysaye sayth CluÌ„ uiichi sedes est our lord saith that the heuene is his sete reght so is the soule of a rightwis man lyke as salomon saith The soule of a rightwis man is the sete of sapyeÌ„ce by reason of the holy coÌ„uersacion For the sayntes by holy coÌ„uersacion and desyre dwelle in heuen as saith saynt poul our coÌ„uersacion is in heueÌ„ by cause of coÌ„tynuell oê‘acion in vertue For lyke as the heuenes moue contynuelly without restyng in suche maner the seyntes moeue alway by good werkes The heuen intellectuell beÌ„ thauÌ„gellis thauÌ„gellis beÌ„ called heueÌ„ by the reasoÌ„ of dygnyte of their vnderstondyng wherof saith saynt denys in the boke of dyuyne names in the iiij chapitre The dyuyne spirites the aungelles beÌ„ aboue the creatares which beÌ„ lyue aboue all thynges that lyue vnderstonde and knowe aboue alle other wittes reasons more than alle other thynges that been in beyng they desire wele good of which they be ê‘ticipauÌ„t that is god Secondly they ben right fair by cause of thir nature and of their glorye of which beaute sayth saynt denys in the boke tofore alleged Thangel is the manyfestacion of dedes wyll of god by whom they be shewd and he is the clerenes of derke light he is a myrour pure right clere without receyunyg of ony fylth or spotte in hym yf it be leeffull to saye he is the beaute the comformyte of the bounte of god Thirdly they be right stronge by cause of theyr vertue myght of which strenght saith IohÌ„n damascene in his second boke the viij chapytre where he saith Fortes sunt et parati cÌ„ The angellis of god ben stronge and alway redy to fulfyl the wyll of god And they be found alleway anon where god wille haue them The heuen hath iij coÌ„dicions It is right hye ryght fayr and right stroÌ„ge Of ij the first saith salomoÌ„
alle the nyght duryng syngyng heuenly songes emonge whiche thys songe was herde Albone the glorious man is a noble martyr of Ihesu cryste and the people came to beholde this syght Wherfore many were torned from theyr false byleue and byleuyd in Ihesu cryste many of them sone after wente in to walys for to seche amphyabel for to be baptysed and enformed in the feythe of Ihesu cryste and there they fonde hym prechyng the worde of god And thenne they tolde hym how that albone was marterd and for a token they broughte the crosse whiche he helde in his honde and was yet blody of hys blood wherby he myght euydentelye knowe that he had suffred dethe Wherof this holy man gaue lawde and thankynges to our lord and maad thenne vnto them a noble sermone in suche wyse as alle that peple that came fro verolamye were baptysed and receyued the feythe and sone after the Iuge had knowleche of the departyng of thys people fro the cytee and were gone in to walys to receyue the feythe of amphyabel saynt albons mayster Wherof he was moche angry and sore moeuyd and enquyryd of the nombre of them that were gone and he fonde a thousand and moo whos names were wryton and thenne he ordeyned a multytude of people wel armed and in deffence for to seche amphyabel and those people that were goon to hym Whiche wente in to walys and there fonde alle thyse peple awaytyng on amphyabel and heryng hym preche the word of god to whome one of them that were soo sente sayd to amphyabel O thou dysceyuer and moste wycked of alle men why hast thou disceyued this peple with thy deceyuable prechyng steryng them to forsake our trewe lawes and goddes commaunde theym to leue theyr errour and to retorne home ageyn to our cyte and yf thou doo not We shal slee al them brynge the to our cyte there to be tormentyd to the dethe To whome one of the crysten men sayd certeynly thys man is the verey trewe seruaunte of god for whome god doeth and shewyth dayly myracles and we al knowleche vs to be veray trewe crysten men and be redy for the loue of the feyth of our lord Ihesu cryste to suffre dethe for to haue therfore our rewarde in heuen euerlastyng ioye and blysse and counceyl you to be baptysed and to receyue the feythe of cryste and whan the paynyms herde this they in a grete furye ranne vpon al that blessyd companye and cruelly slewe which gladly offred them self to suffre dethe for our lord There the fader slewe the sone and the sone the fader brother slewe brother and cosyns theyr cosyns Thenne the holy man amphyabel seyng this blessyd companye thus cruelly put to dethe recomended their sowles to almyghty god theÌ„ne the tormentours toke amphyabel sware by theyr goddes that they wold brynge hym to verolamye quycke or deed bonde his hondes behynde hym faste and drewe hym forth goyng a fote they rydyng that his feet bledde greuously tyl they came to the place where saint albone was buryed by the waye there was a seek man which was goyng fro verolamye toward amphyabel for to receyue the feythe he cryed to amphiabel for to be releuyd of his sekenes whom the paynyms scorned amphiabel by the name of our lord made hym al hole hys bondes that his hondes were bouÌ„de with were losid wherof soÌ„me of the paynyms glorefyed our lord they said that amphyabel was brought shold come wherof they of the cite were glad and supposed he shold haue forsake his feyth but the tormentours toke bonde hym not wyth stondyng that he alway preched the word of god And one of them tolde to them how that their frendes were slayn and what myracles god shewd for them at theyr deth in suche wyse that many were conuerted to the fayth And the peple ran out of the cyte to the place where as thys holy man was and stode Whiche was at that tombe of saynt albon one of those tormentours in a grete furye toke this holy man and bonde hym fast And after opened hys nauel and toke out one ende of his bowellis And fastned it to a stake whiche he pyght in the ground and made the holy man to goo rounde aboute the stake and droof hym with whippes bete hym tyl that his bowellys were wounden out of hys body ¶ And in al thys payne thys holy man yaf no token of sorow ne of dysease ¶ And thenne in theyr wodenes they ronne vpon hym with speres and swerdys to compelle hym to renne aboute tyl alle were drawen out whiche was a merueylle to the peple that he so pacientely myÈt endure suche greuouse tormentes so longe wherfor many of them forsoke theyr ydolles and becam crysten And whan the Iuge sawe and knewe that the peple were becomen crysten he commanded to slee them incontynent and so ther were slayn to the nombre of a thousand peple whiche amphyabel sawe and thanked god recommandyng to hym their sowles and thenne the tormentours seeyng yet the lyf in this holy man caste stones at hym stoned hym and he alway perseuerid in prechyng to them and counseylled them to be baptysed And they shold haue foryeuenes of al theyr synnes and the yates of heuen shold be opened to them But they cessed not of theyr cruel castyng of stones Tthenne atte laste thys holy man amphyabel lyfte vp his eyen in to heuen besechyng our lord to receyue his spirite And thenne he sawe saynt albon stondyng emonge the angellys to whom he sayd O holy saynt albon I beseche the that thou pray to our lord for me that hit plese hym to sende his angel to lede me surely that I be not lette in my way be the cursyd ennemy the fende And vnnethe he had sayd the word but two angellys descended fro heuen and sayd to hym thys day shalt thou be in heuen wyth albon And whan the paynems herde thys heuenly voys They were sore aferd and abasshyd And the angelys toke his sowle with heuenly songe and myrthe and bare it vnto heuen ¶ And so departed this holy sowle from the body And the paynems perseueryng in their malice threwe alway stones at the dede body and anone after fyl a debate emong the paynems that eche faught wyth other and in the mene whyle a crsten man stale away the body and hyd it ¶ And anon after our lord shewde a grete myracle And that was that the vysages of the tormentours were dysfygured theyr hondes armes and other membrys dreyed vp ¶ And the Iuge lost hys mynde and was madde By cause they stroof agayn the wyll of god And suffred grete payne afterward ¶ And thus suffred thys two holy martres saynt albon and saynt amphyabel martyrdom and deth for the fayth of Ihesu cryste Whiche by theyr merytes brynge vs vnto hys euer lastyng blysse Amen Thus enden the passyons and martyrdom of saynt
goodes that he hath lente vs For we haue nothyng propre but Ihesu Cryst hath lente to vs all that we haue theÌ„ne it is wel reason that we doo gyue for hym to the poure of suche goodes as be his For we ben but seruauntes And we ought to gy ue to the hungry mete to the dursty drynke to the naked clotyng vysyte the seke And to fore al thynges to loue god and after our neyghebours as our sylf And despoylle our self fro synne And clothe vs with good werkes and vertues And folowe the co mandement of Ihesu Cryst And in this manere we shal fulfyll the wyll of our fader Ihesu Cryst yf we ben so purged and thus circumcised Thenne late vs pray vnto the lord of heuene that saith that he cam not to breke the lawe but to fulfyll it that he gyue vs grace In suche maner to fulfyll the lawe and his wyll in thys world that we may come in to his holy blysse in heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the fest of the circumcision of oure lord Here foloweth the fest of the Epiphanie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the thre kynges THe fest of thepiphanye of our lord is aourned of foure myracles after them it hath foure names On this day the kynges worshipped Ihesu Cryst And saynt IohnÌ„ baptyst baptysed hym And Ihesu Cryste chaunged this day water in to wyn And he fedde fyue thousand men with fyue loues of brede Whan Ihesu cryst was in the age of xiij dayes the thre kynges cam to hym the way lyke as the sterre ledde them And therfore this day is callyd Epiphanye or the tiephanye in comyn langage And is said of this terme ephi whiche is as moche to saye as aboue And of this terme phanes whiche is as moche to say as apparicion For thenne the sterre appierede aloue them in thayer where the same Ihesus by the sterre that was seen aboue them shewde hym to the kynges And that day xxix yere passed that whas at thentre of xxx yere For he had xxix yere and xiij dayes and began the xxx yere as saith seynt luc Or after this that Bede saith he had xxx yere complete as the chirche of Rome holdeth And thenne he was baptysed in the flood or ryuer of Iordan therfore it is callyd thiephanie said of theos whiche is as moche to saie as god phanes Apparicion For thenne god that is the trynyte appierede god the fader in voys god the sone in flessh humayne god the holy goost in lykenes of a douue After this that same day a yere whan he was xxxj yere old and xiij dayes he torned water in to wyn therfore it is called bethania sayd of beth that is to saie an hows and phanes that is apparicion And this myracle was doon of the wyne in an hows by whiche he shewde hym very god and this same day â— yere after that was xxxij yere he fedde fyue thousand men with fyue loues lyke as bede saith And is also songen in an hympne wiche begynneth Illuminans altissimus And therfor it is called phagiphania of phage that is to saye mete And of this fourth myracle some doubte yf it were don on this day For it is not wreton of bede expressely And by cause that in the gospell of saynt IohnÌ„ is red that it was don nyghe vnto paske Therfore the foure apparicions were sette on this day The first by the sterre vnto the crebbe or racke The second by the voys of the fader on floâ— Iordan The thirde of the water in to wyne at the hows of archedeclyn ¶ The fourth by the multiplicacion of fyue loues in deserte Of the first apparicion we make solempnyte on this day pryncipally And therfore poursiewe we thistorye suche as it is whan our lord was â—orn the thre kynges cam in to Iherusalem of whome the names ben wreton in ebrewe That is to wete Appelyus Ameryus and Dâ—mascus ¶ And in greke Galagalath Magalath and Tharath And in latyn Iaspar Melchior and Baltasar ¶ And it is to wete that this name Magus hath thre significacions It is said illuseur or deceyuour Enchaunteur and wyse They ben sayd illuseurs and deceyuours by cause they deceyued herodes For they retorned not by hym whan they departed fro the place where they had honoured and offred to Ihesus but retorned by another way in to theire coÌ„tre ¶ Magus also is said enchaunteur And herof ben said thenchauntours of pharao Magi whiche by their malefice made their merueylles by theÌ„ chauntyng of the craft of the deuyl And saynt IohÌ„n Grisostom calleth this kynges magos as wycked and euyldoers For fyrst they were ful of malefices but after they were conuerted to whoÌ„ god wold shewe his natyuyte and bryng them to hym to th ende that to synners he wold doo pardon Item ¶ Magus is said wise For Magus in hebrewe is said doctour in greke philosopher and in latyn wyse wherof they be sayd magi that is to saye grete in wisedom And thies thre cam in to Iherusalem with a grete companye and grete estate But wherfore cam they to Iherusalem whan the chyld was not born there Seynt remyge assygneth foure reeasons ¶ The first reson is that the kynges had knouleghe of the natyuyte of the chyld that was born of the virgyne marye â— But not of the place And by cause that Iherusalem was the most cyte Ryall And there was the See of the souerayn preest they thought that so noble a chyld so nobly shewd â— ought to be born in the most noble cyte that was ryalle The seconde cause was For in Iherusalem were the doctours and the wyse men by whome they myght knowe where the sayd chyld was born The third cause was to th ende that the Iewes shold haue none excusacion For they myght haue sayd that they had knowleche of the place where he shold be born but the tyme knewe they not therfore they myght saye wâ—â—eleue it not â— And the kynges shewde to them the tyme and the Iewes shewde the place The fourth to the doubte of the Iewes their curiosite for thise kynges byleued one only prophete And the Iewes byleued not many They sought a straunge kynge And the Iewes sought not their owne kynge Thise kynges cam fro ferre contrees And the Iewes were neghbourâ— fast by These kynges were successours of balaam â— And cam at the visyon and sight of the sterre by the prophesie of their fader whiche said that a sterre shal be 〈◊〉 or sprynge out of Iacob and a man shal arise of the lignage of Israhel â— That other cause that meueth theym to come to Iherusalem putteth saynt IohnÌ„ Crisostome whiche saith That ther were somme that affermeden for trouthe that there were grete clerkes that curiously studyed to knowe the secretes of heuen And after they chosen xij of them to take hede And yf ony of thyem deyede his sone or next kynnesman shold be sette in his place
maketh them to ryse to newe lyf And in signeficacion herof the psalme of miserere mei deus whiche is the fyftyth psalme And the psalme of penaunce is in the tyme of lente oft vsed and sayd ¶ Thus endeth the mysterye of quanquagesme ¶ Of quadragesme THe quadragesme whiche we calle now in englyssh lente bygynneth the sonday in whiche is songen in thoffyce of the masse Inuocauit me cÌ„ And the chirche whiche was moche troubled to fore by so many trybulacions and had cryed Circundederunt me And after in respyryng syghyng had axyd helpe in sayeng Exurge domine Now she sheweth that she is herd whan she saith he hath called me and I haue herd Now it is to vnderstonde that the quadragesme conteyneth xlij dayes For to acounte the sondayes And yf they be not rekened ther ben but xxxvj dayes for to faste whiche ben the thenthe part of the dayes of the yere But the foure dayes to fore ben put to by cause the nombred sacred by the quadragesme be accomplysshyd the whiche our saueour Ihesu Cryst halowed by his holy fastyng And by cause we faste in this nombre of fourty ther may be assygned thre reasons The fyrst reason putteth seynt Austyn whiche saith that seynt mathew setteth xl generacions to th ende theÌ„ that our lord by his holy quadragesme desseÌ„ded to vs we shold assende to hym by our quadragesme That other assigneth the same sayeng To that we may haue the quynquagesme We must put to xl ten For vnto that that we may com to the blessed glorye and rest in heuen it behoueth vs to laboure alle the tyme of this present lyf And therfore our lord alode xl dayes with his dissiples after his resurection and after the tenth day he sent to them the holy ghost The third reson assigneth maister prepositiuus in the soÌ„me of thoffice of the chirche whiche seyeth The world is deuided in to iiij partyes And the yere in to iiij tymes and the man of iiij elementis iiij complexions is composed And we haue the newe lawe whiche is ordeyned of foure euangelistes And the x coÌ„maundementis that we haue broken It behoueth theÌ„n that the nombre of ten by the nombre of iiij be multiplyed that thus we make the quadragesme that we fulfiyll the coÌ„mandementis of the olde lawe newe Our body as sayd is is composed of iiij elementis lyke as they had iiij setes in oure body That is to wete the fyre whiche is in the eyen thayer in the tongue and eeres the water in the natural membres named genitoires And the erthe hath dominacion in the hondes and other membres Then in the eyen is curiosite in the tongue and eeris is scurilite In the naturel membres that is to saye genitoires voluptuosite And in the handes and other membres cruelte thise iiij thynges confessid the publicane whan he prayed god he held hym a ferre in confessyng his luxurye whiche is stynkyng lyke thus as he sayd Sire I dare not approche to the For I myght stynke in thy nose and by cause he durst not lyfte vp his eyen he confessed curiocite And in that he smote hym self on the brest he confessed cruelte And whaÌ„ he sayd deus ê“picius esto michi peccatori he confessed the cryme and glotonie whiche we ought to represse Saynt gregorye in his omelyes putteth also thre reasons wherfore in abstinence is holden the nombre of xl For the vertu of the x comaundementis in the lawe And for thaccomplysshement of the iiij bokes of theuangelistes And also in this world we that ben in mortal body be compoâ—â—d of the iiij elementis And by the wyll of the mortal body we gaynsay the commauÌ„dementes of god therfor then we that haue disobeyed the coÌ„nauÌ„demeÌ„tis of god by the desire of the flessh it is cordyng that the same flessh by iiij tymes x We put to penauÌ„ce affliccyon fro this present day vnto ester vj wekes comyng that ben xlij dayes Yf the sondayes be taken away Ther abyde in thabstynence but xxxvj dayes And the yere is demened by iij hondred sixty and v dayes we gyuen the tithe of them to god whan we fast And this saith seynt gregorye wherfore kepe we not this fastyng in the tyme that IhuÌ„ cryst fasted whiche was anon after his baptesme But we begynne so that we continue vntil ester herof ben assyned iiij reasons in the soÌ„me of thoffice of master IohÌ„n bethel in thoffice of the chirche Tle first is that we wyl aryse with IhuÌ„ Cryst For he suffrid for us And we ought to suffre for hym The second is To that we shold folowe the chyldren of Israel whiche first yssued out of egipte And in this tyme yssued also out of babylone the whiche thyng appiereth For as wel that one as that other anon as they were retorned halowed the solempnyte of ester Andthus we for to ensue them in this tyme we faste to th ende that fro egipte and fro babilone that is to vnderstond from this mortal world in to the contraye of our heritage of heuen we may entre The thirde reason is by cause that in the prym temps the hete of the flessh meueth and boyleth to th end that we may refrayne vs ther in this tyme we fast The fourth is for asmoche as anon after oure fastyng we ought receyue the body of Ihesu crist For in lyke wise as the children of Israhel to fore they had eten the lomb they put them in afflicion by penaunce in etyng wylde letuse bitter right so we ought to withdrawe put vs in affliction by penaunce to th ende that the more worthily we may take and receyue the lombe of lyf Amen ¶ Thus endeth the misterye of the quadragesme ¶ The ymbre dayes THe fastyng of the quatee temps callyd in englyssh ymbre dayes the pope Calixte ordeyned theym And this faste is kept iiij tymes in the yere and for dyuerse reasons For the first tyme whiche is in marche is hote and moyste The second in somer is hote and drye The thirde in heruest is cold drye The fourthe in wynter is cold moyste Thenne late vs faste in marche whiche is prymtemps for to represse the hete of the flessh boylyng and to aqueÌ„che luxurye or tattempre it In somer we ought to faste to th ende that we chastyse the brennyng and ardour of auarice In haruest for to represse the drought of pryde and in wynter for to chastyse the coldnesse of vntrouthe and of malyce The second reason why we faste iiij tymes for thyse fastynges here begynne in marche in the first weke of the lente to th ende that vices wexe drye in vs For they may not all be quenchid Or by cause that we caste them away And the bowes and herbes of vertues may growe in vs And in somer also in the whitson weke For thenne cometh the holy goost And therfore we ought to be feruent
Anthonye of grete age and feble of fastyng and not stronge ne myghty whan he was comen to hys abbaye two of hys disciples to hym most secrete demaunded of hym sayeng Fair fader where haue ye ben so longe and he answerd Alas I wretchyd synner whyche bere falsely the name to be a monke I haue seen hely the propâ—â—te I haue seen IohÌ„n the baptyst in deserte and certes I haue seen saynt poul in paradys Thus spekyng and betyng hys breste he brought the mantel out of hys celle And alle stylly without mo wordes he wente agayn the longe way all allone thurgh the deserte vnto saynt poul thermyte hauyng grete desyre to see hym For he was aferde leste he shold deye er he myght come agayn to hym It happed in the seconde Iourney where saynt Anthony wente thurgh the deserte the thyrde hour of the day he sawe the sowle of saynt poule shynyng ascende in to heuen emonge a grete company of Angellis of prophetes and also of appostlis And anoÌ„ he fylle doun to therthe wepyng and wayllyng and cryeng with an hye voys Alas poul wherfore leuest thou me so soone whyche haue so lytil seen the Thenne he had so grete desyre to see the corps or body that he passed all the remenaunt of hys waye as sone as a byrde fleyng lyke as he was woond to telle and reherce And whan he caÌ„ to the celle of saynt poul he fonde that the body was right vp on hys knees and the vysage and hondes adressyd toward heuen and supposed he had ben alyue and had made hys prayers but whan he had aduysed it he knewe wel that he was passed out of this world what wepynges and what wayllynges he made vpon the body it were a pytouse thynge to here emong all other he said O holy sowle thy body sheweth to be deed this that thou dydist in thy lyf After thys he was moche abasshed how he shold burye the body For he had none Instrument to make hys sepulture Thenne cam two lyons whyche moche debonairly made a pytte after the quantyte of hys body And saynt Anthony buryed hys body therin And he toke wyth hym the cote of saynt poul whyche was made fastned to gydre wyth the leues of a palmyer in maner of a matte And afterward for grete reuerence saynt Anthonye ware thys cote and clad hym wyth alle in grete and solempne festes Thus thys holy man saynt poul deyed in the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord ijClxxx and viij Late vs thenne praye to hym that he Impetre and gete vs remyssyon of our synnes that after thys lyf we may come to euerlastyng Ioye and blysse in heuen Amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Poul the first hermyte Here foloweth of saynt Remyge and first the interpretacion of hys name REmigius is said of remi that is to saye fedyng and geos that is erthe as who saith fedyng therthely people wyth doctryne Or of geon that is a wrasteler for he was a pastour and a wrasteler he fedde hys flock with the worde of prechyng with suffragies of prayeng and with example of conuersacion Ther is thre maner of armour that is for the deffence the shelde for to fight the swerd for hys sauacion and helthe the habergeon and helme he wrastled ayenst the deuyl with the sheld of fayth with the swerd of the word of god and wyth the helme of hope Ignacius Archebysshop of Raynes wrote hys lyf Of the lyf of saynt Remige REmigius an holy doctor and confessour gloryous of our lord was to for hys byrthe prouyded of our lord and forseeÌ„ of an holy heremyte Whan the persecucion of the wandles had almost wasted and destroyed neygh alle fraunce ther was a man recluse holy and vertuous whiche had lost his sight whyche ofte prayd to our lord for pees welfare of the chirche of frauÌ„ce he had on a tyme a vysion hym semed an angel cam to hym and said knowe thou that the womaÌ„ that thou knowest named Alyne shal brynge forth a sone that shal be named Remyge whyche shal delyure alle the contre fro thys persecucion And whaÌ„ he awoke he cam to the hows of thys Alyne And tolde to her hys vysion And she wold not byleue it by cause of her age the recluse said it shal he soo as I haue saide And whan thou hast gyuen thy chyld souke thou shalt gyue to me of thy mylke to put vpon myn eyen and therwith I shal be hool and recouure my sight agayn And lyke as he said all thyse thynges happened And thys womaÌ„ had a chyld named Remyge whyche whan he cam to the age of discrecion he fledde the world and entred in to a reclusage And sith after for the grete Renomee of hys holy lyf whan he had ben xxij yere therin he was electe and chosen to be Archâ—bysshop of Raynes he was so debonayr that lityl byrdes caÌ„ and ete on hys table and toke mete at hys hand It happed on a day that he was lodged in an hows of a good woman whyche had but a lytyl wyn in her tonnel or vassel And saynt Remyge wente in to the celer and made the signe of the crosse vpon the tonne And prayd a whyle Anon the tonne was so ful that it leeep ouer by the merytes of the good saynt Now it happed that clodomus the kynge of fraunce whyche was a paynem myght not be conuerted for ony prechyng that hys wyf myght doo whyche was a a crysten woman vnto the tyme that a grete hoost of AlemaÌ„s cam in to fraunce Thenne by thadmonestement of his wyf made a vowe that yf the god that hys wyf worshipped wold gyue hym victorye he wold be baptised at hys retornyng fro the bataylle thus as he demanded he vaynquysshid the batayll and after cam to Raynes to saynt Remyge and prayd hym that he wold crysten hym And whan saynt Remyge baptised hym he had no cresme redy thenne a douue descended fro heuen whyche brought the crysme in an Ampull of whyche the kynge was enoynted And thys Ampull is kept in the chyrche of saynt Remyge at Raynes of whyche the kynges of fraunce ben enoynted whaÌ„ they ben crowned Saynt Remyge had a nyece whyche was maryed to a clerke named genebaldus whyche by deuocion lefte hys wyf for to entre in to religion Thenne saynt Remyge sawe that the see of Raynes was ouer grete And ordeyned a see of a bysshopryche at laon and made genebald first bysshop of that place whan genebald was bysshop hys wyf cam theder to see hym and remeÌ„bred of the pryuete that they were wonte to haue to gydre and laye on a nyght with her and engendred on her a chyld whan hys wyf knewe that she was grete and lete hym haue knowleche therof and whan he wist that it was a sone he comanded that it shold be named theef by cause he had engeÌ„dryd it by thefte After for to quenche the suspection
lyue and brought hym to her hows and toke charge of hym tyl he was all hool Many crysten men cam to hym whyche counseylled hym to voyde the place but he was comforted and stode vpon a stappe where themperour shold passe by and said to hym the bysshoppis of thydolles deceyue you euyll whyche accuse the crysten men to be contrayre to the comyn prouffyt of the cyte that praye for your estate for the helthe of Rome dyoclesyan said arte not thou sebastyen whom we comanded to be shoten to deth And saynt Sebastian saide therfor our lord hath rendred to me lyf to th ende that I shold telle you that euylle and cruelly ye doo persecucions vnto crysten men Thenne made dyoclesyan hym to be brought in to pryson in to hys palays And to bete hym so sore wyth stones tyl that he deyde And the tyrauntis threwe hys bodye in to a grete pryuee by cause the crysten men shold make no feste to burye hys body ne of hys martredom but saynt sebastian appyerid after to saynt lucyne a glorious wydowe And said to her in suche a pryue shalt thou fynde my body hangyng at an hoke whyche is not defouled with none ordure whan thou hast wasshed it thou shal burye it at Cathacombes by the appostlis And the same nyght she and her seruantes accomplysshyd alle that sebastian had comanded her he was martred the yere of our lord CClxxxvij And seynt gregory telleth in the first boke of hâ—s dyaloges that a woman of tuskane whych was newe wedded was prayd for to goo wyth other wymen to the dedicacion of the chyrche of sebastian and the nyght to fore she was so moeued in her flessh that she myght not absteyne her from her husbond And on the morn she hauyng gretter shame of men than of god wente theder and anon as she was entryd in to the oratorye where the relyques of saynt sebatian were the fende toke her and tormentid here byfore all the people And thenne the preest toke the couerture of the aulter and couerd her And theÌ„ne the deuyl assaylled the preest her frendes lad her to thenchauntours that that they shold enchaunte the fende but assone as they began thenchaunte by the IugemeÌ„t of god a legion of deuylles entryd in to her that is vjMvjClxvj and vexid her more sharply than to fore And an holy man named formatus by hys prayers heled her It is redde in the gestes of the loÌ„bardis that in the tyme of kynge gylberte all ytalye was smeton wyth so greet a pestilence that vnnethe they that were alyue myght burye the dede And this pestylence was most at Rome and pauye Thenne the good Angele was seen vysybly of many and an euyl Angele folowyng beryng a staf whom le bad smyte and slee And as many strokes as he smote an hows so many deede persones were born out of it Thenne at laste it was shewed to one by goddes grace that this pestylence shold not cesse tyl that they had made an aulter to saynt sebastian at pauye whiche thenne was made in the chyrche of saynt peter and anone the pestylence seassed And thyder fro rome relyques of saynt sebastian were brought And saynt Ambrose in his preface saith thus O lord the blood of thy blessyd martir saynt sebastian was shedd for the confession of thy name he hath shewed thy meruaylles that they prouffyte in infirmyte vertue and gyueth to our studyes prouffyt and to them not stedfast to the it gyueth ayde and helpe Thenne late vs praye to this holy martir saynt sebastian that he praye vnto our lord that we may be delyuerd from all pestylence and sodeyn deth and so departe aduysedly hens that we may come to euer lastyng Ioye and glorye in heuen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Sebastian And next foloweth of saynt Agnes and first thynterpretacion of her name AGnes is said of agna a lambe For she was humble and debonayr as a lambe or of agno in greke whyche is to saye debonayr and pyteous For she was debonayr and mercyful Or agnes of agnoscendo for she knewe the waye of trouthe and after thys saynt Austyn saith trouthe is opposed ayenst vanyte falsenes doublenes For thyse thre thyngis were taken from her for the trouthe that she had ¶ Of saynt Agnes THe blessyd virgyne seynt Agnes was moche wyse and wel taught as saynt Ambrose wytnesseth and wrote her passyon she was fayr of vysage but moche fayrer in the crysten fayth she was yong of age aged in wytte For in the xiij yere of her age she lost the deth that the world gyueth And fonde lyf in Ihesu cryst whyche whan she cam fro scole the sone of the perfecte of Rome for themperour louyd her And whan hys fader and moder knewe it they offred to gyue moche Rychesse wyth hym yf he myght haue her in maryage And offryd to saynt Agnes precyous geÌ„mes and Iewellis whyche she refused to take wherof it happed that the yong man was ardauntly esprysed in the loue of saynt Agnes and came agayn and toke wyth hym more precious Rycher adournementes made wyth all maner of precious stones And as wel by hys parentes as by hym self offred to saynt agnes Ryche yeftes and possessyons and all the delytes and deduytes of the world and all to th ende to haue her in maryage but saynt agnes answerd to hym in thys mater Goo fro me thou fardel of synne norysshyng of euyllys and morsell of deth and departe And knowe thou that I am preuented and am loued of another louer whych hath gyuen to me many better Iewellis whych hath fyanced me by his fayth And is moche more noble of lygnage than thou art of estate he hath clad me wyth precyous stones and wyth Iewellis of golde he hath sette in my vysage a signe that I receyue none other espowse but hym And hath shewde me ouer grete tresours whiche he must gyue me yf I abyde wyth hym I wyl haue none other spowse but hym I wyl seche none other In no maner may I leue hym wyth hym am I ferme and fastned in loue whyche is more noble more puyssant fayrer than ony other whos loue is moche swete and gracious of whom the chambre is now redy for to receyue me where the virgynes syngyn meryly I am now embraced of hym of whome the moder is a vyrgyne And hys fader knewe neuer woman to whom the angelles serue the sonne and the mone merueylle them of hys beaute whos werkes neuer faylle whos Rychesses neuer mynusshe by whos odour dede men reyse agayn to lif by whos touchyng the seke men be conforted whos loue is chastyte To hym I haue gyuen my faith To hym I haue comanded my herte whan I loue hym thenne am I chaste and whan I touche hym theÌ„ne am I pure and clene And whan I take hym thenne am I a virgyne Thys is the loue of my god whan the yong man had
sanctoruÌ„ wherin thys holy saynt dunston had grete ioye he had a special grace of our lord that suche heuenly ioyes and thynges were shewed to hym in thys wretchyd world for his grete comforte and after this he became alle seek and feâ—le and vpon holy thorsday he sente for al his brethern and asked of them foryeuenesse and also forgaue them alle trespaces â—nd assoyled them of al theyr synnes aâ—d the thyrd day after he passed out of this world to god ful of vertues the yere 〈◊〉 our lord ix hâ—ndred lxxxviij and hys sowle was borne vp to heuen with 〈◊〉 songe of aungels al the peple heryâ—â— that were at his dethe and his â—â—dy lyeth at caunterburye in a worshypâ—â—l shryne where as our lord sheweth 〈◊〉 his seruaunt saynt dunston many 〈◊〉 and grete myracles wherfore our lord be praysed world wythouten ende amen Here endeth the lyf of Sayâ—t dunston Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Aldelme SAynt aldelme the confessour was borne in englond his fader hyght kenton he was broder vnto Iue kyng of this londe and whan kyng Iue was dede kenton was made kynge after hym and thenne this holy chylde aldelme was sette to scole in the hows of malmesburye where afterward he was maad abbot And thenne he dyd there grete ceste in byldyng and dyd doo make there a ful ryal abbey and whan the 〈◊〉 herde of his grete holynesse he sent for hym to come to rome whan he was there the 〈◊〉 welcomed hym was moche glad of his good lyuyng and tâ—ere he abode longe tyme with the pope and gate ful grete pryuyleges and lybertees to the hows of malmesburye in suche wyse that no bysshop in englond shold uysyte ne haue to doo there ne the kynge to lette them of theyr free elâ—â—cion but chese theyr abbot emonge the couent them self and whan he had goten alle this of the pope he was full glad and ioyeful and lyuyd there ful holyly longe tyme And on a day as he said masse in the chirche of saynt Iohan latrans and whan masse was doon there was no man that wold take his chesyble fro hym at the ende of the masse and thenne he sawe the sonne beme shyne thorugh the glasse wyndowe henge his chesybâ— theron wherof al the peple merueyled greteâ—â— of that myracle and the same châ—sâ—â—le is yet at malmesburye the câ—lour therof is purple and within shorte tyme after he came ageyn in to englond brought with hym many preuylegys vnder the 〈◊〉 seal which after kyng 〈◊〉 confermed alle that the pope had gâ—â—unted to the hows of malmesbury Tâ—is was aboute the yere of our lord seuen hondred and vj â— And that tyme thâ—re fyl a grete varyaunce emonge the bysshoppes of this loÌ„de for the holâ—yng of ester day but saynt aldelme mâ—ad a book that alle men shold knoâ—â— for euer whan estern day shall 〈◊〉 the whiche book is yet at malmesburye And that abbay he dyd do make in the worshyp of our blessyd lady And brightwold that was archebysshop of caunterburye herde of aldelmus holy lyuyng and he sente for hym to be his counceyllour and they lyued to gyder ful holyly longe tyme and eche was ful glad and ioyeful of other And on a day as they stood at the sâ—e syde by douer castel they sawe a shyp laden with marchaundyse not ferre fro them and saynt aldelme callyd to them to wyte yf they had ony ornament longyng to holy chirche within theyr shyp to selle but the marchauntes had dysdaygne of hym and thoughte he was not of power to bye suche thynges as they had to selle and departed from the holy man but anone fyl on them soo grete a tempest that they were in paryl for to perysshe and thenne one of hem said we suffre this trouble bycause we had dysdayne of the wordes of yonder holy man and therfore lete vs all mekely desyre hym to praye for vs to our lord Ihesu cryste they dyd so and anone the tempest cesed and theÌ„ne they came to this holy man and brought to hym a ful fayre byble the whiche is yet at malmesbury vnto this day and foure yere before his deth he was maad bysshop of dorset by the archebysshop of caunterburye and by other bysshoppes but within shorte tyme after he deyed and lyeth buryed at malmesburye there as he was abbot And after that saynt egewyn came to offre 〈◊〉 his tombe feteryd with chaynes of yron faste locked fro thens he wente so to rome to the pope alwey weryng tho feteris whiche was to hym grete payne god rewarde hym his mede ¶ And Saynt Aldelme or he deyed cursed alle them that dyd ony wronge in brekyng of the preuyleges of the sayd abbey of malmesburye and them that helpe the hows to mayntene goddes seruyce shall haue goddes blessyng and his And whan he had layen longe in the erthe he was translated and layed in a ful ryche shryne where as our lord sheweth dayly for hys holy seruaunte many fayre myraclâ—s Thenne lete vs praye saynt Aldelme to praye for vs vnto our lord god that we may in thys wretchyd 〈◊〉 of â—his world soo bewayle our synnes and amende our lyuyng that we may come to euerlastyng lyf in heuen amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Aldelme Of Saynt austyn that brouÈt crystendom in to englond SAynt austyn was an holy monke and sente in to englond to preche the faythe of our lord Ihesu cryste by saynt gregory thennâ— kyng pope of rome the whyche had a grete zele and loue vnto englond as is reberced alle alonge in his legende hâ—w that he sawe children of englond in the marlet of rome for to be solde whiche we 〈◊〉 fayre of vysage for whiche cause he demaunded lycence and opteyned to goo in to Englond for to conuerte the peple therof to crysten feythe And he beyng on the weye the pope deyed and he was chosen pope was countremaunded came ageyn to rome And after whan he was sacred in to the papacye he remembryd the royame of englond and sente saynt Austyn as heed and chyef other holy monkes preestes with hym to the nombre of xl persones vnto the royame of englond as they came toward englond they came in the prouynce of Andegauence purposyng to haue restyd alle nyght at a place called pounte Say a myle fro the cyte and ryuer of ligerym but the wymmen scorned and were so noyous to them that they droof theym out of the towne and they came vnto a fayre brode elme and purposyd to haue restyd there that nyght but one of the wymmen which was more cruel than the other purposed to dryue them thens came so nyghe them that they myght not reste there that nyght And thenne Saynt Austyn toke hys staffe for to remeue fro that place and sodeynly his staffe sprange out of hys honde with a grete vyolence the space of thre furlonges thens and there styked faste
Thenne the prouoste commaunded hym to be hanged on a gybet thenne sayd prothase to hym I am not angry with the For I see thyn eyen of thyn herte blynded and I haue grete pyte of the by cause thou seest not what thou doest but doo that thou hast begonne that thys day the benygnyte of our sauyour may brynge me to my broder Thenne the erle commaunded hym that his heed shold be smyton of thus he suffred marterdom for our lord Phelyp a seruaut of Ihesu cryste wyth his sone toke the bodyes and buryed them secretely in his hows in a tombe of stone and layed a book at hyr heedes conteynyng theyr natyuyte theyr lyf and theyr ende And they suffred dethe vnder nero abowte the yere of our lord lvj Thyse bodyes were hyd there many yerys but in the tyme of saynt ambrose they were founden in thys manere Saynt ambrose was in prayer in the chyrche of saynt felyce and saynt nabor in suche wyse that he neyther slepte ne woke hooly there apperyd to hym two yonge men clad in whyt vestementys wyth one cote and mantel and hosed and they apperyd prayeng with hym with theyr hondes holden vp Thenne saynt ambrose prayed that yf it were illusyon that it shold appere nomore And yf it were trouthe that it sholde be shewyd hym ¶ Thenne whan the cocke crewe the yonglynges apperyd to hym adouryng with hym in semblable manere and at the thyrd tyme they apperyd the thyrd nyght whan he had fasted and slepte not ¶ And wyth them apperyd saynt peter the appostle after that he had seen hym in paynture Thenne the yonglynges sayd no thyng but the appostle spake Thyse ben they that desyre none erthely thynge but haue folowed myn admonestementes And thyse been they of whome thou shalte fynde the bodyes in suche a place And there thou shalt fynde an arche of stones couerd with xij feet of erthe and thou shalt fynde at theyr heedes a litel book wherin is conteyned theyr byrthe and theyr ende Thenne saynt ambrose callyd alle hys neyghbours and began fyrst to dygge the erthe and fonde lyke as thappostle had sayd to hym and they had layn in that place wel a thre hondred yere and they were as fresshe as they had ben layed there that same houre and a right swete sauour yssued out of theyr tombe and in contynent a blynde man touched the byer and anone he had his syght ageyn and many other seek people were helyd by the merytes of them and in theyr solempnytees pees was reformed bytwene the lombardes and the emperour of Rome And thenne Saynt gregory the pope establisshed for the Introyte of the masse of them Loquetur dominus pacem and this offyce aperteyned in partye to the sayntes in partye to the grete aduentures that were in that tyme And saynt austyn reherceth in the book of the cyte of god that he was present and the emperour and moche grete companye that a blynde man receyued hys syght at melan at the bodyes of Geruase and prothase but it is not knowen whether hit was the same blynde man or no ¶ Also he telleth in the same book that there was a yonge mā in a towne named victoryan rode hys hors in to a ryuer that laye there by and assone as he was therin the deuyl strangled hym and threwe hym in the water alle deed and whyles they songen euensonge in a chyrche of saynt geruase and prothase whiche was there by he was smyton wyth the voyses of them that songe that he sterte vp a lyue and in a grete haste he entryd in to the chyrche in a grete drede and helde fast the aulter lyke as he had be bounden therto thenne the deuyl menaced hym and sayd yf he wold not come thens he wold breke alle his membrys and a lytel whyle after by the merytes of the holy marters he was playnly helyd and saynt ambrose sayth in hys preface These ben they that by the heuenly baner toke tharmes of the appostles and vaynquysshed haue the vyctorye and ben assoyled fro the snares of the world they destroyed the felawshyp of the fende and folowed frely without ony empesshement our lord Ihesu cryste lyke vnto a debonayr fraternyte that so lerned the holy wordes that no fylthe was medlyd emonge them O how glorious a stryf was thys that causeth them both to be crowned in heuen lyke as they yssued out of one bely Thus enden the lyues of saint Geruase and saynt prothase Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Edward kyng and marter SAynt edward the yonge kynge and marter was the sone of kyng edgare and he was kynge but iij yere and seuen monethes and whan his owne moder was deed his fader the kynge wedded another wyf whiche was ful wycked and by hir he had a sone named ethelrede This quene laboured sore for to destroye thys yonge kyng edward for to make hir owne sone athelrede kynge And litel loued the kynge edwarde For thenne kynge edgar was deed whyche had ben a good Iustyser in chastysyng rebellys and cherysshyng good Well dysposed peple for he had a blessyd an holy man saynt dunstō whiche was chyef of his counceyl and was moche ruled by hym and in that tyme was ioye and myrthe in alle englond And the quene thorugh entysyng of the fende our enemye laboured euer awayted for to destroye thys yonge kynge edward and so it happed that thys sayd yonge kynge Edward rood on huntyng with his knyghtes in the wode of dorset besyde the toune of warham and there in the chaas it happed the kynge to departe aweye from his men and rode forthe allone to see his broder athelrede which was therby with the quene his moder in the castel named corf but whan the quene saw hym there beyng allone she was ioyeful and glad in hir herte hopyng thēne taccomplysshe that whiche she sore had laboured fore wente to the kynge and welcomed hym wyth fayre and blaundysshyng wordes and commaūded to fetche brede wyne to the kyng and whyles the kyng dranke the botelyer toke a knyf and roof the kynge thorugh the body to the herte in suche wyse that the kynge fyl doun deed And anone thenne the quenes seruaūtes buryed the body in a desolate place of the wode to the ende that no man shold knowe where he were becomen And whan saynt dunston knewe that the kynge was so murdred he maad moche grete sorowe and in shorte tyme after yet a parte ageynst his wylle he crowned hir sone ethelrede kynge And thenne he sayd to the kynge for as moche as by manslaughter and wronge thou arte comen to be kynge thou shalt therfore haue grete sorowe and trowble to thy lyues ende And al shal falle for the dethe of thy broder edwarde who that wyl knowe the sorowe that fyl may see it in the lyf of saynt alphey and there he shal see what sorowe there fyl and al
was for the dethe of this saynt Edwarde And alle the poure peple of this londe sorowed gretely for this good kynges dethe and in especyal by cause they coude not knowe where he was buryed For they wold burye hym moche worshypfully yf they myght fynde hym And in a tyme as god wolde men of warham and of the contre be goon for to seke this holy body of saynt edward with grete deuocion prayeng our lord that they myght haue knowleche where the holy body was and sone after one of them that soo soughte sawe a grete lyght in a desolate place of the wode in liknes of a pyler of fyre stratchyng fro heuen euen vnto the graue where the holy body laye in And thenne the people ful reuerently dygged vp the body and brought it wyth solempne processyon to the chirche of warham and they buryed this holy body in the chyrche yerde at the este ende of the chyrche for they durst not doo otherwyse for dysplesure of the quene But now ouer that graue is bylded a fayre chapel of our lady and in the place where he was first buryed is now a right fayre welle whyche is callyd saynt edwardes welle where our lord sheweth many myracles for his holy marter saynt edward And in lyke wyse in the chapel at warham where as his holy body laye longe our lord sheweth also myracles but longe tyme after by the laboure of the erle alphere whiche moche louyd saynt edwarde the bysshoppes clergye by the counceyl of saynt wylfryde and saynt edythe susters of Saynt edwarde and nonnes at wylton the holy body was take out of the chapel of warham and broughte wyth grete solempnyte vnto the nonnerye of shaftesburye And by the waye as men bare thys holy body two creples were made al hole and folowed the holy body wyth grete ioye and myrthe thankyng god and the holy saynt of theyr helthe whan they came to shaftesburye they layed thys holy body in the walle by the hye aulter right worshypfully where our bord shewyd many myracles for hym and whan the quene his stepmoder herde telle what myracles god shewed for hym thenne she repented hir ful sore and cryed god mercy and the holy saynt for hyr trespaas and purposyd to ryde thyder to doo worshyp to the holy body and there to aske foryeuenes of the deth that she had cōmysed to be doon in hym but whan she wolde haue ryden thyderward hir hors wolde not goo forth in no wyse for betyng ne drawyng and thenne she lyghte doun and wente thyder ful mekely on hir feet and ofte in hir iourney she repentyd hyr of that cursed dede That she had caused to be doon to thys holy saynt Edward and whan she came to shaftesburye where as thys holy body was buryed she dyd full grete reuerence therto and cryed god mercy and the holy saynt for hir grete offence and after this she became a ful good woman and had grete repentaunce therof vnto hir lyues ende and after whan the holy body had restyd in the walle certeyn yeris Saynt edward apperyd to an holy religyous man bad hym goo to dame althrede abbesse of that place and say to hyr that she purueye that his body shold be layed in a more worshypful place And thenne she wente to saynt dunston to praye hym of his helpe in this matere and sone after saynt dunston came wyth a multitude of bisshoppes abbottes pryours and of the clergye And toke vp this holy body layed it in a worshypful shryne whiche the abbesse and other wel dysposed people had ordeyned for hit And whan his body was take out of the walle there came out of the graue a flauour like a smoke of frankencence smellyng so swete that alle the peple were gretely comforted therby and thus this holy kynge and marter was translated in the yere of our lord a thousand and somwhat more and whan kyng etheldrede was deed edward hys sone regned after hym whiche was an holy and glorious kynge and confessour And lyeth buryed at westmestre and worshypfully shryned where as our lord hath shewed many a grete myracle for hym Thenne lete vs praye to this holy marter saynt Edward kynge to saynt Edward kynge and confessour that they praye to our lord for vs that we may in thys wretchyd world so amēde and repente vs of our wretchyd lyf that whan we shal departe hens we may come to hys euerlastyng lyf in heuen amen Here endeth the lyf of Saint Edward kynge and marter Here foloweth the lyf of saint Albone and of saint amphiabel AFter that Iulyus Cezar the first emperour of rome had deuyded the londe of fraunce he made a shyppynge in to grete brytaygne whiche now is called englond in the tyme of cassybelan kynge of the brytons and twyes he was dryuen out and the thyrd tyme by the helpe of one androgeus duc of kente he had vyctorye and conqueryd the royame and subdued it to Rome and made it to paye yerely trybute ordeyned stablisshed certeyn statutes in this londe whiche were longe obseruyd and kepte Emonge whyche he ordeyned that none of thys londe shold receyue the ordre of knyghthode but onely at rome by the handes of the emperour lest perauenture the rude peple and vnworthy wold take vpon them that ordre vnworthely whiche is of grete dygnyte and also they shold make an othe neuer to rebelle ne bere armes ageynste the emperour whyche statutes were vsed in al places obedyent to rome and vnder theyr subieccion Thenne regned in the londe of britayne which now is called englond a kynge named seuerus whiche for to plese the emperour Dyoclesyan sente his sone that hyght bassyan wyth many other lordes sones of cornewayl walys scotlond and yrelond vnto the nombre of a thousand fyue hondred and xl Emonge which was a prynces sone of walys in grete araye whyche hyght amphyable a goodly yonge man and wel lernyd in latyn frensshe greke hebrewe Also there was in his felawshyp a lordes sone of the the cyte of verolamye named albone whyche was a wel disposed and semely yonge man and dyscrete in his gouernaunce And al thys felawshyp came prosperouslye to rome In the tyme whan Zephyrus was pope of rome whyche sawe the grete bewtee of thys yonge companye and had compassyon that they were not crysten And laboured as moche as he myght to conuerte them to the feythe of Ihesu cryste emonge al other he conuerted the prynces sone of wales amphyabele and baptysed hym and enformed hym secretely in the feythe and thenne thys holy amphyabel forsoke the pompe and glorye of the worlde and toke on hym wylful pouerte for the loue of Ihesu cryste and euer after contynued his lyf in perfeccion Also there were many other conuertyd at that tyme whome dyoclesyan dyd do seke but none coude he fynde Thenne he ordeyned a day in whiche thyse yonge men shold receyue thordre of
and hyr moder the holy damoysel came dwellyd at parys for to assaye and proue hir there and for to auayle the more she was seek of the palsye so moche that it semyd that hir membris were dysioyned and departed that one fro that other wherof she was so sore tormentyd that duryng thre dayes she was kepte as for deed for there apperyd on hir noo sygne of lyf sauf that hyr Iowes were a lytel reed In thys space and tyme as she confessyd after an aungel ledde hir in spyryte where as the reste was of good folke and where the tormente was of euyl peple afterward she shewyd to many the secretes of theyr consciences as she that was taught and enseygned of the holy ghoost The second tyme saynt germayn retorned fro englond and came to parys The peple almoste al went ageynst hym with grete ioye tofore al other thynges saynt germayn demauÌ„ded how genouefe dyd but the people whiche more is Inclyned to say euyl of good peple thenne wel answerd that of hir was no thynge in blamyng hir whiche was to hyr a praysyng of other mennys preysyng is none the better ne of others blamyng is none the werse therfore the holy man sette nought of theyr ianglyng but assone as he entryd in to the cyte he wente strayte to the hows of the holy vyrgyn whome be salewed in soo grete humylite that al they meruaylled shewyd to them that dyspraysyd hyr the grouÌ„de wete of hir teerys and recyted to them the begynnyng of hir lyf and how he fonde at nancerre that she was chosen of god and recommendyd hir to the peple Tydynges came to parys that aceylle the felon kynge of hougrye had enterprysed to destroye and waste the partyes of fraunce and to subdue them to his domynacion The bourgeyses of parys for grete drede that they had sente theyr goodes in to other cytees more sure Saynt geneuefe warned and admonested the good wymmen of the town that they shold wake in saftynges and in orysons by whiche they myght asswage the yre of our lord and eschewe the tyrannye of their enemyes lyke as dyd somtyme the two holy wymmen Iudyth and bester They obeyed hir were longe many dayes in the chirche in wakynges fastynges in orysons She sayd to the bourgeyses that they shold not remeue theyr goodes ne sende them out of the towne of parys for the other cytees that they supposed shold be more sure shold be destroyed and wasted but by the grace of god parys shold haue none harme and somme had Indygnacion at hir and sayd that a false prophete was rysen and apperyd in theyr tyme and began emonge them to aske and trete whether they shold drowne hyr or stone hyr whyles they were thus tretyng as god wolde came to parys after the decees of saynt germayn tharchedeken of ancerre whan he vnderstood that they tretyd to gyder of hir deth he came to them said fayre syrres for goddes sake do not this myschyef For she of whome ye trete saynt germayn wytnesseth that she was chosen of god in hyr moders bely And loo here been the letters that he hath sente to hyr in which he recoÌ„mendeth hym to hyr prayers Whan the bourgeyses herde thyse wordes recyted by hym of saint germayn and sawe the letters they meruaylled ferâ—d god and lefte theyr euyl counceyl and dyd nomore therto Thus our lord kepte hyr fro harme which kepeth alle weye them that be his deffeÌ„deth after that thappostle saith for hir loue dyd so moche that the tyrauntes approchyd not parys Thanke and glorye to god honoure to the vyrgyne This holy mayde dyd grete penauÌ„ce in tormentyng hyr body al hyr lyf and became bene for to gyue good exaumple For syth she was of the age â—f xv yere vnto fyfty she fastyd euâ—â—y day sauf sonday and thursday In her refection she had no thynge but barly brede and somtyme venes the whiche soden afâ—â—r xiiij dayes or thre wekys she ete for alle delyces alway she was in prayers in wakynges and in penaunces she dranke neuer wyne ne other lycour that myght make hyr dronke in al hyr lyf whan she had lyued and vsyd thys lyf fyfty yere the bysshoppes that were that tyme sawe and behelde that she was ouer feble by abstynence as for age warned hir tencrece a lytel hyr fare ¶ The holy woman durst not gaynsaye them For our lord sayth of the prelates who hereth you hereth me and who despyseth you dyspyseth me and soo she began by obedyence to ete wyth hir brede fysshe and mylke and how wel that she so dyd she behelde the heuen and wepte wherof it is to byleue that she sawe appertly our lord Ihesu cryste after the promesse of the gospel that sayth that blessyd be they that be clene of herte for they shal see god she had hir herte and body pure and clene There ben twelue vertues vyrgynal saith hermes pastour wyth out whiche no vyrgyne may be agreable to god that is to wete feythe abstynence pacyence magnanymyte symplesse Innocence concorde charyte dysciplyne chastyte trouthe and prudence Thise vertues accomplysshed the holy vyrgyne by werke she taughte and enseygned by worde and shewed ofte by ensaumple Ofte and tofore alle other holy places she vysyted the place where as restyd saynt denys and his felawes had grete deuocyon to edefye vpon the said holy bodyes a chyrche but she had not wherof On a tyme came to hyr the preestys as ofte they had doon tofore to whome she sayd reuerente faders in god I praye and requyre that eche of you doo his power and his deuoyr to assemble matere wherof myght be made and edefyed a chyrche in the honoure of the glorious marters saynt Denys and his felawes for the place where they reste ouÈt moche to be worshyppâ—d and doubted whyche first taughte to ouâ—â—â—ncestres the feythe Dame 〈◊〉 the preestys we wold fayne and haue grete wylle therto but we can gete no chalke ne lyme Thenne said the holy vyrgyn with a glad chere in prophecyeng as she that was replenysshed wyth the holy ghoost Goo ye I praye you to parys vpon the grete brydge and brynge that ye shal fynde there they wente thyder abode there a whyle meruaylled and abasshed And anone came by them two swyne herdes spekyng to gyder of which that one sayd as I wente yesterday after one of my sowes I fonde a fourneil of lyme meruelously grete That other answerd and I fonde in the wood vnder the rote of a tre that the wynde had throwen doun a fournel of lyme of whyche I trowe was neuer none taken aweye Whan the preestys herde this they had grete admyracion and blessyd our lord that had gyuen suche grace to geneuefe his handmayde They demauÌ„ded where the fournels were and after retorned and tolde to the vyrgyne what they had founden She began to wepe for ioye and assone as the preestys were gone and
dede and that themperour louyd so moche whom whan he was brought he reysed to lyf and sent hym with his felawes to the emperour whom themperour knewe hym for dede whiles he made lamentacyon for hym hit was told to the emperour that patroclus was comen to the yate And whan he herd that patrocle was alyue he moche merueyled and coÌ„maunded that he shold come in To whom nero sayd Patrocle lyuest thou and he sayd ye emperour I lyue and nero sayd who hath made the to lyue agayn and he sayd the lord IhÌ„u Cryst kyng of alle worldes Thenne nero beyng wroth sayd thenne shalle he regne euer and resolue alle the Royames of the world To whom patroclus sayd ye certenly emperour thenne Nero gaf to hym a buffette sayeng therfor thou seruest hym and he sayd ye veryly I serue hym that hath reysed me fro deth to lyf Thenne fyue of the mynystris of nero that assisted hym sayd to hym O emperour whi smitest this yong man truly and wysely answeryng to the Trust verily we serue that same kyng almyghty And whan Nero herd that he put them in prison for strongly to tormente them whom he moche had loued Thenne he made to enquyre and to take alle cristen men And without examynacion made them to be tormented with ouer grete tormeÌ„tys Thenne was paul emong other bounden and brought to fore nero To whom nero sayd O thou man seruaunt of the grete kyng bounden to fore me why withdrawest thou my knyghtes and drawest them to the To whom paul sayd Not only fro thy corner I haue gadred knyghtes But also I gadre fro the vnyuersal world to my lord To whom our kyng yeueth suche yeftes that neuer shalle fayle And graunteth that they shalle be excluded fro alle indygence and nede And yf thou wilt be to hym subgette Thou shalt be sauf For he is of so grete power that he shal come and Iuge alle the world and destroye the figure therof by fyre And whan nero herd that he shold destroye the fygure of the world by fyre coÌ„maunded that al the crysten men shold be brent by fyre paul to be byheded as he that is gilty ayenst his mageste And thenne so grete a multitude of cristen peple wer slayn thenne that the peple of rome brake vp his paleys and cryed and meued sedycion ayenst hym sayeng Cezar ameÌ„de thy maners and attempre thy coÌ„uaundementis For thyse ben our peple that thou destroyest and defende the empire of Rome Themperour thenne dredyng the noyse of the peple Chaunged hys decree and edicte that no man shold touche ne hurte no cristen man tyll the emperour had otherwyse ordeyned wherfore paule was broughte a gayn to fore nero whom assone as nero saw he cryed and sayd take awaye thys wycked man and byhede hym And suffre hym no lenger to lyue vpon the erthe To whom paul sayd Nero I shalle suffre a lytyl while but I shalle lyue eternally with my lord Ihesu crist Nero sayd smyte of hys hede that he may vnderstond me strenger than hys kyng that whan he is ouercomen we may see whether he may lyue after To whom paul sayd to th end that thou knowe me to lyue euer lastyngly whan my hede shal besmyten of I shal appere to the lyuyng And then thou mayst knowe that crist is god of lyf and of deth And whan he had sayd thys he was ledde to the place of his martirdom and as he was ledde the iij knyghtes that ledde hym sayd to hym Telle to vs paul who is he your kyng that ye loue so moche that for hys loue ye had leuer deye thenne lyue what rewarde shal ye haue therfore Thenne paule preched to them of the kyngdom of heuen and of the payne of helle in suche wyse that he conuerted them to the fayth And they prayed 〈◊〉 to goo frely whyther he wold 〈◊〉 forbede brethern sayd he that I shold flee I am not fugytyf But the lauful knyght of cryst I knowe wel that fro this transitorye lyf I shalle goo to euerlastyng lyf Assone as I shalle be byheded trewe men shal take awaye my body Marke ye wel the place and come thyder to morowe and ye shalle fynd by my sepulcre two men luke and titum prayeng to whome whan ye shall telle for what cause I haue sent you to them they shal baptyse yow and make you heyres of the kyngdom of heuen and whiles they thus spaken to geder Nero sent two knyghtes to loke yf he wer slayn and byheded or no And whan thus seynt poul wold haue conuerted them they sayd whan thou art dede And rysest agayn thenne we shalle byleue Now come forth and receyue that thow hast deseruyd And as he was ledde to the place of his passyon in the yate of hostyence a noble woman named plantille a disciplesse of paule who after another name was called lemobia For happely she had ij names mette ther with paul whiche wepyng commendyd her to his prayers To whom paule sayd Fare wel plantilla doughter of euerlastyng helthe lene to me thy veyl or keuerchief wyth whiche thou kouerst thy hede that I may bynde myn eyen therwith and afterward I shall restore it to the agayn And whan she had delyuerd it to hym the bouchers scorned hir sayeng why hast thou delyuerd to this enchauntour so precyous a cloth for to lese it Thenne whan he cam to the place of his passyoÌ„ he tornid hym toward the eest holdyng his hondes vp in to heuen right long with teres prayeng in his owne langage and thankyng our lord And after that bad his brethern fare well and bond his eyen hym self wyth the keuerchyef of plantille and knelyng doun on bothe knees stratched forth his necke and so was byheded And assone as the hede was fro the body hit sayd Ihesus crystus whiche had ben to hym so swete in his lyf It is sayd that he named Iesus or crystus or bothe fyfty tymes Fro his wound sprang out mylke in to the clothes of the knyght and afterward flowed out blood In thayer was a grete shynyng â—â—ght and fro the body cam a moche 〈◊〉 odour Dyonyse in a pystle to â—â—ymothee sayth of the deth of paule â—â—us In that hour ful of heuynes my welbeloued brother the boucher sayeng Paul make redy thy necke Thenne blessyd paul loked vp in to heuen markyng hys forhede and his breste wyth the sygne of the crosse and theÌ„ne said anon my lord Iesu crist in to thi hondes I comende my spirite cÌ„ And thenne without heuynes compulsion he stratched forth his necke and receyued the crowne of martirdom The bocher so smytyng of his hede The blessid martir poul toke the keuerchif and vnbonde his eyen and gadred vp his owen blood and put it therin delyuerd to the woman Thenne the boucher retorned and plantille mette hym and demaunded hym sayeng where hast thou lefte my mayster The knyght
erles barones whiche kyng hym self toke the cheste vpon his sholders and wyth the other prelates lordes brought it wyth grete Ioye and honour in to the place where it is now worshipped and was leyde in a fayre and moche riche shryne At whos holy translacion were shewde by the merites of thys holy martir seynt Thomas many myracles To blynde men was gyuen theyr sight To deef men theyr heryng To domb men theyr speche And to dede men was restored lyf Emong alle other there was a man by cause of grete deuocyon that he had for to be at thys holy translacion and visite the holy martir whyche cam to the bridge at braynforde by london And whan he was in the myddle of the bridge metyng there one was cast in to the water This man not forgetyng hym selfe called seynt Thomas vnto hys helpe and besought hym not to suffre his pilgrym to perisshe ne to be there drowned And fyue tymes he sanke doun to the grounde And fyue tymes aroose aboue the water And thenne he was cast to the drye ground Thenne he affermed that he receyued no water in to hys mouthe ne in to hys eris that dide to hym greuauÌ„ce ne hurte that he felte sauf in hys fallyng he felte in his mouth a lytel salte water And added more therto sayeng that whan he sanke A bisshop helde hym vp that he myght not synke This holy translacoÌ„n was don and accomplisshed the yere of our lord MCCxx In the nonas of Iuyll at thre of the clock the fyfty yere after his passyon For thys gloryous seynt our lord hath shewed many grete myracles as wel by his lyf as after hys deth martirdom For a lytel to fore hys deth a yong man deyed and was reysed agayn by myracle And he sayd that he was ledde to see the holy ordre of sayntes in heueÌ„ And there he sawe a sete voyde And he axed for whom it was and it was answerd to hym that it was kept for the grete bisshop of engloÌ„d seint thomas of cauÌ„terbury there was also a symple preest that dayly song none other masse but of our lady wherof he was put to to seint thomas his ordnary whom accused he apposed foÌ„d hym ful symple of connyng wherfor he suspended hym and inhybited hym his masse wherfor thys preest was ful sorye and prayed humbly to our blessyd lady that he myght be restored agayn to say his masse And thenne our blessid lady apperid to thys preest and bad hym go to seynt Thomas and byd hym by the token that the lady whom thou seruest hath sewed his sherte of here with rede silke whiche he shalle fynde there as he leyde hit that he yeue the leue to syng masse and assoyle the of his suspendyng and thyn Inhybytyng restore the agayn to thy seruyse and whan seynt Thomas herd thys he was gretely abasshid and went fonde lyke as the preest had sayd And thenne assoyled hym and lycensyd hym to say masse as he dyd byfore commaundyng hym to kepe thys thyng secrette as long as he lyuyd There was a lady in englond that desyred gretely to haue graye eyen For she had a conseyt she shold be the more beauteuous in the sight of the people and only for that cause she made a vowe for to vysite seynt Thomas vpon hir bare feet and whan she cam thether and had deuoutly made hir prayers to haue hyr desyre Sodenly she wax start blynde And Thenne she perceyued that she had offendyd and displesid our lord in that requeste And cryed god mercy of that offence And besought hym ful mekely to be reestored of her sight agayn And by the merites of the blessyd seynt Thomas she was restored to hyr sight agayn and was glad to haue her olde eyen And retorned home agayn and lyued holyly to her lyues ende Also ther was a lordes karuer that brought water to hym at his table to whom the lord sayd yf thou euer hast stolen ony thyng of myn I pray god and seynt thomas that thou haue no water in the basyn And sodenly it was al voyde of the water drye And there was he preuyd a theef there was a tame byrd kepte in a cage whiche was lerned to speke And on a tyme he fledde out of the cage and sleygh in to the felde And there cam a sparhawke and wold haue take this byrd and pursewed after And the byrd beyng in grete drede cryed Seynt Thomas helpe lyke as he had herde other speke and the sperhauke fyl doun dede And the byrd escaped harmeles Also ther was a man that seynt thomas loued moche in his dayes and he fyl in a greuous sekenes wherfor he went to the tombe of seynt Thomas to praye for his helthe and anon he had hys desyre and was alle hool and as he torned homeward beyng alle hool thenne he began to drede lest thys helthe shold not be most prouffytable for hys soule Thenne he retorned agayn to the tombe of seynt Thomas And prayed yf his helthe wer not prouffytable to his soule that his olde sekenes myght come agayn to hym And it cam anon agayn to hym and endured vnto hys lyues ende And in lyke wyse there was a deuout blynd man whiche had his sight restored to hym agayn by the merites of seynt thomas but after he repented hym for he coude not be so quyete in his mynde as he was byfore he had thenne so moche lettyng by seyng the vanytees of the world wherfor he prayed to our lord that by the merites of Seint Thomas he myght be blynd agayn to the world as he was byfore anon he had his desire lyuyd after ful holily to his lyues ende who shold telle alle the myracles that our blessid lord hath shewed for thys holy martir it shold ouer moche endure For euer sith his passion vnto this day god hath shewed contynwelly for hym many grete myracles Thenne late vs praye this holy seynt to be a specyal aduocate for vs wretchid synners vnto our lord god who bryng vs unto his euer lastyng blysse in heuen Amen Thus endeth The translacyon of Seynt Thomas martir Here foloweth the lyf of seynt Kenelme kyng and martir â—Aynt kenelme martir was kyng of a parte of engloÌ„d by walys hys fader was kyng to fore hym and was named kenulph founded the abbey of wynchecomb and sette therin monkes and whan he was dede he was buryed in the same abbey And that tyme wynchecombe was the best toun of that contraye In Englond ben iij pryncipaul riuers And they ben tamyse Seuarn and Humbre This kyng kenelme was kyng of wurceter shyre warwik shyre and gloucetre shyre and the bysshop of wurcetre was bisshop of those iij shires and he was kyng also of Derby shyre chesshyre shropppyre staffordshyre her fordchyre notyngham shyre norhamptoÌ„ shyre Bokynghamshyre oxfordshire leycetreshyre and lyncolnshyre Alle this was called the marche of walys and of alle
men shold goo out And thenne he made hys prayers to god And alle thydolles fyl doun and were broken and whan new herd that he commaunded to cast hym in to the see And yf it happed that he escaped they shold folowe and take hym and brenne hym shold take the ashes of hym cast it in to the see nazaryen thene the chyld Celse were put in a shyppe and brought in to the myddle of the see And were bothe cast in and anon about the shyppe aroos a grete tempeste and about them was grete calme and tranquylite whan they thenne that were in the shyppe were aferd to be perisshed and repented them of the harme and wyckednes that they had coÌ„mysed in the seyntes Nazaryen wyth the chyld celse walked vpon the see and apperid to them with a glad chere and entred in to the shyppe to them And thenne they beleuyng By his prayer the see was peasid and fro thens they sayled vjC paas and cam to a place besyde Iene where they long prechyd And after cam to melane where they fond geruase and prothase in the place where he had left them whan Anolynus the prouost herd that sent hym in exyle and Celse the chylde abode in the hous wyth a noble woman Nazaryen thenne cam to rome fond hys fader thenne olde and crysten and enquyred of hym how he was crystened whiche sayd that peter thappostle had appiered to hym and bad hym byleue as his wyf and his sone dyd thenne fro thens he was exyled of tho bisshoppes vnto melane agayn Fro whens tofore he was exyled to rome and was now compellyd agayn wyth wronge to goo to rome where he was presented to the prouost with the chyld Celse whiche thenne was ladde out of the yate of rome whiche is named thre wallis with the childe celse and there was byheded whos bodyes cristen men toke vp and by nyght buryed it in a gardyne and the next nyght they apperyd to an holy seynt named Ciriake sayeng that he shold burye theyr bodyes in his hous more depper for drede of nero To whom he sayd I praye you first my lordes that ye make my doughter hole of the palsey whiche anon whan she was hool he toke the bodyes and as they commaunded he dyd Long tyme after this god shewed theyr bodyes to seynt Ambrose and he lefte celse lyeng in his place and toke vp the body of nazarien with as fresshe blode as he had be buryed the same day smellyng a merueyllous swete odour Incorupte with his here and hys berde and brought it to the chirche of thappostles And there buried it honourably and after toke vp the body of celse and beryed it in the same chirche They suffred deth about the yere of our lord lvij Of this martir sayth Ambrose in his preface O thou holy noble champyon and blessyd martir shynyng by thy shedyng of thy blood thou hast deserued to haue the kyngdom of heuen whiche by the Innumerable assaultes of tormentis hast ouercomen the wodenes of the tyraunt by the constance of fayth And hast gadred to gydre a multitude of peple to euerlastyng lyf O thou martir of whos helth the chyrche Ioyeth more than the world Ioyed in his punysshyng O thou blessyd moder of her chyldren glorifyed wyth tormentis whiche ledde them not with waylyng ne sorowyng to helle But departyng hens folowed her with perpetuel laude vnto the heuenly kyngdoms All this more sayth Seynt Ambrose Thus enden the lyues of seint Nazaryen and Seynt Celse Here foloweth the lyf of seynt Felyx and first of his name FElyx is sayde of felicitate that is blessydnes Or ellys felix as beryng stryues and tribulacions of this worlde for euerlastyng lyf Or felix beryng lyhe or water to faythe whiche is to saye ledyng peple to the fayth Of seynt Felix FElyx was chosen pope in stede of liberie and was ordeyned sacred For by cause lybery the pope wold not consent to the heresy of tharryens he was sent in to exyle of constancyen sone of constantyn and there abode thre yere Wherfore alle the clergy of rome ordeyned Felix to be pope by the wyl and consent of liberie And thenne this Felix assembled a counseyl of xlviij bisshoppes And condempned Constancien Arryen and he retike and two prestes whiche fauoured and susteyned hym in his heresye For whiche thyng constancien was Wroth and chased Felix out of hys bisshopriche and called agayn liberien by this couenaunte that he shold be partener with hym and thother whom Felix had condempned and liberien whiche was tormented by the greuousnes of his exyle submytted hym vnto the euyl heresye and thus the persecucion grewe more In so moche that many prestes and clerkes were slayn wythin the chyrche wstthout that lyberien defended them and Felix whiche was cast out of his bysshopriche dwellyd in his owne heritage of whiche he was put out and was martred by smytyng of of his hede aboute the yere of our lord CCC and xl Thus endeth the lyf of seynt felix pope and Martir Here foloweth of the Seintes Simplicien Faustyn and Beatrice and first of their names SYmplicien is as moche to say as symple or Without ony plyte of falsehede He was symple by meknes and humylite For he humbled hym self to receyue martirdom he was knowyng For he knewe the cristen fayth and for the fayth he suffred martirdom â— Faustyn is as moche to say as fortunate Beatrice is to saye holdyng blessydnes or it is sayde of beata that is blessyd And of ares that is vertue whiche is a blessyd vertu And beatryce is sayd sorouful or beuy For she was sorouful of the passyon of her brethern and she was blessyd by her martirdom Of the Seintes Simplicien Faustyn and Beatrice SYmplicien ffaustyn brethern whan they wold not by no constraynt do sacrefyse to thydolles and refused it vtterly they suffred many tormentis at rome vnder dioclâ—sien and atte last sentence was gyuen ayenst them and were byheded theyre bodyes cast in to tyber the ryuer And Beatrice theyr suster toke vp the bodyes of them and buried them honourably Lucrete whiche was prouost of rome went on a tyme playeng aboute therytage of beatrice and sawe her and made her to be taken and commaunded her that she shold make sacrefyse to his goddes and she refused it And lucrete made his seruauntes to strangle her in a nyghte and lete her lye and lucyne the virgyne toke away the body and buried it with her brethern and after that lucrete entrid in to theyr heritage And thus as he assayled the martirs And dyd do make a grete feste to hys frendes And as he satte atte dyner A yong child that lay wounden in smale clowtes in hys moders lappe whiche yet souked sprange out of the lappe of his moder that helde hym and all men seyng escried and sayd O thou lucrete here and vndestande thou hast sleyne and
to be remembryd that amonge these enleuen thousand vyrgyns were many men For the pope Cyryaque and other bisshops and Ethereus kynge with other lordes and knyghtes hadde moche peple to serue them And as I haue ben enformed in Coleyn that there were men besyde wymmen that thylke tyme suffryd martirdome fyften thousand So the noÌ„bre of this hooly multitude as of the hooly vyrgyns and men were xxvjM to whom late vs praye to our lord that he haue mercy on vs Ther was an Abbot that Impetred of thabbesse of the place where these holy vyrgyns reste in Coleyn a body of one of these virgyns and promysed that he wold sette it in his chirche in a fayre shryne of syluer But whan he hadde kepte it a yere vpon the aulter in a cheste of tree And in a nyght as thabbot songe matyns the sayd vyrgyne descended fro the aulter bodyly And enclyned honourably to fore the aulter And wente thorugh the choer seeynge alle the monkes whiche were therof sore abasshed And thenne thabbot ranne and fonde it al voide and nothynge therin thenne thabbotte wente to Coleyne and told to thabbesse alle the thynge by ordre Thenne wente they to the place where they had taken the body And fonde the same there ageyne And thenne thabbot requyred pardon And prayd thabbesse that he myght haue ageyne the same body or another promysyng ryght certaynly to make hastely a precious shryne But he couthe none haue in no manere Ther was a relygyous Monke whiche had grete deuocion to these hooly vyrgyns and it happed that he was on a day seke and sawe a ryght fayre and noble vyrgyne appiere to hym demaunded hym yf he knewe her And he was amerueyled of this vysyon sayde he knewe her not And she sayd I am one of the virgyns to whome thow hast suche grete deuocion And therof thow shalt haue a reward yf thou saye enleuen thowsand pater nosters for the loue and honour of vs we shalle come vnto thyne ayde and comforte at the houre of thy dethe And thenne she vanysshed awey and he accomplysshed her request as soone as he myght And anone after he dyde doo calle his Abbot and dyd hym to be eneled or enoynted And as they enoynted hym he cryed sodenly make ye place to the holy vyrgyns and go out of the waye that they may come to me And whan thabbot demaunded hym what it was and what he mente He tolde to hym by ordre the promesse of the vyrgyne Thenne alle they withdrewe them a lytel after And sone cam ageyne And fonde hym departed oute of this world vnto our lord Thenne late vs deuoutely gyue lawde and praysynge vnto the blessyd Trynyte And praye hym that by the merytes of this grete multitude of martirs he wolle foryeue and pardone vs of oure synnes that after this lyf we may come vnto this holy companye in heuen Amen Thus endeth the passion of saynt Ursula with enleuen thousand Uyrgyns and fyften thousand men al martirs ¶ Here foloweth of the saintes Cryspyn and Cryspynyan IN the tyme whan the furyous persecucion of Crysten men was vnder Dyoclesyan and maxymyan to gydre regnynge Cryspyn and Cryspynyan born at Rome of noble lygnage cam with the blessyd sayntes Quyntyn Fustyan and Victoryn vnto Parys in fraunce they there chese dyuerse places for to preche the fayth of criste Cryspyn and Cryspynyan cam to the Cyte of suession and chosen that Cyte for the place of their pylgremage where they folowed the stappes of saynt powle thappostle that is to saye to laboure with their handes for to prouyde to them necessaryly to lyue and excercysed the craft of makyng of shoes In whiche craft they passed other and took by constraynt no reward of no body wherfor the gentyles and paynyms ouercome by the loue of them not only for nede of the craft but also for the loue of god cam ofte to them And left the errour of thydolles and byleuyd in very god At the last these holy men beynge sought of Ryctyonarye were founden amendynge cloutynge poure mennes shoes whiche were taken and bounden with chaynes brought vnto hym And after many Interrogacions and questions they refusynge to sacrefyse to thydolles were stratched and bounden vnto a tree were commaunded to be beten with staues And after alles suche as shoes ben sewed with were thresten and put vnder the vngles or nayles of their fyngres and layners or lachettes of theyre skynne were cutte oute of theyr back who amonge these sharp and strong paynes prayeng the alles sprang from theyr vngles and nayles and smote the mynystres that payned them and wounded them cruelly Thenne Ryctionarye commaunded to hange on theyr neckes mylne stones and in the wynter tyme vnder the yse in the Ryuer of anxion to be drowned but the water myght not drowne them ne the stones make them to synke ne the cold constrayne ne hurte them but as they had bayned and wasshen them in somer tyme they throwynge awey the byrthen of stones arryued and cam to that other brynke of the Ryuer whiche thynge Ryctyonarye beholdynge and seynge this myracle by thynstigacion of the deuylle was al araged and commaunded to melte lede in the fyre and the holy martirs to be casten in to hit therin to be drowned and consumed But these holy men prayeng and sayenge Blessyd arte thou lord god of our faders et cetera A drope of the feruent oylle sprange in to the eye of Ryctyonarye and blynded it cruelly paynynge hym by greuous tormente But he yet for all that beynge woode for angre commaunded to boylle pytche oylle and grece and to throwe the holly men therin for to be drowned consumed But the sayntes Inmeuable of their hope and besyly in their prayers sayden O lord thou arte stronge and myghty ynough to delyuere vs fro these tormentes to vs shewed and done to the confusion of the deuylle and of all his seruauntes And assone as theyr prayer was fynysshed an Angel ladde them oute withoute hurte or scaâ—he whiche thynge whan Ryctyonarye sawe he sprange and fylle doune hym self in the fyre and there perysshed by the ryghtwys Iugement of god whiche had put to dethe by fyre many martirs of Cryst and descended doune to euerlastyynge fyre These holy men seynge this the next nyght folowynge they prayd our lord that he wold commaunde them so delyuerd fro the tormentes to come vnto hym To whome it was shewed that same nyÈt that the next day folowyng they sholde receyue the mede of their reward And so it was done For Maxymyan heryng the deth of Ryctyonary commaunded that their hedes shold be smeton of And thus they suffrid and receyued the Crowne of martirdome the tenth kalendes of Nouembre And their bodyes were lefte to be deuoured of beestes and fowles but god suffryd them to be kepte vndefowled and not to be touched of ony beest After this the aungel of our lord appyeryd to a certayne old man
shold go to the hows of the ladyes withoute his leue And whanne the holy moder saynt clare knewe that she had moche sorowe in her herte by cause she sawe wel that she myght not haue that whiche was nedefull whiche was the noreture of holy scrypture And sayd to her susters with a soroufull herte Now forthon wel may the pope gregorye take fro vs alle the freres whanne he hath taken fro vs them that nourysshed oure sowles with the word of god And anone she sente ageyne all the Freres of her howâ— to the maystre or mynystre For she sayd she hadde nothyng to do to haue freres to gete them bodyly brede whanne they failled them that nourysshed her and her susters with the word of god Anone as the pope gregory herd this tydynge he repeled that whiche he had deffended and set all at the wylle of god This hooly good Abbesse loued not only the sowles of her good doughters but thought well in her herte oftymes how she myght serue their bodyes most charytably For whanne it was ryght colde she couerd by nyghte them that were feble And vysyted them moche swetely And yf she sawe ony trouble by ony temptacion or ony anger whiche happeth somtyme she wold calle them secretely And comforted them all wepyng And other whyle she wold falle doune to the feet of her doughters that were mate and heuy And knelyd to fore them so that the swetenes and debonairte that the ladyes sawe in her good moder that she alleged and toke awey theyr sorow wherof the ladyes her doughters couthe her moche thanke And thus lerned they to doo wel by deuocion and to loue their good moder more swetely and folowed by the ryÈt weye the werkes of their good Abbesse And they meruaylled moche of the grete habondaunce of holynes that god hadde gyuen to his spouse Whanne she hadde ben fourty yere in the state of ryght holy pouerte hit pleased to oure lord to calle her to be rewarded in heuen and sente to her a grete maladye and multyplyed her languoure and sekenes She hadde somtyme done so sharp penaunce that her body ne her flesshe hadde no strengthe And at the last she was ouer seke and moche more than she was wonte to be For as our lord had gyuen to her in her helthe rychesse of merytes of good vertues and of good werkes Ryght so wold god enriche her in her sekenes to th ende that she shold suffre for hym ryghte grete payne and tormentes For in suffrynge of sekenes is vertue parfyghte how and in what wyse she was vertuous in her maladye and parfyght ye maye here For how be it that she hadde ben eyght and twenty yere in langueur and maladye yet neuer she grutched ne murmured ne playned but allewey sayd holy wordes and rendryd thankynges to our lord how be it that she was merueylously agreued and seke so that it semed that she hasted moche to drawe to her ende Hit pleasyd neuertheles to our lord that he respyted her fro the dethe vnto the tyme that her ende myght be honoured and enhaunced her by the presence of the pope and of the cardynals to whome she was especial doughter for when the pope and the cardynals hadde abyden a grete whyle at lyons Seynt clare was theÌ„ne merueyllously 〈◊〉 by sekenes soo that her doughters hadde grete sorowe at their hertes that them semed that a glayue had perâ—â—d them or that they haue be ryuen with a swerd But our lord shewed anon a vysyon to one his haÌ„dmayde which dwellyd at saynt powles For hit semed to her that she and her susters were at saynt Damyans to fore saynt clare whiche was ryght seke And her semed that this Clare laye in a moche fayr bedde and moche precious And her semed that her doughters wepte whanne the soule shold passe oute of the body And anone she sawe a ryght fayr lady at the hede of the bedde and sayd to them that wepte Faire doughters wepe no more for this lady shall ouercome all And knowe ye that she shalle not deye tyll that oure lord and his disciples shalle come And she shal not abyde longe after that the pope and the Courte of Rome shalle come to perouse And anone as the Bisshop of Hostence herd saye that this holy woman was seke anone in grete haste he wente to see and vysyte the spouse of Ihesu Cryst For he was her ghostely fader and had the cure of her soule And nourysshed her with pure herte and pure wylle For he hadde alweye deuoutely loued the holy vyrgyne And thenne he gaf to her in her maladye the body of our lord For that is the very fedyng of the sowle And he comforted the other doughters by his sermons and holy wordes Thenne the holy good moder wepynge praid hym moche swetely that he wold take heede of her doughters ther beynge and of all the other And that for the loue of our lord he wold remembre her And aboue alle other thynges she prayd hym that he wolde do so moche that her pryuelege of pouerte myghte be confermed of the pope and of the cardynals And he that loued veryly her and the relygyon and that hadde alwey truly ayded her promysed that he shold doo and dyde hit In the yere after cam the pope and the cardynals to Assyse for to see the departyng of the holy vyrgyne and to putte to effect the vysyon that hâ—dde be sene and signefyed of her For the pope is the hyhest man in erthe vnder god and that best representeth the persone of Ihesu Cryst For lyke as our lord hadde his disciples which were ioyned to hym in erthe In lyke wyse the pope hath his cardynals the whiche ben ioyned to hym in the hooly chirche Our lord god hasted hym as he that knewe the ferme purpos of his spouse saynte Clare And hasted for to honoure her and to sette in the palais of the kynge of paradys his poure pilgryme and the good lady also coueyted and wysshed with alle her herte that she myghte be delyuerd of her mortal body And that she myght see in heuen Ihesu cryst as she that hadde ensiewed hym in therthe with al her hert in very pouerte Her membres were brused and troubled by grete sekenes that the body myght not endure For it was ouer moche enfebled soo that our lord called her fro this world and ordeyned for her helthe perdurable Thenne pope Innocent the fourthe the cardynallis cam with hym for to vysyte thandmayde of god of whom he hadde better proued the holy lyf than of ony woman that was in his tyme And therfor he knewe certaynly that it was reason that he shold come and honoure her with his presence And whanne he cam in to the hows of the ladyes he went thyder where as this holy saynte laye And took to her his hond for to kysse And the pope whiche was curtois stode vpon a tree and tooke to her
became locustes and he consumed in to a stone and thenne hir fader took hir by the heer and drewe hir doun fro the montayn and shytte hyr faste in pryson and maad hir to be kepte there by his seruauntes vnto the tyme that he had sente to the Iuge for to delyuer hir to the tormentes And whan the Iuge was aduertysed of the feythe and byleue of the mayde he dyd hir to be broughte tofore hym hir fader wente wich hyr accompanyed wyth his seruauntes thretenyng hir wyth his swerde and delyuerd hir vnto the Iuge and coniured hym by the puyssaunce of his goodes that he shold tormente hir with horryble tormentes Thenne satte the Iuge in Iugemente whan he sawe the grete beaute of saynt barbara he sayd to hir now chese whether ye wyl spare your self offre to the goddes or ellys deye by cruel tormentes Saynt barbara answeryd to hym I offre my self to my god Ihesu cryste the whiche hath created heuen erthe and al other thynges and fye on you deuylles whiche haue mowthe and can not speke they haue eyen and can not see they haue eerys and here not they haue noses and smelle not they haue handes and may not fele and they haue feet and may not goo they that make them be they made semblable to them and al they that haue fyaunce and byleue in them Thenne became the Iuge al wode and angrye and commaunded to vnclothe hir and bete hir wyth synewes of bulles frote hir flesshe wyth salte and whan she had longe endured thys that hyr body was al blody the Iuge dyd doo close hir in a pryson vnto the tyme thot he had delybered of what tormentes he myght make hir deye and thenne at mydnyght descended a grete light and clerenesse in to the pryson in whyche our lord shewyd hym to hyr sayeng barbara haue confydence and be ferme and stedfaste for in heuen in therthe thou shalte haue grete ioye for thy passyon therfore doubte not the Iuge for he shal be wyth the and I shal delyuer the fro al thy paynes that ony shalle make the suffre and Incontynent she was al hole thenne whan our lord had sayd thus he blessyd hir and re mounted in to heuen thenne saynt barbara was gretely reioysed by the grete comforte of our lord and on yâ— morne the Iuge commaunded that she shold to broughte tofore hym and whan she was come he sawe that hyr woundes apperyd not but was al hole and he said to hir beholde berbara the bounte of our goddes and how moche they loue the For they haue heled thy wouÌ„des Thenne the blessyd barbara marter of Ihesu cryst answerd to the Iuge thy goddes be semblable to the wythoute entendemente how may they hele my woundes they may not helpe them self he that hath heled me is Ihesu criste the sone of god the whiche wyl not haue the by cause thy herte is so Indurate harde wyth the deuyls thenne the Iuge replenysshed of yre commaunded that she shold be hanged betwene two forked trees and that they shold breke hir raynes with staues and brenne hir sydes wyth brennyng lampes and after he made hir strongely to be beten and hurted hir heed with a mayllet Thenne saynt barbara behelde and loked vpward to heuen sayeng Ihesu Cryste that knowest the hertes of men And knowest my thought I beseche the to leue me not Thenne commauÌ„ded the Iuge to the hangman that he shold cut of with his swerde hir pappes whan they were cutte of the holy saint loked ageyn toward heuen sayeng Ihesu cryst torne not thy visage fro me whaÌ„ she had longe endured this payne the Iuge commaunded that she shold be ladde betyng thorugh the stretes and the holy vyrgyn the thyrd tyme behelde the heuen and sayd Lord god that coueryst heuen with clowdes I praye the to couer my body to th ende that it be not seen of the euyl peple when she had maad his prayer our lord came ouer hir and sende to hir an auÌ„gel whiche cladde hyr wyth a whyte vestemente the knyghtes ladde hir vnto a towne called dallasyon there the Iuge commaunded â—o slee hir with the swerde theÌ„ne hir fader alle araged tooke hyr oute of the hondes of the Iuge and ladde hyr vpon a montayne and Saynt barbara reioysed hir in hastyng to receyue the sallayre of hyr vyctorye and thenne whan she was crawen thyder she made hir oryson sayeng lord Ihesu Cryste whyche hast formed heuen and erthe I beseche the to graunte me thy grace here my prayer that al they that haue memorye of thy name my passyon I praye the that thou wylte not remembre theyr synnes for thou knowest our fragylyte ¶ Thenne came there a voys doun fro heuen sayeng vnto hyr Come my spouse barbara and reste in the chambre of god my fader whyche is in heuen and I graunte to the that thou hast requyred of me And whan thys was sayd she came to hyr fader and receyued the ende of hyr marterdom wyth Saynt Iulyan But whan hyr fader descended from the montaygne a fyre fro heuen descended on hym and consumed hym In suche wyse that there coude not be fouÌ„de ony asshes of alle hys body Thys blessyd virgyne saynt barbara receyued marterdom with saynt Iulyan the second nonas of decembre A noble man called valentyne buryed the bodyes of thyse two marters and layed them in a lytel towne in whyche many myracles were shewyd in the louyng and glorye of god almyghty and saynt barbara the holy marter suffred passyon in the tyme of maxymyen emperour of Rome and marcyen the Iuge whome we praye and beseche to be our aduocatryce vnto almyghty god that by hyr merytes he brynge vs after thys shorte and transytorye lyf in to his glorye pardu rale am en Thus endeth the lyf of saynt barbara ¶ Here begynnneth the lyf of saint Alexys ALexys is as moche to say as goyng oute of the lawe of maryage for to kepe vyrgynyte for goddes sake and to renouÌ„ce alle the pompe and rychesses of the world for to lyue in pouerte ¶ Of saint Alexis IN the tyme that archadyus and honnoryus were emperours of rome there was in rome a right noble lord named eufemyen whyche was chyef and aboue alle other lordes aboute themperours and had vnder his power a thousand knyghtes ¶ He was a moche Iuste man vnto alle men and also he was pyteous and mercyful vnto the poure For he had dayly thre tables sette and couerd for to fede the orphanes poure wydowes and pylgrymmes and he ete at the houre of none wyâ—h good relygyous persones Hys wyf that was named Agbaes ledde a relygyous lyf but by cause they had noo chylde they prayed vnto god to sende them a sone that myght be theyr heyre after them of theyr hauoyr and goodes Hyt was so that god herde their prayers and beholde theyr bounte
and good lyuyng and gafe vnto theym a sone whyche was named alexys whome they dyd to be taughte and enformed in alle scyences and honoures After thys they maryed hym vnto a fayr damoysel whyche was of the lygnage of the emperour of Rome Whan the day of thespowsaylles was comen to euen Alexys beyng in the chambre wyth his wyf allone beganne to enfourme and Induce hyr to drede god and serue hym and were all that nyght to gyder in ryght good doctryne and fynably he gafe to hys wyf hys rynge and the bocle of golde of hys gyrdle bothe bounden in a lytel clothe of purple and sayd to hyr Fayre suster take thys and kepe it as longe as hit shal plese our lord god And it shal be a token betwene vs And he gyue you grace to kepe trewely your vyrgynyte after this he toke of golde and syluer a grete somme and departed allone fro Rome and fonde a shyppe in whyche he saylled in to grece and from thens wente in to surtye and came to a cyte called edyssya and gafe there alle hys money for the loue of god and cladde hym in a cote and demaunded almesse for goddes sake lyke a poure man tofore the chyrche of our lady and what he lefte of the almesses aboue hys necessyte he gaue it vnto other for goddes sake and euery sonday he was howsellyd and receyued the sacramente Suche a lyf he ledde longe Somme of the messegers that his fader had sente to seche hym thorugh alle the partyes of the world came to seche hym in the sayd cytee of edyssya and gaue vnto hym theyr almesse he syttyng tofore the chyrche wyth other poure people but they knewe not hym he knewe wel theym and thanked our lord sayeng I thanke the fayr lord Ihesu cryste that vouchest saufe to calle me and to take almesse in thy name of my seruauntes I praye the to parfourme in me that whyche thou haste begonne Whan the messagers were retourned to Rome and eufemyen his fader sawe that they had not founden his sone He layed hym doun vpon a matras stratchyng on the erthe wayllyng and sayd thus I shalle holde me here abyde tyl that I haue tydynges of my sone And the wyf of hys sone alexis sayd wepyng to eufemyen I shal not departe out of your hows but shal make me semblable and lyke to the turtle whyche after that she hath loste hir felawe wyl take none other but alle hyr lyf after lyueth chaste In lyke wyse I shal refuse alle felawshyp vnto the tyme that I shalle knowe where my ryght swete frende is becomen After that alexys had done his penaunce by ryghte grete pouerte in the sayd cyte and ledde a ryghte holy lyf by the space of seuentene yere there was a voys herde that came fro god vnto the chyrche of our lady and sayd to the porter make the man of god to entre in for he is worthy to haue the kyngdom of heuen and the spyryte of god restyth on hym Whan the clerke coude not fynde ne knowe hym emonge the other poure men He prayed to god to shewe to hym who it was and a voys came fro god and sayd he sytteth wythoute tofore thentre of the chyrche and soo the clerke fonde hym and prayed hym humbly that he wold come in to the chyrche Whan this myrarle came to the knowleche of the people and alexys sawe that men dyd to hym honour and worshyp anone for teschâ—we vaynglorye he departed fro thens and came in to grece where he toke shyppe entryd for to goo in to cecyle But as god wolde there aroos a grete wynde whiche made the shyppe to arryue at the porte of Rome whan alexys sawe thys anone he sayd to hym self by the grace of god I thyl charge noo man of Rome I shal goo to my faders hows in suche wyse as I shal not be beknowen of ony persone and whan he was wythin rome he mette eufemyen his fader whyche came fro the paleye of the emperour with a grete meyne folowyng hym alexys hys sone like a poure man ranne cryeng and sayd Sergeaunte of god haue pyte of me that am a poure pylgryme and receyue me in to thy hows for to haue my sustenaunce of the relyef that shal come from thy borde that god blesse the and haue pyte on thy sone whyche is also a pylgrym ¶ Whan eufemyen herde speke of hys sone anone his herte beganne to melte and sayd to his seruauntes whyche of you wyl haue pyte of thys man take the cure and charge of hym I shal delyuer hym from hys seruage and make hym free and shalle gyue hym of myn herytage And anone he commysed hym vnto one of his seruauntes and commaunded that hys bedde shold be maad in a corner of the halle Where as comers and goers myght see hym And the seruaunte to whome Alexys Was commaunded to kepe maad anone hys ledde vnder the stayer and stappes of the halle And there he laye righte lyke a poure wretche and suffred many vylonyes and despytes of the seruauntes of hys fader whyche oftymes caste and threwe on hym the wasshyng of dysshes and other fylthe and dyd to hym many euyl tornes and mocqued hym but he neuer compleyned but suffred alle pacyentely for the loue of god Fynably whan he had ledde thys ryght holy lyf wythin hys faders hows in fastyng in prayeng and in doyng penaunce by the space of seuentene yere and knewe that he shold sone deye he prayed the seruaunte that kepte hym to gyue hym a pyece of parchemyâ— and ynke and therin he wrote by ordre al his lyf and how he was maryed by the commaundemente of hys fader and what he had sayd to hys wyf and of the tokenes of hys rynge and bocle of hys gyrdle that he had gyuen to hyr at hys departyng and what he had suffred for goddes sake And alle thys dyd he for to make his fader to vnderstonde that he Was hys sone ¶ After thys whan hyt pleasyd to God for to shewe and manyfeste the vyctorye of our Lord Ihesu Cryste in hys seruaunte Alexys ¶ On a tyme on a sonday aâ—ter masse heeryng alle the people in the chyrche there was a voys herde from god cryeng and sayeng as is sayd Mathei vndecimo capitulo Come vnto me ye that laboure and be trauaylled I shal comforte you Of whyche voys all the people were abasshed whiche anone fyl doun vnto the erthe And the voys sayd ageyn Seche ye the seruaunte of god For he prayeth for alle Rome And they soughte hym but he was not founden Alexis in a mornyng on a good fryday gafe hys sowle vnto god and departed oute of thys worlde And that same day alle the people assemblyd at Saynt Peters chyrche And prayed god that he wold shewe to them where the man of god myght be founden that prayed for Rome And a voys was herde that came fro god that sayd ye
she so prechyd to them that came for hyr that she conuerted them to the fryth which wepte sore that so fayr a mayde so noble shold be put to deth thenne she said to them o ye good yonge men it is noo thynge to lese the yongthe but to chaunge hit that is to gyue claye and take therfore golde To gyue a foule habytacle and take a precyous To gyue a lytel corner and to take a ryght grete place God rewardeth for one symple an hondred folde byleue ye thys that I haue said And they sayd we beleue cryste to be veray god whiche hath suche a seruaunte thenne saynt vrbane was callyd and four hondred and moo were baptysed Thenne almachyus callyng tofore hym saynt cecylye sayd to hir of what condycyon arte thou she sayd that she was of a noble kynrede To whome almachyus sayd I demaunde the of what relygyon arte thou thenne cecyle sayd thenne begannest thou thy demaunde folyly that woldest haue two answers in one demaunde To whome almachâ— sayd Fro whens cometh thy rude answer she sayd of good conscience and feyth not fayned To whome almachyus sayd knowest thou not of what power I am and she sayd thy power is lytel to drede for it is like a bladder ful of wynde whiche wyth the pryckkyng of a nedle is anone goon aweye and come to nought To whome almache sayd in wronge beganst thou and in wronge thou perseueryst knowest thou not how our prynces haue gyuen me power to gyue lyf and to slee she sayd now shal I proue the a lyar ageynst the veray trouthe Thou mayst wel take the lyf fro them that lyue but to them that been deed thou mayst gyue no lyf Therfore thou arte a mynystre not of lyf but of dethe To whome almachyus sayd now laye a parte thy madnes and do sacrefyse to the goddes To whome cecyllye sayd I wote neuer where thou hast loste thy syght for them that thou sayest hen goddes we see them stones put thyn hande and by touchyng thou shalt lerne that whiche thou mayste not see wyth thyn eyen ¶ Thenne almachyus was wrothe and commauÌ„ded hyr to be ladde in to hyr hows there to be brente in a brennyng bayne which hir semed was a place colde wel attemperyd thenne almachyus heryng that commmaunded that she shold be byheded in the same bath Thenne the tormentour smote at hyr thre strokes and coude not smyte of hyr heed the fourth stroke he myght not by the lawe smyte and so lefte hir there lyeng halfe a lyue and halfe dede and she lyued thre dayes after in that manere and gaue al that she had to poure peple and contynuelly prechyd the faythe al that whyle alle them that she conuerted she sente to vrbane for to be baptysed and sayd I haue axed respyte thre dayes that I myght commende to you thyse sowles And that ye shold halowe of myn hows a chyrche and thenne at the ende of thre dayes she slepte in our lord and saynt vrbane wyth his dekenes buryed hir body emonge the bysshoppes and halowed hir hows into a chyrche In whyche vnto this day is sayd the seruyce vnto our lord She suffred hir passyon aboute the yere of our lord two hondred and xxiij in the tyme of alexaunder themperour and it is redde in another place that she suffred in the tyme of marcij aurelij whyche reygned aboute the yere of our lord two hondred and twenty Thenne lete vs deuoutelye praye vnto our lord that by the merytes of thys holy vyrgyne and marter saynt cecyly we may come to his euerlastyng blisse in heuen amen Thus endeth the lyf of Saynt Cecillye virgyne marter Here foloweth the lyf of saynt clemente Pope and marter first of his name CLemente is said of cleos that is glorye and mens that is mynde as it were a glorious mynde he had a glorious mynde purged fro al fylihe ornate wyth all vertue and decorate wyth al felycyte or he is sayd of clemence whiche is mercyful It is sayd in the glosarye that clemente is sayd rightwys swete rype and meke rightwys in dede swete in speche rype in conuersacyon and meke in Intencion hys lyf he hym self sette in his book named Itynerarye specyally vnto that place whyche he succeded to saynt peter in the papacye The remenaunte of his actes that comynly been had been taken in dyuers places ¶ Of saynt clemente Pope CLement the bysshop was borne of the lignage of the romayns and his fader was named faustyn and his moder matydyan he had two brethern of whom that one was named faustyn that other faustynyen and mathydyane was of meruayllous beaute hyr husbondes brother brennyd in the loue of hir by the dysordynate concupyscence of luxurye and dayly he vexyd hir in desyryng hir to accorde to his foule luste but she in no wyse wold consente to hym and she doubted to shewe it to hir husbond by cause there shold noo debate ne enemyte falle betwene the brethern Thenne she thought to absente hyr by somme mene fro hym soo longe that he shold forgete this dysordynate loue for the syght of hir presence sette hym a fyre and by cause she myght haue lycence of hir husbond she fayned a dreme subtylly whyche she tolde to hir husbond in thys wyse sayeng There is a vysyon comen to me thys nyght by whiche I am commaunded to departe out of thys cytee of rome wyth my two sones faustyn faustynyen and that I shold abyde out so longe tyl I were commaunded to retorne and yf I dyd not I shold deye and my chyldren also and whan hir husbond herde this he was sore abassled and aferde sente his wyf and his two sones to athenes wyth moche other meyne and that she shold abyde there seâ—te hir sones to scole the fader helde clemente at home with hym whiche was the lefte was but v yere olde for his solas as the moder sayled on the see with hir sones there roos a grete tempeste brought the shyppe to wracke was alle to broken the moder was throwen by the wawâ—s of the see vpon a roche escaped wenyng that hir two sones had be perisshed for sorowe dyscomforte wold haue drowned hir self in the see yf she had not had hope to fynde hir sones whaÌ„ she sawe that she coude not fynde them alyue ne dede she cryed brayed strongely bote hir handes wold not be comforted of no body thenne cam to hir many wymmen which tolde to hyr the fortunes that they had had but she was comforted by none emonge thother ther came one that said that she had loste hir husbond a yonge man in the see that she wold neuer after be maryed for the loue of hym she comforted hir how it was dwellid with hir gate dayly their lyuyng wyth theyr handes but anone after hyr
hyr and she sayd to hyr ne doubte the noo thynge well belouyd of god For this day thou shalt haue the royame perdurable For thys transytorye royame and an Inmortal spouse for a mortal And she was constaunte and ferme in the feythe and bad the tormentours deo as was to them commaunded And thenne the sergeauntes broughte hir out of the cyte and araced of hyr pappes with tonges of yron after smote of hir heed whos body porphyrye toke aweye buryed it the nexte day folowyng was demaunded where the holy body of the quene was and the emperour bad that many sholde be put to tormente for to knowe where the body was Porphyrye came thenne tofore them al and escryed sayeng I am he that buryed the body of the ancylle and seruaunte of Ihesu crist and haue receyued the feythe of god thenne maxence began to rore and braye as a madde man and cryed sayeng O wretchyd and caytyf loo porpherye whiche was the onely kepar of my sowle and comforte of al myn euylles is deceyued whiche thynge â—e tolde to his knyghtes to whome they sayd we also ben cristen and been redy for to suffre deth for Ihesu cryst thenne the emperour dronken in wodenes commaunded that al shold be byheded and that their bodyes shold be caste to dogges and thenne called he katheryne said to hir how be it that thou hast made the quene for to deye by thyn arte magyke yf thou repente the thou shalt be fyrst and chyef in my paleys For thou shalt this day do sacrefyse or thou shalt lese thyn heed she said to hym do al that thou hast thought I am redy to suffre al and thenne he gafe sentence ageynst hyr commaunded to smyte of hyr heed and whan she was brought to the place ordeyned therto she lyfte vp hir eyen to heuen prayeng said o Ihesu criste hope helpe of them that byleue in the o beaute glorye of virgyns good kyng I beseche and praye the that who someuer shal remembre my passyon be it at his deth or in ony other necessyte calle me that he may haue by thy mercy th effecte of his requeste prayer thenne came a voys to hir sayeng come vnto me my fayr loue and my spouse loo beholde the yate of heuen is opene to the and also to them that shal halowe thy passâ—on I promyse the comforte of heuen of that they requyre and whan she was byheded there yssued out of hir body mylke in steed of blood aungellys toke the body bare it vnto the mouÌ„te of Synay more thenne twenty iourneyes fro thens and buryed it there honourably contynuelly oyle rennyth out of hir boones whiche heleth al maladyes sekenesses she suffred deth vnder maxence the tyraunte about the yere of our lord thre hondred how maxence was punysshed for thys felonye for other it is conteyned in thystorye of thynuencyon of the holy crosse but for as moche as it was not knowen longe after where this holy body was becomen there was grete sorowe lamentacion emonge cristen men sayeng alas the moste clere lyghte of our feyth of wysdom the temple of the holy ghoost is goon from vs and besought god deuoutely that it myght plese hym to shewe to them this holy relyque which after came to knowleche in thys manere In the deserte a boute the mounte of Synay there were many cristen heremytes whyche were enflamed with grete deuocyon toward thys holy vyrgyne Saynt katheryne Wherfore by comyn assente they ordeyned a chapel In whyche thys holy vyrgyne shold be specyally remembryd whiche chapell was by the mounte of Synay not ferre from the hylle faste by the place where as our lord apperyd in the busshe to moyses In whyche place the holy heremytes lyueden in grete abstynence and deuocyon a gloryous lyf To whome on a tyme the aungell of god apperyd and sayd God hath be holden your affectuel deuocyon fro heuen Therfore he hath graunted to you this grace that by you shal be founden 〈◊〉 knowen the holy body of the gloryous virgyne Saynt katheryne to his souerayn honoure and glorye and therfore aryse ye vp and folowe me and though it soo be that ye see me not yet the shadowe of the palme that I bere in myn honde shal neuer departe fro your syght And thenne these Heremytes wente forth and folowed the aungel tyl they came to the place where vnnethe ony creature myght entre for straytenes of the waye and sharpenesse of the rockes and whan they came to the toppe of the hylle they sawe not thaungel but they sawe euydently the shadowe of the palme that it semed al the place had be shadowed by the leuys of the palme by whiche they came vnto the place where the body had layen a hondred and thyrty yere in a stone and hir flesshe was dryed vp for lengthe of tyme but the bones were so compacte and pure that they semed to be kepte by the cure of aungellys Thenne they toke vp with grete ioye and reuerence thys holy body and bare it doun in to the chapel whyche they had made and this was doon by grete myracle for the place where as she laye in was so stepe thycke streyte and soo daungerous that it semed to mannes reson Impossyble to come ther to and these holy men after they had broughte this body wyth solempnytee ordeyned the feste of thynuencion of this holy body shold be solempnysed whiche is yet there kepte and is about the tyme of thynuencyon of the holy crosse whiche place is gretely honoured and our lord shewith there many myracles and out of the bones floweth out oyle largelye by whiche many maladyes been guarisshed and it is sayd that tofore the body was founden that a monke wente to the mounte of synay and dwellyd there by the space of seuen yere moche deuoutelye in the seruyce of saynt katheryne and on a tyme as he prayed with grete deuocyon that he myght haue somme thynge of hir body Sodeynlye there came a ioynte of one of hir fyngres of hir honde whyche yefte he toke ioyefully of our lord It is reddâ— that there was a man moche deuoute to saynt katheryne and ofte called on hir to his ayde and by lengthe of tyme he fyl in foule thoughte loste the deuocion that he had to the saynt and cessyd to praye to hir and as he was on a tyme in prayer he sawe a grete multytude of vyrgyns passyng by hym emonge whome there was one more replendysshaunte thenne the other and whan she approched hym she couerd hir vysage and passed to fore hym hir face couerd and he meruaylled moche of the beaute of hyr demaunded what she was and one of the virgyns sayd that it was katheryne whome thou were wonte for to knowe and by cause thou knowest ne remembryst hir not she passed tofore the thith face couerd without knowleche It is to be
and he in despyte sayd goo your waye For in no maner shal ye neuer haue lycence of me that this newe songe shal be song and whan the feste of saynt nycholas come The brethern sayd theyr matyns alle in heuynesse and their vygylles whan they were alle in theyr beddes Saynt nycholas apperyd vysybly and moche ferfully to the pryour and drewe hym out by the heer and smote hym doun on the pamente of the dortour began to synge the hystorye O pastor eterne and at euery note he smote hym wyth a rodde that he helde in his honde right greuously on his backe and sange melodyously thys antheme vnto the ende and thenne the pryour cryed so lowde that he awoke al hys brethern and was borne to hys bedde as halfe deed and whan he came to hym self he sayd goo ye and synge the newe hystorye of saynt nycholas from hens forth In that same tyme the abbotte of the couente of molesyne and xxj monkes wyth hym went for to dwelle in deserte for to kepe more straytelye the professyon of theyr pale and there establysshed a newe ordre out of the ordre Hyldebrande pryour of clugny was made pope and was callyd gregory and whan he was in the lasse ordres and was sente as a legate he conuaynquysshed meruayllously at lyons the archebysshop of ebronycence of symonye For thys archebysshop had corrumped alle his accusers soo that he myght not be conuaynquysshed And thenne the legate commaunded hym that he shold saye In nomine patris et filij and he myght not say et spiritus sancti by cause he had synned in the holy ghoost and thenne he confessyd his synne and was deposed name theÌ„ne the holy ghoost with clere voys and thys myracle reherceth bruno in his book that he made to mathewe the emperour and whan thys henry was dede it was wryton on his tombe where as he was buryed wyth other kynges Here lyeth henry the sone of henry the fader henry the belfader henry the olde belfader and after thys henry reygned henry the fyfthe in the yere of our lord a thousand C and one which toke the pope with the cadynallys and lefte hem in the habyte of bysshoppes and of abhottes took the rynge and the staffe pastoralle In that tyme bernarde his brethern â—ook the relygyon of cysteaulx in the paroche of lyege a sowe bare a pygge hauyng the vysage of a man and an henne had a chykyn with foure feet and after thys henry succeded Lothayre in whos tyme a woman in spayne chylded a monstre whyche had double body and that one ioyned to that other by the backes and tofore had the semblaunce of a man hole of body and membrys ordynatelye and behynde was the semblaunce of a woman hole in alle propertees After Lothayr reygned Conrade the yere a thousand an hondred xxxviij That tyme deyed hughe of saynt vyctor whiche was a right excellent doctour in al scyence and deuoute in relygyon of whome it is sayd that whan he was in his laste Infyrmyte that he myght reteyne no mete yet he requyred alweye to haue the body of our lord wyth grete deuocyon thenne his brethern wold please hym and brought to hym a symple hoost vnsacred in manere of the body of our lord and he knewe it wel in spyryte and sayd God forgyue you brethern wherfore wold ye deceyue me Thys is not my lord that ye brynge to me and anone they were abasshed and ranne and fette to hym the body of our lord and thenne he sawe hym whome he myght not receyue lyfte vp his handes to heuen and sayd now I see the sone ascende to the fader and the spyryte to god that maad hym And wyth thyse wordes he gafe vp his spyryte and the body of our lord vanysshed aweye fro them that helde hym Eugene abbotte of saynt anastase was establysshed pope But he was put out of the cyte by cause the senatours had maad another pope And thenne he come in to fraunce and sente saynt bernarde tofore hym whiche prechyd the waye of our lord dyd many myracles And thenne floured Gylbarte the patryarke Frederyke neuewe of conrade was emperour in the yere of our lord a thousand C liij And that tyme flouryd maister pieter lombard byshop of paris Whiche compyled the book of sentences The glose of the sawter and of the epystles of paule moche prouffytably and in that tyme were seen thre mones in heuen and in the myddes of the thre was the sygne of the crosse and it was not longe after that thre sonnes were seen also ¶ And thenne was Alysaunder chosen ryghtfully for to be pope and ageynste hym were chosen octauyan Iohannes cremensis of the tytle of saynt calyxte and Iohannes perscrumetencis successyfly to the papacye were ennoblysshed by the fauour of the emperour to the see this discorde and scysme endured eyghtene yere Within wyich tyme the almayns whiche dwellyd in toscane for themperour assaylled the Romayns whyche were at mountpourt and slewe fro none to euensonge soo moche people that there were neuer so many romayns slayne how be it that in the tyme of Hanybal there were soo many slayne that thre busshellys were fylled with golde rynges that were taken of theyr fyngres which hanyhal dyd do sende to cartage and many of them were buryed at saynt stephens and saynt laurences and it was wryton vpon theyr sepulture that they were ten tyme a thousand and ten thousand x tymes xvj hondred and an halfe and whan the emperour frederyk vysyted the holy londe and wysshe hym in a ryuer and there he perysshed and deyed and as other saye he waterd his hors and hys hors fyl doun in the water and so he deyed Henry was emperour after hym in the yere a thousand an hondred four score ten In that tyme were soo grete raynes thondres lyghtnynges and tempestes that neuer had been soo grete that ony man myght remembre For stones fyl as grete as egges were square whyche were medlyd wyth the rayne destroyed the vygnes trees and the corne and slewe men beestys crowys and other byrdes and somme fowles were seen fleyng by the ayer in that tempeste whyche bare coles brennyng in theyr bylles and beckes and sette fyre on howses thys henry was alweye a tyraunte ageynste the chyrche of Rome and therfore whan he was dede Innocente the pope opposed ageynst phylyp his sone that he shold not be emperour and helde wyth the partye of otto sone of the duc of Saxone made hym to be crowned kyng af Almayne at acone In that tyme many barons of fraunce went ouer the see for the delyueraunce of the holy londe and they took Constantynoble In that tyme began thordre of freres prechours and of the menours Innocent the thyrd sente messagers to phelyp kynge of fraunce for to assayle the londe of albygeoys for to take fro hem the heresyes and
THe holy blessed doctour saynt Ierom sayth thys auctoryte do alweye somme good werke to th ende that the deuyl fynde the not ydle And the holy doctour saynt austyn sayth in the book of the labour of monkes that no man stronge or myghty to laboure ought to be ydle for which cause whan I had parfourmed accomplisshed dyuers werkys hystoryes translated out of frensshe in to englysshe at the requeste of certeyn lordes ladyes and gentylmen as thystorye of the recuyel of Troye the book of the chesse the hystorye of Iason The hystorye of the myrrour of the world the xv bookes of Metamorpheseos in whyche been conteyned the fables of ouyde and the hystorye of 〈…〉 froy of boloyn in the conqueste of Iherusalem wyth other dyuers werkys bookes I nyste what werke to begynne put forth after the said werkys tofore made for as moche as ydelnesse is so moche blamed as sayth saynt bernard the myllyfluous doctour that she is moder of lyes stepdame of vertues it is she that ouerthroweth stronge men in to synne quenchyth vertue nouryssheth pryde maketh the waye redy to goo to helle and Iohan cassyodore sayth that the thouÈt of hym that is ydle thynketh on none other thynge but on lychorous metys vyandes for his bely and the holy saynt bernard aforesayd sayth in an epystle whan the tyme shal come that it shal behoue vs to rendre and gyue acomptes of our ydle tyme what reson may we rendre or what answer shal we gyue whan in ydlenes is none excuse prosper sayth that who someuer lyueth in ydlenesse lyueth in manere of a dombe beest and by cause I haue seen the auctorytees that blame despyse so moche ydlenes also knowe wel that it is one of the capytal and dedely synnes moche hateful vnto god Therfore I haue concluded fermelye purposed in my self no more to be ydle but wyl applye my self to laboure and suche ocupacion as I haue be acustomed to do for as moche as saynt austyn aforesayd sayth vpon a psalme that good werke ought not be doon for fere of payne but for the loue of rightwysnesse that it be of veray souerayn fraunchyse and by cause me semeth to be a souerayn wele to Incyte exhorte men and wymmen to kepe them from slouthe and ydlenesse and to lete to be vnderstonden to suche peple as been not letterd the natyuytees the lyues the passyons the myracles and the dethe of the holy sayntes also soÌ„me other notorye dedes and actes of tymes passed I haue submysed my self to translate in to englyssle the legende of sayntes which is callyd legenda aurea in latyn that is to say the golden legende for in lyke wyse as golde is moste noble aboue al other metalles in lyke wyse is thys legende holden moost noble aboue al other werkys ageynst me here myght somme persones saye that thys legende hath be translated tofore and trouthe it is but for as moche as I had by me a legende in frensshe another in latyn the thyrd in englysshe whiche varyed in many and dyuers places and also many hystoryes were comprysed in the two other bookes whiche were not in the englysshe book and therfore I haue wryten one oute of the sayd thre bookes which I haue ordryd otherwyse than the sayd englysshe legende is whiche was so tofore made besechyng alle theym that shall see or here it redde to pardone me where I haue erryd or made fawte whyche yf ony be is of ygnoraunce and ageyn my wylle and submytte it hooly of suche as can may to correcte it humbly bysechyng them so to doo and in so doyng they shal deserue a synguler lawde and meryte I shal praye for them vnto almyghty god that he of his benygne grace rewarde them cÌ„ And that it prouffyte to alle them that shal rede or here it redde and may encreace in them vertue and expelle vyce and synne that by the ensaumple of the holy sayntes amende theyr lyuyng here in thys shorte lyf that by their merytes they and I may come to euerlastyng lyf blysse in heuen amen My Truste Is ANd for as moche as this sayd werke was grete ouer chargeable to me taccomplisshe I feryd me in the begynnyng of the translacyon to haue contynued it by cause of the longe tyme of the translacion also in thenpryntyng of the same in maner halfe desperate to haue accomplissd it was in purpose to haue lefte it after that I had begonne to translate it to haue layed it aparte ne had it be at thynstaunce requeste of the puyssant noble vertuous erle my lord wyllyam erle of arondel whiche desyred me to procede contynue the said werke promysed me to take a resonable quaÌ„tyte of them when they were achyeued accomplisshed and sente to me a worshypful gentylman a seruaunte of his named IohÌ„n Stanney whych solycyted me in my Lordes name that I shold in no wyse leue it but accomplisshe it promysyng that my sayd lord shold duryng my lyf yeue graunte to me a yerely fee that is to wete a bucke in sommer a doo in wynter with whiche fee I holde me wel contente Thenne atte centemplacion reuerence of my sayd lord I haue endeuoyred me to make an ende fynysshe thys sayd translacion and also haue enprynted it in the moost best wyse that I haue coude or myght and presente this sayd boook to his good noble lordshyp as chyef causer of the achyeuyng of hit prayeng hym to take it in gree of me Wyllyam caxton hys poure seruaunte that it lyke hym to remembre my fee I shal praye vnto almyghty god for his longe lyf and welfare after this shorte transytorye lyf to come in to euerlastyng ioye in heuen the whiche he sende to hym me vnto al them that shal rede and here this sayd book that for the loue feythe of whome al these holy sayntes hath suffred deth and passyon amen ¶ And to th ende eche hystoryy lyf passyon may be shortely fouÌ„den I haue ordeyned this table folowyng where in what leef he shal fynde suche as shal be desyred and haue sette the nombre of euery leef in the margyne ¶ Thaduent of our lord folio primo The natyuyte of our lord foure The circumcysyon of our lord fyue The feste of thepyphanye eyghte Septuagesme enleuen Sexagesme folio enleuen Quinquagesme twelue Quadragesme twelue The ymbre dayes thyrtene The passyon of our lord fourtene The resurrexyon eyghtene The letanyes more lasse xxi The ascencion of our lord xxiij The feste of whytsontyde xxvj The feste of corpus xpristi thyrty The feste of dedycacion two thyrty The hystorye of adam seuen thyrty The historye of Noe nyne thyrty The hystorye of abraham fourty The hystorye of ysaac his two sones Esau Iacob four fourty Thystorye
meÌ„ shal yssue out of the caues shal goo by the wayes feldes as men alyened out of their witte And shal not conne speke one to another Te xj day the bones of dede men shal yssue out of their beryels places shal hold theym vpon their sepulcres fro the sonne rysyng vnto it goo doun the sepulcres shal be open to th ende that the deede bodyes may all yssue The xij· signe all the sterres shal fall fro the heueÌ„ shal sprede out Rayes of fyre theÌ„ne grete quantyte shal growe In this xij daye it is said that alle the beestes shal come to the felde howlyng shal not ete ne drynke The xiij signe alle lyuyng shal deye to th eÌ„de that they shold aryse with the dede bodyes The xiiij day the heuen therthe shal breÌ„ne The xv day shal be a new heueÌ„ new erthe all thing all dede meÌ„ shal aryse The ij thyng that shal be a fore IugemeÌ„t shal be the folye malice of aÌ„tecryst he shal payne hym to deceyue all men by iiij maners The j maner shal be by suasion false exposicion of scripture For as moche as he may he shal gyue theym to vnderstaÌ„de that he is Messyas whiche was promysed in the lawe that he sold come whom we saye IhuÌ„ Cryst he shal destroye the lawe of IhuÌ„ Cryst shal ordeyne his lawe in allegyng dauid the prophete that saith CoÌ„stitue dnÌ„e legislatoreÌ„ suê‘ eos Thus shal he saye that it was said for hym as he that was ordeyned of god for to sette lawe vpon his place After this that is seid in the scripture of danyel danielis xj dabuÌ„t abhominacioneÌ„ desolacioneÌ„ teÌ„pli cÌ„ Antecryst his coÌ„plices shal gyue abhominacion desolacion to the teÌ„ple of god in this tyme as saith the glose Antecrist shal be in the teÌ„ple of god as god for that he shal destroye the lawe of god The seconde maner shal be by merueyllous oê‘acion of myracles wherof saith thappostle saynt poule in his secoÌ„de epistle ad thesaloniceÌ„ses in the seconde chapitre where he saith Cuius aduentus erit secunduÌ„ operatio nem sathane iÌ„ omnibus verbis et prodigijs mendacibus Of Antecryst it is said that the comyng shal be after the operacioÌ„ of sathan in all his signes in all his merueylles and false lyeng dedes wherof saynt Iehan maketh mencioÌ„ in thapocalips the xiij chapitre Fecit signa vt etiam ignem faceret de celo in terram descendere Antecryst shal make suche signes that is to seye he shal make suche tokenes that he shal make the fyre descende fro heuen The glose saith that lyke as the holy goost descended in likenes of fyre In lyke wyse shal Antecryst gyue the euyl spirite in lykenes of fyre Te thyrde maner that he shal doo for to deceyue shal be in gyuyng of yeftis of whiche is wreton in the booke of daniel the prophete in his xj chapitre dabit eis potestatem in mlÌ„tis terraÌ„ diuidet gratuito Antecryst shal gyue puissance to his seruauntis in many thynges And shal departe therthe to them after his will The glose saith that Antecryst shal gyue many yeftes to them that he shal deceyue And to his disciples he shal deuyde therthe them that he may not subdue by terrour fere he shal subdue ouercome them by auarice make them therby tobeye hym The iiij maner for to deceyue them shal be by tourments that he shal gyue to them wherof daniel saith in his viij chapitre Supra qd credi potest vniuersa vastabit Noman shal bileue how he shal destroye tormente theÌ„ that will not bileue in hym For to drawe theÌ„ to hym by force And saynt gre gore saith of hym Robustos quippe iterficiet cetera he shal slee the grete and strong meen whan he may not wynne ne ouercome theÌ„ by herte ne will he shal ouercome them by torment The thirde thyng that shal goo to fore the Iugement shal be the right vehement fyre fyre the whiche shall goo to fore the face of the Iuge And god shal seÌ„de this fyre for foure causes Fyrst for the renewyng of the world for he shal purge renewe the elemeÌ„tes And lyke to the fourme of the deluuye It shal be xl cubites hyer thaÌ„ alle the moÌ„taynes lyke as it is wreton in thystorye scolastyque For the werkes of the peple may mouÌ„te so hye SecoÌ„dly for the purgatioÌ„ of the people For theÌ„ne that fyre shall be in stede of the fyre of purgatorye to them that theÌ„ne shall be on lyue Thirdely for to to gyue more gretter tormente to theÌ„ that be dampned Fourthly for to gyue more clerenes light vnto the seyntes For after the sayeng of saynt basylle our lorde god whaÌ„ he shal make the purgacioÌ„ of the world he shal departe the hete of the fyre fro the resplendour bryghtnes And all the hete he shal sende to the place of daÌ„pned people by cause they shold be the more turmented And all the resplendour brightnes he shal sende to the place of seyntes to th eÌ„de that they be the more conforted Of thies that shal ensiewe folowe the IugemeÌ„t ther ben many the first shal by the descencioÌ„ of the Iuge The Iuge shal desceÌ„de in to the vale of Iosaphat shal sette the good on his right honde the euyll on the lift honde in an hye place in thayer by cause other shold see them And it ought not to be byleued that within that lyte vâ—leye all myght be enclosed after that whiche saynt Ierome saith but many shal be there the other ther aboute Neuertheles in a lytil space of loÌ„de may be men with out nombre by dyuyne puissauÌ„ce ordynaunce yf it be of necessite the chosen people shal be in thayer for the agilite lightnes of theyr bodyes also in soule And thenne the Iuge shal despute repreue the wicked men of the werkes of mercy whiche he ordeyned to vs And they shal not mowe replye but shal theÌ„ ne wepe vpon theÌ„ self vpoÌ„ theyr dedes lyke as saynt IohnÌ„ GrisostoÌ„ saith vpon the gospell of seynt Mathew in sayeng that the Iewes shal wepe their lyf whaÌ„ they shal see their Iuge and hym that gyueth lyf to all men whoÌ„ they estemed trowed a dede man shal blame theÌ„ self for his body hurt wounded by theÌ„ And they may not denye theyr cruelte but shal wepe in grete distresse The paynems whiche by the vayne disputacioÌ„s of the philosophres were deceyued supposed to haue ben folye to worshipe god crucyfyed The CrysteÌ„ meÌ„ synnars shal wepe that haue more louyd the world than god The heretyques shal wepe by cause they holden fals opynyons ayens the faith of IhuÌ„ Cryste whom theÌ„ne they shal see the souerayn Iuge whom the Iewes crucyfyed and so shal all the lynages of the world wepe for they shal
that this day shewed hym to thise kynges And at his baptesme where the voys of the fader was herd the holy ghoost seen And at the feest torned water in to wyn and fedde fyue thousand men besyde wymen and chyldren with v. loues and two fysshes that at the reuerence of this hye and grete feste he forgyue vs oure trespaces and synnes that after this short lyf we may come tohis euerlastyng blysse in heuen Amen Thus endeth the fest of Epyphanye of the thre kynges Here begynneth Septuagesme AT Septuagesme begynneth the tyme of deuiacioÌ„ or goyng out of the way of the world whiche began at Adam and dured vnto moyses And in this tyme is redde the book of genesis The tyme of septuagesme representeth the tyme of deuyacioÌ„ that is of transgression The sexagesme sygnefyeth the tyme of reuocacion The quinquagesme signefieth the tyme of remyssion The quadragesme signefieth of penaunce and satisfaction The septuagesme begynneth whan the chirche syngeth in thoffyce of the masse circuÌ„dederunt me and endureth vnto the saterday after ester day The septuagesme was institued for thre reasons lyke as mastre IohÌ„n beleth putteth in thoffyce of the chirche The first reason was for the redempcion For the holy fadres somtyme ordeyned that for thonour of thascencion of IhÌ„u cryst In the whiche our nature ascended in to heuen And was enhaunsed aboue thangeles that this day shold be halowed solempnly And shold be kepte fro fastyng And at the begynnyng of the chirche also solempne as the sonday And procession was made in representyng the procession of thappostles which they made on that day or of thaÌ„gellis that cam to mete hym and therfor comenly the prouerbe was that the thursday and the sonday were cosyns For thenne that one was as solempne as that other but by cause that the festes of sayntes cam and ben multeplyed whiche were greuous to halowe so many festes therfore the feste of the thursday cessed And for to recompence that ther is a weke of abstynence ordeyned lyke to lente and is called septuagesme That other reeason is for the sygnyficacion of the tyme For by this tyme is signefyed to vs the tyme of deuiacion of goyng out of the way of eyxle and of tribulacion of thumayne lignage fro syth Adam vnto th ende of the world Whiche exile is halowed vpon the reuolucion of vij dayes of vij M. yere vnderstoÌ„deÌ„ by lxx dayes or lxxC yeris For fro the begynnyng of the world vnto thascencion we acounte vj thousand yere and of the rest that we rekene it for the seuenth thousand of whiche god knoweth only the terme Now it is so that Ihesu cryst bought vs out of this exile in the vj age in hope of perpetuel lyf of all them that be reuested with the vesture of Innocence by bapteme we ben regenerate And whan we shal haue passed the tyme of this exyle he shal clothe vs of double vesture that is to wete of body and soule in glorye and in the tyme of deuyacion and of exyle we leue the songe of gladnes that is alleluya but the saterday of ester we synge one alleluya In enioyeng vs thankyng god of the vesture perpetuel whiche by hope we abyde for to recouure in the sixth age And in the masse we sette a tracte In fyguryng the labour that yet we ought to doo and in fulfyllyng the comandemens of god And the double Alleluya that we synge after ester sygnefyeth the double vesture tht we shaal haue in body and in soule The thirde Reson is for representacion For the septuagesme representeth lxx â–ª yere in whiche the chyldren of Israhel were in babilone in seruytude And in suche maner that they caste away and lefte their vsage of songe of gladnesse sayeng Quomodo cantabimus canticum domini cÌ„ ¶ Thus leue we the songe of preysyng and of gladnes After licence was gyuen to them to retorne in the tyme of Sexagesme and begonne thenne to Ioye and so we doo the satirday of ester as in the yere of Sexagesme we synge Alleluya in representyng their Ioye and gladnesse how wel in the retornyng they had payne and sorowe to take their thynges and bere with them therfor we synge anon after the tracte whiche foloweth the alleluya And in the saterday after ester in whiche Sptuagesme is complete we synge double Alleluya in fyguryng the playn gladnesse that they had whan they were retorned in to theyr contree And this tyme thus of the seruytude of the chyldren of Israhel representeth the tyme of our pylgremage of the lyf of this world ¶ For thus as they were delyuerd in the syxtyth so were we in the syxte age And as they had payne in gadryng assemblyng theyr thynges for to bere with them So haue we in fulfyllyng the comandements of god And like as they were in reste whan they cam in to their contre and in gladnes and in Ioye in lyke wyse we synge double alleluya that betokeneth double Ioye that we shal haue as wel in body as in sowle In this tyme theÌ„ne of exile of the chirche full of many tribulacions and as throwen out in to the depenesse of desperacion almost and despayr sigheth for sorowe in sayeng thoffyce of the masse Circundederunt me gemitus mortis cÌ„ And sheweth many demonstracions that she suffreth as well for the myserye that she had deserued by synne As for the double payne that she is ronne in as for the trespas to her neyghbour but all way for as moche as she falle not in despayr is purposed to her in the gospell and epystle thre maner of Remedyes The first is that yf she will yssue of thyse tâ—ybulacions that she laboure in the vygneyerde of her sowle in cuttyng and pullyng out the vyces and the synnes And after in the waye of this present lyf she seche the werkys of penaunce And after that in doyng spyrytuel bataylle she defende her strongly ayenst the temptacions of thenemye And yf she doo thyse iij. thynges she shal haue threfold reward For in labouryng god shal gyue her the peny and in wel rennyng the prys And in well fyghtyng the crowne And by cause that septuagesme sygnefyeth the tyme of our captyuyte the remedye is purposed to vs By the whiche we may be delyuerd in fleyng the myserye by rennyng by vyctorye in fyghtyng and by the peny in vs ayen beyng ¶ Here endeth the mysterye of Septuagesme ¶ Of Sexagesme THe Sexagesme begynneth whan is songe in the chirche at office of the masse Exurge domine And this endeth the wednesday after ester day And was instytued for redempcion for sygnefycacion and for representacion For redempcioÌ„ it was instytued For Melchisedech the 〈◊〉 and syluestre Institued that men shold ete twyes on the saterday to th ende that they that that had fasted the fryday whiche shold all way be fasted were not greued And in rechaet them of the saterdayes of this tyme they adiousted and Ioyned
a weke of the lente therto And called it sexagesme That other reson for signeficacion For that tyme sygnefyeth the tyme of wedowhed of the chyrche and the wayllyng of the same for thabsence of here spouse Wiche was rauishid in to heueÌ„ Ther be ij wynges gyueÌ„ to the chirche The j is thexercitacioÌ„ of vj werkis of mercy the fulfyllyng of the x coÌ„mademeÌ„ts of the lawe for sixti make six sithes ten And by six be vnderstond the vj werkes of mercy and by ten the n comandementis of the lawe The thirde reson is for representacion For the sexagesme representeth also the mysterye of redemption For by ten is vnderstond the man whiche is the tenth peny whiche is made formed to that that he be the reparacion of ix ordres of angellis or for that he is fourmed of foure qualytees to the body And to the soule he hath iij powers that is to wete memorye vnderstondyng and wyll whiche ben made that he serue the blessyd trynyte to th ende that we byleue fermly in hym and loue hym ardantly and dylygently we haue holde hym in our mynde By sixe ben vnderstonde vj mysteryes by the whiche the man is redemyd by Ihesu cryst the whiche ben the Incarnacion the Natyuyte the passion his discencion in to helle his resurrexion And his ascencion in to heuene And by cause that the sexagesme stratcheth vnto the wednesday after ester that day is songen venite benedicti cÌ„ For they that fulfylle the werkes of merci shal here in th ende venite as Ihesu cryst witnesseth And thenne shal the dore be opened to the spouse And embrace god her spouse And it is warned in a pystle that she shold beere paciently tribulacion as seynt poul dyde in thabsence of her espouse and in the gospell that she be alway ententif to sowe good werkes And that she that had songen as despayred Circundederunt me gemitus mortis Now retorne for to demaunde that she be holpen in her trybulacions and require to be delyuerd in sayeng Exurge domine adiuua cÌ„ whiche is the begynnyng of thoffice of the masse And this doth holy chirche in thre maners For somme ben in holy chirche that ben oppressed of aduersite but they ben not cast out And some that ben not oppressed ne caste out And somme that ben oppressyd and caste out And by cause that they may not bere aduersitees it is to drede and grete perill lest the prosperitees all to breke theym wherfor holy chirche cryeth that he aryse as to the fyrst in confortyng them for it semeth that he slepeth whan he delyuereth them not She cryeth also as to the seconde that he aryse in conuertyng them fro whome it semeth that he tourneth his face fro them in puttyng them fro hym She cryeth also as to the thirde that he arise in helpyng them in prosperite And in delyueryng them Here endeth the mysterye of sexagesme Of quinquagesme tHe quinquagesme dureth fro the sonday in whiche is songeÌ„ in the chirche in thoffyce of the masse Esto mihi cÌ„ And that endeth on ester day and is Iustitued for supplecion fulfyllyng for signeficacion and for representacion for fulfyllyng and accomplysshyng by cause that we shold faste fourâ—y dayes after the fourme of Ihesu cryst And ther be but xxxvj dayes to faste but meÌ„ fast not the sondayes for the gladnesse and the reuerence of the resurrexion and also for thensaunple of IhuÌ„ cryst whiche ete two tymes with his disciples on the day of his resurrexion whan he entred in where his discples were and the dores or yates shytte And they brought hym parte of a rosted fyssh and of an hony combe And after that with his ij disciples whiche wente to Emaus He ete also as some saye And therfore ben foure dayes put to for acoÌ„plysshyng of the sondayes whiche be not fasted And after by cause the clergye goon by fore the comyn peple so shold they goo in deuocion and holynesse therfo they begynye to faste two dayes byfore and absteyne them fro etyng flessh And thus is one weke putto whiche is called the qunquagesme after this that saynt ambrose saith that other reason is for the signeficacion for the quynquagesme signefyeth the tyme of remyssion And of penaunce in whiche the synnes ben pardonned and foryeueÌ„ The fyftythe yere was the yere of remyssyon For thenne the dettes were quyted The bonde men were fraunchised lete goo free And eueryche cam agayn to his heritages by whiche is vnderstande that by penaunce our synnes be foryeuen And fro the seruitude bondage of oure enemye we be delyuerd And so we ben retourned to the mansion of our heritage of heuen The thirde reason is for representacion For the quynquagesme representeth not to vs only the tyme of remyssyon But also thestate of the beatitude of heuene whiche is to vs represented For in the fyftyth yere seruauntes were made free And in the fyftyth day that the laÌ„be was sacrefyed the lawe of moyses was gyuen And the fyftyth day after the holy goost was gyuen And therfore this name fyfty representeth the beatitude of heuen where as was taken the possession of liberte the knowleche of verite and perfectioÌ„ of charite Now it is to wete that thre thinges ben necessarye whiche be conteyned and sette in thepystle and in the gospell that is that penaunce that is to saye the werkes of penaunce ben perfyght That is to wete charite whiche is purposed in the epistle And the memorie of the passion of Ihesu cryst and faith whiche is vnderstonde by the sight gyuen to the blynde man whiche ben coÌ„teyned in the gospell For fayth maketh the werkes acceptable to god For without faith noman may plese god the mynde of the passioÌ„ of god maketh tho werkes lyght wherof saith saint gregory yf the passyon of Ihesu cryst be well had in mynde ther is nothyng but it may be born and suffred easely For the loue of god may not be ydle this saith seynt gregorye yf it werke it is grete And if it refuse it is no loue And thus as the chirche at the begynnyng as despayrede had cryed Circundederunt me gemitus mortis after retornyng to hym demaunded to be holpen Thus now whan she hath take affyaunce and hope of pardon for hope of penaunce she prayeth and saith esto mihi in deum protectorem Or she demaundeth iiij thynges that is to wete protection confirmacion refuge conduyte All the chyldren of the chirche or they ben in grace or they ben in synne or in aduersyte or in prosperite They that ben in grace demande for to be confermed They that ben in synne demaunde refuge They in aduersyte demaunde protection that they fro their tribulations may be defended they in prosperite demaunde conduyte that they â—ay be of god ledde and conduyte And thus as it is said quynquagesme termineth And endeth at ester by cause that penaunce
them by force in to the fournays also of other men they were repreued and vylonnyed And this holy man Carpo in beholdyng them had grete delyte and toke pleysaunce in theyr pugnycion in suche wise that he lefte the vision of heueÌ„ and sette not ther by but was angry that they fyll not sodenly in to thefournays and thenne as he loked vp in to heuen he sawe the vision that he had to fore seen And IhuÌ„s Cryst whiche had pyte of thise two men a roos vp out of his trone cam vnto them with a grete multitude of angellis And put forth his hond and delyuerd them And IhÌ„s sayd to Carpo smyte me from hens forth I am redy to suffre for to saue man This ensample recyteth saynt denys As to the fourth article wherfore he abode not vntyl the generall resurrection Thre reasons ben assygned ¶ The first for the dignyte of his body For he was deyfyed and cam fro the deyte And therfore it was no reson that his body shold so longe lye in therthe wherof dauid saith Non dabis sanctum tuum videre corruptionem Thou shalt not suffre thyn holy body see corruption The secoÌ„d reason is for the stedfastnes of the fayth For yf he had not thenne arysen the faith had perisshyd men wold not haue byleued that he had be very god And that appiereth wel For in his passioÌ„ sauf our lady alle lost fayth But whan they had knowleche of his resurrection they recouerd it agayn as saith seynt poul Si xpristus non surrexerit vana est fides nostra yf Ihesu Cryst had not rysen our fayth had be vayn or none The thirde cause For thexemplar of our resurrection Ther shold be but fewe that shold byleue the resurrection to come yf Ihesus Cryst had not rysen And this is our example and our hope And therfore sayen thappostles Ihesu Cryst is arysen And we shal aryse For his resurrection is cause of oures wherof saith saynt gregorye Our lord by example hath shewed that he promysed in reward as that we shold knowe hym to haue rysen ¶ Thus in our self we shold haue hope of the reward of his resurrection And we ought to knowe that Ihesu Cryste wold not prolonge his resurrection aboue thre dayes to th ende that desperacioÌ„ shold not be in the world As to the fyfthe Article it is wherefore he aroos he aroos for foure thynges moche proufytable to vs ¶ For his resurrection made the Iustyficacion of our synnes she enseyneth new lyf of maners she engendrith the hope of reward and ordeyneth the resurrection of all Of the first saith saynt poul ad Romanos Ihesu Cryst deyed for our synnes and aroos for to Iustefye vs ¶ Of the secâ—nde lyke as Ihesu Cryst aroos by the glorye of the fader whiche is a new glorious lyf So ought we in spyrituell lyf take newe maners Of the thirde By his grete mercy god hath reysed vs in hope of lyfe by the resurrection of Ihesu Cryste ¶ Of the fourth it is said to vs in scripture Ihesu Cryst aroose fro deth For by man is deth come to men And by man that is Ihesu Cryste the lyf is come to men Thus ben they the fyrst of dede meÌ„ Adam of theÌ„ that deyde IhÌ„u cryst of theÌ„ that ben a lyue by his resurrection And thus it appiereth that Ihesu cryst had iiij propretees in his resurrection The first is that our resurrection is differed vnto the last resurrection And Ihesu cryst aroos the third day As saith the glose vpon this psalme Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus cÌ„ At euensongetyme shal be wepyng And on the morn gladnes and Ioye The glose saith that the resurrection of Ihesu Cryst is cause sufficient of the resurrectioÌ„ of sowles in this present tyme And of the bodyes in tyme to come The seconde proprete is that we ryse by hym And he aroos by hym self wherof saith saynt ambrose how myght he seke helpe to reyse his body whiche reysed other The thirde proprete is that we become duste or asshes And his body myght not be torned in to asshes ¶ The iiij proprete is that his resurrection is cause sacramental of our resurrection ¶ As touchyng the sixte article hou ofte he appiered the day of his resurrection he appiered fyue tymes ¶ First to marie Magdalene marci vltimo After his resurrectioÌ„ he appiered first to marie magdalene whiche is fygure of penitentes And for fyue reasons he appiered to her First for she loued hym most ardantly by cause she loued so moche god foryafe and pardonned her many synnes Secondly for to shewe that he deyde for synners Mathei ix Non veni vocare cÌ„ I cam not for to calle rightful men but synners to penaunce ¶ Thirdly for to veryfye his word Mathei xxi AmeÌ„ dico quia meretrices cÌ„ ¶ To the ypocrites and phariseys he sayd that comyn wymen and the publicaÌ„ shold goo to fore them to the kyngdome of heuen Fourtly for by cause that lyke as a woman was messager of deth so a woman shold he messager of lyf after the glose â— Fyftely lyke as synne habounded so shold grace more habounde lyke as thappostle saith ad romanos v. The seconde tyme he appered to the thre maries whiche retorned fro the monumeÌ„t whan he said to theym auete god grete you And thenne they approched hym And helde his feet And that is the figure of humble prayers to whom our lord appered as wel for the reason of the nature as for the reason of thaffectioÌ„ For they helde his Feet whiche sygnefyeth thaffection of the herte Thirdly he appered to saynt pieter but whan ne in what place it is not knowen but yf it were by auenture whan he retorned fro the monument wyth saynt IohnÌ„ For it myght wel be that saynt peter in somme place torned fro saynt IohnÌ„ where god appiered to hym or by auenture whan he was allone in the monument lyke as it is sayd in scolastica historia or parauenture in a Caue or a fosse For it is redde in thistoryes whan he renyed and forsoke our lord that he fledde in to a Caue where as the montayn is whiche is called the montayne of the cocque or ellis after that it is said that he wepte thre dayes contynuelly after that he had renyed god And there Ihesus appered to hym and comforted hym sayeng â— Peter bere the vertu of obedyence to whome our lord sheweth hym Fourtly he appiered to his disciples whiche wente to Emaus wiche is as moche to saye as desire of couÌ„seyll and signefyeth to vysyte the poure membres of Ihesu cryst and to helpe them as it is said in the gospell Goo and selle all that thou hast And gyue it to poure people Fyftly he appiered to his disciples whiche were to gydre in a place closed and this signefieth relygyous men that ben in the world with the yates of theyr v wyttes closed Thyes fyue apparicions weren the day of
sobrely and in contynence and after at ester had receyued theyr sauyour After they disordred them in etyng in drynkyng in playes and in lecherye nd A therfore our lord was meuyd ayenst them and sente to them a grete pestelence whiche was called the botche of impedymye and that was cruell sodayne and caused peple to dye in goyng by the waye in playeng in beyng atte table and in spekyng one with another sodeynly they deyed In this manere somtyme fnesyng they deyed so that whā ony persone was herd fnesyng anone they that were by said to hym god helpe you Or Cryst helpe and yet endureth the custōme And also whan he fneseth or gapeth he maketh to fore his face the signe of the crosse and blessith hym And yet endureth this custome And how that pestelence begā it is founde in the lyf of saynt gregorye Secondly this letanye is said procession of seuen ordres by cause that whan they were made seynt gregorye ordeyned them by vij ordynances For in the first ordre was all the clergye in the second were the monkes and relygyous men In the thirde were alle the nonnes In the fourth alle the children In the fyfthe all the laye peple In the sixthe alle the wydowes And in the vij alle they that were maryed But by cause that nowe we may not fulfylle in nombre of personnes we ought to fulfylle it in nōbre of letanyes For it ought to be said vij tymes or the procession be left Thirdly this letanye is said the black crosse For thenne in signe of pestylence of wepyng and of penaunce they cladde them wyth black clothes And parauenture for that same cause they couerd the crosse and the aulters wyth blessyd hayres And thus we shold take on vs clothyng of penaūce Ther is an other letanye whiche is called the lasse letanye the whiche is made the thre dayes tofore thascēcion And this Instituted seynt Mamertyn bisshop of vyane in the tyme of themperour lyon whiche regned the yere of our lord iijClviij to fore the Institucion of the first And is said the letanye the lasse the rogacions and processions For it is The lasse letanye to the difference of the first by cause that this lasse letanye was Institued of a lasse whiche was a symple bisshop in a lasse place and for lasse maladye And the cause of the institucion was this For thenne at vyane were grete erthe quaues of whiche fyl doun many chirches and many houses and ther was herde grete sownes and grete clamours by nyght And thenne happed a terrible thyng on ester day For fyre descended fro heuen that brente the kynges palays yet happed more merueyllous thyng For lyke as the fendes had entred in to the hogges right so by the suffraunce of god for the synnes of the peple the fendes entred in to wulues and other wylde bestes whiche euerych doubted and they wente not only by the wayes ne by the feldes but also by the cytees ronnen openly And deuoure den the chyldren olde men and wymen And whan the bisshop sawe that euery day happed suche sorouful aduentures he cōmanded and ordeyned that the peple shold faste thre dayes And he instituted the letanyes and thenne the tribulaciō ceassed And fro than forth on the chirche hath ordeyned confermed that this letanye shold be kept and obserued ouer all It is said also Rogacions For thenne we praye and demaunde the suffrages of alle the sayntes and we thus haue good cause for to kepe this ordenaūce and faste in thise dayes And for many reasons it is institued Fyrst by cause it appeaseth the bataylles that comynly begynne in prymtemps Secōdly by cause that the fruytes whiche be thēne tendre that god will multeplye Thirdly by cause that euery man shold mortefye in hym self the moeuynges of hys flessh whiche in that tyme boylle Fourtly by cause that euerich dispose hym self to receyue the holy goost For by fastynges by orysons and by deuocion is one more able and more worthy But two other reasōs assigneth maistre will̄m dancerre by cause than whan Ih̄u cryst wold ascende vnto heuen he sayde Aske ye duely and ye shal haue And we may the more faithfully demaunde whan we haue the promesse of god Secondly by cause the holy chirche fasteth prayeth that she haue but lytil flessh that is to make the body lene by abstynence and to gete wynges by prayer For prayer is the wynge of the sowle by whiche she fleeth to heuen to th ende that she may folowe Ih̄u cryste ascēdyng vp to fore vs to shewe vs the waye And knowe ye that the foule that haboundeth in plente of flessh and hath but fewe pennes or fethers he may not wel flee Thus this letanye is called procession For thenne the chirche maketh generall procession And in this procession the crosse is born the clockes and belles ben sowned and rongen the ba ners ben born And in somme chirche a dragon with a grete taylle is born And ayde and helpe is demaunded of alle seyntes ¶ And the cause why the crosse is born and the belles rongen is for to make the fēdes and euyll spyrites aferd and to flee For lyke as the kynges haue in bataylles tokenes and signes royall as her trompes and baners right so the kynge of heuen perdurable hath hys signes mylytaunt in the chirche he hath belles for busynes and for trōpes he hath the crosse for baners And lyke as a tyraunt and a malefactour shold moche doubte whan he shal here the busynes and trompes of a myghty kynge in his lande and shal see his baners In lyke wyse the enemyes the euyll spyrites that ben in the regiō of thayer doubte moche whan they here the trompes of god whiche ben the belles rongen And whan they see the baners born on hye And this is the cause why the belles be rongē whan it thondreth and whan grete tempestes and oultrages of wether happen to th ende that the fendes and wicked spyrites shold be abasshed and flee and ceasse of the moeuyng of tempest how be it also that ther is another cause ther with that is for to warne the crysten peple that they put them in deuocion and in prayer for to praye god that the tempest may ceasse Ther is also the baner of the kynge that is the crosse whiche the enemyes dred moche and doubte For they drede the staf with whiche they haue ben hurte And this is the reason wherfore in somme chirche in the tyme of tempest and of thondre they sette out the crosse ayenst the tempest to th ende that the wycked spyrites see the baner of the souerayn kynge for drede therof that they flee And therfore in procession the crosse is born And the belles rongē for to chace and hunde away the fendes beyng in thayer and to th ende that they leue to tempest vs The crosse is born for to represente the victorye of the resurrectiō
holy ghoost is he that gyueth lyf Fourthly he was shewed in the lyknes of fyre Fyftly in lyknes of tongues And the cause for whyche he appiered in thyes two maners I shal here after saye As to the thirde pryncypal in whiche tyme he was sent he was on the fyfty daye sent after ester for to gyue to vs knowleche that the holy ghoost cam And it is the perfection of the lawe the remuneracioÌ„ perdurable and the remyssion of synnes it appiereth of the perfection of the lawe For fro the daye that the laÌ„be was sacrefied in that old lawe the lawe was delyuerd the fyfty day after that as the chirche saith in fyre And also in the newe testameÌ„t fyfty dayes after ester descended the holy ghoost on the mount of syon in lyknes of fyre lyke as the lawe was gyue in the hyest of the mount of Synay so the holy ghoost in the solier where the soupper of Ihesu cryst and of his appostles was made ¶ In this appiereth that the holy ghoost is the perfection of all the lawe ¶ For in that is the plenytude of dilection Secondly the perdurable remuneracion is in the holy ghoost wherof the glose saith thus that the fourty dayes in whiche our lord conuersed with his disciples signfeye the holy chirche also the fyfty day on whiche the holy ghoost was gyuen expressheth the peny of the last retrybucion and reward perdurable ¶ Thirdly of the holy ghoost is the remyssyon of synnes as saith the glose Therfore it was gyuen in the fyfty day by cause in the fyfty yere was the Iubylee and alle thyng pardonned And by the holy ghoost the synnes ben pardonned ¶ And it foloweth in the glose In the Iubylee spyrytuel the prysonners ben delyuerd the debtes ben quyted the exyled ben repelled and called home therytages ben rendryd And the bonde men ben rendred from theyr seruytud and made free And the gylty of deth ben made quyte and delyuerd wherof saith scynt poul The lawe of the spyryte of lyf in Ihesu Cryst hath delyuerd me fro the lawe of synne and of deth ¶ After the dettes of synne be left for charyte couerith quenchith grete multytude of synnes The exiled men ben callyd home And the prophete saith Spiritus tuus bonus cÌ„ Lord thy good spirite hath brought me in to the right londe of my contree that is in to heuen The herytage lost is rendrid wherof saith saynt poul The holy ghoost had gyuen wytnes to our spyryte that we ben the sones of god ¶ And yf we be sones we be heyres whiche were seruauntes to synne we be made free to god For where the holy ghoost is there is fraunchyse and lyberte As touchyng the fourthe how ofte he was sente to thappostles after that the glose saith he was gyuen to them by thre tymes that is to wete to fore the passion of Ihesu cryste after the resurrection and after thascencion Fyrst â—o doo myracles Secondly to relece the synnes And thyrdly to conferme the hertres Fyrst whan he sente them to preche and to caste fendes out of bodyes and to hele the seke malades he gaf to them the puissaunce ¶ And thise meruaylles dyde they by the holy ghoost Neuertheles it is not consequent that who som euer haue the holy ghoost doo myracles For saynt gregory saith the myracles maketh not a man holy but shewe hym holy ne also euery man that doth myracles hath not the holy ghoost For euyl peple auaunte them to haue don myracles sayeng lord lord saye they haue not wel prophesyed in thy name thou hast gyuen to vs the spyryte of prophesye God doth myracles by his angellys by mater amyable that they haue And the fendes by vertues naturall whiche ben in thynges created naturelly And thenchaunter by helpe of fendes The good crysten man by Iustyce publyque The euyl crysten man by signes of Iustyce Secondly they had the holy ghoost whan he brethed on theÌ„ sayeng take ye the holy goost in to you to whome ye loose their synnes they shal be loosed and of whome ye reteyne they shal be reteyned Neuertheles none sauf god may foryeue synnes as to the synne that is in the soule and whiche is thobligaciion to payne pardurable or as to th offence of god the whiche is only foryeuen by the Infusion of the grace of god and by the force and vertue of câ—ntricion neuertheles we saye that the preest assoylleth of synnes as for that he is Insynued or sheweth that the synner is assoylled of god as to that that the payne that shold be perpetuel he chauÌ„geth in to temporal of purgatorye and also for that the payne temporal is dewe he releceth partye Thyrdly the holy ghoost was gyueÌ„ to them on this day whan he confermed so theyr hertes that they dredde no tormente by the vertue of the hooly ghoost whiche all ouercometh wherof saith saynt Austyn Suche is the grace of the holy ghoost that yf he fynde heuynesse in the herte he breketh it yf he fynde desyre of euyll he destroyeth it yf he fynde vayne drede he caste it out And Saynt lyon the pope saith the holy ghoost was hoped of thappostles not for theÌ„ fyrste he had enhabited in them but by cause that the hertes to hym sacred and dedyed more shold vysite them and more habundantly by grace shold abyde in encreacyng his yeftes not thenne bygon of whiche he was not newly shewyng his operacion For hys largesse passed all habondaunce As to the fyfthe that is to wite how he was sente it is to be knowen that he was sente wyth grete sowne in tongues of fyre the whiche tongues appiered syttyng And the sowne was sodeyn fro heuen vehement and shynyng It was sodeyn For he had no nede of space temporell It was fro heuen For he made them celestyall that he reâ—lenesshyd vehement For he gaf drede of loue or for that that he toke away the sorow perdurable whiche is malediction or for that that he bare the herte out of carnall loue also he was replenesshyng Foâ— he fulfyled all thappostles as saith saynt luc Repleti sunt omnes spiritu sancto And it is to wete that ther ben iij signes of replenyssyng that were in thappostles The first is that the place where he is yeueth no sowne lyke a tonne of wyn that is full to this purpoos spekyth Iob Shal not the oxe crye and rore whan the racke is ful The oxe shall not bowe ne crye whan the crybbe shal be full lyke as he wold saye WhaÌ„ the herte is ful of grace hym ought not grudche by impacience This signe had thappostles For in the tribulacion that they had they resowned not ne grudched by Impacience but Ioyously wente to the presence of the tyrauntes to pryson and to tormentes The seconde signe is that he may receyue nomore ellis he were not full In this maner he that is all fylled demandeth nomore In lyke wyse the sayntes that haue plenytude of grace may
receyue none other licour of erthely delectacion ¶ And by cause they haue tasted the swetnes of heuen they haue none appetyte to the erthely delectacions wherof saith saynt Austyn who so drynketh one drope of delyces of paradys the whiche one drope is gretter than all the see occean whiche ought to be vnderstoÌ„de that all the thurst of this world is in hym extyncte And this signe had thappostles whiche wold haue none of the goodes of this world in propre but put it all in comyn The thirde signe is for to renne ouer out as it appierith by a Ryuer whiche aryseth and renneth ouer his bankes As salamon saith whiche fyllyth as phison wysedom This flode or ryuer phison of his nature ariseth and spryngeth ouer and watreth and arrouseth the bonde aboute hym In lyke wyse thappostles began to sprede abrode For after they had receyued the holy ghoost they began to speke dyuerse langages where the glose saith that that was the signe of plenytude For the vessell full shedeth ouer as it appiereth of saynt Peter For anone as he began to preche he â—â—nuerted thre thousand Secondly he was sente in tongues of fyre And here be thre thynges to be considered First for whom he was sente conioynctly in the tongues of fyre Secondly wherfore he was sente in tongues of fyre more than in another element ¶ Thirdly wherfor he was sente in toÌ„gues more thaÌ„ in another membre As to the first for thre reasons he was sent and appiered in tongues of fyre to th ende that their wordes shold enflamme the hertes Secondly that they shold preche the fyry lawe of god Thirdly that they shold knowe that the holy ghoost whiche is fyre spack in them And that they shold doubte nothyng And by cause alle men shold here the wordes of god And they shold attrybue ne take to them self that they conuerted by theyr predicacion but by the wordes of god ¶ Of the second we ought to knowe that he was sent in lyknes of fyre for many reasons The first is taken after the seuen vertues of grace The holy ghoost cam in the maner of fyre for to make meke hyghe thynges by the yefte of drede he amolyfyeth and softeth hard thynges by the yefte of pyte he illumyneth hard thynges by the yefte of scieÌ„ce he restrayneth the flodes of vices by the yefte of counseyl he affermeth and consolideth softe thynges by the yefte of strâ—ngthe he clereth the ruste of synne by the yefte of vnderstandyng he draweth vp the creatures by the yeft of sapience The second reason is taken after his dignyte and excellence the fyre surmounteth and excedeth all other elementes in beaute in ordre and in vertue In beaute by cause of the fayrnes of lyght In ordre by cause of his situacion In vertu by cause of vigour in operacion In lyke wyse the holy ghoost in thyse iij thynges excedeth all For the first he is said the holy ghoost pure without fylthe For the second holy ghoost whiche compriseth all other spyrites of vnderstondyng by his incomprehensibilite For the thirde he is said holy goost hauyng alle vertue for he is Invyncyble For he hath all strength seeyng all thynges fro ferre The third reason is taken as to hys manyfold effecte And this reason assigneth Rabanus sayeng that the fyre hath iiij vertues or natures It brenneth it purgeth it chauffeth and it lighteth In lyke wyse the holy ghoost brenneth the synnes he purgeth the hertes he casteth away alle coldnes and drede of the hertes And he enlumyneth theym that ben ignorauÌ„t Of the first saith zacharye the prophete He broyleth and brenneth the hâ—rtes as the fyre brenneth the syluer Also dauid sayd Lord I praye the brenne my reynes and my herte and drye them fro all synne he purgeth also the hertes after that as saith ysaye Whan our lord had wasshe away the fylthes of the doughters of syon hath purged the blood of Iherusalem fro the myddle of hym in the spiryte of Iugement and in the spyryte of brennyng thenne shal they be in sauete and surete and kepte ayenst all tempeste And the prophete speketh of the purgacion that shall be made atte laste whan all shal be purged pure clene that shal goo in to heuen he casteth out also all coldenes and pusyllanymyte of the hertes wherof thappostle saith Be ye feruent in spyryte that is of herte the whiche thyng the holy ghoost maketh whan he espriseth hym of hys loue And herof saith saynt gregory The holy goost appyered in fire for alle the hertes whiche he replenessid and voyded the coldnes of fere and enflamed them with desyre of the glorye perdurable He enlumyned also the ygnorauntes wherof sayth the wyse man Lord god who shal knowe thy scieÌ„ce yf thou gyue not thy sapience and sende to vs thyn holy spyryte from aboue that is he that all enseyneth and techeth The fourthe reason is taken after the nature of hys loue Loue is sygnefied by the fire for iij causes The first cause is for the fire is alway moeuyng So is it of the holy goost For them that he replenesshith he maketh them to be in contynuel moeuyng of good operacion wherof saith saynt gregory The loue of god is neuer ydle as longe as it is in the herte of a deuoute persone it fructyfyeth And it fructyfyeth not it is a signe that it is not there The seconde is For the fyre emonge al the other elementis hath but lytle matere but stronge vertue in operacion it hath in his qualite Thus the holy ghoost whom he replenesseth maketh them to haue but lytle ne lotâ— erthely thynges and gretly to spyrituel thynges in so mochethey loue not worldly thynges more wordly but spyrytuelly Saynt bernard putteth iiij maners of loue that is to wete to loue the world flesshly the spyrite flesshly the flessh spyrituelly the spyryte spyrytuelly The thirde cause is for that the fyre abassheth and meketh the thynges hye he hath tendede on hye thynges despercled to vnye them and them despercled to beynge to gydre And by thyes thre thynges ben vnderstonden thre ver tues of loue For as saith saynt denys in the book of the names dyuyne the fyre hath iij vertues ¶ For he enclyneth the hye thynges doun he lyfteth the thynges lowe in heyght he ordeyneth the thynges egall to theyr ordenaunce And thyse thre thynges maketh the holy ghoost in them that he replenesshyth For he enclyneth them by humylyte he lyfte them vp in desyre of hye thynges And ordeyneth them to gydre by vnyte of maners Thyrdly he apyered in lyknes of a tongue more than in an nother membre And for iij reasons The tongue is the membre that is enflamed of the fyre of helle and is of grete dyffyculte to gouerne And proufytable whan it is wel gouerned And by cause that the tongue was enflamed of the fyre of helle she hadde nede that the holy ghoost shold come tenflame it as saith saynt
power largesse apostolyque wages spirituell ê‘don speciall vnto all theÌ„ that shal be personelly in clene lyf atte houres dyurnelle and nocturnel ¶ Of this holy solempnyte to th eÌ„de that euery good chatholyque ê‘sone shold haue the more desire to come to one so grete a solempnyte ouerall where it shal be halowed That is to wyte at matynes an C. dayes of ê‘don atte masse as moche atte first euensong as moche atte second euensong on the day also an C. dayes atte houres of pryme of tierce of sixth of none of coÌ„plyne at euerich of thies houres xl dayes On the other dayes duryng the octaues for euery day to theÌ„ that shal be atte matynes atte masse at tierce at sixthe none eueÌ„ song coÌ„plyn an C· dayes of pardon all thise pardons of the tresour of the chirch by the myserycorde dyuyne he hath gyuen theÌ„ institued tendure perpetuelly This sacramÌ„t fygured our lord Whan he sente MaÌ„na fro heuen vnto the olde fadres in deserte where they were fedde with mete celestiall it is said that the meÌ„ had eten brede of angellis but alleway all they that had eten therof they deyden in deserte But this mete that ye now receyue is the lyuyng brede which desceÌ„ded fro heuene that admynystred the substauÌ„ce of the lyf eternell therfor who someuer receyue this brede here worthyly he shal neuer deye eternelly for this is the propre body of IhÌ„u crist now coÌ„sidere here theÌ„ne which is most excellente most proufytable the brede of thangellis or the propre body of Ihesu crist which is lyf ê‘durable The manna aforsaid caÌ„ fro heuen This precious flessh is aboue the heuene This maÌ„na is celestyalle This flessh here is god the creatour of heuenes the maÌ„na was kept vnto the morn was corrupte this brede may fele no corrupcioÌ„ To them in deserte abouesaid spraÌ„ge water out of a stone to vs is sprongen the blood of thamerous IhÌ„u crist The water refresshith them for an houre but the precious blood of IhÌ„u crist wessheth vs ê‘petuelly The Iewes drank alwaye were a thurst but thou cristen man whaÌ„ thou hast droÌ„ken of this beuurage here thou mayst neuer after haue thurst That other was gyuen to theÌ„ in a shadowe vmbre but this was gyuen in trouthe now ye shal vnderstoÌ„de this that was in the shadow they dranke of the water that yssued out of the stone this stone was IhÌ„u cryst yet they plesed not alway in their werkes to god therfore deyed they in deserte All tho thynges ther were don in figure for to gyue knowleche of thynges more grete and more notable It is moche gretter thyng of the lyght than of the shadow semblably of verite than it is of fygure And also moche gretter of the body of our cratour maker than it is of the manna that cam fro heuen Thou shalt demande ê‘aduenture how thou affermest assurest me that I receyue the body of IhÌ„u crist whah I see another thyng we haue many exaÌ„ples by the wich we may wel preue that it which thou receyuest is not that thyng that nature hath fourmed but it is wel that that the benediction hath consecrated the benedictioÌ„ hath gretter myght than nature for by benenedictioÌ„ oftymes nature hath ben chauÌ„ged Moyses that helde a rodde in his honde whaÌ„ he caste it to the erthe it becaÌ„ a serpente Anone he toke it vp and it torned in to the nature of a rodde Thou seest theÌ„ne how by the grace of the prophete the nature hath be chauÌ„ged twies of the serpeÌ„t of the rodde the ryuers of egypte ranne somtyme their cours naturell but sodaynly by the vaynes of thâ— foÌ„taynes blood begaÌ„ to yssue renne so longe that the peple wist not for to drynke after at the prayer of the prophete the ryuer of blood cessed cam agayn to his nature of water as it was afore the peple of the ebrews was on a tyme all enuyroÌ„ned enclosed of thegipciens bytwene the see them Moyses lyft vp his rodde theÌ„ne the water departed assambled vnto the lyknes of a walle there appiered to them a way for to goo on foot And the flood of Iordan in his propre place ayenst his nature retorned ayenst the hyll The old faders that were in deserte also on a tyme had grete thurst moyses toke his rodde smote a stone out of the which yssued grete habuÌ„dance of water Is not the grace of benedictioÌ„ which hath we ought aboue nature whan the stone gyueth water which he may not by nature ¶ Marach which was a Ryuer right bytter in suchâ—â—yse that the peple that had grete thurst myght not drynke it Moyses put a staf in the water sodaynly by the grace of benediction which there wrought it loste his bitternes becam swete Semblably in the tyme of elysee the propheete one of the sones of the prophetes lete falle the yroÌ„ of his axe in the water the which yroÌ„ after his nature saÌ„ck douÌ„ to the bottom of the water TheÌ„ne he caÌ„ to helysee prayeng hym for his axe helysee put hys bourdon in the water anon the yron begaÌ„ to swymme aboue the water which is a thyng aboue nature for the weiht of the yron is heuyer than the lycour of the watre by all thise thynges by the blessynges of prophetes we see clerrely how grace or benediction hath thus wrouht aboue nature theÌ„ne sith that benedictioÌ„ humayne dyuerse tymes hath thus coÌ„uertid thynges ayenst nature what shal we saye of the consecracion dyuyne where the wordes of god werke For this holy sacrement here that thou receyuest is consecrate of the worde of IhÌ„uÌ„ cryst Thenne yf the worde of helye was of so grete effecte that it made fyre to descende from heuen of mochâ— more valewe and effecte is the worde of Ihesu cryst for to torne the lyknes of elementes ye haue redde of the werkes of the world as god said and coÌ„manded so was it made he comanded and it was made And the worde that made alle thyng of nought may not the same chauÌ„ge the thynges that haue ben made in to other spece and lyknes It is not lasse to hym to create thynges than to chaunge thynges we shewe also the mysterye of thyncarnacion of our maker Ihesu cryst was not that aboue nature that Ihesu cryst was born of the vyrgyne marye yf thou demande of thordenaunce of nature thou knowest that the womaÌ„ hath acustoÌ„me to conceyue by the seed of man But the vyrgyne marie engendryd and conceyued aboue thordenauÌ„ce of nature alleway remayned a vyrgyne And this holy sacrement that we nowe consecrate is the propre body of Ihesu cryst that was born of the vyrgyne Wherfore thenne sechest thou of thordenaunce of the precious nature of Ihesu cryst whan he is aboue all nature He that was born of the vyrgyne is the propre flessh of Ihesu cryst the
whiche was crucyfyed and buryed And veryly this propre flessh is in thys sacrameÌ„t Our sauour Ihesu cryst saith Lo this is my propre body to fore the benedictioÌ„ of the celestial wordes it is another especie but after the consecracion it is the propre body of our lord ¶ For assone as the consecracion is preferred and said the substaunce of the brede is conuerted in to the blessid body of Ihesu cryst and in lyke wyse of the wyne and water in the chalys after the wordes of consecratyon said is the veray body of our lord also hool in flessh and blood All the remenaunt that is said in the masse ben praysynges and lonynges to our lord and also prayers for the chirche for the kynges and for the peple But whan this holy sacrament is consecrate the presâ—e vseth not his owen worrdes but he speketh the propre wordes of Ihesu cryst so consacreth the sacrement the whiche worde of Ihesu cryst is it by whiche alle thyng was made the heuen the erthe and the see thenne mayst thou see what a werker is the word of Ihesu cryst ¶ And syth that so moche myght and power is in the word of Ihesu cryst that it whiche neuer had ben began to be ¶ Thenne by moche more reason may he make that is to be conuerted in to other substaunce And thus that whiche was brede to fore the consecracion is the propre body of Ihesu crist after the consecracion And thus hath our blessyd lord lefte to vs his blessyd body for to be honoured and worshyppyd here in erthe ¶ And by reason me thynketh he myght doo no lasse consyderyng our Instablenes and how prone the people haue ben to worshipe fals godes and ydolles ¶ And how ofte his owen chosen peple the Iewes departed fro his lawes and toke to them fals goddes notwithstondyng the grete myracles merueyllous that he dyd and shewd for them than to leue his owne propre body here emonge vs dayly to be remembryd in eschewyng of all ydolatrye for the saluacion of our soules Whom we byseche that we maye receyue vnto our perpetuall saluacion Amen ¶ Thus endeth the feste of corpus xpristi The Dedicacion of the Temple or of the chirche THe Dedicacion of the chirche is solempnly halowed emonge the other feestes of the chirch And by cause that it is double chirche or Temple that is to wete materiall and spyrytuell And therfor it is to be seen shorthly of the dedicacion of this double temple As to the dedicacion of the temple materyall iij thynges ben to be considered first wherfor it is halowed or dedicate Secondly how it is halowed Thirdly by whom it is halowed And by cause that ij thynges ben in the chirche that ben halowed that is the aulter and the temple therfor it is first to be seen how the aulter is halowed The aulter is first halowed for thre thynges First to make sacrefise to god as it is said genesis viij Noe edyfyed first an aulter to our lord toke of all the birdes of all the beestes of the world offred them vpon the aulter the sacrefise that we make vpon the aulter is the body blood of IhÌ„u crist that we sacrefye in memoire of the passioÌ„ of our lord after that he coÌ„maÌ„ded vs said Doo ye this in my memorye we haue iij memoryes of the passion of our lord that one is the mynde of the passioÌ„ hym of that we haue in wrytyng that other ymagyned in figure that is to the sight for thymage of IhÌ„u crist of the other ymages that beÌ„ in the chirche for the remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of IhÌ„u crist of his sayntes is for to moeue the deuocioÌ„ of the people Thise ben also as the bookes of the laye peple thise ij memoryees ben but one The secoÌ„d memorye is in worde that is the passioÌ„ of our lord prechid this mynde is as to the heeryng The thirde mynde is the passion of our lord traÌ„sfigured in to this sacremÌ„t which is verily the soule body blood of IhÌ„u crist this mynde is as to the tastyng and yf the passioÌ„ of IhÌ„u crist whiche is wreton enbraceth the taleÌ„te that which is prechid eÌ„braceth it yet more Moche more ouht this sacremÌ„t enflaÌ„me in whiche it enprynted so signyficatly Secondly as for to calle the name of our lord wherof is said genesis xij abrahaÌ„ edefyed an aulter to our lord this inuocacion or-callyng ought to be made after that thappostle saith to thymothee or by prayers made by admyracioÌ„ for to take away the euyllis fro vs Or by orysons made to gete the goodes or by requestes made teÌ„creace the goodes to kepe them The first that is made vpon the aulter is said ê“prely a messe by cause that IhÌ„u crist is sente fro heuen And this worde messe ê“prely is said of sendyng and to the messe IhÌ„u crist is sente from his fader and sacreth the same hâ—ste For first we haue hym fro hys fader sent to vs by his incarnacion And after sent of vs to his fader by hys passyon And first he began to be with vs by sacrefyeng And we with hym by this oblacion that he praye for vs And it is to wete that the messe is songen in thre langages that is in greek in hebrew and in latyn And is for to represente the tytle whiche was sette on the crosse in his gloryous passion whiche was in greek hebrew and latyne And also for to signefye that alle maner langage ought to preyse god The tongue latyn is thoffyce gospell and pystell And the songe in greek is the kyryes whiche ben said ix tymes that we may come to the ix ordres of Angellis ¶ The hebrew is Alleluya Sabaoth and Osanna Thirdly it is halowed for to synge on And herof saith the book of ecclesiaste the xlvij chapitre he ordeyned them power ayenst theyr enemyes and made them to be put away fro aboute the aulter and made the syngers to synge and to gyue swete melodyes in theyr sowne and said melodyes in plurel nombre after that hugo de sancto victore saith ther ben thre sownes that make thre melodyes For ther is a sowne by smytyng by wynde and by songe the touchyng or smytyng apparteyneth to the harpe And the wynde to thorganes And the voys to the songe And this concordaunce of songe and touchyng of tharpe may be assâ—gned to the concordaunce of good maners For as to the touchyng of tharpe it may be reported to the werke of the handes and blowyng of thorganes to the deuocion of the thought ¶ And the songe of the voys to the prechyng of the word of god but in this what proufyteth the swetnes of the voys wythout the swetnes of the herte She breketh the voys but the wyll kepeth the concordaunce of the voys and of good maners so that by ensample he accorde hym to his neghbour and by his good wylle he accorde hym
blood his monumeÌ„t was delyuerd to be kept and there he rested And whaÌ„ he was rysen he shewyd hym self peas to his appostleâ— And of thyse thynges gyue we louynges and thankes to god And herof saith saynt bernard hoew w owe to rendre and gyue thankynges to god My brethern saith he whaÌ„ ye sacrefise to god with praysynges thankynges Ioyne your mynde to your wordes and thy talente to thy wytte and gladnes to thy talente and demeurte to thy gladnes And humylyte to thy demeurte And to humylyte fre wyll Fyfthly the chirche is halowed for tadmynystre there the sacramentes of the chirche lyke as on the table of god in whiche the sacramentes ben comunyed and admynystred and somme sacramentis ben admynystred gyuen to them that entre as baptesme And somme be gyuen to them that yssue out as is the last vnction or enelyng And somme be gyuen to thabyders and dwellars as is ordre And somme fyghte and falle to them is gyuen penaunce Somme other contraryen and to them is gyuen hardynesse of courage for tenforce them and that is by confirmacion And to other is gy uen mete for to susteyne them And this is for to receyue the sacred body of Ihesu cryste And somtyme is taken away the lettyng that they falle not in to synne and that is bâ— conionction of maryage Secondly it is to wyte how she is halowed and it ought first be knowen of th aulter and after of the chirche And many thynges apparteyne to the halowyng of the aulter ¶ And first ben made on the foure corners of the aulter foure crosses of holy water ¶ and enuyroned aboute vij tymes and vij tyme aroused and besprenct wyth tholy water styck or spryncle After thencence is brent on the aulter And after it is enoynted with crysme And theÌ„ne it is couerd with black cloth and this representeth them that goon to the aultre For they ought first to haue charite in iiij maners that is that they loue god and them self theyr frendes and theyr enemyes And this signefyeth the iiij crosces on the iiij corners of the aulter and of thise iiij corners is said in genesis the xxviij chapitre ¶ Thou shal stratche to thoryent to thoccident to the north to â—he south Or the iiij crosses ben made in the iiij corners ben signefyed that IhÌ„u cryst saued by the crosse the iiij partyes of the world Or for this that they signefye that we ought to bere the crosse of Ihesu cryst in iiij maners that is in the herte by thought in the mouth by confessioÌ„ in the body by mortifycacion And in the vysage by contynuel impression Secondly to haue cure and owe to wake and this signefyeth by thenuyronnyng or goyng aboute the aultre For they synge thenne the waytes of the cyte haue founde me For they ought haue cure and watche vpon them that ben to them commysed And for this cause putteth gylbert the necglygence of prelates emonge the thyngys dysordynate this foule thynge and moche perillous that is to wyte a blynde archyer and haltyng messager a prelate neclygent a doctour not connyng and a dombe cryer thise ben a peryllous felausship Or by the seuâ—n goynges aboute of the aulter ben signefyed seuen consideracions that we ought to haue vnto the seuen vertues of the humylyte of Ihesu cryst ¶ And to goo ofte aboute them The first vertue is that he that was riche be made poure The seconde that he was putte in the racke or the in crybbe The thirde that he was subgette to his parentes The fourth that he enclyned his heed vnder the power of his seruaunt ¶ The fyfthe that he susteyned the disciple theef and traytre The sixthe that tofore a fellonous Iugâ— he held his pees and spack not The seuenth that he prayd pytously for them that crucyfyed hym Thyrdly they ought to haue mynde of the passyon of Ihesu cryst and that is signefyeed by the spryngyng and castyng of the water whiche signefyed seuen effusions of the blood of Ihesu crist The first was in the circomsicion The seconde was in the oryson The thirde whan he was beten atte pyler The fourth whan he was crowned with thornes The fyfth in percyng his hondes The sixthe in naylyng his feet And the seuenth in openyng of his syde And thyse arousemens or spryngyng of blood were made with the spryncle of humylyte and of charyte without estimacion And the aulter is enuyronned vij tymes for to signyfye that the vij yeftes of the holy ghoost ben gyue in the baptesme Or by the vij goynges aboute ben signefied the vij comynges of IhÌ„u cryst The j was fro heueÌ„ in to the bely of his moder The ij fro the bely vnto the crybbe The thirde fro the crybbe in to the world The fourth fro the world vnto the galous of the crosse The fyfte fro the crosse vnto the sepulcre The sixth fro the sepulcre to helle The seuenth fro helle whan he aroos and ascended vnto heuen Fourthly they shold haue ardant prayer amorous and devoute And this is signefyed by the encence whiche is brent vpon the aulter And thenne it hath vertue tascende by the lightnes of the fume and to comforte by his qualite and to conioyne by the gumme and to conferme by that it is aromatous or wel smellyng And all in lyke wyse iâ— the orison or prayer whiche ascendeth to the mynde of god It conforteth the soule as to the synne passed in axyng medecyne It estrayneth as to that whiche is to come for to be ware therof It confermeth as to that is presente in getyng defence and kepyng or it may be said that deuoute orison is signefyed by thencence that it apparteyneth that it ascende to god And herof saith ecclesiastes Oryson of humylite gyueth to god swete sauour whan it yssueth out of an herte enflammed And thappostle saith moche encence is gyuen to hym Fyftly they ought to haue respleÌ„dour or bryghtnes of conscience and the odour of good renommee And this is signefyed by the crysme or creame they ought to haue a pure conscience so that they myght saye wyth thappostle Our glorye is the wytnes of our conscience and also is good renommee wherof thappostle to timothee it behoueth that he haue good wytnes of them that ben out And crysostome saith that the clerkes ought not to haue no fylâ—he ne in worde ne in dede ne in thought ne in opynyon For they ben the vertue and beaute of the chyrche And yf they be euyll they make foule all the chirche Syxthly they ought to haue clennes of good werke whiche is signefyed by the whyte clothes and clene of whiche the aulter is couerd Thusage of couerture of vestements were fouÌ„de for to couere For to chauffe and kepe warme and for to araye ordynatly And the good werkis coueren the nakydnes of the soule wherof thappostle saith clothe the with white vesture that the conffusioÌ„ of thy nakednes appere not they araye the
had not be deed Man had neuer be made mmortal And thenne said Egeas Telle to thy dyscyples suche vanytees And obeye thou to me make sacrefise vnto the goddes almyghty And thenne said saynt Andrewe I offre euery day vnto god almyghty a lambe wythout spotte And after that he is receyuyd of alle the peple so lyueth he and is all hole Thenne demandeth Egeas how that myght be And Andrewe saide take the forme for to be a dyscyple thou shal knowe it wel I shal demande the said Egeas by turmentis Thenne he beyng alle angry comanded that he shold be enclosed in pryson And on the morne he cam to Iugement And the blessyd saynt Andrewe vnto the sacrefyse of the ydolles And Egeas comanded to be said to hym yf thou obeye not to me I shal doo hange the on the crosse For so moche as thou hast praysed it And thus as he menaced hym of many turmentis seynt Andrewe said to hym Thynke what turment that is most greuous that thou mayst doo to me and the more I suffre the more I shal be agreable to my kynge by cause I shal be most ferme in the turmentis payne Thenne comanded Egeas that he shold be beten of xxj men And that he shold be so beten bounden by the feet and handes vnto the crosse to th ende that hys payne shold endure the lenger And whan he was ledde vnto the crosse ther ran moche peple theder sayeng The blode of thynnocent is dampned without cause And thappostle prayd them that they shold not empesshe ne lette hys turment ne martirdom And whan he sawe the crosse fro ferre he salewed it and sayd Alle hayl crosse whyche art dedycate in the body of Ihesu cryst and were aourned with the mēbres of hym as of precious stones To fore that our lord Ascended on the thou were the power erthly Now thou art the loue of heuen Thou shalt receyue me by my desyre I come to the surely gladly so that thou receyue me gladly as dyscyple of hym that henge in the For I haue alway worshyppid the and haue desyre the tembrace O thou crosse whyche hast receyued beaute and noblesse of the membres of our lord whō I haue so longe desyred and curiously loued and whom my corage hath so moche desyred and coueyted take me fro hens and yeld me to my mayster to th ende that he receyue me by the that redemyd me by the And in thys sayenge he dyspoylled and vnclad hym and gaf hys clothys vnto the bochyers And thenne they henge hym in the crosse lyke as to them was comanded And there he lyuyd two dayes and prechyd to twenty thousand men that there were Thenne all the company swore the deth of egeas and said The holy man and debounayre ought not to suffre thys Thenne cam theder egeas for to take hym doun of the crosse And whan andrewe sawe hym he said wherfore arte thou come to me Egeas yf it be for penaunce thou shalt haue it And yf it be for to take me doun knowe thou for certayn thou shalt not take me herof alyue For I see nowe my lord and kynge that abideth for me therwith they wold haue vnbounden hym And they myght in noo wyse touche hym For theyr armes were bynomen and of no power And the holy saynt Andrew sawe that the world wolde haue taken hym doun of the crosse he made thys oryson hangyng on the crosse as saynt Austyn saith in the boke of penaunce Syre suffre me not descēde fro this crosse a lyue For it is tyme that thou comande my body to the erthe For I haue born longe the charge And haue so moche watched vpō that which was comanded to me and haue so longe traueyllyd that I wold now be delyuerd of thys obedyence and be taken away fro thys agreable charge I remēbre that it is moche greuous in prowd beryng in doubtyng vnstedfast in nouryssyng And haue gladly laboured in the refraynyng of them Syre thou knowest how ofte the world hath entented to withdrawe me fro the purete of contemplacion how ofte he hath entended to awake me fro the slepe of my swete reste how moche and how ofte tymes he hath made me to sorowe And as moche as I haue had myght I haue resysted it ryght debonayrly in fyghtyng ayenst it And haue by thy werke and ayde surmounted it And I requyre of the Iuste and debonayr gwerdon and reward And that thou comāde that I not goo agayn therto but I yelde to the that whyche thou hast delyuerd me Comande it to another and empesshe me nomore but kepe me in the resurrection so that I may receyue the meryte of my labour Comande my body vnto the erthe so that it behoueth nomore to wake but late it be stratched frely to the whiche art fontayne of Ioye neuer fayllyng ¶ And whan he had said thys ther cam fro heuen a ryght grete shynyng lyght whiche enuyroned hym by the space of half an our in suche wyse that noman myght see hym And whan this light departed he yelded and rendryd therwith hys spyryte And maximilla the wyf of Egeas toke away the body of thappostle and buried it honnourably And or that Egeas was comen agayn to hys hows he was rauysshyd with a deuyl by the waye and deyed to fore them alle and it is said that out of hys sepulcre cometh manna lyke vnto mele And oylle whyche hath a right swete sauour and odour And by that is shewed to the peple of the contrey whan ther shal be plente of goodes For whan ther cometh but lytyl of manna Therthe shal brynge forth but lytyl fruyt And whan it cometh habundantly The erthe bryngeth forth fruyt plentyuously And thys myght wel happen of olde tyme For the body of hym was transported in to Constantynoble ¶ Ther was a bysshop that ledde an holy and relygyous lyf And louyd saynt Andrewe by grete deuocion and worshypyd hym aboue all other sayntes so that in alle hys werkys he remembryd hym euery day and sayd certayn prayers in thonour of god saynt Andrewe in suche wyse that thenemye had enuye on hym and sette hym for to deceyue hym with alle hys malyce ¶ And transfourmed hym in to the fourme of a ryght fayr woman And cam to the palays of the bysshop and sayd that she wold be confessyd to hym And the bysshop bad her to goo confesse her to hys penytaūcer which had playn power of hym And she sente hym word agayn that she wold not releue ne shewe the secretes of her confessyō to none but to hym And so the bysshop comanded her to come And she said to hym Syre I praye the that thou haue mercy on me I am so as ye see in the yeres of my yongthe and a mayde and was delycyously nourisshed fro my Infancye and born of ryal lygnage but I am come allone in strange habyte For my fader whyche is a ryght
whete to euery man after that he had nede in suche wyse that it suffyced for ij yere not only for to selle but also for to sowe ¶ And in thys contre the peple seruyd ydollis and worshippid the fals ymage of the cursed deane And to the tyme of thys holy man many of them had somÌ„e customes of the paynems for to sacrefyse to dyane vnder a sacred tree But thys thys good man made them of alle the contre to cesse thenne thyse custommes And comanded to cutte of the tree Thenne the deuyll was angry wrot ayenst hym and made an oylle that brenned ayenst nature in water and brenned stones also And thenne he transformed hym in the guyse of â— relygyouse woman and put hym in a lityl lote encouÌ„tred pylgryms that saylled in the see toward thys holy saynt and aresonued them thus and saide I wold fayn goo to this holy man but I may not wherfor I pray you to bere thys oylle in to hys chyrche and for the remembrauÌ„ce of me that ye enoynte the walles of the halle and anon he vanysshed away Thenne they sawe anon after another shyp wyth honeste persones emong whome ther was one like to saynt Nicholas which spack to theym softly what hath this woman said to you And what she hath brought And they told to hym alle by ordre And he said to theym thys is the euyl and fowl dyane And to th eÌ„de that ye know that I saye trouthe caste that oylle in to the See And whan they had caste it A grete fyre caught it in the see And they sawe it longe brenne ayenst nature Thenne they cam to thys holy man and said to hym verely thou art he that appered to to vs in the see and delyuerdest vs fro the see and awaytes of the deuyll And in thys tyme certayn men rebelled ayenst thmperour And themperour sente ayenst them thre prynces Nepocien Versyn and Appollyn And they cam to the port Andrieu for the wynde whyche was contrary to them And the blessid Nicholas comaÌ„ded theym to dyne with hym For he wold kepe his people fro the Rauayne that they made And whylis they were atte dyner The consul corrupte by money had comanded thre Innocent knyghtes to ben byheded And whan the blessyd Nicholas knewe this he prayd thise iij prynces that they wold moche hastely goo with hym And whan they cam there where they shold be byheded he fonde them on theyr knees and blyndfeld And the righttar brandysshid hys swerd ouer their heedes Thenne saynt Nicholas enbraced with the loue of god sette hym hardyly ayenst the righter and toke the swerd out of hys hond and threwe it fro hym and vnbonden the Innocentis and ladde theym with hym alle sauf And anon he wente to the Iugement to the Consul and fonde the the yates closed whyche anon he opened by force And the Consul cam anoÌ„ and salewed hym And thys holy man hauyng thys salutacioÌ„ in despyte sayd to hym Those enemy of god corumper of the lawe wherfor hast thou consented to so grete euyl and felonye how darst thou loke on vs And whan he had sore chyden and repreuyd hym he repentid and atte prayer of the iij prynces he receyueâ— hym to penaunce After whan the messagers of themperour had receyued hys benediction they made theyr geer redy and departed and subdued theyr enemyes to th empyre without shedyng of blood And syth retorned to themperour and were worshypfully receyuyd And after thys it happed that somÌ„e other in theÌ„perours hous had enuye on the weel of thyse thre prynces And accused them to themperour of hye trayson And dyde so moche by prayer and by yeftes that they caused themperour to be so ful of yre that he comanded them to pryson And without other demaunde he comanded that they shold be slayn that same nyght And whan they knewe it by ther kepar they rente their clothes and wepte bytterly And thenne Nepocyen remembryd hym how seynt nycholas had delyuerd the thre Inncentes And admonested the other that they shold reâ—â—yre hys ayde and helpe and thus as they prayed seynt nycholas appiered to theym And after appiered to constantyn themperour and sayd to hym wherfor hast thou taken thise thre prynces wyth so grete wrong and hast Iuged them to deth wythout trespaas Arise vp hastely and commaunde that they be not executed Or I shall praye to god that he moeue bataile ayenst tâ—e in whiche thou shalt be ouer throwen and shalt be made mete to bestes and themperour demaunded what art thou that art entred by nyght in to my paleys and darst saye to me suche wordes And he sayde to hym I am nycholas bysshop of myrre and in lyke wyse he appiered to the preuost and fered hys sayeng with a ferdful voys Thou that hast lost mynde and wytte wherfor hast thou consented to the deth of Innocentis Goo forth anone and doo thy part to delyuer theym Or ellis thy body shal rote and be eten with wormes And thy meyne shal be destroyed And he asked hym how art thou that so menaceâ—t me And he answerd knowe thou that I am Nicholas the bisshop of the cyte ef Mirre TheÌ„ne that one awoke that other and eche told to other theyr dremes and anon sente for theym that were in pryson To whom themperour said what art magyke oâ— sorcerye can ye that ye haue this nyght by Illusion caused vs to haue suche dremes And they said that they were none enchaunters ne knewe no witchecraft and also that they had not deseruyd the sentence of deth TheÌ„ne themperour said to theym knowe ye wel a man named Nicholas And whan they herd speke of the name of the holy saynt they held vp theyr handes toward heuene and prayd our lord that by the merytes of saynt Nicholas they myght be delyuerd of this present peryll And whan themperour had herd of theym the lyf myraclis of saynt Nicholas he said to them Go ye forth and yelde ye thankynges to god whiche hath delyuereth you by the prayer of this holy man worshipe ye hym and bere ye to hym of your Iewellis and praye ye hym that he thretene me nomoore but that he pray for me and for my Royame vnto our lord ¶ And a whyle after the said prynces wente vnto the holy maÌ„ And fylle doun on their knees humbly atte hys feet sayeng uerayly Thou art the sergeant of god and the veray worshypper and louer of Ihesu cryst and whan they had all tolde this said thynge by ordre he lyft vp hys hondes to heuen and gaf thankynges praysynges to god And sente agayn the prynces wel enformed in to theyr contrees ¶ And whan it pleased our lord to haue hym departe out of thys world he prayd our lord that he wold sende hym hys angellis And enclynyng hys heed he sawe thaungellis come to hym wherby he knewe wel that he shold departe began this
maners in that he is gloryous gloryfyeng and to be gloryfyed And after he excused hym of the blame in moyses in praysyng hym moche and especyally in thre thynges that is to wyte of feruour of loue For he slewe thegypcien that smote thebriew And of the myracles that he dyde in egypte or deserte And of the famyliaryte of god whan he spack to hym many tymes amyably And after thys he excused hym of the thyrde blame that was in the lawe in preysyng the lawe in thre maners Fyrst by cause of the gyuer that was god the seconde of the mynystre which was moyses that was a grete prophete And the thyrde by cause of th ende For it gyueth lyf perdurable And after he purged hym of the blame of the tabernacle and of the temple In preisyng the tabernacle in iiij maners one was by cause he was comanded of god to make it And was shewd in vision it was accomplysshed by moyses and that the arke of wytnes was therin he said that the temple succeded tabernacle And the blessyd Stephen purgyd hym of that whyche was â—yde to hym of whyche the Iewes sawe that they myght not ouercome hym in that manere And theÌ„ne they toke the thirde bataylle ayenst hym that they shold surmounte hym by tormentis And whan the blessyd saynt stephen sawe thys he wold kepe the comandement of our lord and enforced hym to refrayne them in thre maners that was by shame by drede and by loue Fyrst by shame in blamyng the hardnes of theyr hertes And said to them ye coÌ„trarye alleway the holy goost by your harde heedes and hertes not pyteous lyke as your fadres that persecuted the prophetes and slewe them that shewde the comyng of god And the glose saith that in thre maners they were malycyous The first that they contrarye den to the holy ghoost The seconde that they persecuted the prophetes The thyrde that by theyr euyl malyco they slewe Iesu cryst but by cause they were lyke the comyn woman they coude haue no shame to leue theyr malyce but whan they had herd thyse thynges they wythsayde it in theyr hertes and grennyd theyr teeth ayenst hym After thys he corrected them by drede by cause that he said that he sawe IhÌ„u cryst on the right syde of god lyke as redy to helpe hym and condempne his aduersaryes For saynt stephen which was ful of the holy ghoost loked vp and byheld the heuen and sawe the glorye of god And said loo I see the heuenes opene and the sone of the mayde stondyng on the right syde of the vertue of god how be it that he corrected theÌ„ by shame by drede yet they left not their malice but were more werse thaÌ„ to fore and stopped their eeris to th eÌ„de that they wold not here hym wherof he blamed them And they cryed with an hye voys and made a grete assault ayenst hym and caste hym out of the cyte all to gydre and stoned hym And they supposed to haue doon after theyr lawe as a blasphemour in comandyng that he shold be stoned out of the castellis And thyes ij false witnessis which after theyr lawe ought to cast the first stone toke of theyr clothes by cause that they shold not be touched of god and to th ende that they myght better lyghtlyer bywelde them to stone hym and they lefte them atte feet of a child that theÌ„ne was callid saulus and after he was called paule And thus he kept the clothes of them that stoned hym And he was stoned of them alle And whan he myght not withdrawe them fro their malice ne by shame ne by drede he toke the thyrde maner so that he wold withdrawe them by loue and the loue that he shewed them was not lytyl whan he prayd for hym for them that hys passyon myght not be dyffered And that the synne shold not be Imputed do them that stoned hym and sayeng lord Ihesu cryst receyue my spyrite And whan he was on hys knees he cryed with an hye voys and said lord establysshe not to theym thys synne And thys was a meruayllous loue whan he prayd on hys knees for theym that stoned hym lyke as yf he had prayd more for them than for hym sylf For he desyred to be more empesshed for theÌ„ than for hym self And as the glose saith he knelyd for by cause he ought the more humbly to praye for them of whom thynyquyte was grete And in thys he dyde as dyde Ihesu cryste For in hys passyon he prayd for hym self And said Fader I comande my spyryte in to thyn hondes and he said for them that stoned hym Fader foryeuene it theym And whan saynt stephen had so said he slepte in our lord and was not deed For he suffred sacrefyse of dylection And after slepte in hope of resurrection And the stonyng of saynt stephen was made in the same yere that our lord ascended vp in to heuen in the next moneth of august the thirde day entrynâ— And saynt Gamalyel and Nycodemus whych were emong the connseyllys of the Iewes for the crysten men buryed hym in the felde of gamalyel made grete wepyng for hym and theÌ„ne was grete persecucioÌ„ of crysten meÌ„ that were in IhrlÌ„m For whan the blessyd saynt stephen whyche was one of the prynces was slayn they began to persecute alle the crysten meÌ„ in so moche that thappostles whiche were strenger than other in the faith departed out of all the prouynce of the Iewes after that whiche our lord had comaunded to theÌ„ yf they persecute you in one cyte flee you in to another And the blessyd doctour saynt austyn reherceth that the blessyd saynt stephen was noblysshid by many myracles For he reysed by hys merytes sixe dede bodyes and heled many that were seeke of dyuerse maladyes languors And without this recounteth he other myracles worthy dygne to be remembrid For as he saith in the xxiiij book of the cyte of god the floures that were put on the aultre of saynt stephen were put on the seek men anon they were cured heled And the clothes taken fro the aulter leyde on theÌ„ that were seek were a medecyne to many For as it is said in the xxiiij chapytre of the cronycles of god thyse floures taken vpon the aulter of saynt stephen were leyd on the eyen of a womaÌ„ that was blynde and anon she had agayn her sight And also said he in the same book that a man that was maistre of a cyte was named marcial was a paynem wold not be coÌ„uerted it happed that he was strongly seke and his sone in lawe that was a right good man cam in to the chirche of saynt stephen toke of the flowres leyd vnder the heed of his lord and anon whaÌ„ he had slepte therupon on the mornyg he cryed that the bysshop shold be brought to hym the bysshop was not in the
place all stylle And walke not ne roylle not aboute in the contree doo thyse thre thynges And thou shalt be sauf ¶ An abbote cam to saynt Anthonye for to be couÌ„seylled of hym what he myht doo for to be saued Saynt Anthonye answerd to hym haue none affyance in the good that thou hast don ne that thou hast kepte thy bely and thy tongue wel sobrely And repente the not of penaunce that thou hast doon I saye For lyke as fysshes that haue ben longe in the water whan they come in to drye londe they muste dye In lyke wyse the monkes that go on out ot theyr cloystre or selles yf they conuerse longe wyth seculâ—ers they muste nedes lese theyr holynesse and leue theyr good lyf It behoueth the monkes that they be solytarye and that they haue thre bataylles that is of heeryng of spekyng and of seeyng And yf he haue but one of thyse bataylles that is of the herte yet he hath ouermoche SomÌ„e heremytes caÌ„ to saynt Anthonye for to vysite hym and their abbot was wyth them Thenne sayd saynt Anthony to the heremytes ye haue a good wyse man with you And after he said to the abbot thou hast founden good brethern TheÌ„ne answerd thabbot Truly I haue good brethern but ther is none dore on their hows eche body may entre that wylle and goo in to the stable and vnbynde the asse of within And thys said he by cause that the brethern had ouer moche their mowthes open to speke For anon as they haue thought on a thyng it come to the mowthe Thenne saynt Anthony said ye ought to knowe that ther be thre bodely menynges that one is of nature another of ouermoche plente of metes and the thyrde of the deuyll Ther was an hermyte that had renouÌ„ced the world and not perfighly For he had somwhat propre to hym self whom saynt Anthonye sente to the market to bye flesshe And as he was comyng and brought the flesshe the dogges assaylled hym and alle to taâ—â— hym and toke the flesshe from hym And whan he cam to saynt Anthonye he told hym what was happed to hym And thenne said saynt Anthonye to hym thus as the houndes haue doo to the so doon the deuyllis to monkes that kepe money and haue somÌ„e propre to theym self On a tyme as saynt anthony was in wyldernes in hys prayer and was wery he said to our lord lord I haue grete desyre to be saued but my thoughtes lette me Thenne appiered an angele to hym and said doo as I doo and thou shalt be sauf And he wente oute and sawe hym one whyle laboure and another whyle praye do thus and thou shalt be saued On a tyme whan the brethern hermytes were assembled to fore saynt Anthonye they demaunded of hym of the state of sowles whan they be departed fro the body And the next nyght after a voys callyd saynt Anthonye And said aryse and goo out and see vp on hye whan saynt Anthonye byheld vpward on hye he sawe one longe and terryble whos heed touched the clowdes whyche kept peple hauyng wynges that wold haue â—ledde to heuen ¶ And thys grete man reteyned and caught somÌ„e and other he myght not reteyne ne lette for they flewhe forth vp Thenne he herde a noyse fulle of Ioye another ful of sorowe And he vnderstode that thys was the deuyll that reteyned somÌ„e sowles that wente not to heuen And the other he myght not holde ne reteyne wherfore he made sorowe and for the other he made Ioye And so he herde the sorowe and Ioye medled to gydre It happed on a tyme that saynt anthony laboured with hys brethern the hermytes And he sawe a vision moche sorowfull And therfor he kneled doun on his knees and prayd our lord that he wold empesshe the grete sorowe that was to come Thenne the other hermytes demauÌ„ded what thyng it was And he said that it was a grete sorowe For I haue seen grete plente of bestes whyche enuyronned me whyche fered alle the contre And I wote wel that thys is to saye that ther shal come a grete trouble of men lyke vnto beestes that shall defoule the sacramentes of holy chyrche Thenne cam a voys from heuen to seynt Anthony that saide that grete abhomynacion shal come to myn aulter And anon after the heresie of Arryens begaÌ„ And moche troubled holy chyrche and dyde many euyllis They bete monkes and other all naked to fore the peple and slewe crysten men lyke sheep vpoÌ„ the aultres and in especial one balachyn dyde grete persecucion to whom saynt Anthony wrote a lettre whyche said I see the yre and male talente of our lord comyng vpon the yf thou suffre not the crysten lyue in peas Thenne I comande the that thou doo to them nomore vylonnye or thou shalt haue a meschaunce hastely The vnhappy man receyued thyes lettres and began to mocque saynt Anthonye and spytte on hyt and bete wel hym that brought the lettre And sente agayn to saynt Anthonye thyse wordes yf thou hast so grete charge of thy monckes come to me and I shal gyue to the my disciplyne But it happed that the xv day after he mounted vpon an hors ouer debonayr And neuertheles whan the horse felte hym vpon hym he bote hym on the legges and thyes that he deyde on the thyrd daye It happed an other tyme that the hermytes were comen to saynt Anthonye and demaunded of hym a collacion Thenne sayd saynt Anthonye doo ye thys that is wreton in the gospel yf one gyue to the a stroke on that one cheke shewe hym that other And they answere we may not doo so Thenne said he suffre ye it ones debonayrly they answerd we may not Thenne said saynt Anthony to hys seruaunt gyue them to drynke good wyn For thyse monckes ben ouer delycious Fayr brethern put your self to prayer For ye haue moche grete nede Atte laste saynt Anthonye assembled the heremytes And gaf to them the peas and deyde and departred out of thys world holyly whan he was of the age of an honderd and v yere praye we to hym that he praye for vs Here endeth the lyf of saynt Anthonye Of saynt Fabian and thynterpretacion of hys name first FAbian is as moche to saye as makyng soueuerayn beatitude or blessidnes that is to wyte in getyng in thre maner wises or maners First by right and reson of adopcion of byeng in achate and by vyctorye Of saynt Fabian the martir SAynt Fabian was a cytezeyn bourgeys of Rome And it happed whan the pope was deed that the people assembled for to chese another pope And saynt fabian cam to the election for to knowe who shold be electe and chosen to that dygnyte And anone a whyte douue descended from heuen rested vpoÌ„ his hede And whâ—n the peple sawe that they merueylled moche And all they by comyn accorde chees hym for to be pope Thys holy man fabian after whan he was
of god said to hym Aryse vp noble martyr surely aryse vp For thou shalt be our felawe be accoÌ„panyed wyth sayntes O knyght inuyncible strengest of alle stroÌ„ge now thise aspre tormÌ„tes cruell doubte the now a vaynquer prudencien saith thou art only noble of the world thou berest only the victorie of double batayll thou hast deserued ij crownes to gydre Praye we theÌ„ne to hym that he Impetre grace of our lord Ihesu Cryste that we may deserue to come vnto hys blisse Ioye in heueÌ„ where he regneth ¶ Amen Here endeth the lyf and passion of saynt vyncent Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Basylle bysshop and first of the interpretacion of hys name BAsille is said of basis in greke which is as moche to saye as a fouÌ„dement leos that is peple For he was fouÌ„dement of them that wold go to their maker or ellis it is sayd of basilisco a serpente For he ouercam the serpentâ— enemye of mankynde Of the lyf of saynt Basille SAynt Basille was a venerable bysshop and a solempne doctour of whom Amphilonus bysshop of ycome wrote the lyf And it was shewde in a vision to an hermyte named effraym how moche holy he was On a tyme as the said effâ—aim was in a traunse he sawe a pyler of fyre whos hede areched heuens a voys ther vpon sayeng Suche is basille lyke vnto thys pyber that thou seest And after thys the hermyte caÌ„ to the cite for to see at the daye of epiphanye so noble a maÌ„ whan he sawe hym he was clad with a whyte vesture goyng honourably with the clergie theÌ„ne thermyte said to hym self I see wel that I haue laboured in vayn for nought he that is sette in suche honour may not be suche as I haue seen we that haue born the burthen labour of the hete of the day in grete payne we had neuer suche thynge he here whiche is sette in suche honour also thus acoÌ„panyed is a colompne of fyre Now I haue grete merueylle what this may be And saynt basylle that sawe this in spirite made hym to be brought to hym And whan he was comen he sawe a tongue of fyre spekyng in hys mouth Thenne said effraim Truly basille is grete truly basille is the pyler of fyre And verily the holy ghoost speketh in his mouth And Effraim said to saynt basille Sire I praye the that thou Impetre of god that I may speke greek to whom saynt basille saide thou hast demaunded an hard thyng Neuertheles he prayd for hym and he spack greek Another hermyte sawe saynt basille how he wente in thabyte of a bysshop demed euyll in hys thought how he delyted in this estate in vayn glorye And anon ther cam a voys that sayd to hym thou delytest the more in playng and handlyng thy catte than basille doth in all hys araye and â—â—urnementis Malens themperour whych susteyned tharryens heretikes toke away a chyrche fro the crysten men and gaf it to the Arryens to whome saynt basylle sayd O thou Emperour it is wreton honor regis Iudicium diligit Thonour of the kynge requyreth true Iugement And the dome of a kyng is Iustyse And wherfore thenne hast thou coÌ„manded that the catholyque crysten men ben put out of holy chyrche And themperour said to hym yet retornest thou to saye vylonye to me It apperteyneth not to the To whom saynt basille said It apperteyneth wel to me and also do deye for Iustyce Thenne demostenes prouost of the metes of themperour vpholder of tharryens spack for them and made an answere corruÌ„ped in langage for to make satisfaction And saynt basille said to hym it apperteyneth to the to ordeyne for the metes of themperour and not to enquyre of the techynges dyuyne the whiche as confused held hym stylle said not And theÌ„perour said to saynt basille Now goo thou forth and Iuge thou bytwene them and not for fauour ne ouer grete loue that thou hast to that one partye ne for hate that thou hast to that other Thenne saynt basille wente to them and said to fore tharryens and to the catholyques that the doores of the chirche shold be shette faste and sealid wyth the sealis of eyther partye And that euery shold praye to god for hys right and that the chyrche shold be delyueryd to theÌ„ at whos prayer it shold opene And thus they accorded The arryens put them to prayer iij dayes and thre nyghtes And whan they caÌ„ to the doores they opened not Thenne saynt basille ordeyned a procession and cam to the chyrche and knocked a stroke wyth hys croche sayeng Attollite portas principes vestras cetera and anon as he had sayde the verse the dores opened and they entryd in and gaf lawde and preysynd to god and so was their chyrche rendryd to them agayn And after the emperour dyde promyse to saynt basylle moche good honour yf he wold consente to hym And saynt basille sayd that was a demande to make to chyldren For they that be fulfylled wyth dyuyne wordes wyl not suffre that one only syllable of the dyuyne science be corrupte Thenne themperour had grete Indygnacion of hym and toke a penne for to wryte the sentence on hym that he shold be exyled And the first penne brake and the second and also the thyrde And hys hande began to tremble for fere thenne in grete Indygnacion he alle to rente the cedule Ther was an honest worshypful man named heradius whiche had but one doughter whom he dysposed to consacre to god but the fende enemy to mankynde enflamed made one of the seruauÌ„tes of the same to breÌ„ne in the loue of thys mayde And whan he remeÌ„bred that he was but a seruant hym thought not possyble that euer he shold atteyne to come to hys desyre of so noble a virgyne he wente to an enchaaunteur to whom he promysed grete quantyte of moneye yf he wold helpe hym to whom theÌ„chantour answerd that he coude not do it but I shal sende the to the deuyll whych is my mayster and lord And yf thou doo that he shal saye to the thou shalt haue thy desyre And the yong man sayd he wold so doo And this enchanteur sente a lettre by hym to the deuyll thus conteynyng My lord and mayster by cause that I must hastly besily drawe alle them that I may fro the religion of crystendom brynge them to thy wyll to th ende that thy partye alleway growe and multeplye I sende to the thys yong man esprysed in the loue of the mayde And demandeth that hys desyres may be accomplysshyd that herin I haue glorye honour And that fro now forthon I may gadre to the drawe moo TheÌ„ne he gaf hym hys lettre had hym goo and at mydnynght stande vpon the toÌ„be of a paynem calle the deuyll And hold vp thys lettre in thayer And anon he shal come to the
wryteth his hystorye and lyf of hym the whyche IohÌ„n the dekene afterward moche dylygently compyled and ordeyned SAynt Gregorye was born of the parentele of senatoures of Rome whos fader was named Gordyane and hys moder siluia And whan he had so moche lerned that he was a maystre in phylosophye and also was ryche of patrymonye he thoughte that he wold leue all the rychesses that he had and wold entre in to religyon for to serue god but in thys that he put thys thought in respyte he conseyued another purpoos that was that hym semed he shold better serue god in a seculer habyte in dooyng thoffyce of the pretorye of the prouost of Râ—me ¶ For to gyue to eche man duely reson after the right of hys cause but he fonde in this office so grete seculer besynesse that it began to dysplese hym by cause by thys grete besynesse he wythdrewe hym ouer for fro god In thys mene whyle hys fader and moder deyden in suche wyse that he was ryche of patrymonye and puyssaunt that atte begynnyng he founded and endowed wyth rentes vj abbeyes in zecylle And the seuenth he founded wythin the walles of Rome in thonour of saynt Andrew thappostle in the whyche he becam a monke And the remanaunt of his patrymonye he gaf for goddes sake So that he that to fore wente clothed in clothes of gold and of silke and aourned wyth precious stones in the cyte whan he was monke seruyd in a poure habyte the monkes There was atte begynnyng of hys conuersacion of so parfayt a lyf that it myght be sayd wel that he was all parfayt he made grete abstynences in etyng in drynkyng in wakyng and in prayeng in so moche that he was so trauaylled that vnnethe he myght susteyne hym self he had put out of hys herte alle seculier thynges so that hys conuersacion was in heuen For he had adressid alle hys desyre for to come to the Ioye permanable On a tyme it happed that saynt gregorye in hys selle of the same abbaye where as he was abbote wrote somme thyng And an Angele appered to hym in semblaunce of a maronner whyche semed as he had escaped fro the tempest of the see And prayd hym wepyng to haue pyte on hym Thenne saynt gregorye comanded that ther shold be gyuen to hym vj pens And thenne he departed The same day the angele cam agyan in lyke wyse as he dyde to fore And sayd that he had lost all hys good and prayd hym that he wold yet helpe hym on whoÌ„ saynt gregorye had yet pyte and dyde do be gyuen to hym vj pens more yet atte thyrde tyme he cam and made grete crye and wepte and prayd hym that he wold yet helpe hym to ward hys grete losse so that saynt gregorye comanded hys prouoste that he shold yet gyue to thys poure man an almesse And the prouoste sayd that ther was nomore siluer in all thabbaye but a disshe of siluer in whyche hys moder was wonte to sende hym potage And saynt gregorye comanded anon that that dysshe of siluer shold be gyuen to hym And the angele toke it wyth grete Ioye And lytyl whyle after thys angele appyeryd to saynt gregorye and sayd to hym that god hath sente hym so to hym It happed afterward that as saynt gregory passed thurgh the market of Rome and sawe there two fair chyldren whyt and rody of vysage fayr yelow heer whiche were for to selle And saynt gregory demaunded fro whens they were And the marchauÌ„t answerd of englond After saynt gregory demaunded yf they were crysten and he answerd nay but that they were paynems Thenne sight saynt gregorye and sayd Alas what fayr peple hath the deuyl in hys doctryne and in hys domynacion After he demaunded how thyse peple were called he answerd that they were called englyssh men thenne he said they may well be so called for they haue the vysage of angelles And for that saynt gregory wente to the pope And by grete prayers he Impetred and had grauÌ„te that he was sente in to englond for to conuerte the peple of the same contre but whaÌ„ the Romayns herd saye that gregorye was sent in to englond Anon they wente to the pope and sayd to hym Thou hast angred saynt peter thou hast destroyed al Rome And hurte all holy chyrche in this that thou hast lete gregorye goon out of Rome Of whyche word the pope was angry and moche abasshed And sente anone his messagers after saynt gregory And comanded hym to retorne and come agayn to Rome whyche thenne was goon on hys Iourney thre dayes and for hys noble and good renomee the pope made hym cardynal deken After for the corrupcion of thayer the pope pelagius deyed And thenne saynt gregorye was electe of alle the paple to be pope but he refused it and sayd that to that dygnyte he was not worthy And for the ryght grete mortalyte er that he was sacred pope he made to the peple a sermon and said Ryght dere brethern wel ought we to haue doubte of the scorge of god er that we fele it And yet we ought to fere it to torne and forsake our synnes loo ye may beholde the peple deye er they bywepe theyr synnes Thynk ye thenne in what poynt he cometh in the presence of the Iuge that hath had no tyme to bewaylle hys synnes The howses ben voyde the chyldren deye in the presence of fader and moder sodaynly so that they haue lytyl tyme to deye wher fore euery man amende hys lyf whylis he hath tyme for to repente hym of hys euyl dedes and synnes er that the Iuge calle hym fro the mortal body he sayth by the prophete I wylle not the deth of a synnar but I wyl that he retorne and lyue moche soone the Iuge hereth the synnar whan he conuerteth fro hys synnes and amendeth hys lyf By suche manere admonested he to the peple theyr helthe And he or deyned to make processyon in alle the chyrches moche solempnly for to impetre and gete mercy for thys mortalyte whan the processyon was doon he wold haue goon pryuely out of Rome for thescewe thoffyce of the papalyte but ayenst that the gates were kepte so that he myght not yssue Atte laste he dyde do chaunge hys habyte And so moche dyde wyth the marchaunts that they brought hym out of Rome in a tonne vpon a carte And whan he was ferre out of the toun he yssued out of the tonne and hydde hym in a dyche And whan he had ben therin iij dayes the peple of Rome sought hym all aboute Anone they sawe a pyler shynyng descende fro heuen strayt vpon the dyche in whyche saynt gregorye was And a recluse an holy man sawe that by that pyler angellis descended fro heuen to saynt gregory and after wente vp agayn Anone thenne saynt gregory was taken of the peple and after thordynaunce of holy chyrche he was ordeyned and sacred pope ayenst hys wyll
whyche I may thenne without shame loke and speke wyth the And whan Zozimas herd hym self named he was gretly esmerueylled And anon he caste to her hys mantell And humbly prayd her that she wold gyue to hym her blessyng And she answerd It apperteyned to the fayr fader to gyue the benediction and nothyng to me For thou hast the dignyte of presthode whan he herd that she knewe his name and hys offyce he had yet more meruaylle and of that she axid so mekely hys blessyng After she sayd Blessyd be god the sauyour of our sowles Thenne she lyft vp her handes vnto heuen in makyng her prayer And Zozimas sawe in prayeng to god her body was lyft vp fro therthe wel hye a foot and an half And began to thynke that it had ben somÌ„e euyl spyryte Thenne Zozimas coniured her by the vertue of god that she shold telle to hym her estate and her condicion And she answerd Fayr fader spare me therof For yf I shold recouÌ„te myn estate ye shold flee away fro me like as fro a venymous serpente And thy holy eeres shold be made fowle of my wordes And the ayer shold be ful fowl of corrupcion and whan she sawe that Zozimas wold not be satisfyed so Thenne she sayd Fayr fader I was born in Egypte and whan I was in the age of xij yere I wente in to Alexandrye And there I gaf my body openly to synne by the space of xvij yere and abandouned it to lecherye and refused noman After it happed that men of that contre weÌ„te for adoure and worshippe the holy crosse in Iherusalem And I prayed to one of the maronners that he wold suffre me to passe wyth the other people the see and whan he me demanded payement for my passage I answerd Fayr syres I haue nothyng to paye you wyth but I abandonne my body to doo wyth alle your playsir for my passage they toke me by that condicion whan I was come in to Iherusalem vnto the entree of the chyrche for to worshyppe the holy crosse with the other I was sodenly Inuysibly put a back many tymes in suche wyse that I myght not entre in to the chirche And theÌ„ne I retorned thoughte in my self that thys cam to me for the grete synnes that I had commysed in tyme past And began to smyte my breste and wepe tenderly and sighe greuously And I behâ—ld there thymage of our lady And I fyl doun and prayd her all wepyng that she wold Impetre and gete me pardon of my synnes of her swete sone wold suffre me to entre in to the chyrche for to worshyppe the holy crosse promysyng to forsake the world And fro than forthon to lyue chaast whan I hadde thus prayd and to our blessyd lady thus faythfully promysid I wente agayn to the dores of the chyrche And wythout ony Impedyment I entred in to the chyrche And whan I had deuoutly worshypped and adoured the holy crosse A man gaf to me iij pens of whyche I bought thre loues of breed And after I herd anon a voys yf thou wylt passe and goo ouer slome Iordan thou shalt be sauf And thenne I passed Iordan and cam in to thys deserte where I neuer saw man by the space of xvij yere Thyse thre loues that I bare wyth me bycam hard by the drought of the tyme as a stone of whyche I toke my sustynaunce and suffysed to me xvij yere And after I ete herbes my clothes ben Roten longe syth And thise xvij first yere I was moche tempted by the brennyng of the sonne moche asprely And many delectacions that I haue had in mete and drynke the good wynes and doyng the desires of my body all thyse cam in my thought Thenne he bewaylled them on the erthe And prayd for helpe to our blessyd lady in whom I hadde sette all my affyaunce And I wepte moche tenderly And anon I sawe comyng aboute me a grete light by the whyche I was all recomforted and loste all the thoughtes whyche ofte and greuously tempted me And sith I haue ben delyuerd of alle temptacions and am nourisshyd of spirituel mete of the word of our lord And thus haue I be alle my lyf as I haue tolde to the And I praye the by thyncarnacion of Ihesu criste that thou praye for me synful creature Thenne the olde fader Zozymas fyl doun vnto grounde and thanked our lord god that had thus saued hys seruaunte And she sayd I praye the fayre fader that thou wylt come ageyn on the next sherethorsday and brynge wyth the the body of our lord for to howsel me For sythe I entred in to thys deserte I was neuer howseled ne receyued the holy sacramente And theÌ„ne I shal come to flomiordan ageynst the Zozymas wente to his abbey and after the yere passed on sherethorsday he came ageyn in to the place lyke as the holy woman had prayed hym And whan he was comen to flomiordan he sawe on that other syde the holy woman which made the sygne of the crosse vpon the water and wente on hit and came ouer to hym Whan Zozymas saw this myracle anone he fyl doun to the feet of the holy woman for to doo to hyr honour and reuerence but she forbad and deffended hym and sayd Thus oughtest thou not to doo For thou art a preest and berest the holy sacramente the whiche she receyued in ryght grete deuocion and sayd in wepyng lord god please hit to the to receyue me in pees For myn eyen hath seen my sauyour how wel that she had alwey wept and shedde teerys so haboundauntly that it semed that she had lost hyr sight And after she sayd to Zozymas I praye the that at the ende of thys yere thou wylt come hyder ageyn to me praye for me synful creature anone after she made the sygne of the crosse vpon the ryuere and passed ouer the water with drye feet as she tofore came And Zozymas wente ageyn to hys abbey But he repented moche that he had not demaunded the name of the woman And after the yere passed he came ageyn to the deserte like as he had promysed to thys holy woman And he founde hyr deed and the body ordynatly leyed as hyt shold be beryed Zozymas began thenne anone tenderly to wepe durst not approche ne touche the body but sayd to hym self I wold gladly berye this holy body yf I knewe that I shold not dysplese hyr And whan he was in thys thought he sawe lyeng by hyr heed a letter that sayd in this manere Zozymas burye right here the body of the poure marye and rendre to the erthe his ryght and praye to god for me At whos commaundemente the second day after I receyued hym he called me fro thys world Thenne zozymas was moche glad that knewe the name of the saynt But he was gretely esmayed how he myght burye the body For he had no thynge for to delue therthe
wyth And anone he sawe the erthe doluen a sepulture made by a lyon that came thyder And thenne Zozymas buryed hyr the lyon departed debonayrly And Zozymas retourned to his abbey and recounted to his brethern the conuersacion of thys holy woman marye And Zozymas lyued an hondred yere in holy lyf and gafe laude to god of all hys yeftes and his goodnes that he receyueth synnars to mercy which with good herte tourne to hym and promyseth to them the ioye of heuen Thenne lete vs praye to thys holy marye thegypcien that we may be here soo penytente that we may come thyder ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt marye the Egipcien ¶ Here foloweth of saynt ambrose and fyrst thynterpretacion of his name aMbrose is sayd of a stone named Ambre whyche is moche swete odoraunt and precious also hit is moche precious in the chyrche moche swete smellyng in dedes and in wordes Or Ambrose may be sayd of Ambre and syos whiche is as moche to saye as god For Ambrose is as moche to say as ambre of god For ambrose felt god in hym god was smellyd and odoured by hym oueralle where as he was Or he was sayd of Ambor in greek which is to say as fader of light of syor that is a lytel chylde that is a fader of many sones by spyrytuell generacion clere and ful of light in exposicion of holy scripture and was lytel in hys humble conuersacion Or thus as is sayd in the glosayre Ambrose is odoure and sauoure celestyall he was odour of heuen by grete renommee smellyng sauour by contemplacion wythin hym An hony combe by swete exposicion of scriptures mete of Aungels by hys glorious lyf And paulynus bisshop of volusian wrote his lyf vnto Saynt Austyn ¶ Of the lyf of saynt Ambrose SAynt Ambrose was sone of Ambrose prouoste of rome of whome it happed as he laye in his cradell in the halle of the pretoire there came a swarme of bees whiche fyl on his vysage and his mowth and after they departed and flewe vp in the eyre so hye that they myght not be seen whan thys was doon the fader whiche was herof esmayed said yf this chylde lyue there shal be somme grete thynge of hym After whan he was a lytel growen he behelde his moder and his suster whiche was a sacred virgyn kysse the preestes honde whan they offred And he playeng with his suster put forthe his honde for to kysse and sayd that so behoued hir to do to hym And she not vnderstondyng hym refused hit After he was sette to scole at Rome becam to be so good a clerke that he determyned the causes of the paleys And therfore valentynyen the emperour delyuerd hym to gouerne two prouynces named lygurye and Emylye Thenne whan he came in to melane it happed that the bysshop was deed And the peple were assembled to prouyde for another but bytwene the Arryens and the good cristen men for the eleccion fyl a grete sedycion dyscorde And ambrose for to pease this sedicion wente thyder and the voys of a chylde was herde sayeng Ambrose oughte to be bysshop and anone alle the people accorded therto hooly and began for to crye Ambrose Ambrose But ambrose deffended as moche as he myght and alle waye the peple cryed Ambrose Thenne for to make the peple sece he went out of the chyrche and wente vp on a scaffolde and made the people to be beten ageynst the vsage custome for to lette them that they shold name hym nomore But yet they lefte not for al that but the peple said thy synne be vpon vs Thenne he beyng soâ—e troubled wente home and suffryd commâ—n wymmen to entre opeÌ„ly in to his hows to the ende that whan the people 〈◊〉 that shold reuoke theyr eleccion but for al that they cryed as they dyd to fore and sayd thy synnes be vpon vs Whan saint ambrose saw that he myght not empesshe the eleccion he fled awaye but the peple awayted vpon hym and toke hym at thyssue of the gate and kepte hym so longe tyl they had grauÌ„te of themperour and whan themperour knewe herof he had grete ioye bycause that the Iuge that he had sente for the prouynces was chosen to be theyr bysshop And also he was glad by cause his worde was accomplisshed for the Emperour sayd to Ambrose whan 〈◊〉 sente hym thyder goo sayd he abyde not there as a Iuge but as a bysshop Saynt ambrose in the mene whyle that they abode the answere of themperour fledde yet awaye but he was taken ageyn and was baptyzed for he was not tofore baptyzed how Wel that he was crysten in wylle And the viij day after he was consecrate stalled bysshop of melan And foure yere after that he wente to Rome and there his suster the vyrgyn kyssed his honde as of a preest and he smylyng sayd lo as I tolde the now thou kyssest my honde as of a preest It happed after that whan saynt Ambrose Wente to another cytee to theleccion of a bysshop Iustyn the emperesse and other of the secte of tharryens wold not consente to the good crysten men But wold haue one of theyr secte Thenne one of the vyrgyns of themperesse moche fayre toke saynt ambrose drewe hym by his vestementes and wold haue made hym to be beten by cause he wold not holde the partye of the wymmen Thenne saynt ambrose sayd to hyr yf I be not worthy to be a bysshop yet thou oughtest not to laye honde vpon me ne none other bysshop thou hast layed honde on me thou oughtest moche redoubte and drede the Iugemente of god And therfore god confermyd his sentence on hyr For the nexte day she was born to her graue and was deed Thus was she rewarded for the vylonye that she had done And al the other were thereby sore aferde After this whan he was retorned to melan he suffred many assaultes and persecucions of the emperesse Iustyn For she moeued by yeftes and by honoure moche people ageynste saynt ambrose and many there were that enforced them to sende hym in exyle And emonge al other there was one mounted in so grete madnesse and furour ageynst hym that he hyred hym an hows by the chyrche by cause he wold haue therin a carte for to sette saynt ambrose theron and lede hym in to exyle but that same fyl to hym For he hym self was sente in exyle in the same carte the same day that he wold haue ledde aweye saynt ambrose To whom yet saint ambrose dyd good for euyl for he mynystred to hym hys costes necessaryes Saynt ambrose also establysshed in the chirche songe offyces at melane fyrst There were at that tyme in melane many men vexyd bysette with deuyls which cryed with hye voys that saynt ambrose tormented them thus but themperesse Iustyn and tharryens said that said ambrose made them to say so for mony that he
euerlastyng blysse in heuen amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt wyllyam ¶ Here begynneth the lyf of Saynt Eutrope SAynt Eutrope was borne and came of the moste excellente lignage of al the world was borne in the royame of Perse and was sone of the admyralle of babylone whiche was named exâ—â—â—â—s whome the sayd exerses engendryd on a quene which was called guyâ—e and saynt eutrope was endoctryned in his yongthe in letters of caldee and of grece so ferforth that he was compâ—ryd to the moste gretest clerke of the royame After he wente to galylee in to the courte of kyng herodes for to see somme curyosyte or somme nouelte of the barbaryens that were wyth the kynge herodes whan he had dwellyd there certeyn dayes in the courte he herde the fame and renommee of the myracles of our lord Ihesu cryste began to enquyre and serche soo moche that he herde say that our lord wold goo ouer the see of galylee and he put hym self in the multitude of peple that folowyd hym It happed that this day our lord by his Infenyte largesse refresshed and fedde fyue thousand men wyth fyue loues of barley brede and two fysshes in the presence of Saynâ— eutrope Whan saynt eutrope had seen this myracle and herde saye of hys other myracles fro than forthon he began to byleue a lytel in hym but he durst not for his pedagoge or his gouernour whiche was wyth hym For the admyralle his fader had coÌ„mysed hym in his garde whan he had fedde hym wyth the other he wente to Iherusalem in to the temple for to praye adoure his creatour in his lawe and after this wente home to his fader tolde hym alle that he had seen in the contre fro whens he came I haue seen a man sayd he that is callyd cryste but in al the world is not his pareyll ne lyke For he reyseth deed men he heleth the lazers he maketh blynde men to see the deef to here the lame to goo ryght and heleth al maner sekenesses and yet more tofore me he hath fedde wyth fyue loues of barley ij fysshes fyue thousand men Wherfore yf it plesyd hym that hath made heuen and erthe to sende hym in to thys contreye I shold be glad and ioyous yf it plesyd you to doo hym honoure and reuerence whan thadmyral herde the wordes of the chylde he wente thynkyng how he myÈt see hym A lytel whyle after the chylde that had grete desyre to see yet Ihesu cryste toke leue of his fader whyche he gate wyth grete payne and came sythe wyth grete companye for to worshyp adoure in the temple where he sawe on a day how the chyldren of Iherusalem came wyth a grete companye of people tofore our lord Ihesu cryste vnto bethanye makyng to hym grete reuerence and toke the bowes of palme and of olyues and of other trees and many other floures whiche they threwe in the waye where he shold passe and songen wyth hye voys osanna Thenne saynt eutrope hym self began to caste floures in the waye but he was moche angry by cause he myght not see Ihesu cryste for the multitude of the peple that was there and after that is conteyned in the gospel he was in the companye of them that were come for to adoure and worshyp in Iherusalem at the feste that was there whiche sayd to saynt phelyppe Syr we wold see Ihesu cryste Thenne Saynt phelyp accompanyed wyth saynt Andrewe tolde it to Ihesu cryste And anone after saynt eutrope hys companye sawe hym syttyng vpon an asse wherof he was right glad fro than forthon he byleuyd secretely and accompanyed wyth hym but he doubted his felawshyp for as moche as his fader had commaunded them to kepe hym wel and that they shold brynge hym ageyn wyth them Thenne he herde say that the Iewes shold shortely brynge Ihesu cryste to dethe and by cause he wold not see soo grete cruelte do on to so trewe and Iuste a man he departed on the morne and wente in to hys contrey and recounted al that he had seen of our lord a lytel whyle after he retorned and herde say how he was put to dethe wherfore he was sory For he louyd hym moche But whan he herde say that he was rysen fro dethe to lyf and ascendyd in to heuen he was moche ioyous and retorned in to babylonye fulfylled wyth the holy ghoost And al the Iewes that he fonde in hys contreye for angre he destroyed by cause theâ— of Ierusalem had put our lord to dethe After this a certeyn tyme whan thappostles were departed thorugh the world two shynyng candelstykes of golde were sente in to perse whych were of veray fayth that is to saye Symon and Thadeus the appostles of god And entryd in to babylone and had chaced out of the contrey two enchauntours zaroen and arphaxat which had peruerted the peple by false deceyuâ—ble spekyng in this cyte thyse two appostles began to sowe the worde of god and to do many myracles hele seke peple of dyuers maladyes Whan this holy yonge man knewe of theyr comyng he was ryght glad admonestyd his fader to leue his errours his ydollys and that he shold receyue the crysten feyth to th ende that he myght gete therby heuen And what by the predycacion of the appostles and by the counceyl and exortyng of his sone his fader many other were conuerted and regenerate in the holy fonte of baptesme by the handes of the appostles and after alle the cyte was conuerted to the feythe dyd do make a moche notable chirche there and ordeyned there a prelate an holy man and trewe whome they had broughte wyth them fro Ierusalem namyd abdyas endoctryned in the doctryne of the gospellys and they ordeyned saynt eutrope archedeken and whan they had al thus ordeyned they departed and wente in to other cytees for to preche the feythe of god And anone after they receyued the palme of marterdom After Saynt eutrope wrote theyr passyon in lettres of caldee and of greke a lytel whyle after saynt eutrope herde speke of the myracles that saynt Peter prynce of the appostles dyd whyche that tyme was pope of rome he toke leue of the bysshop pryuelye wythout wetyng of his fader and came to rome Whan saynt peter sawe hym he receyued hym moche agreably and endoctryned and taughte hym the lawe of god moche dylygently whan he had dwellyd wyth saynt peter a longe whyle by the ordenaunce and commaundemente of saynt peter he wente in to fraunce with many other for to preche the crysten feythe and thus as he entryd in to the cyte of xayntes he wente thorugh the stretes and places prechyng the feythe of cryste anone as they of the cyte sawe hym they knewe wel that he was a barbaryen by his speche And whan they herde hym preche thynges that they neuer herde tofore they brente hym wyth brennyng fagottes bete hym
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
sone first cristen kynge of fraunce and was named lowys in hys baptesme whome saynt remyge cristened And an auÌ„gel of paradyse brought to hym an ample ful of crysme of whiche he was enoyâ—ted aâ—so his successours kynges of fraunce ben enoynted sacred at theyr coronacion after he was of good lyf fouÌ„ded the chirche that is now called saynt geneuefe on the mounte of paas in thonour of saynt peter saynt pouâ—e at the requeste of saynt clote hys wyf of whome the body resteth in the sayd chirche at thyncitacion of saynt geneuefe and saynt remyge dyd halowe dedefye hit the sayd kyng dyd encreâ—e moche the royame of fraunce frauâ—chysed it by his puyssaunce fro the româ—yns He conquerid meleun and the londe lyenge by sayne by loyre tourayn thoulose and al guyan and at his comyng to engoulesme the walles of the cyte fyl doun he made almayne and bourgoyn his trybutayrs he ordeyned and Instytuted parys to be the chyef syege of the royame he reygned xxx yere after he was entered in the sayd chirche the yere of our lord fyue hondred xiiii In the tyme of the sayd kyng lyued the sayd virgyn vnto the tyme of kyng clotayr his sone of which vyrgyn the sowle flâ—we in to heuen the body abâ—de in erthe in the sayd châ—rche in whiche she is yet he ole honourably entered and deuoutelye worshypped â—y the good and deuoute crysten peple In the tyme that the sayd vyrgyn saynt geneuefe was a chylde Saynt germayn of ancerre saynt lâ—w of troyes electe of the prelates of fraunce for to goo quenche an heresye that was in grete brytaygne now called englond came to nauÌ„cerre for to be lodged and herberowed the peple came ageynst theym for to haue theyr beneyson Emonge the people saynt germayn by thenseygnemente of the holy ghoost espyed out the lytel mayde saynt geneuefe and made hyr to come to hym and kyste hyr heed and demaunded hyr name and whos doughter she was and the people aboute hyr sayd that hir name was geneuefe and hyr fader Seuere and hyr moder geronce whyche came vnto hym and the holy man sayd is this chylde youres they answerd ye Blessyd be ye said the holy man whaÌ„ god hath gyuen to you so noble lignage knowe ye for certeyn that the day of hyr natyuyte the aungels sange halowed grete mysterye in heuen with grete ioye and gladnes She shal be of so grete meryte ageynst god of hir good lyf and conuersacion many shal take ensauÌ„ple that they shal leue theyr synne and shal conuerte theym to god and shal lyue religyously by whiche they shal haue pardon and ioye perdurable Thenne he sayd to geneuefe my doughter telle to me and be not asshamed yf ye wyl be sacred lyue in vyrgynyte vnto the dethe as espouse of Ihesu cryste The mayde answerd holy fader ye demaunde that I desyre there lacketh nomore but that by your prayers our lord wyl accomplysshe my deuocyon the holy man sayd haue ferme byleue in god and preue by werkys the good thynges that ye byleue in your herte and saye wyth your mowthe and our lord shal gyue you force and vertue Saynt Germayn helde his honde on hir heed tyl he came vnto the mynstre there he gaue to the peple the beneyson Saynt Germayn said to the fader and moder of the mayde that they shold brynge hir ageyn on the morne to hym whan she was brought ageyn on the morne saynt germayn sawe in hir a sygne celestyal I wote not what and sayd to hyr god the saleweth Geneuefe Doughter remembrest thou what thou promysest to me yesterday of the vyrgynyte of thy body holy fader sayd the mayde I remembre wel that by the helpe of god I desyre and thynke to accomplysshe my purpoos Thenne the holy man loked on the grounde sawe a peny sygned wyth the crosse whyche came by the grace and wylle of god he toke hit vp and gaue hit hyr and sayd fayre doughter take this and bere it in mynde of IhÌ„u cryste your espouse and suffre not aboute you none other arayemente of golde ne syluer ne of precious stones for yf the beaute of thys world surmounte a lytell your thought ye shal lose the goodes of heuen he commounded hir to god and prayed hir that she wold remembre hym in hyr orysons and prayers and recommaunded her to fader and moder The two holy bysshoppes wente from thens in to englond there were heretykes ageynst the feythe whyche sayd that chyldren borne of fader and moder baptysed had no nede to be crystenyd whiche is not trouthe for our lord Ihesu cryst sayth clerely in the gospel that none may entre in to the kyngdom of heuen yf he be not regenerate of water and of the holy ghost That is to say regenerate by the sacramente of baptesme By this scripture and by semblable the holy prelates destroyed theyr false creaunce and byleue and by vertu also and by myracles For in a solempnyte of ester by many that were newe baptysed in syngyng alleluya they chaced and droof aweye theyr enemyes of scotland and straungers of other places that were come for to greue them Hyt happed on a day that Geronce the moder of the holy mayde Geneuefe wente on an holy and festeful day toward the mynstre And hyr doughter wente after sayeng that the feythe that she had promysed to Saynt germayn she shold kepe by the helpe of god and that she wold ofte goo to the mynstre to the ende that she myght deserue to be espouse of Ihesu cryste and that she myght be worthy of his loue the moder was angry smote hyr on the cheke God auengyd the chylde that the moder became blynde and that in xxj monethes she sawe not whan the moder had been longe in thys payne which moche enoyed hyr She remembryd of the goodnes that Saynt germayn had sayd of hyr doughter and callyd hyr and sayd my doughter goo to the pytte and fetche me water the mayde wente hastely whan she was at the pytte she began to wepe by cause hyr moder had loste hyr syghte for hyr sake and toke vp water and bare it to hyr mder The moder stratched hyr handes to heuen and toke the water wyth grete feythe and reuerence And maad hyr doughter to sygne hir with the sygne of the holy crosse and wesshe hyr eyen and anone she began for to see a lytell Whan she had twyes or thrise wesshen hir syght came hole to hir ageyn as it had been tofore after thys it happed that the holy mayde was offred to the bysshop of chartres buylique for to be sacred with two other elder maydens For men offred hem after theyr eage But the holy bysshop knewe by the holy ghoost that geneuefe was the moste worthy and dygne and sayd to hyr that was behynde shold come before For god had tho sanctefyed hyr After the dethe of hir fader
that they shold goo to saynt denys the wode men answerd that they myght not but she vnbonde them the virgyn which was for them in grete sorowe commaūded them that they shold goo thenne anone they suffred them to be ledde secretely theyr handes bounde behynde their backes she wente after them whan she was in the chirche of saynt denys she stratched hir self on the grounde in orisons in wepynges Thus as she perseueryd in prayers and wepynges the wode men cryed with an hygh voys that they approched whome the vyrgyn callyd in to their helpe none ought to doubte that the enemye that sawe that he must nedys yssue goo out signefyed by the mowthe of the demonyaks that the appostles marters other sayntes that the holy virgyn callyd came vnto hyr helpe by the yefte of god which is redy to do the wylle of them that drede hym calle hym in trouthe whan the holy vyrgyn herde this that they said She aroos vp and blessyd eche after other with the sygne of the crosse anone they were delyuerd of the enemyes They that were presente felte soo grete stenche that they doubted no thynge but tho sowles were delyuerd fro the vexacion of the deuyl blessyd our lord for this myracle There was at bourges a damoysel which herde speke of the grete renomee of this holy saynt came to parys for to speke to hir she had ben sacred but after the consecracion she had loste hir vyrgynyte the holy genouefe demaunded of hir yf she was a vyrgyn nonne or wyf or a wydowe She answerd that she was a vyrgyn sacred Geneuefe sayd nay tellyng to hir the place tyme of hir defloracion the man that had done the feyte Whan she sawe that it was for nought that she sayd she was a vyrgyne her conscience remorsed hir and fyl doun to hir feet in requyryng pardon In semblable wyse the holy genouefe dyscouerd to many the secretes of theyr consciences whiche ben not here wryton by cause it were ouer noyous longe to wryte A woman whome the holy vyrgyn had helyd had a chylde of the age of foure yere whiche fyl in a pyt he was therin the space of thre houres the moder came and drewe it out and bare it al deed vnto the saynt in rendyng hyr heyre and betyng hir breste and pappes and wepyng bytterly and layed the chylde dede at hyr feet The holy vyrgyn couerd hit with hyr mantel and after she fyl doun in hyr prayers and wepte and anone after whan she cesyd of hyr wepyng our lord shewyd a fayre myracle for the chylde that was deed reuyued the whiche was baptysed at ester after was named celonyer by cause she was reysed in the celle of saynt Genouefe There came fro meaux a man to thys holy vyrgyne whyche had hys hande dryed vnto the wreste and she handled his ioyntes and fyngres and maad theron the sygne of the crosse and anone the hande became alle hool Geneuefe that knewe wel that our lord Ihesu cryste was baptysed the day of epyphanye and after wente in to deserte in gyuyng enseygnement to them that ben regenerate in the sacramente of baptesme to faste wake and adoure besely and to accomplysshe by werke the grace that they haue taken in the baptesme by the ensaumple of swete Ihesu cryste Thenne entryd the holy vyrgyn in to hyr celle the sonday tofore the sayd feste and abode there as recluse vnto the thursday absolute in wakyng in prayers in fastynges and orysons Thyder came a woman to see hir more for curyosyte than for good feythe And therfore god punysshed hyr Far assone as she approched the dore of the celle she loste hyr syght and became blynde But the holy mayde by hir debonayrte by hir prayer gate hir syght ageyn and by the sygne of the holy crosse whan she yssued out of hyr celle in the ende of lente ¶ In the tyme that the cyte of parys was assyegyd by the terme of ten yere lyke as thauncyent hystoryes reherce that there folowed so grete famyne and hungre that many deyed for hungre The holy vyrgyne that pyte constrayned hir wente to the sayne for to goo fetche at name somme vytaylles whan she came vnto a place of sayne where as of custome shyppes were wonte to perysshe She made the shyppe to be drawen to the ryuage and commaunded to cutte doun a tree that was in the water and she sette hyr to prayer Thenne as the shyppes shold haue smyton vpon the tree hit fyl doun And two wylde heedys graye and horryble yssued therout which stanke so sore that the peple there were enuenymed by the space of two houres and neuer after perysshed shyp there thāke be to god and to hys holy saynt Vnto arcy the castel wente thys holy vyrgyne and there came ageyn hyr a grete lord whiche requyred hir that she wold vysyte his wyf whyche had had longe tyme the palseye The holy vyrgyn wente and uysyted hyr which had ben longe seek wyth prayers and orysons and after blessyd hyr wyth the sygne of the crosse commaunded hyr that she shold aryse She thenne that had ben four yere seek myght not helpe hyr self aroos seyng alle the people whyche thanked our lord Fro arcy she wente to troyes in champayn the peple came to mete with hir and offred to hir grete multitude of seek people wythout nombre She blessyd them and sygned them wyth the sygne of the crosse Incontynente they were helyd in the syght of al the people whiche meruayled moche and rendryd thankynges to our lord There was brought to hyr a man whiche by the pugnycion of god was made blynde by cause he wrought on the sonday and a blynde mayde also the holy vyrgyne blessyd them in the name of the fader and sone and of the holy ghoost and anone theyr syght was restored to them There was a subdeken presente and sawe thys he wente and fette a chylde whyche had ben seke x yere of the febres right sore the holy vyrgyn dyd do brynge holy water and blessyd it and gaue hym drynke and that doon by the grace of god the chylde was in good helthe In this tyme many toke of the cuttynges of hir vesture by deuocyon wherof many seek were helyd and many vexyd by spyrytes were delyuerd remysed in to theyr good mynde Fro arcy retorned the holy vyrgyne to parys wyth xj shyppes charged wyth vytayl wynde tempeste orage assayled them soo strongely that they wende to haue perysshed without remedye the holy vyrgyn lyfte vp hyr handes to heuen requyryng helpe of our lord and anone the tempeste cessed Thēne bessus a preest that was present and sawe it whiche tofore had tremblid for fere began to synge for ioye cantemus domino gloriose Al that there were thanked our lord that had saued them by the prayer of the damoysel geneuefe whan the goodes came to parys
holy feet Where is the mouth spekyng and the tongue counseyllyng and the spirite wel plesyng hys god Who shal not wepe and waylle For they that haue deserued glorye honour toward god ben put to deth as malefactours and wicked men wo to me that be helde in that hour his blessyd body alle bewrapped in his innocent blood Alas my fader and doctour thou were not gilty of suche a deth now whyther shal I go for to seche the the glorye of crysten men and preysyng of good trewe men who shalle stynt thy voys that sowned so hye in the chirch in prechyng the worde of god loo thou hast eÌ„trid in to thy lord and thy god whom thou hast desyred wyth alle thyn affectyon Ierusalem and Rome be euyl frendes For they ben egall in ylle Ierusalem hath crucifyed our lord IhÌ„u crist and rome hath slayn his appostles IhÌ„rlm seruyth hym that they crucyfyed And Rome in solempnysyng glorifyeth them that it hath sleyne and nou my broder thymothee thise ben they whom thou louedest and desyredest with alle thy herte lyke as saul and Ionathas that wer not departed in lyf ne in deth and so I am not departed fro my lord and mayster but whan ylle and wycked men departe vs And the separacyon of one hour shalle not be alwaye For his soule knoweth them that loue hym though they speke not to hym whyche now ben fâ—r from hym And at the day of the grete resurrectyon they shalle not be departed from hym Hec dyonysyus Seynt IohÌ„n Crisostm saith in the boke of praysyng of seynt poul and commendeth this glorious appostle moche sayeng what is founden suffycyent in commendacoÌ„n of hym syth al the goodnes that is in man the soule possedeth it only And hath it in hym And not only of a man but also of the aÌ„gelis And in what maner we shal say to yow heer after Abel offred sacrefyce and of that he was preysed but we shal shewe the sacrefyse of paul And it shal appere greter in as moche as heuen is heyer than the erthe For paul sacrefyed hym self euery day And offrid double sacrefyse in herte and in bodye whiche he mortefyed he offrid not sheep ne nete but he sacrefyed hym selfe in double wyse and yet that suffised hym not but he studyed to offre to god alle the world For he enuiroÌ„ned alle the world that is vnder heuen and made angellis of men And more ouer the men that wer lyke fendes He chaunged them to angellis who is he that is founde parayle or lyke to thys sacrefyse whiche poul with the swerd of the holy goost offred vp to the autar which is aboue heueÌ„ Abel was slayn by treson of his brother but paul was slayn of them whom he desyred to with drawe saue fro Innumerable euillys His dethes were so many that thei may not wel be nombred he had as many as he leuyd dayes Noe as it is redde kepte hym self his wyf his children in the ark but paul in a more perriâ—oê° and older flood in an arke not made with bordes with pitche glewe But with epistles made for bordes delyuerd and saued the vnyuersal world fro the flodes of errour and of synne Thys Arke or shippe was not born to one place but it was sent through the vnyuersal world ne lymed with pitche ne glewe but the bordes therof were enoynted wyth the holy ghoost He toke them that were worshippers of resonable bestes almost more foles than vnresonable bestes for to be the folowers of angellis He ouercam that arke in whiche was receyued the crowe and sent hym out agayn and closyng a wolf therin whoos wodenes he coude not chaunge But thys poule toke fawcons and kytes and made of them douues And excluded alle wodenes and ferocite fro them and broughte to them the spirite of mekenes Somme meruaille of abraham that at the commaundement of god lefte hys contrey and kynredde but how may he be com compared to paule whiche not onlye lefte his contree and kynrede but also hym self and the worlde also he forsoke and dyspised alle thyng and required to haue but one thyng and that was the charite and loue of Ihesu crist Ne he desyred thynges present ne thynges to come cÌ„ but abraham put hym selfe in parel for to saue his brothers sonne But paule susteyned many parellis for to bryng the vnyuersal Worlde fro perellys of the deuyl and brought other to grete surete wyth his own deth Abraham wold haue offred his sonne ysaac to god but paule broughte neyther frende ne neyghboure But offred hym self to god a thousand tymes SoÌ„me meruele of the paciens of ysaac For he suffred the pittes that he made to be stopped but paule not beholdyng the pyttes stopped with stones ne his owen body beten only But them of whom he suffred grete peynes he studied to bryng to heuen And the more this welle was stopped so moche the more it flowed out stremes in shedyng of water of scripture of mekenes and of pacyence ¶ Of the pacyence of Iacob scripture merueylleth whiche abode vij yere for hys spouse But who hath that soule of an ademant that may folowe the pacyence of paule For he abode not only vij yere for crist his spouse but all his lyf tyme he was not only brent with the hete of the day ne suffred only the frost of the nyght But suffryng temptacions now wyth betynges now stonyd with stones And alway emoÌ„g his tormentis caught the sheep drewe them to the fayth from the mouth of the deuyll And also he was made decorate and made fayr wyth the chastite of Ioseph And here I doubte lest soÌ„me wold take it for a lesyng for to preyse here paule whiche crucifyeng hym self not only the beaute of mennis bodyes but alle suche thynges that wer seen to be fayre and clere that he behelde sette no more by them then we do by a lytel asshes or fylthe and abode vnmeuable as a dede man to a dede man alle men wondre at Iob for he was a meruelous champyon but paule was not only troubled by monethes but many yeres enduryng in agonye and alle wey apperid clere He put not away the wodenes of his flessh with a sherde or shelle but he ran dayly as the vnderstondyng mouth of a lyon and faughte ayenst innumerable temptacions whiche were more tollerable than a stone which not of iij or iiij ffrendes but of alle men and of his brethern he suffred obprobryes and was confused and cursed of them alle and he toke euer mekelye and paciently Iob was a man of grete hospitalyte and had cure of poure peple and that he dyd was to susteyne the fylth of the flesshe But seynt poul laboured to help the sekenes of the sowlis ¶ Iob opened his hous to euery man that cam But the soule of paule shewed hym to the vnyuersal worlde Iob had sheep and oxen Innumerable And of them
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
those contryes seynt kenelm was kyng wynchecombe that tyme was chyef cite of alle thyse shyres and in that tyme were in englond vj kynges And byfore that Oswold had ben kyng of alle englond And after hym it was departed in seynt kenelmes dayes kenulf hys fader was a ful holy man And dornemyld and queÌ„drede were susters of seynt kenelme and kenulf his fader deyde the yere of our lord viij Cxix Thenne was kenelme made kyng whan he was vij yere of age And his suster dornemild louyd hym moche and they lyuyd holyly to gydre to theyr lyues ende but quyndrede that other suster torned hyr to wyckednes and had grete enuye at her brother kenelme by cause he was so riche aboue her and laboured wyth alle her power to destroye hym by cause she wold be quene and regne after hym and lete make a strong poyson and gaf it to hir brother But god kepte hym that it neuer greuyd hym whan she sawe that she coude not preuayle ayenst the kyng in that maner She laboured to Askeberd whiche was chief ruler aboute the kyng and promysed to hym a grete somme of money and also her body at his wylle yf he wold slee this yong kyng her brother And anone they accorded in this treson And iij this while that same tyme this yong holy kyng was a slepe and dremed a meruellous dreme For hym semed that he sawe a tree stonde by hys beddes syde and that the heyght therof touched heuen and it shyned as bright as gold and had fayr braunches ful of blosmes and fruyte And on euery braunche of thys tree were tapers of waxe brennyng and lampes lyght whiche was a glorious sight to beholde and hym thought that he clymed vpon this tree And askeberd his gouernour stode bynethe and hewe doun this tree that he stode on And whan thys tree was fallen doun this holy yong kyng was heuy sorouful hym thought ther cam a fayr byrd whiche flewgh vp to heuen wyth grete Ioye And anon after thys dreme he awoke and was alle abasshid of thys dreme whyche anon after he tolde to his norice named wolwelyne And whan he had tolde to her alle hys dreme She was ful heuy and tolde to hym what hit mente And sayd his suster and the trayter askaberde had falsely conspired his deth For she sayd to hym that he had ê“mysed to quendrede to slee the And that signefyeth that he smyteth doun the tree that stode by thy beddes syde And the byrd that thou sawest flee vp to heuen signefyeth thy soule that angellys shal bere vp to heuen after thy martirdom And anon after thys askaberde desired the kyng that he shold goo disporte hym by the wodes side named Clent and as he walkid the yong kyng was al heuy and leyd hym doun to slepe thenne this fals traytour purposed to haue slayn the kyng and began to make the pyt to bury hym in But anon as god wold the kyng awoke sayd to thys askaberd that he laboured in vayn ffor god wyl not that I dye in thys place But take this smalle rodde and there as thou shalt sette it in the erthe there shal I be martred And thenne they went forth to gydre a good way thens tyl they cam to an hawthorn And there he pyght the rodde in therthe and forthwith incontynent it bare grene leuys and sodenly it wexe to a grete asshe tree the whiche stondeth there yet vnto thys day and is called kenelms asshe and there this askaberd smote of thys holy yong kynges hede And anon his soule was born vp in to heuen in lykenes of a white douue and thenne the wyckid traytour drewe the body in to a grete valey betwene ij hylles and there he made a depe pitte cast the body therin and leyde the hede vpon it And whyles he was aboute to smyte of the hede The holy kyng knelyng on his knees sayd thys holy cantycle Te deum laudamus tyl he cam to this veers Te martirum candi datus And therwyth he yaf vp hys spyryte to our lord Ihesu cryst in lykenes of a douue as afore is sayd TheÌ„ne anon this wicked man askaberd went to quendrede and told to hir alle alonge how he had don wherof she was ful glad And anon after toke on hir to be quene and charged on payn of deth that no man shold speke of kenelme And after that she abandouÌ„ned her body to wretchyd lyuyng of her fflessh in lecherye brought her owen men to wretchyd lyuyng And thys holy body lay long tyme after in that wode called Clent For no man durst fetche hym thens to bury hym in halowed place for fere of the quene quene drede it was so that a poure wydow by whiche had a white Cowe whiche euery day was dryuen in to the wode of clent And anon as she was there she wold departe and goo in to the valeye where kenelme was buryed and there reste alle the day syttyng by the corps wythout mete And euery nyght come home wyth other bestes fatter and gaf more mylke than ony of the other kyen And so contynwed certeyn yeres wherof the peple merueyled that she euer was in so good poynt and ete no mete That valey where as seynt kenelmes body laye is called Coubage After on a tyme as the pope song masse at rome in Seynt Peters chirche Sodenly ther cam a whyte douue and lete falle a scrowe on the aulter wheron the pope sayd hys masse And thyse wordes were wreton therin in lettres of gold In Clent in Coubage kenelme kyng barn lyeth vnder a thorn his hede of shorn And whan the pope had said his masse He shewed the scrowe to alle the peple But there was none that coude telle what it mente tyll atte last there cam an englyssh man And he told it openly tofore all the peple what it ment And thenne the pope wyth alle the peple gaf laude and praysyng to oure lord and kepte that skrowe for a relyque And the fest of seynt kenelme was halowed that day solempnly thorough alle rome And anon after the pope sent hys messagers in to englond to the archebysshop of caunterbury named wylfryde And bad hym wyth hys bysshops goo and seke the place where the holy body lyeth whiche is named Cowbage in the wode of clent And thenne this place was sone knowen by cause of the myracle that was shewd by the white cowe and whan tharchebisshop with other bisshoppis many other peple cam theder and fonde the place anon they lete dygge vp the body and toke it vp wyth grete solemnyte And forth wyth sprang vp in the same place where as the body had leyn a fayre welle whiche is called Seynt kenelmes welle vnto thys day where moche peple haue ben heled of diuers sekenes and maladyes And whan the body was aboue therth ther fyl a stryf bytwene them of
not answere Thenne he sayd to the kyng goo out and leue thy royame to one better than thou art And thenne seynt germayn ordeyned the cowherd to be gouernour of the royame Thenne as the saxons fought ayenst the brytons and sawe that they were but a fewe men and sawe the holy men passe by them they called hem and the seyntes prechyd so moche to them that they cam to the grace of bapteme â— And on ester day they cast of theyr armour and thrugh brennyng charyte of fayth purposed to fyghte whan that other partye herd that they purposed to goo ayenst them hardely And seynt Germayn hyd hym self aparte with his peple warned them whan he shold crye Alleluya that they shold answer Alleluya And whan the sayde seynt germayn had cryed Alleluya And the other had answerd Theyr enemyes had so grete fere that they cast away alle theyr armours and had wend veryly that alle the montayns had fallen on them and heuen also and so al affrayed fledde awaye On a tyme as seynt germayn passed by augustynence and went to the tombe of seint cassyen and enquyred of hym how it was with hym And he answerd hym out of the tombe and sayd I am in swete reste and abyde the comyng of our redemer and he said agayn reste thou thenne stylle in the name of our lord and pray for vs deuoutly that we may deserue the holy Ioyes of the resurrection And whan Seynt germayn cam in to rauenne he was receyued moche honourably of the quene placida And of valentynyen her sonne and at the houre of souper she sent to hym a right grete vessell of siluer ful of delycious mete the which he reteyned for to gyue to pour men And in stede herof he sent to the quene a dysshe of tree and a barley loof the whiche she receyued gladly and after dyde do couere the dysshe with syluer and kepte it long wyth grete deuocoÌ„n On a tyme whan the lady had boden hym for to dyne wyth her he graunted it debonayrly and bycause he was wery of traueyle and fastynges he rode from hys hostel vnto the paleys vpon an asse and whyles he dyned his asse deyed And whan the quene knewe that his asse was dede She was moche sorouful and dyd do presente to hym a ryght good hors of right grete beaute and grete whan he sawe hym so rychely aourned and arayed he wold not take it but sayd shewe me myn asse For he that brought me hyther shal bryng me home And went to the deed asse and said arise late vs retorne home anon he aroos and awoke as he had slepte and as he had had no harme and thenne Seynt germayne mounted on his asse râ—de to hys lodgyng but er he departed fro rauenne he sayde that he shold not belong in thys world and a while after he fyl seek of the feuers or accesse and the seuen day after passyd out of thys world vnto our lord and hys body was borne in to ffraunce lyke as he had desired of the quene and he deyed aboute the yere of our lord CCCC xxj Seynt germayn had promysed to seynt Eusebye whiche was bysshop of versayle that whan he retorned he wold halowe his chirche that he hed founded And whan seynt eusebe vnderstode that he was deed he wold hym self halowe his chyrche and dyd do lyght the tapres But the ofter they lyght them so ofte they went out and were quenchyd and whan Seynt Eusebe sawe this he apperceyued well that the halowyng was doon or ellys it shold be doon an other tyme or it shold be reserued to an other bysshop and whan the body of seynt germayn was brought to versayl assone as his body was brought in to the chyrche alle the tapers were lyght by them self by goddes grace Thenne seynt eusebe remembred of the promesse of Seynt germayne and that whiche he had promysid lyuyng He accomplisshed iâ— beyng deed But it is not to be vnderstande that this was the grete eusebe bysshop of versayl That this was don in his tyme ffor he deyed vnder valent themperour And fro the deth of hym vnto the deth of seynt germayn was more than fyfty yere But thys was another Eusebe vnder whom this thyng was don Thenne late vs praye vnto thys holy germayn that he praye for vs to god almyghty that after this lyf we may come to euerlastyng blysse in heuen Amen Thus endeth the lyf of Seynt Germayn Here nexte foloweth the lyf of Seynt Eusebe And first of his name EUsebe is sayde of eu whiche is as moche to say as good And sebe that is eloquence or stacoÌ„n Or Eusebe is as moche to saye as worshyp he had bounte in sanctificacion Eloquence in defense of the faith stacion in the stedfastnes of martirdom And good wyrshyppyng in the reuerence of god ¶ Of seynt Eusebe EUsebe was alway a vyrgyne and whyles he was yet yonge in the fayth he receyued bapteme and name of Eusebe the pope In whiche bapteme the handes of angellis were seen that lift hym out of the fonte On a day a certayn lady was esprised of his beaute and wold haue goon to his chambre And thangellis kepte the dore in suche wyse that she myght not entre and on the morn she went to hym and kneled doun at his feet and requyred of mercy and foryeuenes of that she had ben in wyll to haue made hym synned and he pardonned her debonayrly And whan he was ordeyned to be a preest he shone in so grete holynesse that whan he sang the solempnytees of the masses the angellys serued hym After this whan the heresye of the arryans had enfected al Italye and Constantyn themperour fauouryng them Iulyus the pope sacred Eusebe in to bysshop of versaylle the cyte the whiche helde the pryncipate of the other citees in Italye and whan the heretiques herd say that they shitte faste the doores of the chirche whiche was of our blessyd lady and blessyd virgyne seint marie thenne the blessyd saynt knelyd doun and anon the dores opened by his prayer Thenne put he out eugenyen bysshop of melan Whiche was corrumped of this euyll heresye and ordeyned in hys place denys a man right catholyque And thus Eusebe purged alle the chirche of thoccident And anastase purged thoryent of the heresye arryen Arrius was a preest of Alysaunder whyche sayd and affermed that cryste was a pure creature And sayd that he was not god and for vs was made that we by hym as by an Instrument were made of god And therfor constantyn ordeyned a counseyl at nycene where as this errour was condempned And after this arryen deyed of a myserable deth For he voyded alle his entrayles bynethe at this foundement and Constancien sone of constantyne was corrupte with thys heresye For whyche cause this constancien had grete hate ayenst Eusebe And assembled a counseyl of many bysshoppis And callyd denys and sent many
hym And this vysyon sawe ageyne a relygyous man of the hospytal with his owne eyen beyng present saynt domynyk and was astoned therof And this vysyon seynt domynyk publysshed to many bretheren after this dethe Thenne was reynold sente to boloyne and entended moche ardauntly to prechyng and encreaced the nombre of the freres And after that he was sente to parys And a whyle after he deyed in oure lord There was a yong man of the Cardynal esteuen fylle with his hors in to a dyche And was drawen oute therof all deed and offryd to saynt domynyk And he made his prayers and the yong man restablysshed to lyf In the chirch of saynt Sixte A mason had be hyred of the freres for to repayre the broken walles And a pece of the wal fyl vpon the man and slewe hym but saynt domynyke commaunded that the body shold be brought to hym And anone by the helpe of his prayers he was restablysshed to lyf and to helthe In the same chirche at rome on a tyme there were fourty freres and they had but lytel brede Thenne saynt domynyke commaunded to put the brede in thre partyes that there was And as sone as eche of them had broken a morselle of brede with ioye there cam two yoÌ„g men of the same habite forme whiche entrid in to the refectory or fraitour the lappes of their mantels the henge on their neck were ful of brede whaÌ„ they had gyuen it al fully to seynt domynyk they departed so sodeÌ„ly that none of them wist whens they cam ne whider thy weÌ„t theÌ„ne seynt domynyk gaf forth with his haÌ„d here there to the freres said Now ete my bretheren Whan saynt Domynyke on a tyme was in his iourneye greuously troubled with greete floodes of rayne he made the signe of the crosse and chaced awey the rayne fro hym and fro his felawe lyke as he had a pauyllon vpon hym and the grounde was al weet aboute hym And no drope cam nyghe hym the space of thre cubites On a tyme as he passid by shyppe toward the partes of thoulette the shipman demaunded of hym a peny for his passage And the holy man of god promysed to hym the kyngdome of heuen for his labour sayeng that he was the disciple of Ihesu crist And that he bare neyther gold nâ— syluer ne money And he drewe hym forsybly by the cope and said thou shalt leue here thy cope or thow shalt paye to me a peny The good maÌ„ of god lyft vp his eyen to heuen and â—raid a lytel And as he had a lytell thought he loked vpon the ground sawe a peny whiche withoute doubte was procured by the wylle of god Thenne sayd he loo my broder take hit there and lete me goo in pees It happed on a tyme that whan this holy man seynt domynyke was in hys vyage A relygyous man whiche was of good conuersacyon and holy acompanyed with him but he was of a strauÌ„ge langage And they were sory that they couthe not vnderstonde eche other for to comforte eche other And they prayd and gate grace of oure lord that in thre dayes that they wente to gyder what by signes and what by wordes eche of them vnderstode what that other mente Ther was a man whiche was vexyd with many deuylles And was offryd and brouÈt to hym And he took a stole and put it about his owne necke and after bounded aboute the necke of the demonyake and commaunded them that were in hym that fro thens forthon they shold tormente nomore that man and anone they were tormented within hym and baganne to crye late vs goo wherfore constreynest thou for to be so tormented And he sayd I shalle not lete yow goo tylle ye haue gyuen to me pledge that ye shalle not retorne ageyne And they sayd what pledge maye we gyue to yow And he sayd the holy martirs that resten in yonder Chirche And they sayde we may not For enmerytes requyre it not And he sayd ye muste nedes gyue them or I shalte not suffre yow to goo quyte And they answerd that they wolde done theyr payne And a lytell whyle after they sayd how be it that we be not worthy We haue goten that the hooly martirs shalle be oure pledges And he requyred them to haue a signe and token of this thyng And they said goo to the shryne where the heedes of the martirs ben and ye shalle fynde them reuersed and torned And thenne he wente fond lyke as they had said And as he prechid on a tyme somme ladyes that had ben deceyued of heretykes â—â—â—eled at his feet and sayde to hym Seruaunt of god helpe vs yf it be trewe that thou prechest The spyryte if errour hath blynded oure synnes And he said be ye forme and tarye a lytell and ye shalle see what lord ye haue serued ¶ And anone they sawe sprynge oute of the myddell of them a Catte right horryble whiche was more than a greete dogge And had grete eyen and flawmyng Her tonge longe brood and blody and longe vnto the nauel He had the tayll short and reysed vp on hyghe and shewed the after end whiche way he torned hym Oute of whiche ther yssued a terryble stenche And when he hadde torned hyther and thyder among the ladyes longe At the laste he mounted vp by the belle rope in to the steple and vanysshed awey leuyng a grete stenche after hym And the ladyes thanked god and were conuerted to the feyth Catholyque when he had ouercomen somme heretykes in the partyes of thelouse And they were condempned to be brente he sawe one among them whiche was named Reymond And he saide to the mynystres kepe ye thys man that he be not brente in no maner with the other And thenne he sayd to hym spekyng swetely to hym I knowe wel sone that thou shalt yet be a good man And he was lefte and abode twenty yere in his euylle heresye in th eÌ„de he was conuerted and was a Frere prechoure in that ordre and fyuysshed his lyf well and laudably And as he was on a tyme in spayne accompanyed with somme freres he sawe in a vysyon a right grete dragon whiche swolowed in to hym the bretheren that were with hym And when he vnderstode this vysyon he warned his bretheren to resiste strongly the fende their enemy And a lytel whyle after alle the freres excepte frere Adam and two Conuersys departed from hym And he demaunded one of them yf he wolde go also And he saide nay fader I shalle not loue the hede for to folowe the feete And anone he gaf hym self to prayer and conuerted almost al by his prayer He was at saynt Syxte on a tyme at Rome And sodenly the hooly ghooste lyghted on hym And he called hys bretheren in to the chappytre And said apertely to fore them alle that foure of his bretheren sholde deye shortely two in body and tweyne
their forn goers haue receyued it And hyderto endure the wordes of the sayd Sermon ¶ Yet of thassumpcion of our blessid lady VEryly Iohan damascene whiche for the tyme was a greke sayth many merueilous thynges of thassuÌ„pcion of the right holy and gloryous vyrgyne marye For he sayth in his sermons that this day the right holy and sumptuous Arke whiche bare within her her maker was brought sette in the temple whiche was not made of hondes On this day the right holy culuer or douue Innocent and symple fled fro the arke that is to say fro the body in whiche god receyued and fonde reste On this day the vyrgyn that conceyued not knowyng the passions erthely but enduced by thenteÌ„dements celestyall shalle nat fayle but shalle be called very heuen sowle dwellyng in the celestyal tabernacles And how be hit that the right holy sowle be separate fro her blessid body And that her body was leyd in sepulcre neuertheles it is not dede ne shal not be corrupte by rotyng That is to wete the body of whome childyng the vyrgynyte remayned withoute ony hurtyng or dissolucion is transported to better more hooly lyf withoute corrupcion of deth for to remayne in the tathrnacles perdurable And lyke as the sonne shynyng clere otherwhyle is hyd and apperyth faylyng a short tyme yet she hath nothyng lost of her lyght but in her self is the fontayne of lyght perdurable And thou arte the fontayne of lyght withoute wastyng the tresour of lyf how be it that by shorte interualle or space of tyme thou shalt be brought to corporell dethe Neuertheles thou gyuest to vs habundantly clerenes of lyght with oute defaute And thyn holy dormycion or shepyng is not called deth but a passyng or departyng or more propyrly a comyng For thou departyng fro the body camst to heuen And Ihesu Cryst Angels and Archangels And al the heuenly company cam to mete the The fowle and dampned spyrytes doubte moche thy noble and excellent comyng And thou blessid and glorious vyrgyn thou wentest not to heuen as dyde Helye and thou mountest not as powle dyde vnto the thyrd heuen only â—ut thou camest and touchedest the syege ryall of thy sone The dethe of other sayntes may wel be sayd deth for that deth maketh them blessid but she hath no place in the For thy deth ne thy traÌ„smygracion or thy perfection or thy departyng maketh the not ne gyueth to the surete to be blessid for thou arte begynnynge myddell and ende of alle weles and goodes whiche excede thought humayne Thy surete thy very perfection and thy concepcion withoute sâ—ed And thy dyuyne habytacion haue made the blessid wherof thou saydest thy self that thou art not made blessid by thy deth but of thy concepcion in all generacions And deth hath not made the blessid but thou hast ennoblysshed the deth in takyng awey the heuynes and sorowe therof conuertyng it in to Ioye For god sayd lest parauenture the first forme of man that is to wete Adam put forth his hande and take of the tree of lyf and lyue perdurably how thenne shalle not she lyue in heuen perdurably that bare this lyf which is perdurable and withoute ende Somtyme god putted oute of paradys the fyrst parentes whiche slepte in the dethe of synne buryed fro the begynnyng of in obedyence and glotony and now she that hath borne lyf to all humayne lignage and was obedyent god the fader and putte awey fro her all ordure of synne how shalle not she be in heuen Wherfor shold not she enioye the yates of heuen Eue stretched her ere to the serpent of whom she tooke the venym mortal And by cause she dyd it for delyte she was subdued to beryng and bryngyng forth children in sorow and payne and was condempned with Adam But this blessid vyrgyne that enclyned her ere to the word of god whom the hooly ghoost replenysshed whiche bare in her wombe the mercy of tâ—e fader whiche conceyued withoute knowlege of man and childed withoute payne and sorowe how durst deth swolow her how myyht ony thyng haue corruâ—cion that bare lyf And yet sayth tâ—e sayd damascene in his sermons Veryly the Apostles were departed thorugh the world in al couÌ„trees enteÌ„ded to preching to men to draw them out of the depe derkenesse by one hooly word broughte them to the table celestyall to the solempne espousaylles of God And thenne the dyuyne commaundement which is a nette or a clowde brought them fro alle the partyes of the world in to Iherusalem in assemblyng them bytwene his wynges And thenne Adam and Eue our fyrst parentes cryed Come to vs ryght hooly and holsome Celyer whiche fulfyllest oure desyre And the company of sayntes whiche was there sayd ageyn Remayne with vs our comfort And leue vs not orphelyns thou art the comforte of oure trauaylles refresshyng of oure swetynges that yf thou lyue hit is to vs a gloryous thyng to lyue with the And yf thou dye it is gloryous to vs to deye with the how sholde we be in thys lyf and shalle be detestable fro the presence of thy lyf And as I suppose suche thynges and semblale sayden thappostles with grete plente of them of the chirche with grete waylynges and syghes in compleynyng them fro the departyng And she retornyng toward her sone sayde Syre I pray the to be very comfortour to my sones whom it plesyd the to calle bretheren whiche ben heuy and sorouful of my departyng And with that I shalle blysse them with my honde gyue to them thy blyssyng vpon my blyssyng And thenne she stretched oute her honde and blessyd alle the college of good Crysten men And thenne sayd after lord I commende my spyryte in to thy handes receyue my sowle thy loue whiche thou hast kepte withoute blame of synne to thy self And I commende my body to the erthe for to kepe it hoole or where it shalle plese the to enhabyte it transporte me to the soo where thou arte theÌ„fantement or fruyte of my wombe that I be duellyng wiâ—h the Alle these wordes herd thappostles Thenne sayd oure lord Aryse vp my beloued and come to me O thou moost fayr among wymmen my loue thou arte fayre and no spotte of fylthe is in the And whan the right blessid Vyrgyn herd that she commended her spyryte in to the handes of her sone Thenne thappostles were bedewed with teres and kyssed the tabernacle And by the blessyng and holynes of the hâ—ly body who someuer touched the bere deuoutely were heled of what someuer sekenes they had deuyls were chaced fro demonyakes The ayer and the heuen Were puryfyed by thassumpcion of the sowle and the erthe by the deâ—â—sicion of the body And the water was sayntyfyed by the wasshyng of the body For the body was wasshen with ryght hooly water and clene And the hooly body was not made clene by the water but the water was halowed of her And after the holy body
dethe And anone the felons cam vppon them and slewe forthwith saynt Lambert whome they fond in oryson and prayer And whanne they were gone somme of his men that escaped bare the body to the cathedralle chirche secretely by water in a bote And buryed hit with grete heuynesse of them of the Cyte in the yere of oure lord four honderd and ten Thus endeth the lyf of saint Lambert Here begynneth the lyf of saint Mathewe And firste of the Interpretacion of his name MAthewe was named by tweyn names that was Mathewe and Leuy Mathewe is expowned an hasty yefte or a gyuer of counceylle Or it is sayd Mathewe of magnus and theos that is god as it were a greete god or of manus that is an honde theos that is god as it were the hond of god he was a yefte of hastynes by hasty conuersion a yeuer of counceylle by holsome predicacion grete to God by perfection of lyf And the honde of god by wrytynge of the gospelle of god Leuy is interpred assumpte or applyed or putte to or sette he was assumpte and taken awey fro gaderyng of tolles he was applyed to the nombre of thappostles he was putte to the company of theuangelystes and set to the Cathaloge of martirs ¶ Of saint Mathewe MAthewe thappostel prechynge in Ethyope in the cyte that is sayd Vadaber Fonde there two enchaunteurs named Zawes and Arphaxat whiche enchaunted the men by theyr Arte soo that whome that they wold shold seme that they were pryued of the helthe and office of theyr members whiche were soo eleuate in pryde that they made them to be honoured as goddes Thenne Mathewe thappostle entrid in to that Cyte and was lodged with the ennuche of candace the quene whom phelyx baptysed Thenne he discouerd the faytes and dedes of thenchaunteurs in this manerâ— that alle that they dyd to men in to hurte that torned mathewe in to helthe Thenne this euâ—uche demaunded of saynt Mathewe how he and vnderstode soo many tonges and thenne Mathewe told hym how the holy ghoost descended and had gyuen to thappostles alle scyence of tongues That lyke as they had emprysed by theyr pryde to make the Toure vnto heuen whiche cessed by confusyon of tongues that were chaunged alle in lyke wyse the appostles made a toure of scyences of tongues and nothynge of stones but of vertues by the which all that byleue shalle mounte vp in to heuen Thenne cam before them a man that sayd that thenchauntours were comen with two dragons whiche caste fyre sulpher by theyr mouthes and nosethrellys and slewe alle the men Thenne the Appostle garnysshed hym with the signe of the Crosse and went out surely to them And anone as these dragons sawe hym anone they cam and slept at his feet Thenne sayd Mathewe to thenchauntours where is your crafte awake ye them if ye maye And yf I wold praye oure lord that whiche ye wold haue commysed in me I shold soone execute on yow And whanne the peuple were assembled he commaunded the dragons that they shold departe withoute hurtynge of ony And they wente anone And thappostle there made a grete sermon of the glorye of paradys terrestre sayeng that it apperyd aboue all the Montayns and was nyghe vnto heuen And that there were neyther thornes ne roches And that the lylyes and Roses flourysshed alwey and waxyd neuer olde but the peple were there alweye yonge And the sowne of angels souned there alweye and the byrdes cam anone as they were callyd And sayd that oute of this paradys was a man caste but he was called to the paradys of heuen by the natyuyte of our lord And as he sayd these wordes to the peuple anone a grete noyse aroos and a grete wepynge was made for the sone of the kynge whiche was deed and whanne these enchaunteurs myght not reyse hym they made the kyng byleue that he was rauysshed in to the company of the goddes And that he shold make to hym a Temple and an ymage And thenne the forsayd Ennuche kepar of the quene of Candace Made thenchaunteurs to be kept and sente for thappostle And whanne the Appostle was comen he made his prayer and reysed the kynges sone anone And thenne the kynge whiche was named Egyppe sente for alle the men in his prouynces sayenge to them Come and see ye god in the lykenes of a man And thenne the peple cam wyth crownes of gold and dyuerse manere of sacryfyses and wold haue sacryfyed to hym And thenne saynt Mathewe behelde them and sayd what do ye men I am not god but I am seruaunt of oure lord And by the commaundemeÌ„t of hym they made a grete chirche of the gold and syluer that they had brouÈt whiche in thyrtty dayes space was edyfyed and achyeued in whiche Chirche the Appostle sat thre and thyrtty yere And conuertyd al Ethyope to the faythe of Cryste And thenne the kynge Egesyppe wyth his wyf and his douÈter and all the peple were baptysed And thenne thappostle haâ—owed to god Ephygene the kynges doughter and made her maystresse and gouernesse of moo than two honderd Vyrgyns And after this Hyrtake succeded to the kynge and coueyted the sayd vyrgyne Ephygene and promysed to the Appostle half his Royamme if he wolde make her consente to be his wyf and thappostle sayd to hym that after the customme of his predecessour he shold come on the sonday to the chirche And Ephygene beynge present with the other virgyns he shold here what he sholde say of the goodnes and laufull maryage And thenne departed with grete ioye and supposed that he wold haue styred Ephygene to his maryage And whanne the vyrgynes and alle the peple were assembled he spack long of good and lawful matrymonye was moche alowed of the kynge whiche supposed that he had sayd for to haue ioyned the vyrgyne to hym for to consente the maryage Thenne scylence was made he made rehersaylle of his sermone sayenge that maryage is good yf it be truly hold by good alyauÌ„ce but ye that â—en here knowe ye well that yf ony seruaunt wolde take the wyf of a kynge wedded he shold not only renne to the offence of the kynge but aboue that he shold deserue dethe and not for to wedde her but for that he in so takyng the spouse of his lord shold corrumpe the maryage ioyned And thus the kynge that knewe that Ephygene is made the spouse of the kynge perdurable and is sacred with the hooly veyle how mayst thow take the wyf of a more puyssaunt kynge couple her to the by maryage And whanne the kynge herde this he began tenrage and departed al wode frantyke And thappostle withoute drede constant confermed alle the other to pacyence And Ephygene lyenge before hym for drede he blessyd and alle the other vyrgyns also And after the solempnytees of the masse the kyng sente a tormentour whiche slewe mathewe with a
he had sayd that anone cam thondre and lyghtnynge fro heuen in manere of a swerde and entryd in to his mouthe oute of whiche yssued the blasphemyes and anone he was extynct and deed sodenly Thenne late vs deuoutely byseche Almyghty god that by the merytes of this hooly martir saynt Mauryce and his holy felauship the legyon whiche is sixe thousand sixe honderd thre score and sixe that suffred martirdome as here to fore is reherced we may after this transytorye lyf come vnto the euerlastynge blysse in heuen where he regned world withoute ende Amen Thus endeth the lyf of saint Maurice with his felawes Here foloweth the lyf of saint Iustyne and first of her name IUstina is sayd of iustyce For by Iustyce she rendryd to eueryche that was his that is to wete to god obedyence vnto her superiour prelate reuerence To her lyke and semblable coÌ„cord To them that were bynethe and inferior disciplyne To her enemyes pacyence vnto wretchis and to them in distresse compassion and werkes of pyte and to her self holynes Of saint Iustyne IUstyne the virgyne was of the Cyte of Anthyoche doughter of a preest of thydolles And euery daye she sat at a wyndow by a preest which redde the gospell of whome at the last she Was conuertid And whanne the moder of her had told hit vnto her fader in his bedde Ihesu cryst apperyd to them with his aungels sayeng come to me I shulle gyue to yow the kyngdome of heuen And whan he awoke anone they dyd them to be baptysed with theyr doughter And this vyrgyne was strongly greued and vexed of Cyprian And at the last she conuertid hym to the fayth of Ihesu crist And Cyprian from his childhode had ben an enchaunteur For fro the tyme that he was seuen yere old he was consecrate by his parentes to the deuylle And he vsed crafte of nygromancye And made wymmen to torne in to Iumentes and beestes as them semed and many other thynges semblable And he was coueytous of the loue of Iustyne and brente in the concupyscence of her And resorted to his arte magyke that he myght haue her for hym self or for a man named Acladye Whiche also brente in her loue Thenne he callyd a deuylle to hym to th ende that he myght by hym haue Iustyne And whan the deuylle cam he sayd to hym why hast thow called me And Cypryan sayd to hym I loue a vyrgyne canste thow not soo moche that I maye haue my playsyr of her And the deuylle answerd I that myght cast man oute of paradys and procured that cayn slewe his broder and made the Iewes to slee cryste and haue troubled the men trowest thow I may not doo that thow haue a maide wyth the and vse her at thy playsir Take this oynement and enoynte with all her hows withoute forthe And I shal come and kyndle her herte in thy loue that I shalle compelle her to assente to the And the next nyght folowynge the deuyl wente and enforcid hym to meue her herte vn to vnlauful loue And whan she felte it she recommaunded her self deuoutely to god and garnyssled her wyth the signe of the Crosse And the Deuyll all affrayed of the signe of the crosse fled away from her and cam ageyne to Cypryan and stode before hym ¶ And Cypryan saydeto hym why hast thow not brought to me this vyrgyne ¶ And the deuyll saide I see in her a sygne whiche fered me that alle strengthe is fayled in me Thenne Cypryan lefte hym and called another deuylle more stronger than he was And he sayd I haue herd thy commaundement and haue sene the nonpower of hym but I shal amende it and accomplysshe thy wysse Thenne the deuylle wente to her and enforced to meue her herte in loue And enflamme her courage in thynges not honeste And she recommaunded her to god deuoutely and put fro her that temptacion by the sygne of the Crosse and blewe on the deuyl and threwe hym anone awey from her And he fled al confuse and cam to fore Cypryan And Cypryan sayd to hym where is the mayde that I sente the fore And the deuylle sayd I knouleche that I am ouercomen and am rebouted And I shall say how For I sawe in her a sygne horryble and lost anone all my vertue Thenne Cypryan lefte hym and blamed hym called the prynce of the deuyls And whan he was comen he sayd wherfor is your strengthe soo lytel whiche is ouercome of a mayde Thenne the prynce sayd to hym I shall go vexe her with grete Feuers And I shalle enflamme more ardently her herte And I shalle arrouse and bydewe her body with so ardauÌ„t desyre of the that she shall be al frantyke I shall offre to her so many thynges that I shall bryng her to the at mydnyght Thenne the deuyll transfigured hym self in the lykenes of a mayde cam to this holy vyrgyn sayde I am comen to the for to lyue wyth the in chastyte I pray the that thou saye what reward shall we haue for to kepe vs so the vyrgyn ansuerde the rewarde is grete the laboure is smal the deuil said to her what is the theÌ„ne the god comaÌ„ded whan he said growe multiplye replenysshe therth TheÌ„ne fair suster I doubte that if we abybyde in virgynyte that we shal make the word of god vayn also despysynge inobedieÌ„t by which we shal fall in to a greuoê° iugemeÌ„t where we shal haue no hope of reward but shalle renne in grete torment and payne Thenne by thatysement of the deuylle the herte of the vyrgyne was smyten with euyll thoughtes and was gretely enflammed in desyre of the synne of the flesshe so that she wold haue gone therto but thenne the vyrgyne cam ageyne to her self and consydered who that it was that spack to her And anone she blessyd her with the sygne of the Crosse and blewe ageynst the deuylle and a none he vanysshed aweye and malte lyke waxe and incontynent she was delyuerd from alle temptacion A lytyll whyle after the deuylle transfygured hym in the lykenes of a fayre yonge man and entryd in to her chambre and fonde her allone in her bedde and withoute shame sprange in to her bedde embraced her wolde haue had a done with her And whan she saw this she knewe wel that hit was a wycked spyryte and blessyd her as she had done to fore and he malte away lytle waxe And thenne by the suffraunce of god she was vexed wyth axesse and feuers And the deuyl slâ—we many men and beestes and made to be sayd by them that were demonyakes that a ryght grete mortalyte sholde be thorugh al Anthyoche but yf Iustyne wold consente vnto wedlok and haue Cypriane wherfor alle they that were seke and languysshynge in maladyes laye at the yate of Iustynes fader and frendes cryenge that they sholde marye her and delyuer the cyte of
This fyue fold beaulte had saynt Iheroâ—me in hym self For he had spyrytuall in dyuersyte of vertues The morall he hadde in thoneste of his lyf he had intellectual in thexllence of purete He had the substancyell in brennynge charyte He had the celestyal in the perdurable and excellent clerenes or clartee He Iuged the speches and wordes his owne wel examyned in clerely pronouncynge The others beyng trewe in confermyng The fals condempnynge and confusyng And the doubteful in expownyng ¶ Of saint Iheromme IHerome was the sone of a noble man named Eusebe borne of the town Strydone whiche is in the vtter ende of Dalmace and of panonye he beyng yet a child went to Rome was there taught in lettres of grece latyn hebrewe he had for his techer in gramair Donate In Rethoryque Vyctoryn thoratour he was day nyÈt occupyed and exercysed hym self in dyuyne scriptures which he drewe coueÈtously And after shedde hit oute haboundauntly And as he wryteth in an Epystle to Eusâ—ochium that on a tyme as he red on a day plato And in the nyght Tullye desyrously by cause that the booke of the prophetes plesyd hym not he was aboute mydlente taken with a sodayne and brennynge feuer that alle his body was cold In suche wyse that ther was no vytal hete sauf a lytell whiche he felte in his breste And as thexequyes for his dethe was makynge redy he was sodenly broughte to the Iugement of god And there he was demaunded of what condicion he was And he answerd boldly that he was a Crysten man And the Iuge sayd thow lyest thou art a Cyceronyan and no crysten man where as thy tresour is ther is thy hert Thenne saynt Iheromme was stylle sayd no thyng And anone thenne the Iuge commaunded that he shold be sore beten thenne he cryed and sayd haue mercy on me lord haue mercy on me Thenne they that were assistynge our lord prayd hym that he wold forgyue thyis yonge man his trespaas And he thenne bganne to swere say lord yf euer I rede or here more seculer bookes I shalle forsake the And with the wordes of this promesse and oth he was late goo And anone he reuyued And thenne he sawe hym self al bywepte And of the stâ—okes of the betynges that he receyued to fore the Trone of our lord the tokens of the strokes and lasshes were sene on his sholdres ryght horryble and grete And fro than forthon he becam good and redde dyuyne bookes with as grete studye as euer he hadde redde the bookes of poetry and of paynyms And when he was nyne and twenty yere old he was ordeyned Cardynal preest in the Chirche of Rome And whan Lyberius was deed all the peple cryed to haue saynt Ieromme souerayne preest And whanne he beganne to blame the Iolyte and Lauays lyf of some clerkes and Monkes they had indignacion and despyte of hym and laye in a wayte to hurte and sclaundre hym And as Iohan Beleth sayd they scorned and mocqued hym by the clothynge of a woman For on a nyghte whan he arose to matyns as he was a custommed and fonde a womans clothyng lyenge by his bedde whiche his enemyes had leyd there And he wenynge that they had ben his owne dide them on and soo clothed cam in to the chirche and this dyd they that had enuye at hym by cause other shold wene that he hadde a woman in his chambre And whan he sawe that he eschewed their woodenes wente vnto Gregory Nazanzenne bisshop of constantinople And whan he had lerned of hym the hooly scripture and hooly lâ—ttres he went in to deserte where what and how moche he suffryd for Crystes sake he recounted to Eustochium and sayd that whan he was in that greete deserte waste wildernes whiche is so brente by the sonne that it gaf to the Monkes a ryght drye habytacâ—â— I supposed me thenne to be at Rome among the delyces and my membres scalded brente made drye and blacke lyke to the skynne of a Moryan or an Ethyope And I was alwey in teres and wepynges And whan the very slepe cam and oppressyd me ageynst which I ofte repugned thenne I leyd my dryed bones on the bare erthe of metes and drynke I speke not For they that were seke vsed only cold water And for to take ony thynge boylled or rosted it was to them lecherye and yet neuertheles I was ofte felawe vnto scorpions wylde beestes yet the carollis of maidens thembracementis of lechery grewe in my cold body and in my flesshe wherfor I wepte contynuelly for to adaunte subdue my prowde flesshe I rose at mydnyght alle the weke long ioynyng ofte the nyght with the daye and I cessid not to bete my brest prayenge our lord to rendre to me the peasyble pees of my flesshe And I also doubted my propre celle as feryng my consaytes and thoughtes wherfor I wente and departed wrothe and reuengynge my self passed allone thurgh the sharpe thycke desertes And as our lord is wytnesse aftir many wepynges and teeres It semed me that I was among the company of angels this duryng four yere Thenne his penaunce thus doon He retorned to the towne of Bethlehem where as a wise a prudent beest offryd hym self to abyde by the Crybbe of our lord And thenne his hooly byble whiche with studye he had translated and other bookes he redde and lad the daye forth with fastyng vnto euen And there he assembled many disciples vnto hym for to laboure there in his hooly purpoos and abode there in the translacion of holy scrypture lv yere and sixe monethes and remayned a pure vyrgyne vnto the ende of his lyf And how well that it be sayd in his legende that he was euer a virgyne yet neuertheles he wrote of hym self to palmacyen I bere vyrgynyte in to heuen Not for that I haue virgynyte but for I meruayle more that I haue it not Thenne at the last he beyng wery for to trauaylle laye doune in his bedde wherouer henge a corde on a beme wheron he leyd and helde hys hondes for to lyfte vp hym self that he myght done the seruyce of god as moche as he myght On a day toward euen Ieromme satte with his bretheren for to here the hooly lesson And a lyon cam haltynge sodenly in to the monastery whan the bretheren saw him anon they fled and Ieromme cam ageynst hym as he shold come ageynst his ghest and thenne the lyon shewed to hym his foote beynge hurte thenne he callyd his bretheren commanded them to wasshe his feet and dylygently to seche and serche for the wounde And that done the plante of the foote of the lyon was sore hurte prycked with a thorne Thenne this hooly man put therto dylygent cure and heled him And he abode euer after as a tame best with hem Thenne saynt Ieromme sawe that god hadde sente hym to them not only for the
mayst happely knowe somme wordes that haue suche myghte and vertue And pawle sayde I shal write to fore the forme of the wordes whiche ben these In the name of Ihesu Cryste borne of the vyrgyne crucyfyed and deed whiche aroos ageyne ascended in to heuen and from thens shal come for to Iuge the world See And by cause that alle suspecion be taken awey Pawle seyd to Denyse that he hym self shold pronounce tho wordes And whanne Denyse had seyd those wordes in the same maner to the blynd man Anone the blynd man recouerd his syghte And thenne Denys was baptysed And Damare hys wyf and alle his meyny And was a trewe Crysten man And was Instructe and taughte by seynt Powle thre yere and was ordeyned Bisshop of Athenes And there was in predycacion And conuertyd that Cyte and grete paÌ„te of the regyon to crysten feith And it is seyd that seynt Powle shewed to hym that he sawe whanne he was rauysshed in to the thyrd heuen lyke as seynt Denyse seyth shewyth in dyuerse places wherof he speketh so clerly of the gerarchyes of Aungels of the ordres and of the disposicions offyces of them soo that it is not supposed that he lerned of ony other but only of hym that was rauysshed vnto the thyrdde heuen and hadde sene alle thynges He flouryd by the spyryte of prophecye lyke as it appieryth in an epystle that he sente to Iohan theuangelyst in the yle of pathmos to whiche he was sente in exyle where as he prophecyed that he shold come ageyne sareng thus Enioye thou veryly byloued very wonderfulle and to be desyred ryÈt well byloued thow shalt be laten oute fro the kepynge that thow hast in pathmos And shalt retorne vnto the land of Asye And thou there make there the folowynge of thy good god and the good werkes of hym and shalt delyuer them to them that shalle come after the And as it is sene and shewed in the booke of the names dyuyne he was at the deyenge of the blessyd virgyne Marye And whanne he herd that peter powle were enprysoned at Rome vnder Nero he ordeyned a Bisshop vnder hym and cam for to vysyte them And whanne they were martryd and passyd to god And Clement was sett in the see of Rome After a certayne tyme he was sente of the seyd Clement in to Fraunce and he hadde in his companye Rustyke and Elentherye And thenne he cam with them to parys and conuerted there moche peple to the faith and dyde doo make many Chirches sette in them clerkes of dyuerse ordres And thenne he shone by soo grete heuenly grace that when the Bisshops of thidolles moeued by stryf the peple ayeâ—st hym And the peple cam for to destroye hym Anone as they had sene hym they lefte alle their cruelte And knelyd doune at his feet where they hadde soo grete drede that they fledde aweye from hym for fere But the deuylle whiche had enuye and sawe euery day his power mynnysshed and destroyed And that the chirche encreaced and hadde vyctorye of hym and moeued Domycyen themperour in soo grete cruelte that he made a commaundement that who someuer myght fynde ony cristen man that he shold constrayne them to doo sacryfyse or tormente them by dyuerse tormentes And thenne he sent the prouost sysynnyeÌ„ of Rome to paris ageynste the Crysten men And fonde there the blessyd denyse prechynge and made hym cruelly to be beten bespytte and despysed and fast to be bounden wyth Rustyke and Elentherye and to be brought to fore hym And whan he sawe that the sayntes were constaunt and ferme in the knowlechynge of oure lord he was moche heuy and soroufull Thenne cam thyder a noble matrone whiche sayd that her husbond was fowly deceyued of these enchaunteurs And thenne anone the husbond was sente fore And he abydynge in the coÌ„fession of our lord was anone putte to deth And the sayntes were beten cruelly of twelue knyÈtes and were straytly bounden with chaynes of yron put in pryson the day folowynge Denys was leyd vpon a gredyron and stratched al naked vppon the celes of fyre And there he sange to our lord sayeng Lord thy word is vehemently firy And thy seruaunt is enbraced in the loue therof And after that he was putte amonge cruel beestes whiche were excited by grete hongre and famyne by longe fastynge And as soone as they cam rennynge vpon hym he maade the signe of the crosse ageynste them anone they were made mooste meke tame And after that he was cast in to a fornais of fyre and the fyre anone quenchyd And he hadde neyther payne ne harme And after that he was putte on the crosse and theron he was longe tormentid and after he was taken doune and put in to a derke pryson with his felawes And many other Crysten men And as he song ther the masse and communed the peuple our lord appyeryd to hym with greete lyght and delyuerd to hym brede sayenge Take this my dere frende For thy reward is moost grete with me After this they were presented to the Iuge and were put ageyne to newe tormentes And thenne he dyde do smyte of the hedes of the thre felawes that is to seye denyse Rustyke and Elentherye in the name of the hooly trynyte this was done by the temple of Mercurye And they were byheded wyth thre axes And anone the body of saynt Denys reysed hym self vp and bare his heede bitwene his armes as the aungels ladde hym two leghes fro the place whiche is sayd the hylle of the martirs vnto the place where he now resteth by his election and by the purueaunce of god And there was herd soo grete and swete a melodye of Aungels that many of them that herd hit byleuyd in oure lorde And Laâ—sia wyf of the forsaid prouost lubye sayd that she was Crysten And anone she was byheded of the wycked felons was baptysed in her blood and soo deyed And Lysbyen his sone whiche was a knyght at Rome vnder thre Emperours cam afterward to parys and was baptysed and putte hym self in the nombre of the Relygyous and the wycked paynyms doubted that the good Crysten men wold burye the bodyes of Rustyke and Elentherye and commaunded that they shold be caste in to sayne the Ryuer And a noble woman badde them to dyne that bare them And whyles they dyned this lady toke aweye the bodyes and buryed them secretely in a felde of heerys And after whanne the persecucion was cessyd she tooke them thens and leyde theym honourably with the body of seynt Denys And they suffred deth aboute the yere of our lord four score and sixten vnder domycyan the yere of the age of saynt Denys four score and ten On a tyme whanne Regulus the holy bisshop songe masse at Arelatence reherced the names of thappoostles in the canone he added and ioyned to the blessid martirs Denyse Rustyke and Elentherye whiche soo sayd many
Rome lyke as in shewyng that hit departed fro the seygnourye of Rome And thenne anone the Romayns wold brynge grete puyssaunce in to that prouynce And there subdued it to their seygnourye And yet it suffysed not to the Romayns that they hadde in theire seignorye alle the false ymages of the prouynces but maade to eche of tho false goddes a Temple lyke as tho goddes hadde maade them lordes and vaynqueurs of alle the prouynces And by cause that alle the ydolles myght not be in that Temple They made a gretter Temple more merueylous and hyhe than alle the other And for to shewe the more their wodenesse They dedyed this Temple in thonour of alle theyr goddes And more for to deceyue the peple the Bisshops of thydolles fayned that it had ben commaunded to them of Cybele a goddesse that is called moder of the goddes And they called this Temple Pantheon whiche is as moche to saye as alle goddes of pan that is all and theos that is god And by cause they wold haue victory of alle the people therfore they made a grete Temple to alle the sones of Cybele And the foūdament of this Temple was cast round by a spere that by that forme the perdurablete of theire Goddes sholde be shewed And for as moche as the grete quantite of the erthe whiche was within semed not susteynable to be voyded and that the werke was a lytel sene aboue the erthe they fylled the creuyses within the erthe and medled penyes with therthe And dyd alwey so tylle the sayd Temple was fully accomplysshed And thenne they gaf lycence that who someuer wold take awey the erthe that all the money that he fonde with therthe shold be his Thenne cam hastely grete companye of peple and voyded anone the Temple And at the last the Romayns maade a pyne of copper and gylt and set it in a ryght hyhe place And it is sayd alle the prouynces were entaylled and grauen merueylously within that pyne So that alle they that come to Rome myght see in that pyne in what parte his prouynce was And this pyne after longe tyme fylle and remayned in the ouerest parte of the Temple And in the tyme of Focas themperour what tyme Rome had receyued the faythe Boneface the fourthe 〈◊〉 fro saynt gregory about the yere of our lord six honderd and fyue gate of Focas the said Temple And dyd doo take awey and enface alle the ordure of alle tho ydolles And the fourthe kalendes of Maye he halowed it in thonour of our lady saynt Marye and of alle the martirs And called it saint Marye at martres whiche now is called sancta Maria rotunda that is saint Marye the round For thenne was made no solempnite of the Confessours And by cause ther assembled grete multitude of peple at his feest And there myght not be found haboundaunce of vitaylle for the peple that cam 〈◊〉 Gregory establysshed this feste to be in the kalendes of Nouembre For thenne oughte to be gretter habondaunce of vytaylle whanne the corne is had in and wyne made And establisshed this daye to be halowed thorugh the world in the honour of alle sayntes And thus the Temple that had be made for alle thydolles is now dedycate and halowed to alle the sayntes And where as the worshippynge of ydolles was vsed ther is now the praysyng of all sayntes Scondely it is ordeyned for the supplement of thynges offendyd and trespaced that is to saye for to accomplysshe suche as we haue ouerpassed For we haue lefte and ouerpassed many sayntes of whom we haue made no feste ne may not halowe the fest of euery saynt by hym self as wel for the grete multitude whiche ben Infynyte as for our Infyrmyte For we ben feble and weyke and maye not suffyse for the shortnesse of tyme For the tyme may not suffyse therto And as saynt Ierome sayth in a pystle whiche is in the begynnynge of his kalender ther is no day except the fyrst daye of Ianyuer but that there may be foundeh euery day mo than fyue thousand martirs And therfor by cause we maye not syngulerly make feest of euery saynt saynt Gregory th◠〈◊〉 hath ordeyned and establysshed that we shall on one daye honoure them generally to gydre And Mayster Wylliam of Ancerre putteth sixe resons in the somme of the offyce wherfore hit was establysshed that we shold here in thys world make solempnyte of the sayntes The fyrste is for the honoure of the dyuyne mageste For whan we doo worship to the saynte or sayntes we worshipe god in his sayntes and say that he is merueylous in them For who that dothe honoure to sayntes he honoureth hym specyally which hath sanctyfyed them The second is to haue ayde in our Infyrmyte For by oure self we may haue none helthe therfor haue we nede of the prayers of sayntes And therfore we ought to honoure them that we may deserue that they ayde and helpe vs It is redde in the thyrdde book of kynges of the fyrst chapytre that bersabee is as moche to saye as the pytte of fyllynge whiche is to saye the Chirche tryumphaunt sayenge to her sone that is to saye that to the Chirche tryumphaunt he had obteyned the regne by his prayers The thyrdde cause is for thaugmentacion of oure surete that is to saye for the glorye that is purposed in vs in their solempnyte oure hope and surete ben augmented and encreaced And yf mortal men and dede myght thus be enhaunced by theire merytes it is trouthe that the myghte and puyssaunce shalle no thyng there by be mynuysshed ne lassed The fourth for thensample of vs folowynge For when the feste is remembryd we ben called tensiewe and folowe them soo that by thensample of them we despyse alle erthely thynges And desyre celestyall thynges ¶ The fyfthe is for the dette of entrechaungynge neyghbourhede For the sayntes make of vs feste in heuene For thaungels of god and the holy sowles haue ioye and make feste in heuene of a synnar that dothe penaunce And therfor it is ryght whanne they make of vs feste in heuen that we make feste of them in erthe The sixthe is for the procuracion of our honour For whanne we honoure the sayntes We procure our honour For their solempnyte is our dignyte For whan we worshipe oure bretheren we worshippe our self For charyte maketh al to be comyn And our thynges ben celestyall erthely and perdurable And aboue these reasons Iohan damascene putteth thre reasons in his fourthe boke the seuenth Chapytre why wherfore the sayntes and theire Relyques ought to be honoured of whiche some ben preysed for their dygnytees and somme for the preciousytees of their bodyes And the dygnyte of them is in four maners For they ben frendes of god Sones of god heyres of god and oure dukes and ledars And saynt Iohan putteth these auctorytees Iohannis decimo tercio For the first Iam non
hath acomplisshed the commaundement of the gospell For he had two cotes and hath gyuen to hym that had none and thus sayd he ye ought to doo he was of grete power to chace awey the deuyls For he put them oute oftymes fro dyuerse peple It is redde in the same dyalogue that a Cowe was tormentid of the deuylle and was woode And confounded moche peple And as saint Martyn and his felauship shold make a vyage this wode Cowe ranne ageynst them And saynt Martyn lyfte vp his hand and commaunded her to tarye And she abode stylle withoute moeuynge Thenne saynt martyn sawe the deuylle whiche satte vpon the backe of the cowe and blamed hym and sayde to hym Departe thou fro this mortall beest and leue to tormente this beest that noyeth no thynge And anon he departed And the cowe kneled doune to the feet of this holy man And at his commaundement she retorned to her company ful mekely He was of moche grete subtylyte for to knowe the deuylles they coude not be hydde fro hym For in what place they put them self in he sawe them For somtyme they shewed them to him in the fourme of Iupyter or of Mercurye And otherwhyle they transfygured them in lykenes of venus or of my nerue whome eueryche he knewe and blamed them by name It happed on a day that the deuylle appierid to hym in the forme of a kynge in purpre and a crowne on his hede wyth hosen and shone gylte with an amyable mouthe and gladde there and vysage And whanne they were bothe stylle a whyle the deuylle sayde Martyn knowe thow whom thou worshippest I am Crist that cam descended in to erthe And wylle fyrst shewe me to the And as saynt Martyn all admerueyled sayd no thynge yet the deuylle sayd to hym wherfore doubtest thou Martyn to bileue me whan thou seest that I am Cryst And thenne Martyn blessyd of the holy ghoost saide Oure lord Ihesu Criste sayth not that he shalle come in purpre ne wyth a Crowne resplendysshynge I shalle neuer byleue that Ihesu Cryste shalle come but yf hit be in habyte and fourme suche as he suffryd deth in And that the signe of the Crosse be borne to fore hym And with that word he vanysshed aweye and all the halle was was fylled with stenche ¶ Seynt Martyn knewe his dethe long tyme to fore his departynge the whiche he shewed to his bretheren And whyles he vysyted the dyocise of â—â—ul for cause to appease discord that was was there And as he wente he sawe in a water byrdes that plonged in the water whiche awayted and espyed fysshes and ete them And thenne he saide In this maner deuylles espye foles they espye them that be not ware they take them that knowe not but ben ignoraunt and deuoure them that ben taken And they may not be fulfilled ne saciate with them that they deuoure And thenne he commaunded them to leue the water and that they shold goo in to deserte Countrees And they assembled them went vnto the wodes and montaynes And theÌ„ne he abode a lytell in that dyocyse and beganne to wexe feble in his body and sayd to his disciples that he shold departe and be dissolued Thenne they alle wepyng sayde Fader wherfore leuest thou vs or to whome shalt thou leue vs all desolate and discomforted The rauysshynge wulues shalle assaylle thy flock and beestes And he theÌ„ne moeued with theyr wepynges wepte also and prayd sayenge Lord yf I be yet necessary to thy peuple I refuse nothynge the labour thy wylle be fulfylled He doubted what he myghte lest doo For he wolde not gladly leue them ne he wold not longe be departed fro Ihesu Cryst And whanne he had a lytell whyle ben tormentid wyth the Feuers And his disciples prayde hym where as he lay in the asshen dust and hayre that they myght laye some strawe in his cowche where he laye he sayde It apperteyneth not but that a Crysten man shold deye in hayre and in asshes And yf I shold gyue to you another ensample I my self shold synne And he had his handes and his eyen toward the heuene And his spyrit was not losed fro prayer And as he lay toward his bretheren he prayd that they wold remeue a lyâ—ell his body And he sayde Bretheren late me beholde more the heuene than the erthe soo that the esperyte maye adresse hym to oure lord And this sayenge he sawe the deuylle that was there And saynt Martyn saide to hym wherfore standest thow here thow cruell beest thou shalte fynde in me noâ—hynge synfulle ne mortalle the bosome of Abraham shalle receyue me And wyth this word he rendryd and gaf vp vnto our lord his spyrite in the yere of oure lord thre honderd Foure score and lviij And the yere of his lyf foure score and one And his chere shone as it had ben gloryfyed And the voys of Aungels was herd syngynge of many that were there And they of poytyers assembled at his dethe as well as they of Tours and ther was grete altercacion For the poyteuyns sayd he is oure Monke we requyre to haue hym And the other sayde He was taken from yow and gyuen to vs And at mydnyght alle the poyteuyns slepte And they of Tours putte hym oute of the wyndowe and was borne with grete ioye and had ouer the water of leyre by a bote vnto the Cyte of Tours And as Seuer Bisshop of Coleyne on a sonday after matyns vysyted and went aboute the holy places the same houre that saynt Martyn departed oute of this world he herde the Aungels syngynge in heuen Thenne he called his Archedeken and demaunded hym yf he herd ony thynge And he sayd nay And the Bisshop badde hym to herkene dilygently And he beganne to stratche forth his necke and adresse his eres and lente vpon his staf Thenne the Bisshop put hym self to prayer for hym Thenne he sayde that he herde voyces in heuene To whome the Bisshop sayde It is my lorde saynt Martyn whiche is departed oute of this world And the Angels bere hym now in to heuene And the deuyls were at his passynge but they fonde nothynge in hym And wente awey all confused And the archedeken marked the daye and the houre and knewe veryly after that saynt Martyn passyd oute of this world that same tyme And Seuere the Monke whiche wrote his lyf as he slepte a lytelle after matyns lyke as he wytnessyth in his Epystle Saynt Martyn appiered to hym cladde in an aulbe His chere clere the eyen sparklynge his heere purple holdynge a booke in his ryghte honde whiche the sayd Seuere hadde wrâ—ton of his lyf and whanne he had gyuen hym his blessynge he sawe hym mounte vp in to heuen And as he coueyted for to haue gone with hym he awoke And anone the Messagers cam whiche sayde that that same tyme seynt Martyn departed oute of this world And in the same day saynt Ambrose Bisshop of Melane sange
delyuerd fro the flesshe And whanne the body abode in the erthe the sowle wente with god whiche was her lyf And blessid ben the holy companye of god that fro the valeye of this world conduyted the hooly sowle of this lady in to the montayne of heuene where the blessyd lyf is Now is the blessyd vyrgyn in the companye of them that ben in the courte of heuen Now hath she chaunged her poure lytel lyf whiche hath broughte her for to sytte at the table where the grete delytes ben Now hath she for the lytyll lyf of humylyte and of sharpnes the blessyd Regne of heuen where as she is cladde and arayed with the robe of perdurable glorye Anon the tydynges were spredde abrode that the blessyd vyrgyn was departed And whâ—n the people of Assyse herd therof they cam to the place bothe men and wymmen by so grete companyes that hit semed that in the cyte abode neither man ne woman And alle cryenge O dere lady and Frende of god and there with they preysed her and wepte moche tendyrly The potestate and the prouost of the Cyte ranne moche hastely thyder And with them many companyes of knyghtes and of people armed whiche alle that daye and alle nyghte kepte the body of the holy vyrgyne moche honourably For they wolde in no wyse that the towne shold not haue by ony auenture dommage or hurte in takyng awey the tresour that laye there On the morn cam the vycayre of Ihesu Cryst and alle the cardynals wyth hym with alle the Cite of Assyse vnto the Chirche of saynt Damyan And whanne it cam ther to that they sholde begynne the masse for the blessyd saynt clare hit happed that he that beganne wolde haue begonne thoffyce of them that were dede And anone the pope sayde that they ought better doo thoffyce of vyrgyns than thoffyce of dede folke So that it semed that he wold canonyse her to fore er she was buryed Thenne answerd the Wyse man the bisshop of hostence and sayde hit was more acustomed to saye of them that ben dede in this caas And thenne they sayd the masse of Requiem and alle the prelates and the Bisshop of Hostense begonnen to preche and toke their matere how all the world is vanyte and begonnen to preyse moche gretely thys swete saynt saynt clare And how she hadde despysed the world and alle that was therin Thenne the cardynals that were there wente fyrst and dyde holyly the seruyse about the holy body and thoffyce lyke as it is acustomed And by cause that them semed neyther righte ne reson that the precious body shold not be ferre fro the cyte they bare it to saynt Georges with so ryght grete feste syngynge preysynge god in ympnes and lawdes and in so grete melodye that ther was honour ynough And in the same place was fyrst buryed the body of saynt Fraunceis And fro this tyme forthou cam moche peple euery day to the tombe of saynt Clare and gyuynge praysynge and lawde to our lord god and verytably this is a ryght very saynte and gloryous vyrgyne regnynge with the companye of Aungels to whome god hath gyuen so moche honour in erthe Ha swete virgyne Praye thow to Ihesu Cryste for vs For thow were the fyrst flour of the holy poure ladyes whiche hast drawen to penaunce without nombre and that that may conduyte vs to the lyf permanable Amen It was not longe after gretely that Agnes suster of saynte Clare was somoned and callyd to weddynge of the veary lambe Ihesu Cryst And also saynt Clare ladde her suster vnto the ioye perdurable full of delyces ther be now the two doughters of syon whiche were susters germayns of grace and of nature and ben now hâ—rytours of the ioye of heuen there where they fele the swetenes of God and enioye with hym Now is Agnes in the ioye and in the consolacion that Clare her suster had promysed to her to fore that she deyde For lyke as Clare brought her oute of the world soo broughte she hir self in the Crosse of penaunce by whiche she is shynyng in heuen Thus wente Agnes after her suster ryght soone oute of this mortall lyf full of wepyng and of sorowe vnto oure lord whiche is lyf of the sowle in heuen whiche regneth with the fader and holy ghoost AMEN Here folowen myracles whiche were shewed after her deth THe tokenes and myracles of sayntes ought to be shewed preysed and honoured And also wytnessyd whanne the werkes in the lyf were holy and full of perfection we fynde not many signes ne myracles that saynt Iohan the baptist dyde Neuertheles he is a moche holy saynte and gretter than suche one as haue be shewed for many myracles And therfore I saye that the ryght holy lyf and the grete perfection of saynte Clare whiche she vsed and demened here in erthe oughte well to suffyse and wytnesse that she is a very saynt yf it were not for the peple which haue the more grete deuocion and more gretter faythe vnto the sayntes whanne they see the signes and myracles that god sheweth for them I knowe well that saynt Clare was in the weye full of merytes And that she was rauysshed in the perfoundnes of the grete clernesse and lyght of heuen Neuertheles though she were resplendysshaunt wel sauerous and ryght ful of grete myracles as is well declared by the cardynallys of Rome Myn othe of trouthe that I haue made and my conscyence constrayneth me that I wryte to my power the lyf truly and the myracles of her how well I passe ouer many fayre thynges Of one that was delyuerd of the fende ¶ There was a chyld named Iaquemyn of Perouse whiche had in his body the deuyll in suche wyse that this Iagnemyn fylle in the fyre as he that couthe not kepe hym Somtyme he hurtled strongly ageynste the ground Somtyme he bote the stones soo that he brake his tâ—eth and otherwhyle brake his hede that alle his body was blody and fowled his mouthe and put oute his tongue And somtyme he laye and wallowed and was round soo that ofte he leyd his thye in his necke And euery day twyes this maladye cam to hym and two persones myght not kepe hym ne holde hym but that he wold despoylle and vnclothe hym maulgre them bothe Ther coude no phisicyen ne wyse man that was in alle the contre fynde ony remedye ne gyue counceyll to ease hym But the fader whiche was named quyndelor whanne he sawe that he coude fynde no counceylle ne remedye for this maladye beganne to crye and calle on saynte clare the holy vyrgyne and sayd to the that arte worthy of all honours I auowe my child whiche is meschaunte and caytyf And pray the ryght swete saynte that thow wylt sende to my child helthe And forthwith wente to her tombe full of byleue to haue his requeste and leyd the chyld vpon the tombe of the vyrgyn and made his
wold gyue hir no weye soo that she fyl in the depe myre and fylth and thenne she aroos and scraped hir vesture and lawghed and after thys one hyr aunte had grete pyte of hir and sente hir wysely to hyr vncle bysshop of banebergenence Whyche receyued hyr moche honestlye and reteyned hyr in entente to marye hyr ageyn and whan hir chamberers herde therof whiche had auowed contynence wyth hir were passyng wroth and wepte And she comforted them and sayd I truste in our lord for the loue of whome I haue auowed contynence perdurable that he shal kepe me in my purpeos and shal take aweye alle vyolence and shal corompe alle counceyl humayn and yf myn vncle wold marye me to ony man I shall wythstonde it to my power and shal gaynsay it wyth wordes and yf I may not soo escape I shal cutte of my nose so that euery man shal hate me for my lothelynes and thenne the bysshop dyd doo lede hyr in a castell ageynst hyr wylle for to abyde there tyl that somme man shold demaunde to haue hyr in maryage And she commaunded to our lord hir chastyte alle wepyng and thenne our lord ordeyned that the bones of hir husbond shold be broughte from ouer see And thenne the bysshop maad hyr to come and goo deuoutelye to mete the boones of hyr husbond And thenne the boones were receyued of the bysshop with righte grete honoure and of hir wyth grete deuocion wepyng of teerys And thenne she sayd to our lord Syr I rendre to the graces and thankynges of thys that I may receyue the bones of my swete husbond and that thou haste vouched sauf to comforte me pour caytyf Syr I loued hym moche whyâ—he louyd the and lord for the loue of the I suffred wel his presence And I sente hym vnto the helpe of the holy londe and I calle the to wytnes that how be it that hit were a delectable thynge to me to lyue yet wyth hym so that he were poure and I also a poure beggar thorugh the world but that ageynste thy wylle I wold not bye hym ageyn wyth an heer ne I wolde not retorne ageyn to mortal lyf lord I commaunde me and hym in to thy grace and thenne she cladde hyr with habyte relygyous and kepte perpetuel contyneÌ„ce after the deth of hir husbonde and obedyence performed she toke wyl ful pouerte and hyr clothyng was cours and vyle she ware a russet mantel hyr gowne of another foule colour The sleuys of hir cote were broken and amended with pyeces of other coloure Hyr fader kynge of hongarye whan he herde that hys doughter was comen to the estate of pouerte he sente an erle to hir for to brynge hyr to hir fader and whan the erle sawe hyr sytte in suche an habyte and spynnyng he escryed for sorowe and said there was neuer kynges doughter that ware suche an habite ne seen spynnyng wulle and whan he had doon hys message and desyred to haue broughte hyr to hyr fader She in no wyse wold acoordâ— to hit but had leuer to be nedy emonge the poure peple thynne to abounde in grete rychesses wyth ryche peple to the ende that she shold not be empesshed but that hir wylle mynde shold be alle weye in our lord And she prayed our lord that he wold gyue to hir grace to despyse al erthely thynges and take aweye fro hir herte the loue of hyr chyldren to be ferme and constaunte ageynst the persecucions And whan she had accomplysshed hir prayer she herde our lord sayeng thy prayer is herde and thenne sayd she to hir chamberers our lord hath herde my voys For I repute alle erthelye thynges as donge and fylthe And sette nomore by myn owne chyldren thenne I doo by other mennes and my neyghbours ne I loue none other thynge but our lord mayster conrade dyd to hyr ofte thynges contrarye greuous and suche thynges as he saw that she louyd that remeuyd he and toke aweye fro hyr companye And took fro hyr two maydens hyr chamberers byloued emonge alle other and had ben nourisshed wyth hyr fro hyr chyldehode And thys holy man dyd thys for to breke hyr wylle soo that she shold sette al loue in our lord and to the ende that she shold not remembre hyr fyrst glorye In al thyse thynges she was hasty for to obeye and constaunte to suffre that â—y pacyence she myght possesse hyr sowle and by obedyence to be maad fayre and ennobled She sayd yf I onely for goddes sake drede soo moche a man mortal how moche more ought I to drede and doubte the heuenly Iuge Therfore I make obedyence to mayster conrade a poure man and a beggar not to a ryche bysshop by cause I wold put aweye fro me alle occasyon of temporal comforte On a tyme by cause she wente in to a cloystâ—e of nonnes whyche prayed hir dyligently for to vysyte them wythout lycence of hir maister he bete hir so sore therfore that the strokes apperyd in hir thre wekes after by whiche she shewed to our lord that hir obedyence was more plesyng than the offeryng of a thousand hostyes Better is obedyence thenne sacrefyse She was of soo grete humylyte that she wold suffre in no wyse that hyr chamberers shold calle hir lady but that they shold speke and say to hir as to the lowest and leste of them She wesshe otherwhyle the dysshes and the vessel of the kechyn and she hyd hyr otherwhyle that the chamberers shold not lette hir she Wold say yf I coude fynde another lyf more despised I wold haue taken it she chase the best she had a special grace to wepe habundantly teris for to see celestyal vysyons and for to enflamme the hertes of other to the loue of god ¶ On a day of the holy lente she was in the chyrche And she behelde ententyfly the aulter lyke as she had ben in the presence deuyne and there she was comforted by reuelacion deuyne And thenne she retorned to hir hows and prophecyed of hir self that she shold see Ihesu cryste in heuen and anone as she laye doun for feblenes in the lappe of hyr chamberer she began to loke vp in to heuen and she was soo glad that she began deboneyrlye to lawghe and whan she had ben longe ioyeful she was sodeynly torned in to wepyng and theÌ„ne she loked vp to heuenward ageyn and anone she retorned in to hir fyrst ioye and whan she closed hir eyen she began to wepe in thys manere she abode tyl complyn had dyuyne vysyons and thenne she was stylle a whyle and sayd thus after lord wyl thou be with me and I with the ne I wyl not departe fro the After thyse thynges the chamberers desyred hir to telle to them why she had so lawghed and wepte and she said I haue seen heuen open and Ihesu crist whiche enclyned hym debonayrlye to me and I was glad of the vysyon and wepte
that two wycked tyrauntes that one named hynguar and that other hubba camen out of denmarke and arryued in the contre of northumberlonde and robbed and destroyed the contre and slewe the peple wythout mercy in euery place where they came Thenne the one of hem named hynguar came in to the contre where thys most cristen saynt edmond reygned and vnderstode that he was in his flowryng age stronge and myghty in batayle and demaunded of the people where theyr kynge was resydente and dwellyd whyche that was moste abydyng in a towne named thenne eglesdon and now is called burye Now the danes had all weye acustom that they wold neuer fyghte batayle sette ne apoynted but euer lye in a wayte how they myght by sleyght and deceyte preuented falle on good crysten men and so slee and destroye them lyke as theuys lye in awayte to robbe and slee good trewe men wherfore whan he knewe where thys holy kynge was he adressyd one of his knyghtes to hym for to espye what strengthe he had and what peple aboute hym and hynguar hym self folowed wyth al his hoost to th ende that sodaynly he shold falle vpon this kyng vnaduysed that he myght subdue hym vnto his lawes and commaundementes Thenne thys sayd knyght came to thys holy kyng saynt edmonde and made hys legacion and message in thys wyse Our most drad lord by londe by see hynguar whiche hath subdued dyuers contrees londes in this prouynce vnto his seygnorye by strengthe of armes purposeth wyth alle his shyppes and armye to wynter hym in thyse marches sendeth to the his commaundemente that thou Incontynente come and make allyaunce and frendshyp wyth hym And that thou departe to hym thy paternal tresours rychesses in suche wyse that thou mayst regne vnder hym Or certeynly thou shalt deye by cruel dethe And whan the blessed kynge Saynt Edmonde had herde this message anone he syghed and called to hym one of his bysshoppes and demaunded counceyl of hym what how he shold answer vpon thys demaunde that was axyd of hym whyche bysshop sore dredyng for the kynges lyf exhorted hym by many exaumples for to consente and agree to this tyraunte hynguar and the kyng a whyle said no thynge but remembryd hym wel after many deuoute wordes atte laste he answerd to the messager in thys wyse and sayd This shalt thou saye to thy lord knowe thou for trouthe that for the loue of temporal lyf the crysten kynge edmonde shal not subdue hym to a paynym duc Thēne vnnethe was the messager gone out but hynguar mette hym bad hym vse shorte wordes and telle hym hys answer whiche message tolde vnto hynguar Anone the cruel tyraūte commaunded to slee alle the people that were wyth saynt edmonde and destroye them but they shold holde and kepe onelye the kynge whome he knewe rebelle vnto his wycked lawes Thenne this holy kynge was taken and bounden hys handes behynde hym and is broughte tofore the duc and after many obprobryes wordes at the laste they ladde hym forthe vnto a tree whiche was therby To whyche tree his aduersaryes bonde hym and thenne shotte arowes at hym so thycke and many that he was thorugh wounded and that one arowe smote out another and alweye thys blessyd kynge cessyd not for alle his woundes to gyue lawde preysyng vnto almyghty god Thenne thys wycked tyraunte commaunded that they shold smyte of his heed whiche they so dyd he alwey prayeng and sayeng his orysons to our lord god Thenne the danes lefte the body there lyeng and toke the hede bare it in to the thycke of the wood hyd it in the thyckest place emonge thornes and brerys to th ende that it shold not be founden of the crysten men but by the purueaunce of almyghty god there came a wulfe whiche dylygently kepte the holy hede fro deuowryng of beestys and fowles And after whan the danes were departed the crysten men fonde the body but they coude not fynde the heed wherfore they sought it in the wood as one of them spake to another where arte thou whiche were in the thycke of the 〈◊〉 and cryed where arte thou 〈◊〉 heed answerd and sayd here here here and anone thenne alle they came thyder and sawe it and also a grete wulfe syttyng enbracyng the heed betwene his forleggys kepyng it fro alle other beestys and thenne anone they toke the heed and brought it vnto the body and sette it to the place where it was smyten of and anone they ioyned to gyder and thenne they bare thys holy body vnto the place where it is now buryed the wulfe folowed humbly the body tyl it was buryed and thenne he hurtyng no body retorned ageyn to the wood and the blessyd body and heed ben so ioyned to gyder that there apperyth no thynge that it had be smyten of saufe as hyt were a reed shynyng threde in the place of the departyng where the heed was smyten of in that place where he now lyeth so buryed is a noble monastarye made and therin monkes of the ordre of saynt benette whiche been richely endowed In whyche place almyghty god hath shewed many myracles for this holy kynge and marter ¶ Thus endeth the lyf and passyon of saint edmond kyng and marter Here foloweth of saint Cecyle vyrgyne and marter fyrste of hyr name CEcylle is as moche to say as the lyle of heuen or a waye to blynde men Or she is sayd of celo and lya or ellys cecilia as lackyng blyndenes Or she is sayd of celo that is heuen and leos that is peple she was an heuenly lyle by clennes of vyrgynyte a weye to blynde men by Informacion of example heuen by deuoute contemplacion lya by besy operacyon lackyng blyndenes by shynyng of wysedom and heuen of the people ¶ For the people behelde in hyr as in folowyng the spyrytuel heuen the sonne the mone and the sterrys that is to say shynyng of wysedom magnanymytee of feythe and dyuersyte of vertues Or she is sayd a lylye for she had the whytenes of clennesse a good concience and adoure of good fame Or she is sayd heuen for ysodore saith that the phylosopres sayen that heuen is meuable rounde and brennyng In lyke wyse was she moeuyng by besy operacion rounde by perseueraūce and brennyng by fyry charyte ¶ Of saint Cecillye SAynt cecillye the holy vyrgyn was comen of the noble lygnage of the Romayns and fro the tyme that she laye in hir cradle she was fostrid and nourisshed in the feythe of cryste and alle weye bare in hir breste the gospel hyd and neuer cessyd day ne nyght from holy prayers but recommaunded to god all weye hir vyrgynyte and whan thys blessyd vyrgyne shold be spoused to a yonge man named valeryan the day of weddyng was comen was cladde in ryal clothes of golde but vnder she ware the hayre and she heeryng
the organes makyng melodye she sange in hir herte onelye to god sayeng O lord I beseche the that myn herte and body may be vndefowled so that I be not confounded and euery second and thyrd day she fasted commendyng hir self vnto our lord whome she dredde the nyght cam that she shold goo to bedde wyth hir husbond as the custome is and whan they were bothe in theyr chambre allone she sayd to hym in thys manere O my beste belouyd and swete husbond I haue a counceyll to telle the yf so be that thou wylt kepe it secrete and swere that ye shal bewreye it to no man to whom valeryan sayd that he wold gladly promyse and swere neuer to bewreye it and thenne she sayd to hym I haue an aungel that loueth me which euer kepeth my body whether I slepe or wake and yf he may fynde that ye touche my body by vylonye or foule and pollute loue certeynly he shal anone slee you and so shold ye lese the floure of your yongthe and yf soo be that thou loue me in holy loue and clennesse he shall loue the as he loueth me shal shewe to the his grace Thenne valeryan corrected by the wylle of god hauyng drede sayd to hir yf thou wylte that I beleue that thou sayest to me shewe to me that aungel that thou spekest of and yf I fynde verytable that he be the aungel of god I shal do that thou sayest and yf so be that thou loue another man than me I shal slee bothe hym and the with my swerde Cecylle answerd to hym yf thou wylt byleue baptyse the thou shalt wel now see hym goo thenne forth to via appia whiche is thre myle out of this towne and there thou shalt fynde pope urban with poure folkes and telle hym thyse wordes that I haue sayd and whan he hath purged you fro synne by baptesme thenne whan ye come ageyn ye shal see the aungel and forthe wente valeryan and fonde this holy man vrbane lowtyng emonge the buryellys to whom he reported the wordes that cecylle had said and saynt vrbane for ioye gan holde vp his honde and lete the teerys falle out of his eyen and sayd o almyghty god Ihesu crist sower of chaast counceylle and keper of vs alle Receyue the fruyte of the seed that thou hast sowen in cecyllye For lyke a besy bee she seruyth the For the spouse whome she hath taken whyche was lyke a wode lyon She hath sente hym hyther lyke as a meke lambe and wyth that word apperyd sodeynlye an olde man y cladde in whyte clothes holdyng a book wryten wyth letters of golde Whome Valeryan seyng for fere fyl 〈◊〉 to the grounde as he had been deed Whome the olde man reysed and toke vp and redde in this wyse One god one feythe one baptesme One god and fader of alle abouen alle and in vs alle euery where And whan this olde man had redde this he sayd byleuest thou this or dou test thou it say ye or nay Thenne valeryan cryed sayeng ther is no thynge trewer vnder heuen thenne vanysshed this olde man aweye Thenne valeryan receyued baptesme of saynt vrbane and retorned home to saynt cecyllye whome he fonde wythin hir chambre spekyng wyth an aungel and thys aungel had two crownes of roses and lyles which he helde in his honde of whiche he gafe one to cecylle and that other to valeryen sayeng kepe ye thyse crownes wyth an vndefowled and a clene body for I haue brought them to you fro paradyse and they shal neuer fade ne wydder ne lose theyr sauour ne they may not be seen but of theym to whome chastyte pleasyth thou valeryan by cause thou hast vsed prouffytable counceyl demaunde what thou wylt To whom valeryan sayd There is no thynge in thys world to me leuer thenne my brother whome I wold fayne that he myght knowe this veray trouthe wyth me to whome the aungel sayd thy petycyon pleseth our lord and ye bothe shal come to hym by the palme of marterdom and anone tyburce his brother came and entryd in to thys chambre and anone he felte the swete odour of the roses lylyes and meruaylled fro whens it came Thenne valeryan sayd we haue crownes whyche thyn eyen may not see and lyke as by my prayers hast felte the odour of them so yf thou wylt byleue thou shalt see the crownes of roses and lylyes that we haue Thenne cecyllye and valeryan began to preche to tyburcyen of the ioye of heuen and of the foule creaunce of paynyms the abusyon of ydolles and of the paynys of helle whyche the dampned suffre and also they prechyd to hym of the Incarnacion of our lord and of hys passyon and dyd so moche that Tyburcyen was conuerted and baptysed of saynt vrbane and fro than forthon he had so moche grace of god that euery day he sawe aungellys and alle that euer he requyred of our lord be opteyned After almachyus prouoste of rome which put to deth many crysten men herde say that tyburcyen valeryen buryed cristen men that were marterd gafe al their good to pour peple he called them tofore hym after longe dysputacion he commaunded that they shold goo to the statue or ymage of Iubyter for to doo sacrefyse or ellys they shold be byheded as they were ledde they prechyd the feyth of our lord to one called maxyme that they conuerted hym to the cristen feyth they promysed to hym that yf he had veray repentaūce ferme creaūce that he shold see the glorye of heuen which their sowles shold receyue atte hour of their passyons that he hym self shold haue the same yf he wold byleue Thenne maximus gate leue of the tormentours for to haue them home to his hows the sayd maxymus with al his howsholde and alle the tormentours were torned to the feyth thenne came saynt cecyllye thyder with preestys baptysed them and afterward whan the mornyng came saynt cecylye sayd to them Now ye knyghtes of crist caste aweye fro you the werkes of derknes clothe you with the armes of lyght thēne they were ledde four myle out of the towne brought to fore thymage of Iupyter but in no wyse they wold do sacrefyse ne encence to thydolle but humbly with grete deuocion knelyd doun there were byheded saynt cecylye toke their bodyes buryed them thenne maxymus that saw this thyng said that he sawe in the houre of theyr passyon aūgels clere shynynge her sowles ascende in to heuen whyche the aungels bare vp wherfore many were conuerted to the cristen feythe whan almache herde that maxyme was cristened he dyd do bete hym with plommettes of leed so longe tyl be gaue vp hys spyryte deyed whos body Saynt Cecyllye buryed by valeryan and Tyburcyan after almache commaūded that cecylye shold be brought vnto hys presence for to doo sacrefyse to Iubyter
moo than ij thousand peple cristen whiche had been longe there dampned for to hewe the marble in the roches and anone whan they sawe saynt clemente they beganne to wepe and he comforted them and sayd Our lord hath not sente me hyther by my merytes but he hath made me partyner of your crowne And whan he vnderstood of them that they fette water syxe myle thens and bare it vpon theyr sholdres he sayd to them lete vs al praye vnto our lord that he opene to vs his confessours in thys place here the vaynes of a fontayn or of a welle and that he that smote the stone in deserte of Synay and water flowed haboundantlye he gyue to vs rēnyng water soo that we may be enioyed of his benefaytes and whan he had made hys prayer he loked here and there and sawe a lambe stondyng whiche lyfte vp his right foot shewyd a place to the bysshop and he vnderstandyng that it was our lord Ihesu crist whome he onely sawe and wente to the place and sayd In the name of the fader and of the sone of the holy ghooste smyte in thys place whan he sawe that no man wold smyte in the place where the lambe stood he toke a litel pykoys and smote one stroke lightelye in the place vnder the fote of the lambe anone a welle or a fontayn sprange vp and grewe in to a grete flode Thenne vnto al them ioyeng saynt clemente sayd the comyng of the flode gladeth the cyte of god for the fame of thys myracle moche peple came thyder and fyue hondred and moo receyued baptesme of hym in one day and they destroyed the temples of thydolles thorugh alle that prouynce wythin one yere they edefyed lxxv chyrches to the honoure of our lord and thre yere after Traiane the emperour vnder stondyng thys whiche was the yere of our lord lxvj and sente thyder a duc and whan this duc sawe that al they wold gladly deye for goddes loue he lefte the multitude and toke onely clemente and bonde an ancre aboute hys necke and threwe hym in to the see sayd Now they may not worshyp hym for a god and al that grete multitude of the peple wente to the ryuage of the see and behelde the cruelte of the tyraunte and thenne cornelye phebus dysciples of saynt clemente commaunded to alle the other to praye to our lord that he wold shewe to theym the body of his marter and anone the see departed thre myle weye ferre So that all they myght goo drye fote thyder and there they fonde an habytacle in a temple of marble whiche god had made and ordeyned and fonde the body of saynt clemente layed in an arke or a cheste and the ancre therby and it was shewed to his dysciples that they shold not take aweye the body fro thens Euery yere in the tyme of hys passyon the see departed by seuen dayes duryng foure myle ferre whyche gafe drye weye to them that came thyder In one of the solempnytees there was a woman wente thyder wyth a litel chylde and whan the solempnyte of the feste was accomplysshed the chylde slepte and the noyse sowne of the water was herde whyche came and approched faste and the woman was abasshed and forgate hir chylde and fledde vnto the ryuage with the grete multitude of peple afterward she remembrid hir sone and beganne strongely to crye and wepe ranne hyther and thyder brayeng by the ryuage for to knowe yf by aduenture the body of hir sone myght be caste vpon the ryuage and whan she sawe no socour ne no hope she retorned home and was al that yere in wepynge in heuynes and the yere after folowyng whan the see was departed and the weye opene she ranne tofore alle the other came to the place for to know yf by aduenture she myght haue ony knowleche or fynde ony thynge of hyr sone whan she knelyd doun tofore the tombe of saynt clemente and had made hir prayers she aroos vp sawe hir sone in the place where she had lefte hym slepyng Thenne she supposed be had ben deed and wente nerre for to haue taken the body as it had be wythout lyf but whan she saw hym slepyng she awook hym and took hym in hir armes tofore alle the people al hool and saufe and enquyred of hym where he had ben al that yere he sayd that he wyste not but that he had slepte there but one nyght swetely Saynt ambrose sayth in his preface in this wyse whan the moost wycked persecutour was constrayned of the deuyl for to tormente by paynes the blessyd clemente he gafe to hym no payn but vyctorye The marter was caste in the flodde for to be drowned therfore came he to a good rewarde by whiche peter his mayster came in to heuen Cryste approuyng the myndes of them bothe in the flodes he callyd clemente fro the bottom of the see to the palme of vyctorye he releuyd saynt peter in the same element that he shold not be drowned vnto the heuenly royame Lyon the bysshop of hostyence recounteth that in the tyme that mychel the Emperour gouerned the empyre of rome a preest named phylosophre cam to tersone and demaunded of them that dwellyd in the contre of the thynges that ben reherced in the hystorye of saynt clemente and by cause they had not be of that tyme but were straunge they sayd that they knewe no thynge therof For for the synne of them of the contrey that dwelled in that place the water had longe cessyd for to with drawe as it was woned to doo In the tyme of martyn the emperour the chirche had be destroyed of the barbaryns and the arke wyth the body of the marter was wrapped in the flodes of the see for the synne of them that dwellyd there and thenne the preest was al admeruaylled of thyse thynges and came vnto a litel cyte named georgye wente with the bysshop and the clerkes wyth the people for to seche the holy relyques of the yle where as they supposed that the body of the holy marter had been and there they dygged songe ympnes and canticles and thenne by reuelacion deuyne they fonde the body of the holy saynt the ancre by hit whiche was caste in to the see wyth hym thenne they bare it to tersone and after this same preest cam to rome with the body of saynt clement and there shewyd god many myracles for this holy saynt and the body was layed in the chyrche whyche is now callyd saynt clemente it is redde in a cronycle that the see waxed drye in that place and that the blessyd Cyrylle bysshop of moryanne brought the holy body vnto Rome Thenne lete vs deuoutelye praye vnto thys blessyd saynt saynt clemente that by his merytes we may deserue to come to the blysse of heuen AMEN Thus endeth the lyf of Saynt Clemente
noted that thys blessyd vyrgyne saynt katheryne semeth and apperyth meruaylous in v thynges first in wysdom secondly in eloquence thyrdly in constaunce fourthly in clennesse of chastyte fyfthely in pryuylege of dygnyte Fyrst she apperyd meruayllous in wysdom In hir was alle manere of phylosophye Phylosophye is deuyded in thre in theoryque in practyque and in logyque Theoryque is deuyded in thre that is Intellectual natural and mathematyke The blessyd katheryn had science Intellectual in knowleche thynges deuyne of whiche she vsyd ageynste the maysters to whome she proued to be but one veray god onely and conuaynquysshed alle the false goddes Secondly she had scyence naturel of whiche she vsed in desputyng ageynst the emperour Thyrdly she had scyence mathematyque that is a scyence that beholdeth the formes and the manere of thynges this science had she in despysyng the erthely thynges For she wythdrewe hir herte fro alle erthely matere She shewyd to haue this scyence whan she answerd to the emperour whan he demaunded who she was and sayd I am Katheryne doughter of kynge coste and how she had be nourysshed in purpre And herof vsyd she whan she enbardyed the quene to despyse the world hir self and to desyre the reygne pardurable The practyque is deuyded in thre maners In ethyque ycomonyke and polytyque the fyrst techeth to enforme maners enourne hym wyth vertues and that apperteyneth to all men The second techeth to rule and gouerne wel his meyne And that apperteyneth to them that haue men to gouerne The thyrd apperteyneth to the gouernours of cytees for she techeth to gouerne the peples the cytees and the comyn and these thre scyences had the blessyd katheryne Fyrst she had in hir self al honeste of maners Secondly she rulyd hir meyne laudably whiche was lefte to hir thyrdly she enformed wysely the Emperour Logyke is deuyded in thre in demonstratyf in probable and in sophystycal The fyrst perteyneth to phylosophres the second to rethours and logycyens and the thyrd to sophistres and thyse thre sciences had katheryne in hir for she dysputed wyth themperour Secondly she was meruayllous in eloquence For she had fayre speche in prechyng as it apperyd in hir predycacious she was rizt sharpe in rendryng reason as whan she answerd to the emperour She had swete wordes in drawyng the peple to the feythe as it apperyd in porphyrye and the quene whom she drewe to the cristen feyth by swetenes of hyr fayr speche She had right vertuous word in ouer comyng as it apperyd in the maisters whome she vaynquysshed so puyssauntlye thyrdly she was meruayllous in constaunce for she was moste constaunte ageynst the thretenynges and menaces for she despysed theym alle and answerd to themperour tarye not to do the tormentes that thou hast purposed for I desyre to offre to god my blood and make an ende of that thou hast conceyuyd in thy corage I am redy to suffre al Secondly she was ferme whan grete yeftes were offred to hir For she refused all and sayd to themperour whan he promysed to holde hir as second lady in his paleys and she sayd leue to say suche thynges It is felonnous to thynke it Thyrdly she was constaunte in the tormentys that were doon to hir Fourthly she was constaunte in clennesse of chastyte for she kepte chastyte emonge tho thynges that chastyte is wonte to perisshe for there been fyue thynges in whiche chastyte may perysshe that is in plesaunce of rychesses couenable oportunyte flouryng yongthe fredom thythout constraynte and souerayn beaute and emonge al thyse thynges the blessyd katheryne kepte hir chastyte for she had grete plente of rychesses as she that was heyre of riche parentys She had couenable leyser to doo hir wylle as she that was lady of hir self and conuersyd alle day emonge hir seruauntes whyche were yonge of age She had fredom wythout ony that gouerned hyr in hyr paleys and of thyse foure it is sayd before and she had beaute so moche that euery man meruaylled of hir beaute Fyfthly she was meruayllous in preuylege of dygnyte for certeyn specyal preuylegys were in somme sayntes whan they deyed lyke as the vysytacion of Ihesu cryst was in saynt Ioh̄n theuangelyste The flowyng of oyle in saint nycholas theffusyon of mylke for blood that was in saynt Poule the preperacōn of the sepulcre that was in saynt clemente and the heeryng grauntyng of the petycyons that was in saynt margarete whan she prayed for them remembryng hyr memorye Al thise thynges to gyder were in this blessyd vyrgyn saynt katheryne as it apperyth in hir legende Thenne lete vs deuoutely worshyp this holy vyrgyne and humbly praye hir to be our aduocatryce in al our nedes bodely and ghoostly that by the merytes of hyr prayers we may after this shorte and transytorye lyf come vnto the euerlastyng blysse and ioye in heuen where as is lyf pardurable Quod ipse prestare dignetur qui cum patre et spiritu sancto viuit et regnat deus Peromnia secula seculorum amen Thus endeth the lyf of Saynt Katheryne Here foloweth the lyf of saint Saturnyne and fyrst of hys name SAturnyne is sayde of Saturare that is to be fylled and of nux that is a note for the paynyms were fylled for to marter hym lyke as the squyrelle that eteth the note for whan the squyrelle taketh the note for to haue it oute of the hulle hit semeth to hym bytter thenne he goeth vp on hygh on the tre and lete it falle and thenne the hulle breketh and the note spryngeth out And thus were the paynyms fylled in saynt saturnyn for he was bytter to them by cause he wold not do sacrefyse and thenne they broughte hym vp on hygh of the capytoyl and caste hym doun the stappes or grees so that he brake his heed the brayn sprange out of it ¶ Of saint Saturnyne SAturnyne was ordeyned bysshop of the disciples of thappostles an was sente in to the cytee of tholouse and whan he entryd in to the cyte the deuylles cessyd to gyue answers thenne one of the paynyms sayd but yf they slewe saturnyne they shold haue none answer of theyr goddes they took saturnyne whiche wold not doo sacrefyse and bonde hym to the feet of a bulle and drewe hym vnto the hyghest place of the capytoylle and caste hym doun the degrees and stappes to the grounde so that his heed was alle to broken and the brayne sprange out so he accomplysshed his marterdom and two wymmen toke his body and buryed it in a depe place for fere of the paynyms and afterward his successours toke vp the body and transported it in to a more honourable place There was another saturnyne whome the prouoste of rome helde longe in pryson and after he reysed hym in the tormente named eculee and dyd doo lete hym wyth synewes roddes and scorpyons and after dyd do brenne his sydes and thenne toke hym
but with a precious oynemente of â—awme and whan the paynyms sawe thys greteâ— myracle many of theym were thereby conuerted to the feythe of Ihesu cryste and the tyraunte sayd that she dyd al this by enchauntemente and dyd do put hir in a depe pryson ix dayes longe wythout mete or drynke but she was that whyle fedde by aungellys food of our lord so that at the ende of ix dayes she was noo thynge appayred Thenne the Iuge sente for hir supposyng that she had ben nyghe deed and feble but whan she came she was fayrer and bryghter to loke on thenne euer she was before wherof all the peple meruaylled gretely Thenne the Iuge said to hir but yf thou wylt worshyppe and do sacrefyse to thydolles thou shalt not escape the tormente of the gylette Thenne she answeryd to the Iuge I worshyp almyghty god that made al thynges and despyse thy goddes that ben fendes and thenne she fyl doun plaâ—te to the erthe and lyfte vp hir eyen to almyghty god besechyng hym that he wold shewe hys power before the peple that he was onely almyghty god and none other Thenne fabrycius the Iuge lette sette vp a pyler on hyghe and theron he sette his god an ydolle and anone there came a multitude of aungels fro heuen and caste doun this ydolle and al to brake it and anone the people herde a grete noyse of fendes cryeng in thayer sayeng O do rathe why doest thou destroye vs and tormentest vs so sore and for this grete myracle many thousandes of paynyms were torned to the feythe of Ihesu cryste and were baptysed and after receyued the crowne of marterdom for the knowlechynge of the name of Ihesu cryste Thenne the Iuge commaunded that thys holy vyrgyne shold be hanged on the gybette hir feet vpward and the heed dounwarde and thenne hir body was al to rente with hookes of yron and beten with roddes and scourges and brente hir brestys wyth hote fyry brondes and as halse deed she was sette ageyn in to pryson after whan she was broughte ageyn she was al hole and stronge without ony dysease or hurte wherof the Iuge had grete meruaylle and sayd to hir O fayre mayde forsake thy god and byleue on our goddes for thou mayst see how mercyful they be vnto the and preserue the therfore haue pyte on thy tender body for thou hast be tormeÌ„ted ynough and thenne the prouoste sente for hyr two susters whiche were named crystyne and calestyne whiche for fere of dethe forsoke the feythe of Ihesu cryste and wente to saynt dorathe counceylled hir to obeye to the prouostes desyre and forsake hir feythe But this holy vyrgyne rebuked hir susters and after enformed them by so fayre and swete langage that she withdrewe them fro theyr blynde errour and establysshed them in the feythe of cryste in suche wyse that whan they were comen to the Iuge they sayd they were crysten and byleuyd on Ihesu Cryste whan fabrycyus herde that he was madde for angre and commaunded that the tormentour shold bynde theyr handes and bynde them bothe to gyde backe to backe and caste them in the fyre so bounden and brente them And thenne he sayd to the vyrgyne do raihe how longe wylte thou trowble vs wyth thy wytchecrafte or do sacrefyse to our goddes or ellys anone thy hede shal be smyton of theÌ„ne said the holy vyrgyne with a glad semblaunâ—e do to me what tormente thou wylte for I am al redy to suffre it for the loue of my spouse Ihesu cryste In whos gardyn ful of delyces I haue gadred roses spyces and apples and whan the tyraunte herde that he trembled for angre And commaunded that hir fayre vysage shold be beten with stones so that there shold appere no beaute in hir vysage but al dysfygured so to be put in pryson tyl the nexte day and on the nexte day she came forthe also hole and sounde as though she had suffred noo dysease and was more fayrer for to loke on thenne euer she was tofore by the grace of hir blessyd spouse Ihesu cryste For whos loue she toke on hyr these grete and sharpe tormentes thenne this cursed Iuge commauÌ„ded to smyte of hir heed and as she was ladde to the place assygned where hit shold be doon a scrybe of the royame named theophylus sayd to hir in scorne I praye the to sende me somme of thy roses and appelis that thou hast gaderyd in the gardyne of thy spouse that thou praysest so moche and she graunted to hym his desyre and thys was in the colde wynter tyme whan there was bothe froste snowe and whan she came to the place where she shold be byheded she knelyd doun on hir knees made hir prayers to our lord Ihesu cryst besechyng hym that â—l they that worshyp hir passyon that they myght be kepte stedfast in the feythe and to take theyr trybulacyon pacyently and specyally to be delyuerd fro al shame grete pouerte and fals dysclaunder and at theyr laste ende to haue veray contrycyon confessyon and remyssyon of al their synnes also wymmen with chylde that calle to hir for helpe to haue good delyueraunce the chyldren to be crystened the moders to be purefyed also she prayed to god that where hir lyf were wryton or redde in ony hows that it shold be kepte fro al perylle of lightenynge thonder fro al perylles of fyre fro perylles of theuys fro sodeyn deth and to receyue the sacramentes of holy chirche at their laste ende for theyr most souerayn deffence ageynst their ghoostly enemye the fende and whan she had ended hir prayer there was a voys herde fro heuen that said come to me my dere spouse trewe vyrgyn for al thy bone is grauÌ„ted to the that thou hast prayed fore also whom thou prayest fore shall be saued whan thou hast receyued the crowne of marterdom thou shalt come to the blysse of heuen wythoute ende for thy laboure this holy virgyn bowed doun hir heed and the cruel tyraunte smote it of but a lytel before this apperyd before hir a fayr chylde barefote clothed in purple with cryspe heerys whos garmente was set ful of brighte sterres beryng in his honde a litel baskette shynyng as golde wyth roses apples To whome the vyrgyn sayd I praye the bere this baskette to theophyilus the scrybe thus she suffred dethe and passed to our lord ful of vertues the vj day of feuerer the yere of our lord CClxxxviij by fabricius prouoste vnder dyoclesyan maxymyan emperours of rome as thys said theophylus stode in the paleys of themperour this chylde came to hym presented to hym the baskette sayeng Thyse ben the roses apples that my suster do rathe hath sente to the fro paradys the gardyn of hir spouse and thenne this chylde vanysshed aweye Thenne he consyderyng the meruayllous werke of god in this holy vyrgyne said anone with a
sterne voys praysyng the god of dorathe for that grete myracle whiche was shewed to hym of roses and apples that tyme that he that sente to me these thynges is of grete power therfore his name be blessyd worlde wythouten ende amen theÌ„ne he was conuerted to the feyth of Ihesu cryste the moste parte of the peple of the cyte whan fabrycyus knewe thys anone with grete malyce tormentyd theophylus the scrybe with many dyuers tormentes atte laste hâ—we hym in to smale pyeces the pyeces were caste to byrdes beestys to be deuoured but he was fyrst baptysed receyued the hoâ—y sacramente folowed the holy virgyne dorothea in to the blysse of heuen Thenne lete vs deuoutelye praye to this blessyd saynt dorathe that she be our special protectryce ageynste al perylles of fyre of lyyhtnyng of thondryng al other perylles and that at our ende may receyue the sacramentes of the chirche that after thys shorte lyf we may come vnto blysse in heuen where as is lyf ioye perdumble world withouten ende amen Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Dorathe ¶ And here foloweth the lyf of Saynt Brandon SAynt Brandon the holy man was a monke borne in yâ—londe there he was abbotte of an hows where in were a thousand monkes there he had a ful strayte and holy lyf in grete penaunce abstynence and he gouerned his monkes ful vertuously thenne within shorte tyme after there came to hym an holy abbot that hyght beryne to vysyte hym and eche of them was ioyeful of other and thenne saynt brandon beganne to telle to thabbot beryn of many wonders that he had seen in dyuers londes and whan beryn herde that of saint brahdon he began to syghe and sore wepte and saynt brandon comforted hym the beste wyse he coude sayeng ye come hyther for to be ioyeful with me therfore for goddes loue leue your mornynge telle me what meruaylles ye haue seen in the grete see occean that compasseth al the world aboute alle other waters comen out of hym whyche renneth in al the partyes of therthe and thenne beryn began to telle to Saynt brandon and to his monkes the meruaylles that he had seen ful sore wepyng said I haue a sone his name is meruoke he was a moÌ„ke of grete fame whiche had grete desyre to seke aboute by shyppe in dyuers contres to fynde a solytarye place wherin he myÈâ— dwelle secretelye out of the besynesse of the world for to serue god quyetly with more deuocion I counceylled hym to sayle in to an ylonde ferre in the see besydes the monteyn of stones whiche is ful wel knowen and thenne he made hym redy saylled thyder wyth his monkes whan he came thyâ—â—â— he lyked that place ful wel where he his monkes seruyd our lord ful deuoutelye thenne beryn sawe in a vysyon that this monke meruok was saylled right ferre eestward in the see more than the dayes sayllyng sodeynlye to his semyng there cam a derke cloude ouercouerd them that a grete parte of the day they sawe no lyght and as our lord wolde the cloude passed awey and they sawe a ful fayr ylonde and thyderward they drewe In that ylonde was ioye and myrthe ynough the erthe of that ylonde shyned as bryghte as the sonne there were the fayrest trees herbes that euer ony man sawe and there were many precyous stones shynyng bryght and euery herke them was ful of flouns euery tree ful of faiyte soo that it was a gloryous syght an heuenly ioye tabyde there and thenne there came to them a fayre yonge man ful curtoysly he welcomed them al called euery monke by his name said that they were moche bounde to preyse the name of our lord Ihesu that wold of his grace shewe to them that gloryous place where is euer day neuer nyght this place is called paradys terrestre but by this ylonde is another ylonde wherin no man may come this yonge man said to theym ye haue ben here halfe a yere wythoute mete drynke or slepe they supposed that they had not ben there the sâ—ace of halfe an houre so mery ioyeful they were there the yonge man tolde them that this is the place that adam eue dwelte in fyrst and euer shold haue dwellyd here yf that they had not broken the commaundemente of god And thenne the yonge man broughte them to theyr shyppe ageyn and sayd they myght no bengyr abyde there and whan they were al shypped sodeynlye this yonge man vanysshed aweye out of theyr syght and thenne wythin shorte tyme after by the purueaunce of our lord Ihesu they came to thabbey where Saynt brandon dwellyd and thenne he with his brethern receyued them godely and demaunded them where they had ben so longe and they said we haue ben in the londe of byheest tofore the yates of paradys where as is euer day and neuer nyght they sayden al that the place is ful delectable for yet al theyr clothes smellyd of that swete and ioyeful place And thenne saynt brandon purposed sone after for to seke that place by goddes belpe and anone beganne to pourueye for a good shyppe and a stronge and vytaylled it for seuen yere and thenne he toke his leue of alle his brethern and took twelue monkes with hym but or they entred in to the shyp they fastyd fourty dayes and lyued deuoutelye and eche of them receyued the sacramente and whan saynt brandon wyth his twelue monkes were entred in to the sâ—yppe there came other two of his monkes prayed hym that they myght sayle with hym and thenne he sayd ye may sayle with me but one of you shal goo to helle or ye come ageyn but not for that they wold goo wyth hym and thenne Saynt brandon bad the shypmen to wynde vp the saylle and forthe they saylled in goddes name so that on the morowe they were out of syght of ony londe fourty dayes and fourty nyghtes after they saylled platte eest and thenne they saw an yle londe ferre fro them and they saylled thyderward as faste as they coude and they sawe a grete rocke of stone appere aboue alle the water and thre dayes they saylled aboute it or they coude gete in to the place but at the laste by the pourueaunce of god they fonde a lytel hauen and there wente a londe euerychone and thenne sodeynlye came a fayre hounde fyl doun at the feet of saynt brandon and made hym good chere in his manere and thenne he bad his brethern be of good chere for our lord hath sente to vs his messager to lede vs in to somme good place and the hounde broughte hem in to a fayr halle where they fonde the tables spredde redy sette ful of good mete and drynke and thenne saynt brandon sayd graces and thenne he and his brethern
hys secretes whan ye come ageyn in to the see and our lord wyl that ye lade your shyppe wyth the fruyte of thys londe and hye you hens for ye may no lenger abyde here but thou shalte sayle ageyn in to thyn owne contree and sone after thou comest home thou shalt deye and thys water that thou seest here departeth the world a sondre for on that other syde of thys water may no man come that is in thys lyf and the fruyte that ye see here is alle waye thus rype euery tyme of the yere and alwey it is here lyght as ye now see and he that kepeth our lordes hestys at al tymes shal see thys londe or he passe out of thys world And thenne saynt brandon and his monkes toke of that fruyte as moche as they wolde and also toke with them grete plente of precyous stones and thenne toke theyr loue and wente to shyppe wepyng sore by cause they myght no lenger abyde there and thenne they toke theyr shyppe and came home in to yrelonde in saufete whome theyr brethern receyued wyth grece ioye gyuyng thankynges to our lord whiche had kepte them al that seuen yere fro many a peryl and brouÈt them home in saufete To whome be yeuen honour glorye world without ende amen And sone after this holy man Saynt brandon wexe feble and seek and had but lytel ioye of thys world But euer after his ioye mynde was in the ioyes of heuen and in shorte tyme after he beyng ful of vertues departed out of thys lyf to euerlastyng lyf And was worshypfully buryed in a fayr abbey whiche he hym self founded Where our lord shewyth for thys holy saynt many fayr myracles Wherfore lete vs deuoutely praye to thys holy saynt that he praye for vs to our lord that he haue mercy on vs to whome be gyuen lawde honour and empyre world withouten ende amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Brandon And here foloweth the lyf of saint erkenwolde bysshop SAynt erkenwolde was borne of noble lygnage Hys fader was named offa and was kyng of eest englond and he had also a suster named alburgh whiche Erkenwolde and alburgh were of right parfyte lyf and how be it that theyr fader was a paynym yet were thyse two chyldren crysten whan erkenwolde was in parfyte age he wente in to relygyon and was made first abbot of chirchesey where he lyued an holy lyf and after he was made bysshop of london his suster alburgh was his trewe folower in good werkys and was a woman of relygyon and for hir holy lyf she was made abbesse of berkynge Thys holy man by the Informacion of saynt Austyn mellyte was enformed in the feythe in suche wyse that he vtterly forsoke the world ordeyned and buylded ij monasteryes one for hym selfe at chyrcheseye another for hys suster at barkyng whiche after hir baptesme was named ethelburga and saynt erkenwolde counceylled his suster to flee worldely vanytees and so he dyd hym self and gaue hym in to deuyne contemplacyon gaue gladly suche goodes as he had besyde them that he spente in the fondacyon and buyldyng of the sayd monasteryes to poure peple and he chaunged his erthely herytage his worldly dygnyte and hys grete patrymonye in to the herytage and lyuelode of holy chirche for to haue hys herytage in heuen and he dyd al thyse expencis or he was called to be bysshop of london and the holy theodore archebysshop of caunterburye dyd do consecrate hym bysshop of london and hys suster was sette in berkyng with other vyrgynes for to be alweye ocupyd in the seruyce of our lord and it happed on a tyme as thartyfycers that bylded the monasterye at berkynge were ouer seen in takyng the mesure of a pryncipal beme for it was to shorte wolde not accorde to the place that it was ordeyned for wherfore they made moche sorowe Thenne this holy man saynt erkenwolde and his suster seyng thys mysfortune toke the same beme bytwene theyr hondes and drewe it out in suche wyse that it had suffycyente lengthe and accorded vnto the propre place that it was ordeyned to whiche myracle was anone knowen openlye to the people and at that tyme were noo nonnes in englonde wherfore saint erkenwolde sente ouer see for a deuoute relygyous woman named hyldelyth to whome he bytoke his suster for to be enformed in the relygyon as wel in connyng as in good maners and vertuous doctryne in which she prouffyted in suche wyse that she passed all hir felawes in connyng sone after she was made abbesse and chyef of al the monasterye and it happed sone after that the bysshop of london deyed whos name was cedda by consente of the kynge and alle the people thys holy man of god erkenwolde was bysshop of london and what someuer he taughte in worde he fulfylled it in dede for he was parfyte in wysedom softe and dyscrete in worde bysy in prayer chaast of body hooly yeuen to goddes lore and was planted in the rote of charyte and afterward whan he had suffred moche trybulacion wyth many ghoostly bataylles he began to waxe ryght seek and thenne he commaunded to make redy his chare that he myght goo and preche in the cytee the Worde of god wherfore it was kepte in custome longe tyme after of his dyscyples and many other to touche hym and kysse hym and what someuer sekenesse that they had they were anone delyuerd therof and were made parfytelye hool In a day of somer as thys blessyd saynt saynt erkenwolde rode in hys chare for to preche the word of god It fortuned that the one whele of the chare fyl of fro the axtre and that notwythstondyng the chare went forth right wythout fallyng whyche was ageyn nature and reson and a fayre myracle for god guyded the chare it was meruaylle to alle them that sawe it ¶ O mercyable god and meruayllous aboue al thyng to whom alle brute beestys be made meke and wylde thynges been obedyente thou vouchesauf to calle to thy mercy thy blessyd seruaunte to make hym partable of thy excellente ioye thou yeue vs grace by his prayer which knewe by reuelacyon that his sowle shold be losed from the body by temporall dethe to be preserued fro al manere euyl and euerlastyng dethe whan thys blessyd saynt erkenwolde as god wold came to berkyng he fyl in to a grete sekenesse in whiche he ended his temporalle lyf for soo moche as he knewe it before he sente for his seruauntes and suche as were drawyng to hym yaue to them holsom and swete lessons and blessyd them with grete deuocyon emonge them he yelded vp hys spyrite to almyghty god in whos passyng was felte a merueyllous swete odour as the hous had be ful of swete bawme And whan the hyghe channons of Saynt Powles at london herde thys and the monkys of chyrcheseye also anone they came to this holy body for to
the feyâ—he the kynge was named stephen whyche was of so grete holynesse that god ennoblisshed hym by many myracles and this henry themperour his wyf kunygundys Were bothe clene virgyns and lyued an holy lyf and restyd after in pees hym succeded conrade a duc of fraunce whiche had wedded the nece of saynt henry In that tyme was seen a beme in heuen ful of fyre brennyng was moche grete was aboue the sonne which was seen fallyng to the erthe Thys emperour put somme of the bysshoppes in pryson brente the subarbes of melane by cause the archebysshop of melane fledde out of pryson on Whytsonday as themperour was crowned in a lytel chirche there was so grete thondre so horrible that somme yssued out of their wytte and other deyed for fere brune the bisshop that sange the masse the secretarye of themperour sayden that they had seen saynt ambrose right in the secrete of the masse whyche menaced and thretenyd themperour In the tyme of this conrade the yere a thousand xxv as it is said in a cronycle that th erle lympolde and his Wyf fledde in to a foreste dredyng the yre of the kynge and there hydde them in a lytel hows and as the emperour wente for to hunte in the same foreste the nyghte came vpon hym and must nede abyde there in that lytel hows al nyght and the lady beyng grete wyth chylde as wel as she myght admynystred suche thynge as was necessarye the beste wyse that she myght and that nyght she was delyuerd af a sone and a voys came to themperour whyche sayd to hym conrade the chylde that is now borne shal he thyn heyre gendre that is sone in lawe whan he aroos in the mornyng he callyd to hym ij of his squyers sayd to them goo ye and take awey this childe fro the moder by force and hewe it in pyeces brynge them to me and anone they wente hastelye toke aweye the chylde fro the moders lappe whan they sawe the chylde of so fayre a forme they had pyte and were moeuyd with mercy and layed hym vpon a tree that he shold not be deuoured of wylde beestys they toke an hare slyt hym toke out his herte brought it to themperour the same day a duc passyd by that forest herde the childe crye dyd it to be broughte to hym and by cause he had no sone he made it to be borne to his wyf made it to be nourysshed and fayned that he had engendred it and named hym henry after whan he was nourisshed he grewe was of right fayr forme wel bespoken gracious curtoys to euery body whan themperour sawe hym that he was soo fayr and wyse he requyred hym of his fader maad hym to dwelle in his courte whan he sawe that this chylde was so gracious and curtoys that he was praysed of euery man he doubted that he shold reygne after hym it were he whome he had commaunded to haue be slayne and wrote letters to his wyf with his owen honde and they conteyned thyse wordes folowyng as moche as thou louest thy lyf as sone as thou haste receyued this letter that thou slee this chylde as he wente he was lodged in a chirche and he beyng wery restyd hym vpon a benche his purs henge doun in whiche hys letters were Thenne there was a preest there which desyred moche to see what was in hys purs and opened it and sawe the letters sealyd wyth the kynges seale and wythout brekyng of the seale he opened them and redyng the felonnye he abhorred it and subtylly he rased it and where as hit sayd thou shalte slee hym he wrote thou shalte gyue our doughter to thys chylde for to be his wyf and whan the quene sawe thyse letters sealyd with the kynges seale and that they were wryton with his owne honde she callyd the prynces and solempnysed the matrymonye gafe hir doughter to hym to be hys wyf and the maryage was doon at acon and whan it was tolde to the emperour that the maryage of hys doughter had been solempnelye maad he was moche abasshed and whan he knewe the trouthe of the two esquyers and of the duc that fonde the chylde and of the preest that had sette in the letter the thynges abouesayd he apperceyued wel that the ordenaunce of god ought not to be contraryed and anone he sente for the chylde reteyned hym as hys sone and establisshed hym for to be his heyre and to reygne after hym and in the place where this chylde was borne he founded a noble monasterye whiche is at thys day named vrsyne This henry put oute of his courte al the iougelers gaue to poure men alle that was wonte to be gyuen to mynstrellys In that tyme was so grete dyscorde in the chyrche that there were thre chosen to be pope and a preest named gracyen gafe to the other moche money and they lefte the see to hym and he was pope and as henry the emperour came to Rome for tappease the stryues Gracion came ageynst hym and offryd to hym a crowne of golde for to be to hym debonayr and he passed forthe by fayned alle thyse thynges and dyd doo holde a sene in whiche he condempnyd gracyen of symonye and sette another in his place how be it it is sayd in another place in a letter that he sente to mathylde the countesse that the sayd preest was moche symple and that he had by money goten to hym the papacye that after he knewe his errour and by the meane of the emperour he deposed hym self and after this henry was Emperour the thyrd henry and in his tyme bruno was chosen to be pope and was called leo and as he wente to Rome for to take the see he herde the voys of aungellys syngyng Our lord sayth I am he that knoweth the thoughtes of pees This pope made the lyf of many sayntes In that tyme the chirche was troubled by berenger whiche affermed the body and blood of our lord not to be verayly in the aulter but fyguratyfly ageynst whom wrote lanfranke pryour of beccense and ancelme came to hym out of bourgoyne for hys doctryne whyche was moche aournyd wyth vertue and wysedom and was there pryour after hym In thys tyme was Iherusalem taken of the sarasyns and after was recouerd by crysten men and the bones of saynt nycholas were brought in to baar therof it is sayd whan there shold be songe a newe hystorye of saynt nycholas in a chyrche whyche was of the holy crosse and was subgette to the chirche of our lady of Tarentyne The brethern prayed moche Instauntelye their pryour that they myght synge thys newe hystorye whyche in noo wyse wolde graunte to them and sayd they ought not chaunge their olde for noo newe and yet the brethern prayed hym more Instauntelye
my counceyll and by myn enhortemente shal make the to suffre so many tourmentes that thou thy self shalt renye the crucyfyxe Thenne sayd Iudas to hym He that proprely hath power to reyse deed men put the in the depe bottom of helle in fyre perdurable Saynt Quyryace suffred marterdom as sayd is for the loue of our Lord By whiche he hath goten the glorye perdurable the whyche he graunte to vs that for vs suffryd dethe and passyon AMEN Thus endeth the passyon of Saint Quyriace Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Thomas dalquyne SAint thomas Dalquyne of thordre of the freres prechours was a right souerayn doctour hyghe of noble lygnage whiche was borne in the royame of Sesylle and tofore that he was borne He was shewyd by dyuyne pourueaunce For in tho partyes there was an holy man in werke and in renommee whyche wyth many other her mytes ladde a ryght holy lyf and al the peple had hym in grete reuerence this holy man replenysshed of the holy ghoost came to the lady and moder of this holy chylde not yet borne with grete ioye sayd to hir that she had conceyued a sone and she supposed that she had not conceyued Thenne the holy man sayd to hir lady be thou glad for thou shalte brynge forthe a chylde whiche shal be callyd Thomas and shal haue a grete name and renomee thorugh al the world in scyence and in holy lyf and he shal be of thordre of the frere prechours alle whyche thynges lyke as the holy hermyte had said were accomplysshed in the name of the sauyour of the world and to the glorye of hys gloryous saynt whan the chylde was borne he was called Thomas by his right name He had the world and the vanyte therof in despyte and for to lyue in the more holy and clene lyf he entred in to the ordre of the frere prechours and after he was drawen out therof by hys brethern and was closed vp in a chambre in a toure two yere and by cause that by menaces ne fayr wordes his brethern myght not chaunge his good purpoos ne reuoke it in no maner they put in to his chambre a yonge damoysel to the Innocente childe for to subuerte hys good corage anone he toke a bronde of fyre and droof the damoysel out of the chambre whyche was come for to deceyue hym after that he put hym in humble prayers deuoutely besechyng our lord that by his benygne grace he wolde alweye mayntene his chastyte Anone as he had made his prayers ij aungels in meruayllous habyte appeayd to hym sayeng that his prayer was herde of god they dystreyned hym by the raynes sayeng Thomas we ben sente to the by the commaundemente of god and in his name we gyrde the with the gyrdle of chastyte whyche shal neuer departe fro the ne shal be broken the whiche gyfte was gyuen to hym of specyal grace was in hym so faste and ferme that he neuer after felte prickyng of his flesshe and so kepte hym as longe as he lyued as it apperyth here after in hys lyf whan he surmounted one of hys aduersaryes with his mynystres hys good moder consyderyng and hauyng mynde of that whiche the good man had tolde to hyr and shewyd how he shold be of thordre of the freres prechours and lete hym to be ledde to them pesably not wythstondyng that tofore his brethern wold haue empesshed hym of thentryng in to the ordre and of his studye For whan he was retorned in to the ordre by consente of his good moder he began to studye whiche was as swete to hym as is to the bee to make the hony and lyke as of the bee the hony is multeplyed right so in lyke wyse was by this gloryous doctour the hony of holy scrypture wherof he made meruayllous bookes in theologye logyke phylosophye naturel and moralle vpon the euangelyes in so moche that the holy chirche thorugh out al the world of hys holy scyence is replenysshed And as he thus prouffyted he was sente to parys thenne his brethern herde that he shold departe anone came after hym sayeng that it apperteyned not that a chylde of so grete lignage as he was shold be in thordre of mendycants ne of trewantes al to rente his cote cope wold haue taken hym aweye from his good purpoos whaÌ„ he was restored to thordre to seâ—ue gyue preysyng to our lord he sette al his entente to studye in thynkyng on god whan he was in contemplacion that his thouÈt was replenysshed with grete ioye For many tymes were as he was in a secrete place set al his entente in praâ—â—â— he was seen lyfte vp many tymes wythout ayde of ony thynge corporelle This thenne is wel an holy doctour For thus as he sette not his thoughte in thys world he sette alle his herte and his thoughte towarde god and was enhaunced as he that had not had no flesshe ne bone ne ony weyghte We rede that the blessyd doctour dysputed redde or wrote or argued or dyd somme other vertuous thynge and after whan hys prayer was paste anone he had in his mowthe that whiche he shold dyspute or wryte as yf he had tofore longe estudyed in many bookes alle whiche thynges he shewed secretelye to his felawe named frere raynolde To whome pryuelye he shewed al his other secretes as longe as he lyued and wold that none other shold knowe it to the ende that the vaynglorye of the world shold not surpryse hym For the scyence that he had was not of humayne studye but was of the admynystracion deuyne by the prayers and seruyce that he dyd to our lord This holy man is thenne as Moyses was whyche was gyuen to the doughter of pharao For lyke as he was taken out of the see and saued and rendryd vnto the sayd doughter Ryght soo the sayd blessyd doctour not wythstondyng that he was borne of the grete lignage of the erle of alquyn was by the pourueaunce of god rendryd to his moder holy chyrche and caste out of the flode of thys World and enhaunced and nourysshed by the pappes and mamellys of the scrypture of holy chyrche And lyke as moyses made many meruayllous sygnes tofore the chyldren of Israhel In lyke wyse hath thys blessyd doctour and hys scyence and blessyd doctryne in destroyeng errours hath alle weye prechyd veryte and trouthe And his holy lyf wytnesseth as on a nyght this gloryous doctour was in hys orysons and prayers the blessyd appostles Peter and poule apperyd to hym and endured hym in holy scrypture in especyally of the prophecye of prophetes alle entyerly and hooly Thys thenne is an holy doctour to whome the chauncelyer of heuen and the doctour of deuyne scrypture haue openyd the gate and he that was rauysshed to heuen hath shewyd to hym the secrete of aâ—e the veryte and thus thys blessyd doctour is taken from the worlde and made bourgeys
ye ought to wyte that fro the place where the holy man had caste the sayd rynge in to the water vnto the place where the said fysshe was presented to hym was four and twenty myle by water And whan the holy man aduysed hym and that wel he knewe for certeyn the sayd rynge he thanked god of hit that he gaue to hym knowlege of the remyssyon of his synnes From thens forthou euer fro better vnto better deuoutelye and by holy perseueraunce he entendyd to serue our Lord and yet as now is the sayd rynge wythin the paleys of mets men may be meruaylled and meruayllyng to magnefye and preyse god How in this present lyf they may not lyue wythout perylles but he is borne in a good houre that acquyreth graces of god and that maketh Iustyce on hys owne flesshe as longe as he is lyuyng in hit I say thys by cause of thys holy man that was at so good an hour borne that so moche of graces he gate and acquyred toward our lord That he was certefyed and ensured of the remyssyon and pardon of al his synnes as tofore ye herde saye Soone whan he was possessyng hys bysshoyryche he dyd dystrybue and departed to the poure so moche and soo largely of his owne goodes that the poure folke came thyder fro ferre countrees and cytees for to be counceyled and helped by almesse He was also besely tendyng to alle good werkys and in specyal to receyue relygyous folkes monkes and poure pylgrymmes He hâ—m selfe wesshed theyr feet he clothed them of newe to them gaue syluer ynough to passe on theyr weye assone as other of newe came he was as redy for to helpe them as he tofore was for the honour and reuerence of god In watchyng in fastynge in deuoute prayers and in orysons he employed euer the tyme none myght not duely reherce ne telle the grete abstynences that he made For whan he had fasted the space of thre dayes he was contente to haue a lytel breed maad of barleye and a lytel water and euer moost secretelye that he coude he ware vnder his clothes the hayre in so moche that by force of abstynence he right gretelye had maad lene hys flesshe On a tyme duryng the thre dayes whiche he fasted he dyd do make a processyon wherat many creatures were whyche moche deuoutelye prayed and soo as the processyon was in doyng there was a woman tourmented sore vexyd by the deuyl that began to crye lowde and hye whan the holy man sawe thys woman he made the sygne of the crosse euer hir and sone after she was delyuerd fro the enemye that so tourmented hir In the tyme of dagoberte kynge of fraunce so as he was wythin his palays a leper came there that beganne to crye after the holy man and demaunded mete and clothyng Sone commaunded the holy man that he shold be ledde home and soo as he mynystred and toolâ— to hym that was nedeful necessarye to hym he dyd demaunde of hym yf he were baptysed for he was of barbarye Thenne answerd the leper to the holy man allas syr nay For I that am a poure creature haue not founde none that hath gyuen to me the precyous gyfte of baptesme and anone the holy man baptysed hym Incontynente after that hys sekenesse lefte hym and departed fro hys body and soo he that before had be a synner and sore seek by the meryte of the holy man was lefte and made hole bothe of body and of fowle On another tyme a man named noddo whyche was dronke full of wyne beganne to mocque and dyspreysed the holy man sayeng that he was not the man of god but that he was ful lusty and redy to al delyces wherfore it happed that so as he hys sone wente to bedde sodaynlye by the wylle of god theyr clothynge were all aboute on a fyre and beganne to brenne Thenne they cryed and called for water but the water dyd nought to hyt so that the fyre took on theyr shertes toward the genytoryes from them they myght not haue of their clothes and Whan they sawe that noo remedye they myght put to it they yede oute of theyr chambre and began to laye them self as swynes doun in to the ordure or fylthe and in to fowle and stynkyng waters but alle thys auayled them nought For fro more in to more theyr genytoryes dyd brenne And so as I beleue at that same houre was verefyed that that our lord sayd by the mowthe of dauyd the prophete sayeng Detrahentem secreto proximo suâ— huuc persequebar That is to say in englysshe thoo that secretelye blamen despreysen theyr neyghbours them I shal persecute that same noddo deyed in thys estate and knowleched his synne and so dyd his sone by the sayd sentence ¶ So as the holy man was perseueryng in vertues for to kepe and eschewe the vaynglorye of thys World he departed fro the cyte and wente vnto a place not ferre fro hit where he dyd do make a litel hows and made hym self to be closed and shytte therin and there he was contynuelly in prayers and orysons lyftyng his handes toward heuen It happed by aduenture that the fyre took the hows of the kynge and soo moche it grewe that the howses there aboute beganne to brenne fast Sodaynlye the peple were moeuyd whan they saw that al the cite was esprysed on a fyre and flamme and they yede forth wyth to the celle of the sayd holy man where he was deuoutelye in his orisons prayers thus as he was acustomed to be Anone one that was called Romancyus toke hym by the hande sayd ryse thou fro hens man of god to the ende that thys fyre consume ne dommage the not wyth the cytee Thenne the holy man answerd I wyl not departe but lede me nygh the fyre and yf god wyl that I shal be brente I am in his handes here as I am Thenne they of the cyte cam with hym hande in hande vnto the fyre after commaunded that eche one of theym shold falle in prayers whan thâ— holy man had made his prayers they rose vp alle and thenne he lyfte vp his handes and made the signe of the crosse thenne anone the fyre ouenchyd and made after noo manere of dommage and after that houre one of his brethern sawe in a vysyon toward heuen the sygne of the veray crosse in a manere as flamme and at thother syde he herde a voys that sayd seest thou thys crosse by that hath the bysshop arnolde delyuerd the cytee fro fyre thys nyght ¶ After thys Saynt arnolde relynquysshed and lefte the world al entyerly and wente in to a deserte emonge the wylde beestys where he maad a lytel hows wyth somme monkes that were dwellyng there where he helde hym euer in holy medytacion and deuyne praysynges and whan ony poure peple came there he frendely receyued and seruyd theym theyr hoosen he dyd pulle of
good offeryng toward hym and after the preest sayth Oremus Incytyng vs to honoure and to praye god thenne he sayth the offrytorye After the preest taketh the lydde of the chalys on whyche is the hoost whyche oweth to be conuertyd to the body of our lord and offreth it to god the fader sayeng Suscipe sancte pater c̄ Fader wylte thou receyue thys hoostye wythoute tatche or spotte the whyche I thy seruaunte vnworthy offre to the as to my god veray and certeyn for al the synnes that I haue doo without nombre and also for alle them that are here aboute me and for al the fyables of god that are on lyue and for alle them that are passed out of thys world to thentente that thys oblacion may be prouffytable to me and to them to the saluacyon of our sowles in the lyf parmanable or euerlastyng After the preest maketh comyxcyon of wyne and water to gyder and here it is to wete that by the sayd water is vnderstonde the people and the wyne representeth our lord in sygnefyeng that the sayd Water and wyne shewen to vs humylyte and also the comyxyon that the peple oweth to haue with god It may be sayd also that thys water is medlyd wyth the sayd wyne for thys that bothe blood water yssued out of the syde of our lord and for thys he sayth Deus qui humane substancie c̄ In the whiche oryson he prayeth for alle to the ende that by the vertue of the same myxyon the people may be vnyed to god by veray loue dyleccion after the preest offeryth the chalys to god sayeng offerrimus tibi In sygnefyeng how our lord Ihesu cryste offeryd hym self to god the fader crucefyed on th aulter of the crosse for our helthe after the preest couereth the chalyce for this that none ordure shold touche to that holy sacrefyse after maketh a crosse ouer the hoostye and ouer the chalys sayeng Venisanctificator c̄ that is as moche to say as kynge almyghty I praye the that thou wylte blesse or halowe thys sacrefise in thy swete name for hert deuoute to haue pardon after the preest draweth hym self to the ryght syde of the aulter in representyng our lord and there he receyueth the offrynges of the creatures thenne the peple by deuocyon come and offreth to the ensaumple of the peple of god which peple offryd wythin the temple of salamon to god One offryd golde the other syluer other offeryd brede and other offeryd wyne and other dyuers maners of offrynges after the preest wessheth his handes For it apperteyneth that soo precyous a sacramente be worthely clenely made after he draweth hym self euen in the myddes of the aulter and there he maketh a depe enclynacion sayeng Suscipe sancta rinitas c̄ And the same Inclynacion may sygne fye the Inclynacyon of god Whyche enclyned hym after the sacramente to the feet of the appostles and prayed to god the fader After he kysseth the aulter in sygnefyeng that the vertu of the passion peaseth the creatures to hym After the preest retourneth hym selfe toward the folke and sayth Orate pro me fratres c̄ in thys he prayeth the peple that they wyl praye god for hym ¶ For that is none other thynge to say but right dere brethern praye you god that I may make this sacrefyse worthely so that I may see god ioyously after the preest retourneth hym toward the aulter and begynneth his orysons secrete the whiche are sayd for the same cause for whiche the fyrst orysons ben sayd as many in nombre and it is to wete that these orysons are sayd softely and secretelye for thys that the preest is nyghe the sacramente and therfore he wyl haue none empesshemente or lettyng neyther by wys ne by manere For our lord to the entente he myght more secretelye honour and praye he wente from hys dyscyples as ferre as a stone myght he throwen These orysons here ben also sayd lowe or secretelye for thys that whan our lord had reysed lazarus the Iewes wold haue sleyne hym Wherfore he drewe hym self in to the cyte of effraym in a place al allone and fro that tyme he cessyd his predycacion vnto palme sonday euen Thenne he came to the hows of Symon and openlye began to preche and for thys the preeste at th ende of hys orysons in dressyng his handes vp on hye sayth Per omnia secula seculoram and for thys that he is as messager to god for the peple the people heeryng thys message answereth amen and there the preest begynneth the preface the whiche is so called for that it is the preparacion or fyrst apparayl that gooeth before the sacrefyse pryncypal and therfore he saleweth in sayeng dominus vobiscum in sayeng that We prepare or make vs redy so that our lord may be and dwelle wyth vs and the peple answeryth et cum spiritu tuo And thus the peple the preest bothe prayen eche for other after the preest Incytyng vs sayth Sursum corda that is to say that the peple haue her herte vpon hye toward god thenne answereth the peple Habemus ad dominum that is to say we haue them to god And therfore the people that there in suche houre or in that tyme hath not sette her herte to god may of lyght lye after the preest sayth Gracias agamus domino deo nostro that is to say yelde we graces and thankynges to god For yf the people in that tyme hath somme deuocyon they ought to lawde and thanke god therfore for thys the clerke for alle the people answereth dignum et iustum est Ryght euen so as we wold say worthy and lawful thynge is to lawde god Iuste thynge is to honoure hym and there the preest maketh mencyon how the aungels archaungellys and alle the courte of heuen preysen and lawden god and for thys at th ende he prayeth that with that forsayd companye we alle may prayse and lawde god sayeng wyth ferme deuocion sanctus sanctus sanctus the whiche wordes folowen after the preface for ryght euen there the preest representyng our moder holy chyrche hauyng hope to be accompanyed with bothe aungels and archaungels confermyth hym self to them sayth sanctus c̄ and it is to wete that thys sanctus is deuyded in two partyes the fyrste parte conteyneth the lawdyng of the aungellys and the seconde conteyneth the lawdyng of the people The preest thenne as to the fyrst parte he may represente thaungellys of heuen of the whyche it is redde in the book of ysaye the prophete that the seraphyns cryed with an hygh wys one to another sanctus sanctus sanctus c̄ In prayeng to the trynyte sayeng holy fader holy sone and holy spyryte alle erthe is replenysshed wyth thy glorye As to the second parte he may represente the peple of Israel of the whyche we rede that whan our lord descended fro the montayne of olyuette
the first crosse ouer the body of our lord Ihesu cryste and the second crosse ouer the blood for the swetyng of blood and the thyrd before his owne face for this that our lord prayeng had hys face enclyned and therfore the preest maketh hit before his face This is thenne the ende of the oryson where he prayeth that We be blessyd of al blessynges and that We be also replenysshed of alle grace After in the tenthe parte the preest wyth Ioyned handes sayth Memento domine famulorum cÌ„ the whyche memento is princypally ordeyned for them that are passed out of thys world and for that euen there the preest resteth and hath a general memorye for deed folke in especyal for the creatures for whome he is bounde oâ— entendeth to praye for to the ende that by the mysecorde of god they may haue veray lyght and veray pees in the glorye of paradyse After in the xj parte of the canon of the masse the preest beteth hys breste sayeng nobis quoque peccatoribus cÌ„ that sygnefyeth the contrycyon and repentaunce that the theef that henge on the crosse at the right hande of god had whan he sayd Memento mei domine dum veneris in regnum tuum that is to saye lord I praye the that thou be remembred of me whan thou comest in to the royalme Thenne answeryd god to hym Amen dico tibi hodie mecum eris in paradiso that is to say I telle the thou shalte this day be with me in paradyse And therfore the preest in thys oryson spekyng for alle synnars hauyng hope on the myserycorde and mercy of god he prayeth that we may haue the pardurable or euerlastyng lyf wyth the companye of the appostles of marters and wyth alle the holy sayntes in heuen And in thys oryson the preest maketh thre crosses ouer the breed and ouer the wyne the whyche crosses betoken thys that the Iewes cryden thre tymes to pylate spekyng of the blessyd sone of god crucefye crucefye crucefye hym for he is dethe worthy therfore maketh the preest these thre first crosses and after he taketh the precyous body of our lord and maketh fyue tymes the sygne of the crosse the thre on the chalyce ouer the blood and the other tweyne betwyxte the chalyce and hym self the thre crosses maad ouer the chalyce may sygnefye the thre pryncypal tormentes or despysynges that our lord suffred in his passyon The fyrst is that before he was put on the crosse he had moche payne suffred many spyttynges and many other greuous marterdoms and tormentys that the proude and felle Iewes dyd to hym The second is the despyte and the tormente that he for vs suffred on the crosse for to bye vs fro the paynes and tormentes of helle and the thyrd is that whan he was dede on the crosse Longyn thrested the spere heed in to hys precyous syde and therfore the preest maketh the thre other crosses ouer the precyous blood Or ellys it may be sayd that these thre crosses betokene the holy trynyte sayeng by the fader by the sone by the holy spirite al honour glorye the preest maketh ij crosses thyse ij crosses made betwixte the chalyce the preest may betoken the ij licours that yssued out of the syde of our lord that was blood water that is to wete blood of redempcyon and water of regeneracyon After the preest sayth Per omnia secula seculorum and that sayth he on hyghe that may represente or sygnefye to vs thys that our lord cryeng wyth an hyghe wys rendred hys sowle to god the fader Or it may be so sayd that the preest sayth on hyghe to th ende that the folke knowe the ende of the canone and answer amen lamentyng and sorowyng the dethe of our lord to the ensaumple of the wymmen that nyghe the crosse lamentably and pyteously sorowed and wepte sore for Ihesu cryste that they louyd so moche After the preest sayth oremus precepti salutaribus moniti cÌ„ and here he Incyteth vs to honoure and prayer after thensaumple of our lord that taughte his appostles and therfore he sayth precepti that is to say we Incyte or admoneste the commaundementes of salute and in fourme of deuyne Instruccyon worshyp we and hertelye praye we sayeng Pater noster cÌ„ And soo ensyeweth the Pater noster whiche was made Instytued by our lord Ihesu cryste for that same he commaunded his appostles to say therfore it is called oracio dominica that is to say oryson of our lord therfore veâ—â—tably here oweth the creature to say deuoutely this same oryson pater nrÌ„ how be it that our lord knoweth wel what is beste for vs and what we Wyl haue Notwythstondyng he wyl that bothe with herte and mowthe we praye hym for many reasons Fyrst for to Incyte vs to deuocyon For al euen so as the bloweng enbraceth or fyreth the cool right soo the oryson sayd wyth herte and mowthe enflameth the deuocyon Secondly for to gyue good ensaumple to other for our lord saith Luceat lux vestra coram hominibus vt videatur cÌ„ that is to say 〈◊〉 your light be shynyng tofore the men so that they may perceyue see your good werkys not by ypocresye ne sâ—mylyng but by ryght Ialousye of deuocyon Thirdly for this that al euen so as we by the tonge synnen rizt so the deuoute oryson ought to be made said wyth tonge to th ende we may make satysfaccion to the kyng of heuen for the scrypture saith Sicut exhibuistis meÌ„bra vraÌ„ seruire Iniquitati exibeatis seruire iustâ—cie satisfaccioni that is to say as ye haue yeuen your meÌ„bris to felonye and wickednes or corupcion ye must so obeye bothe to iustyce satisfaccion Fourthly the thyng which is demauÌ„ded with good herte is of lyght graunted Of thys petycyon or askyng here speketh our swete sauyour Ihesu cryste in the holy euangylle that sayth thus Petite accipietis cÌ„ that is to saye My frendys aske you and ye shalle haue And for thys verytably euery creature ought wel to praye deuoutelye wyth good herte sayeng thys deuoute oryson Pater noster for the grete mysterye that hyt conteyneth The mysterye of thys deuoute oryson pater noster is that it conteyneth seuen petycyons or askynge The fyrst is of the eternal goodes that we may haue them therfore sayth he Pater noster qui es in celis sanctificetur no men tuum that is as moche for to say Fader that arte reygnyng in heuen thy swete name be blessyd The second petycyon is of the goodes spyrytuel that we may receyue them and therfore sayth he adueniat regnum tuum that is to say thy royame may become to vs where as We may see the ¶ The thyrd petycyon is fiat voluntas tua sicut in celo et in terra that is to saye ouer alle be thy wylle fulfylled and doon so that
blessyd body medled to gyder and it apperith by thyse verses folowyng that the thre partes of the hoostye sygnefyen the thre maners of creatures before sayd Tres partes signant de xpristi corpore sancto Prima suam carnem scoÌ„sque secuÌ„da sepultos Tercia viuentes hec est in sanguine tincta martirij calicem gus tant in carne fideles After foloweth agnus dei and here it is to wete that the preest sayth thre tymes agnus dei and at the thyrd tyme at th ende of it he sayth Dona nobis pacem And it nys none other thynge to say Lambe of god that taketh aweye the synnes of the world haue mercy on vs and thys is sayd two tymes to thentente that our lord be vnderstonde gooyng on erthe for to haue vs fro our synnes and restyng in the sepulcre for to delyuer vs fro the paynes of helle and therfore in these two fyrst agnus dei the preest sayth miserere nobis the thyrd agnus dei betokenyth thys that our lord be vnderstonde beyng in heuen for to gyue parfyte pees and therfore sayth the preest at th ende of the agnus dona nobis pacem Lord gyue vs pees Sayeng agnus dei the preest enclyneth hym self betyng his brâ—st at euery tyme sygnefyeng that with humylyte compassyon he sayth that same ornson After it is to knowe that at a masse of requiem the preest sayth not at the two fyrst agnus dei miserere nobis ne at the thyrd agnus he sayth not dona nobis pacem but the preest sayth in stede of that dona eis requiem For thys that thre maners of reste ben worthy for the fyables of god dede Fyrst that alle payne he had aweye fro them Secondly that glorye wyth god be gyuen to them Thyrdly that the sowle wyth the body togyder be crownyd And therfore sayth the preest at the laste agnus dona eis requiem sempiternam After this the preest deuoutelye enclyneth hym sayth a deuoute oryson that begynneth thus Domine Ihesu xpriste cÌ„ and that is as moche for to say Lord Ihesu cryste that said to thyn appostles I gyue you my pees I leue you my pees therfore I the praye Instauntelye that thou wylte not consyder my mysdedes and synnes but consyder thou the feyth of the holy chyrche and wylte it vnye peease after thy wylle thou that reygnest wyth the fader in the royame of heuen and after the preest taketh pees kyssyng the corporalle or the lydde of the chalys or the body of our lord Ihesu cryste and that is to teche and shewe to vs that thorugh the holy passyon of our lord veray pees is yeuen to vs of god and also to alle humayn lygne And the preest gyueth pees to the mynystre or clerke that helpeth to saye the masse And that same mynystre or clerke bereth it thorugh the chyrche to the folke and there the creacares kysse it eche after other in token of loue and concorde to the ende that euen soo as flesshe ioyneth it self to flesshe and spyryte to spyryte right soo we be alyed to gyder by vertue of loue And here it is to wete that for thys that our lord sayd to hys dyscyples take ye alle of thys breed and ete it it is myn owne body therfore in thys manere euery one was wonte in tyme passed to be howselyd euery day And for thys that many one took it Indyscretelye and fewe reuerentelye for that it semyd to them that it was not for to doo soo therfore hit was ordeyned to be taken but one tyme in a wyke that is to wete on the sonday Or to take it thre tymes in the yere Or at the leste one tyme in the yere And in that place where thys shold be doon shold be the pees gyuen euery day in token of loue and of veray stedfaste alyaunce And it is to wete that Whan men say masse for the dede men beren not the pees for this that the fyables of god ben oute fro alle the trybulacyons of this world Thus endeth the thyrd parte of the masse Here after foloweth the fourth parte of the masse AFter foloweth the fourth parte of the masse pryncypal and fyrst the percepcyons and here is to wete that after the preest hath taken pees and sente pees to the peple to thentente he may receyue more deuoutelye the body of our lord he sayth bowyng his knees ij orysons Instytued by the auncyent faders the fyrst oryson begynneth Domine Ihesu criste qui ex voluntate patris cÌ„ And is as moche for to say Ihesu crist that by the wylle of god the fader and wytte of the holy ghoost woldest redeme the world by thyn owne deth them to haue ageyn in ioye and blysse with the wylt my body delyuer fro al euyl haue aweye al my synnes fro me and that I may so kepe thy commaundementes that I may be and dwelle with the in heuen where thou mayst reygne as god with the fader and holy ghoost amen The second orison that the preest saith in his percepcion is this Percepcio corporis tui cÌ„ and may be the vnderstondyng of thys oryson suche Ihesu cryste that parfyte lyf hast in heuen wyth herte I the praye that the swete percepcyon of thy precious body whiche by Ialousye of loue I doo take be to me eschewyng of dampnacion that by thy compassion hit may be compunccion to my sowle that in suche place he may come where he may be accepted and graunted amen After the preest medytyng and thynkyng on the passyon of our lord Ihesu cryste sayth Panem celestem accipiam nomen domini Inuocabo cÌ„ That is to say I shal take the heuenly breed I shal calle the name of our Lord After al these forsaid thinges the preest holdyng the precyous body of our lord sayth thre tymes Domine non sum dignus vt Incres sub tectum meum sed tantum dic verbo sanabitur anima mea It is as moche for to saye Lord I am not worthy that thou entrest my hows but say thou the worde and my sowle shal be heelyd there the preest beteth at euery tyme his brest betokenyng that with right veray contrycyon and in stedfast deuocyon he wyl receyue his saluacyon After the preest makyng the sygne of the crosse of the body of our lord sayth Corpus domini nostri Ihesu cristi custodiat animam meam in vitam eternam cÌ„ It is none other thynge to say The precyous body of our lord Ihesu cryste wyl kepe my sowle in lyf pardurable or euerlastyng that is to wete in the companye of our lord and sythe the preest with ioyned handes taketh the body of our lord and vseth it the moost deuoutelye he can after the preest enclyneth hym self and taketh the chalys wherin is the precious blood of our lord sayth Quid retribuam domino pro omnibus que retribuit michi caliâ—em salutaris
saith an oryson that thus begynneth Placeat tibi sancta trinitas That is as moche for to say Holy trynyte I praye you that ye vouchesauf to take thys holy sacrefyse acceptable for me and also for theym for whome I haue consecrate the body of our lerd Per xpristum dominum nostrum amen and here is the ende of the masse but somme preestys whyle they take fro them the vestementes they say saynt Iohans gospel and somme saye the offyce of our lady Saynt Iohans gospel is sayd for 〈◊〉 mysterye in hit conteynyng for in 〈◊〉 tenour of it saynt Iohan maketh meâ—cyon how our humanyte was ioyneâ— and vnyed to the dyuynyte and how he was sente for to be testymonage or wytnesse of the deuyne lyght of the whiche lyght al creatures was enlumyned after the preest saith his graces lawdyng and thankyng god of all his benefaytes Who someuer wyl knowe and vnderstonde wel and parfytely the noble vertu and noble mysterye that in the exposycnon of the masse is lete hym wel consydere and enprynte right parfytelye wythin hys herte alle tho thynges that here beforne are conteyned and the creature thus doyng shal mowe haue certeyn knowlege of god and shal mowe ordeyne and dresse hys conscyence after that before is sayd and soo we praye god that he gyue to vs grace to doo suche seruyce and soo good prayers that we therwyth may acquyre and gete the holy blysse of paradyse AMEN Here endeth the noble historye of the exposicion of the masse And here foloweth the twelue articles of our feythe THyse ben the twelue artycles of the crystyn feythe that euery crysten man and woman oughte to byleue stedfastlye and fermelye for otherwyse they may not be sauyd sythe they haue wytte and reason and twelue artycles they be after the nombre of the appostles that made hem and stablysshed to be holden and kepte Of whiche the fyrst longeth to the fader the seuen to the sone and the other foure to the holy ghoost For it is the foundemente of the feythe to byleue on the trynyte that is the fader the sone and the holy ghoost one god in thre persones and al thyse artycles are conteyned in the crede The fyrst is thus I beleue on god the fader almyghty creatour of heuen erth thys fyrst artycle layed saynt peter in the crede the second apperteyneth to the sone as to his godhede that is to say in thys that he is god and it is suche I beleue on Ihesu cryst our lord onley sone of god the fader this ouÈt men to vnderstonde and byleue that he is semblable like and egal to the fader in al thynges that are bylongyng to the godhede and he is one selfe and lyke thynge wyth the fader saufe of persone that is not lyke the persone of the fader thys artycle made and layed it in the crede Saynt Iohan the euangelyste The thyrd and fourth artycles that folowen after in the crede apperteynen to the sonâ— after his humanyte that is to say after that man is mortal In whiche thyrd artycle is conteyned that he was conceyued of the holy ghoost and borne of the vyrgyne marye by vertu and werke of the holy ghoost not by mannes werke that the vyrgyne marye abode euer virgyn before and after hys byrthe And thys artycle layed saynt Iames brother to saynt Iohan the euangelyste in the crede The fourth artycle bylongeth to his passyon that is to say that he suffred vnder poncepylate that was paynym and Iuge at that tyme in Iherusalem Instytued by the Romayne vnder the whiche was Ihesu cryst Iuged wrongfully at the requeste of the felon Iewes crucefyed dede and put in the sepulcre this artycle layed saint andrewe the fyfthe artycle is that he descended in to helle after hys deth for to haue oute and delyuer the sowles of the holy faders and of alle them that fro the begynnyng or the world deyed in veray contrycyon and repentaunce in feythe and hope that they shold be sâ—uyd by hym For by cause of the fyrst mannes synne al must descende in to helle there to abyde the good and certeyn hope of Ihesu cryste the sone of god that shold come to delyuer them after that he had promysed by hys prophetes and this reason he wold descende in to helle that is to vnderstonde in to that parte of helle where they that were dampned were not the whyche were dede in theyr synnes thoo same he drewe not oute of helle for they be dampned pardurably and for euer thys artycle layed in the trede saynt phelyppe The vj artycle is of hys resurrexyon that is to Wete that on the thyrd day after his dethe for to consumme and accomplysshe the scryptures he rose from dethe vnto lyf ageyn and apperyd to his dyscyples approued to them his resurrexyon in many maners by the space of fourty dayes this artycle layed saynt thomas The seuenth artycle is thys that on the fourty day after his resurrexyon whan he ete wyth his dyscyples before them al appertelye he ascended aboue al creatures in to heuen vnto the right hande of the fader where he sytteth and this artycle layed saynt bartylmewe in the crede The viij artycle is that he shall come on domes day to Iuge bothe lyuyng and dede the good and euyl and shal rendre or yelde to euery one thys that he shal haue deserued in this world ¶ These ben the artycles that are longyng to the sone and that laste artycle beforesayd layed saynt mathew theuangelyste in the crede The ix and the thre laste artycles belongen to the holy ghoost these artycles here requyren that men byleue the holy ghoost is the yefte and the loue of god the fader and of the sone fro whome come 〈◊〉 vs al wele and grace that he is one same god one same thynge wyth the fader and wyth the sone sauf the persone that is other than the persones of the fader of the sone this artycle layed in the crede saynt Iames the brother of saynt symon and saynt Iude The tenthe artycle is thys I beleue on the holy chyrche general in the communyon of sayntes that is to say the companye of al sayntes of trewe men that ben shal be vnto the consumyng or ende of the world that were fro the begynnyng of the world to gyder with the feyth of Ihesu cryste In this artycle are vnderstonde the vij sacramentes of holy chirche that is to wete baptesme confirmacion the sacramente of the aulter the sacramente of mariage or wedlock penaunce confessyon the last is the holy vnccion this artycle layed saynt symon The xj article is to byleue the remyssyon of synnes that god gyueth by vertue of the sacramentes of holy chirche thys artycle layed saynt Iude that was the brother of saynt symon and not that Iude that betrayed our lord Ihesu cryste The xij artycle is to byleue the general resurrexyon of bothe the sowles bodyes perdurable or euerlastyng that is the glorye of paradyse that god shall gyue to them that shal deserue it by good feyth thorugh good werkys this artycle gyueth also to vnderstonde his contrarye that is deth the peyne perdurable or Without ende that god hath apparaylled for them that shal be dampned this article oughte to be vnderstonde in suche manere that euery one be they good of euyl shal be Iuged on domes day reysed fro dethe to lyf ageyn in his owne propre body he shal receyue his rewarde gwerdon bothe in body in sowle togyder after he shal haue deseruyd beyng in this lyf mortal thefore at that day the good creatures shal be glorefyed bothe in body sowle in lyf that euer shal laste this article layed saynt mathyas appostle frende of god Thus endeth the twelue artycles of our feythe Thus endeth the legende named in latyn legenda aurea that is to saye in englysshe the golden legende For lyke as golde passeth in valewe alle other metalles so thys legende excedeth alle other bookes wherin ben conteyned alle the hygh and grete festys of our lord the festys of our blessyd lady the lyues passyons and myracles of many other sayntes and other hystoryes and actes as al allonge here afore is made mencyon whiche werke I haue accomplisshed at the commaundemente and requeste of the noble and puyssaunte erle and my special good lord Wyllyam erle of arondel haue fynysshed it at westmestre the twenty day of nouembre the yere of our lord M CCCC lxxxiij the fyrst yere of the reygne of Kyng Rychard the thyrd ¶ By me Wyllyam Caxton The lyf of the sayntes tyburce and Ualerian been conteyned in the lyf of Cecyle vyrgyn and marter This feste is the laste feste of the yere for to begynne at the feste of saynt andrewe and herafter shal folowe dyuers feestys whiche been added and sette in this sayd book callyd the golden legende
slepyng and leyde in her hande the stone with whiche she had ben tormented And thenne she awoke and fonde her self delyuerd of the payne and delyuerd to her moder the stone And tolde her vysyon by ordre And the moder bare the stone to the freres And they henge it tofore thymage in mynde and remembraunce of this fayr myracle that seynt domynyk had doon In palacye in scicile there was a poure woman that had a sone whyche was gretely tormented with scrophules whiche chyldren ben wonte to haue in theyr necke and coude fynd no remedy she auowed to god to seynt domynyk that yf he myght be deliuerd she wolde make hym to laboure in the werkes of the chyrche of freres for no hyre but gladly for nought and the nyght folowyng a man appiered to hyr in thabyte of a frere sayd woman knowest thou thyes thynges and named to her iiij thynges that was Arayn veâ—t pelletre lapacium and the Iuse of porret and she sayd she knewe them well and he sayde goo take thyse thynges confyte them with the Iuse of porret and leye on the sore of the necke of thy sonne and he shal be al hool Thenne she awoke and dyd so and he was all hool and the moder accomplisshed her vowe There was a man of piemoÌ„nt swollen lyke a monstre auowed hym to seynt domynyk and he apperid to hym in his slepe and opened his bely without payne and toke out alle thordures and enoynted hym wyth hys holy honde and heled hym parfyghtly In the cite of August whan in the â—est of the translacion of Seint Domynyk certayn wymmen were atte solempnytees of the masses and whan they retorned homward to theyr houses they sawe without a woman that spynned in the feste of one so grete a saynt and they toke and repreued her charitably why she spanne at the feste of one so grete a seynt and she was angry and ansuerd ye that be wymmen of the freres kepe ye theyr festes and anon the eyen of that woman swellyd and there cam out roten mater and ther yssued wormes so that one of the neyghbours toke xvij wormes out of her eyen And thenne she repented her and cam to the chyrche of the freres confessyd her synnes And auowed that fro than forthon she wold neuer myssaye to the seruaunt of god domynyk but shold deuoutly holde his feste anon she was made hool here was a Nonne named marye whiche was seke at Crypolyn in the monastery of Marie magdaleyn and was smyton in the thye so greuously that fyue monethes duryng they doubted that she wold haue deyed and thenne she bethoughte her and prayed thus in her self lord god I am not worthy to praye to thene to be herde of the but I praye my lord seynt domynyk that he be medyatour bytwene the and me that he may gete to me the benefeite of helthe And whan she had long prayed in teres she slepte and sawe seynt domynyk With two freres that opened the curtayn that henge afore her bedde and entryd and sayde to her Wherfor desirest thou so sore to be heled And she sayd syr that I myght more deuoutly serue god And thenne he drewe out his oynement whiche was of swete odour from vnder hys cope and enoynted her thye and she was anon alle hool and sayd thys oynement is moche precious swete and lyght And whan she demaunded how it was named he sayd to her thys oynement is the oynement of loue is so precious that it may not be bought for no prys For in the yeftes of god is no better than loue For there is nothyng more precyous than charyte but it is sone lost yf it be not well kept Thenne he appered to her suster that nyght that slepte in the dortour sayeng I haue heled thy suster whiche anon aroos ranne thyder and fonde her hool And Whan she felte her enoynted with sensible vnction she wyped it with grete reuerence with a bendel of sylke And whan she had tolde alle this to the abbesse to her suster and to her confessour and had shewed the vnction and bendel they were smyten with the nouelte of the sauour so suete smellyng that it myght not be compared to none Aromatyke and they kepte that vnction with grete reuerence how agreable the place is vnto god where the body of seynt Domynyk resteth how be it that many myracles ben shewed there yet one shalle I say to you here and that shall suffyse Mayster Alysaundre bysshop of vendosm reherseth in hys postillys vpon this worde Mercy and trouthe haue mette to gydre That a scolyer duellyng at boleygne whiche was all gyuen to wycked vanytees of the worlde sawe a vysyon That hym semed he was in a grete felde and that a grete tempest of thondre and lightnyng descended from heuen vpon hym thenne he fled the tempest and cam tofore an hows and fond it shette and knocked atte dore for to entre in and thostesse answerd I am rightwysnes that am enhabyted here and this hous is myne and thou art not rightwys Therfore thou mayst not enhabyte here And thenne he wepte bytterly for thyse wordes and went to a nother hous that he sawe beyonde that and knocked at the dore for to come in but thostesse whyche was within answerd I am trouthe and thou art not trewe ther for I may not receyue the And fro thens he went to the iij hous beyonde that and requyred that he myght come in for the tempest and he that was wythin sayde I am peas that duelle here and peas is not with felons but only with men of good wylle And by cause I thynke the thoughtes of peas I shalle gyue to the good couÌ„seyl My suster dwellyth aboue me whiche alway helpeth kaytyues goo to her and doo that she shall counseylle the And thenne he went to that hous And she that was within sayd I am mercy that dwelle here yf thou wylt be saued fro this tempest goo to the hous of the freres prechours at boleyne and there thou shalt fynde the stable of doctryne the racke of scrypture the asse of symplenesse the oxe of discrescion and marie enlumynyng Ioseph prouffytyng the chyld Ihesu sauyng and whan this scoler awoke he cam to the hous of freres and recounted his vysyon by ordre And requyred to haue the habyte he receyued it abode in thordre seynt domynyk tofore thynstitucoÌ„n of thordre saw IhÌ„u crist holdyng thre dartes in hys hond menaced the world theÌ„ne I frere IohÌ„n of vignay translatour of this boke wil nomore reherce this visyon for in this present chapytre it is reherced tofore was shewd also to a moÌ„ke wherfor I here make an ende theÌ„ne late vs considre the holy lyf the holy conuersacion and the holy myracles that god hath shewed for this blessyd man Seynt domynyk and late vs praye hym to be mediatour bytwene god and vs
that we may deserue to be enoynted with thoynement of charyte and of mercy that after this shorte lyf We may come to euerlastyng lyf in heuen Amen Thus endeth the lyf of seynt Domynyk Here foloweth the lyf of seynt Sixte and first of his name SIxtus is sayde of Sios that is god and of status that is to say state so sixtus is as moche to say as godly state Or sixtus is sayd of sisto sistis as it were stedfast and ferme and fixus that is fixed For he was stedfaste and fyxe in the fayth in passion and in good werke and operacion Of Seynt sixte pope martir SIxtus the Pope was of athenes and was first a phylosophre and after was dsciple of Ih̄u cryste was the souerayn bysshop And after was presented to decien valerien Emperours With two of hys discyples and dekenes felycyssyme Agapite And whan decien myght not enclyne hem in no manere he made them to be brought to the temple of Mars for to doo sacrefyse to hym or for to be put in pryson of mamertyn and whan he had refused to doo sacrefise and Was brought in to pryson of mamertyn the blessyd seynt laurence cryed after hym sayeng Fader whyther goost thou wythout thy sonne preest whyther goost thou without thy mynystre To whom sixte sayd Sone I leue the not but gretter bataylles ben due to the after thre dayes thou deken shal folowe me preest but in the mene whyle take the tresours of the chirche and departe them where thou wylt whan he had destributed them to poure crysten men valerien the prouost ordeyned that Syxte shold be broughte agayn for to doo sacrefyse in the temple of mars And yf he refused it he shold haue his hede smeton of And whan he was ledde the blessyd laurence cryed after hym sayeng Fader leue me not For I haue despended alle thy tresours and thenne the knyghtes herd speke of the tresours and helden Laurence And thenne they beheded sixte Felicissym and Agapyte and so they thre suffred deth to gydre In thys same day is the feste of the transfyguracion of our lord and renewyd of newe wyn yf it may be founden of a ripe grape in somme chyrches and this day ben the grapes blessyd in somme places and the peple take therof and ete it in stede of holy brede And the reson why is of thys that our lord sayd in his soper to his dyscyples I shalle not drynke of thys generacion of the vyne tofore I shalle drynke it newe wyth you in the regne of my fader And this transfyguracion in that whyche he sayd newe representeth the gloryous Inuocacion that Ihesu cryste had after his resurrection and therfor on this day of the transfyguracion whiche representeth the resurection men seke newe wyn And it is to wyte that some say that the transfyguracion Was made in veer but the dyscyples disclosed it not but kepte it secrete by cause our lord commaunded that they shold not dysclose it tyl he was rysen fro deth to lyf But after they manyfested and dysclosed it on thys day Thus endeth of Seynt Sixte pope and Martir Here begynneth the lyf of seint Donat and first of his name Donat is as moche to say as borne of god And that is by regeneracion of grace Infusion and glorificacōn For there is treble generacion spirituel of god that is to saye of natyuyte religyosite and of body mortalite For whan seyntes deye that it is sayd that they be born For the passyng out of thys world of sayntes is not sayd deth of sayntes but natalyte the chyld appetiteth to be born to haue larger place to dwelle in more mete for to ete better ayer to respyre and to see lyght And whan the sayntes yssue out of the bely of holy chyrche theyr moder by deth the four thynges they receyue aforsayd after theyr manere and therfor they be sayd born or gyuyng or gyuen of god ¶ Of Seynt Donat DOnat was norysshyd and taught of the emperour Iulyan thēne thys Iulian was ordeyned to be soubdeken but whan he was enhaunsed to be Emperour he slewe the fader and moder of donate And donate fledde in to the cite of arentyne dwellyd there with hyllarye monke and dyd there many myracles ffor the prouost of the cyte had a sonne demonyake and whan he was brought to for◠Seynt donate the wyckyd spirite began to crye and say In the name of our lord Ih̄u cryst doo me none harme ne be greuous to me ne that I goo out of my hous O donat wherfor constraynest thou me to yssue out with tormentes but he was anon delyuerd whan donat prayed There was a man named Eustace whiche receyued in Tuskane the rentes of the prynce and lefte the money in the kepyng of his wyf named Eufronye But for sorowe that she had of the enemyes that destroyed the contree she hyd the money and deyed for sorowe and whan her husbond cam agayn he coude not fynde the money and whan he with his children shold be brought to tormente He fledde to Seynt donat and donat went with hym to the sepulcre of his Wyf sayd with a clere voys Eufronye I coniure the by the vertu of the holy ghoost that thou say where thou hast leyde this moneye And she answerd out of the sepulture and sayd At the entree of the hows where I dalue it And thenne they went thyder and fonde it like as she had sayd a lytil whyle after Satirus the bysshop deyed in our lord and alle the clergy choos donat to be bysshop in his place and so he was On a day as seynt gregore recounteth in his dyalogue whan Seynt donate houseled the peple after masse and the deken mynystred the body of our lord to the peple sodanly the deken fyll wyth the chalyce by thympulsion and threstyng of the paynems that cam thyder and the chalyse brake wherof he was sory and so was alle the peple And seynt donat gadred to gydre the pieces of the chalice and made his prayer and remysed it in his first forme and a lytil pyece the deuyll toke awaye and hydde it which piece lacketh yet in the chalyce and that chalice is kepte in the sayd chyrche in Wytnes of thys myracle And the paynyms that sawe thys Were conuerted to the fayth in so moche that lxxx of them receyued bapteme There was a welle or a fontayne enfected that who that dranke if it was anon deed And seynt donat went anon thyder vpon his asse for to praye and make the water hool and anon an horryble dragon yssued out of the fontayn and wonde his tayle aboute the legges of the asse and adressyd hym ayenst donate and donate smote hym wyth his staffe or as somme say he spytte in hys mouth and he deyed and thenne he prayed to our lord chased awaye alle the venym out of the fontayne Another tyme whan he
thynnocentes he herd masse in the new Chirche of Westmynstre whiche he had reedefyed And thenne he gyuyng than kynges vnto almyghty god retorned in to his chambre sore seke there abydyng the mercy of our lord And all the lordes gentiles and comyns were in grete heuynesse whanne they vnderstode that the kynge myght not lyue remembrynge what welthe and prosperyte the lond had ben in duryng his dayes And what Ieopardy hit was lyke to stande in after his dyscees Thenne alle thynges were commytted to the quene whome he louyd specially And she fulle dylygently mynystred to hym alle thynges necessary And whan he was soo feble by sekenes that his naturalle hete was almoost gone he laye nyghe two dayes in a traunce as a man that hadde ben rauysshed And whanne he cam to hym self ayene they that were aboute hym merueyled gretely For they wende veryly that he shold nomore haue spoken Notwithstandynge after he spack with an hole spyryte these wordes O thow merciful lord god that arte infynyte almyghty In whos power alle thynges ben put whiche chaungest Royammes and empyres yf tho thynges ben trewe that thow hast shewed to me so graunte to me space and strengthe to declare them to my peple that yf peraduenture they gyue them to penaunce they may haue grace and foryeuenes Thenne almyÈty god yaf to hym a newe strengthe that passyth al mannes reason And that myght not be withoute myracle For before that tyme he spack so softe that for feblenes he myght not wel be herd And at that tyme he spak with an hole breste these wordes folowyng Whanne I was yong and dwellyd in Normandye I louyd well the felauship of good men For he that spak most relygyously and goodly wyth hym was I most conuersaunt And amonge alle other ther were tweyne to whome I drewe moche for theire honest conuersacion and for the holynes of theyr lyf swetnes of their maners and their comfortable wordes whome I sawe translated in to heuen For many yeres gone they deyde and now they haue appyered to me by the suffraunce of god and haue shewed to me the state of my peple and what synnes regne among them And what vengeaunce shalle be taken on them for theyr synnes Prestes haue offendyd For they mynystre the holy sacramentes with vnclene thoughtes and pollute handes And as an hyred man and not as a veray shepeherde defende not their shepe ne fede them And as for prynces and gentils they ben founden fals and vntrewe and felawes to fendes theuys and Robbers of the Countre whiche haue no drede of god ne honoure hym And trewe lawe is a burthen to them and hadde in despyte and cruelnes moche vsed and the prelates kepe not rightwysnes they correctâ— not their subgettis ne teche ne enforme them as they shold doo And therfore our lord hath now drawe oute his swerd of vengeaunce to smyte his peuple This punysshement shall begynne within this yere bothe by swerde and wastyng this Royamme pytously And thâ—nne I beganne to syghe and morne for the trouble that was comyng to my peple And sayde yf they wold be torned and doo penauÌ„ce shall not they haue foryeuenes and god shalle blesse them ageyne And it was answerd to me the hertes of the peple ben soo Indurate and so blynded and theire eeris so stopâ—ed that theywylle not here of no correction ne they be not moeued ne prouoked by no benefayttes that our lord yeueth them Thenne I axyd yf ther were ony remedye that myght attempre the wrath of our lord To whome it was ansuerd in these wordes A grene tree cutte fro his stocke shalle he deuyded fro his propre rote the space of thre furlonge And withoute mannes honde shalle torne ageyne to his old rote take ageyne his sappe and floryssheth and bryngeth fourthe fruyre And when this is done ther may come remedy And when this was sayde they were sodanly gone oute of my syghte Ther was aboute the kyng that tyme the quene Duke Harold her brother Robert kepar of the palais And Stygande whiche had defouled his faders bedde For whyles Robert tharchebisshop of Caunterbury lyued the said Stygande put hym doune and cam in by symonye wherfor he was suspendid by the pope And afterward god took vengeaunce vpon hym soo that his bely bracke and his bowellis fylle oute And soo he deyd wretchidly This Stygande gaf no credence to the kynges wordes but descryued it to his age and to the feblenes of the kyng made it but a fantasye but other that were better auysed wepte sorowed and wrange their handes and sente to our holy fader the pope yeuyng hym Informacion of the same vysion And our hooly fader wrote Epistles to Englond exhortyng the peple to do penaunce but his writyng prouffited not But when kyng Harold hadde broken the othe that he had made to duke william therfor he was slayne in bataille thenne they knewe wel that the prophecye of saint Edward was comen For theÌ„ue the lyberte of Englond made an ende And thenne cam in bondship and thraldome That tyme Englond was al chaunged And I vnderstond saynt Dunston prophecyed the same trouble comyng And after a certayne tyme he promysed comfort also Wherfor this forsayd vysyon maye be conuenyently expowned as here foloweth The tree signefyeth the Royame of Englond Whos grenesse and fayrenesse bitokeneth Rychesses plentyuous and honour of Englond of Whome alle worshippe procedeth whiche worshippe hath proceded of the trewe blood of the londe and of the trewe lygnage whiche descended fro Alured whom our holy fader the pope crowned and enoynted kynge as for the firste kynge of the trewe lygne of Englond vnto this hooly kynge Edward by succession The tree is cut doune fro the stocke whan the Royame is deuyded and translated from one seed or lygnage to an other The space of thre furlonges is the tyme of thre kynges that is to saye Harold william Conquerour and william his sone The comyng ageyne of the tree to the stocke withoute mannes helpe was whanne kynge Henry the fyrste cam in to this Royamme not by mannes strengthe but by very trewe loue of his comyns He took his sappe and his very strengthe whan he wedded Molde the doughter of the nece of saint Edward ioynynge to gydre the seed of Englond and of Normandye And by the tree flowrysshed whome Maulde themperesse sprange of their seed And it brougth forthe fruyte whan of her cam Henry the second And thus this two people were ioyned to gydre yf this exposycion displese ony man late hym expowne it better or els late hym abyde a tyme tylle it be fulfylled so that the prophecye of kyng Edward acorde to the prophecye of saynt Dunston This holy kyng saynt Edward knowyng that his houre drewe nyghe spack to them that stode wepyng aboute hym And in comfortyng them sayde Forsothe yf ye louyd me ye wold pray that I shold passe fro this world to the fader
of heuen there to receyue the ioye whiche is promysed to alle trewe Crysten men put ye awey your wepyng spede forth my iourney with prayers with holy psalmes· and wyth almesse dedes For though myn enemy the feÌ„de may not ouercome me in my faithe yet ther is none founden so parfiÈte but he wyll assaye tempte to lette or to feer hym And thenne he commaunded the quene to her broder in commendynge her vertues vnto his lordes and declared to them their pure chastyte For she was to hym in open places as his wyf and in secrete places as his suster And he commaunded also that her dowayre shold be made sure to her And they that come with hym oute of Normandye shold be put to theyr chois whether they wold abyde stylle in Englond and to be endowed wyth lyuelode after their degree or els to retorne ageyne in to NormaÌ„dy with a suffycyent reward And he chaas his place for his sepulture in the chirche of seynt Peter whiche he had newe bylded And sayde he sholde not longe abyde in this world And whanne he behelde the quene and sawe hir wepe syghe amonge he said to her oftymes My doughter wepe not for I shal not dye but I shall lyue shalle departe fro the lond of deth And byleue to see the goodnes of god in the londe of lyf And thenne he sette his mynde al in god and yaf hym self hooly to the faythe of the Chirche in the hope and promyses of Cryst vnder the sacramentis of the chirche And amonge these wordes of praysynge he yelded vp his spyryte vnto god In the yere of our lord M lxvj whan he hadde regned in this londe xxiij yere and sixe monethes and xxvij dayes the fourthe day of Ianyuer And as his Cosyns and his louers stode aboute this holy body whan the spyryte was passed they sawe a merueylous beaute an heuenly sighte in his face And whan they loked on his naked body they sawe it shyne with a merueylous brightnesse for the clernes of his vyrgynyte And thenne they wrapped the holy body in pallys And beryed it with grete reuerence and worship and largely almesse was gyuen for hym And all the lordes spyrytuell and temporel were present at the beryeng of hym than kynge god of the grete benefaittes that he shewed in this lond duryng the lyf of the hooly saynt and kynge saynt Edward wherfor lawde glorye and honour be gyuen to almyÈty god world withoute ende Amen The eyght day after his beryeng ther cam a crepil to his Tombe to be holpen of his grete dysease whiche many tymes afore had receyued almesse of the kynges honde And he had be wasshen of the kynges honde on cenethursdaye Notwythstondyng the myracle of his curynge was prolonged by the prouysyon of god and not shewed in his lyf tyme by cause that many myracles god shewed for hym In lyke wyse he wold shewe after his deth This Crepyl was called Rauf And was a norman borne and the synewes of his arme were shronken to gyder that his feet were drawe vp to his buttokkis that he myght not goo neyther on his feet ne on his knees but sat on an holowe vessel in maner of a basyn drawyng his body after hym with his hondes And whan he cam to the Tombe he besought almyghty god and saynt Edward deuoutely that he myght be cured and heled of his dysease whiche in his lyf tyme had mooste lyuyd by his almesse And whanne he had contynued a whyle in his prayers other peuple that had compassion of hym praid for hym also And atte last he lyft hym self vp and felte his synewes losed And thenne he arose vp and stode on his feet and felt hym self made parfyghtely hole for to doo what he shold We haue redde of the vertues that saint Edward had in helyng blynde men in his lyuyng whiche our lord hath not withdrawe from hym after his dethe It happed that thyrtty dayes after his beryeng ther cam to his Tombe a man whiche had but one eye ledyng after hym sixe blynde men eche of them helde other by the skyrte And all they deuoutely prayd to god and to saynt Edward that they myght haue their sight and to be delyuerd of the grete myserye that they stode in And moche peple cam thyder for to see what shold befalle of this thyng And whan they sawe how hertely these blynde men prayde thenne alle the peple beynge moeuyd wyth pyte knelyd doune deuoutely and prayd for them to god and to this hooly seynt And anone as they had endyd their prayers Alle they receyued parfyghtely theire sight And thenne eche of them that had ben blynde lokyd fast on eche other And thought it a newe world with them and eche enquyred of other yf they myght see and they said ye And alle knelyd doune thankyng god ful hertely that by the meryces of saynt Edward had restored to them their siÈt parfyghtly And also to theyr leder whiche had but one eye at his comyng And had syght of the blynde eye also And soo alle had their parfyght syght And after they retourned home eche in to his Countrey gyuynge lawde and thankynges to god and this holly kynge After this Harold Arphage kyng of Norwey and Tostyn broder of kynge Harold of Englonde cam with a grete nauye and a grete hoost and arryued in humbre and there made werre entendynge to conquere this londe how be it the peple beganne to resyste them but they were not of power to ouercome them And when Harold vnderstode this he reysed a grete multitude of peple to withstonde them Thenne saynt Edward on a nyght appyered to an holy Monke whiche was Abbot of Rammesey And bad hym go and telle to Harold that he shold ouercome his enemyes the which entended to destroye and consume this Royamme of Englond And saye to hym that he drede not For I shal so conduyte hym and his hoost that he shall haue vyctorye For I maye not see ne suffre this Royamme of Englonde to be destroyed And whan thou hast tolde to hym this he wyâ—le not byleue the wherfor thow shalt proue thy vision in this maner late hym thynke and set his mynde on what thyng he wille And thow shalt telle hym what he thynketh For god shalle shewe that to the And thenne he shalle yeue credence to thy wordes On the morn the abbot of Rammesey named Alexis went to kyng harold and told to hym this visionn And how he shold by the aide of saint Edward ouercome his enemyes And when he herde hit fyrste he supoosed hit had ben a fantasye And when he shewed to hym his preuy thought thenne he gaf faith therto And wente to the bataille how be it he was thenne seke in his grynde of a pestilence botche And slewe Tostyne his brother and Harold Harfage And right fewe or none escaped a lyue fro the bataille Wherfor the Englisshmen thanked god and saynt Edward of their